On the Ocean 73 



she was unable to take part in the fight. At mid 

 day, on the nth of October, while off Nantucket, 

 the British frigate Endymion, 40, Captain Henry 

 Hope, discovered the privateer and made sail in 

 chase. 64 At 8.30 P.M., a calm having come on, the 

 frigate despatched 5 boats, containing in men, 65 

 under the command of the first lieutenant, Abel 

 Hawkins, to take the brigantine; while the latter 

 triced up the boarding nettings, loaded the guns 

 with grape and bullets, and prepared herself in every 

 way for the coming encounter. She opened fire 

 on the boats as they drew near, but they were soon 

 alongside, and a most desperate engagement ensued. 

 Some of the British actually cut through the net 

 tings and reached the deck, but were killed by the 

 privateersmen; and in a few minutes one boat was 

 sunk, three others drifted off, and the launch, which 

 was under the brigantine's stern, was taken posses 

 sion of. The slaughter had been frightful, consid 

 ering the number of the combatants. The victorious 

 privateersmen had lost 7 killed, 15 badly and 9 

 slightly wounded, leaving but 9 untouched! Of the 

 Endymion's men, James says 28, including the first 

 lieutenant and a midshipman, were killed, and 37, 



84 James, vi, p. 527. 



64 According to Captain Ordronaux ; James does not give 

 the number, but says 28 were killed, 37 wounded, and the crew 

 of the launch captured. Ten of the latter were unwounded, 

 and 1 8 wounded. I do not know if he included these last 

 among his "37 wounded." 

 VOL. X.-D 



