POST-CAPTAINS OF 1810.
159
of affairs, and placed the whole party, who had hitherto considered themselves so secure, in the utmost jeopardy[1].”
This alarm was caused by the discovery of five strange ships to windward, steering under easy sail for the grand entrance to Port Sud-Est. Leaving the other boats to get up in the best manner they could, Captain Willoughby hastened away from the shore in his gig, and after a hard pull, of nearly 5 miles directly to windward, arrived, about noon, on board la Nereide, then lying in a small bight of deep water just at the back of l’Isle de la Passe; which anchorage was afterwards occupied by Captain Lambert, of the Iphigenia, who found himself obliged to surrender both his ship and the island, from their almost defenceless state, and great scarcity of provisions, water, &c. The Staunch had previously been sent by Captain Willoughby to join the squadron off Port Louis.
“At 12,” says Captain Willoughby, “I clearly make them out to be the long expected enemy’s squadron, consisting of the Bellone, Minerve, and Victor corvette, with two large Indiamen in company, their prizes, which I found afterwards to be the Ceylon and Windham. As I knew the French force in Port Louis consisted of three heavy frigates and a fine corvette ready for sea, and if the former squadron joined them, they would be far too strong for the Sirius, Iphigenia, and Magicienne, then blockading that port and Black River, though my anchorage was only supported by four guns (two of those upon open platforms, and only meant to protect the landing place against boats,) I felt it my duty to use every means to draw the enemy into Grand Port; and l’Isle de la Passe answering their private signals, together with our French colours, so completely deceived them, that at 1 P.M. the Victor led in
[2]. As I had given the most positive orders that the fire of the island was to be entirely guided by the manoeuvres of the Nereide, the Victor passed the sea-battery, and when within pistol-shot of us, our union was hoisted, and our fire opened. She was so cut up, that she struck her colours, and hailed us to cease firing. As she anchored, in obedience to my orders, I did so, and directed my whole attention to the Minerve, who, following close to the Victor, and within the same distance, received and returned our fire: she then ordered
- ↑ James, v. 405 et seq.
- ↑ The Bellone and Minerve were 24-pounder frigates, each mounting 44 guns. Captain Willoughby obtained the information of the enemy’s ships at Port Louis being ready for sea from Captain Lambert, of the Iphigenia. who had, a day or two before, approached within signal distance of la Nereide, and telegraphed to that effect.
