officer and man in the ship I have the honor to command[1], during a most arduous and fatiguing service, that lasted for 18 hours, the whole of which time they were either at their guns or expecting every instant to he called to them. Our loss, I am extremely sorry to say, is very great in killed and wounded, and most of them the best men in the ship. What the enemy’s may be, from the nature of the service it is impossible to ascertain, though we know it to be very considerable[2].”
On the 21st March, 1809, Captain Maitland captured l’Enfant de Patria of 640 tons, 8 guns, and 60 men; and two days afterwards, l’Aventurier of 4 guns and 30 men. These vessels were letters of marque; the former bound to the Isle of France, and the latter to the relief of Guadaloupe. In the following month, the Emerald was attached to the fleet under Lord Gambier, and formed part of the advanced squadron at the destruction of four French 2-deckers in Aix Roads[3].
From this period, Captain Maitland continued to cruise with his usual activity; and previous to his quitting the Emerald, he was fortunate enough to add the following vessels to his already long list of captures:
Two French letters of marque, one of 4 guns, bound to Guadaloupe with a small reinforcement for the garrison of that island; the other of 4 guns and 26 men, coming from thence with a cargo of coffee and other colonial produce. L’Incomparable, brig privateer of eight 6-pounders and 60 men; this vessel, when discovered, was in the act of capturing an English merchant brig. Le Fanfaron, national corvette of 16 guns and 113 men, commanded by a Capitaine de fregate, bound to Guadaloupe, with a cargo of flour, salt provisions, &c. &c. Le Belle Etoile letter of marque of 350 tons, 8 guns (pierced for 20) and 56 men, laden with wine, flour, oil, and various other merchandise, bound to the Isle of France; and l’Auguste, a remarkably fast sailing ship privateer, of 18 guns and 130 men.
Captain Maitland’s next appointment was, June 3, 1813, to the Goliah, a cut down 74[4]; in which ship he served about twelve months, on the Halifax and West India stations.
- ↑ The eulogiums bestowed by Captain Maitland upon his officers in a former part of this letter, are purposely omitted. They will appear in our memoir of Captain Charles Bertram.
- ↑ The Emerald had 9 men killed, Lieutenant Bertram, the two marine officers, Mr. Mildridge, 11 men, and 1 boy wounded.
- ↑ See p. 318, and Vol. I. p. 84.
- ↑ The Goliah, originally a 74 of the smallest class, mounted twenty-eight long 32-pounders, the same number of 42-pr. carronades, and two long twelves, making 58 guns on two flush decks.
