by John Marshall

“ This island, though in the same parallel of latitude as the barren and scorching coast of Africa, is temperate, and comparatively healthy. The soil is stony, but tolerably fertile. Experience has shewn that it will produce most of the necessaries, and even some of the luxuries of life. ”

“ The weather, which, till now, had been favourable, began to change; the beach on that side of the island being steep and composed of large shingles, is generally of difficult access; but it was supposed, on reconnoitring it, that the landing was practicable, and Captain Willoughby of the Nereide, who undertook to superintend it, pushed off in a small prize schooner, with a party of seamen and a detachment of light troops, and with some of the boats which followed, effected a partial debarkation; but the surf still increasing, several were stove on the beach ”

“ A landing having been effected with little opposition, the army began its march for Cape Town on the 8th; and on reaching the summit of the Blue Mountains, a body of about 5,000 men, chiefly cavalry, with 23 pieces of artillery, commanded by General Jansseris, Governor of the colony, was seen in the plain, in an attitude to oppose its progress. On a charge by the British troops, the enemy fled with precipitancy, and with a loss of about 700 killed and wounded, while the assailants had only 15 slain, and 197 wounded and missing. ”

“ The isle of France must always be allowed to be one of the most valuable possessions for any nation desirous of trading to Asia. It is situated in the African seas, just at the entrance of the Indian ocean. ”

“ Day dawned, and shewed the result; the enemy appeared to have suffered little; the Africaine was in their possession, with no apparent loss but that of her mizen-top-mast. Such a state did not appear to justify Captain Rowley commencing an attack on a force so much superior, particularly in the then critical situation of affairs, when the Boadicea was the only remaining British frigate on the station; and Captain Rowley knew of two other frigates of the enemy and a corvette cruizing in the neighbourhood. ”

“ As it lies a little out of the common track, its expeditions can be carried on with greater secrecy. Those, who wish it was nearer to our continent, do not consider that if it were so, it would be impossible to reach the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel in a month’s time, and the more distant gulfs in two months; which, to a nation, who like the French, have no sea-port in Hindostan, is an inestimable advantage. ”

“ Early in the following year, Captain Rowley sailed from Palermo, with his squadron and a large fleet of transports, having on board the army under Lord William Bentinck, destined for the reduction of Genoa. The advanced guard having been landed considerably to the eastward, moved forward, supported by the shipping, dismantling the batteries as the enemy retired on their approach. On the 30th March, the forces of Santa Maria, with the forts and defences in the gulph of Spezzia, capitulated, after considerable resistance, to a party of seamen under the orders of Captain Dundas, of the Edinburgh. ”

“ On the following morning, the British troops were put in possession of the works, whilst the ships entered the Mole, where they found four fine brigs of war, besides a number of merchantmen. The capture of Savona by a detachment of the army, aided by a small squadron commanded by Captain Grant, completed the conquest of the Genoese territory. A 74-gun ship found on the stocks at Genoa, was launched and laden with the frame of another of similar dimensions. She was escorted to England by the America, in the autumn of 1814. ”

“ Captain Rowley’s next appointment was to the Raisonable, of 64 guns, which ship formed part of Sir Robert Calder’s fleet in the action off Ferrol, July 22, 1805 [2] ; and on that occasion had one man killed and several others wounded. At the latter end of the same year, our officer accompanied the expedition sent against the Cape of Good Hope, under Commodore Popham and Sir David Baird; and after the reduction of that important colony proceeded with the former commander to the Rio de la Plata, where he remained until the final evacuation of Spanish America by the British forces [3] . ”

“ As soon as the troops advanced, the whole of the flotilla opened their fire with such effect, that on the landing of the seamen and marines, and preparing to storm, the enemy deserted their batteries, and the whole of the sea-line without the walls, which were instantly taken possession of, and soon turned on the place, by this means drawing off a considerable portion of the enemy’s fire. ”

“ On the 9th May, 1812, being on a cruize in the Gulf of Genoa, in company with the Leviathan 74, and Eclair sloop, he chased a fleet of merchant vessels deeply laden under the batteries of Languilla. At day-break on the following morning, the marines were landed, and stormed the batteries, mounting 9 heavy guns and a mortar, whilst the boats of the squadron brought out 16 of the vessels, and destroyed the remainder. This service was as performed with the loss of 4 men killed, 21 wounded, and 11 drowned. ”

“ On the 17th, every preparation being made for the attack, at day-light the troops moved forwards to drive the enemy from their positions without the town. The gun and mortar-vessels, with the ships’ boats, armed with carronades, were advanced along the sea-line to attack the batteries; the greater part of the marines of the squadron were also embarked in the transports’ boats, ready to land as occasion might require. ”