complement of 124 men and boys. The guns mounted by the Oiseau were 16 French 8 and two 12 pounders, all long guns, with a complement, on board, of 119 men and boys.

Even had the Oiseau been alone, the capture of her by the Penguin would have been a creditable affair. As it was, Captain Pulling evinced a commendable promptitude in following up his first advantage ; and the Penguin's officers and crew, in general, gave a decided proof of their judgment and bravery in effecting the capture of two such opponents.

On the 17th September, at 7 h. 30 m. a.m., Cape Nicholas Mole in the island of St. Domingo bearing south by west half-west, the British 18-gun brig-sloop Pelican, Lieutenant Thomas White, acting commander, in the absence of Captain John Gascoyne, who was ill on shore, saw in the north-north-west standing towards her on the larboard tack, with the wind at east, a strange brig, evidently of force; and which was the French privateer Trompeur, of 12 long French 6-pounders, and 78 men and boys. The Pelican immediately made sail in chase. At 8 h. 45 m. a.m. the Trompeur hoisted her colours ; and the Pelican who had already hoisted hers, while crossing the Trompeur on the contrary track, opened her broadside. The Pelican then wore round her opponent's stern, and kept up a continued and well-directed fire, until 9 h. 20 m. a.m.; when the Trompeur, hauling on board her larboard tacks, made all sail to get away.

The Pelican, as soon as she had repaired her running rigging which had been very much cut, crowded sail to get again alongside of her opponent. This, at 45 minutes past noon, the Pelican accomplished ; and opening her fire a second time, continued it with so much spirit and effect, the yard-arms of the two brigs being locked during the greater part of the time, that at 1 h. 10 m. p.m. the Trompeur blew up abaft, and in five minutes more went down by the head. The Pelican's boats were immediately hoisted out, and 60 of the drowning crew, including the captain, were happily rescued. No officer could have fought his ship more bravely than this captain had : he was seen, in the hottest of the fire, standing on the quarterdeck, exhorting his men to do their duty ; and do their duty they did in the most valiant manner.

The loss on board the Trompeur by the Pelican's shot does not appear ; but, from the effect of those shot upon the brig's hull, it must have been very severe. The loss sustained by the Pelican amounted to one killed, and five wounded.

The Pelican is the same "frigate with her mizenmast out,"* which, a twelvemonth previous, caused such great consternation on board the French frigate Médée. The effectual manner in which the crew plied their guns, in action with the Trompeur,

* See vol. i., p. 511 356

^ back to top ^