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being all that remained out of about double that number, with which she had been manned.

The loss of the English, in this second attack on Boulogne, in officers, seamen, and marines, killed and wounded, amounted to not less than 172. Among the wounded was Captain Parker, who lost a leg and thigh. The loss of the French is not known: though it is reasonably supposed to have been very considerable; not only from the havoc made by the English seamen and marines, but from the vollies of musketry poured by the enemy, regardless of their own men, into their own brigs and boats, after they were boarded, and had fallen, or were likely to fall into the hands of the English. The French admiral, Latouche Treville, in his dispatches to the minister of the marine, stated the loss of the French at no more than ten men killed, and thirty wounded. This diminution, of what must have been the real loss, was carried so far as to be wholly incredible. The admiral did not pretend to deny that the English boarded the French vessels with the utmost intrepidity; nor attempt to conceal that they were compelled to retire, merely in consequence of the impracticability of getting the ships off, and the strong fire of musketry kept up on them from the troops in the gun-boats, and that lined the shore. He denied, however, that a single shot was fired from the land batteries, from a dread of wounding and killing their own men.-Eight of the English boats, according to the French accounts, were sunk, and four barges taken. They described also the shocking spectacle that was presented on board their vessels after the action. The decks strewed with dead and dying; and fingers, hands, wrists, and arms, every where discovered, after the dead bodies were thrown into the sea. The attempt was, in truth, a deplorable act of temerity: a prodigal exposure of human life.

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The gallant admiral ascribed the failure of success" to the darkness of the night; the rapidity of the tide and half-tide; the separation of the divisions; and the circumstance of their not arriving all at the same happy moment with Captain Parker. But it is sufficiently accounted for, by forests of cutlasses and bayonets; vollies of musketry and grape-shot, poured on our men, both from gun-boats, and from the shore, while they were employed in clearing away the strong boarding netting; the projecting spikes; and the chains which remained after the brave seamen had cut the cables of the enemy's vessels; and the barricades covering numerous troops abaft their mainmasts. The French commodore addressed the first boat's crew that approached his ship, and in which was Captain Parker, as already noticed, in the following words, which were spoken in pretty good English: "Let me advise you, my brave Englishmen, to keep your

distance. You can do nothing here; and it is BOOK V. only uselessly shedding the blood of brave men to make the attempt."

The tremendous engagement at Boulogne, in which the roar of so much artillery, at sea and on shore, seemed to shake both heaven and earth, were heard on both sides of the channel. During the whole of the first action, the hills near Boulogue were covered with spectators. The heights around Dover were, in like manner, covered with thousands of people. It was a clear day, and the wind at south-east; so that the greater part of the English ships were to be seen, while they kept up a fire on the harbour of Boulogne. The smoke of the French batteries, firing in return, was also distinctly seen. This is, perhaps, the first engagement of any magnitude, between France and England, that was seen from the shores of both countries.

On Sunday afternoon, Lord Nelson, with part of his fleet, returned to the Downs. The remainder continued, for some time, to cruise on the French coast..

On the 14th of September, the commander of the English cruisers, Captain Somerville, anchored at the distance of a league and a half from the French line, which was called the advanced guard, with two large ships and a frigate, and ten vessels of inferior note.

On

At Deal, Lord Nelson did every thing in his power for the relief or comfort of the brave men who had suffered in this unfortunate expedition; and his kind and cordial sympathy afforded his brave and generous seamen and marines a very sensible consolation and pleasure. His time was chiefly occupied in visiting the wounded in the hospital. He paid the utmost attention to every individual; inquiring into their several cases, and consoling them with a promise, that he would shortly bring them good news. asking one man, whom he recollected, how he was, he learnt that he had lost an arm. Lord Nelson told him never to mind that; for that he himself had lost one also, and perhaps should shortly lose a leg; but that they could never be lost in a better cause than the defence of their country. This had a wonderful effect on the seamen. Several of them exclaimed, that they only regretted their wounds, as they prevented them from accompanying him in another attack: on their enemies.

The failure of this expedition occasioned great exultation in France: the subprefect of the district, as well as the mayor and other magistrates of Boulogne, addressed a letter, full of hyperbolical compliments to the commander of the naval forces on the channel, in which they presented "the testimony of their admiration and gratitude to him and the brave flotilla under his command, at the front post nearest to England."

CHAP. VII.

