form him that the master, an ignorant old man, had prevailed upon the Captain to bear up, thereby exposing the ship to imminent peril. Surprised at this intelligence, Lieutenant Evans hastened to Captain Hunt, explained the dangerous situation of the frigate, and obtained permission to act according to his own discretion. At day-light, land was seen both a-head and a-stern, and rocks with tremendous breakers appeared at no great distance on the lee-bow. The wreck was now necessarily cut away, and as much sail set as the ship could possibly bear; but, owing to the heavy sea then running, her safety was long doubtful.
Subsequent to this narrow escape, la Virginie proceeded to Carrickfergus roads, and Lieutenant Evans was sent to Belfast, for the purpose of obtaining a spare top-mast: returning from thence in a post-chaise, he was fired at by some miscreant, whose ball passed through the windows of the vehicle, but luckily did him no harm.
Having rejoined the Jason at Lough Swilly, la Virginie returned with her along the west coast of Ireland, and when off Cape Clear gave chase to a large ship, which proved to be a French transport, having on board between 500 and 600 cavalry, 20 field pieces, 3000 stand of arms, 50 tons of gunpowder, and a large quantity of military stores.
After securing this very valuable prize, the Jason and Virginie stood to the westward, the Frenchmen having informed Captain Hunt, previous to his consort coming up, that they had sailed from Brest as part of a formidable expedition, destined to assist the Irish rebels. At midnight the enemy’s fleet was discovered, and the British frigates ran close under the stern of a ship bearing an Admiral’s light: no notice being taken of them, they then ran a short distance to leeward, and there hove to; but at day light nothing was to be seen, although the wind was then blowing hard from the eastward. Captain Stirling thereupon determined to make the best of his way to Spithead, where, shortly after the arrival of the two frigates. Captain Hunt received orders to prepare for the reception of the Marquis Cornwallis, who was then preparing to assume the government of India.
