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Augustus Dalby's service record identifies him as Master of HMS Suffolk in 1808.

The nearest HMS Suffolk identification I can find was launched 1765 and broken up in 1803. However, TNA records include pay-book entries for sailors who served on HMS Suffolk in 1808 and 1809.

Is there any online source of information on this ship which presumably replaces the earlier one?

It is possible that HMS Suffolk played a supporting role in the capture of the French frigate La Thetis by HMS Amethyst in an action on 10th November 1808. Would be really good to find confirmation of this.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_10_November_1808

Many thanks for any help with this.

Augustus was also Master of HMS Brave or Braave from 1809 to 1814. I have a similar problem with this one. HMS Braave fits the handwritten record better but it was just a prison hulk. I doubt if it would have needed a Master!

Thanks Dobfarm. I already tried a couple of image enhancer apps - they made it worse! I have sent a complaint to the National Archive and request for a higher resolution scan. Just because they make it available for free doesn't let them off the hook. This abysmal quality doesn't reflect well on their professional attitude.

Thanks mckha489 - Yes, I think this is correct. He had a full year ashore - time enough to recover from injuries as well as build his house.

I tried to find some information on HMS Suffolk. Nothing online - there was a previous HMS Suffolk luaunched 1765 but broken up in 1803. TNA lists crew of a ship of this name in 1808 - 09 so there was evidently a new one. I'll post this question on the military section. Maybe there are sources of naval information that I haven't yet found. My specialism is onshore (mining industry), not maritime.

Downloaded PDF from the National Archive, service record of Augustus Dalby, Master. Most of it I can work out. He served on HMS Spartan 14 Sept 1806 - 19 Jan 1807. Comment below appears to be H--- H--- but unable to interpret. (could it be Haslar Hospital?)
Then he was on shore for a year. During this time, I know from other records that he was having a house built in Saltash, across the Tamar from Plymouth.
Next ship name was the Suffolk, from 27 April 1808 to 12 Dec. 1808. There is a comment below showing something from 8 Nov.1808. I suspect in connection with the action to capture the French ship Thetis but I cannot read the comment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_10_November_1808
He was then on HMS Owen Glendower 28 Jan.1809 to 5 Nov.1809.
My main problem is the long comment under the HMS Suffolk. Problem is the low resolution of the scanned image in the PDF from TNA. Maybe I'll need to go to Kew to view the original.

Thanks, both Shaun and Jon -
I already know about the two John Henley children - unrelated as far as I know, but both became tailors and both eventually emigrated to New Zealand (which caused a lot of confusion in my research!). The coal carter is a new one I wasn't aware of. He is a definite candidate for the life-saver. Air Street isn't particularly close to Mighell Street, though.

Mary is a new child in our John Henley's family, not identified before as she obviously didn't show up in any of the census lists. Her mother was Esther Vine, daughter of William Vine the miller who built Vine Place on Clifton Hill. I thought I had found all the siblings. There was an elder brother William born in 1841, before the census, but died at 10 weeks old, just after the census. One reason that I haven't found baptism records of these children is that John and Esther were members of the Salem Chapel - "Particular Baptists" who practised adult baptism.

"Corpse brought from Mighell Street" clinches it though! Many thanks to you both. It saves me taking another day trip to London - though next time I go to the LMA I will definitely take a look at the Royal Humane Society case notes.