1798 - Expedition to Ireland


 
Contents

Next Page

Previous Page

10 Pages >>

10 Pages <<
Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1798 Expeditions to Ireland 125

38-gun frigate Amelia, Captain the Honourable Charles Herbert, who the night previous had passed unobstructed, if not unobserved, through the French squadron. At daylight the French began working towards Isle Groix, as if intending to enter Lorient At 8 a.m., however, they bore up, five of the frigates, of which the more advanced ones were the Loire and Immortalité, chasing the two British frigates, but without effect. At 10 h. 30 m a.m., the Hoche and her nine companions hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, steering about south-west by south, the French commodore wishing to make it appear to his watchful and persevering pursuers, that he was bound to the Antilles. On the 19th it was nearly a calm all day. On the 20th, at 6 a.m., the 44-gun frigate Anson, Captain Philip Charles Durham, joined company. At noon the British were in latitude 46� 27' north, longitude 5� 3' west, and the French nearly hull-down in the south-west by south. On the 22d at noon, the British frigates again got within eight or nine miles of the French squadron, which was at this time steering west-north-west. On the 23d, in the afternoon, having now little doubt of M. Bompart's destination, Captain Countess despatched the Sylph to the commander-in-chief on the Irish station.

On the 25th, in the forenoon, latitude 44� 53' north, longitude 8� 57' west, a fleet, that proved to be an English convoy of more than 100 sail, among which were some East India ships, was descried to leeward of the French squadron, then about four miles off in the west-south-west. Whether deceived by the warlike appearance of the Indiamen, or apprehensive that some of his frigates, which were then rather scattered, would be exposed to an attack by the British frigates in company, or whether he was so tied up by his orders that he dared not take advantage of the chance thus thrown in his way, and which, by the by, would have been more beneficial to his country than the safe debarkation in Ireland of 3000 Frenchmen, and even the safe return to Brest of the squadron that had carried them out ; whatever it was that influenced M. Bompart, he suffered the convoy to proceed unmolested. On the 26th, in the morning, the French ships tacked, and gave chase to the Ethalion and her two companions, but left off about noon. The latter immediately shortened sail, and again stood to the south-west after the French squadron. On the 27th the wind increased, and the sea became so rough, that all the ships were under their topsails and courses ; but the British still maintained their position about four miles on the enemy's lee quarter. On the 29th, at 7 a.m., by which time the weather had moderated, the French squadron again went in chase. Three of the French frigates, of which the Loire was first, and the Immortalité second, came up fast with the three British frigates, and the latter got ready to fire their stern chasers, but about 9 a.m. the Hoche sprang, her main topmast, and one of the French, frigates carried away

^ back to top ^