On the Ocean 57 



and again by the line-of-battle ship, always returned 

 the instant the pursuit stopped, and finally actually 

 succeeded in cutting off and capturing one ship, 

 laden with iron and brass cannon, muskets, and 

 other military stores of great value. At half-past 

 six on the evening of the same day, in lat. 47 30' 

 N., long. n W., while running almost free, four 

 sail, two on the starboard bow, and two on the port, 

 rather more to leeward, were made out. 45 Capt. 

 Blakely at once made sail for the most weatherly 

 of the four ships in sight, though well aware that 

 more than one of them might prove to be hostile 

 cruisers, and they were all of unknown force. But 

 the determined Carolinian was not one to be troubled 

 by such considerations. He probably had several 

 men less under his command than in the former 

 action, but had profited by his experience with the 

 Reindeer in one point, having taken aboard her 12- 

 pounder boat carronade, of whose efficacy he had 

 had very practical proof. 



The chase, the British brig-sloop Avon, 18, Cap 

 tain the Honorable Jarnes Arbuthnot, 46 was steer 

 ing almost southwest ; the wind, which was blowing 

 fresh from the southeast, being a little abaft the port 

 beam. At 7.00 the Avon began making night sig 

 nals with the lanterns, but the Wasp, disregarding 



46 Official letter of Captain Blakely, September 8, 1814. 

 * James, vi, 432. 



