“Sir,– I have pleasure in informing you, that your boats, accompanied by those of H.M. ship I command, returned early this morning, having brought out of Monte Christe all the vessels at that anchorage, to the amount of six sail of schooners, under a smart fire from the batteries, without loss. I have the honor to he, &c.
“To Captain Bligh, &c. &c. &c.”
On the publication of these letters, in the London Gazette, the Committee of the Patriotic Fund resolved to present Lieutenant Canning with a sword of £50 value.
On the 8th Sept. 1803, the Desirée was present at the surrender of Port Dauphin, and a French frigate, la Sagesse, of 28 guns. Mr. Canning was afterwards placed in charge of a detained Spanish slave ship; and, on his arrival at Port Royal, appointed, by Rear-Admiral Duckworth, first lieutenant of la Creole frigate. Captain Austin Bissell, then about to sail for England, in company with the Cumberland 74, and homeward bound trade.
On the 25th Dec. following, in lat. 33° 18' N. long. 66° 12' W., la Creole sprung a leak, which soon gained on the pumps, although a number of invalided seamen and French prisoners worked cheerfully and hard at them, in conjunction with her crew. All the guns (except four kept for making signals), and a large quantity of shot and ballast, were then thrown overboard, which, together with a thrummed sail under her bottom, had a temporary good effect. Unfortunately, however, the wind, which had been blowing hard from the S.W., suddenly chopped round to N.W., making a heavy cross sea, causing the ship to labour prodigiously, and her leak greatly to increase. On the morning of the 2d Jan. 1804, the weather having moderated, a survey was held on her by some officers from the Cumberland, in consequence of whose report it was immediately determined that she should be abandoned. By p.m. the water in the hold had nearly reached the orlop-deck; and it was evident that the upper works were parting from the lower, somewhere about the water-line. By 4 o’clock, she was entirely deserted; and about dusk, she for ever disappeared.
