Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p1.djvu/242

  officer was a Lieutenant of the Fortitude, a third rate, at the reduction of Corsica,, in 1794. He afterwards commanded the Hope and Rattlesnake sloops of war, and Jupiter 50, stationed at the Cape of Good Hope; Hyaena, a 20-gun ship, during the expedition to the Baltic, in 1801; Semiramis frigate, and Caesar of 80 guns. His post commission bears date July 22, 1799.

Agents.– Messrs. Maude. 

 officer was made a Lieutenant about 1790; appointed to the command of the Sylph sloop of war in 1795; and captured the Mercury, a Dutch brig of 16 guns, off the Texel, May 12, 1796. In September following, he took the Phoenix French privateer of 4 guns, and 32 men.

On the 27th July 1797, the Sylph being on a cruise to the southward of Ushant, in company with the Pomone, Artois, and Anson frigate, and the Dolly cutter, discovered fourteen sail of vessels, escorted by la Calliope of 36 guns, a corvette, and an armed brig, standing into Hodierne bay. The two latter escaped round the Penmarks; but the frigate, not being able to follow them, cut away her masts and ran ashore. Captain White, with great promptitude stood in, and by a well-directed fire, prevented her crew from using any means to save the ship or stores. The next day she went to pieces. Eight of the vessels under her convoy, laden with naval stores, provisions, and clothing, were captured; and two others destroyed. In this affair the Sylph had 6 men wounded.

On the 11th Aug. following, Captain White joined in an attack made upon a French convoy at the entrance of the Sable d’Olonne, on which occasion 2 of his crew were killed, and 4 others wounded. A few days afterwards, he assisted at the capture of five coasting vessels, and destruction of le Petit Diable, a French cutter of 18 guns and 100 men.

In Feb. 1798, the Sylph formed part of a squadron under