being 147 feet long, and 27 wide. She had only left Bourdeaux nine days before, on her first cruize. During the chace, the Arethusa frigate was seen at a distance, and from her situation greatly assisted Captain Hotham in capturing her.
Towards the close of the war, the Immortalité was stationed off Brest, watching the enemy’s fleet in that port[1]. Soon after the renewal of hostilities in 1803, Captain Hotham obtained the command of the Imperieuse, of 40 guns; and in the same year he re-captured a South-Sea whaler, homeward bound, in the Channel. He soon after removed into the Revolutionaire, of 44 guns, and in that ship had the honor of conveying the Duke of Sussex from Lisbon to Portsmouth, where H.R.H. was landed Aug. 15, 1804. On the 4th of the following month, Captain Hotham sailed with the outward bound East India fleet, which he escorted to a certain latitude, and then proceeded to Halifax.
We next find our officer commanding the Defiance, of 74 guns, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Stopford, whose
- ↑ The following singular anecdote is related of the conduct of a pilot belonging to the Immortality, whilst employed on the above service;
This man, either a Frenchman, or speaking French extremely well, expressed a great desire to Captain Hotham, that he would permit him to go on shore and get information of the state and situation of the enemy’s fleet. After frequent solicitations Captain Hotham consented, and he was put on shore in the night, with a promise that a boat should be sent to bring him off, at a proper time. The boat was accordingly sent five successive nights to the place appointed, but no pilot was there. At the expiration of eight days, he came alongside in a French boat rowed by two men; and gave the following account of himself. That fearing lest he should be apprehended as a spy, he gave up the idea of attempting to get off as agreed upon, and came to the resolution of hiring a boat to go into Cameret Bay; upon getting pretty near to it, he told the men he did not mean that bay, he meant Berthaume Bay, which was about half way to the ship; when he had approached near this bay, he said he wanted to go to point St. Mathews, (which was not more than two gun shots from the frigate) upon this the men flew in a passion, telling him they would take him back to Brest. The pilot instantly took a brace of pistols from his pocket; and pointing one at each of them, exclaimed – “I am an Englishman; and if you do not put me on board my ship, without delay, I will blow your brains out.” With which the Frenchmen judged it best to comply.
This resolute fellow had absolutely been on board some of the ships of war, and gave an exact account of their condition and force.
