1810	Rainbow and Néréide	227

steering, to the south-west, and at 8 a.m., the wind then a fresh breeze from the eastward, was but four miles ahead of the leading British ship, the Blonde. During the day's chase, the Néréide, gained about two miles of the Blonde ; when the latter, at 10 p.m., carried away her main topmast and the yard with it, also her foretopsail yard and fore and mizen topgallant-masts. The Blonde, in consequence, dropped astern ; and the remaining ships continued the chase throughout the night, the Melampus leading. During the whole of the 10th the Néréide, kept gaining by degrees on the Melampus ; who at 8 p.m. lost sight of her squadron, and, at 10 h. 30 m. p.m., of the French frigate. In another hour the Melampus shortened sail, and hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, to rejoin her consorts.

Thus relieved of her pursuers, the Néréide, steered a more northerly course, intending to make her voyage back by the windward passage, or that between the islands of St.-Domingo and Cuba. On the 13th, at daylight, when within eight or ten leagues of Pointe Abacou upon the first-named island, another enemy made her appearance to windward. This was the British 22-gun ship Rainbow, Captain James W Wooldridge. The latter hoisted the English and Spanish private signals, and, finding them not answered, bore up in chase and cleared for action. At 8 h. 30 m. a.m. the Néréide, brought to to reconnoitre the ship which was so boldly approaching her, and must soon have discovered that she had but 10 ports and a bridle of a side on her main deck, three on her quarterdeck, and one on her forecastle, total 28 ports, just the number of guns the ship mounted.

Nor could the Rainbow's size have alarmed her, for the ship did not measure more than 587 tons. However, there was a something about the British ship that the Néréide, did not like ; and at 9 a.m. the latter bore up and made all sail. Captain Wooldridge followed ; and at noon, Pointe Abacou then bearing north-north-west distant six or seven leagues, the Rainbow was within a mile and a half of a French frigate of more than double her force in guns, men, and size. The chase continued during the afternoon, without any perceptible advantage to either ship ; and at 8 p.m. Captain Wooldridge, as his duty prescribed, let off several rockets, to apprize any friend who might he in sight of them, that the Rainbow was in pursuit of an enemy,

On the 14th, at 4 a.m., the Rainbow was within about a mile of the Néréide, and at 9 a.m. exchanged numbers with the 18-gun brig-sloop Avon (sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two sixes), Captain Henry Tillieux Fraser, then about six miles north-west by north of Cape Tiburon, and consequently to leeward of both ships. The Avon was soon under all sail in chase, standing across the enemy's course. At 1 h. 15 m. p.m. the.

* See p. 147.

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