master's mate, Mr. Tancock, the gunner, and Messieurs Petley and Hawkins, midshipmen.

On the same evening the boats quitted the Flora ; and, in the face of a severe fire from the forts, the Mondovi herself, and several vessels in the harbour, the British gallantly boarded and cut out the corvette, with no greater loss on their part than one private marine killed ; the lieutenant of marines (Mr. Richard Parry), master's mate, gunner, and five seamen wounded. The loss sustained by the Mondovi amounted to one seaman killed, four seamen drowned, from having jumped overboard as supposed, and eight seamen and soldiers dangerously wounded.

On the 26th of July, at 10 h. 30 m. a.m., the British 28-gun frigate Brilliant, Captain Henry Blackwood, standing close into the bay of Santa-Cruz, with the wind a fresh breeze at east by north, in order to discover if a strange sail, which she had chased on the preceding evening, had arrived there, saw two French frigates lying at an anchor. The latter, which were the Vertu and Régénérée, still on their way to France, * immediately slipped their cables and gave chase. The Brilliant stood off under all sail, cutting away her anchors and boats to facilitate her escape ; but, in the mean time, got ready for action. At half-past noon, finding her pursuers were gaining upon her, she cut down the stern to make room for two 9-pounders as chasers, and got two 6-pounders aft on the quarterdeck for the same purpose. At 2 h. 30 m. the south point of the Grand Canary bore east-south-east six or seven leagues. At five p.m. the Brilliant began firing her stern-chasers, but, finding they did not reach, ceased until 6 h. 15 m. p.m.; when she recommenced her fire, and continued it with spirit. The Régénérée, who was ahead and to leeward of her consort, now opened her bow-chasers ; and both ships were evidently coming up fast with the Brilliant.

It was now that the latter resolved, by a bold man�uvre, to attempt to extricate herself. At 7 h. 30 m. p.m., being then on the larboard tack, the Brilliant bore up athwart the bows of the Régénérée, and gave her a broadside, which shot away her maintopsail halyards, and badly wounded her bowsprit and foremast. After the exchange of a few broadsides, the Brilliant hauled to the wind on the starboard tack ; leaving the Régénérée, with her main topsail down, and incapable, for the present of renewing the pursuit. The Vertu, having tacked, was now on the Brilliant's weather quarter, and soon opened upon her a heavy but ineffectual fire, which the latter answered by her stern-chasers. By midnight the wind had subsided to a perfect calm ; and the Régénérée, who had again made sail in chase ; now joined her consort in the distant cannonade. At three

* See p. 211.

^ back to top ^