Captain Brenton returned to England in the Santa Dorothea, April 7, 1802, and was appointed to la Minerve frigate in November following. On the 2d July, 1803, as the latter ship, under the charge of a pilot, and during a fog, was pursuing some French vessels, she unfortunately struck upon the western point of the Cones, near Cherbourgh. Two strong forts in the neighbourhood immediately opened their fire upon her, and were soon assisted by a division of gun-vessels from the road, including two heavy brigs. Every thing that men could do, both to extricate their ship from her perilous situation, and to employ effectively the few guns that could be brought to bear, was done by Captain Brenton, his officers and crew. At length, after sustaining a fire of several hours’ duration, by which la Minerve was greatly damaged in her hull and masts, 12 men killed, and 14 or 15 badly wounded, she was obliged to strike her colours.
Captain Jurieu, of la Franchise, a French frigate, captured by the Minotaur, Thunderer, and Albion, on the 28th May preceding, was allowed to go to France, on his parole to return to England in three months, if he could not obtain the liberation of Captain Brenton. His efforts proved ineffectual; the consular government proposing to substitute three individuals, two of whom were resident in France at the renewal of the war; the other, although denominated a Colonel, was not known to belong to the navy or army of Great Britain. Captain Brenton therefore continued a prisoner at Verdun till about the commencement of 1807, when he was exchanged for M. Infernet, who had commanded l’Intrepide 74, in the battle of Trafalgar. It need hardly be stated, that on his return from captivity, Captain Brenton was not only most honorably acquitted by a court martial, of all blame on account of the loss of la Minerve, but most highly praised for his gallant defence of her[1].
- ↑ A very interesting account of Captain Brenton’s capture, imprisonment, and treatment, will be found in the third volume of his brother’s “Naval History,” published since this sheet was put in the press. See pp. 209 &c. to 234.
from the taffrail, and swam with the line to the Audacious, where it was received, and by that means a hawser ran out, which answered the intended purpose.” See Brenton’s Naval History, vol. iii. p. 36, et seq.
