536844
NORMAN
THE
CORSAIRS
OF
FRANCE
DC
50
N84

VERSITY OF MIC
OF MICH
IVERSITY
THE
D
VERI
CIENTIA
1817
L·LIBRARIES ·
CHIGAN'S

ABouchette
JEAN BART.
THE
39129
}
AUTHOR OF
((
CORSAIRS OF FRANCE
BY
C. B. NORMAN
(Late 90th Light Infantry),
TONKIN; OR, FRANCE IN THE FAR EAST;"
(C
ARMENIA, AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 1877,"
ETC.
WITH PORTRAITS AND A MAP
London
Latvia,
""COLONIAL FRANCE,"
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON
CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET
1887
[All rights reserved]
DC
50
N84
+
C
TLP
....
PREFACE.
A LONG period of peace necessarily gives rise to a
forgetfulness of the dangers of war, and we in
England are happily so ignorant of war's horrors, that
it is well-nigh impossible to rouse either the classes
or the masses to a true sense of our insecurity.
Within the last few years the most strenuous efforts
have been made to lay before the people a faithful
exposure of England's weakness, and to compel the
Government to place our navy on a footing com-
mensurate with the wealth and greatness of the
Empire. It would seem that not all the trumpet
blasts of the press, not all the straightforward
warnings of our greatest commanders have sufficed
to stir the dormant patriotism of Treasury officials.
It needs a disaster to effect this.
It is true that the defence of our coaling-stations
and the formation of a Colonial Squadron are steps
in the right direction. They are but steps only.
vi
Preface.
Were our swift cruisers multiplied by five, and our
torpedo-boats by ten, they would yet be none too
numerous for the efficient protection of our merchant
fleet. France, with a trade just one-third of that
of the British Empire, and with a mercantile marine
numbering but 2600 ships against 19,500 flying
our flag, can boast of a navy little if at all inferior
to our own. The havoc she might play with our
commerce is self-evident. The havoc she wrought
in bygone days is long since forgotten. In the
following pages I have disentombed from the dry
details of ancient history, facts which I trust may
prove of pregnant interest;-facts which prove that,
despite our boasted maritime superiority, France
was always able to inflict upon us crushing damage.
Treaties are still made to be broken, and I
presume no sane man in the United Kingdom
harbours the most distant hope that Privateering
will not be vigorously resumed in the next great
war in which England is engaged. These pages
show how grievously we suffered at the hands of
our hereditary foes in earlier days; the map which
heads the volume shows how easy it would be for
France to inflict a like damage in future years.
Her naval stations dominate every commercial
A
Preface.
route we possess, and as yet our coaling-stations
are unfortified and our swift cruisers unbuilt.
vii
For the last three years the French press has
teemed with articles discussing the best means for
carrying out the ideas of Duguay Trouin and
of Surcouf. Admiral Aube's inhuman proposal
to bombard defenceless watering-places, and to
torpedo our large merchant steamers with their
living freight of hundreds of souls, met with no
reprobation in France, -on the contrary they led
to his appointment as Minister of Marine. We are
fully warned as to what we may expect in the
future.
In the last great war, 1793-1815, our Admiralty
issued 10,000 letters of marque, yet despite that
vast addition to our naval strength we lost close on
- 11,000 merchant vessels, and we captured but 1000
of the enemy's privateers. Need more be said to
show where our danger lies? It lies in the inadequate
defence of British commerce, in the numerical
weakness of England's navy. This is a threadbare
subject. The press is never weary of warning the
public, officers high in authority day after day make
the most damning statements, yet successive
Governments sit with their hands folded, and refuse
viii
Preface.
to provide the necessary means for the efficient
defence of the Empire. They do more, they shelter
themselves behind the PEOPLE, and plead that fifty
million English subjects of our Queen would rather
see the Empire ruined than provide the few neces-
sary millions demanded for the reorganization of
our navy, and the placing of our maritime highways
beyond all power of harm.
It is with diffidence that I, bred in the sister
service, have ventured to trench on the province of
the naval historian. The importance of the subject
and the fact that no attempt has yet been made to
lay before the British public the lives of those daring
men who well-nigh drove our commerce from the
seas, must be my excuse. If a perusal of this work,
all imperfect though I know it to be, tends to call
renewed attention to the question of England's
weakness at sea, I shall be more than repaid for
the adverse criticisms I feel my professional igno-
rance must assuredly call forth.
C. B. NORMAN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
THE RISE OF THE FRENCH NAVY.
Exploits of French Corsairs generally unknown in England—
Sketch of the French Navy from the Crusades to the ac-
cession of Louis XIV.-French armies transported to the
Holy Land in vessels hired from Italian Republics-
Louis IX. turns to his own subjects for transports-Philip
le Bel collects ships from seaports of Brittany and
Normandy-Charles VI. meditates invasion of England
-Large ships built by Louis XII., the Duchess Anne
of Brittany, and Francis I.-The Charente, Belle Cor-
delière, and Caraquon-Francis I. founds Le Havre and
makes efforts to create a Navy-At his death neglect once
more supervenes--Richelieu continues Francis I.'s policy
-Creates arsenals and constructs ships-Mazarin in his
turn allows Richelieu's efforts to be forgotten-Colbert
takes the French Navy under his special protection-
Vast strides made by France as a maritime power in
Colbert's day-List of ships of war in 1666—Inscrip-
tion Maritime-Letters of marque-War by Corsairs
legalized and carried on under regular recognized rules—
Regulations of De Valincourt-Ships considered good and
lawful prizes-Formalities to be observed by Corsairs on
capture of a ship-Damage inflicted by French Corsairs
PAGE
X
Contents.
}
in 1689-Prizes taken by Dunkirk Corsairs from 1656
to 1815-Value of colonial possessions to French Corsairs
-England compelled to capture French colonies in
order to stop depredations of their craft .
CHAPTER II.
JEAN BART OF DUNKIRK, 1650-1702.
Bart's family of Dieppe origin-Born at Dunkirk, essentially
a Corsair town-Owned successively by Holland, Spain,
France, and England, and sold to France by Charles II.
Colbert sees its value as a maritime port-Jean Bart's
Corsair ancestry-His first service under Valbué-The
Judgments of Oléron-Absolute power of ship captains-
Bart conveys French nobles to Ruyter's fleet-Serves on
Ruyter's ship against English, 1666-Present at burning
of Chatham, 1667-Leaves Dutch service and commands
his first Corsair, 1674-His first prize-His success in the
Royale Captures Dutch man-of-war Neptune, 32-Pre-
sented with a chain of gold by Colbert-The minister's
views on the employment of Corsairs-Bart given a
large ship, the Dauphin-Gallant action with and capture
of the Sherdam-Badly wounded-Granted a commission
in the French Navy-Commands expedition against
pirates of Morocco-Serves in campaign against Genoa
and Cadiz-Promoted commander in 1686-On outbreak
of war with England, 1689, commands a Corsair
squadron-Captures Dutch frigate, Seahorse, 50-Engages
and sinks an English man-of-war-Accustoms his son to
the music of battle--Bart captured by the Nonsuch-
Carried to Plymouth-Escapes-Daring crossing of the
Channel-Promoted captain-Present in Tourville's fight
off Beachy Head-Interview with Louis XIV. at Ver-
sailles-Defeats Dutch squadron and captures three large
ships-Granted pension of 20007. a year-Defeats a
second squadron-Promoted commodore-Illness and
death.
PAGE
27
1
Contents.
xi
CHAPTER III.
