1811.]

SCHOMBERG OFF MADAGASCAR.

486*

It is alleged that the Tactique had no fewer than 11 killed and 48 wounded.1

On February 2nd, 1811, the three 40-gun frigates Renommée, Commodore François Roquebert, Clorinde, Captain Jacques St. Cricq, and Néréide, Captain François Lemaresquier, quitted Brest. Their destination was Mauritius. On May 6th they made Isle de la Passe, at the entrance to Grand Port; and on the following morning they not only found that the island was in British occupation, but also sighted and were chased by the Phabe, 36, Captain James Hillyar, Galatea, 36, Captain Woodley Losack, and Racehorse, 18, Commander James de Rippe, which, with other vessels, had been specially detached to intercept them. Previous to going in chase, the Galatea sent her gig, with the intelligence of the presence of the French, to Captain Charles Marsh Schomberg, who, in the Astrea, 36, was lying at Port Louis; and, when their quarry temporarily escaped them, the British ships also went thither.

Commodore Roquebert eventually stood for Madagascar, in order to obtain provisions; and, on May 19th, he surprised the small British force at Tamatave, which post had been captured from the French, on the previous February 12th, by a little expedition sent from Mauritius in the Eclipse, 18, Commander William Jones Lye.

Schomberg, fearing for the safety of Tamatave, had left Port Louis on the 14th; and at dawn on the 20th he discovered Roquebert off Foul Point, and brought him to action. After the squadrons had nearly passed one another on opposite tacks at long range, and had exchanged fire, the breeze failed, and the leading ship, the Astræa, in endeavouring to wear and renew the fight, missed stays, the consequence being that the Clorinde and Renommée, which, owing to their weatherly position, kept the wind longest, were able to take up station nearly astern of the Phobe and Galatea, and to inflict considerable damage. The Néréide also was able to annoy those frigates, while the Astrea was for the time practically out of the action. But at about 6.30 P.M. a light wind from S.E. altered the complexion of affairs. The Galatea had by that time been so terribly mauled that she was powerless to greatly help her consorts; but the Phabe so disabled the Néréide as to oblige that ship to make for the land; and, when she had refitted, joined her

1 James, v. 368; Nav. Chron., xxiii. 166.

consorts for the final attack. At 9.50 the Renommée was brought to close action, and, within half an hour, surrendered. The Clorinde, which had disgracefully held aloof, managed to escape. Schomberg and Hillyar returned to cover the captured ship and the disabled Galatea; but, ere they got up, Losack had deemed it wise to make for Port Louis. The little prize party in the Renommée had not been permitted by its numerous prisoners to hoist the British over the French ensign; and Losack, seeing other ships approaching in the distance, feared to fall into the hands of enemies.

Not until Schomberg had removed the prisoners from the Renommée did he learn of what had happened at Tamatave. He then sent the Racehorse to that place. She returned on the 24th, with news that the Néréide lay there prepared to defend herself. On the following day the three British ships appeared off the settlement, and summoned Lieutenant Ponée, who had succeeded to the command on the death of Lemaresquier. Ponée obtained advantageous terms, and, on the 26th, gave up his frigate and the town.' The Clorinde managed to reach Brest on September 16th. In March, 1812, St. Cricq was tried for his misconduct, and was deservedly sentenced to be dismissed the service, degraded from the Legion of Honour, and imprisoned for three years. The Néréide was added to the Navy as the Madagascar, and the Renommée as the Java.

In this action, the Astræa had 2 killed, and 16, including Lieutenant John Baldwin, wounded. She received little material damage. The Phabe, which was very badly cut about, had 7 killed, and 24, including Midshipman John Wilkie, wounded. The Galatea, which was terribly battered, had 16 killed, including Lieutenant Hugh Peregrine, R.M., and 46 wounded, including Lieutenant Thomas Bevis, Lieutenant Henry Lewis, R.M., and Midshipmen Henry Williams and Alexander Henning. The Racehorse had a topmast carried away, but no one hurt. As for the French ships, the Renommée had 145, and the Néréide 130 people put out of action. Roquebert was among the killed. Lieutenants John Baldwin, of the Astræa, and George Scott (2),3 of the Phabe, were promoted for their services; but, owing to the tone, wholly unmerited, of Schomberg's dispatch, in so far as it concerned the Galatea,

1 James, vi. 14; Chevalier, 384; Brenton, ii. 416; Nav. Chron. xxvi. 431, 435. 2 Com. Nov. 18th, 1811; died a Capt., 1840.

3 Com. March 24th, 1812; died a retired rear-admiral.

1811.]

OPERATIONS OFF THE ITALIAN COAST.

487

Lieutenant Thomas Bevis, of that frigate, remained a Lieutenant until the year 1829.

