Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p1.djvu/280

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POST CAPTAINS OF 1825.
265

men killed and seven wounded. On the 30th of Dec, she warped into the harbour of Cadaqués, near Cape de Creux, and, after a short action, took possession of the batteries, two French national vessels, and twelve others laden with wheat for the garrison of Barcelona. On the 9th of Jan. 1809, she ran into Port Selda, drove the enemy from their works, and embarked four brass guns. Here terminated Lord Cochrane’s active and gallant services in the Mediterranean.

On the 11th of April following, Mr. Marryat was employed in an explosion vessel, under Lieutenant Urry Johnson[1], and conducted himself very creditably in the memorable night attack on a French squadron in the road of Aix[2]. He also bore a part in the unequal contest maintained by the Imperieuse on the ensuing day.

In June, 1809, Captain Thomas Garth assumed the temporary command of the Imperieuse[3] and Mr. Marryat continued to serve under that officer until Oct. in the same year, when he was discharged into the Victorious 74, for a passage from Flushing to England, in consequence of his having been severely attacked with the Walcheren fever. On the following day, he joined the Centaur 74, flag-ship of Sir Samuel Hood, with whom he soon afterwards went back to the Mediterranean. While serving in this ship, he again risked his own life to save that of a fellow creature, by jumping overboard after a man named Thomas Moubray, who had fallen from the main-yard, while cruising off Toulon.

After an absence of about twelve months, Mr. Marryat returned home from Cadiz, in the Atlas 74, Captain James Sanders. We next find him proceeding to Barbadoes and Bermuda, as passenger on board the Africa 64, Captain John Bastard. When running down the trades, at the rate of seven knots an hour, he leaped overboard after another seaman (James Walker), but was unable to save him, being nearly two miles astern of the ship, and upwards of thirty minutes in the water before a boat arrived to his assistance.

  1. Died a commander, Feb. 17th 1816, aged 26 years.
  2. See Vol. I. Part I. p. 84.
  3. See Captain Eaton Travers.