Rob
Thank you very much for that. I have seen several books that cover the action with both the Naval Chronicle and the memoirs of Zachary Mudge giving quite different versions of the November 1803 action, which is the one I am interested in. I am researching the Patriotic Fund at Lloyds and they gave two swords for this action. One to Lieutenant Lake RN and one to Lieutenant Nicolls RM (I have just added the post nominals here for clarity). The inscription on the sword was recorded as:
Patriotic Fund at Lloyds to Lieut Edward Nicolls (sic) of the Royal Marines for his Gallant Conduct on the 5th November 1803 upon the Cutting out by the boats of H.M.S. Blanche of a Large Coppered Armed French Cutter full of Bullocks for Cape Francois whilst Laying close under the Guns of Monte Christe, Recorded in the London Gazette of the 7th Feby 1804
My suspicion is this sword was broken or lost as Nicolls is the only officer to take a second Patriotic Fund sword (several others were awarded one but took plate or cash instead of the second). This second one is still held by the RM but has had the blade replaced at some point. I suspect the blade was broken fairly early as the later portrait of Nicolls does not show him with this sword which would have been the norm.
Many thanks for coming back to me and if there is any further detail on any of this action or Nicolls or the Patriotic Fund you would like then please ask.
