1812	Southampton and Améthyste	77

12, and eight long 18, pounders on the main deck, and four long 12-pounders and 14 carronades, 24-pounders, on the quarterdeck and forecastle.

On the 3d, at 6 a.m., having arrived off the south side of Guanoboa, the Southampton fell in with the Améthyste, the corvette, and the brig. On hailing the Améthyste, Sir James was answered, " From Aux-Cayes." He then sent on board, to request the captain of the frigate to wait upon him with his papers. Captain Gaspard declined doing this ; but sent his first lieutenant, with a paper, purporting to be an order to cruise, and signed, " Borgellat, general in chief of the south of Hayti." Knowing of no authority that this M. Borgellat had to send armed vessels to sea, Sir James replied, that he felt it to be his duty to conduct the frigate and the two vessels in her company to Port-Royal, Jamaica, that the British commander-in-chief on the station might determine upon the validity of M. Borgellat's claim ; and he gave the captain of the Améthyste five minutes to consider the message. A lieutenant of the Southampton accompanied the lieutenant of the Améthyste back to his ship, in order to wait the time ; but, before three minutes had elapsed. Captain Gaspard acquainted the former, that he would rather sink than comply with the demand : he requested, however, that, if the British captain really meant to enforce his demand, he would fire a gun ahead of the frigate.

As the boat of the Southampton pulled round her stern towards the opposite gangway, the unsuccessful result of the mission was communicated. Off went the bow gun ; and in another instant, then just 6 h. 30 m. a.m., the second and remaining guns upon the Southampton's broadside followed in rapid succession. The fire was returned ; the action proceeded ; and, aware of what was the chief arm of her strength, the Améthyste made several efforts to board ; but the Southampton, by her superiority in manoeuvring, frustrated every attempt. It had always been an essential point in Sir James Yeo's system of discipline to practise his men at gunnery ; and they now gave unequivocal proofs of the proficiency to which they had attained. Before the cannonade had lasted half an hour, the main and mizen masts of the Améthyste had fallen; and her hull soon became riddled from stem to stern. Still the desperate crew continued a feeble and irregular fire. The two consorts of the Améthyste, in the mean time, had made sail, and were running for shelter under the batteries of Maraguana. At 7 h. 45 m. a.m., desirous to put an end to what now could hardly be called a contest, Sir James Yeo hailed to know if the Améthyste, whose colours had long been shot away, had surrendered. Some one on board replied in the affirmative ; and the Southampton ceased her fire. Scarcely had she done so, ere the foremast and bowsprit of the Améthyste went by the board.

A proof of the inexperience of the crew of the latter, and of

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