Whilst thus employed, Captain Brisbane materially interrupted the enemy’s trade, cut off all the supplies sent from Italy for the French garrison at Corfu, and amongst numerous other vessels, captured one having on board the military chest. In Feb. 1809, that island being greatly distressed for want of corn, the enemy determined to risk one of their frigates for a supply; and accordingly, le Var, pierced for 32 guns, but having only 26 mounted, availing herself of a strong southerly gale and dark night, pushed out for Brindisi, but was discovered by Captain Brisbane at day-light on the following morning, and pursued by him into the Gulf of Valona, where she moored with cables to the walls of the Turkish fortress, mounting 14 heavy guns, with another fort on an eminence above her, completely commanding the whole anchorage.
Light and partial winds prevented Captain Brisbane closing with the enemy till one P.M. on the ensuing day (Feb. 15), when he anchored in a position at once to take or destroy the frigate, and at the same time to keep in check the formidable force he saw prepared to support her. A most animated and well-directed fire was immediately opened by la Belle Poule; and the forts, contrary to expectation, making no effort to protect le Var, the latter was soon compelled to surrender[1].
Some time after this event, the enemy’s force at Corfu having encreased so much as to induce Lord Collingwood to attach a ship of the line to that station, Captain Brisbane was superseded in the command of the squadron by Captain Eyre of the Magnificent; with whom he proceeded in September following, to join the expedition sent from Sicily to re-establish the Septinsular republic. The following are extracts from the public letters of Captain Spranger, the senior officer of the naval force employed on that occasion:
- ↑ Le Var had a complement of 200 men, most of whom escaped to the shore, so that her loss could not be ascertained; la Belle Poule had not a man hurt.
