1807 - Recapture of Favourite, Boats of Lark on the Spanish Main


 
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Naval history of Great Britain - Vol. IV
by
William James
1807 Light Squadrons and Single Ships 322

no slight advantage, under sail and going two knots through the water when the British attacked her. Nor did the difficulties end with the contest. There were less than 50 British to overawe and keep in subjection, during an anxious period of nearly six hours, more than 120 Frenchmen. The Lynx, being a fine vessel of 337 tons, and only two years old, was purchased for the use of the British navy. A Lynx, however, being already in the service, the name of the prize was changed to the Heureux ; and her first commander was he who had the best right to her, the gallant William Coombe.

On the 27th of January, at daylight, Soramine river on the coast of Guayana bearing south by east distant 26 miles, the British 12-pounder 32-gun frigate Jason, Captain Thomas Cochrane, descried and chased a ship and brig, evidently cruisers, about six miles upon her weather beam. At 1.0 h. 15 m. A.M. the Jason brought the ship to action, and presently compelled her to haul down her colours. The prize proved to be the late British sloop of war Favourite, mounting 16 long 6-pounders and two 12-pounder carronades on the main deck, and eleven 12-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck and forecastle ; total, 29 guns, all English caliber, with a complement of 150 men, commanded by Lieutenant de vaisseau Gabriel-Etienne-Louis Le Marant-Kerdaniel. The brig in her company, when first chased, was a corvette of 14 brass 8-pounders and 120 men.

On the 26th of January, late in the evening, the 18-gun ship-loop Lark, Captain Robert Nicholas, cruising off the Spanish Main, chased, and early on the 27th captured, two Spanish garda-costa schooners ; one the Postillon of one long 12-pounder, two 6-pounders, and 76 men, the other the Carmen, of one 12pounder, four 6-pounders, and 72 men, each commanded by a Lieutenant of the Spanish navy.

On the 1st of February, having the prizes in company, with 10 men in each, the Lark discovered a convoy of market-boats, protected by two gun-boats and an armed schooner. The market-boats ran on shore ; but the gun-boats and schooner sought refuge in a creek of Zispata bay, protected by a four-gun battery. The Lark followed these vessels into the bay, and soon silenced the fort. Not being able, owing to the shallowness of the water, to enter the creek, the Lark anchored off the mouth of it ; and, taking with him the whole of the sloop's remaining officers and crew, amounting to about 100 men and boys, Captain Nicholas proceeded up the creek in his boat. The Spaniards, relying upon their numbers, rowed out to meet the British, and, until the latter closed, kept up a resolute fire. They then fled. Captain Nicholas seized this opportunity of boarding with his single boat the sternmost gun-vessel, carrying one long 24 and two 6 pounders. The vessel ran on shore, but was carried after a desperate resistance ; by which, out of 16 men in the captain's boat, three were dangerously, and himself severely wounded.

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