1809	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	200

telegraphed Raisonable, ' troops on shore.' Observed a union jack on one of the batteries. At 7 (h. 30 m. meant, it is believed) (sic) enemy opened a fire on the Néréide, At 8 Raisonable opened a fire on the French frigate. At 8, 10, Sirius fired several broadsides. Filled and made sail to windward. 8, 45, tacked and stood in shore. 9, 15, brought up with the stream and small bower, opened a raking fire on the Caroline, Indiamen, and battery. At 10 ceased firing, shipping and batteries in possession of the British troops." The Otter, by her log, says: "At 8, 45, observed all the batteries in our possession. 8, 50, observed Sirius make signal, ' Permission to anchor.' Affirmed by the Raisonable. 9, 14, observed Sirius anchor and open a raking fire on the frigate. 9, 20, the frigate hauled down her colours." Among other misinformation that appears to have reached Captain Brenton, is, that Captain Feretier, late of the Caroline, and not General Desbrusleys, committed suicide.

In the summer of the present year the French frigates Vénus. and Manche, accompanied by the 14-gun corvette Créole, were cruising in the bay of Bengal. On the 26th of July, off the south end of the Great Nicobar island, the Vénus, then alone, captured the honourable company's brig Orient, Captain Harman, bound with despatches from Madras to Prince-of-Wales's island. Sending his prize to the isle of France, Commodore Hamelin cruised on the same station about a week longer, and then proceeded to Carnicobar island for water. He was there joined by the Manche and Créole. Having completed their water, the two frigates and corvette made sail for the Preparis isles, and then for Acheen head.

The French commodore continued cruising, with very indifferent success, off the north-west coast of the island of Sumatra until the 10th of October ; when he detached the Créole to seize the honourable company's settlement of Tappanooly, on the small island of Punchongcacheel, close to the west side of Sumatra. On the 12th the Creole arrived off and took possession of the settlement. On the 21st the Vénus and Manche joined the Créole; and Commodore Hamelin immediately proceeded on the work of destruction. The few guns on the battery were disabled, the property, both public and private, confiscated, the buildings of every description set on fire, the cattle carried off, the horses maimed, and the plantations on the main destroyed. All the residents found at Tappanooly were brought on board the Vénus ; but subsequently the female part of them were put on board a prize schooner, and allowed to proceed to Padang. According to a private letter from one of the sufferers, which appeared in the London papers of the day, the behaviour of Commodore Hamelin, to the female portion of his unhappy prisoners especially, was of the most disgraceful and revolting character. We shall not, however, enter into the particulars,

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