Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp3.djvu/253

  by his uncle the late Rear-Admiral Reynolds, whose melancholy fate has been noticed. In 1790, he joined the Salisbury 50, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Mark Milbanke, commander-in-chief at Newfoundland; and on the glorious 1st June, 1794, he served as midshipman under Sir Alexander Hood, in the Royal George 110. His promotion to the rank of lieutenant took place about three weeks after that memorable battle.

In 1795, Mr. Sibly proceeded to the East Indies, in the Victorious 74; and he did not return home from that station until May, 1803. In the ensuing year he joined the Centaur 74, bearing the broad pendant of the late Sir Samuel Hood, at the Leeward Islands, where he assisted in capturing many of the enemies’ vessels, one of which, l’Elizabeth French schooner privateer, mounting 6 guns, was brought out from under the batteries of Basseterre by four boats entrusted to his command. The very gallant exploit for which he obtained further advancement will be seen by the following official letter:–

“Centaur, off Rochfort, July 19, 1806.

“My Lord,– I beg leave to enclose to your lordship, a letter I have received from Captain Rodd, of H.M.S. Indefatigable, giving an account of an attack made by a boat from each line-of-battle ship of this squadron, and those of the Indefatigable and Iris, on two corvettes and a convoy, in the entrance of the river Gironde. Le Caesar, the largest corvette, was boarded and carried by the division of boats led on by Lieutenant Sibly, first of the Centaur, in a style highly honourable to the national character. The western breeze that sprang up after the boats left the Indefatigable, and blowing stronger as they advanced, was truly perplexing, for it was the only circumstance that could have prevented the whole falling into our hands; they took advantage on the first attack, made sail, and escaped before the wind and tide up the Gironde; it was impossible for the boats to prevent them. The firm resistance made by the corvette caused a greater loss than could be expected, but nothing could withstand the bravery of the officers and seamen employed.

“To Lieutenant Sibly’s gallantry, no words of mine are equal to do justice: every one speaks of him in terms of the highest commendation: I had before, in the West Indies, experienced his brave conduct; he now has seven severe wounds, but I hope none are mortal; and I beg leave to