morning was very dark and hazy, he could not make out what they were. To attempt running away in such a ship as the Commerciante was out of the question; he therefore kept on his course for England, without making any more sail, and the strangers fortunately paid no attention to him. At daylight, he was abreast of a frigate, and could clearly make out six sail of the line, evidently foreign, steering to the S.W. under a press of sail. The frigate was then a long way astern of them, and, although close to the Commerciante, who shewed no colours, hurried on after her friends, without stopping to overhaul a ship which every one could plainly see was not English.
On the 11th Jan., about 11 p.m., a vessel was discovered in chase of the Commerciante; and drawing up astern, Mr. Woollnough soon made her out to be a large lugger, and there was little doubt of her being a French privateer. Ushant then bore N.E., distant about eighty miles.
The Commerciante had originally mounted twenty nine-pounders; but those, with the exception of two, were in the hold, under the cargo, as were likewise all the shot belonging to them. Captain Rose had supplied Mr. Woollnough with a few cartridges of powder; but the only substitute he could find for shot was a compound of old iron, tin kettles, saucepans, &e. moulded into something like form by the hammer.
The wind was blowing strong from the westward, and the ship running with the fore and main topsails double reefed on the cap, the mizen topsail furled. The enemy ran under her lee without hailing, prepared for action, with a light at every gun, and when on the quarter lowered his main lug. One of Mr. Woollnough’s men had a knack of imitating the boatswain’s call by piping through his fingers, and did so while the topsails were being hoisted. The order was then loudly given, through a speaking-trumpet, to “stand by the forecastle gun.” “All ready. Sir,” was promptly answered. The enemy had now shot before the beam, and seemed to hesitate how to act. The fire of the 9-pounder determined him; his lights were instantly extinguished, and, shooting
