Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/118

 

Thames, at Sea, Nov. 8th, 1811.

“It would be presumptuous on my part. Sir, in attempting to pass encomiums on the very superior judgment and heroic gallantry of the commandant Captain Duncan, as also in the gallant manner of laying his ship alongside a strong battery and fortified tower, flanked by several gun-boats, which were shortly silenced by a powerful and well-directed fire, in conjunction with Captain Napier, of H.M.S. Thames, whereby the commandant was left in possession of the enemy’s flotilla, convoy, battery, and tower. I have also much gratification in stating, that Captain Napier, who did me the honor to accompany me on shore with a party of seamen and marines, contributed materially by his cool, judicious, and actively intrepid conduct, ably seconded by the gallantry of Lieutenant Travers, to surmount all difficulties in gaining the heights, in the face of an opposing and strongly posted numerous enemy, whom we had afterwards the satisfaction of dislodging and obliging to retreat, leaving us in full possession of the heights and telegraphic tower.

(Signed)“.”

“To Major-General Heron.”

Sir Edward Pellew, when acknowledging the receipt of Captain Duncan’s official report, informed him that, he had requested the attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty “to the distinguished services of Lieutenant Eaton Travers, on this and former occasions.”

On the 27th June 1812, the Imperieuse assisted in destroying eighteen merchant vessels, lying under the batteries of Languilla, and Alassio, in the Gulf of Genoa, on which occasion she had four men killed, and an officer and ten men wounded. We subsequently find her employed in the blockade of Naples, near which city Captain Duncan, as is stated in his memoir, with only an 18-gun brig in company, offered battle to, and had a partial action with, the Joachim 74, a frigate, a corvette, and twenty-two gun vessels. About the same time, an attempt was made to obtain possession of between fifty and sixty coral boats, recently returned from the fishery, and then performing quarantine; but, unfortunately they obtained pratique, and entered the harbour about