136 BRITISH SINGLE SHIP AND BOAT ACTIONS. [A.D. ants, and, although William Triplet, the boatswain, advanced boldly to repulse the boarders, and with every means of threat, entreaty, and even eloquence, tried to animate the crew, no more than 8 or 10 would follow him, and the consequence was, that the "Carnation" became a prize to "Le Palinure." Her consort, " Le Pilade," was not so fortunate, for, on the 20th of October, the "Pompée," 74, Captain George Cockburn, picked her up near the island of Barbadoes, and captured her. Nor did "Le Palinure" get off scot free, for on the 31st, the "Circe," cruising off Fort Royal, saw her under jury masts, and, though she got under the battery on Point Salomon before the frigate could get up to her, yet, as soon as she got near enough, an action commenced, and in ten minutes she surrendered, with the crew of the "Carnation " prisoners on board. The brave boatswain was immediately noticed with honour by the Admiral, by whom he was appointed forthwith to the largest frigate on the station, and no one will deny that he would have been a most fit recipient of the Victoria Cross of our days. On the 28th of November, Captain Coombe, commanding “Le Heureux," 16, having received information of some vessels laden and ready for sea, lying in the bottom of a bay in Guadaloupe, resolved to attempt to cut them out, and headed an attack on them himself. Awaiting the setting of the moon, the boats dashed out, and the Captain boarded and carried one schooner with his barge. Lieutenant Lawrence, with the other party, carried a brig. Before, however, they could be got off, the shore was lined with musketry, and some field pieces were brought up to bear upon the boats, all of which, unfortunately, grounded. A 24-pound shot struck the Captain dead, and Lawrence was wounded in the arm by a musket-ball, but in the end he got his boats safe back to the ship. On the 11th of May, the " Bacchante," 20, Captain Hood Inglefield, chased" Le Griffon," 16, Lieut. Gautier, off the island of Cuba, and, after a fight of about half an hour, captured her. In the Adriatic the "Unité," 36, Captain Patrick Campbell, captured the brigcorvette "Ronco," 16; and on the 31st, after a chase of two or three days, captured two other brigs, "Nettuno," 16, and “ Teulie,” 16. On the 12th of May, the " Amphion," 32, Captain William Hoste, on her way to the island of Majorca, discovered the French frigate "La Baleine," 30, belonging to Admiral Gantheaume's squadron, lying in the bay of Rosas. Captain Hoste immediately stood towards her, when she opened fire, as well as a battery and a fort on the two sides of the bay. Nevertheless, the British frigate singlehanded was too much for her, so she slipped her cables and ran on shore. The" Amphion" immediately ran up to the very spot where "La Baleine" had been riding, and commenced a sharp fire upon ship, fort, and batteries. She then despatched a boat, under Lieut. Bennett, to bring her away, but her crew brought such a fire to bear upon the little craft, that she was obliged to desist, and Lieut. Bennett retired, after making his men stand up in the stern-sheets and give the French three hearty cheers. The " Amphion," as soon as her boat returned, finding that nothing further could be done, 1808.] BRITISH SINGLE SHIP AND BOAT ACTIONS. 137 made sail out of the bay. On the 23rd of June, the “ Porcupine,” 22, Hon. Captain Duncan, chased a French vessel off Cività Vecchia, and forced her on shore, where the boats of the" Porcupine," under Lieut. Price, effectually destroyed her. The boats of the same ship, under the same officer, when off Monte Circello, on the 9th of July, drove on shore a merchant vessel, under the convoy of two gun-boats, when they saw lying farther up the harbour a large polacca-ship, which they at once resolved to cut out. Lieut. Price and his men boarded her and carried her; but, although he at length succeeded, he had some difficulty in getting her beyond the reach of the enemy's grape. On the 21st, another polacca was cut out and destroyed by the same lieutenant, off the same place; and this officer received his promotion to Commander for these and other similar gallant exploits. The boats of the "Porcupine," on the 8th of August, under the orders of Lieutenants Francis Smith and Renwick, of the Marines, ran into a harbour near Elba, where they found a polacca-ship moored within 30 yards of a battery. In face of all this, the party brought out "La Conception," 4, well laden with bale goods. The Lieutenant of Marines and 7 men were killed in this brave exploit. On the 26th of June, the "Standard," 64, Captain Thomas Harvey, off Corfu, discovered an Italian gun-boat with a French vessel, and, as it fell calm, sent his boats, under the orders of Lieut. Nichols, of the Marines, and Lieut. Cull, when "La Volpe," Enseigne de Vaisseau Mangin, together with "Le Leger," were both taken, after much fighting, but without the loss of a man on either side. On the 11th of August, the "Comet," 18, Captain Daly, came across a small French squadron bound to Martinique, consisting of the ship-corvette "La Diligente," 18, Captain Lemaresquier, and brig-corvettes L'Espiègle," 16, Captain Maujouen, and "La Sylphe," 16, Captain Clément. Daly, having approached rather near before he discovered them to be enemies, thought it the best policy boldly to stand on his course, and "La Diligente" outsailing her consorts and tacking to the southward, induced the British Captain to try to capture the two brigs. He therefore first selected" La Sylphe," and having got within pistol-shot, opened fire, when, at the expiration of 20 minutes, Captain Clément hauled down his colours. L'Espiègle" succeeded in getting away to the protection of "La Diligente" but on the 16th they were both encountered by the "Sybille," 38, Captain Clotworthy Upton, and, though the larger vessel escaped by her superior sailing, Captain Monjouen surrendered his brig-corvette, and "La Diligente" pursued her course alone till the 6th of September, when the brig-sloop "Recruit," 18, Captain Charles Napier, came across her, and passing within pistol-shot exchanged broadsides. Captain Napier was wounded, but did not quit his deck, and the broadsides continued with little intermission for three hours, when the " Recruit" lost her main-mast; nevertheless, while this lay over the stern, she made an attempt to board her antagonist, but "La Diligente" sheered off and sailed away before the wind, reaching Martinique in safety after all her narrow 138 BRITISH SINGLE SHIP AND BOAT ACTIONS. [A.D. escapes. On the 29th of September the "Maria," 14, Lieut. James Bennett, saw and chased the letter of marque "La Département des Landes," 20, Captain Raoul. The weather falling calm the " Maria" was unable to prevent her opponent from getting into a position in which she raked her with repeated broadsides, in one of which her colours came down. On being hailed if she surrendered, Bennett cried out, "No," but at the same moment received three grape-shots in his body, and fell dead in the act of rehoisting his colours. The "Maria" shortly afterwards surrendered, but was in so sinking a state that she was obliged to be run on shore to save her. On the 1st of August, the " Kent," 74, Captain Rogers, and "Wizard," 16, Captain Ferris, discovered a convoy of 10 coastingvessels deeply laden, under the protection of a gun-boat, near the town of Noli, on the coast of Italy. Captain Rogers accordingly manned the boats under the orders of Captain Rea, of the Marines, Lieuts. Cashmen, Lindsay, and Moresby, who attacked the town, took the guns which were directed against the shipping, and carried them away, and also captured the "Vigilante " gun-boat, forcing the merchant vessels from their moorings, and brought them away with the slight loss of two killed. 66 On the 10th of November, the " Amethyst," 36, Captain Michael Seymour, observed a sail running for the Ile de Groix, and immediately bore in chase. She proved to be the French frigate "La Thétis," 40, Captain Jacques Puisun, with troops and stores on board, bound for Martinique, and this being her object she took no notice of the "Amethyst," but pursued her course. Captain Seymour, as soon as it became dark, sent up some rockets to attract the eye of any British cruisers which might happen to be in the offing, and they were answered by three flashes from the " Triumph," 74, Captain Sir Masterman Hardy. A close and furious engagement at once ensued between the two frigates, and, after a couple of hours, "La Thétis" put her helm a-starboard, and steered to lay the Amethyst" on board, but got fixed in that situation by the anchor of the British ship entering the Frenchman's quarter, for the ships had met at the bows. Captain Seymour now again resumed his fire, when Captain Puisun poured in a double-shotted broadside upon the "Amethyst," and brought up all his ship's company to spring on board the British frigate, but "La Thétis" caught fire in several places, and her brave captain was killed. She was, however, fought nobly by Lieut. Déde, but, as soon as the ships got disentangled, her fore and mainmast went over her side, and, though she struggled manfully and did not surrender till overpowered, the Amethyst" at length boarded and carried her. The" Triumph now came up under a press of sail, and soon afterwards the Shannon," 38, Captain Philip Broke, to take the prize in tow. 66 66 On the 12th of November, the three new French frigates, “La Venter," 40, Commodore Hamelin, " La Junon," 40, Captain Rousseau, and "L'Amphitrite," 40, accompanied by the brig-corvettes La Cygne" and "La Papillon," with two armed schooners, put to sea from Cherbourg, bound, with ordnance stores and provisions, for 1808.] BRITISH SINGLE SHIP AND BOAT ACTIONS. 139 the French colonies. On the 12th of December "La Cygnet was discovered at anchor off the Pearl Rock, by the "Morac-Fortunée" gun-brig, which communicated the fact to Captain Francis Collier, in the Circe," 32. The Commodore immediately called up the "Stork," 18, Captain Le Geyt, the "Epervier," 16, Captain Parker, and "Express," Lieut. Dovers, and made sail towards St. Pierre, when the corvette got up her anchor and ran on shore under a battery. Captain Collier stood in after her, but perceived that the shore was lined with troops and field-pieces, besides batteries. He soon silenced the latter, and drove the soldiers from the beach, when the boats were sent in under Lieut. Crooke, who boarded and carried "La Cygne;" but the casualties from the resumed fire of the batteries were such, that at nightfall the boats of the "Circe" were obliged to be called back without their prize. On the 13th, “La Cygne" got under way again, when the "Amaranthe," 18, Captain Brenton, tried to close with her, but "La Cygne" grounded, when the "Amaranthe," by her well-directed fire, obliged the crew to abandon her, on which the boats of the squadron carried her, notwithstanding the heavy fire still kept up from the shore. L'Amphitrite" was again discovered on the 19th, by the " Ethalion," 38, Captain Thomas Cochrane, with the ship-sloop" Star," 18, Captain Patterson, and "Express," but both she and the "La Junon " got safely into port. On the 14th of November the "Polyphemus," 64, Captain Cumly, despatched her boats under Lieut. Daly, who boarded and carried the French schooner "Colibri," off the city of San Domingo. 