The Arrow spreading aloft, and the muzzles of her guns not projecting beyond the port-sills, caused her to be set on fire two or three times during the action; in addition to which she was greatly annoyed by the enemy’s small arms, the state of the weather enabling the French troops to take a part in the combat. Her boats being totally destroyed, those of l’Incorruptible were sent to take out the prisoners, who lost every article of property except the clothes then on their backs. Notwithstanding the haste with which Captain Vincent was obliged to quit the ship he had so bravely defended, he did not forget the sabre that had been presented to him by the Capitan Pacha, at Constantinople; but a French officer managed to obtain it from one of the Arrow’s crew, under a feigned pretence, and every endeavour to recover it proved unavailing; redress was not to be had of people who respected no principles of honor.
The frigates proved to be part of the Toulon fleet, commanded by Mons. Villeneuve[1], from whom they had separated during the tempestuous weather which prevailed previous to their falling in with the British convoy. Captain Vincent could never ascertain the actual loss they sustained, but many circumstances concurred to convince him it was very great. L’Incorruptible’s dead were thrown overboard before he reached that ship, and her wounded were carefully concealed from his view. One of the three vessels captured by the enemy was the Duchess of Rutland; and in addition to her commander’s former misconduct, Captain Vincent had to complain of his unpardonable neglect in not destroying the Convoy Signals and Instructions; fortunately, however, the Frenchmen were too much mauled to think of profiting by such excellent means of decoy, and obliged to push for the nearest port in order to repair their damages.
L’Incorruptible anchored off Carthagena on the 8th Feb., and the Arrow’s late commander, officers, crew, and passengers, were detained as prisoners in that town and a neighbouring village, until the early part of May, when they were allowed to embark for Gibraltar in a cartel brig sent by Lord
- ↑ See Vol. I note at p. 589.
guns and at least 1300 men: that of the British 36 guns (all carronades) and 199 men.