JACQUES CASSARD OF NANTES.
A prophet unhonoured in his own land-Commences life as a
fisherboy off Newfoundland-Serves as a mousse on a
St. Malo Corsair-Commands a bombship in the bom-
bardment of Carthagena-Entrusted with the command of
a Corsair by the people of Nantes-Gallant capture of the
William Duncan-Presented to Louis XIV., and nomi-
nated to the command of a king's ship-His successes
in the Saint William-Captures Dutch corvette Cathe-
rine-Makes fresh prizes off coast of Ireland-Shifts to
the Saint Anne-Convoys a fleet of merchantmen from
Tunis to France-Ingratitude of Marseilles merchants—
In 1710 safely convoys a fleet from Syracuse-Captures
two English men-of-war, the Falcon and Pembroke-
Promoted captain in the Navy-Commands expedition
to the Cape de Verdes-Ravages British and Dutch settle-
ments in West Indies-Superseded in his command-
Returns to France-Falls into disgrace-Insults Fleury
-Incarcerated as a State prisoner-Dies in prison
•
PAGE
105
CHAPTER IV.
DUGUAY TROUIN OF ST. MALO, 1673-1736.
Duguay Trouin, the hero of St. Malo-His birth and early
career-Destined for the Church-Youthful insubordina-
tion-Ships as volunteer on the Corsair Trinité-His
first prize-Gallantry in capturing the Concorde-Com-
mands Danycan-Raid on Lord Clare's house at Limerick
-Shifts to the Cöetquen-Captures fourteen English prizes
-Given command of the king's ship Profond, 32—Trans-
ferred to Hercules, 28-Captures four English prizes, quells
a mutiny-Promoted to Diligence, 40-Captures Dutch
ship Panther, 32-Engages and escapes from Prince of
Orange, 50-After desperate fight, captured by Channel
Squadron under Sir David Mitchell-Carried prisoner to
xii
Contents.
Plymouth-Escapes-Given command of François, 48
-Captures two English frigates, the Nonsuch and Boston
-Boston retaken-Receives sword of honour from the
king-Joins squadron under the Marquis of Nesmond-
Nesmond's jealousy-Trouin leaves his squadron-With
aid of one other Corsair captures Defence, 58, Resolu-
tion, 56, Black Prince, 40, Dutch Indiamen-Ordered
to Versailles-Gracious reception by the king-Given
command of his old prize, Nonsuch, henceforth the Sans-
pareil-His brother killed near Vigo-In 1698 given
command of a small squadron by the Minister of Marine
-Captures Dutch squadron under Admiral Von Wasse-
naer-At last given a commission as commander in the
Navy-Captures the English man-of-war Coventry, 60-
Promoted post-captain-Signalizes his promotion by
taking the Elizabeth, 50, and Gaspard, 30-Given Star
of St. Louis-Under Forbin assists in the capture of
three English men-of-war, Cumberland, 60, Chester, 50,
Royal Oak, 30, and sinks Devonshire, 60-Jealousy of
Forbin-Ill-success off the Azores-Captures English ship
Bristol, 60-Granted Letters of Nobility-Successful
expedition to Rio de Janeiro-Commands Mediterranean
fleet-Made admiral and Knight of St. Louis-His death
and character-Ships named after him.
•
CHAPTER V.
FRANÇOIS THUROT OF BOULOGNE, 1727-1760.
Thurot born in an inland town-Destined first for the priest.
hood, and then for the medical profession-Quits his
home-Trudges across France to Dunkirk-Shows his
surgical skill in a tavern brawl-Ships as surgeon on a
Corsair Captured by the English-Escapes from Dover
-Enters as seaman on a Boulogne privateer-Turns honest
trader-On outbreak of war commands Corsair Friponne
-Made Enseigne de Vaisseau-Placed in command of a
squadron-Gallant action with the Southampton frigate
-Ill-success of his cruise in the Belle-Isle-Heavy fight
PAGE
155
Contents.
xili
with the Dauphin and Solbay-Change of fortune-
Captures numerous prizes off coast of Denmark-Runs
towards west coast of Scotland-Takes several fine
English ships Returns to France-Proposes a descent
on the Irish coast-Project supported by the Marquis of
Belle-Isle-Entrusted with the command of an expedition
-Quarrels between Thurot and the military commanders
-Mutinous spirit shown by his captains-Lands on
north coast of Ireland-Seizes Carrickfergus-Threatens
Belfast-British squadron appears off coast―Thurot
re-embarks-His gallant fight and noble death
CHAPTER VI.
LEVEILLÉ OF DUNKIRK.
Eagerness of Dunkerquois for privateering—Antagonism
between naval officers and privateers-Protection offered
to the latter by members of the Convention-Leveillé's
first cruise in command-Captures twenty English prizes
-Sharp contest with two Indiamen-Captures English
barque Eliza-After a heavy fight takes three English
vessels, one the Coldstream, with troops on board-
Carries them into Ostend, despite efforts of English
cruisers to recapture them-Renewed successes in the
Vengeance-Offered a commission in the Republican
Navy-Dislike to Government service-Given command
of the Corsair Psyche of Bordeaux-Captures several
English and Portuguese vessels-Returns to France-
Pays off the Psyche and returns to private life
CHAPTER VII.
ROBERT SURCOUF OF ST. MALO, 1773-1827.
Surcouf a typical Malouine-Early years-Ships on the
Aurore-Is wrecked-Promoted-Returns to St. Malo and
fits out the Créole-Engages in the slave trade-Serves
as volunteer in the Jean Bart in raising blockade of the
Isle of France-More slaving-Escapade with the police
Turns privateer or pirate?—Commissions the Emilie—
PAGE
240
287
xiv
Contents.
Captures the Penguin, also a rich Dutchman, the Russell
and Sam Borlase-Shifts his flag to a captured pilot
schooner-The Diana-Daring capture of the Triton-
Action disavowed by colonial authorities-Returns to
France-His acts are recognized by the Corps Législatif
-Commissions the Clarisse-Proceeds to the Mauritius
-Cruises off Sumatra-More prizes-Chased by the
Sybille Captures the Jane-Commands the Confiance-
Still more prizes-The Kent Indiaman-Captain Riving-
ton-Returns home-The Ebro-His marriage-Marie
Blaize-Made Enseigne de Vaisseau-Refuses a com-
mand under Admiral Linois-Sails once more in the
Revenant-Panic in Calcutta-Losses of the Indian
Insurance Offices-The Conception de Saint Antonio-
More quarrels with colonial authorities-Returns to
France-Abandons the sea-Becomes owner of privateers
-The last of the Revenant .
CHAPTER VIII.
CONCLUSION.
Minor Corsairs-British Isles invulnerable to invasion-
Precarious tenure of our food supply-French policy to
destroy England's commerce-Favourable position of
French colonies for blocking our ocean highways and
attacking defenceless dependencies-Bombardment of
Sierra Leone in 1794-Helpless condition of crews of
merchant-vessels-Necessity for reorganization of our
Naval Reserve, and for instruction of merchant-seamen in
gun and small-arm drill
APPENDIX.
•
•
•
PAGE
321
372
NO.
I. Proceedings of Admiralty Court of Dunkirk on cap-
ture of Esperance by Jean Bart
•
II. Proceedings of Admiralty Court of Dunkirk on cap-
ture of Neptune by Jean Bart.
· 396
III. Proceedings of Admiralty Court of Dunkirk on cap-
ture of Demoiselle Christine by Jean Bart.
395
397
Contents.
XV
NO.