At daylight on July 4th, Captain Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, of the Unité, 36, sent in his boats, under Lieutenant Joseph William Crabb, to cut out an armed brig which lay in Porto Ercole, on the Tuscan coast. The brig, which was the St. François de Paule, mounted 8 guns, and was protected by a couple of 8-prs. on the beach and, as the wind was so variable that Chamberlayne could not carry out his original intention of closing to co-operate, he finally sent his launch, under Lieutenant John M'Dougall (3), in support; but ere she was able to assist, the other boats, which had suffered no loss, were bringing out the brig from under a brisk fire of grape. That evening the Cephalus, 18, Commander Augustus William James Clifford, joined; and the two vessels stood along the coast to the south-east. Early next morning they discovered several vessels at anchor between Civita Vecchia and the mouth of the Tiber. The ships closed and drove the garrison out of a 4-gun battery; and the boats, under Clifford and the officers already named, then went in and brought out, again without loss, three merchantmen.1

On July 21st, the Thames, 32, Captain Charles Napier (2), joined the Cephalus, off Porto del Infreschi, into which the latter had, on the previous day, driven a French convoy of 26 sail, of which 11 were gunboats, mounting among them 13 guns. The Cephalus, followed by the Thames, stood in, anchored, and opened fire, being replied to by the gunboats, a round tower on shore, and a body of troops. The opposition was, however, soon silenced; and the boats, under Clifford, then took possession of the convoy, while the Marines, under Lieutenant David M'Adams, R.M., landed and stormed the tower, capturing 80 prisoners: The only loss was 4 wounded.2

On July 27th, the Active, 38, Captain James Alexander Gordon (1), anchored off Rogoznica, in the Adriatic, and sent in her boats under Lieutenants James Henderson (1), George Haye, and Robert Gibson (1),3 to attack a grain convoy which

1 James, v. 370; Nav. Chron., xxvi. 345.

2 James, v. 371; Nav. Chron., xxvi. 344; 'Life of Napier, i. 41.

3 There were at the time two Lieuts. of the name, one of Aug. 6th, 1807, and the other of Aug. 28th, 1807. This last was then in the Partridge; but it is sometimes extremely difficult to distinguish between them. See p. 396, where I have been unable

to discriminate.

had run up a creek on the mainland behind the island, and which was bound for Ragusa. At the mouth of the creek lay three gunboats; and on each bank a force of armed men had been posted. Part of the British detachment, therefore, was landed on the right, to take possession of a commanding eminence; and, this being accomplished, the other part made for and boarded the gunboats, while the first party descended and attacked the enemy in flank. The convoy was then taken possession of, ten vessels being burnt, and the rest brought out. The British lost only 4 wounded.1

On July 31st, off the coast of Norway, the Algerine, 10, Lieutenant John Aitken Blow, and Brevdrageren, 12, Lieutenant Thomas Barker Devon, saw three Danish brigs standing towards them. These were the Langeland, 20, Lügum,2 18, and Kiel, 16. Blow, being thus vastly outmatched, was justified in retreating; and, as the breeze was light, the two British craft endeavoured to escape by sweeping. Early on August 1st, however, the Danes had gained considerably. The Langeland being then about two miles ahead of her consorts, Blow proposed to Devon to bear down with him and cut off that vessel. Devon cheerfully agreed; but as soon as the intention was manifest, the Langeland bore away to close her friends. The British, therefore, resumed their efforts to escape; but they had lost ground. Once more, when the Langeland had drawn ahead of her consorts, the British turned upon her. On that occasion the Dane awaited the attack; and, at about noon, the engagement began. The Brevdrageren fought most gallantly, both with the Langeland and also with the Lügum, when that craft got up; but in the thick of the action, Blow ceased firing, swept out of range, and signalled to Devon to do likewise. Devon continued fighting, and hoisted the recall; but Blow paid no heed. The Brevdrageren was consequently faring very badly when, a light air springing up, she was able to free herself. She was chased, but receiving two additional sweeps and 10 men from the Algerine, she steadily increased her distance for some time; and, when at length the Lügum began to gain, the Algerine hauled up and hove to, thus inducing the Danes to abandon the pursuit. The Brevdrageren had 1 killed and 3 wounded; the Algerine, 1 killed. Devon behaved most creditably. On October 30th, following, in consequence of a dispute with a Marine officer whom he challenged,

1 James, v. 371; Nav. Chron., xxvi. 492.

2 See note, p. 410.

1811.]

BLYTH OFF NORDERNEY.

489 Blow was sentenced by court-martial to be dismissed from the command of the Algerine. It is alleged by Brenton that this sentence saved the officer from a serious investigation which would have been otherwise inevitable.1

On August 1st, a British squadron, consisting of the Quebec, 32, Captain Charles Sibthorp John Hawtayne, Raven, 16, Commander George Gustavus Lennock, Exertion, 12, Lieutenant James

WERE INTRODUCED.

Jury-rigged, Portsmouth Harbour, 1828.

(From an etching by E. W. Cooke, R.A.)

Murray (2), Redbreast, 14, Lieutenant Sir George Mouat Keith, Bart., and hired armed cutters Alert and Princess Augusta, was cruising off the Elbe; and, it becoming known that a division of gunboats lay at anchor inside the island of Norderney, Samuel Blyth, first Lieutenant of the Quebec, volunteered, and was permitted, 1 James, v. 345; Mins. of C. M.