ensued. Before eleven, the Hussar compelled the Commodore, and his second a-head, to quit the line and make sail. The fire of both frigates then fell on the centre ship, and those in the rear, which, at a quarter before twelve, struck their colours; but notwithstanding, attempted to get away. One of them, the Raison of 18 guns and 125 men, the Hussar succeeded in overtaking; the other effected her escape. The ship taken possession of by the Thetis, was la Prevoyante, pierced for 46, but mounting 24 guns only. The fugitives were likewise armed en flute. This squadron was from Guadaloupe, bound to a port in America, to load with naval stores and provisions for France. The Thetis had 8 men killed and 9 wounded. The Hussar only 2 wounded.
Captain Cochrane, after serving for several years on the coast of America, where he captured several of the enemy’s privateers, was appointed in Feb. 1799, to the Ajax of 80 guns, which ship formed part of the expeditions sent against Quiberon, Belleisle, and Ferrol, in the summer of 1800[1], and afterwards joined the fleet on the Mediterranean station, under the orders of Lord Keith, with whom he proceeded to the coast of Egypt; and being directed by that officer to superintend the debarkation of the army destined to act against the invaders of that country, he displayed on this occasion a degree of skill and enterprise that stamped him as one of our ablest naval commanders[2].
- ↑ See p. 219, et seq.
- ↑ After the abandonment of the attempt upon Cadiz, already alluded to at p. 54, Lord Keith and Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby proceeded with their forces to the coast of Asia Minor, for the purpose of cooperating with the Turks in the expulsion of the French from Egypt. On the 22d Feb. 1801, the armament sailed from the harbour of Marmorice, and anchored in the Bay of Aboukir, March 2. An unfortunate succession of strong northerly gales, attended by a heavy swell, rendered it impossible to attempt the landing of the troops before the 8th, on which day that service was most ably performed under the superintendence of Captain Cochrane. The delays to which the fleet had been exposed, gave the enemy an opportunity to strengthen the naturally difficult coast. The whole garrison of Alexandria, amounting to about 3000 men, reinforced with many small detachments that had been observed to advance from the Rosetta branch of the Nile, was appointed for its defence. Field pieces were placed on the most commanding heights, and in the intervals of the nume-
