sailed best by the stern, he ordered the two bow-guns into the cabin, to answer the double purpose, I suppose, of stern-chasers and ballast. At about 20 minutes past 4, one of the ships ranged up on the larboard side, looking very large – her ports all up, lights on the main-deck fore and aft: she had shortened sail, and was perfectly ready for commencing the action; the other ship was coming up on our starboard side, when the wind entirely died away, leaving the poor little Proserpine in a very hopeless situation; as by this time we discovered two 74’s coming down to assist in the unequal combat. Captain Otter hailed one of the ships, and was answered by a single gun. He took the hint and beat to quarters. When the enemy heard our drum they gave us a whole broadside, which salute we returned in as polite a manner as we could: the ship yawed a little, and left her consort in a safe position astern, where she continued raking us all the action, without our being able to fire a shot at her, as the two bow-guns had been left by those who were getting them aft, when we beat to quarters, and were no small nuisance, as on our larboard side two guns were disabled for 20 minutes by them, till they were got to their places: very fortunately they fired high in the ship astern, to prevent our escape by flight, as they had before witnessed that we could sail very fast. At a little after 5 o’clock the ship alongside piped à la bordage! and the cry of Vive l’Empereur! à la bordage! rent the air; a light breeze which sprung up would have favored them in this design, had not Captain Otter called all the officers, and consulted with them; the result of which was, that as the Proserpine was almost a wreck, her rigging, masts, and sails cut to pieces, 41 hands short of complement, with no chance of being able to save the ship, and the two 74’s coming up fast, it was necessary to surrender, to save the lives of the crew. The colours were then ordered to be struck, after which they fired two broadsides at us, then took possession, and carried us into Toulon. The two ships that took us were the Penelope and Pauline, of 44 guns and 360 men each; the Proserpine had one seaman killed outright, one marine mortally, and eleven men slightly wounded. The French officers said they had none killed or wounded, but several of the crew secretly told us that they had several killed, and that many wounded men were sent at night to the hospital[1].”
- ↑ The squadron sent out to cut off the Proserpine, consisted of the following ships: the Suffrein and Ajax 74’s, and Penelope, Pauline, and Pomone frigates, each mounting 44 guns, and carrying from 360 to 330 men. The writer of the above narrative, when below superintending the men scrubbing their hammocks, heard one of them scold another who had twin sons on board, for breaking his own rest to wash for them, as he said they were big enough to do it themselves. The poor fellow replied, “Oh! they will grow up men soon, and then will not forget my doing this for them; and provided that a shot does not take my head off, they will treat me to many a glass for washing for them now.” In less than two
