meet the Constitution; and if we had not fallen in with an American vessel that gave us authentic information of the peace, there is little doubt but the Leander would have met her singly, having taken up the exact position that would have ensured a junction.
The ship taken on this occasion proved to be the Levant of 20 guns, captured, in company with the Cyane 32, by the Constitution, off Porto Santo, on the 20th of the preceding month[1].
From St. Jago the British squadron made all sail for the West Indies, still hoping to intercept the fugitives on their return to America. Leaving the Newcastle and Acasta to windward of Barbadoes, Sir George Collier took up a cruising ground off the north end of Cayenne, with the intention of remaining there ten days; but only four had elapsed when he fell in with an American schooner, the master of which gave him an authentic account of the peace between Great Britain and the United States. It afterwards appeared by the Constitution’s log, that she made the north end of Cayenne, only two days after the Leander had left that spot to rejoin the other ships; so that had she not met with the above schooner, her crew would have had an excellent opportunity of shewing, under their gallant commander, whether they were not capable of taking an American forty-four single-handed. Captains M‘Dougall and Fead, have done Sir George Collier and his men such ample justice as renders any further comment unnecessary.
The Leander returned to England with 52 transports, and 12,000 troops under her convoy, from Canada, in July 1815. Sir George Collier had previously been raised to the dignity of a Baronet of Great Britain[2], and honored with the insignia of a K.C.B[3]., as a reward for his long and meritorious services. In May 1818, he was appointed Commodore on
- ↑ See Captains Hon. George Douglas, and Gordon Thomas Falcon.
- ↑ July 30, 1814.
- ↑ Jan. 2, 1815.