PAGE
IV. Roll of Corsairs commissioned in Boulogne, 1793-1814 399
V. Decree of the Directory rewarding the captain of a
Privateer
399
VI. Names of some of the English prizes carried into
Boulogne, 1793-1814
400
VII. Commission granted to a Privateer
401
VIII. Blank Commission for officers placed in charge of
prizes
402
IX. Terms of engagement on a Privateer
403
X. Decree of 31st January, 1793, sanctioning Privateering 404
XI. Roll of ships, with men, captains, and crews, in the
French Navy, 1666
XII. Decree of the National Convention regarding Pri-
vateering
XIII. Report on Privateering at St. Malo, by an Emissary
of the Convention
•
INDEX
•
•
•
XIV. Thurot's raid on the Irish coast, from the Proceedings.
of the Percy Society
XV. English contemporary verses on Thurot's raid
XVI. Docks in English possessions abroad
XVII. Docks in French dependencies
XVIII. French Privateers captured, 1793-1815.
XIX. Recapitulation showing numbers of Privateers cap-
tured in each year, 1793-1815
XX. Merchant Marine of the world, 1886-1887
XXI. Relative maritime positions of the chief Powers,
1886-1887
•
•
•
•
XXII. English merchant-vessels captured by French during
the war 1793-1815.
407
419
425
. 428
429
405
405
406
451
452
452
453
. 455
1
ERRATA.
Page 12, Foot note for Appendix No. I. read Appendix No. XI.
24, Line 12,
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1
THE CORSAIRS OF FRANCE.
CHAPTER I.
いな
​THE RISE OF THE FRENCH NAVY.
Exploits of French Corsairs generally unknown in England—
Sketch of the French Navy from the Crusades to the acces-
sion of Louis XIV.-French armies transported to the Holy
Land in vessels hired from Italian Republics-Louis IX.
turns to his own subjects for transports-Philip le Bel
collects ships from seaports of Brittany and Normandy-
Charles VI. meditates invasion of England-Large ships built
by Louis XII., the Duchess Anne of Brittany, and Francis I.
-The Charente, Belle Cordelière, and Caraquon-Francis I.
founds Le Havre and makes efforts to create a Navy-At his
death neglect once more supervenes-Richelieu continues
Francis I.'s policy-Creates arsenals and constructs ships-
Mazarin in his turn allows Richelieu's efforts to be forgotten-
Colbert takes the Navy under his especial protection-Vast
strides made by France as a maritime power in Colbert's day-
List of ships of war, 1666—Inscription Maritime-Letters of
marque-War by Corsairs legal and carried on under regular
recognized rules-Regulations of De Valincourt-Ships con-
sidered good and lawful prizes-Formalities to be observed by
Corsairs on capture of a ship-Damage inflicted by French.
Corsairs in 1689-Prizes made by Dunkirk Corsairs from
1689-1815-Value of colonial possessions to French Corsairs
-England compelled to capture French colonies in order to
stop depredation of their craft.
. . . .
IT
It may be well before entering upon the biographies
of the Corsairs of France to devote a few pages to
the discussion of the rules which governed their
profession, and to the immense damage they caused
B
2
The Corsairs of France.
to the commerce of hostile nations. The praises of
our own Privateers have been sung in many a portly
volume, and the plot of many a novel has been
based on these heroes of a bygone age. What
Lever has done towards providing our army with
officers of go and spirit, that has Marryatt done for
the Navy; but in our English books scant credit has
been adjudged to the brave men who, hailing from
the ports of Northern France, inflicted loss amount-
ing to hundreds of millions sterling on England's
fleets, and carried tens of thousands of our sailors
prisoners into French ports. The old fable that, had
the lion painted the picture of the lion-hunt, the king
of beasts, not man, would have been depicted as
slaying his victim, is equally applicable here, and
though an Englishman, I trust I may be able to
impress upon my fellow-countrymen that even in
our naval wars with France our sailors did not have
it entirely their own way, that many an English ship
was captured in the face of fearful odds by our
brave neighbours, who possessed Corsairs as bold
as any that ever sailed from British ports, Corsairs
who never stayed to count the odds against them,
and whose names were justly dreaded from the
Thames to the Shannon. In privateering the
French certainly have proved themselves our equals,
if not our superiors, despite the lessons taught our
youth by Marryatt and the more sober James.
To the average Englishman the performances of
the Corsairs of old have ever possessed a striking
fascination, the daring conception, and still more
gallant execution of many of their most successful
The Rise of the French Navy.
3
در
exploits, goes straight home to the hearts of those
amongst us who still value personal bravery as one of
the cardinal virtues. There are many, however, clad
in the sombre broadcloth of respectable Quakerism,
who, fondly imagining the time has arrived when
our swords may be turned into ploughshares and
our spears into pruning-hooks, misquote the words
that force is no remedy, class the Corsair with
the pirate, and brand him with the most ignoble
epithets. Indeed, very general ignorance prevails as
to the precise footing on which the Corsair stood,
and the precise nature of the warfare he waged.
He is generally depicted as a rollicking dare-devil
whose waistbelt was a perfect armoury and whose
pockets were full of doubloons. Eschewing nearer
seas he sailed the Spanish main, seized all craft
that came within his reach, treated his prisoners
sometimes with the utmost generosity, sometimes
with the most refined cruelty, and generally ended
his career by being compelled to "walk the plank'
after falling a victim to a ship of war, which dis-
guised as a "Quaker" enticed the unsuspecting
Corsair alongside her well-manned decks.
""
Nothing can be more erroneous. The Corsair
was a recognized and important factor in the wars of
the past centuries, when naval estimates assumed
more modest proportions than they do in this the
later quarter of the Nineteenth Century. The
rules which governed his conduct were clear and well
defined. He fought for profit it is true, but he was
not insensible to glory, and I take it in this respect
the meanest Corsair that ever cruised the Channel
B 2
4
++
The Corsairs of France.
is removed but in degree from John, Duke of
Marlborough, or Arthur, Duke of Wellington.
Eliminate brevets and good-service rewards, peer-
ages, pensions, and money-grants from the pro-
spective honours attainable by our army and navy,
and the competition for entrance to these services
will die away very rapidly.
In dealing with the Corsairs of France, one must
glance briefly at the condition of the French navy at
the period when the men of whom I write performed
their gallant exploits, and in so doing it is impos-
sible to avoid expressing surprise at the fact that
France, with its vast extent of seaboard in the
Channel, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean,
should have been practically without a navy until
the latter half of the seventeenth century. Up to
that time she was inferior, not only to England and
to Holland, but to Spain, Turkey, and even to the
Maritime Republics of the Mediterranean. In
times of peace the French flag was rarely seen out-
side her own ports, and when, on the outbreak of
war, it became necessary to raise a fleet, the
monarchs of France were compelled to borrow
vessels of war from neighbouring states, or to hire
merchant-vessels from their own subjects and to
convert them hurriedly into fighting-ships.
In the earlier crusades the forces of the western
powers moved to the eastward by land; but, later
on, the efflux of people to the Holy Land led to
a development of the maritime power of countries
bordering the Mediterranean. The Italians were
the first to profit by this. Venice shortly mono-
!
The Rise of the French Navy.
5
polized the trade of the East, and other cities, such
as Genoa and Pisa, entered into rivalry with her.
