1809	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	162

Galante, about five leagues distant from the latter and two from the former. The road or harbour of the Saintes, having three entrances in different directions, is not easily blockaded. Under these circumstances, it was thought advisable to land a body of troops, for the double purpose of driving the French ships to sea, and of reducing the Saintes' islands, which had at all times afforded to the enemy's ships a capital shelter.

Accordingly, on the 12th of April, a small British squadron, under the orders of Captain Philip Beaver of the 40-gun frigate Acasta, accompanied by a fleet of transports, having on board from 2000 to 3000 men commanded by Major-general Frederic Maitland, sailed from Fort-Royal bay, Martinique, and on the next day arrived off the Saintes. On the 14th the troops were landed with a, very slight loss ; and on the same afternoon possessed themselves, with some difficulty, of a mountain 800 feet high, called Morne-Russel, and which completely overlooked the ships in the harbour. Upon these two 8-inch howitzers were presently brought to bear with such effect, that at 8 p.m. the three line-of-battle ships began to get under way, and at 9 h. 30 m. p.m. sailed out through the windward passage ; but, although favoured by an unusually dark night, not unseen by the British in-shore squadron of sloops and brigs, under the orders of Captain Hugh Cameron, of the 18-gun ship-sloop Hazard ; and who immediately made the preconcerted signal to the admiral outside.

At this time the Neptune was off the south-west passage at some distance, and the Pompée about a mile and a half to the westward of Terre d'en Bas, or the Lower Sainte. In a very few minutes the Pompée discovered the three French ships bearing down under a press of canvass, followed by the Hazard and other vessels belonging to the in-shore squadron. At 10 p.m. the Pompée closed with the sternmost French ship, and endeavoured to stop her by the discharge of two broadsides ; but, having a strong breeze in her favour, the latter continued her course to the west-south-west without returning a shot. At 10 h. 15 m. p.m. the 18-gun brig-sloop Recruit, Captain Charles Napier, got up and opened her fire at the enemy's sternmost ship. At 11 p.m. the Neptune joined in the chase, and at 30 minutes past midnight crossed so near to the same ship, that the latter fired into her and killed one and wounded four of her men.

On the 15th, at 4 a.m., the Recruit, by her superior sailing, again got near enough to discharge a broadside at the d'Haupoult, now the rearmost French ship ; and the Pompée was very soon in a situation to open a distant fire from her bow-chasers ; all three French ships as they steered in line abreast, returning the fire with their stern-chasers. At 10 h. 30 m. a.m. Captain Napier had his sergeant of marines wounded by a shot from one of the French ships ; but the Recruit still persisted to harass them with her attacks. So annoying were those attacks,

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