Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/106

 A few days after this flattering entertainment, Sir Thomas Staines was appointed to the Hamadryad of 42 guns, in which ship we find him successively employed convoying a transport to the banks of Newfoundland (on her way to Quebec,) cruising off the Western islands, escorting some troops, &c. to the mouth of the Tagus, accompanying a fleet of East Indiamen from St. Helena to the Downs, and cruising on the Irish station. His next appointment was, May 7, 1812, to the Briton frigate; but being at sea when it took place, he did not join her until the 17th June following.

Between the latter period and Dec. 1813, Sir Thomas Staines cruised with his usual activity, in the Bay of Biscay, where he captured the Sans Souci French privateer of 14 guns and 120 men; la Melanie letter of marque; the Joel Barlow, an American vessel of the same description; and six unarmed merchantmen. He also recaptured an English ship and two brigs; drove on shore two coasting traders; and assisted at the capture of five American vessels, the whole having valuable cargoes.

On the 31st Dec. 1813, Sir Thomas Staines sailed from Spithead in company with several men of war and 49 merchantmen, destined for the East Indies; but on their arrival off Madeira he separated from his consorts in order to assist and protect a disabled Indiaman, with which he arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the 19th Mar., 1814. From thence the Briton was suddenly ordered round Cape Horn, in quest of a large American frigate which was reported to have gone thither to join the Essex of 46 guns, commanded by Captain David Porter, who had already done considerable injury to our whale fishery, and was then, according to the best information, refitting his ship in the port of Valparaiso. The capture of the Essex, by the Phoebe frigate and Cherub sloop of war, has been described in our memoir of Captain James Hillyar, C.B., whom Sir Thomas Staines found lying at Valparaiso, in company with his prize and the Tagus frigate, the latter commanded by Captain Philip Pipon.

