intelligence that a French "60-gun ship," with another ship of 40, and a third of 26 guns, had been seen off Palambang, in the straits of Banca ; but, by the time he had reached the island of Lingen on his way thither, the commodore ascertained the fallacy of the information, and, steering for the straits of Sunda, anchored on the 13th in Anjier bay. On the 21st the squadron was joined by the Houghton Indiaman, Captain Hudson, and soon afterwards got under way. Early the next morning, the 22d, while the William-Pitt was examining a detained ship, two strangers in the south-west were descried and chased by the Britannia and Nonsuch. The strange ships were two French privateers, the Vengeur, Captain Corosin, mounting 34 guns (French 8 and 6 pounders), with a crew of 250 men, and the Resole, Captain Jallineaux, mounting 26 guns (six of them French 12-pounders, the remainder 8s and 6s), with a crew of 230 men ; both ships from the Isle of France.

At about 11 a.m., the two privateers being then off the Shown rock, near the Zuften isles, the Britannia began engaging the Vengeur ; and shortly afterwards the Nonsuch commenced firing at the Résolu. In about three quarters of an hour both privateers, the William-Pitt and Houghton then fast coming up, struck their colours ; the Vengeur with the loss of 11 killed and 26 wounded, including among the latter Captain Corosin, who died after the amputation of his leg. The loss on board the Résolu does not appear. The Britannia had one man killed, and two wounded ; but the Nonsuch, it is believed, not any.

These two French privateers had, five days before, made a vigorous but unsuccessful attack upon the Pigot Indiaman, Captain George Ballantyne, as she lay refitting in Rat island basin, near Bencoolen. The entrance of the basin was so narrow that one ship only could approach at a time. The Vengeur began the attack at 8 h. 15 m. a.m., on the 17th ; at times within 150, and seldom beyond 350 yards. After fighting in this manner nearly an hour and three quarters, the Vengeur cut her hawsers and made sail, and the Résolu advanced to fill her consort's place ; but in 20 minutes she also was obliged to cut and run, and both privateers anchored about two miles off to repair their damages. Their loss, which was supposed to be tolerably severe, could not be ascertained. The Pigot mounted 32 guns, with a crew of 102 men and boys, and was very much damaged in her masts, sails, and rigging, but sustained no greater loss than one man mortally wounded. This persevering defence of their ship was very creditable to Captain Ballantyne, his officers, and crew.

In the afternoon of the 23d, the William-Pitt, Britannia, Houghton, and Nautilus, chasing in the north-east, parted company ; and, the same evening, the Nonsuch and the two prizes came to an anchor a little to the northward of the Zuften isles : The remainder of the squadron also anchored unseen by, and at

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