the corvette to cut and follow her, which I had the mortification of seeing instantly done, though my first Lieutenant was alongside of her to take possession. The two Indiamen attempted to haul out; the Windham succeeded, sailed to the southward, and was captured next morning by the Sirius[1]; the Ceylon was obliged to bear up and pass our fire; the Bellone following her in (going 7 knots), steered direct for our bow, with every demonstration of boarding; but perceiving we were ready, had just time to alter her determination, sweeping our yard-arms, and giving us her broadside.
“The enemy’s squadron must have suffered: our foremast is badly wounded, driver-boom cut in two, spars much cut, also lower rigging, and fore and main-stays: my killed and wounded as per margin[2]. I beg leave to express how zealously I was seconded by Captain Todd, commanding upon the island, and the whole of the party under his command; but owing to five guns in the sea-battery, and one in the rear, dismounting the first fire, and a heavy explosion of nearly 100 cartridges blowing up 16 men, put it out of his power to give that support he wished[3].
“Though not an officer or man in the Nereide but knew their fate if the enemy had anchored and engaged us, yet more cheerful zeal could uot be displayed.”
The situation of la Nereide’s boats, with a great proportion of her crew in them, besides soldiers and artillery-men, appears to have been a very critical one, as they were successively passed by the Minerve, Ceylon, and Victor, the former ship running so close to them that they were obliged to lay in their oars, yet not a word was spoken by the enemy; an enigma not to be explained, especially when it is considered how promptly the French captain, Mons. Bouvet, had just before hailed the Victor, and desired her to follow him. Had he given the same orders to the boats, they must have obeyed; otherwise, with the velocity with which they were sailing, the Ceylon and Victor could with ease have run them down: he did not do so, and they therefore reached their ship in safety, just as the Bellone had made sail for the passage.
A contemporary notices another circumstance, which Captain Willoughby’s modesty would not allow him to mention.
- ↑ See Commander John Wyatt Watling.
- ↑ 3 slain, 1 wounded.
- ↑ Captain Todd, of the 69th regiment, was the senior officer of the military detachment serving under Captain Willoughby’s orders. Of the men blown up, 3 were killed, and all the remainder severely burnt.
