manded the Pegasus of 28 guns, one of the repeating frigates to Earl Howe’s fleet, on the memorable 1st June, 1794[1]; and subsequently the Aquilon and Phoebe frigates, the latter mounting 44 guns, with a complement of 261 men.
His appointment to the latter ship was in Dec. 1795; and on the 10th Jan. 1797, he captured l’Atalante, a French corvette of 16 guns[2]. On the 21st Dec. following, being on a cruise to the westward, he discovered and immediately pursued an enemy’s frigate; but the difference in point of sailing between the two ships being inconsiderable, the Phoebe sustained much damage in her masts, sails, and rigging, from the Frenchman’s stern guns, before she could close with the chase; and at the moment when Captain Barlow was about to commence the attack, his opponent hove in stays. The Phoebe being under a crowd of sail, the night extremely dark, and her commander not aware of the enemy’s intention to practise this manoeuvre, a few minutes necessarily elapsed before he could get fairly alongside. The action commenced at ten P.M., and continued about three quarters of an hour, when the French ship surrendered, and proved to be la Nereide of 36 guns and 330 men, 20 of whom were slain and 55 wounded. The Phoebe had 3 men killed and 10 wounded.
Subsequent to this event, Captain Barlow captured l’Hazard, of 10 guns and 60 men, laden with spices, ivory, and gum, from Senegal, valued at 10,000l. sterling; three French privateers, mounting in the whole 58 guns, and manned with 455 men; and l’Heureux, a flush-decked ship of 22 brass 12-pounders and 220 men. The latter vessel, mistaking the Phoebe for an East Indiaman, bore down, and did not discover her error until within musket-shot, when she commenced a well-directed and spirited fire, by which 1 man was killed and 5 wounded on board the British frigate. The enemy, however, paid, dear for his temerity, being soon obliged to strike, with the loss of 18 men slain and 25 wounded.
- ↑ See Vol. I, p. 75, et seq.
- ↑ L’Atalante had sailed from Brest in company with a powerful fleet, under the orders of M. de Galles, having on board 25,000 troops, commanded by General Hoche, destined for the invasion of Ireland. The outset of this expedition was attended by several disasters, and the whole project was defeated by the elements. Many of the vessels composing the armament were either captured or wrecked, and several foundered; the remainder returned to France in a wretched condition.
