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Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James
1807 Light Squadrons and Single Ships 338

stood in shore, and in another quarter of an hour stood out again. The Uranie thereupon wore, and hove to on the larboard tack, Cape La Hague west six or eight miles. A thick fog then came on, and concealed the Manche and her consort from view. They, in the mean time, had put back to the road.

On the 16th, in the forenoon, the Uranie and Rebuff again stood in towards Cherbourg ; and, on arriving close off the road, the Uranie hoisted her colours and fired a gun. On the 6th of June the brig came out through the east passage, and, at 3 P.M., after receiving from the Uranie a distant broadside, stood back through the western passage, or that at the opposite extremity of the dike. On the 7th, at 1 h. 35 m. P.M., Cape La Hague south-south-west six or seven leagues, the Uranie, then, it appears, alone, discovered the Manche and her consort to the eastward. The Uranie, having the wind from the westward, bore up under all sail in chase of the French frigate and brig, then standing in ; but which, at 3 h. 30 m. P.M. put about and stood for the Uranie, as if intending to engage. The Uranie shortened sail. At 4 P.M. the two French vessels bore up and made all sail for Cherbourg, followed leisurely by the Uranie until 5 P.M., when, having arrived nearly off the mouth of the harbour, the latter hove to.

On the 16th the 12-gun brig Defender, Lieutenant George Plowman, joined company. On the 18th, at 10 h. 30 m. just as the Defender had been detached to the northward, the Manche and her attendant were seen coming out of Cherbourg. The Defender was immediately recalled ; and the two British vessels, about noon, with the wind at north-west by west, bore up in chase under topsails, topgallantsails, and foresail. At 15 minutes past noon the French frigate and brig tacked towards the British frigate and brig ; whereupon the Uranie hauled up her foresail. At 1 h. 45 m. P.M. the French vessels tacked in-shore, or from the latter. The Uranie then set her foresail. At this time the Manche had hauled up her courses, with the apparent intention of waiting for the British frigate to close ; but the former soon afterwards, still keeping her courses up, edged away towards Cherbourg. The Uranie and Defender then fired their bow guns, but without effect. It was now perceived that the Manche, under topsails and topgallantsails, considerably outsailed the Uranie with her foresail set. Upon this, at 3 h. 20 m. P.M., the two British vessels hauled off, and hove to on the larboard tack, with their heads to the northward.

On the 22d, at noon, Cherbourg south by east three or four leagues, and the wind moderate from the west-north-west, the Uranie and Defender, then under topsails and topgallantsails, on the starboard or in-shore tack, discovered the Manche and brig-corvette coming out of the road, through, we believe, the eastern passage, and standing towards them on the larboard tack. At 40 minutes past noon the Uranie tacked to the north-

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