1812	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	64

After considerable difficulty, owing to the strength of the works, the service was effectually executed.

On the 13th of February, at daybreak, the British 38-gun frigate Apollo, Captain Bridges Watkinson Taylor, while rounding Cape Corse, fell in with and chased the French frigate-built store-ship Mérinos ; pierced for 36, but mounting only 20 guns, long 8-pounders, with a crew of 126 men, commanded by Capitaine de frégate Honore-Cyprien Courdouan, in company with a ship-corvette. After the Apollo had closed from to-leeward, and killed six and wounded 20 of the crew of the Merinos, that ship hauled down her colours. Notwithstanding the signals for assistance made to her from the Mérinos, the corvette, with the help of boats from the island of Corsica, effected her escape. Although, in consequence of the calm state of the weather and her proximity to the shore, the Apollo was exposed, during four hours, to a fire from a battery on the cape and another on the islet of Giraglia, she did not have a man hurt.

On the 16th of February the British 74-gun ship Victorious, Captain John Talbot, accompanied by the 18-gun brig-sloop Weasel, Captain John William Andrew, arrived off Venice, to watch the motions of the new French 74-gun ship Rivoli, * Commodore Jean-Baptiste Barré, and two or three brigs of war, lying ready for sea in that port. Foggy weather made it the 21st, before Captain Talbot was enabled to reconnoitre the port. On that day, at 2 h. 30 m. p.m. the Victorious descried a brig in the east-north-east, and at 3 p.m., in the same direction, a large ship, with two more brigs, and two settees. The ship was the Rivoli herself ; the three brigs were the Jéna and Mercure of 16, and the Mamelouck of eight guns ; and the two settees were gun-boats ; all about 12 hours from Venice, bound to the port of Pola in Istria, and at this time steering in line of battle; the two gun-boats and one brig ahead, then the Rivoli, and astern of her the two remaining brigs. The British 74 and brig were presently under all sail in chase, and soon began to gain upon the French squadron.

At 2 h. 30 m. a.m. on the 22d, perceiving that one of the two brigs in the rear had dropped astern, and that the Rivoli had shortened sail to allow her to close, Captain Talbot hailed the Weasel, and directed Captain Andrew to pass the Victorious if possible, and bring the sternmost brig to action. Captain Andrew was so prompt in obeying the order, that at 4 h. 15 m. A.M. the Weasel overtook the Mercure, and engaged her within half pistol-shot. After the action between these two brigs had lasted about 20 minutes, the brig that had been in company with the Mercure, the Jéna, shortened sail, and engaged the Weasel distantly on her bow. Thus opposed, the latter still continued a close and well-directed fire upon the Mercure until

* See p. 44.

^ back to top ^