within the scope of the present work, we cannot pass over in silence one or two striking episodes of its glorious annals in connexion with the history of our Anglo-Indian Army.
On one of these occasions, Captain Pym, who commanded an English squadron of four frigates, formed the design of attacking the French squadron in Port Sud-Est, in the Mauritius; but not being sufficiently aware of the difficulties of the navigation, the attempt terminated in defeat and serious loss. Three of the ships took the ground, and the fourth was prevented from closing with the enemy – unfortunate occurrences, which enabled the foe to open all their guns upon a single vessel, the Nereide, commanded by Captain Willoughby. The fortitude and courage displayed by this officer and his crew were beyond all praise, and probably have never been surpassed. Deprived of all efficient assistance from the other frigates, the Nereide singly maintained the contest for the almost incredible space of ten hours. Captain Willoughby lost an eye, and was otherwise dreadfully injured in the head. A boat was sent from the Sirius to bring him off, but he declared he would neither abandon his men, nor strike the British flag while there was a single man on board able to support it. He kept his word – he fought the ship till every man of her whole crew, consisting of two hundred and eighty, was either killed or wounded; and when the enemy took possession of their dearly-purchased prize, they found only a miserable wreck, peopled with the maimed, the dying, and the dead!
The other incident is as follows: the Ceylon frigate, having on board General Abercrombie, who commanded the troops destined for the reduction of the Mauritius, fell in with some French cruisers off the Isle of Bourbon. An action ensued, which was gallantly maintained for five hours, when the Ceylon being dismasted and rendered ungovernable by this and other causes, was compelled to yield to adverse fortune and overwhelming force. The French commander, Hamelen, observed on the occasion
