216 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 181k 



on laying his ship athwart-hause of 

 the enemy, directing Lieutenant 

 M'Ghee of the Chub, to support 

 me in the Linnet, in engaging the 

 brig to the riid;ht, and Lieutenant 

 Hicks, of the Finch, with the flo- 

 tilla of gun-boats, to attack the 

 schooner and sloop on the left of 

 the enemy's line. 



At eight the enemy's gun-boats 

 and smaller vessels commenced a 

 heavy and galling hre on our line ; 

 at tf n minutes after eight, the Con- 

 Hance having; two anchors shot 

 away from her larboard bow, and 

 the wind baffling, was obliged to 

 anchnr (though not in the situation 

 pro[)osed) within 2 cables' length 

 of her adversary ; the linnet and 

 C'linb soon afterwards took their 

 allotted stations, something short 

 of that distance, when the crews 

 on botii sides cheered, and com- 

 menced a spirited and close action ; 

 a short time, however, deprived me 

 of the valuable services of Lieut. 

 M'Ghee, who, from having his 

 oab'es, bowsprit, and main boom 

 shot away, drifted within the ene- 

 my's line, and was obliged to sur- 

 render. 



From the light airs and smooth- 

 ness of the water, tiie tire on each 

 side proved very destructive from 

 the commencement of the engage- 

 ment, and with the exception of 

 the brig, that of the enemy ap- 

 peared united against the Conti- 

 ance. After two hours severe con- 

 flict with our opponent, she cut lier 

 f.tble, run down, and took shelter 

 between the ship and schooner, 

 which enabled us to direct our fire 

 against the division of the enemy's 

 gun-boats and ship which had so 

 long annoyed us during our close 

 engagement with the brig, with- 

 "iiiit any return on our part ; at this 



time the fire of the enemy's ship 

 slackened considerably, having se- 

 veral of her guns dismounted, 

 when she cut her cable and wind- 

 ed her larboard broadside to bear 

 on the Confiance, who, in vain, 

 endeavoured to eff'ect the same 

 operation ; at 33 minutes after 10, 

 I was much distressed to observe 

 the Confiance had struck her co- 

 lours. The whole attention of the 

 enemy's force then became direct- 

 ed towards the Linnet ; the shat- 

 tered and disabled state of the 

 masts, sails, rigging, and yards, 

 precluded the most distant hope of 

 being able to eft'ect an escape by 

 cutting the cable; the result of 

 doing so, must in a few minutes 

 have been, her drifting alongside 

 the enemy's vessels, close under 

 our lee ; but in the hope that the 

 flotilla of gun-boats, who had 

 abandoned the object assigned 

 them, would perceive our wants 

 and come to our assistance, which 

 would aftord a reasonable prospect 

 of being towed clear, I deteirained 

 to resist the then destructive can- 

 nonading of the whole of the ene- 

 mj''s fleet, and at the same time 

 dispatched Lieutenant H. Drew, 

 to ascertaui the state of the Con- 

 fiance. At 45 minutes after ten, 

 I was apprised of the irreparable 

 loss she had sustained by the death 

 of her brave commander (whose 

 merits it would be presumption in 

 me to extol), as well as the great 

 slaughter which had taken place on 

 board ; and observing from the 

 manoeuvres of the flotilla, that I 

 could enjoy no further expecta- 

 tions of relief, the situation of my 

 gallant comrades who had so nobly 

 fought, and even now fast falling 

 by my side, demanded the sur- 

 render of his Majesty's brig entrust- 



