a little. At 1 h. 10 m. p.m., finding that her opponent had shot ahead, the Mermaid filled also, and kept close to the wind, still engaging. At 1 h. 30 m. p.m. the Vengeance endeavoured to stay, but missed, and in this state received a heavy broadside from the Mermaid. Again the Vengeance tried to stay ; again she missed, and again lay exposed to a destructive raking fire. At 2 p.m. the Vengeance set her foresail, and soon afterwards succeeded in tacking. The Mermaid, on getting into her opponent's wake, tacked also. At 2 h. 30 m. p.m. the wind, coming more northerly, prevented the Mermaid from fetching the Vengeance ; whereupon the Mermaid, at whom the batteries on shore were still occasionally firing, wore round, fired a broadside into her opponent's stern, and hove to on the larboard tack. The Vengeance then filled and stood on, followed by the Mermaid ; the two ships still firing at each other.

At 3 p.m. the Mermaid had her fore topgallantmast shot away. About this time the Vengeance tacked ; as, presently afterwards, did the Mermaid, with her courses set, in close pursuit. At 3 h. 4 m. p.m. the Vengeance stood close in under the batteries and lay to, nearly becalmed. The Mermaid then, as she ran past the latter's stern, fired two distant broadsides, and afterwards wore and stood off. During all this time the batteries continued firing at the British frigates, but without effect. Presently a breeze sprang up from the east-north-east, and the Vengeance made sail for Basse-terre. The British 40-gun frigate Beaulieu, Captain Francis Laforey, was now seen coming down before the wind, under all sail ; but, before she could get near, the Vengeance was safe at an anchor in the road of Basse-terre.

Besides losing her fore topgallantmast, the Mermaid had her sails pierced with shot-holes, and her standing and running rigging a good deal cut ; but, fortunately, without a man killed or wounded. The Vengeance, on the other hand, suffered considerably in sails, rigging, and hull ; and, according to the report of Victor Hugues, as communicated to some British dragoon officers, prisoners at Basse-terre, and who witnessed the whole of the combat, lost 12 men killed and 26 wounded.

When it is known, that the Mermaid was a small 12-pounder 32-gun frigate, and the Vengeance one of the largest 18-pounder frigates out of France, mounting 52 guns, the disparity in point of force may be readily conceived. The French frigate was unfortunate in twice missing stays within short gun-shot of an active enemy ; and the Vengeance, no doubt, sustained the chief of her loss at those critical periods. Her ultimately retiring from the contest became an imperative duty, considering what ship was approaching to have a share in it. The Beaulieu having a tier of 18-pounders, with some heavy carronades, had she been alone, would have been a much fairer match for the Vengeance than the Mermaid.

^ back to top ^