by John Marshall

“ Conceiving that if I cruised off the Isles de Los, (in the event of their not having left them) , I might be enabled to fall in with any of H.M.’s ships that might be coming down the coast, and also protect the vessels bound to Sierra Leone, of which I had received intelligence [7] , I prepared to weigh, when a cartel arrived from the islands, with the Master and a boat’s crew of the Daring, and the crew of another vessel they had taken; whose accounts corroborating Lieutenant Pascoe’s report, I left Sierra Leone river, and worked up to the islands [8] . ”

“ When I have the misfortune to state such a severe loss, I trust it will be clear, every person must have done his duty. I feel most grateful to my gallant officers and crew, as well as the supernumeraries late belonging to the Daring, for their cool, steady, and persevering conduct, which was worthy the utmost success ”

“ We are certain you will be gratified in being assured, that your interference has restored peace and confidence in the minds of the While residents in this part of the globe; at the same time that it has struck awe and terror in the surrounding natives. The good effects cannot fail of being lasting, and of rendering the British flag as much respected in future on this coast, as it is in all other parts of the world. ”

“ The latter ship was commanded by Captain James Montagu, who fell in the battle of June 1, 1794 [1] . On her being put out of commission at the latter end of 1795, Mr. Irby joined the London, a second rate, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Colpoys, with whom he continued till 1797, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Circe of 28 guns, in which frigate and the Apollo he served, under the present Vice-Admiral Halkett, until the latter was wrecked on the Haak Sands, near the Texel, Jan. 7, 1799 [2] . His next appointment was to the Glenmore of 36 guns, on the Irish station. ”

“ In 1800, Lieutenant Irby was made a Commander, into the Volcano bomb, and attached to the squadron sent under Vice-Admiral Dickson, to support Lord Whitworth in his demands on the Danish court at Copenhagen [3] . In the following year he was appointed to the Jalouse of 18 guns, employed on the North Sea station. ”

“ N.B. There appears a difference between his letter and one written by Lieutetenant Chads, late of the Java, respecting the Frenchman’s weight of metal; see p. 498. ↑ “The Amelia, like the Java, had a number of supernumeraries on board; but owing to the general sickness of the men, Captain Irby says, ‘We had barely our complement fit for duty, and they much enervated.’ A sickly old, and a healthy new ship’s company, are about equal in effectiveness.” ”

“ In her cabin was the drawing of an action, said to have taken place on the 7th Feb., off the coast of Africa, between her and an English frigate; and on the sides of this view was her list of 31 killed and 74 wounded. * * * * L’Aréthuse is a large frigate, and appeared very full of men [16] , mounting twenty-eight French 18-pounders on the main-deck, sixteen 36-pounder carronades and two long guns on the upper-deck. ”

“ Their paroles stated them to have been captured by l’Aréthuse of 44 guns and 330 men; and la Rubis of 44 guns and 375 men. Mr. James, in his “Naval History” only gives the former ship 340 men, including a boat’s crew from her consort. The Amelia’s full complement was 265 men and 30 boys: 12 of the latter borne as supernumeraries for wages and victuals. ↑ The Naval Chronicle charges Captain Irby with saying that la Rubis was in sight just before the commencement of the action. We can discover nothing like such an expression in his letter. ”

“ The action continued about an .hour and a half, when the enemy, although powerfully assisted by the formidable land batteries, finding themselves unable to withstand the fire of their opponents, either ran or drifted on shore, and having taken the ground at the top of high water, could never afterwards be got afloat. ”

“ Their loss amounted to 24 men killed and 51 wounded. The British had only 3 men killed and 31 wounded. ↑ The Berwick 74, Niobe frigate, and two sloops of war, were in company with the Amelia on this occasion. ↑ It should here be remarked, that the Winnebahites had ever been a most refractory set, and had, in many previous instances, grossly insulted the British governors. They were constantly at war with the surrounding tribes ”

“ H.M.S. Amelia.”
In May following, Captain Irby was sent by Lord Gambier to co-operate with the patriots on the north coast of Spain; and on the 10th June, being off St. Andero, in company with Captain Boys of the Statira, he captured la Mouche French corvette, mounting sixteen brass 8-pounders, with a complement of 180 men; la Rejouie national brig of 8 guns and 51 men; a schooner of 1 gun and 25 men; and two armed luggers with cargoes. These vessels had several soldiers and part of the enemy’s hospital staff on board, and were endeavouring to escape the fate of the French garrison at St. ”

“ I should not omit to mention to their Lordships, the admirable conduct of Mr. De Mayne, the Master, who placed the ship so ably at the commencement of the action, and his unremitting assiduity till the enemy kept away. My most grateful thanks are due to Lieutenant Simpson, of the marines, and Mr. John Collman, the Purser, who exerted themselves to the utmost; as well as Mr. ”