wishers to the English the most satisfactory information, Captain Willoughby returned on board the Néréide.

On the 18th, in the morning, wishing to learn the effect of the proclamations delivered on the preceding day, Captain Willoughby again landed with the same force, taking the Staunch in with him, to support the detachment, and, if necessary, cover its retreat. Captain Willoughby pushed forward, and destroyed the signal-house, staff, &c. at Grande-Rivière, and perceived that the enemy had 700 or 800 men in or near the battery, but upon the opposite side of the river. He then returned to Pointe du Diable, and, after continuing there three hours, blowing up the remaining works, moved on to Canaille du Bois; whence the captain and his party embarked at sunset, leaving the Staunch at anchor near the spot. The gun-brig, however, soon afterwards weighed and proceeded to Port-Louis.

During the whole of this march of nearly 22 miles in an enemy's territory, Captain Willoughby sustained no greater loss than Lieutenant Davis slightly, and one private of artillery badly wounded, and one sergeant of artillery missing, supposed to have deserted. This forbearance on the part of the islanders was in a great measure attributable, no doubt, to the orderly manner in which the British soldiers, marines, and seamen conducted themselves, and to the strict attention they paid to their commander's orders, to abstain from giving offence to the inhabitants by pilfering the slightest article of their property. Even the sugar and coffee, laid aside for exportation, and usually considered as legitimate objects of seizure, remained untouched; and the invaders, when they quitted the shore for their ship, left behind them a high character, not merely for gallantry, but for a rigid adherence to promises. The success of the enterprise, however, would have been very problematical, had not the commanding officer possessed qualities rarely found in one individual, an undaunted intrepidity blended with the utmost suavity of manners.

On the 19th and 20th Captain Willoughby again landed; and, as there were no more batteries in that quarter to attack and destroy, and no opposition was offered to him by either the regular troops in the vicinity, or by the inhabitants among whom, it may be said, he was sojourning, the trip on shore was considered in the light of a pleasant excursion, rather than a forced irruption into an enemy's territory; when, at about 10 A. M. on the last-named day, an event occurred which gave a complete change to the aspect of affairs, and placed the whole party, who had hitherto considered themselves so secure, in the utmost jeopardy.

This alarm was caused by the discovery of five ships, four of them large, away in the east-south-east or windward quarter, standing down under easy sail for the Isle de la Passe channel to Grand-Port. Leaving his remaining boats to get up in the best manner they could, Captain Willoughby hastened away in his

gig; and, after a hard pull of nearly five miles directly to windward, arrived, about noon, on board the Néréide. Considering that these ships, known to be French and suspected to be what they were, would, when united with the force in Port-Louis, which the Iphigenia, on the 18th, had telegraphed as being ready for sea, be a decided overmatch for Captain Pym's three frigates, Captain Willoughby resolved to endeavour to entice the former into Grand-Port. For this purpose a French ensign and pendant were immediately hoisted by the Néréide: and French colours almost as quickly appeared on the flagstaff at the island, with the signal, "L'ennemi croise au Coin de Mire." "The enemy is cruising off the Coin de Mire," a patch of rocks close off the northern extremity of the Isle of France. One of the French frigates then made the private signal, and was answered from Isle de la Passe. Upon which they severally announced themselves, by their numbers, as the Bellone, Minerve, Victor, and two prizes. The latter, as a reference to a few pages back will show, were the Windham and Ceylon.*

At 1 h. 30 m. P. M. the Victor, under her three topsails, led into the channel, and passing the sea-battery, arrived within pistol-shot of the Néréide; when the latter, at I h. 40 m. P. M., substituting the union jack for the French ensign, opened her fire with such effect, that the Victor hailed that she struck, and anchored on the Néréide's starboard and outer quarter. Captain Willoughby immediately sent Lieutenant John Burns and Lieutenant of marines Thomas Robert Pye, with a party of men, to take possession of the corvette. At I h. 45 m. P. M. the Minerve, followed by the Ceylon, both under their topsails, entered the channel, and were fired at ineffectually by the sea-battery of Isle de la Passe. While passing close to the Victor, after having exchanged broadsides with the Néréide, Captain Bouvet hailed Captain Morice, and ordered him to cut his cable, rehoist his colours, and follow. Although the Néréide's boat was then alongside of her, the Victor did as she had been ordered, and was quickly in the wake of the Ceylon steering towards Grand-Port.