1801:

CHAP. VII.

1801.

BOOK V. They also congratulated him, at the same time, 66 on the unshrinking firmness and invincible courage with which his companions in arms had withstood a bombardment of fifteen hours." "We have seen," added they," the thunder of the English arsenals fall harmless on the waves, without touching one of those gallant men, who have it in charge to defend our own coast, and to spread terror and desolation on that of Britain. What reception will those dastards give to our heroes, who, guided by the auspicious genius of Bonaparte, and the flag of Latouche Treville, are eager to avenge the wrongs of the world on a land that has, during a period of twelve years, fostered the war, distractions, and monopoly, which have so long desolated Europe."

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It is probable, however, that the first consul was by this time aware, that neither his ports nor fleets were secure from the valor and enterprise of English seamen, as he affected to treat this engagement as a mere skirmish, in which the advanced guards of the grenadiers of Italy" had displayed their ordinary bravery, and obtained their usual success.

In the course of the spring, the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, St. Martin, St. Bartholomew, and St. Croix, in the West Indies, surrendered to a squadron under Rear-admiral Duckworth, having a body of land-forces on board, commanded by Lieutenant-general Trigge. The resistance experienced upon this occasion was tritling, and these possessions were soon after wards restored, on the dissolution of the armed neutrality. The colonies of St. Eustatia and Saba, the former of which had been evacuated by the French, were also taken possession of soon after by Captain Perkins, of the Arab, with a detachment of the 3d regiment of foot, under Lieutenant-colonel Blunt.

On the 21st of June, Ternate, the chief of the Molucca islands, surrendered to the arms of the East India company. Captain Hayes, an officer in the service of that powerful corporation, with a small squadron of armed vessels, intercepted the annual supplies, and blockaded Fort Orange, while Colonel Burr, with a body of troops, besieged the place by land. On this occasion the Dutch governor held out during a siege of fifty-two days; and while he displayed great courage, at the same time evinced an uncommon degree of fidelity to the Batavian republic.

In the Mediterranean two severe actions took place; the first, however, proved unfortunate, but the second was not a little flattering to the British arms. Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, after cruising off Cadiz, in which he had descried six sail of large ships ready for sea, and seven more in a state of equipment, proceeded towards the entrance of the straits, in consequence of informa

tion from Gibraltar that three French sail of the line and a frigate were then at anchor off Alge siras. Having made a signal to prepare for an engagement, and also for a general chase, (the latter with a view of collecting such of the ships as had got to leeward), he resolved to reconnoitre the enemy's position; and the order of battle was issued, in case an attack should be deemed prudent. The squadron, led by Captain Hood, of the Venerable, and reinforced by the Calpe, two gun-vessels, and several boats from the neigh bouring garrison, on opening Cabareta Point, July 6, beheld the enemy, consisting of two ships of eighty-four guns, and one of seventy-four, with a large frigate, being at a considerable distance from the batteries; and when, in addition to this circumstance, the advantage of a leading wind was taken into consideration, an attempt to ob tain possession of them not only seemed feasible, but afforded well-grounded hopes of success. The signal was accordingly given for the ships to take their stations, and engage as close as pos sible: however, the failure of the breeze, at a critical moment, enabled the French commander to warp nearer the land, and exposed the armament to the most imminent danger; for the Venerable, instead of weathering the enemy, was under the necessity of dropping her anchor. The Pompée Captain Stirling, taking advantage of a light and partial air, assumed a position opposite to the inner vessel, which proved to be the Formidable, bearing the flag of Rear-admiral Linois, and commenced the action in a spirited and gallant manner, until disabled. Some of the other ships were pre vented, for some time, by a failure of wind, from coming up; but at length the Hannibal, receiving the benefit of the breeze, was endeavouring, by a bold and decisive measure, to get between the French admiral and the batteries, when she struck on a shoal immediately under the enemy's guns, and became unmanageable. In this situation, being exposed to the joint fire of the ships and land batteries, as well as gun and mortar vessels, which were so placed as to rake the squadron, and rendered incapable of fighting to advantage, Captain Ferris, after losing no less than 375 men in killed, wounded, and missing, was reduced to the painful necessity of striking his flag. The Cæsar and Audacious, which had endeavoured to cover his vessel, were also forced to make sail, the former being at this period only three cable's length from one of the enemy's batteries. In the mean time the admiral, finding that the enemy by drawing closer to the shore had increased his distance, took advantage of an occasional breeze to approach nearer, and the Cæsar and Audacious were for a considerable time opposed to the Indomptable and Dessaix; but it having soon after become calm, they drifted along with the current close to the island battery, on which they

