her consort searched one of the other vessels, and found that she was laden with spars of sufficient size to make top-masts for line-of-battle ships, and others with iron, &c. bound to Brest, l’Orient, and Cadiz. Upon receiving the report of Lieutenant Reddie, who commanded the Speedwell, Captain Ommanney wrote the following laconic letter on the Busy’s cap stern head, and immediately forwarded it to the Swedish Commodore:
Sir.– The officer who has boarded one of the ships under your convoy has reported to me that she is bound to an enemy’s port, and is laden with naval stores. I shall therefore insist upon searching the whole of the fleet, and shall detain all those vessels that have naval stores on board.
I remain, Sir, your humble servant,
“To the Captain of the Swedish frigate[1].”
This letter had no sooner been delivered, and the bearer thereof returned to the Busy, than she stood towards the fleet, and fired a shot athwart the bows of the nearest ship, to make her shorten sail; upon which the frigate hailed in token of submission, and sent an officer to Captain Ommanney, with a list of the convoy, and the Commodore’s instructions, which directed him not to suffer the vessels under his charge to be searched at sea; but in case of meeting with any British cruiser, to proceed with her to an English port, for the purpose of being examined. On his way to the Downs, Captain Ommanney fell in with a squadron under the orders of the present Vice-Admiral Lawford, who had been cruising off the Flemish banks for a period of six weeks, in order to intercept this very fleet.
Captain Ommanney being now relieved from his charge, returned to his station off Goree, and some time afterwards received a letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty, informing him that the Lords Commissioners “very highly approved of his conduct” on the above occasion. He then joined the expedition sent against the Helder[2]; and on the 16th Sept. following, captured le Dragon, a French lugger privateer of 16 guns. This vessel had for a length of time annoyed our trade in the North Sea; and when discovered by
- ↑ She was commanded by Baron Oderstroom.
- ↑ See Vol. I, note at p. 414, et seq.
