by John Marshall

“ The officers’ names engaged in this service are subjoined; for as all did their duty so nobly on this occasion, and have on all former ones given me such perfect satisfaction, I cannot in justice particularize. They unite in speaking in the highest terms of the silence and good conduct of the men, who did not allow a whisper to be heard until the enemy’s first round of grape, which they answered with three cheers. ”

“ After remaining at Lisbon until the early part of 1824, we find him proceeding to Algiers, with the Camelion brig, of 10 guns, under his orders, for the purpose of making a remonstrance against the outrageous proceedings of the Dey, who had broken open the house of the British Consul, and taken away two of his servants, under the pretence that they belonged to a tribe called Cabbais, natives of the interior, against whom the Regency had commenced a war of extermination and plunder. ”

“ All these obstacles, and the tremendous fire of cannon and small arms, kept up during the whole time the boats were in sight, which, from the illumination caused by the burning vessel, was lengthened, served only as a means of shewing how vain all resistance is, when British seamen and marines are led by their officers in the way they were upon this occasion. ”

“ It will be seen by the official account of that gallant but unsuccessful enterprise (inserted at p. 66 et seq.) , that after the senior officer anchored, the wind died away, and a strong ebb tide prevented Captain Spencer from getting his ship into the position wished for. He therefore left her distantly engaged, hastened to the assistance of his gallant friend, and remained with him on board the Hermes, until the boats of the squadron came alongside to take out her surviving officers and crew, the greater part of whom, including many of the wounded, were received on board the Carron. ”

“ Captain Spencer then proceeded to Malta, for the purpose of communicating his proceedings to Sir Harry Neale, then commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, with whom he returned two days afterwards to Algiers. The Dey still continued obstinate in his refusal, and a blockade was established, during the whole period of which the Naiad was employed on that coast. ”

“ I have great pleasure in adding, that, notwithstanding so very different a return might have been expected, I have only to report a few men hurt by severe contusions, and none killed, chiefly to be attributed to the masterly manner the business was conducted in ”

“ The launch’s officers and crew were amongst the first, who, hauling up on the inshore side of la Lamproie [2] , penetrated under the boarding nettings, which the French on that side had neglected to lace down, trusting no doubt to the tremendous fire of musketry, &c [3] . from the beach, which was expected to render any attempt to board from that side impossible.
Mr. Spencer’s commission as lieutenant bears date Dec. 13 1810; his promotion to the rank of commander took place Jan. 22, 1813. On the latter occasion he was appointed to the Kite brig, of 16 guns ”