six homeward bound Danish West Indiamen, eleven other merchant vessels laden with timber, wine, fruit, and salt, and one brig in ballast. He likewise captured a very valuable smuggling lugger, and no less than seven French privateers; viz. –
L’Elize, 14 guns and 66 men; Jan. 1, 1807.
Le Bohemienne, 2 guns, pierced for 8, and 28 men; Oct. 30, 1807.
L’Amiral Martin, 4 guns, pierced for 16, and 104 men; Mar 22, 1809.
L’Aurore, 16 guns and 69 men, Sept. 18, 1809.
L’Hirondelle, 16 guns and 65 men; Oct. 22, 1809.
Le Lezard, pierced for 14 guns, none mounted, 67 men; Nov. 6 1809.
Le Saratu, 14 guns, pierced for 20, and 100 men; Jan. 10, 1810.
The Plover also recaptured, at various periods, twelve sail of merchant vessels, laden with spirits, wine, fruit, sugar, tobacco, provisions, fish, oil, coals, and timber. She likewise assisted at the capture of la Josephine privateer, mounting 4 guns, with a complement of 35 men.
In March, 1809, Captain Browne joined Captain George M‘Kinley, who was then most strenuously co-operating with the Spanish patriots under Don Pablo Murillo. On the 9th of that month, 84 French soldiers entered the town of Marin, in Vigo Bay, but a fire being opened on them from the Lively, Plover, and a gun-boat, they made a most precipitate retreat: the commander of the marauding party, and a few cavalry, benefiting by their being mounted, left their companions, who, outrunning their officers, a Captain and a Lieutenant fell into the hands of the Spaniards, and were by them delivered to the British.
During the operations against Flushing, in 1809, the Plover bore the broad pendant of Commodore Cockburn, who commanded the bombs and gun-vessels placed at the S.E. end of the town. The following is an extract of his official letter to Sir Richard L Strachan, reporting the proceedings of the advanced squadron:–
