taken up by the Governor, General Decaën, for the defence of the islands, and there appeared to be no chance of a further cruise in the Indian waters.[1] He reached St. Malo on the 5th February 1809. In a few days he went to Paris where he recived a flattering reception from the Minister of Marine.
His active life on the sea was now terminated. The capture shortly afterwards by the British of the Isles of France and Bourbon tended very much to shut out the French cruisers from the Indian seas. Surcouf continued, nevertheless, during the war to arm and fit out privateers.[2] When peace came he devoted himself to maritime commerce, to agriculture, and to shooting.
Surcouf died in 1827. "France," writes M. Cunat, in his admirable biography, "lost in him a distinguished warrior; the naval service one of her bravest captains; and St. Malo, his native town, an illustrious offspring. Whilst the tears of the unfortunate proclaimed his charity, his fellow citizens felt deeply the loss they
- ↑ As I am not writing a life of Surcouf, I do not propose to enter upon the subject of his disputes with the Governor, especially as the Emperor Napoleon gave a decision in his favour.
- ↑ Amongst the most successful of his privateering ventures were the Auguste, the Dorade, the Biscayenne, the Edoard, the Espadon, the Ville de Caën, the Adolphe, and the Renard.
craft, but had herself to succumb to the Modeste, a frigate of greatly superior force, which she had approached in the belief that she was a merchant ship. The Jena was added to the English Navy, under the name of the Victor. — Asiatic Annual Register.
James states that the Modeste carried 36 guns; and the Jena 18. Seven of these, together with her boats, hencoops, and spars, she threw overboard in her attempt to escape.