It was in ships belonging to these republics that
Philip Augustus transported his crusaders to Pales-
tine. Louis IX. made strenuous efforts to convey
his own contingent on his own vessels, and a goodly
number of craft were hired from the merchants of
Provence and Languedoc; but he, too, was obliged
to have recourse to the ports of Italy. To this king,
however, is due the birth of the French navy, for
under him De Varrennes was created First Admiral
of France. The crusades over, French merchants
whose ships had visited eastern ports, determined
on partaking with Venice and Genoa the risks and
profits of Oriental trade, and Marseilles soon be-
came one of the principal ports of the Mediter-
ranean.
Under Philip le Bel commenced the long, long story
of the struggle for naval supremacy between France
and England. There were, however, no king's
ships at the king's disposal, and the sovereign was
compelled to turn to his shipowners and merchants
for assistance. Saint Malo, Rouen, Caen, Honfleur,
Havre, Dieppe, Etretat, Cherbourg, and Dunkirk,
each furnished a contingent, and the admirals of
Brittany and Normandy-for each province had its
own admiral-lowered their flags in homage to the
Admiral of France, who, by the king's order, assumed
command of the whole.
Under Charles V. the French fleet, composed of
squadrons from Normandy, Brittany, and Castille,
under Ambrosio Boccanera, admiral of this latter
6
The Corsairs of France.
province, gained a brilliant victory over the English
off Rochelle, and in the following reign, Charles VI.
projected one of the many projected descents upon
our shores. The flag of France flew over thirteen
hundred vessels of all sizes and all nationalities
destined to aid in this vast undertaking. France
exulted in her coming triumph; but, as in the
case of the Invincible Armada, and the still more
recent attempted invasion of Ireland by Hoche, the
elements came to our aid, and destroyed the frail
craft that the French monarch had so carefully
collected.
And now vessels of considerable size replaced the
open ships which hitherto had formed the major
part of the French squadrons. In the reign of
Louis XII. a large ship of war, the Charente, was
constructed; she was armed with 200 guns, and
carried 1200 men. The Duchess Anne of Brittany
in her turn launched a monster named the Belle
Cordelière, and Francis I. a large two-decked ship,
the Caraquon. Neither of these vessels fulfilled the
expectations formed of them. The Belle Cordelière
was sunk by an English squadron off Morlaix, the
Caraquon was burnt in Havre. Such vessels were
unsuited to the requirements and beyond the
means of private individuals, and their construction
devolved, as a matter of course, on the state. To
attempt to oppose the fine ships of England and of
Holland with the small merchant-craft of Normandy
and Bretagne was to court inevitable defeat, and it
therefore became necessary that the sovereign should
possess a certain number of large vessels of war for
The Rise of the French Navy.
7
the defence of his maritime ports; their size and
draught of water altered the whole condition of
naval warfare, and in order to provide suitable ports
of refuge for those vessels which were unable to
enter the small ports into which smaller craft would
run for safety, Francis I. occupied himself with the
improvement of Havre. Up to his reign, Le Havre
had been a mere fishing-village, now its entrance
was defended by towers. Basins were constructed,
privileges and exemptions showered on the port,
and by this means the commerce of the Channel was
attracted to the mouth of the Seine. It soon became
the headquarters of his northern navies. But
Francis I. did not confine his views on the re-
organization of his navy to this one port of Havre,
Fleets were massed in the Mediterranean, and for
the first time in history, a French squadron, passing
through the Straits of Gibraltar, defeated an English
fleet off Brest, and then, moving round to the east-
ward, drove off the blockading squadrons of Henry
VIII. from Boulogne.
Unfortunately the successors of Francis I. made.
no efforts to carry out his views as to the necessity
of a powerful navy. Old ships were allowed to rot.
in harbour, no new vessels built to replace them,
and during the sixty years that elapsed between
the death of Francis I. and the accession of Louis
XIII. the navy of France may be said to have ceased
to exist. Then Richelieu arose, and once more a
monarch of France seconded the efforts of his minister
to create a fleet commensurate with the prestige and
prosperity of the kingdom.
8
The Corsairs of France.
-
The religious troubles which harassed France in
the reign of Louis XIII. showed up in all its naked-
ness the feebleness of the French navy. When, in
1626, Richelieu wished to close Rochelle to English
aid, he was compelled to hire twenty vessels from
the Dutch. This fact made such a profound im-
pression on him, that he at once determined to throw
all his energies and all his abilities into the grave
question of the constitution of a navy for France.
He persuaded the king to suppress that useless
sinecure, the High Admiral of France, and was him-
self appointed "Grand Master of the Navy, and
Superintendent-General of Navigation and of Com-
merce," a title long enough to warrant any result.
His first act was to insist on a certain annual sum
being set apart in the Budget for the construction
of ships of war and for the purchase of material to
keep those already existent in proper repair. Not
only did he build large ships of war as well as the
almost defunct galley, but he spent vast sums in
improving the harbours of Brest and Toulon. To
him, also, France owes her maritime arsenals. Up
to this period all vessels belonging to the king were
paid off at the end of a war, the captain of each still
remaining responsible for her being kept fit for
commission. Having no funds for such a purpose,
these duties were performed negligently enough by
the majority of captains, and it almost invariably
happened that when a vessel was brought forward
for re-commission, she was found in such a state of
disrepair that much valuable time was wasted, and
large sums were spent ere she was fit for sea.
-
The Rise of the French Navy.
9
Havre, Brest, Brouage, and Toulon were the ports
selected as the first arsenals of France, and all ships
of war were paid off in one of these places. The
Admiralty official in command at the arsenal was
held responsible not only for the stores within its
walls, but for the condition of the ships lying up in
its harbour. Amongst other naval improvements,
due to Richelieu, we should not omit the reduction
of the number of guns carried by men-of-war, and
the increase in the metal fired by these guns. Thus,
in the days of Louis XII., we find the Charente
carrying 200 guns and 1200 men, whereas, in the
reign of Louis XIII., the vessel which struck wonder
into the hearts of Frenchmen was the Couronne, 74,
but her dimensions were far larger than the long-
forgotten Charente. Her length was 207 ft., beam
49 ft., tonnage 2000, with a crew of 500 men.
In addition to the Couronne, Richelieu added to the
French navy two vessels of 1200 tons, and twenty
ranging from 500 to 1000. In all these, in order
to ensure accuracy of aim, he insisted that the gun-
ports should be at least twelve feet apart. This,
too, was a great and valuable innovation. "At the
death of Louis XIII.," writes a French historian on
this subject," the condition of the French navy bore
striking testimony to the success of the Cardinal's
efforts. The French flag flew in every sea. We
had ports, arsenals, foundries, and a personnel
specially trained not merely to fight, but to navi-
gate our ships. The mercantile marine, which also
had been the object of the Cardinal's particular
solicitude, had made great progress.
France pos-

10
The Corsairs of France.
sessed naval establishments in the West Indies,
Florida, Canada, on the West Coast of Africa, and
in Madagascar. The Cardinal died before his great
work was finished, but it is easy to recognize, from
what he had completed, whence were derived the prin-
ciples that formed the foundation of Colbert's policy."
On Richelieu's death another long period of
neglect arose.
Mazarin allowed the arsenals to fall
into ruin. No new vessels were constructed, and
no efforts made to keep up the effective condition of
the ships built by the late Cardinal. In the
Mediterranean just enough ships were kept in com-
mission to hold in check the pirates of the Barbary
coast, whilst for operations on the shores of the
Atlantic or the Mediterranean recourse was had to
the fleets of Holland. The wars of the Fronde
brought home to France the error of such a pro-
ceeding, for when the services of a fleet were
necessary for the pacification of Guienne only eight
small ships and three convict galleys were available.
