1810 - British Indiamen and French Frigates

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1810 British Indiamen and French Frigates 265

down, her colours, and was taken possession of by the Bellone.

In the mean time the Victor had proceeded in chase of the Astell ; but, owing to the time occupied in securing her two captured consorts and the extreme darkness of the night, the Astell effected her escape.

The Ceylon, Windham, and Astell were each 800-ton ships, and were armed nearly in the same ineffective manner. The force of the Windham has already appeared, and that will suffice for the force of either of her consorts. Commodore Duperré gave each of his prizes 30 guns ; whereas 26, we know, were all the guns that the Windham mounted, and we believe the Ceylon and Astell mounted no more. Each Indiaman had on board a detachment of about 250 troops, exclusive of 100 Lascars, and from 12 to 20 British seamen. The Windham appears to have had only 12 British seamen and 160 effective soldiers : the remainder of the troops were probably sick.

We have now to show the loss on board each ship. The Ceylon had four seamen, one Lascar, and two soldiers killed, her captain, chief mate, seven seamen, one Lascar, one lieutenant-colonel and 10 soldiers of the 24th regiment (one mortally) wounded ; total, six killed and 21 wounded. The Windham had one seaman, three soldiers, and two Lascars killed, seven soldiers, and two Lascars severely, and three of her officers and six others slightly wounded ; total, six killed and 18 wounded. The Astell had four seamen and four soldiers killed, her captain, fifth mate, nine seamen, one Lascar, five cadets, and 20 soldiers wounded; total, eight killed and 37 wounded : making the aggregate loss on the British side amount to 20 killed and 76 wounded : The loss on the French side appears to have been as follows : Bellone, four killed and six wounded ; Minerve, 17 killed and 29 wounded ; Victor one killed and three wounded total, 22 killed and 38 wounded.

Great praise was undoubtedly due to the captains, officers, and crews of these three Indiamen, for their very gallant defence against a force so decidedly superior. Nor must we omit the officers in command of the troops and their men ; who, we have no doubt, by their steady fire, inflicted a great proportion of the loss which the enemy sustained. The East India company, to testify their approbation of the conduct of the crews of the three ships presented each of the captains with the sum of 5001., and bestowed a handsome remuneration upon the remaining officers and men.

The officers of the Astell certainly possessed a great advantage, in being able to publish their statement before the officers of the Ceylon and Windham could do so. As one proof of it a contemporary says thus: " The East India company settled a pension of 4601. a year on Captain Hay, and presented 20001. to the officers and crew, as a mark of approbation for their distinguished bravery. Andrew Peters, one of the seamen of the

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