privateers of France found a sure asylum, and assistance in case of need; and while protected by the Danish government, committed the greatest depredations on our Baltic trade. Nor was it possible for the most vigilant cruiser to protect the convoys on all occasions, as they were obliged, of necessity, to pass near the Naze, on their passage to or from the Sleeve. The privateers and row-boats, concealed behind a rock, or in some little cove, darted on them, either by night or day, and boarding suddenly, carried them within some jutting head-land, or under the protection of a merely nominal battery, where a honey-combed gun, without ammunition, represented the power of Denmark, and established the neutrality of the port. This had long been endured by the merchants, when very serious complaints were made to Admiral Duncan, who sent Captain Halsted, in the Phoenix, with verbal and discretionary orders, to act as circumstances might require. The Phoenix was accompanied by a small squadron, and cruised off the harbour of Ejeroe[1], not far from the Naze; where he soon gained information that a French and a Dutch cutter, with three English prizes, had taken refuge. Captain Halsted sent his boats in, and took them all out. The privateers, though vessels of force, surrendered without opposition; the enemy, as well as the Danes, cautiously avoiding to give the slightest justification of our aggression. The two privateers and the three merchant vessels were sent to England for adjudication; but, on a representation from the court of Copenhagen, were immediately returned to the place whence they were taken[2].”!!!
Shortly after this occurrence, so honorable on the part of the British government, Lieutenant Brenton left the Phoenix, in consequence of some disagreement with his commander, to whom he had been known ever since his first embarkation on board the Crown, of which ship Captain Halsted was then the first Lieutenant.
We next find the subject of this memoir serving as fourth of the Agamemnon 64, on the North Sea station. The mutiny which took place on board that ship, in 1797, is thus noticed at p. 423, et seq. of his first volume:
