“These are to certify the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Lieutenant James Robertson, being senior officer of H.M. sloop Hazard on the 18th Dec. 1809, when in action with the French frigates la Seine and la Loire, which were moored in Ance la Barque, Guadaloupe, and strongly protected by two batteries, notwithstanding which they were both destroyed by the squadron under my orders, and the Hazard bearing a conspicuous part, her commander, Hugh Cameron, was slain, and the command devolving on Lieutenant Robertson, his conduct appeared to me that of a gallant and experienced officer.
Sir Alexander Cochrane, who had been a distant observer of this action, was likewise pleased to approve of Lieutenant Robertson’s conduct, and to give him an order to command the Hazard, until the arrival of Captain Cameron’s intended successor, who was then at Halifax, refitting the brig he commanded, and not expected to return from thence for some months: at the same time, the vice-admiral kindly said, he would request Lord Mulgrave to give him rank as lieutenant from the date of his first acting appointment. All this was not a little flattering to so young an officer, at a moment when the island of Guadaloupe was to be attacked, and an enemy’s squadron was hourly expected from Europe to attempt its relief; nor was it less flattering to him, that he should be ordered to place the Hazard in a situation to give the first intimation of the enemy’s approach. In a few days afterwards, however, we find him resuming the duty of first lieutenant, under the command of Captain William Elliot, (now C. B.), who having just before most highly distinguished himself at the capture of a French national brig, la Nisus, in the port of Des Hayes, was removed from the Pultusk brig to the Hazard, at his own earnest solicitation.
During the subsequent operations against Guadaloupe, we once more find Lieutenant Robertson on board a vessel in flames, as will be seen by the following handsome testimonial:
