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1808. removed to the point of Slypsharn, four miles from Aug. Nyborg, where the army was to embark.

Troops

embark

Captains Jackson and Lockyer undertook the exalso ecution of this service; and the troops, having emand barked without an accident on the morning of the 11th, were soon under the protection of the british squa- squadron at the anchorage off the island of Sproe. dron. In the course of the same day more than 1000 Spa

join

british

niards joined the british ships by sea from Jutland; and another 1000 were thrown into Langeland, to strengthen the fort held by the spanish forces in that island. One of the spanish regiments in Jutland was situated too remotely and critically to admit more than a part of it to effect its escape; and two regiments in the island of Zealand were unforAre tunately disarmed, after having fired on the french landed general and killed one of his aides-de-camp. The Spain. Spaniards embarked at Nyborg, and those that escaped to the squadron from Jutland, were landed at Langeland; whence the whole, numbering about 10000, men, were carried to England, and subsequently to Spain. For the zeal and ability he had displayed, in bringing to a happy termination the delicate and arduous service intrusted to him, rear-admiral Keats, immediately on his arrival in England, was created a knight of the Bath.

in

LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS.

Linnet On the 16th of January, in the forenoon, Cape Courier Barfleur bearing west by north six or seven leagues,

and

the british gun-brig Linnet, lieutenant John Tracey, mounting twelve 18-pounder carronades and two long sixes, with a crew of 60 men and boys, saw a french lugger in chase of an english merchant ship and brig. The Linnet immediately joined the ship and brig, intending to keep company with them until night should favour her in closing the lugger. At 6 h. 30 m. P. M. the lugger, which was the Courier, of 18 guns and 60 men, belonging to Cherbourg, commenced a fire upon the ship, which the latter promptly

returned. At 7 P. M. the Courier attempted to 1808. haul off; but the Linnet, being now within musket- Feb. shot, prevented her. At 7 h. 10 m. P. M. a broadside of round and grape from the Linnet, accompanied by a volley of musketry, carried away the Courier's main lug. The latter was now hailed to strike, but, instead of doing so, rehoisted her lug. A steady and well-directed fire was then commenced by the Linnet, and continued for an hour and a half; during which the Courier's lugs were knocked down 10 times, and as often rehoisted. At 8 h. 50 m., being in a sinking state, the Courier hailed that she surrendered. The loss on the part of the latter amounted to her second captain killed and three men wounded; but the Linnet was fortunate enough to escape without any loss whatever.

verte

french

On the 7th of February, at 1 P. M., the british Decouschooner Decouverte, of eight 12-pounder carronades and two and 37 men and boys, lieutenant Colin Campbell, 1 privawhen running down between Altavella and the main teers. land of St.-Domingo, chased two french schoonerprivateers and a ship their prize. One privateer made her escape to-windward; but, after a running fight, the Decouverte drove the other and the ship on shore. The latter, which was the Matilda of Halifax, bound to Jamaica, lieutenant Campbell directed the master of the Decouverte, John M'Intyre, with a detachment of small-arm men, to set fire to and destroy; a service which, in spite of a very spirited opposition from the schooner and the shore, he fully executed.

and Do

On the 9th, while still cruising off St.-Domingo, Decouthe Decouverte discovered and chased a french armed verte schooner in Bottomless Cove. It was not until rade. 3 P. M. that the Decouverte was enabled to bring her opponent, the Dorade, captain Netley, mounting one long 18-pounder on a pivot, and two long eights, with 72 men, to close action. In the second round, three of the Decouverte's carronades on the side engaged were dismounted, which gave the Dorade a great advantage over her. Notwithstanding this,

1808. and the immense superiority of the enemy in musFeb. ketry, the Decouverte, in three quarters of an hour, compelled the Dorade to haul down her colours.

This very gallant exploit on the part of lieutenant Campbell, his officers and crew, was performed after a loss of five seamen wounded, three of them dangerously, and one mortally. Lieutenant Campbell himself was also slightly wounded, but did not communicate the circumstance in his official letter. The omission was caused by a feeling highly honourable to lieutenant Campbell as a man: his wife was in England in a poor state of health, and he rightly judged, that uncertainty about the full extent of his wound might prey upon her feelings and protract her recovery. Of the privateer's 72 men, seven were found on her decks dead and three wounded; and it was understood, that about seven others had been thrown overboard during the progress of the action. On the 8th of February, in the evening, the british Tap 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Meleager, captain John cap- Broughton, cruising off the port of San-Jago de Cuba, detached her barge, cutter, and jollyboat, with 41 men, commanded by lieutenants George Tupman and William Sainburn, and lieutenant of marines James Denne, to capture a felucca-rigged privateer at anchor under the shore. The three boats gallantly boarded and captured, without loss on either side, although the enemy was perfectly prepared, the french privateer Renard, armed with one long 6-pounder and a large proportion of muskets, and 47 men, 18 of whom jumped overboard and swam for the shore.

