1811	Alacrity and Abeille	365

discovered about six miles to leeward, and immediately chased, a large man-of-war brig, which proved to be the French brig-corvette Abeille, of 24-pounder carronades, commanded by acting Lieutenant de vaisseau Ange-René-Armand De Mackau. Observing that the vessel approaching was a brig, Lieutenant De Mackau knew at once the extent of her force ; and accordingly shortened sail, hoisted his colours, and fired a gun of defiance. By manoeuvring skilfully, the Abeille managed to pour into the Alacrity one or two raking fires. The French brig now tried for the weathergage, and having obtained it, passed and engaged her opponent on the opposite tack ; then bore up, and running close under the Alacrity's stern, raked her. The Abeille afterwards hauled up on the same (the larboard) tack as the Alacrity, and engaged her to leeward, keeping just upon the British brig's quarter; so that, while her own guns were playing havoc upon the decks of her antagonist, the Alacrity had scarcely a gun which she could bring to bear. In a vessel whose tiller works on deck, the quarter is much more decidedly the "point of impunity," than in a vessel whose tiller works below. For instance, in the Alacrity and brigs of her class, the space between the aftermost port and the stern is upwards of 11 feet, to allow room for the sweep of the tiller, consequently, the whole of the space, one ninth part of the length of the deck, is without a gun.

The damaged state of the Alacrity's rigging soon obliged her to drop astern, and thereby afforded her the opportunity of bestowing a few shot in return for the many she had received ; but the Abeille quickly freed herself from the effect of those by ranging ahead, and placing herself upon the Alacrity's starboard bow. The latter, feeling sensibly the ill effects of this diagonal fire, threw all back, and endeavoured to pass astern of her antagonist ; but the Abeille saw the well-meant manoeuvre, and at once frustrated it by bearing up. The two brigs continued thus engaged, side by side, for a few minutes longer ; when the Alacrity, having had her sails and rigging cut to pieces, fell off, with her stern completely exposed to the Abeille's broadside. In this defenceless state the British brig remained, until, having had all her officers killed or driven from the deck but the boatswain, she was compelled to haul down her colours. This took place about three quarters of an hour after the commencement of the action.

The Alacrity, out of a crew on board of 100 men and boys, including 13 of the latter, had her first and only lieutenant (Thomas Gwynne Rees) and four seamen killed, her captain (slightly), master (David Laing), one and her only master's mate (Mr. Warren, mortally), surgeon (William Turner, slightly, while dressing the wounded), boatswain (severely), and eight seamen and marines wounded. Lieutenant De Mackau, in his letter, as given in the Moniteur, enumerates 15 killed and 20

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