Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/336

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318
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1814.

of boats at the destruction of the Dutch shipping in Batavia roads, Nov. 27, 1806; and the Victor sloop, at Griessee, Dec. 11, 1807[1].

This officer was advanced to the rank of commander July 31, 1809; appointed to the Calypso brig July 29, 1812; and posted June 7, 1814. He married at Madras, March 17, 1810, Mrs. Watson, daughter of the late James Dudson, Esq.




HERCULES ROBINSON, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]

Was made lieutenant April 25, 1807; and promoted to the command of the Prometheus sloop Aug. 30, 1809. In that vessel he captured two Danish privateers, and destroyed la Messilina French schooner of 6 guns and 38 men, on the Baltic station. May 24 and Aug. 2, 1810.

The following is a copy of an official letter from Captain Robinson to the senior officer at Jamaica, dated off Balize, in the bay of Honduras, Feb. 3, 1812:

“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that having, on the 10th ultimo, received information of an enemy’s privateer being within the reefs, off Cape Catouche, I immediately proceeded thither, in H.M. sloop under my command; but, being aware of the impracticability of approaching sufficiently close in the ship, I procured a small merchant schooner, which, having armed with a carronade and manned with 17 men, under the direction of Lieutenant Ramsay, from whose zeal and ability I had very much to expect, I despatched a short distance a-head of the ship, with directions to proceed through one passage within the reefs; while our boats joining her through the outer passage, with the ship on the outside, I hoped would prevent the possibility of any thing escaping.

“Lieutenant Ramsay reached within Mohair Kay, at day-light, and discovered, in the spot expected, a large schooner privateer; and though unfortunately a most sudden and violent gale at N.W. had driven the Prometheus off the land, the confidence of the officers and men under his command induced Lieutenant Ramsay (who waited till the following day, in hopes of the ship being able to beat up), to attempt, unassisted, the capture of the privateer. I very deeply regret, that the state of preparation that vessel had been enabled to assume, and her being of the largest class, armed with 12 guns, and having 88 men, prevented the merited success attending the great bravery of Lieutenant Ramsay, Lieutenant Kemp, of the 65th