1809	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	190

At 2h. 40 m. P.M. a battery on Pointe Lizard, a little to the southward of Anse la Barque, fired repeatedly at the British squadron, and presently sent a shot right through the hull of the Ringdove, who was then close in shore nearly becalmed. Captain Dowers immediately embarked with a party in his boats ; at 2 h. 55 m. landed ; at 3 p.m. stormed and carried the fort ; at 3 h. 15 m. p.m. spiked the guns, destroyed the works, and blew up the magazine ; and at 4 p.m. returned to the Ringdove without the slightest casualty. In the evening, being resolved to attack the French frigates and batteries, Captain Ballard sent the 12-gun schooner Elizabeth, Lieutenant Charles Finch, towards Anse la Barque, to try for an anchorage, and followed with the Blonde, to cover her from the enemy's fire. At 8 p.m. the Blonde opened a fire upon the battery, and was fired at in return. The schooner found anchorage, and she and the Blonde stood out without any material damage. On the same evening the 36-gun frigate Freija, Captain John Hayes, joined company from Martinique.

On the 18th, at 8 h. 30 m. a.m., a flag of truce came off from the shore ; and at the same time the 74-gun ship Sceptre, Captain Samuel. James Ballard, from Fort-Royal, Martinique, joined company. Commodore Ballard instantly dismissed the flag of truce, and made preparations for an immediate attack upon the French frigates. The plan, as given out in orders, was for the Blonde to lead in, followed by the Thetis ; which two frigates were to anchor abreast of and engage the two French frigates, while the Sceptre and Freija cannonaded the batteries. The Hazard, Cygnet, Ringdove, and Elizabeth, in the mean time, were to take the armed boats of the squadron in tow.

Owing to light airs and calms, the Blonde and Thetis found a great difficulty in nearing the shore. At 2 h. 25 m. p.m. one of the forts commenced firing on the British frigates. At 2 h. 40 m. the French frigates opened their fire, which the Blonde and Thetis returned. Having arrived within a quarter of a mile of the two French frigates, and within half pistol-shot of the fort, and not being able owing to the calm to get nearer, the Blonde anchored with springs and opened her starboard broadside. At 3 h. 20 m. p.m. her stream cable was shot away by the fort, which kept up a very annoying fire. The Thetis soon afterwards got near enough to anchor and open her fire. At 3 h. 30 m. the northernmost French frigate had all three masts shot away by the board. At 3 h. 35 m. she struck her colours. At the same moment the Blonde had her small bower cable shot away by the fort : she let go her best bower, and continued the engagement. At 3 h. 40 m. p.m., in consequence of one French frigate having struck, the Thetis slipped her bower cable and brought her broadside to bear on the fort. At 4 h. 20 m. the southernmost French frigate hauled down her colours ; and at the same moment the other frigate was seen to be on fire. Having

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