large French privateer, is thus described by him in an official letter to his old friend Sir Edward Pellew, under whose orders he was then serving:–
“At 7 this morning, in lat. 54°-47' N., and long. 2°-46' E., saw a schooner in the S.W. under easy sail, standing towards us, and soon afterwards perceived her to be an enemy; as she appeared to take the Calliope for a merchant brig, I judged it most prudent not to make any sail until she found out her mistake, which was at the distance of about 3 miles, when she bore up and made all sail; at 10-30, we were within reach of shot, firing the bow-guns occasionally; and at 11, within reach of musket-shot; the enemy keeping upon my lee bow, I could not get the great guns to bear; but the whole of the marines and small-arm men kept up a constant and well-directed fire, which was returned with great spirit. At 11-30, got the great guns to bear with round and grape, most of the time within pistol-shot; and as there was so little difference in sailing, my great object was to disable her in her sails and rigging as soon as possible, and which appeared to be the enemy’s principal aim likewise. At 12, his main-mast went overboard; and the rest of his sails and rigging being all cut to pieces, he hailed, and told me he had struck.
“The schooner proved to be la Comtesse d’Hambourg, of 14 guns, eight of which are 12-pounders and six 8-pounders, and 51 men, from Dunkirk; out eight days; but had taken nothing. I am well assured that the capture of this vessel will be of the utmost consequence to the trade of Heligoland and the Baltic, as she is quite new, and sails remarkably well, with a most determined crew.
“I am extremely happy our loss has been but small, having only three wounded. The serjeant of marines I beg leave particularly to mention, as a highly deserving and brave man; he received two musket-balls through his body, and one through his right arm, before he quitted his post on the forecastle. I have judged it prudent to return to Yarmouth with the prisoners and prize, our sails and rigging, in many places, being cut and shot away, and two of the carronades disabled by the bolts of the chocks breaking.
The receipt of this communication was acknowledged by Sir Edward Pellew in the following terms:–
