the smallest, a sloop of 6 guns and 50 men, obliged to surrender. The other, a schooner carrying 12 guns and 80 men, was considerably damaged, but succeeded in effecting her escape. The prize had 8 men killed and wounded; la Victorieuse sustained no loss whatever.
On the 3d Dec. following, la Victorieuse, in company with the Zephyr sloop, and about 40 troops, destroyed a fort at Rio Caribe, on the island of Margueritta; two others at Gurupano, and a small Dutch privateer; and captured la Couleuvre of 6 guns and 80 men. The enemy’s force at the latter place was at least 300 men; notwithstanding which, their fire was silenced in fifteen minutes. The assailants had only 4 men killed and wounded. Captain Dickson had previously captured two small French privateers, and destroyed another of 12 guns and 80 men.
In July 1799, Captain Dickson was presented by the English inhabitants of Trinidad with a sword, value 100 guineas, as a reward for his activity and diligence, in protecting the trade of that colony. His post commission bears date Aug. 11, 1800.
From this period, we find no mention of him till the latter end of 1803, when he was appointed to the Inconstant frigate. On the 7th March following, he arrived off the island of Goree, with a store-ship and some merchant vessels under his protection; and suspecting that the place might be in possession of the enemy, sent Mr. Pickford, his first Lieutenant, on shore to ascertain the fact. At sun-set, seeing no appearance of the boat, Captain Dickson anchored out of gun-shot, and it being highly necessary to obtain some information, despatched Mr. Runciman, Midshipman, with three boats properly manned and armed, to cut out any vessels he might find in the harbour. Mr. Runciman acquitted himself nobly, bringing out a ship, under a heavy fire from the batteries, which sunk one of his boats, but only wounded 1 man. From the prize Captain Dickson learned, that the settlement had been in the hands of the enemy about two months, and that the garrison consisted of 300 white and black troops. The following day was spent in making the necessary preparations for an attack; and the French governor being aware of
