occasion, viz., Messrs. Maltman, Wallier, and Knevill, master’s mates , and Mr. Grey, midshipman.
“This ship proves to be the Alcmene, a beautiful French frigate, of 44 guns, having a complement, at the commencement of the action, of 319 men, commanded by Captain Ducrest de Villeneuve, an officer of much merit, and who was wounded at the time of boarding.
“To his determined resistance, aided by the darkness of the night, the other frigate for the present owes her escape; but I have every hope that the Cyane will be enabled to observe her, until I have shifted the prisoners, and repaired the trifling injury done to the rigging, during the period of the enemy being on board.
“Our loss consists of two seamen killed and four wounded; that of the enemy, two petty officers and thirty seamen killed, and fifty wounded. Lieutenant George Luke, whom I have placed in the frigate, is an old and very deserving officer, who has served twenty years under my command.”
“It affords me much pleasure to communicate to you, for their Lordships’ information, the capture of the French frigate that escaped on Sunday night.
“The vigilance of Captain Forrest, enabled him to keep sight of her during the night, and two following days, when, having run 153 miles, in the direction I judged the enemy had taken, the Venerable’s superior sailing gave me the opportunity of again discovering the fugitive, and, after an anxious chase of 19 hours, to come up with and capture her.
“She is named the Iphigenia, a frigate of the largest class, commanded by Captain Emeria, having a complement of 325 men, and, like her consort the Alcmene, perfectly new.
“Every means to effect her escape had been resorted to, the anchors cut away, and her boats thrown overboard. On our coming up we had run the Cyane out of sight from the mast-head.
“These frigates sailed in company from Cherbourgh on the 20th October last, and were to cruise for six months.
“It becomes me now to notice the very meritorious conduct of Captain Forrest, not only in assiduously keeping sight, but repeatedly offering battle to a force so superior; nor less deserving of my warmest approbation is Captain Worth, of this ship, whose indefatigable attention during the many manoeuvres attempted by the enemy, in this long and arduous chase, was equalled only by the exemplary behaviour of every officer and man under his command. I have the honor to be, &c.
One of Captain Worth’s sons is in the navy; another, a captain in the 84th Regiment, died at Port Royal, Jamaica, 1827.
Agents.– Messrs. Stilwell.
