received an acting order to command the Centurion in the absence of her proper Captain, then dangerously ill at sick-quarters. The following is a copy of the letter to which we have alluded, dated Sept. 19, 1804:
“Yesterday morning, whilst at anchor in this (Vizagapatam) road, and waiting till the Indiaman and the country ship (Barnaby), which you directed me to convoy to Madras, were loaded, 3 ships were perceived under the land in the S.W., coming down before the wind with all sails set. About 9-30 A.M. it was seen that they were enemies, a line-of-battle ship and 2 frigates: the former hoisted, -vlth her colours, a flag at the mizen-top-mast head, and I believe was the Marengo, Admiral Linois, and I shall so call her in this letter; the frigates appeared to be of 36 or 40 guns each[1]. For the information of the convoy, the signal of an enemy being in sight was hoisted, and soon afterwards one for the convoy, as they were best able, to put into a port in view. This was done that the two ships we had taken under convoy might get close in shore for protection, or, if necessary to run on it: the Barnaby complied with this signal; she ran on shore, but unfortunately afterwards got into the surf, and was totally lost.
“About 10 A.M., the headmost of the enemy’s ships, a frigate, was about half a mile from the Centurion, without any colours flying. Several shot were fired at her. About the same time the cable was cut, and topsails sheeted home, which were already loose for the purpose; by this means the broadside was brought to bear upon the enemy, and prevented the ship from being boarded or raked; by this manoeuvre, likewise, a frigate, that was within a cable’s length of the Centurion, and appeared to have an intention to board, got a close and well-directed broadside into her. The action soon became general, the enemy’s three ships directing their fire on the Centurion, their only object, for the Princess Charlotte had very early struck her colours. The Centurion stood in shore, the Marengo and one frigate on the starboard quarter, the other frigate on the larboard; they were all less than half a mile distant, and kept firing, which the Centurion returned: her fire was chiefly directed against the Marengo. About 10-45, the French ships stood to sea; and immediately after this I got on board, though with much difficulty and danger. I had been on shore to expedite the sailing of the convoy, and was not present in this early part of the action, for, till now, the Centurion had been under the direction of the first Lieutenant, Mr. James Robert Philips: and before I proceed any further in this account, permit me to notice the judicious conduct of this deserving and old officer, and his gallant defence of the ship against so superior a force as that of the enemy. I hope, Sir, his conduct will be thought worthy of a reward, and that he will be esteemed deserving of promotion.
- ↑ The French squadron consisted of the Marengo, Semillante, and Atalante; the former an 80-gun ship, the two latter 40-gun frigates.
