Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/245

  “Sir,– Having reconnoitred the port of Otranto on the 27th instant, and observed a convoy collected, which I thought would make a push for Corfu the first N.W. wind, I took a station off the island of Fano on the following morning to endeavour to intercept them, and sent the barge and gig you were good enough to leave with me, under Lieutenant William Henry Nares, of the Apollo, and the barge and pinnace of this ship, under Lieutenant John William Montagu, close in shore, when, as was expected, about one they came over, protected by eight gun-boats. Notwithstanding this strong force, aided by three more gun-boats from Fano, and the cliffs covered with French troops, they were attacked in the most determined and gallant manner. Lieutenant Nares, in the Apollo’s barge, boarded and carried one gun-boat, and Mr. Hutchison, in your gig, actually boarded and carried another before our barge could get alongside.

“It is with the deepest regret I am now to inform you, that Mr. Suett, master’s-mate of the Cerberus, was shot through the heart in boarding another gun-boat; in him the service has to lament the loss of a most gallant young man; one seaman also killed, and a marine dangerously wounded, belonging to this ship, is the amount of our loss.

“The gun-boats taken had each a 9-pounder in their bow, and two 4-pounders abaft, going with troops to Corfu; four of the convoy were also taken.

(Signed)“.”

“''To Captain B. W. Taylor, H.M.S. Apollo, Senior Officer off Corfu.''”

“Mr. Hutchison, master’s-mate, had but seven men on board the gig he was in, with which he not only captured a gun-boat, but also took three other vessels. The Apollo returning from the southward, where she had been watering, captured five more of the convoy, with grain, under Ottoman colours, which the Cerberus was chasing, and the boats had prevented getting into Corfu.

(Signed)“.”

“To Rear-Admiral Freemantle.”

This officer was made commander, May 31, 1814; appointed to the Brisk, of 10 guns, Mar. 31, 1819 ; and posted, Nov. 30, 1820.

Agent.– Sir F. M. Ommanney. 

 son of John, first Lord Cawdor, by Lady 