diately posted him into the Mermaid dated Oct. 30th, 1795. The following John’s letter, addressed to Evan Nepean, Esq.:–
“Upon this occasion, I cannot dispense with doing justice to Captains Vaughan and Otway, by a representation to their lordships of their merits. Upon my arrival at Martinique, the former, who commanded la Matilde, and the latter the Thorn sloop, were recommended to my notice in very strong terms by both the commanders-in-chief, for their great activity, diligence, and exertions in their line of duty. Captain Vaughan had been remarkably active in several instances; Captain Otway has particular and signal services to speak for him; for one, I will beg leave to refer to Vice-Admiral Caldwell’s letter to you. Sir, dated at Spithead, the 29th July, 1795, which I have seen published, giving an account of his having captured a French ship of war, le Courier National, of eighteen 9 and 6-pounders and 119 men, by boarding her. He has had a present of a gold-hilted sword made him by the legislature of this island, for his activity and vigilance in the protection of it, when stationed here. The highest encomiums of him have been transmitted to me from the legislature of St. Vincent during their distresses, where I had sent him for their protection; and he has obtained my approbation of his gallant and spirited conduct there in more instances than one, particularly when there was a necessity for forcing a strong post the enemy possessed, and the land force was not sufficient; he landed with his men, and led the way to the attack, when the opposition was so great that the private men of the troops could not be induced by their officers to advance. I knew nothing of either of these gentlemen when I came here, but on account of their merit, I removed Captain Vaughan to the Alarm, a larger frigate, and gave post rank to Captain Otway in la Matilde.”
The late Admiral George Bowen, who was captain of the Carnatic 74, and witnessed Captain Otway’s conduct in destroying a Spanish guarda-costa, and saving the Trent and Ceres frigates from being wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico[1], subsequently wrote to him as follows:–