The inestimable advantages to be derived from the
possession of a powerful navy, were further pressed
home by the brilliant successes gained by Duquesne
and Tourville. With but the small forces they were
able to muster-collected chiefly, it must be remem-
bered, from private shipowners-these two admirals,
using the scanty materials placed at their disposal
by the State as the foundation of their armament,
hired other craft from private individuals, and by
this means were enabled to hold aloft the white flag
of France on seas in which, but for their forethought
and oantry, that flag would never have flown. In
Ja

The Rise of the French Navy.
I I
the last year of Mazarin's administration the French
Naval Budget amounted to but 300,0007.!!
Under Colbert the French navy took a new lease
of life. His maxim, as I shall often have occasion
to repeat, was, "Commerce is the source of wealth,
and wealth the nerves of war."
Under his fostering
care the two great trading companies, the French
East India and French West India Company,
sprang into existence and rose to wealth. In order
to foster these enterprises, which he foresaw would
bring the riches of the unknown world to the
markets of France, he promised liberal advantages
to the importers of merchandise, and escorts for
the merchant fleets in times of war. These escorts
necessitated a vast increase to the navy. Colbert
at once set to work to resuscitate the dying glories.
of Richelieu's policy. Shipbuilders were engaged
in England and Holland; cargoes of wood purchased
in Norway and Russia. The arsenals of Brest and
Toulon were ringing with the music of thousands of
workmen, and the most energetic measures every-
where taken to raise France to the position of a
First-class Maritime Power,'
1 On Colbert's accession to office in 1661 the French navy con-
sisted of 3 line-of-battle ships carrying from 60-70 guns; 8 ships
of the second class carrying from 40-50; 7 of the third class
carrying from 30-40; 4 sloops and 8 fire-ships, or 30 vessels in all.
At his death in 1683 the navy comprised:
12 Line-of-battle ships of the First Class carrying from 74—120 guns.
20
Second
Third
60-74
50-60
40-50
24-40
6-24
""
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39
""
25 Frigates of the First Class
Second
21
25 Brigs or Brigantines
20 Sloops and 7 fire-ships, or 169 vessels of all sorts.
>>
""
>>
"}
""
""
""
""
>>
34
""
""
در
"
در
در
I 2
The Corsairs of France.
To induce the king to take an interest in the
undertaking was no easy matter-kings of France
hitherto had looked only to fighting on land; how-
ever, Colbert succeeded even in this his most difficult
task, and by continually submitting to Louis XIV.
high flowing accounts of the gallant deeds of French
seamen and the pecuniary value of the captures they
had made, he at last persuaded the Grand Monarch
to bestow some of his royal patronage on his naval
forces. In the year 1666, so successful had Colbert's
policy been, that he was able to submit to the
king an elaborately illuminated parchment work,
bound in red morocco, stamped with the arms of
France, and fastened with golden clasps, in which
were inscribed the names of the vessels of his
Majesty's navy.
2
A copy of this first Navy List still exists, and it
may interest some to note the names of the ships
which two centuries ago bore the flag of the Bour-
bons in their wars against the States-General, and
against England. Some few of these names are still
found in the Annuaire de la Marine, but, alas! the
dynastic and revolutionary changes which have so
altered the character of France have swept away
many names which had become dear to the hearts
of her sailors.
Six years later we find no fewer than sixty ships
of sixty guns and upwards, and more than forty
frigates borne on the rolls of the French Navy.
Ten years later the king could dispose of over 200
large ships, and, through the operations of the
See Appendix, No. I.

LOUIS XIV. AND COLBERT
UTURRANT
REGU

The Rise of the French Navy.
13
Inscription Maritime (Colbert's lasting legacy), could
secure the services of 50,000 hardy sailors.
A few words are necessary on the Inscription
Maritime. Colbert, recognizing that ships without
crews were useless, and seeing the long coast-line
of France teeming with its seafaring population,
determined to utilize the services of these trained
seamen. "Your life," he said, "is one of peril.
Your calling is one which, more than any other,
brings you face to face with death, and in no other
professions have the families of the bread-winners
more frequent need of charitable help than yours.
Every year the storms which sweep our coasts leave
your wives desolate and your children fatherless.
You shall have the protection of the State, but in
return you shall hold your services at the disposal of
that State when it has need of you. Your own call-
ing will be little interfered with, for the time when
your Sovereign has need of you will be just the time
when you will be unable to pursue your own avoca-
tions in peace, and in return for these services the
State will give you a pension when you are no longer
able to work, and at your death it will support
your families, and provide employment for your
sons."
With this end in view all men and boys employed
in navigation, whether in long sea or in coasting
voyages, or even as fishermen and boatmen, were
enrolled in the Inscription Maritime: all had to
make a fixed subscription to the Caisse des In-
valides, a sort of Greenwich Hospital and pen-
sioner fund, and in return for this they received
•
14
The Corsairs of France.
*
a pension on attaining the age of fifty years, and
their wives and families were similarly provided for
on the death of the bread-winner of the family.
All members of the Inscription were bound to serve
in king's ships when called upon, were forbidden to
serve on ships flying a foreign flag, or in a ship
carrying letters of marque without the special
permission of the naval commandant at the port of
register.
And now we come to the question of Letters of
Marque. For the better security against the action
of pirates and privateers, it had become the custom
in those days for merchant-vessels to prolong their
stay in distant ports until a considerable number of
ships had collected and then to make the homeward
voyage in company. In times of war these large
convoys offered a tempting bait to an enemy's
squadrons, and it became necessary then to provide
suitable escorts for these fleets. Many of the mer-
chant-vessels were powerful ships and well-armed,
but they were not often able to withstand the attack
even of a single man-of-war; we have indeed instances
of Indiamen beating off a French squadron, but
these were exceptional. The pursuit and capture
of these rich convoys became the principal object
of all minor naval operations, and especially of
privately armed ships, which by the written authority
of their respective Sovereigns were permitted to
transfer themselves into veritable vessels of war, and
to act sometimes on their own account against an
enemy's commerce, and sometimes in company with
the fleet of the State in more extended operations.
The Rise of the French Navy.
15
These Corsairs or privateers were as a rule com-
manded by officers of the merchant service, in
exceptional cases by officers of the Royal Navy, and
we will find in the following pages, Corsair captains.
who, for their services, had been granted commissions
by the Grand Monarch, still continuing their
authorized irregular warfare in the king's own ships;
these ships now being fitted out at the expense of
the State, now at the private charge of the king's
Ministers, now by speculating merchants and ship-
owners. In fine, Corsairs were ships fitted out by
private enterprise to reinforce the fleets of the State,
and to undertake duties which the king's ships were
not numerous enough to perform. Although Mr.
John Bright in the House of Commons once candidly
owned he could see no difference between a Corsair
and a pirate, I humbly submit that there does exist
as broad a distinction between the two as between
the murderous rioter and the special constable who
apprehends him. The one acts in defiance of the
law, the other is specially enrolled to carry out the
law. To class as pirates brave old John Whitbourne
and the gallant Devon merchants who, arming their
staunch craft, dashed out of Torbay and threw dis-
order into the heart of the Invincible Armada, is
indeed to cast a slur on the honour and patriotism
of our best and bravest sailors.
In an able memorandum drawn up by M. De Valin-
court, Secretary to the French Navy, in the latter
half of the seventeenth century, for the guidance of
the Count of Toulouse, Lord High Admiral of France,
the question of Corsairs was very fully discussed,
ܝ
16
The Corsairs of France.
and rules were then formulated by Colbert for the
governance of merchants and captains engaged in
this style of warfare.
