Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/140

  Captain Tobin obtained post rank at the general promotion, April 29, 1802; and was appointed to the Northumberland 74, bearing the flag of his friend the Hon. Rear-Admiral Cochrane, off Ferrol, in Sept. 1804. The manner in which he was employed during the ensuing twelve months will be seen.

In Sept. 1805, he was removed by the Rear-Admiral, then Commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station, into the Princess Charlotte, a 38-gun frigate, with a complement of 264 men; and on the 5th of the following month, being off Tobago, he captured the Cyane French corvette, (formerly British) mounting 20 long sixes, 2 long fours, and six 12-pounder carronades, with a complement of 190 men, commanded by Mons. Masnard, Lieutenant de Vaisseau; the Naiad brig, of 16 long 12-pounders, and 170 men, was in company with the Cyane, but by taking a more prudent, though annoying situation, and superior sailing, effected her escape. When first discovered, these vessels were so far distant, that Captain Tobin saw no chance of overtaking them by an avowed pursuit; he therefore disguised his frigate as much as possible, which had the desired effect of bringing them down to her in the night of the 4th, when a close action took place, and continued above an hour, during which the Princess Charlotte was so much cut up in her sails and rigging, the enemy firing high on purpose to disable her, as rendered the subsequent pursuit of them a very perplexing one. The Cyane was defended in a very gallant manner, and sustained a loss of 3 men killed and 9 wounded. The Princess Charlotte had 7 wounded, 2 of whom died soon after. The Naiad was taken by the Jason frigate on the 13th of the same month.

