286
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1800.
zon, wrecked on the French coast in Hodierne bay, on the 14th instant. Their Lordships are already acquainted, by Sir E. Pellew, of our shattered condition towards the end of our united action with les Droits de l’Homme, a French man-of-war, commanded by Capt. (ci-devant Baron) Le Cross. The various situations and changes incident to so long an action, I forbear to mention; Sir E. Pellew having unquestionably done it in a better manner than I am able. The Amazon began to engage about seven o’clock in the evening on the 13th, an hour after Sir Edward had gallantly commenced the action, and continued a running fight until live the next morning, which brought us forty leagues from where we began the chase, near the French coast; and the wind blowing strong directly upon the shore, in the eagerness of pursuit, and during the heat of battle, we were unable accurately to calculate the distance we had run; and our masts, yards, and rigging, being miserably shattered, it was not possible for us to work off shore. Our mizen-top-mast, gaff, spanker-boom, and main-top-sailyard, were entirely shot away; the main and fore-masts, the fore and mainyards, wounded in several places by large shot, some of which we judged to be 36-pounders; our shrouds, stays, and back-stays, many of them shot away, besides those we had knotted and stoppered in the action; and our cordage all expended in reeving running-rigging. In this condition, Sir, and with three feet water in our hold, we struck the ground a little after five in the morning, and not more than ten minutes after we bad ceased firing. Les Droits de l’Homme met with a similar fate a little distance from us, and almost at the same moment. From half past five to nine o’clock, we were employed in making rafts to save the men; and it gives me unspeakable comfort, that not a man was lost after the ship struck the shore, except six that stole away the cutter from the stern, and were drowned. Myself and officers quitted not the ship till with great care and pains we got the wounded and every man out of her. We ware received on shore by a party of soldiers, who conducted us to the little town of Hodierne, about a league from the ship. Thence they marched us through Dournancy to Quimper, where we now remain, and are well treated. I am not able to express my satisfaction for the noble support I received from the officers in general, and petty officers, during the action: to particularise either, I hope, will not be considered as taking from the merits of the whole; but Mr. Littlehales, the first Lieutenant, being constantly on the quarter-deck with me throughout the whole of the action, it would be unjust and ungrateful in me not to acknowledge the ample assistance he afforded in every situation throughout the course of so long and trying a conflict; and if a man, who has unfortunately lost his ship, (though I hope not dishonorably,) may be permitted, I humbly beg leave to recommend Mr. Littlehales to their Lordships’ notice and patronage. I hope this will not be deemed to derogate from the merits of Lieutenants Nichols and Thomas, who were quartered on the main-deck, and who, during a great part of the action, fought half way up their legs in water, cheering and inspiring courage to all around them by their own animated and gallant example. Mangled as we were in our hull, as well as in our masts, yards, and rigging,
