140 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



to the crew, and proceed them- 

 selves to sea to intercept our home- 

 ward-bound trade. Conceiving 

 that if I cruised ofF the Isles de 

 Loss (in the event of their not 

 having left them), I might be en- 

 abled to fall in with any of his 

 majesty's ships that might be 

 coming down the coast, and also 

 protect the vessels bound to Sierra 

 Leone, of which I had received 

 intelligence, I prepared to weigh ; 

 when a cartel arrived from the 

 islands with the master and 

 boat's crew of the Daring, and 

 the master and crew of another 

 Tessel they had taken, whose 

 accounts corroborating lieute- 

 nant Pascoe's report, I left Sierra, 

 Leone river, and worked up to the 

 islands : standing in at day-light on 

 the 6th ultimo towards the island 

 of Tamara, we joined the Princess 

 Charlotte government schooner, 

 who informed me, one of the fri- 

 gates was at anchor at a consider- 

 able distance to the northward 

 from the other, which was appa- 

 rently unloading the prize. I dis- 

 patched the scliooner to Sierra 

 Leone, to leave directions to any 

 ships that might arrive to repair to 

 me. Having neared the island in 

 the evening, the frigate to the 

 northward weighed, and stood out 

 to sea ; the other frigate had sig- 

 nals flying, and being observed at 

 6un-set with her topsails hoisted, I 

 stood off for the night ; and the 

 next morning one of the frigates, 

 (I believe L'Arethuse,) was just 

 visible from the deck ; it was then 

 calm ; on a breeze springing up 

 about noon, she stood towards us. 

 As I had hopes of drawing her 

 from her consort, we continued 

 standing out to sea till sunset, when 

 not perceiying the other ship from 



the mast-head, and the breeze fall- 

 ing, we shortened sail, wore, and 

 stood towards her. A little after 

 seven, the enemy observing us near 

 him, tacked and hoisted his colours. 

 At 45 minutes past seven p. m. 

 being within pistol shot on his 

 weather-bow, both ships commenc- 

 ed firing nearly at the same time, 

 which continued (remaining nearly 

 in the same situation) until 21 

 minutes past 11, when she bore 

 up, having the advantage of being 

 able so to do, leaving us in an un- 

 governable state, with our sails, 

 standing and running rigging cut 

 to pieces, and masts injured. Dur- 

 ing the action we twice fell on 

 board the enemy, in attempting to 

 thwart his hawse, when he attempt- 

 ed to board, but was repulsed 

 by the marines (which were com- 

 manded by lieut. Simpson), and 

 the boarders. Though I most sin- 

 cerely lament the numerous list of 

 killed and wounded which amount- 

 ed to one hundred and forty one, 

 yet it is the greatest consolation in 

 reflecting, that we were never once 

 exposed to a raking shot, or the 

 slightest accident occurred ; all fell 

 by fair fighting. 



It is with the most poignant re- 

 gret I have to mention the names 

 of the senior and second lieute- 

 nants, James Bates and John Pope, 

 and lieutenant Granger, of ma- 

 rines, among the slain ; they fell 

 early in the action : having been 

 more than five years in the ship, 

 I have had ample opportunities of 

 knowing their inestimable charac- 

 ters, and the consequent loss the 

 service has sustained by their fall- 

 ing. It is with equal concern I 

 have to mention lieutenant Geoi'gc 

 Wills, the junior lieutenant, who 

 fell while carrying on the duty on 



