by John Marshall

“ In 1800, Captain Prowse was selected by Sir Robert Calder, with whom he had before served in the Theseus, to command his flag-ship, the Prince of Wales, a second-rate, and he accordingly accompanied that officer to the West Indies in quest of a French squadron, supposed to have gone thither from Brest, but which had altered its course and entered the Mediterranean. He returned to England June 22, 1802, and in the month of August following, was appointed to the Sirius frigate, in which, on the renewal of hostilities in 1803, he made several valuable captures. ”

“ Our officer was subsequently employed in the Mediterranean, under the orders of Lord Collingwood, to whose favorable notice he recommended himself by his exertion and zeal on many occasions, but particularly by the gallantry evinced by him, April 17, 1806, in attacking a very formidable flotilla of the enemy off the mouth of the Tiber, and compelling the French Commodore to surrender.
The flotilla consisted of one ship, three brigs, and five heavy gun-vessels, mounting on the whole 76 long guns, and 21 carronades (2 of which were 68-pounders) . ”

“ It being now 9 P.M. and the Sirius much crippled, owing to the smoothness of the water having enabled the enemy to use their guns with the greatest effect, Captain Prowse was prevented from pursuing the others, a circumstance much regretted by him, as several were greatly disabled previous to their sheering off, and had it been day-light would most probably have shared the fate of their leader. The prize proved to be la Bergere, of 18 long 12 pounders, 1 30-pounder carronade, and 189 men ”