opened a heavy fire. On receiving the benefits of a gentle gale, they instantly prepared to resume their former station, when the wind again died away, and rendered all their efforts useless. After an action of nearly five hours continuance, the squadron retired to Rosia Bay, leaving the Hannibal aground, and in possession of the enemy; while two French sail of the line appeared at the same time on the shore, and the whole detachment was supposed to be rendered nearly unserviceable.

Governor O'Hara and the principal inhabitants of Gibraltar subscribed the sum of 800%. for the relief of the brave men wounded during the action; and, by the further liberality of the garrison, and the indefatigable exertions of the British officers and seamen, the whole squadron, one ship only (the Pompée) excepted, was nearly re-fitted and ready for sea, when a more propitious opportunity occurred of distinguishing their valour. The enemy's three sail of line of battle, disabled in the late action, had been reinforced by five more, under the command of Don Juan Joaquin de Moreno, as well as by a French 74, (St. Autonio), carrying the broad pendent of Commodore Le Roy. This combined squadron consisted of two ships of 112 guns, one of 94, two of 84, one of 80, and four of 74, including the Hannibal, (which was with some difficulty warped into deep water, but which returned to Algesiras before the second action), besides four frigates, two armed vessels, and a number of gun-boats. These got under weigh, with an intention of reaching Cadiz, safe, in consequence of their numbers, and assured, as they imagined, of an easy victory, in case of a contest with a detachment which had been so recently foiled.

The British squadron consisted only of the following ships :

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Notwithstanding the great inferiority of this force, Sir James Saumarez, burning with eagerness to avenge the late disaster, once more hoisted the signal for battle, and followed the enemy, who had just cleared Cabareta Point, at eight o'clock in the evening, July 13. Captain Keates having received orders to attack the sternmost ship, and keep between the fleet and the shore, the Superb

1801.

accordingly made sail, and began the engagement BOOK V. at eleven o'clock at night, by firing on several ships, particularly the Real Carlos, which formed CHAP. VII. a cluster; and, in consequence of the darkness, engaged with each other. In the course of a few minutes, the Cæsar also began to open on a Spanish three-decker, that had hauled her wind; but she was observed to be in flames, and shortly after ran on board another vessel of the same force, to which the conflagration extended with uncommon rapidity; so that, after the lapse of a short but awful period, they both blew up. These proved to be the San Herminigeldo and the Real Carlos, of 112 guns and 1,250 inen each; the former carrying the admiral's flag, and both officered by some of the noblest families in Spain.

The English commander having seen, from the beginning, that these ships could not be of any service during the rest of the action, had, in the interim, passed on to the assistance of the Superb, then engaged with the St. Antonio, which had been before silenced, and now struck her colours.

As soon as the firing had ceased, it became so dark that none of the enemy's squadron was visible: the Cæsar, however, continued her course, during a heavy gale, in chase of the remainder of the fleet; and, at the approach of morning, could only discover three English, (the Venerable, Thames, and Spencer), and one French ship, which proved to be the Formidable, of 84 guns, endeavouring to reach the channel leading through the shoals of Conil. As the wind, however, suddenly failed at this moment, one ship alone was enabled to bring her to action; and Capt. Hood, after a spirited engagement, had nearly silenced the enemy, when his main-mast, which had been injured before, was unfortunately shot away, and a calm ensuing, the French ship effected her escape into Cadiz. The Venerable soon after struck on a bank, and was very near being wrecked; but she was fortunately got off, though with the loss of all her masts; and being taken in tow by the Thames frigate, returned with the fleet to Gibraltar.

Thus terminated an action, in which the superiority of the enemy was immense; and although the confused state of the whole fleet, and the accidental destruction of two first-rates, rendered. the victory less difficult, yet the original design of the admiral to engage with such odds, evinces a degree of gallantry which reflects honor on the English name. Sir James Saumarez accordingly received the thanks of both houses of parliament, and was afterwards rewarded with a pension of 1,2001. per annum.

