by John Marshall

“ In the following month, Captain Bligh assumed the command of a squadron, consisting of the Theseus, Hercule, and Vanguard, 74’s, Blanche and Pique frigates, and Gipsey schooner, with which he proceeded to attack Curaçoa. Having landed a body of 700 men, he took possession of the height of Amsterdam, where he remained twenty-eight days, erected batteries, and fired away every eighteen-pound shot in the squadron. ”

“ He, however, succeeded in forming a junction with Sir John P. Beresford, whose spirited conduct in daring them to battle, has already been noticed at p. 667. On the 28th Feb., Captain Bligh removed into the Valiant, another third-rate, employed under Rear-Admiral Stopford in the blockade of Basque Roads, to which anchorage the enemy had retired; and from whence a successful attack was made upon them by a division of Lord Gambier’s fleet, preceded by fire vessels, in the ensuing month of April. ”

“ On their approach to the enemy’s ships, it was discovered that a boom was placed in front of their line for a defence; this, however, the weight of the Mediator soon broke, and the usual intrepidity and bravery of British seamen overcame all difficulties; advancing under a heavy fire from the forts in the Isle of Aix, as well as from the enemy’s ships, most of which cut or slipped their cables, and from the confined anchorage got on shore, thus avoided taking fire. ”

“ At twenty minutes past two P.M. Lord Cochrane advanced in the Imperieuse, with his accustomed gallantry and spirit, and opened a well-directed fire upon the Calcutta, which struck her colours to the Imperieuse; the ships and vessels above-mentioned soon after joined in the attack upon the Ville de Varsovie and Aquilon, and obliged them, before five o’clock, after sustaining a heavy cannonade, to strike their colours, when they were taken possession of by the boats of the advanced squadron. ”

“ For this purpose he proceeded to Manchemel Bay, placed the Theseus within musket-shot of Fort Labouque, at the entrance of the harbour, and after cannonading it for about half an hour, had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy’s colours hauled down. ”

“ The Almighty’s favor to his Majesty and the nation has heen strongly marked in the success lie has been pleased to give to the operations of his Majesty’s fleet under my command; and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the four ships of the enemy named in the margin [6] , have been destroyed at their anchorage; and several others, from getting on shore, if not rendered altogether unserviceable, are at least disabled for a considerable time. ”

“ Congreve’s rockets, to conduct the further operations of the night against any of the ships which lay exposed to an attack. On the morning of the 13th, the Rear-Admiral reported to me, that as the Caesar and other line-of-battle ships had grounded, and were in a dangerous situation, he thought it advisable to ordor them all out, particularly as the remaining part of the service could be performed by frigates and small vessels only ”

“ Residence.– Fareham, Hants.
↑ An account of the memorable defence made by Sir R. R. Bligh, when Captain of the Alexander, 74, against a French squadron, consisting of five ships of the line, three frigates, and one brig, will be given under the head of Commander James Godench, in our third volume. ↑ See p. 250. ↑ In our memoir of Lord Radstock, at p. 62, we have given the copy of a letter which that officer received from Sir John Jervis, thanking him for his conduct in the battle with the Spanish fleet ”