by John Marshall

“ In reply to your letter, requesting my opinion of your professional conduct and character, during the period you served as first lieutenant of the Jaseur, under my command; I beg to assure you, that the only fear I entertain is, that my pen will rarely do justice to its office; when I say that, if zeal and ability as an officer constituted a fair claim to consideration, you ought not to have been overlooked in the list of candidates for promotion, it would be saying what might with truth be said of hundreds in the same profession ”

“ The courage and conduct you evinced when you so gallantly boarded and captured the Grecian, in a boat containing only six men besides yourself, is at once a fact which speaks for itself, and supersedes almost the necessity of eulogium.
“It has rarely fallen to my lot to perform so gratifying a task as thus to bear testimony to the merits of one who ever occupied a high place in my good opinion ”

“ West rejoined the Lavinia, of which frigate he was third lieutenant at the reduction of Walcheren, in Aug. 1809. He subsequently served in the same ship, under Captain George Digby, on the Mediterranean station. His next appointment was, April 24th, 1813, to be first of the Jaseur sloop, Captain George Edward Watts, then recently launched, and destined to North America.
The Jaseur’s first cruise was off the Delaware, where she captured several of the enemy’s vessels. Judging it expedient to land his prisoners, Captain Watts sent an officer with a flag of truce, for this purpose. ”