by John Marshall

“ On the night of April 5th, 1806, the boats of the Pallas, under Lieutenant John Haswell, captured the French national corvette Tapageuse, of fourteen long 12-pounders and 95 men, lying about twenty miles above the shoals of Cordovan, in the Bourdeaux river, and under the protection of two strong batteries. ”

“ Was born in 1790; and entered the royal navy in Sept. 1803, as midshipman on board the Leander 50, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, commander-in-Chief on the Halifax station, where he was soon afterwards removed into the Boston frigate. Captain (now Vice-Admiral) John Erskine Douglas, He subsequently served under Lord Cochrane, in the Pallas 32, and conducted into port one of the richest prizes taken by that frigate, at the commencement of the Spanish war, in 1805. ”

“ During their absence, three ships were observed bearing down to the British frigate, making many signals, and soon perceived to be enemies. “In a few minutes,” says Lord Cochrane, “the anchor was weighed, and, with the remainder of the officers and crew, we chased drove on shore, and wrecked, one 24-gun ship, one of 22 guns, and la Malicieuse, a beautiful corvette of 18 guns. ”