handing the main-top-sail, but scarcely had the party got above the top when the mast went, by which accident the midshipmen and four men perished: Lieutenant Evans and the remainder of his followers, fortunately saved themselves by clinging to the wreck, from whence they were extricated without sustaining any material injury.
The part home by la Concorde in an action with a French squadron, near Guernsey, April 23, 1794, has already been described in our memoir of Sir Richard J. Strachan, by whom she was then commanded[1]: the following is an extract of that officer’s official letter, reporting the capture of l’Engageante frigate:–
“The zealous, cool, and steady conduct of the officers and ship’s company, was highly meritorious in the action; and their efforts in refitting the ship, after the fatigue they had experienced, exceeded any exertion I ever saw before. As the first Lieutenant, Charles Apthorp, was mostly with me, I had an opportunity of observing the spirit of enterprise which pervaded his conduct; and am convinced also of the good conduct of Lieutenants Boys and Evans, who commanded on the main-deck.”
During the spirited action to which we have alluded. Lieutenant Evans was wounded by a splinter, and his hearing much injured by the unexpected discharge of a gun on which he was resting, as he looked through the port, to ascertain the enemy’s exact position, the smoke being then so very thick, that, although but a few yards distant, she could not be distinguished. It is worthy of remark, that the only person killed outright on board la Concorde, was a youth who had run away from Westminster school, and entered as a common sailor under a fictitious name. Another poor fellow who had been confined to his hammock, but insisted upon going to his quarters, was shot through the head whilst speaking to Lieutenant Evans.
From this period, we find no particular mention of la Concorde until March 1795 when she was commanded by Captain Anthony Hunt, and employed under the orders of Sir Edward Pellew, who, having received information that a convoy was about to leave Brest, placed his squadron as near