The merchants or other individuals wishing to fit
out a ship for this service were compelled first to
obtain the sanction of the Ministers, and to deposit a
sum as caution-money, amounting sometimes to
50007.: then, a commission being granted to the captain
named by the charterer or owner, a crew was shipped
consisting of a certain proportion of men borne on
the roll of the Inscription Maritime. The com-
mission contained the name of the vessel, her
tonnage, number of guns and crew, the port she
hailed from, the seas she was about to cruise in,
and her owner's name and residence.
Any artifice was considered justifiable in order to
arrive within range of a strange sail, thus it was
common enough to sail under false colours, but
immediately after firing the summoning gun-that
is the blank shot fired to signal a vessel to heave to-
it was obligatory that the Corsair should hoist her
own colours before commencing an attack. Later
on in these pages it will be seen that Duguay Trouin
opened fire on a British man-of-war before showing
the white flag of France, and that the captain of the
Prince of Orange applied to the British Admiralty
that the usual law of nations might be set in motion
against him, and that he be treated as a pirate.
Four classes of vessels were considered lawful
prizes and liable to capture by French privateers
in accordance with the terms of De Valincourt's
memorandum :-
The Rise of the French Navy.
17
1. Vessels which refused to lower their flags,
whether belonging to a hostile or to a friendly power.
2. Vessels which by their papers proved to
belong to a hostile State.
3. Vessels which, carrying no papers, sought to
hide their nationality.
4. Neutral vessels carrying an enemy's goods.
As regards ships in the first category, M. de
Valincourt laid down that on the summoning gun
the master of a merchant-ship was bound to heave
to, and lower his boat and proceed with all papers
justificatory of his nationality to the ship-of-war or
Corsair firing that gun. Should he take no notice of
the blank shot, "l'armateur est en droit de l'y con-
traindre par artillerie ou autrement; et en cas qu'il
soit pris dans le combat il est declaré de bonne prise,
de quelque nation qu'il puisse être."
Vessels coming under the second class were
necessarily good and lawful prizes.
The third clause was of course intended to prevent
enemies' vessels escaping by sailing under false
colours, and to bring within its scope privateers and
pirates holding no recognized commissions.
Under the fourth heading the task of carrying the
goods of a nation then conducting hostilities with
another power became a dangerous and unprofitable
one; now the vessel herself is free from capture, and
only contraband of war on neutral ships is liable
to confiscation; but Colbert, esteeming commerce to
be the secret of wealth, and wealth the sinews of
war, struck hard, as Napoleon did after him, at the
commerce of hostile nations.
с
18
The Corsairs of France.
?
Having captured his prize, the Corsair captain
had certain formalities to go through which still
further proved him to have been acting in an
authorized way. He was not permitted, like the
pirates of old, or Captain Semmes of more modern
days, to sink his prizes, or to permit his men to
pillage them, or even to admit them to ransom, though
we find many Corsairs evading this rule. He was
bound at once to close the hatches and to seal them,
to take on board his own craft the captain and
officers of the prize, to place a prize crew on board
her, and to work her into the port whence he himself
sailed. He was enjoined to be most careful in pre-
serving all the papers belonging to the prize, and
was held personally responsible that no plunder was
permitted.
On reaching port the Corsair captain remitted
his prize into the hands of the naval commandant,
together with her papers, her officers and crew.
Documents were then attested giving full par-
ticulars as to her capture, to which the captain of
the Corsair as well as of the captured ship subscribed
their names. Evidence was taken on all points that
the Admiralty Court thought necessary.³
3
These formalities concluded, the vessel was put up
for sale, and the proceeds of the sale divided in the
following manner :-
1. The amount necessary to cover cost of all pro-
ceedings connected with the inquiry into the capture,
3 See Appendix II. and III., being proceedings in the Admiralty
archives on the capture of the Esperance, the Neptune, and
Demoiselle Christine by Jean Bart.
The Rise of the French Navy.
19
and to defray expenses attendant on the custody of
the prize from the date of her arrival in port, and
such like incidental expenses, were first deducted.
2. One-tenth of the total residue was reserved for
the Lord High Admiral of France.
3. The balance was now divided into three parts,
of which two-thirds went to the owner of the ship
and those personally interested in the venture,
according to their articles of agreement, and the
remaining third to the officers and crew.
That privateering was a profitable undertaking
few will deny; that it was of immense service to a
state is equally certain. Whilst the mercantile
marine of an enemy was being driven off the sea by
the legalized action of these rovers, the regular
fleets could be employed in more extended
operations in blockading coasts, in bombarding
ports, in attacking powerful squadrons, for all of
which tasks Corsairs, by reason of the lightness of
their armament, were unfitted.
The unparalleled successes of the Corsairs who
owed their existence to Colbert's system led to
various modifications of that system being intro-
duced on the outbreak of every fresh war with
England. It was found that the services of men
enrolled in the Inscription Maritime were urgently
needed for king's ships, and Corsairs were for a
time forbidden to ship any enrolled seamen; on this
restriction being removed they were permitted to
ship sailors of the Inscription up to one-sixth of
their crew. At another period it was found that
privateer captains were in the habit of overloading
0 2
20
The Corsairs of France.
their vessels with guns and men, and taking no pre-
cautions to ensure the lives of their sick and
wounded. Upon this the State again stepped in
and reminded Corsairs that their successes were
dependent mainly on the speed of their ships and
on the efficiency of their men. Rules were accord-
ingly laid down limiting the ordnance and crews to
be carried by vessels of different tonnages, and
insisting that every privateer which carried eighteen
hands should also carry a surgeon.
-
The Intendants or Commissaries of Marine at each
port were strictly enjoined to inspect every privateer
before leaving port, in order that they might person-
ally satisfy themselves not only that the various
regulations were being strictly complied with, but
also that the captain was furnished with his own
commission and blank commissions to bestow on
the commanders of prize crews shipped on any vessel
he might capture.
As may readily be imagined, England did not sit
quietly down under these persistent efforts to ruin
her commerce. Letters of marque were freely
granted by the Ministry, and thousands of English
privateers were put into commission to retaliate on
the French.
It must by no means be supposed that England
benefited to any very great extent by the action of
her privateers. Some few individuals made immense
fortunes, and many earned considerable sums. But
it was our ships of war that were mainly instru-
mental in destroying the merchants-ships of France.
Thus we read in Sir W. Parker's Life that that
The Rise of the French Navy.
2 I
gallant officer in nine years captured sixty vessels,
his share amounting to 35,000l. On the other hand
the archives of the French Marine prove that in the
single year of 1689, Four thousand two hundred
English and Dutch craft were captured by French
Corsairs; and in the archives of Dunkirk we learn
that in the space of forty years of war-viz. from
1656-1658; 1666-1667; 1688-1697; 1702-
1713; 1744-1748; 1755-1767, and 1778-1783-
Four thousand three hundred and forty-four prizes
were sold by the Admiralty Courts at Dunkirk for
the sum of 6,327,000l., and that 34,750 prisoners
during that period were detained for various terms
in that town! In the single year 1751, Two
hundred and fifty-one English prizes were carried
into Dunkirk.