An action, singularly severe, was also fought in the Mediterranean, February 10, between the Phoebe, Capt. R. Barlow, and the French frigate,

BOOK V. L'Africaine, of 44 guns and 715 men, of whom many were soldiers, bound for Egypt. The commander of the latter would not yield until his 1801 ship had become a mere wreck, with five feet water in her hold; his guns were also dismounted, and his decks encumbered with the dying and the dead; the number of the killed amounting to 200, and of the wounded to 143. The loss of the English on this occasion was incredibly small, one seaman only having perished, and but ten, with two officers, being wounded.

Lord Cochrane, in the Speedy sloop, of fourteen 4-pounders, and fifty-four men and boys, performed a brilliant exploit by the capture of the Gamo, a Spanish xebeck frigate, of thirty-two guns and 319 seamen, off Barcelona. His lordship perceiving, from the great disparity of force, that a cannonade would only endanger the loss of his own vessel, without affording any chance of subduing the enemy, determined on boarding; and such was the impetuosity and success of the attack, that she was carried with the loss of one man only, although thirteen were killed on the part of the enemy.

Sir Richard Strachan, with a detachment of small vessels, intercepted the supplies of the enemy on the western shores of France; while Capt. Rowley Bulteel, in the Belliqueux, with a convoy of East Indiamen, which were mistaken for men of war, captured the French frigates La Concorde, of forty-four, and La Madée, of thirtysix guns, in the neighbourhood of Brazil, forming part of a squadron which had committed great depredations on the coast of Africa.

The fleet under Vice-admiral Rainier, in the East Indies, seized a number of valuable prizes, particularly two Dutch ships in the neighbour hood of Java. Captain T. Manby, in the Bourdelois, belonging to Rear-admiral Duckworth's detachment in the West Indies, nearly about the same time dispersed a small armament fitted out by Victor Hughes, for the purpose of intercepting the outward-bound convoy. On this occasion he captured La Curieuse, of eighteen 9-pounders and 168 men, after thirty minutes of close firing. In consequence of the numerous shot-holes received during the engagement, the prize sunk, while two gallant midshipmen, (Messrs. Frederick Spence and Auckland), with five of the heroic crew, were endeavouring to rescue the wounded Frenchmen from the wreck.

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Sir E. Hamilton, in the Trent, chased a ship under protection of a cutter, and some lugger privateers, on the rocks near the isles of Brehat, notwithstanding the fire from five batteries; when the largest vessel was boarded and taken possession of by his first-lieutenant and officer of marines, the latter having, on this occasion, lost his leg.

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When the French troops entered Tuscany, in October, 1800, the English then resident at Leghorn, under the conduct of Mr. Grant, vice-consul at that port, took refuge in the isle of Elba; and having received from the squadron cruising off that coast, under Sir John Borlase Warren, the necessary supplies, with a reinforcement of 3001 soldiers and artillerymen, they established themselves in the fort and harbour of Porto-Ferrajo. Four hundred Corsicans, and about an equal number of Neapolitans and other military adventurers joining them, formed altogether a considerable garrison; the command of which devolved on a meritorious officer, Lieutenant-colonel Airey. It was quickly invested, on the land side, by an army of 5 or 6000 men; and batteries being raised, the town was bombarded, and attempts were twice made to storm the fortress. The garrison, however, not merely repelled the different assaults, but made a sally on the besiegers, and destroyed the batteries. The besieging army was reinforced, and the batteries reconstructed; but the garrison still defended themselves with vigour and success. At length, after the lapse of some months, Porto-Ferrajo was again summoned to surrender, in the name of the King of Etruria; but Governor Grant_replied, that he acknowledged no authority in Tuscany but that of Grand Duke. This year, in the month of September, Sir John B. Warren made an attempt, by landing a considerable body of troops, to relieve the brave garrison, and reduce the island; but, after an obstinate engagement, the English were overpowered by numbers, and compelled to retreat. This event, far from discouraging the garrison, incited them to new efforts; and, in a subsequent sally, they forced the French intrenchments, and drove the enemy from their advanced posts, with great effusion of blood. blood. This extraordinary defence justly at tracted great attention and admiration. A squa dron of French frigates, employed in the blockade of Porto-Ferrajo, were all captured or destroyed in the course of a single month. Among these, the Success, formerly belonging to Great Britain, and La Bravoure, carrying forty-six guns, were taken possession of by Captains Halsted, Cockburn, and Gower, of the Phoenix, La Minerve, and La Pomone; but the last of these vessels was lost, in consequence of having run on shore during the pursuit.

