made his way, towards the end of 1803, to the Bay of Bengal.
This time his success was unexampled. In a very brief period he captured at least fifteen vessels.[1] The sums realised by the sale of these was enormous, the official returns showing that the first six on the list sold for nearly 1,200,000 francs. Yet, unfortunately for Lemême, he did not live to enjoy his gains. On the 7th November 1804, in the waters of the Arabian sea, he found himself early in the morning in close proximity to the Concorde, a British frigate carrying 48 guns, which had been sent from Bombay in search of him. In vain he attempted to escape. The Concorde was a better sailer, and at half-past three o'clock she came within range. Lemême did all that man could do to cripple his adversary. But it was useless. At half-past ten o'clock, his ship reduced to a wreck, he had to strike his flag.
With this action ended his career. Shipped, the 15th February 1805, on board the Walthamstow as a prisoner
- ↑ The official report of Admiral Linois, published in the Moniteur, gives a list of ten, viz., the Barlow, the Eleonora, the Active, the Pomona, the Vulcan, the Mahomed Bux, the Nancy, the Creole, the Fly, and the Shrewsbury. M. Gallois adds to this list the Industry, a packet boat, restored to its owner; the Bembow, the Daos, and the Lionne. In the Asiatic Annual Register for March, 1804, I find the following: "On the 1st ultimo the Taxbux, under Arab colours, was fired at, and at nine p.m. taken possession of by the French privateer La Fortune, commanded by Citizen Lemême. * * * Captain Mercer was informed on board the privateer that she had taken three vessels, the Sarah, the Eliza, and the Active." The Taxbux was restored to Captain Mercer.