Unfortunately a very serious accident had happened at the island fort. While one of the men was in the act of hauling quickly down the French colours, in order to substitute the English, and begin firing at the enemy, the cotton texture of the former became ignited by a match lying near the flagstaff, and instantly caused the explosion of more than 100 cartridges; whereby three men were killed, and 12 severely burnt. Five of the sea-battery guns were also dismounted at the first fire; as was one of the four (two on open platforms), which protected the Néréide's anchorage. One of these, likewise, in the act of firing at the Minerve, mortally wounded a quartermaster in the boat of Lieutenant Burns, while on his way back from the unsuccessful attempt to secure the Victor.

See p. 266.

The situation of the Néréide was now, as may be supposed, a very critical one; but the situation of her boats, with a great proportion of her crew on board, besides a party of soldiers and artillerymen, was still more critical. These were now pulling up the narrow channel, down which the Minerve and Ceylon were sailing, and their capture appeared inevitable. At this moment it was observed that the Bellone, instead of following the other ships through the channel, had hauled off on the larboard tack, as if intending, in company with the Windham, to seek another port. Although in a 12-pounder frigate, with a great part of her crew absent, Captain Willoughby thought himself a match for the Minerve, Victor, and prize Indiaman, especially if he took on board the troops from the island. At 2 h. 30 m. P. M., just as the soldiers were about to remove into the Néréide, and the latter had loosed her sails, and was preparing to slip, the Bellone, having left the Windham steering under a crowd of sail to the westward, bore up for the passage.

The plan of attacking the Minerve was now of course abandoned, and the Néréide began preparing to receive the Bellone. Just at this moment, to the surprise of all on board the Néréide, the boats were seen approaching, after having been passed, successively, by the Minerve, Ceylon, and Victor. It appears that the boats were so near to the Minerve, as to be obliged to lay in their oars, and that the French officers and men were assembled on the gangway, looking down upon them: nay one boat actually struck against the frigate. But not a word was spoken by the frigate to the boats; nor, as may be supposed, by the boats to the frigate: an enigma in the former case, not to be explained, especially when it is considered how promptly and collectedly Captain Bouvet had just before hailed the Victor, and desired her to follow him. Had he given the same orders to the boats, they must have obeyed; otherwise, with the velocity with which they were sailing, the Ceylon and Victor could with ease have run them down. He did not do so; and the boats, and the 160 or 170 officers and men they contained, reached the Néréide in safety.

At about 2 h. 40 m. P. M. the Bellone let fall her topgallantsails; and, having exchanged a fire with the battery, hauled up a little for the Néréide, apparently to run her on board, but, as we conjecture, to be well to windward, in her passage down the channel, of a projecting part of the shoal. At all events the soldiers in the Néréide were drawn up in readiness upon her starboard gangway and forecastle, to repel any such attempt to board. But none was made; for Commodore Duperré, just as he was advancing upon the Néréide's starboard bow, kept more away. At 2 h. 45 m., when so close to each other that their yards almost touched, the Bellone and Néréide exchanged broadsides. By this fire the Néréide had her driver-boom shot away close to the jaws, her fore and mizen topgallant yards and

main spring-stay shot away, some of her rigging cut, and her foremast badly wounded below the cat-harpins; but her loss amounted to no more than two seamen killed and one marine wounded. This slight damage and loss was attributed to the circumstance of a sudden gust of wind laying the French frigate over, just as she was in the act of firing. What damage or loss, if any, the Bellone, or either of the other French ships, sustained has not been recorded.

