gave chase to a sail in the N.W., Cape Pinas bearing South, distance 42 leagues. Although before sun-set I clearly discovered her to be a French frigate[1] of a large description, having fifteen ports of a side on her main deck, and evidently carrying 44 or 46 guns; yet confident of support from the well-known bravery of my officers and crew, I determined to engage the enemy, notwithstanding her superior force; I therefore made the necessary arrangements for bringing her to close action. After various manoeuvres, in which each endeavoured to gain the wind, and which were executed under a press of sail, and some heavy broadsides were given and received on thrice passing each other, within a little more than the length of the Sylph; yet by the silent attention to, and prompt execution of my orders, I was enabled, at half-past seven o’clock, to place the brig within pistol-shot on her weather-bow, when being reduced to commanding canvas, a severe conflict took place, which continued without intermission, and with increased vigour on the part of his Majesty’s seamen, for two hours and five minutes, when the enemy wore and made sail on the opposite tack. I was most assiduously anxious to maintain the position I had laboured to obtain, conceiving it best calculated for annoying the enemy, with the least risk to ourselves, and had the good fortune to succeed to the very last moment: the enemy, appearing appalled at the astonishing fire we kept up, never dared to advance; and on his frequently edging away to bring his broadside to bear, so was the Sylph edged away accordingly; by which means, and their unceasing endeavours to disable us, I attributed our extreme good fortune in having only Mr. Lionel Carey, Midshipman, slightly wounded[2].
“Having thus evidently the advantage, and most effectually beaten her off, I would have followed up the blow, had there been even a distant chance of succeeding; but the sails, standing and running rigging, being cut to pieces, the main-top-mast very badly wounded, and by an unfortunate shot, completely unrigged, without the possibility of setting any sail on it, rendered a pursuit impracticable. I therefore got up another mast, and having repaired the various damages we had sustained, I have great pleasure in stating, that at day-light his Majesty’s sloop was in a situation to renew the contest, had the enemy been in sight.
“Having received certain information since my return to this station, that the ship which the Sylph was engaged with some time since, was the French frigate l’Artémise, of 44 guns and 350 men; so I can with equal truth pronounce this to be the same, from the many corresponding observations which I made. She had then 20 men killed and 40 wounded, and was obliged to return to St. Andero to refit[3]; and from the disordered- ↑ The enemy’s ship on this occasion displayed her colours.
- ↑ The gentleman alluded to above. The other officers mentioned by Captain Dashwood in those letters, were Mr. Burgess, the first Lieutenant; Messrs. Watts (acting Lieutenant), Allward (the Master), and John Mitchell (Master’s Mate); the whole of whom he highly commended.
- ↑ The French journals of that period also stated, that the Captain of her
