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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1802.

the haziness of the weather, they would be more than a match for the Acasta. He replied, “It is true, Kerr can do wonders, but not impossibilities; and I believe I must go round, as when the ship that tacked first hears the Acasta engaged, she will naturally come to her consort’s assistance^[1].” Sir George then asked me if I saw the headmost ship and the Newcastle. I went with my glass to look, and observed the latter but could not see the former^[2]. He then, after looking through his glass, ordered the helm to be put down; and shortly after we had filled the Newcastle was observed to tack, which circumstance displeased him very much; but he remarked that he was satisfied if she had been gaining upon the enemy’s ship and keeping her in sight, Lord George would never have discontinued the chace: shortly afterwards we opened our fire upon the ship we had tacked after, and to our great mortification observed she was a corvette or 20-gun ship. She ran in shore and let go her anchor, and the Acasta’s signal was made to take possession of her. We were obliged to anchor to communicate with the Governor, in consequence of several of our shot having gone on shore amongst the houses. About 9 or 10 P.M. it fell calm, and continued so during most of the night. On leaving the anchorage Sir George Collier displayed the greatest zeal and anxiety to

↑ The Acasta’s log informs us that the enemy’s force was discovered to consist of one large frigate and two sloops, so early as 1 P.M. the time when the British squadron first tacked to the eastward. If so, we are sorry that a signal to that effect was not made, by which Sir George Collier’s mind would have been set at ease as to the capability of the Acasta to cope with the two ships which had put back; and the Leander, having nothing else to engage her attention, would of course have continued in pursuit of the other. It is very natural for junior Captains to feel a delicacy in addressing signals to their commanding officer when in presence of an enemy; but as Sir George Collier had formed his opinion of the Americans’ force from the report of Captain Kerr and Lord George Stuart, he certainly could not have taken offence had he been informed that the Acasta alone was more than capable of annihilating the two ships which she had tacked after.
↑ The Newcastle, according to her log, lost sight of the headmost American, in thick hazy weather, at 2^h 50' P.M.

[1] The Acasta’s log informs us that the enemy’s force was discovered to consist of one large frigate and two sloops, so early as 1 P.M. the time when the British squadron first tacked to the eastward. If so, we are sorry that a signal to that effect was not made, by which Sir George Collier’s mind would have been set at ease as to the capability of the Acasta to cope with the two ships which had put back; and the Leander, having nothing else to engage her attention, would of course have continued in pursuit of the other. It is very natural for junior Captains to feel a delicacy in addressing signals to their commanding officer when in presence of an enemy; but as Sir George Collier had formed his opinion of the Americans’ force from the report of Captain Kerr and Lord George Stuart, he certainly could not have taken offence had he been informed that the Acasta alone was more than capable of annihilating the two ships which she had tacked after.

[2] The Newcastle, according to her log, lost sight of the headmost American, in thick hazy weather, at 2^h 50' P.M.

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