by John Marshall

“ Mr. Wolfe continued in the Ocean, which ship was successively commanded by Captains Ourry, Edgar, Cleland, and Phipps, till May 1782, when he was removed into the Royal George, a first rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt, in the Channel fleet. Fortunately for him he escaped sharing the fate of many of his former messmates, who were lost in that noble vessel at Spithead, by following Captain Phipps into the Berwick of 74 guns. ”

“ On this anxious and fatiguing service, he continued as long as there existed a possibility of annoying and harrassing the fugitives; the Aigle preserving her station above the Boyart shoal, although much exposed to an attack from the French gun-boats, for a period of fifteen days, during which Captain Wolfe was never once in bed. ”

“ The greater part of their crews escaped to the shore; several were drowned by the swamping of the boats, owing to the heavy surf on the beach; and the remainder, amounting to 26 officers and men, were taken prisoners. In Sept. 1805, Captain Wolfe, being off Vigo, was attacked during a calm, by nine Spanish gun -boats. After an hour’s cannonade, a breeze sprung up, and enabled him to capture the Commodore’s vessel, sink another, and drive the rest on shore. The prize carried a long 24-pounder, and 29 men, 4 of whom belonged to the artillery. ”

“ Nine of the wounded men were discharged from the service, in consequence of the injuries they received. ↑ The following circumstances connected with, this unfortunate affray, will serve to shew how deeply the principle of self-love is implanted in the heart of man. The Coroner, an attorney, finding that another limb of the law was engaged to draw up the affidavits of those officers against whom he had returned a verdict of murder, went on board the Aigle and begged Captain Wolfe to employ him ”

“ On the morning of the trial, this disciple of AEsculapius made his appearance in court, and stated that a young girl who had received a wound in the late tumult, declared to him before her death, that Captain Wolfe was the person who had shot her. We do not pretend to divine by what motives he was actuated ”

“ She tried the Aigle on every point of sailing; and had there been less wind, would most likely have escaped from her, as she had before done from four other cruisers. The capture of so fine a vessel may justly be deemed a service of importance. ”

“ The remainder of the mob retiring towards the Bill of Portland, were soon re-inforced by nearly 300 men, armed with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, which had been plundered from the transports wrecked on that coast in 1795 [7] . ”