At 4 P. M. Captain Willoughby sent Lieutenant Deacon in the launch to Captain Pym, with a note, announcing the arrival of the French frigates, and offering, with one frigate besides the Néréide, to lead in and attack them. At 4 h. 30 m. P. M. the cutter, with Lieutenant Weiss, was sent upon the same errand, but at sunset returned, not having been able to pull ahead on account of the fresh breeze and rough sea. It may naturally be asked, why the Néréide, considering how exposed she lay to an attack by two heavy French frigates and other vessels, did not get under way herself and proceed to join the Sirius. The truth is, we believe, that Captain Willoughby, as he had been ordered to protect the newly acquired post of Isle de la Passe, was resolved to do so as long as he was able.

The anchorage taken up by the French frigates being rather nearer than was safe or agreeable, Captain Willoughby ordered the artillery officer on the island to try the range of his mortars. This was done, and the first shell burst over the ships. Before many others could be thrown, Commodore Duperré either cut or slipped, and reanchored at a greater distance off; but still in a situation to watch the motions of the Néréide, and make an attack upon her if deemed advisable.

At 9 A. M. on the 21st, to prove to Captain Duperré that the Victor had struck her colours, to impress upon him an idea of the confidence with which the Néréide maintained her position, and to reconnoitre and obtain a correct knowledge of that taken up by the French frigates, Captain Willoughby sent Lieutenant Burns and Lieutenant of marines Pye, under a flag of truce, with a letter to the Commodore, demanding the restoration of the Victor. Commodore Duperré replied that, before he could return an answer, he must send to the governor at Port-Louis on the opposite side of the island, a distance of nearly 25 miles; and he desired Lieutenant Burns to come again at the same hour the next morning.

In full expectation that an attack would be made upon him by the squadron at anchor in Grand-Port, Captain Willoughby and those under his orders used every means to strengthen their position and prevent surprise. There was no room on Isle de la Passe for any more guns; but a breastwork was thrown up, to prevent the approach of boats. The Néréide herself was fully prepared to effect quite as much as could be expected from her;

and at night boats rowed guard between the frigate and the enemy. The only time, indeed, when any attack could be made, was with the land wind in the morning, just at the first peep of twilight. All eyes on board the Néréide, and at the island, were then directed to the north-west, and were. only relieved when broad day burst forth, and the sea breeze was heard murmuring in the south-east.

At 9 A. M. on the 21st, the boat with the flag of truce again left the Néréide, and returned soon afterwards with such an answer as might have been expected: both the governor and the commodore were surprised at "so extraordinary a demand." Neither this demand, nor the circumstance which led to it, are touched upon in Captain Duperré's letter. He perhaps was ashamed to acknowledge, that the Victor had hauled down her colours; and yet of the fact there cannot be a doubt. We gather from the French commodore's letter, that, when he saw the British colours hoisted at Isle de la Passe, and a fire opened upon the corvette, he considered that the whole windward side of the Isle of France was in the possession of the English, and, hauling off, made a signal to do the same to the Minerve and Ceylon; but they had already entered the channel and could not put back. M. Duperré then resolved to force the passage, and ordered the Windham to follow the Bellone; but her prize master either misunderstood the signal, or considered the risk too great, and bore away for Rivière-Noire. We will now detail occurrences there, in order to lead progressively to the important operations of which we shall soon have to give an

account.

Early on the morning of the 21st, just as the Windham was about to enter Rivière-Noire, the Sirius, then cruising to the south-west of Port-Louis, gained sight of her. Chase was instantly given: but the wind being off the land, the Sirius had no chance of cutting off the Indiaman from the formidable batteries at the mouth of the river. Not considering the vessel, in the twilight of the morning, to be of the force she really was, Lieutenant Watling volunteered to overtake and board her with the gig. He instantly pushed off with five seamen, and was followed by the jollyboat with midshipman John Andrews and four men; but, owing to some strange mismanagement, not a weapon or fire-arm of any description was put into either boat.

Daybreak discovered a ship of 800 or 900 tons, armed apparently with from 30 to 34 guns, at the distance of at least three miles from the Sirius, and very near to the batteries of RivièreNoire. Under these circumstances, Lieutenant Watling thought it best to wait for the jollyboat. In the mean time the Sirius fired a broadside at the ship, but at so ineffectual a distance, that the shot nearly sank the gig. On the arrival of the jollyboat, young Andrews and his four hands entered cheerfully into Lieutenant Watling's views, and the two boats hastened forward.