66 The Turks, after the affair of the Dardanelles, had become open enemies of the British; and the Porte, having ascertained that there was no British ship, except the frigate "Seahorse," 38, Captain John Stewart, cruising in the Archipelago, despatched a squadron to look after her. A band of Epirots, who had been dismissed from the Russian service after the peace of Tilsit, had taken possession in the name of their former master, the Turks, of the islands of Dromo and Saraquino, in the gulf of Salonica, where they led a lawless life, and made prize of many corn and other vessels navigating the Egean. This fact coming to the knowledge of Captain Stewart, together with a request from the natives that he would check these pirates, he made sail on the 1st of July, and descried 2 ships and a galley coming out of the Dardanelles, which turned out to be the Turkish ships of war, the "Badere-Zaffer," 52, Scandril Kichup- Ali, and the Alis-Fezan," 24, Captain Duragardi Ali. Captain Stewart continued his course until he came round the east end of the island Scopolo, when he wore to intercept them, and hailed the Turkish Commodore, who flatly refused to bring to; and, accordingly, the whole of a double-shotted broadside was poured into the " Badere-Zaffer," which was forthwith returned, and the Ottoman Captain put his helm aport, and endeavoured to run the British frigate on board. This Captain Stewart, with good management, prevented. The "Alis-Fezan" now interposed, and the "Seahorse" turned towards 140 BRITISH SINGLE SHIP AND BOAT ACTIONS. [A.D. this new antagonist, and pouring in upon her a broadside at 200 yards, made dreadful havoc on board. About an hour afterwards, an explosion took place on board the " Alis-Fezan," which partly blew up forward; but she soon after got away from the fight, and ran back to Constantinople in a very shattered state. The contest between the other two ships continued, broadside to broadside, long after dark, and the Turks twice tried to board the English ship, but ineffectually. At length, at a quarter past 1 in the morning, the "Badere-Zaffer" was completely silenced, and had lost all her three topmasts. Captain Stewart, however, knowing the treacherous character of the Turks, was unwilling to expose the lives of his men by sending them on board in the dark, to learn whether the "Badere-Zaffer" had surrendered or not, and, accordingly, brought to till daylight, when, seeing her colours displayed on her mizenmast, he poured a broadside into her stern. Scandril Ali was now seen sitting in a chair on deck, giving his orders with all the coolness imaginable, and urging his officers and men not to submit to the infidels; but his crew had had enough of the contest, and knowing that all further resistance was useless, they seized the person of their stubborn chief, and hauled down the Turkish colours. It was with some difficulty that he was prevented from blowing up the frigate, but his design was happily frustrated. The first Lieutenant was then sent to bring him on board the "Seahorse," and, at length, succeeded; but he was very reluctant to deliver up his sword, observing that it was a Damascus blade of great value. The Turks had 70 killed and 200 wounded in this action; the "Seahorse' had 5 killed and 10 wounded. In 1805, the French frigate "La Sémillante," 36, Captain Motard, having beaten off the British frigate "Phaeton," and "Harrier " sloop, ran for the Isle of France, and anchored safely in Port St. Louis, whence she made continual cruises, and captured many valuable prizes. The "Sceptic," 74, Captain Bingham, the "Cornwallis," 40, Captain Johnston, and "Dédaigneuse," 36, Captain Beauchamp Proctor, stationed off the island, had their eyes upon "La Sémillante," who, taking advantage of a clear coast, went to sea on the 21st of November 1807, when she was discovered by the "Dédaigneuse," who, crowding all sail, came up with her the same night, and poured a broadside into her; but she escaped through her faster sailing, and succeeded in gaining Rivière noire. Again renewing her cruises, Captain Motard had the good fortune to capture 3 richly-laden China vessels, and many other prizes, and in the following February, while carrying some of her captures into port, encountered, off Ceylon, the "Terpsichore" frigate, Captain Montagu, who had been obliged from her crank state to leave some of her guns behind at Madras. However, a smart engagement ensued, in the midst of which "La Sémillante" threw some combustible materials on the deck of her antagonist, which produced a dreadful explosion, and set fire to the ship, under cover of which Captain Motard made an attempt to board, and, failing in that object, endeavoured to get away. The "Terpsichore," however, |