Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/344

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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1811.
327

fleet of merchantmen from Cork to Barbadoes. On his arrival in Carlisle bay, he received a handsome letter of thanks from the masters of the convoy “for the excellent arrangements he made to prevent separation, and for his very great attention to them during the voyage.”

From Barbadoes, Captain Fellowes proceeded to the Jamaica station, where he recaptured several British merchant vessels, one of which was the Perthshire letter of marque, mounting 14 guns, with a cargo of fish and oil.

On the 9th Jan. 1813, being then employed in affording protection to the trade between Curagoa and the Spanish Main, Captain Fellowes recaptured a brig; and finding that she had been taken by one of three powerful American privateers, which he had previously obliged to fly from their rendezvous between Beata and St. Domingo, he immediately went in pursuit of the marauder, whom, at daylight on the 10th, he discovered from the mast-head, close in with the land to the eastward of Porto Cabello. A long and arduous pursuit took place, at the commencement of which the chace was fired upon by the batteries to prevent her entering the above harbour; and at 2 o’clock in the morning of the 11th, the Fawn having got within range, the weather being squally, and a heavy sea running, she was obliged to run ashore on Point Hicacos, where her commander and 24 men were drowned in attempting to reach the land. The vessel thus destroyed was the Rosamond, of 8 heavy guns and 105 men: when fallen in with by the Fawn she had on board 100,000 dollars in specie, besides much valuable merchandize, the plunder of various English and Spanish vessels. Captain Fellowes shortly afterwards received a letter from the Captain-General of the Caraccas, of which the following is a translation:–

“Dear Sir,– Mr. Simon Cock has informed me of your arrival at La Guiara, at which I am extremely pleased, and only sorry at not having; the pleasure of seeing you here, which I have so much desired.

“This government is penetrated with the liveliest sense of gratitude for the zeal and ability which you have manifested in driving the enemies of peace and commerce from these coasts, and securing them from their prejudicial depredations.

“Confident of your zeal tor the general cause, I take the liberty of re-