POST-CAPTAINS OF 1802.
647
pected, and on my questioning them again about Lord Hood, one of them replied, “Soyez tranquille, les Anglois sont de braves gens, nous les traitons biens; l’Amiral Anglois est sortie il y a quelque tems[1].” It may be more easily conceived than any words can express, what I felt at the moment. The circumstance of our situation, of course, was known throughout the ship in an instant; and saying we were all prisoners, the officers soon got near me to know our situation. At the same time a flaw of wind coming down the harbour, Lieutenant Webley said to me, ‘I believe, Sir, we shall be able to fetch out, if we can get her under sail.’ I immediately perceived we should have a chance of saving the ship; at least, if we did not, we ought not to lose her without some contention: I therefore ordered every person to their respective stations, and the Frenchmen to be sent below. The latter, perceiving some bustle, began to draw their sabres; on which I directed some of the marines to take the half-pikes and force them below, which was soon done: I then ordered all the Maltese between decks, that we might not have confusion with too many men. I believe, in an instant, such a change in people was never seen; every officer and man was at his duty; and I do believe, within three minutes, every sail in the ship was set, and the yards braced ready for casting. The steady and active assistance of Lieutenant Turner, and all the officers, prevented any confusion from arising in our critical situation. As soon as the cable was taut, I ordered it to be cut, and had the good fortune to see the ship start from the shore. The head sails were filled: a favourable flaw of wind coming at the same time, gave her good way, and we had every prospect of getting out, if the forts did not disable us. To prevent our being retarded by the boats, I ordered them to be cut adrift, as also the French boat. The moment the brig saw us begin to loose sails, we could plainly perceive she was getting her guns ready, and we also saw lights on all the batteries. When we had shot far enough for the brig’s guns to bear on us, which was not more than three ships’ lengths, she began to fire, also a fort a little on the starboard bow, and soon after all of them, on both sides, as they could bring their guns to bear. As soon as the sails were well trimmed, I beat to quarters, to get our guns ready, but not with an intention of firing till we were sure of getting out. When abreast of the centre part of Cape Sepet, I was afraid we should have been obliged to make a tack; but as we drew near the shore, and were ready, she came up two points, and just weathered the Cape. As we passed very close along that shore, the batteries kept up a brisk a fire as the wetness of the weather would admit. When I could afford to keep the ship a little from the wind, I ordered some guns to be fired at a battery that had just opened abreast of us, which quieted them a little. We then stopped firing till we could keep her away, with the wind abaft the beam, when, for a few minutes, we kept up a very
- ↑ Make yourself easy; the English are good people; we will treat them kindly; the English Admiral has departed some time.
