which I continued to engage closely for some time: but outrunning rigging being cut to pieces; the impossibility of managing the ship the lower masts being badly wounded; the standing rigging, yards, and sails much cut; many shot between wind and water; four guns dismounted on the starboard side; the rudder machinery disabled; 13 men killed, and 27 wounded; induced me to cause the colours to be struck about half-past 8, after an action of an hour and twenty minutes, to the French national frigate l’Incorruptible, Mons. Billiet, Capitaine de fregate, commander, of 42 guns and 650 men, including troops: conceiving from the above disabled state of the Arrow, that further resistance would only increase the loss of lives, without the hope of saving his Majesty’s sloop from such superior force; particularly as she was making considerable water, and the surviving officers and crew could scarcely be removed from her, before she settled on her beam ends and sunk[1].
“When I was under the painful necessity of thus yielding to l’Incorruptible, the Acheron was standing to the southward towards the land under all sail, the large frigate l’Hortense in chase; and I cherished the hope that if the breeze had freshened, she would be able to outsail the enemy and draw him to a considerable distance, or get in with the land so as to prevent her falling into his hands: but she was obliged to submit to the same fate as the Arrow, and was afterwards burnt. At this time the convoy were considerably to the westward, and to windward, effecting their escape on different tacks[2].
- ↑ Lieutenant Edward Elers, second of the Arrow, and several men, jumped overboard to avoid going down in her; and were picked up by l’Incorruptible’s boats, all those belonging to the British sloop having be destroyed by the enemy’s shot.
- ↑ The gallant commander of the Acheron concludes his account following terms: ”We continued to engage the French Commodore until
the Arrow in passing. Our fire was now turned upon this ship, and continued till we came close up with the Arrow, which had just put her helm a-weather to rake the French Commodore. We hauled our wind to keep clear of her, as she appeared to be wearing; and I asked Captain Vincent if he meant to again come to the wind upon the starboard tack, but I could not understand what he said in reply. As soon as we cleared the Arrow, our fire was again directed against the Commodore’s frigate.”
