by John Marshall

“ The Rivoli bore the broad pendant of Commodore Barre, the Commander-in-Chief of the enemy’s forces in the Adriatic, whose conduct, during the whole of the battle, convinced Captain Talbot he had to deal with a most gallant man, as well as an experienced and skilful officer. ”

“ It is impossible for words to express my feelings on so flattering an occasion; and I have only to request you will believe I shall ever retain a due sense of the honor you have conferred on me.”
We next find Captain Talbot commanding the Thunderer, of 74 guns, in which ship he greatly distinguished himself at the destruction of a Turkish squadron lying within the forts of the Dardanelles, Feb. 19, 1807 [2] . In this affair, and during the subsequent operations against the Turks, by the squadron under Sir John T. Duckworth, the Thunderer had 6 men killed and 28 wounded. ”

“ Sir John Talbot is a son of the late Colonel Talbot, of Malahide Castle, near Dublin, and brother of Richard Wogan Talbot, Esq., M.P. for that county. In 1784, we find him serving as a Midshipman on board the Boreas frigate, commanded by the late Lord Nelson, at the Leeward Islands. He was made a Lieutenant in 1790 ”