1809	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	194

line; which was soon done, the Lord-Keith leading, followed by the Streatham and Europe ; but the two latter were at too great a distance apart. At 6 h. 30 m. a.m., having arrived abreast of the weather quarter of the Europe, the Caroline hoisted her colours and opened a fire upon that ship ; which the Europe quickly returned. Between these two unequal antagonists, the action was maintained for nearly half an hour ; at the end of which time the Indiamen had all her carronades and two of her maindeck guns dismounted, her foretopsail yard cut in two, foremast badly wounded, rigging and sails cut to pieces, hull struck in several places, and two of her best men killed and one Lascar wounded. Having thus completely disabled the Europe, the Caroline ranged ahead, and, bearing up athwart the bows of her defenceless opponent, raked her. Captain Feretier then stood towards the lee quarter of the Streatham ; who had shortened sail to support the Europe, but had not been able to bring a gun to bear upon the French frigate.

At 7 a.m. the Caroline commenced action with the Streatham ; and these two ships continued engaging until a few minutes before 8 a.m.: by which time the Caroline had reduced this antagonist to as disabled a state as her first, and had killed three, and wounded two, of the English sailors on board. Finding that all his carronades on the engaged side were dismounted, and that no inducements or threats could keep the Portuguese and Lascars to the maindeck guns, Captain Dale ordered the colours of the Streatham to be hauled down. The Caroline then wore from the latter, gave a broadside in passing to the Lord-Keith, who, as well as the Europe, had fired occasionally at her while engaging the Streatham, and brought to on the larboard quarter of the Europe ; with whom she recommenced the action. After firing a short time in return, the Europe made sail to close the Streatham, and at 8 h. 20 m. a.m. learnt that she had struck. Finding this to be the case, and that the Lord-Keith was well to windward, standing with all sail to the southward, Captain G. Gelston put before the wind. As soon as she had secured the Streatham the Caroline made sail in chase of the Europe ; and at 10 a.m. the latter was obliged also to strike. The Lord-Keith effected her escape, and arrived safe in England.

The loss on board the Caroline, according to the statement her captain, amounted to only one killed, the ship's master, and M. Feretier and one or two men slightly wounded. The conduct of the French officers, towards the passengers and crews of the captured Indiamen, was, we are happy to be enabled to state, particularly kind and attentive. On account chiefly of the leaky state of the Europe, it took M. Feretier three days to refit his prizes : and, before the former ship could be made seaworthy, all her guns were obliged to be thrown overboard. The Caroline and her two richly laden prizes then set sail, and on the 22d of July anchored in the bay of St.-Paul, Isle Bourbon. While

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