About the same time, another spirited and suc cessful attack was made by Lord Cochrane, of the Speedy, in company with Captain Pulling, of the Kangaroo sloop of war, on a convoy anchored on the coast of Spain, and protected by a battery of twelve guns and several armed vessels; on which occasion a detachment landed, and the tower of Almanara was blown up. Capt. Charles

Adam, also, of La Sybille, captured the French national frigate, La Chiffonne, in Mahé Road, after a short, but gallant action, notwithstanding the guns on the enemy's forecastle were supplied from a furnace for heating red-hot shot.

During this career of success on the part of Great Britain, no prize of any importance was taken by the enemy, except the Swiftsure. Capt. Hollowell having separated from his convoy, on his return to Malta, June 24, discovered four ships of the line and a large frigate, which proved to be Rear-admiral Gantheaume's squadron. Three of these having come nearly up to him, in consequence of their superiority of sailing, he determined to bear down, hoping to disable one before the rest could be brought into action, and thereby effect his escape. An engagement accordingly took place, with an eighty and seventy-four gun ship, the former of which bore the flag of the commander, and one of these received considerable damage; but two more having, by this time, assumed their stations on the larboard-bow and quarter, the captain reluctantly consented to strike his colours, after having two men killed, and a lieutenant and seven others wounded.

Among other individual instances of exertion, mention must also be made of Lieut. C. Roger, of the Gipsey, of ten 4-pounders and forty-two men, who captured an armed sloop off the north end of Guadaloupe, called Le Quiproquo, of eight

Lieutenant BOOK V.

6 and 9-pounders and eighty men. Dick, of the Melpomene, with fifty-five volunteers, assisted by thirty-six soldiers, under Lieutenant CHAP. VII. Christie, belonging to the African corps, also attacked and captured an armed brig, carrying ten 18013 guns and sixty men, off the bar of Senegal, after two boats had been sunk and seven seamen killed; but they were unable to bring her out, under a heavy fire from the land batteries, in consequence of having grounded.

Lieutenant Mather, of the Mercury, failed in an endeavour to navigate the Bull-dog, formerly belonging to the British navy, from_behind the Mole of Ancona, after that vessel had been three hours in his possession. Bold as the attempt was, success would have been certain, but for a calm. However, the Bull-dog was afterwards recovered from under the batteries of Gallipoli, in consequence of the gallant exertions of Lord William Stuart, in the Champion.

It must be also observed, that the six-oared cutter of the Atalante, with eight men, captured the French armed lugger L'Eveillé, notwithstanding a discharge of cannister and grape-shot: the lieutenant, Pipon, with the boats of the Fisguard, the Diamond, and the Boadicea, cut out a twenty-gun ship, a gun-boat, mounting a long 32-pounder, and a merchantman, from the har bour of Corunna.

CHAPTER VIII.

Affairs in the West Indies.-Toussaint an over-match for the French Commissioners.-His Letters to the First Consul, and Proclamation to his Countrymen.-Bonaparte's Project.-Leclerc's hostile Proceedings.—Interesting Meeting between Toussaint and his two Sons.-Hostilities.— Peace made with the Negro.-He and his Family suddenly taken away. Their rigid Confinement.-Character and Anecdote of the African Chief.

AFTER the English had evacuated St. Domingo, the French repeatedly endeavoured to become masters of that island; and what the first consul could not effect by dint of arms, he was resolved to accomplish by artifice. For a while the cause of royalty was as triumphant in St. Domingo as it was unsuccessful in Europe; but events arose which rendered it impossible for Toussaint to refuse his adherence to the existing government of France.

The committees, directors, and other successive rulers of France, from time to time, sent commissioners to the island; and these men were as fond of plunder and confiscation in the West Indies, as their masters were in Europe. Every man

who had property to forfeit, was sure to be cried down as a traitor. But happily in St. Domingo there was such a mind to check them as that of the generous Toussaint. This great man conducted himself with so much prudence, as, without giving offence to the French government, to make its commissioners mere cyphers. He suffered nobody to injure or insult them, and obliged every one to treat their office with respect, and yet left them no power, because he found they would only use it for purposes of cruelty and mischief. He protected the planters from the commissioners, and both from the natural jealousy of the negroes.

The French government more than once re

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