52     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

out of the Scheldt, exercised to leeward of the Weiling. Thinking it practicable to cut off some of them, Captain Lennock stood into the Weiling, and at 6 h. 15 m. p.m. began firing occasionally at the flotilla in passing. The wind blowing strong on the shore, the superior sailing and working of the Raven enabled her to overtake seven of the brigs ; four of which she compelled to anchor close to the surf under the batteries. The remaining three the Raven drove on shore ; and at daylight the next morning they were still lying on the beach, apparently bilged, with the sea beating over them. Only one shot struck the Raven, and that did not hurt any one. This dashing little service was performed in sight of the French fleet lying at Flushing ; and it must have greatly mortified the French admiral and his captains to see 14 of his brigs, armed each with three or four long 24-pounders, unable, or rather unwilling, to prevent three of their number from being driven on shore by a single British brig, mounting fourteen 24-pounder carronades.

On the 21st of July, as the British schooner Sealark, of ten 12-pounder carronades and 60 men and boys, Lieutenant Thomas Warrand, was cruising off the Start, a signal was made from the shore of an enemy in the south-east quarter. The Sealark immediately made all sail in the direction pointed out, and after a three hours' run discovered a large lugger, under English colours, chasing and firing at two ships, apparently West-Indiamen, standing up Channel. As soon as the lugger, which was the Ville-de-Caen, of St.-Maloes, mounting 16 long 4 or 6 pounders, with a crew of 75 men, commanded by M. Cochet, discovered that the schooner approaching her was a cruiser, she quitted the merchantmen and altered her course to starboard, under all possible sail. Finding the Sealark gaining on her, the lugger shortened sail, and wore repeatedly to get to windward of the schooner.

Fearing the lugger might succeed and thereby effect her escape, Lieutenant Warrand gallantly ran the Ville-de-Caen on board, between her fore and main chains. A close and furious engagement now commenced, both with great guns and musketry, the privateer's men using a profusion of hand-grenades to set the schooner on fire : instead of which, however, the lugger set herself on fire. Seeing this, Mr. James Beaver, the Sealark's acting master, at the head of a few men, sprang on board, and almost instantly carried, the Ville-de-Caen, after an action, nearly the whole time sides touching, of one hour and 30 minutes.

The Sealark had her captain's clerk (John Purnel), five seamen, and one marine killed, her commander, one midshipman (Alexander Gunn), 17 seamen, and three marines wounded : a very serious loss, it must be owned, especially as several of the wounds were dangerous. The loss on the part of the

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