On the 16th April 1809, the Castor assisted at the capture of the Hautpoult, a French ship of 74 guns, and 680 men: during the pursuit, Mr. Elliot was ordered by her captain to do duty as first Lieutenant, an appointment which was immediately afterwards confirmed by the Admiral, who had joined in the chase, but, owing to the bad sailing of his flagship, was rendered incapable of affording any assistance[1].
Captain Fahie, in his official letter to Sir A. Cochrane, says, that at 3-30 A.M ., the Castor succeeded in getting within shot of the Frenchman, and soon after began a smart cannonade, which was immediately returned by the enemy, who, in yawing to bring his guns to bear, gave the Pompée an opportunity of ranging up abreast of him. We have been told by an officer who was present, that the Hautpoult’s tiller-ropes were shot away by the Castor. The latter ship, commanded by Captain William Roberts, had one man killed and six others wounded.
In August following. Lieutenant Elliot was appointed acting Commander of the Pultusk sloop of war, in which vessel be made several captures off the north end of Guadaloupe. Towards the close of the same year, he assisted Captain George Miller, of the Thetis frigate, in an attack upon a French national brig, lying at anchor in the port of Des Hayes; but after a warm action of about two hours, it was found impossible to make any impression on the fort by which she was defended. During this attack, the Pultusk was repeatedly hulled, and indeed nearly sunk, two of the enemy’s shot having passed between wind and water, after her pumps had been rendered useless.
The next step adopted by Captain Miller, in order to obtain possession of the enemy’s vessel, was to place a party of seamen under the orders of his first Lieutenant, whom he directed to land after dark, and try to storm the fort; but that officer, not finding a convenient landing place, and being fired upon by some troops posted behind rocks, was speedily obliged to retreat. Captain Elliot, who, when consulted by the senior officer, had confidently predicted the failure of the attempt, if made by night, now offered his services to con-
