“Mr. Hayes parted company with the Boston, at 4-30 P.M. on the 28th July, taking with him our purser, one midshipman, a pilot, and eight men. On the 30th, two officers and thirteen men, belonging to l’Ambuscade, were taken prisoners in the way you have mentioned at p. 674, of your late publication.[1]
“On his arrival at the entrance of the North River, (July 29th, 4 P.M.) Mr. Hayes observed l’Ambuscade at anchor off the town of New York, with top-gallant-masts pointed, and her crew in the act of bending sails. On his nearer approach he clearly ascertained that she mounted 26 long guns on the main-deck, 8 on the quarter-deck, and 2 on the forecastle.
“Soon after the tender had anchored, she was boarded by a French officer, supposed to have been Mons. Bompard himself, who asked her commander if he had seen an English frigate off the Hook; upon which Mr. Hayes informed him that he had the honor to be one of her lieutenants, that he had lately left her there, that she had come from Newfoundland, purposely to meet l’Ambuscade; that her officers would be happy to see the French frigate outside the Hook, and that if Mons. Bompard had the smallest inclination to meet Captain Courtenay, he might depend on finding him about 3 or 4 leagues from the above mentioned point. To this the Frenchman replied that the Boston should certainly be favored with a meeting, and that l’Ambuscade would sail the next morning: he then took leave of Mr. Hayes, and returned on board his frigate[2].
“The Boston’s real character was first discovered by the master of an American revenue cruiser, who was heard to say, as he passed almost touching her, that ‘that ship, and those boats (alluding to two which were towing astern), never came from a French port.’ In consequence of this remark, and by the desire of his gallant commander. Lieutenant Kerr went out on the bowsprit, and hailing the vessel, said ‘this is the Boston frigate. Captain Courtenay; if l’Ambuscade will come out we shall be glad to see her.’ ‘I dare say you will,’ answered the American; ‘I shall be happy to see you meet, and I will take care to let her know it.’ This was the only challenge given by Captain Courtenay’s directions.
“Finding from the report of l’Ambuscade’s officers, that Mons. Bompard was getting ready to sail, and that he would soon be at sea. Captain Courtenay immediately despatched a midshipman (the late Captain Daniel Oliver Guion) in a fishing boat to recall the tender; but on that gentleman approaching New York he met Mr. Hayes and his party coming down the river in a small hired vessel, the French Consul having taken measures to cause the schooner’s detention, and thereby prevented him from fulfilling the principal object of his mission.
- ↑ Vol. II. Part II.
- ↑ Mons. Bompard commanded a privateer at the close of the American war, and was then taken prisoner by Captain Courtenay.
