that, wishing to avoid a court-martial, he proposed making an apology; which was acceded to, and he accordingly did make an apology on the quarter-deck of the same ship, in the presence of Captain Nourse (who then commanded the Volontaire) and all the officers who were present at the time the alleged offence was committed: that in consequence of the said apology, he was released from his arrest, and continued in the full execution of his duty; that he dined at the Captain’s table in turn, according to the usage of the ship; and that he humbly conceived the humane intentions of the law would be frustrated, if he were, under such circumstances, amenable to a court-martial; and, therefore, begged to submit these considerations to the honorable court. The Court was cleared for deliberation; and, on the opening, Captain Nourse was called and sworn; he fully corroborated the foregoing statement. The Court, therefore, without going further into the business, adjudged the prisoner to be acquitted.”
Captain Nourse was appointed to the Severn about July 1813, and in Nov. following he sailed from England with a fleet of transports and merchantmen under his protection, bound to Bermuda. We next find him employed under the orders of Rear -Admiral Cockburn during the expeditions against Washington and Baltimore, in Aug. and Sept. 1814[1]. His conduct on those occasions is thus mentioned in that officer’s despatches relative to the latter enterprise:
“Captain Nourse, of the Severn, was good enough to receive my flag for this service; he rendered me great assistance in getting the ships to the different stations within the river (Patapsco); and when the storming of the fortified hill was contemplated, he hastened to my assistance with a reinforcement of seamen and marines. I should consider myself wanting in candour and justice, did I not particularly point out, Sir, to you, the high opinion I entertain of the enterprise and ability of this valuable officer, not only for his conduct on this occasion, but on the very many others on which I have employed him since with me in the Chesapeake.”
Captain Nourse subsequently proceeded to the coast of Georgia, and assisted at the capture of St. Mary’s a town near Point Petre, Jan. 13, 1815[2]. Among the captures made by him on the American station were two privateer schooners, and a letter of marque, carrying in the whole 22 guns and 241 men.
The Severn being paid off on her return to England, Captain Nourse remained on half-pay from that period till Nov. 1, 1821, when he was appointed Commodore and Commander-
- ↑ See Vol. I. pp. 524–527.
- ↑ See p. 734, and note * at p. 738 of this volume.
