On the very next day after this enterprise had been determined upon, Lieutenant Fellowes reported his brig ready; but unfortunately she had been so much lightened by the removal of most of her stores, not only for their preservation, but likewise to save the trouble of constant pumping, that she was thereby rendered incapable of performing the appointed service. When endeavouring to get between the enemy’s ships and the shore, a sudden gust off the land obliged him to luff her up, almost head to wind; otherwise she must have capsized, and probably all on board would have perished: before the sails could be again filled, he had the mortification to find her take the ground, not far from one of the frigates; and then, having no other alternative, he was obliged to abandon her ; first setting fire to the train, lest she should fall into the enemy’s possession.
Notwithstanding the failure of this attempt to destroy one or both of the enemy’s ships, the explosion of the Unique had the good effect of rendering their commanders dissatisfied with the security of the anchorage at Basse Terre:– taking advantage of a dark night, they soon afterwards put to sea; but only to be captured – one, la Felicité, by the Latona frigate. Captain Hugh Pigot; and the other, la Furieuse, by Captain William Mounsey, in the Bonne Citoyenne sloop of war.[1]
The following copy of a letter from Captain Beaver to Mr. Barrow, of the Admiralty, will shew the high opinion that distinguished officer entertained of Lieutenant Fellowes:
“Sir,– In reply to your letter, directing me to report, for their lordships’ information, how far Lieutenant Fellowes’ statement is correct as to his want of time to remove the victualling stores and necessaries of the late brig Unique, when burnt at Basse Terre, Guadaloupe.
“I beg leave to observe, that the order to prepare her as a fire-vessel was given one day, and she was burnt the next, which was rather a windy and squally day, and therefore every thing could not have been removed with that facility that they might had the weather been more favourable: it is highly probable, too, that on such an occasion. Lieutenant Fellowes’ ardour to fit his vessel for her destined service might have been the cause of his overlooking some stores: his own private property I am sure he