SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPTAIN WILLIAM PEAKE
THE BRAVE AND HIGHLY RESPECTED COMMANDER
OF HIS MAJESTY'S BRIG PEACOCK
WHOSE DEATH WAS GLORIOUS
AS HIS LIFE WAS HONOURABLE ENGAGED
IN UNEQUAL COMBAT WITH THE AMERICAN SHIP OF WAR
HORNET
A CANNON SHOT
IN MERCY TERMINATED HIS EXISTENCE
ALMOST AT THE SAME MOMENT
THAT HIS GALLANT VESSEL
CONSIGNED TO THE DEEP GAVE A WATERY SEPULCHRE
TO THE REMAINS OF HER LAMENTED CHIEF
TO COMMEMORATE THIS GLORIOUS
BUT FATAL ENGAGEMENT
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON THESE SHORES
ON THE 24th DAY OF FEBRUARY 1813
AND TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY
OF A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER HIS EXCELLENCY GENL. CARMICHAEL
ACTING GOVERNOR
SYMPATHISING WITH THE GENEROUS FEELING
OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS UNITED COLONY
IN THE UNIVERSAL EXPRESSION OF SINCERE REGRET
WAS PLEASED TO GRANT
IN THEIR BEHALF
THIS MEMORIAL TO HIS FAME
(Verses follow)