Aug. 1st 1804. In Jan. following, Captain Brenton was appointed to the Amaranthe, a fine new brig, mounting 18 guns, with a complement of 120 men. From that period until his promotion to post rank, he appears to have been very actively and successfully employed on the North Sea and Leeward Islands stations.
“In the month of Nov. 1808, Sir Alexander Cochrane received orders to blockade Martinique, preparatory to its invasion. the island, from the vigilance of our cruisers, became daily more straitened for provisions: the Americans in vain endeavoured to relieve it; and the British merchants of the neighbouring islands scrupled not, in defiance of the blockading squadron, and of every moral obligation and duty to their country, to supply our enemies with the most essential articles for their defence and subsistence. The captures made by our cruisers, and the number of American vessels condemned for breach of blockade, exceeded that of any former period; and so deeply sensible was Buonaparte of the wants of the island, and of its importance to France, that he despatched squadrons of fast sailing frigates, corvettes, and schooners, with provisions, ammunition, and artillerymen; most of which were intercepted.[1]”
The destruction of three French national vessels by the Amaranthe and her consorts, on the 13th Dec. 1808, is thus described by the officer under whose immediate orders Captain Brenton was then serving:–