The operations of vessels carrying letters of
marque were not confined to the Channel and seas
near home. They scoured the Indian Ocean and
the Spanish main; they had ports of refuge at those
naval establishments which the forethought, of
Richelieu had provided in the West Indies and in
Canada, in Bourbon, Mauritius, and Madagascar,
off the West Coast of Africa, and on the Banks of
Newfoundland. Wherever English merchant fleets
were used to congregate, there, too, would be found
the dashing Corsair. In the latter half of the
seventeenth century Colbert recognized that England
could not support a navy large enough to fight the
fleets of other great powers and at the same time
protect her own immense merchant navy: we re-
cognized this fact later on, and in our turn issued
22
The Corsairs of France.
letters of marque, but our Corsairs were powerless to
check the depredations committed by those of our
neighbours, and it was not until we had destroyed
the petty arsenals which by Richelieu's forethought
dominated every trade route in the world that we
were enabled to drive the French Corsair off distant
seas.
Until the colonies of France had passed into
our possession the privateers of Brittany and of
Normandy played havoc with our commerce both
in the Far East and Far West, and after we had torn
from them their harbours of refuge in far-off lands,
they still carried on their daring excursions within
sight of our own coasts, and I believe it to be an
undoubted fact that for every vessel we captured
from the French, five English craft at least found
their way into French ports.
Of the gallant manner in which these Corsairs
fought there can be no two opinions; we may
prove to our own satisfaction (though we shall
never shake the belief of the Frenchman in the tale)
that the episode of the Vengeur is absolutely without
foundation; but we cannot explain away, nor should
we attempt to do so, the heroism displayed by the
Corsairs of France in many a stubborn fight when,
heavily overmatched, they fought under the absolute
certainty of defeat. Duguay Trouin, in the Diligente,
boldly awaiting the attack of Sir David Mitchell's
squadron, is an instance in point-one instance in
many-so many that I fear in the following pages
I have omitted some of the most gallant actions of
these gallant men, simply because France has not
enshrined their names in her military literature, and
The Rise of the French Navy.
23
we in the bald accounts that still survive of such
engagements have contented ourselves with retain-
ing the bare facts of historians who have laid but
little stress on the bravery shown by our foes.
What, for instance, can have been more magnificent
than the manner in which the privateer Guêpe
sustained a running fight with the Renown, 74;
Courageux, 74; Defence, 74; Fishguard, 50; and Uni-
corn, 30; and when, at last becalmed, she lay helplessly
open to the boats of the squadron, she kept these,
too, at bay until night fell, and her fire becoming less
effective enabled the British to carry her by board-
ing? Even then she continued her desperate defence,
and when at last the British Ensign flew over the
Tricolour no man remained upon her decks able to
strike her flag. Her captain and twenty-five of the
crew were dead, and forty-seven, the sole survivors,
lay sorely wounded. Our cheeks mantle with pride
at the recital of how 1500 unwounded men, the
remnant of 6000 unconquerable British soldiers, stood
triumphant on the fatal hill of Albuera. We may
then well spare our meed of praise for the trans-
cendent heroism of the privateer crew who fought
until their decks, crowded with dead and dying, lay at
the mercy of a foe numerically vastly their superiors,
and who left to their captors the task of showing
that their prize was won.
The action of the Furieuse in the North Atlantic
in July, 1809, is scarcely less heroic. After a heavy
engagement with the Intrepid, 74, in which she was
badly crippled, she fought a second fight with the
Bonne Citoyenne, 20, a French prize converted into
24
The Corsairs of France.
an English man-of-war. In this action the English
ship fired 130 broadsides, and at last compelled the
sinking Furieuse to strike her flag. On taking
possession it was found that the privateer had been
hulled fourteen times twixt wind and water, that
she had five feet of water in her hold, that her
captain and thirty-five of her crew were killed, that
all her officers and forty-seven men lay dangerously
hurt, and that but eight unwounded men stood
upon her decks!
Thurot's gallant fight in the Belle-Isle against the
Eole, Pallas, and Brilliant is another instance worthy
of record. What need to multiply such cases?
Those who wade through the following pages will
find many such recounted. From them England
learnt a bitter lesson; a lesson, alas! long since for-
gotten. We forget that Surcouf blockaded Calcutta
and crippled our Indian trade; that Cassard ravaged
our West Indian possessions; and that Jean Bart
and Thurot landed on our own shores. We forget
that English men-of-war struck their flags to
French Corsairs, and that ships built in our own
dockyards fought under the French flag and captured
many a goodly prize. Pedants may assert that
history does not repeat itself, but facts are stub-
born things; and we have seen the heroism of Jean
Bart rivalled by that of Thurot, and the successes
of Duguay Trouin surpassed by those of Surcouf.
Have we any warranty that the next great war will
not see fresh rivals for distinction springing up from
amongst the seafaring population of France? Have
we not rather, in the recent writings of Admiral
The Rise of the French Navy.
25
1
Aube, the French Minister of Marine, every reason
to believe that the lines on which France will con-
duct her future naval operations will be precisely
similar to those followed by the Corsairs of old?
Groupes de combat, consisting of swift steaming
gun-vessels and torpedo craft, will supplement the
chasse-marée and the Corsair frigate. Richelieu's
arsenals in distant waters still exist to shelter the
proposed mosquito fleets, and our main routes
of commerce are commanded at every point.
Treaties are made only to be broken. The present
generation has seen the Treaty of Paris of 1856, and
that of Berlin of 1878, torn into shreds by the
Autocrat of all the Russias, or resolutely neglected
by the Sultan of Turkey, and we have ample
proof that, in the next war with France, her
Ministers will not scruple to ignore the Declaration
of Paris. They have already announced their inten-
tion to issue Letters of Marque, and to strike hard,
as their ancestors have ever done, at English
commerce.
A well-organized scheme of Imperial defence, a
closer union between the mother-country and her
colonies, will do much towards checking the grow-
ing aspirations of our neighbours. Federation may
be but a sentimental feeling; but, when perfected, it
will have practical results of the most satisfactory
kind. With our Empire knit together in closer
bonds no Corsair squadrons could ravage our dis-
tant possessions, no cruisers blockade our distant
ports. The integrity of the Empire depends upon
the manner in which we protect our commerce. If
26
The Corsairs of France.
we allow our merchant fleets and our colonial
possessions to fall an easy prey to those vessels,
which even now are being constructed to carry on
the work of Jean Bart and of Surcouf, we must rest
content with our punishment. Our salvation is in
our own hands, it can only be worked out by un-
grudgingly maintaining our fighting services in a
state of the most complete efficiency. Let us
remember Colbert's maxim, " Commerce is the source
of wealth, and wealth furnishes the sinews of war,'
and guard our commerce inviolate, and preserve
our wealth for our own military expenditure.
""
1
.......
2
27
CHAPTER II.
JEAN BART OF DUNKIRK-1650-1702.
Bart's family of Dieppe origin-Born at Dunkirk, essentially a
Corsair town-Dunkirk owned successively by Holland,
Spain, England-Sold to France by Charles II.-Colbert sces
its value as a maritime port-Jean Bart's Corsair ancestry—
His first service under Valbué-The Judgments of Oléron-
Absolute power of ship captains-Bart conveys French nobles
to Ruyter's fleet-Serves on Ruyter's ship against English in
1666-Present at burning of Chatham, 1667-Leaves Dutch
service and commands his first Corsair, 1674-His first prize
His successes in the Royale-Captures Dutch man-of-war
Neptune, 32-Presented with a chain of gold by Colbert-
The minister's views on the employment of Corsairs-Bart
given a large ship, the Dauphin-Gallant action with and
capture of Sherdam-Badly wounded-Granted a commission
in the French navy-Commands expedition against pirates
of Morocco-Serves in campaign against Genoa and Cadiz-
Promoted commander in 1686-On outbreak of war with
England, in 1689, commands a Corsair squadron-Captures
Dutch frigate Sea-horse, 50-Engages and sinks an English
man-of-war-Accustoms his son to the music of battle-Bart
captured by the Nonsuch, carried to Plymouth, escapes-
Daring crossing of the Channel-Is promoted captain-
Present at Tourville's fight off Beachy Head-Interview with
Louis XIV.-Defeats Dutch squadron and captures three
large ships-Granted pension of 2000l. a year-Defeats a
second squadron-Promoted commodore-Illness and death.
