and on the 6th April following, in conjunction with those of the Regulus 44, they effected the destruction of eleven sail of merchantmen in the harbour of Cape Roxo, spiked 4 guns on shore, and brought out two vessels, without the loss of a man. At this period, Mr. Maples was first lieutenant of la Magicienne.
A “spirited and well-timed attack” subsequently made upon an armed sloop and some schooners, employed as transports, by which the whole of our western possessions in St. Domingo were prevented from falling into the hands of the enemy, is thus officially described by Captain Ricketts:–
“La Magicienne, in Careasse bay, April 24, 1797.
“On Sunday the 23d instant, when doubling Cape Tiberoon, in company with the Regulus and Fortune, schooner, we discovered a 6-gun sloop and four schooners at anchor in this bay, which convinced me that the post of Irois was attacked. Soon after, the alarm gun was fired at the fort. As no time was to be lost in endeavouring to counteract the views of the enemy, we stood in and anchored; then commenced a heavy cannonade, and had the good fortune, in a short time, to drive them into the mountains. Their field-pieces, ammunition, provisions, and vessels laden with necessaries for carrying on the siege, fell into our hands.
“The good conduct of every officer and man belonging to our little squadron, manifested itself upon this occasion, as well as upon many others since I have had the honor to command it. I have to regret the loss of 4 men killed, and Mr. Morgan, master’s-mate, and 10 men wounded in la Magicienne’s boat, when endeavouring to tow out the sloop.”
That vessel was boarded and taken in tow, by Lieutenant Maples, under a tremendous fire of round shot, grape, and musketry. On the 28th Sept. following, he had 2 men badly wounded in an unsuccessful attack upon some small privateers at Porto Paix; and he also commanded the boats of la Magicienne at the capture of one, mounting 2 guns, near Cape Causedo, Dec. 22, in the same year. Five days afterwards, le Brutus of 9 guns, a merchant ship, three brigs, and a schooner, were taken in Guadilla bay, Porto Rico, by the squadron under Captain Ricketts. The frigate, on this latter occasion, had 5 men wounded.
La Magicienne and her consorts were next employed in dislodging a large body of brigands, who had established themselves in Platform bay, and began to fortify an eminence
