1822. 
Favoured by forfune in an uncommon 
degree hitherto, she did not desert him on 
another important occasion. The Seahorse 
frigate became vacant. The illustrious 
commander-in-chief intending her for a 
particular officer then absent, waited a 
considerable time for his arrival, but not 
appearing according to orders, the admiral 
displeased, declared she should be given 
to the captain of the first sloop of war that 
should heave in sight. This proved to be 
the Bittern. Captain Corbeit thus gained 
his post rank, the last step accessible by 
interest, without any other friends than 
merit and good fortune. In her he pro- 
ceeded directly for the West Indies in 
search of intelligence of the French fleet 
lately escaped, and returning off Cadiz, 
came afterwards to England without parti- 
cipating in the battle of Trafalgar. In the 
latter end of 1806, he was appoiuted to the 
Nereid frigate, destined to the Cape of 
Good Hope station: The Persian Gulph 
and much of the Indian Ocean were ex- 
plored by his active zeal in pursuit of the 
enemy, who were committing depredations 
on our commerce. In the attack on St. 
Paul’s, in the Isle of Bourbon, and the 
French frigate and captured English In- 
diamen in the bay, he distinguished him- 
self greatly. Of the frigate, afterwards 
named Bourbonnaise, he received the com- 
mand and carried her to England, leaving 
the Nereid behind. This measure was 
perhaps necessary, or at least prudent. 
Much discontent, amounting on one occa- 
sion to open mutiny, pervaded the crew on 
account of his mode of discipline. In June, 
1810, he received the commaud of the 
Africaine, at Plymouth. The crew, how- 
ever, refused to receive him as their cap- 
tain, on the plea of being said to be tyran- 
nical. This unprecedented conduct strik- 
ing at the root of all discipline, created some 
alarm and much surprize. Two admirals 
went on board to investigate the cause of 
dissatisfaction; cries of “no Corbett,” 
were at first heard, but after some little 
difficulty and the most spirited conduct on 
his own part, the discontented were si- 
lenced and the ship put to sea with des- 
patches for Madras. Calling on the pas- 
- Sage out at the Isle of Rodriguez to wind- 
ward of Mauritius, he heard of the expe- 
dition intended to act against the latter, 
and anxious to join it, stood down for that 
island. Arriving off Port South East, Com- 
modore Rowley’s squadron, which had 
formed the blockade, was no where to be 
‘seen; conjecture was busy on the occa- 
sion; taking a survey himself of the ene- 
my’s shipping from the mast head, he pro- 
‘nounced with the unerring judgment of a 
seaman on such occasions, though scarcely 
‘within eyeshot, that an action had cer- 
‘tainly taken place. Seeing a schooner ly- 
Captain Robert Corbett. 
279 
ing In-shore near Cationiere Point, he dis- 
patched the boats to cut her out, in which, 
after a desperate contest and the loss of 
several men killed and wounded, they 
failed, from a body of riflemen being placed 
under cover, whose aim could not be 
evaded. Not more successful in discover- 
ing the commodore off Port Louis, the lee- 
ward harbour of the island, lie directed his 
course for the Isle of Bourbon, lately re- 
duced by the English forces, where the 
unwelcome intelligence was communicated 
of the destruction of our squadron at Port 
South East, in Mauritius, with the single 
exception of the Boadicea, besides the 
capture of the Ceylon frigate, several In- 
diamen, transports, and traders, leaving 
the enemy masters of the sea for the time. 
While listening to the narration at the 
table of Governor Farquhar, at St. Dennis, 
two French frigates, L/Iphigenie and 
L’Astré, appeared in sight. Signals were 
made to the Boadicea, then lying at St. 
Paul’s to the leeward, to join the Africaine, 
which ship put to sea to hang on the rear 
of the enemy, and by her superior sailing, 
to prevent their escape. This manceuvre 
Captain Corbett very ably performed. Im- 
patient at leneth of inaction with an enemy 
nearly under his guns, impetuous courage 
got the better of prudence, and about three 
o’clock in the morning he determined, un- 
supported and alone, to bring his opponents 
to action, which he effected by pushing 
between them under a heavy fire of grape. 
No courage or conduct could compensate 
the inequality oftwo to one. We may beat 
the French, but must not despise them. 
No enemy, however feeble, should be held 
too cheaply. Ju about forty minutes nearly 
half the crew of the Africaine were killed 
or wounded, several guns disabled, and 
the ship finally compelled to submit, a calm 
and total wreck, rendering escape imprac- 
ticable. Among several other officers 
wounded, Capiain Corbett had one of his 
legs shattered by a shot, so as to require 
it to be amputated ; aud, partly from cha- 
grin, died the succeeding day, a little be- 
fore Commodore Rowley by his able dis- 
positions, retook his ship in the face of the 
enemy. He was unquestionably an able, 
zealous and gallant officer, with a strong 
spice of that chivalrous daring character- 
istic of the navy. His whole soul seemed 
devoted to the interests of the service. It 
was the unceasing object of his adoration; 
but he could make no allowances for those, 
who having less prospect of personal fame, 
were less zealous in their exertions. His 
zeal indeed required to be restrained. Few 
officers in the service have been more 
praised or censured. Much of the latter 
however, arose from prejudice and ex- 
aggeration ; but his merits were un» 
doubted.] 
ECCLESIASTICAL 
