After serving through the second Egyptian campaign, from the capture of Alexandria to its evacuation[1], the Tigre returned to England, and Mr. Matthews joined the Iphigenia frigate, Captain Henry Lambert, with whom he visited Quebec, and subsequently proceeded to the Cape station.
In Aug. 1809, whilst cruising off the Mauritius, the Iphigenia accidentally ran on board the Boadicea frigate, and thereby lost her bowsprit and foremast. The next night she got aground under a heavy battery, where she was long exposed to a very severe cannonade. Not thinking it possible to save her, the senior officer of the squadron sent orders to set her on fire; but, after throwing some guns overboard, she was at length got off, through the persevering gallantry and uncommon exertions of her captain, officers, and crew. In July 1810, she formed part of the squadron under Captain (now Sir Josias) Rowley, at the capture of the Isle of Bourbon[2].
The disastrous result of an attack made by the Iphigenia and three other frigates, under the orders of Captain Samuel Pym, of the Sirius, upon a French squadron in Grande Port, Isle of France, Aug. 23d, 1810, has been officially described in Suppl. Part II. pp. 164–166. The particular share borne by the Iphigenia in this destructive combat is more fully shewn at p. 169 of the same volume. Her subsequent proceedings, and surrender by capitulation, are narrated in Vol. III. Part I. p. 242, et seq.
From this period, Mr. Matthews was a prisoner at Port Louis until the subjugation of the Isle of France in Dec.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 482.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. p. 627, et seq.
of the glories of Trafalgar. To have been in the immediate vicinity of such a conflict, in such a ship, without any participation in its honors, must doubtless be regarded in the nature of a permanent misfortune; and one which is not much mitigated by the reflection that, under other circumstances, the Tigre’s advanced station in the line, her high state of discipline, and, above all, the zeal and devotion of her commander, would too probably have secured her a prominent place in the foreground of that imperishable piece.
