as a Guineaman, purposely to decoy the enemy’s cruisers. The stratagem succeeded in this instance, and an action commenced with tolerable spirit on both sides. In the course of ten or twelve minutes, le Buonaparte became entangled with her antagonist, and Captain Mackenzie instantly ordered the enemy’s bowsprit to be lashed to his own mainmast: he then jumped on her deck, sword in hand, followed by his officers and a few brave seamen; but unfortunately the remainder of his crew shrunk from so close a contest. With this small force, however, he obtained a footing, the Frenchmen retreating abaft the main-mast, where they rallied on finding that their assaillants were not more than 18 in number. Of this gallant little band, 5 were killed, 8 wounded, and the remainder obliged to retreat. Only 9, including 4 of the wounded, succeeded in regaining their own ship before the lashing gave way, and le Buonaparte made off under all sail, her commander having no wish to renew the combat, and the Hippomenes being left without a single officer capable of giving orders for pursuit, even if her dastardly crew had felt inclined to obey them. Captain Mackenzie himself received many severe wounds, and fell senseless in the Hippomenes’ main-chains the moment he had quitted the enemy. Le Buonaparte’s loss has never been ascertained.
In 1806, we find Captain Mackenzie commanding the Carysfort 28, and assisting at the capture of la Lutine, French national brig, of 18 guns and 100 men, from l’Orient bound to Martinique, with despatches[1]; his subsequent appointments were to the Champion 24, and Venus frigate, in which latter ship he continued until the termination of the war in 1814. On the 10th June 1815, he obtained a pension of 250l. per annum, for the wounds he had received in the above action, the effects of which, we have reason to believe, were a source of great affliction to his family for some time previous to his demise. He died at Salisbury, Nov. 5, 1824; aged 45 years.
