Dear Sirs,
It is with humble appreciation that I write this note to inform you of the heroic and selfless actions of Captain Sir Roderick Morrow on the evening of 10. September.
During the battle of Fort de France, numerous French skirmishing frigates did engage the rear of our correctly formed and ordered line of battle and proceed to do great harm upon our brave Captain's ships. During this engagement, the Valiant-class third rate HMS Augustus Caesar took a multitude of full broadsides from these frigates, including strong hit to the stern of her gun decks. Despite being near-crippled and taking on water, a fact that later saved the ship from a vicious powder room strike, Captain Sir Roderick Morrow placed his Trinity-class second rate, HMS Courageous, in direct line of the enemy fire. I have no doubt that in taking several mighty hits and so proficiently blocking the stern of the HMS Augustus Caesar, Captain Sir Roderick Morrow's actions did allow the Valiant to escape, saving the lives of almost six hundred brave crewmen and officers, along with the warship herself, which was able to disengage under orders and return to Port Royal for extensive refit and repair.
I would like to formally thank him for this act of bravery and skilled piloting under heavy enemy fire, and believe that such meritorous actions to save a lower rated ship are deserving of recognition.
I remain, humbly,
Captain Miss Jessica Ashden.
