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CHAPTER III.

The capture of the Pegase by the Foudroyant-Particulars from Schomberg-Letters of Admiral Barrington and Captain Jervis-Comparison between the Foudroyant and the Cæsar much against British Shipwrights-The French and Spaniards a full century before us in 1793-Dimensions of the two ships-Foudroyant considered a crack ship-Anecdote of the French Captain of the Pegase - Envy of Naval Officers at the success of Sir John Jervis, who is created a Knight of the Bath-Returned Member of Parliament for Launceston - Hoists his broad pendant for a foreign command - Is prevented going by the Peace-He becomes a member of the Board of Officers for examining the best mode of fortifying the dock-yards — Opinion on the expediency of employing honest men in those places — Motto on the Coat of Arms -The various Promotions of Sir John JervisRemarks on the Promotion of young Officers during the PeaceStimulus wanting - Other Navies arising.

BETWEEN the affair of Lord Keppel's action and the spring of 1782, we do not find that any particular naval incident occurred worth mentioning, in which Captain Jervis was concerned, until the action between the Foudroyant and the Pegase, a French ship of seventy-four guns, with a complement of seven hundred men, besides troops, on board.

Admiral Barrington, at that time, held the

command off Brest, and Captain Jervis was placed under his orders. The friendship between these two officers was of long standing, and was, on every occasion, to the last hour of his life, acknowledged by Lord St. Vincent.

A squadron had long been preparing in Brest, with a view of making a dash to the East Indies; and, of course, its intention was to run out in the night-time, or in thick weather, with a strong easterly wind. The Foudroyant, one of the fastest sailing ships of the British fleet, was in a position most likely to intercept the enemy; and, when the latter made their appearance outside the harbour on the night of the 20th of April, 1782, Captain Jervis happily discovered them, brought one of the French ships to action, and took her, after a severe conflict carried on during the night. I find but little in Charnock on the subject of this action, but Schomberg makes up for the deficiency; and I the more readily adopt his account, because he was a cotemporary, and actively employed at sea at the time, if not indeed in the same fleet. He says (vol. ii. p. 71.)—

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On the 13th of April, Vice Admiral Barrington sailed from Spithead, on a cruise to the westward, with twelve sail of the line. At noon, the Artois made the signal for discovering, the

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enemy's fleet, upon which Admiral Barrington instantly made the signal to chase.

soon perceived that the enemy had seventeen or eighteen sail of merchantmen, under convoy of three ships of war. The Foudroyant being at a considerable distance ahead of the fleet, at about one o'clock the next morning brought the sternmost of the enemy's line-of-battle ships to close action, which continued near three quarters of an hour, when Captain Jervis laid her on board, and she surrendered, with the loss of eighty men, killed and wounded. She proved to be the Pegase, of seventy-four guns and seven hundred men, commanded by the Chevalier de Cillart. Soon after the action, her main and mizen masts fell overboard. Captain Jervis and four men only were wounded on board the Foudroyant."

It blew so hard, with a heavy sea, that it was with much difficulty the prize could be taken possession of, and a few of the prisoners taken out. At daylight the squadron was observed to be much dispersed. The Queen was ordered to the assistance of the Foudroyant, and took charge of the Pegase.

In speaking of this action, Admiral Barrington says, "My pen is not equal to the praise that is due to the good conduct, bravery, and discipline of Captain Jervis, his officers and

VOL. I.

F

seamen, on this occasion.

Let his own modest

narrative speak for itself. It is as follows: PROCEEDINGS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP, FOUDROYANT, APRIL 19,* 1782.

"At sunset, I was near enough to discover that the enemy consisted of three or four ships of war, two of them of the line, and seventeen or eighteen sail under convoy, and that the latter dispersed by signal. At half-past nine, I observed the smallest of the ships of war to speak with the headmost, and then bear away; at a quarter past ten, the sternmost line-of-battle ship, perceiving that we came up with her very fast, bore up also. I pursued her; and, at forty-seven minutes past twelve, brought her to close action, which continued three quarters of an hour, when, having laid her on board on the larboard quarter, the French ship of war, Le Pegase, of seventy-four guns and seven hundred men, commanded by the Chevalier de Cillart, surrendered.

"I am happy to inform you that only two or three people, with myself, are slightly wounded; but I learn from the Chevalier de Cillart that Le Pegase suffered very materially in masts and yards, her fore and mizen topmasts having gone away soon after the action."

I have often wondered at the dogged obstinacy

Being P.M., it was then called the 20th by the log, as the nautical day began at noon.

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of our Navy and Admiralty Boards in the olden time, and never could comprehend why they should so pertinaciously adhere to their mode of ship-building, which experience should have taught them was so defective as to make us the laughing-stock of our enemies. The Monmouth, it is true, a British ship of sixty-four guns, came up with her flying enemy, the Foudroyant, and brought her to action*. After one of the best contended fights by single ships recorded in history, the enemy surrendered on the coming up of the Swiftsure, who fired one or two broadsides into her. The Foudroyant carried eighty guns and eight hundred men, commanded by Mons. Du Quesne, Chef d'Escadre, who presented his sword to the gallant Lieutenant Caskett, Captain Gardiner of the Monmouth having fallen in the action.

When the prize arrived at Gibraltar, her dimensions were taken, and were found as follows: Comparative Dimensions of the Foudroyant, taken from the French, 28th February, 1758, and the Cæsar, built in England, in 1793.

The height of her lower deck ports, her depth

of hold, and her tonnage, are not given; but