Lieut.

Tup

man

сар

tures

Renard

Mr.

cap

On the 13th of February, in the evening, the Trist british 20-gun ship, Confiance,* captain James Lucas tures a Yeo, being off the Tagus, sent her cutter and jollyboat, under the command of master's mate Robert in the Trist, with 14 men, to row guard at the mouth of Tagus. the river, in consequence of a report, current at Lisbon, that the russian squadron was about to put No sooner had Mr. Trist arrived at his sta

vessel

to sea.

* Made a post-ship by her commander's promotion to postrank on the 19th of December, 1807. See vol. iv. p. 197.

tion, than he perceived a french gun-vessel at an an- 1808. chor under Fort San-Pedro, between the forts Belem Feb. and San-Julien: he instantly, in a most gallant manner, boarded, and after an ineffectual resistance on the part of the enemy carried, the french gun-vessel No. 1, commanded by enseigne de vaisseau Gaudolphe, and mounting one long 24-pounder and two brass sixes, with 100 stand of arms, and 50 men; of whom three were killed and nine badly wounded: but the British, notwithstanding they had been hailed and fired at in their approach to the gun-vessel, did not lose a man. This truly gallant exploit, performed as it was in opposition to a force so superior, and almost under the guns of several heavy Probatteries, deserved every praise that was bestowed moted upon it, and fully entitled Mr. Trist to the promo- lieut. tion which he in consequence obtained.

to a

andAd

On the 2d of March, in the morning, the british Sappho 18-gun brig-sloop Sappho, captain George Langford, miralstanding to the eastward from off Scarborough, dis- Yawl. covered and chased an armed brig, that was steering a course as if with the intention to cut off several merchant vessels to-leeward. At 1 h. 30. m. P. M. the danish brig of war Admiral-Yawl, captain Jorgen Jorgenson, substituting danish for english colours, which she had previously hoisted to deceive, discharged her broadside at the Sappho, in return for a shot fired over her by the latter. The Sappho immediately bore down, and brought her antagonist to close action, which was obstinately sustained for half an hour, when the Admiral-Yawl struck her colours.

ma

the

The Sappho's force was 16 carronades, 32- Singupounders, and two sixes, with a complement of 120 lar armen and boys; of whom she had two wounded. The ment of Admiral-Yawl was singularly armed for a brig, her capguns being mounted on two decks. On her first tured deck she had 12 carronades, 18-pounders, and on her second or principal deck, 16 long 6-pounders, total 28 guns; with a complement of 83 men and boys, of whom the second officer and one seaman were

brig.

1808. killed.

The wounded, if any, do not appear in the March. gazette-account.

San

ZO

chases

mon

On the 4th of March, at 11 h. 30 m. A. M., the british 18-pounder 36-gun frigate San-Fiorenzo, captain George Nicholas Hardinge, sailed from Pointe de Galle, Ceylon, on her return to Bombay. On the 6th, at 7 A. M., latitude 7° 32′ north, longitude 77° 58′ east, the San-Fiorenzo passed, off Cape Comorin, the three East-India Company's ships, Fioren- Charlton, captain George Wood, Metcalfe, captain Matthew Isacke, and Deyonshire, captain James Pié- Murray, from Bombaybound to Columbo; and shortly taise afterwards discovered on her starboard beam, in from the north-east, the french 40-gun frigate Piémontaise, india captain Epron, advancing to intercept the indiamen. The San-Fiorenzo immediately hauled to the wind in-shore, under all sail, and the french frigate, finding herself pursued, changed her course and stood away. The Piémontaise had sailed from the Isle of France on the 30th of the preceding December. Her intended mode of attack upon the indiamen is represented to have been, to board the first with 150 men, and then stand on and cannonade the two others until they surrendered.

three

men.

Com

At 5 P. M., having previously made the private signal, the San-Fiorenzo hoisted her colours, but the french frigate paid no attention to either. Captain Hardinge now pressed forward in pursuit; and, at 11 h. 40 m. P. M., being still on the larboard tack, the San-Fiorenzo ranged alongside the Piémontaise and received her broadside. After a ten minutes' mences action fought within 200 yards, the Piémontaise made engag- sail ahead out of the range of her opponent's shot. The San-Fiorenzo, whose loss, owing to the high firing of the Piémontaise, amounted to only three seamen slightly wounded, made sail in chase, and by daylight on the 7th had so gained upon the french frigate, that the latter, seeing a renewal of the engagement was unavoidable, hoisted her colours and wore in order to bring her broadside to bear.

ing her.

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