to him, stood in twice close alongside of her, sustaining each time a very heavy fire, by which the Diana suffered considerably in her masts, sails, hull, and rigging. At this period Captain Malcolm of the Donegal, arrived with the Revenge and Niobe, and the attack was renewed by the four ships going in alternately, and making every exertion to destroy the enemy as long as the tide would allow them to do so; but being at length drifted to leeward, they were obliged to desist and anchor out of gun-shot. In this affair, the Donegal had 3 men wounded, the Revenge 2 killed and 8 wounded, and Diana 1 man slightly wounded.
At day-light on the 16th, one of the French frigates was observed on her beamends, and the other also aground; but as they were perfectly protected by the batteries, and as it did not appear to Captain Malcolm that any further attempt to destroy them would prove effectual, he returned to his station off Cherbourgh, leaving Captains Grant and Loring to watch la Hogue.
The following is a copy of the letter Captain Grant soon after received from his commander in-chief, dated Royal William, Spithead, Nov. 22, 1810:
“Sir.– Having transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 16th instant, detailing your proceedings in an attack on two of the enemy’s frigates, which escaped from Havre in the night of the 12th, and which had taken refuge under the batteries of la Hogue, I am directed by their Lordships to convey to you their approbation of the zeal, gallantry, and good conduct shewn by you, and by all the officers and men of the ships under your orders on that occasion. I am, Sir, &c. &c.
The enemy afterwards got their ships afloat, and one of them effected her escape into Havre. The other, being attacked by a bomb-vessel, was again obliged to run aground on the 6th Dec. lay a wreck until the night of the 23d, when she was set on fire and completely destroyed by the boats of the Diana, under a heavy fire from the batteries, and three armed brigs lying within hail of her. This service was performed without a man being hurt on the part of the British[1].
In 1812, Captain Grant was appointed to the Armada of 74
- ↑ The other frigate was subsequently destroyed by her own crew. See Captain John Wentworth Loring, C.B.
