for a few minutes. It is impossible for me to express in terms strong enough, the gallant conduct of Captain Austen, his officers, and ship’s company, on this occasion, in a contest against so superior a force[1].”
The Peterel was subsequently employed blockading Genoa, and stationed for a considerable time as the advanced ship of Lord Keith’s squadron, with directions never to be more than three miles distant from the mole-head, whether by day or night. The manner in which those orders were obeyed may be inferred from the circumstance of her having been twice fired at by the British gun-boats; their officers imagining, from her closeness to the shore, that she was an enemy’s vessel attempting to enter the port. It is almost superfluous to add, that Captain Austen received the Admiral’s thanks for his zeal and diligence in so arduous and anxious a situation. After the surrender of Genoa, in June 1800[2], Captain Austen was sent to join Sir W. Sidney Smith on the coast of Egypt. In Aug. following, he rendered an important service to the allied forces, by preventing the French from landing the ordnance of a Turkish 80-gun ship, which had grounded bn a reef between Aboukir Castle and Bequiere island. Indjee Bey, her commander, with part of his crew, surrendered to the enemy; the remainder escaped to two Ottoman corvettes, and refused to give the English sloop any assistance, saying they had saved their clothes, and that they could not think of exposing themselves to the fire of the Frenchmen, who had obtained possession of their ship, and were removing her guns into some djerms at the time Captain Austen arrived to their aid. The Peterel anchored within gun-shot, compelled the enemy, about 300 in number, to abandon their intention, and succeeded in setting fire to the ship; by which
- ↑ According to James, the Peterel mounted sixteen long 6-pounders, and eight 12-pr. carronades, with a complement of 120 men. Captain Austen, in his report of the action, noticed the previous capture of two vessels laden with wheat, which had sailed from Cette that morning under protection of le Cerf and her consorts; and the absence of his first Lieutenant, gunner, and 30 men, in prizes. He also described la Ligurienne as a very fine brig, built on a peculiar plan, being fastened throughout with screw bolts, so as to be taken to pieces and set up again with ease.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 53.
