1810	Captain Willoughby at Isle de la Passe	279

gig ; and, after a hard pull of nearly five miles directly to windward, arrived, about noon, on board the Néréide Considering that these ships, known to be French and suspected to be what they were, would, when united with the force in Port-Louis, which the Iphigenia, on the 18th, had telegraphed as being ready for sea, be a decided overmatch for Captain Pym's three frigates, Captain Willoughby resolved to endeavour to entice the former into Grand-Port. For this purpose a French ensign and pendant were immediately hoisted by the Néréide : and French colours almost as quickly appeared on the flagstaff at the island, with the signal, " L'ennemi croise au Coin de Mire." "The enemy is cruising off the Coin de Mire," a patch of rocks close off the northern extremity of the Isle of France. One of the French frigates then made the private signal, and was answered from Isle de la Passe. Upon which they severally announced themselves, by their numbers, as the Bellone, Minerve, Victor, and two prizes. The latter, as a reference to a few pages back will show, were the Windham and Ceylon. *

At 1 h. 30 m. p.m. the Victor, under her three topsails, led into the channel, and passing the sea-battery, arrived within pistol-shot of the Néréide; when the latter, at 1 h. 40 m. p.m., substituting the union jack for the French ensign, opened her fire with such effect, that the Victor hailed that she struck, and anchored on the Néréide starboard and outer quarter. Captain Willoughby immediately sent Lieutenant John Burns and Lieutenant of marines Thomas Robert Pye, with a party of men, to take possession of the corvette. At 1 h. 45 m. P. at. the Minerve, followed by the Ceylon, both under their topsails, entered the channel, and were fired at ineffectually by the sea-battery of Isle de la Passe. While passing close to the Victor, after having exchanged broadsides with the Néréide Captain Bouvet hailed Captain Morice, and ordered him to cut his cable, rehoist his colours, and follow. Although the Néréide's boat was then alongside of her, the Victor did as she had been ordered, and was quickly in the wake of the Ceylon steering towards Grand-Port.

Unfortunately a very serious accident had happened at the island fort. While one of the men was in the act of hauling quickly down the French colours, in order to substitute the English, and begin firing at the enemy, the cotton texture of the former became ignited by a match lying near the flagstaff, and instantly caused the explosion of more than 100 cartridges ; whereby three men were killed, and 12 severely burnt. Five of the sea-battery guns were also dismounted at the first fire ; as was one of the four (two on open platforms), which protected the Néréide's anchorage. One of these, likewise, in the act of firing at the Minerve, mortally wounded a quartermaster in the boat of Lieutenant Burns, while on his way back from the unsuccessful attempt to secure the Victor.

* See p. 266.

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