by John Marshall

“ The Andromache formed part of the squadron under Sir George Collier, during the siege of St. Sebastian; and after the fall of that strong fortress [8] she escorted the French garrison to England. On the 23d of the following month, Oct. 1813, Captain Tobin fell in with a large frigate, under jury-masts, which surrendered after a short action, and proved to be la Trave, mounting twenty-eight French 18-pounders, and sixteen 18-pounder carronades, only nine months off the stocks, with a complement of 321 men. ”

“ La Trave had 1 man killed; her commander, Jacob Van Maren, Capitaine de Vaisseau, and Member of the Imperial Order of Reunion, the second Lieutenant, 2 Midshipman, (one of them mortally) and 24 seamen wounded. The Andromache had only her first Lieutenant [11] severely, and 1 seaman slightly wounded.
Captain Tobin was in company with Rear-Admiral Penrose on the 27th Mar. 1814, when that officer, in a most skilful and gallant manner, forced the passage of the Gironde, and anchored in that river with the Egmont 74, the Andromache, and other ships of war ”

“ Mr. Tobin then joined the Bombay Castle 74, stationed as a guard-ship at Plymouth; where he continued till the spring of 1785, when he proceeded with his friend Commodore Sawyer, in the Thisbe frigate, to Nova Scotia, on which station he completed his time as a Midshipman on board the Leander of 50 guns. ”

“ Captain Bligh returned to England in Aug. following, bringing with him two of the natives of Otaheite, one of whom died soon after his arrival. ↑ The following extracts from Nelson’s letters to his wife, will serve to corroborate what we have said respecting the intended appointment of Lieutenant Tobin to the Agamemnon:– June 13, 1796, “What is become of George Tobin? he is a fine young man: it is a pity he has not got more forward.” July 12, 1797. “I am sure the time is past for doing any thing for George Tobin ”

“ I, note at p. 35 et seq. ↑ The Providence sailed from Spithead in company with her tender, the Assistant brig of 6 guns, commanded by Lieutenant Nathaniel Portlock, Aug. 2, 1791; and proceeded to Otaheite, for the purpose of taking on board a cargo of bread-fruit and other plants for the use of the West India colonies. The object of this voyage was accomplished in the most satisfactory manner, 300 plants being landed in excellent order at the island of St. ”