of stores required for the Iphigénie The latter frigate, with, her two consorts, the Astrée and Entreprenant, then proceeded on a cruise off Isle Bourbon ; where the Victor, as soon as she had executed her mission, was to join them.

On the same day the British 38-gun frigate Africaine, Captain Robert Corbett, on her way from England to Madras, touched at the island of Rodriguez to replenish her water ; but, learning what had befallen his friends at the Isle of France, Captain Corbett changed his route, and hastened to join the squadron under Commodore Rowley. In the spring of the present year this frigate, commanded by Captain Richard Raggett, had returned to Plymouth from Annapolis ; whither she had conveyed Mr. Jackson, the British ambassador to the United States. About the same time the 38-gun frigate Bourbonaise (late French Caroline), Captain Robert Corbett, anchored at Plymouth from the Cape of Good Hope. The admiralty, having determined to send the Africaine to the Isle of France station, wished to have the benefit of Captain Corbett's local experience, and therefore appointed him to supersede Captain Raggett in the command of that fine frigate.

On the arrival of Captain Corbett on board the Africaine, the ship's company manifested an alarming degree of discontent at the change of commanders, and proceeded to the extremity of declaring that they would not go to sea with Captain Corbett. Rear-admiral Sir Edward Buller, accompanied by Captains Thomas Wolley and George Cockburn, went on board the Africaine, by direction of the board of admiralty, to inquire of the ship's company, if they had any just cause of complaint against Captain Corbett. It now appeared that there was not a man on board the frigate, who had ever served under Captain Corbett, but that the crew were intimidated by his reported severity. It was explained to the men, how certain they were of being made very serious examples of, should they persist in so unreasonable an expectation, as that the admiralty would cancel the appointment of Captain Corbett ; but that every thing would be overlooked, if they received their captain without any further proof of disaffection.

By this prompt measure on the part of the admiralty, coupled with the temperate, but firm conduct of the officers charged with the performance of it, order was restored, and the men returned to their duty without its being found necessary to inflict the slightest punishment. In the month of June the Africaine sailed for the East Indies, and Captain Corbett was the bearer of despatches to the governor-general, containing orders for the immediate equipment of an expedition against the Iles of France and Bourbon. The orders respecting the last named island had, as we have seen, been successfully anticipated, same weeks before the Africaine arrived. at Rodriguez. On the 11th of September, at daylight,, the Africaine made the Isle of

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