ALTHOUGH Dunkirk claims Jean Bart as its own
especial hero, there is no doubt that the celebrated
Corsair was of Dieppe origin; but the seamen of
Dieppe have carved the arms of that ancient Norman
seaport on many a distant strand, and small cause have
28
The Corsairs of France.
they for jealousy if Jean Bart's history is bound up
with that of Dunkirk. Many a gallant Corsair gained
his early training in Jean Bart's native town, a town
over whose walls have flown the flags of Spain and
France, of Holland and of England, and into whose
harbours have been carried thousands of English
prizes. Situated as it is within easy striking distance
of the Scheldt and of the Thames, small wonder
that the Corsairs of Dunkirk plied a thriving trade,
or that the sailors of the port should turn to priva-
teering more readily than to commerce. Many a
name now lost to history still survives in the folk-
lore of the good fishermen of Dunkirk, but none
enjoy a greater popularity, not merely in their own
town, but perhaps throughout all France, than
Jean Bart. Other sailors were greater admirals, and
more consummate naval tacticians. Tourville and
D'Estrée occupy a higher place in history, and the
victories they won were of greater public advantage
than those gained by the Corsair chief, yet none of
these enjoy such a popularity amongst seafaring
men.
-
Jean Bart, the son of a well-known Corsair,
Cornil Bart, was born on the 21st October, 1650.
On his mother's side he had a strain of still other
Corsair blood; her father, Michel Jacobsen, nick-
named Le Renard de la Mer, was, until his grandson
rose to fame, the most renowned of all the Corsairs
of the port. It is worthy of note that had Jean
Bart been born four years earlier, or four years
later, France could not have claimed him as her son.
Originally belonging to the Counts of Flanders,
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
29
Dunkirk passed into the hands of the Spaniards,
from whom it was taken in the reign of Philip II.
by the English; it was retaken from them in 1558
by the French, and was ceded by them to the
Spaniards just twelve months later. It was not
until 1646 that Condé recaptured it, after the memo-
rable siege of that year. The Spaniards, however,
were not content to let it remain in the hands of
France, and six years later it once more fell into
their power, to be captured again from them in 1658
by the allied Anglo-French army, under the joint
command of Turenne and Lord Lockhart. By the
terms of the treaty under which France and England
were then fighting side by side, the white flag of the
Bourbons flew over its walls for but four-and-
twenty hours, and then Cromwell's troops entered,
and the town became an English possession. Its
disgraceful sale to France by Charles II. in
November, 1662, is not the least shameful act
committed by the monarch,
Who never said a foolish thing,
And never did a wise one.
Colbert saw the immense natural advantages of
the place, and it was at his instigation that the
Count D'Estrades initiated the negotiations for its
purchase. Dunkirk once acquired, Colbert promptly
set to work to improve the harbour, and to foster
in the breasts of its seafaring population a predilec-
tion for that predatory life, to which Dunkirk owed
its riches and its inhabitants their glory.
With true Corsair blood running in his veins, and
brought up amidst the sulphurous smoke of a
30.
The Corsairs of France.
beleaguered city, small wonder that young Jean
Bart in his early days developed a decided taste for
his future calling, and acquired that contempt for
danger which was his most striking characteristic.
He was but eight years old when the allied French
and English armies besieged the place, and ofttimes
during the heavy bombardment to which the town
was then subjected the lad ran risks inferior to
none he courted in after years. It was in the
course of this siege that his father, Cornil Bart,
received a wound which incapacitated him from an
active career, and the old Corsair, crippled and con-
fined to his room, would inflame the boy's ardour
with tales of his past history, tales made more real-
istic by reason of the warlike accompaniment of
the enemy's guns. Open-mouthed the lad would
listen to feats of arms in which his father had borne
no ignoble part; but the salient figures of each
picture would be the Renard of the Sea, Michel
Jacobsen. The death of this old hero was typical
of the savage warfare of those days: his chasse-
marée had been crippled by a Dutch squadron, and
after a desperate struggle had been carried by
boarding rather than fall into the hands of the
enemy he fired his magazine with his own hands
and perished proudly in the midst of his captors.
But two men survived this gallant episode, and one
of these was Luc Bart, grandfather of the little
Jean. Thus doubly interested in this oft-repeated
tale, for Michel Jacobsen was his grandfather on
his mother's side, the future Corsair's youthful
dreams were of deeds in which his ancestors had
-
C
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
31
played so brave a part, and his highest aspirations
were that he might prove worthy of them. The
mother saw with pain the bent of the lad's inclina-
tions. To her the clang of battle and the shouts of
victory were but the passing bell of some brave
man whose wife and children were left alone to
fight with toil and misery. What to her was the
halo of glory that shone around her father's head?
what the respect all offered to her crippled
husband did they replace the parent she had loved
so well, or the strong support of the man who had
been to her a tower of strength, but who now lay
helpless as her youngest babe? War had been too
near a neighbour for her not to know its seamy
side. She had seen the shells hurtling over the
besieged city, scattering their deadly fragments
down the very streets in which her children all un-
witting of the danger were wont to play; she had
seen the dead and wounded carried in from that
fatal battle of the Dunes; she had stood on the cale
as some well-known Corsair with wounded spars
and shot-torn sail and splintered sides and gory decks
beat into the inner harbour, whilst she, deaf to the
deafening cries which rose on all sides, with aching
heart and tottering limbs strained every nerve to
catch the names of those who would never pace those
decks again. Did the shattered prize that followed
in the Corsair's wake offer one word of consolation to
hearts breaking with the void that nothing left on
earth could fill ?-what to them were the shouts of
triumph that greeted the grimy victors as they
neared the shore, or the honied words with which
32
The Corsairs of France.
the oily Intendant welcomed the men who put
money into the coffers of their king? Could they
bring back the unreturning brave, or tint the care-
worn cheek with mantling blushes of reviving
love?
Catharine Bart strove her utmost to wean her
boy from his woeful calling, but in vain; the
stirring tales of the father, and the fond encourage-
ment of a trusted messmate who spent his days in
the Rue de l'Église, quickly bore their fruit, and in
his twelfth year the wee Jean Bart embarked as
boy on board a Dunkirk smuggler commanded by a
well-known Corsair, Jerome Valbué. A man of
brutal passions, albeit brave in action and a thorough
sailor, was this Valbué, and, despite his friendship
for Cornil Bart, little Jean would have fared badly
had not Antoine Sauret, his father's old boatswain,
shipped with him and not only shielded him from
the skipper's rage, but initiated him into all the
mysteries of a sailor's life. Under Sauret's able
guidance Jean Bart soon learnt to knot and splice,
to reef and steer, to point a rope, and to train a gun,
so that, ere his four years' apprenticeship was over,
he was counted the smartest lad in all Dunkirk, and
had won at the hands of the Intendant the prize
offered by Colbert for the best marksman at the
annual artillery competition on the Dunes.
From boy, Jean Bart soon passed to man, and,
though but a lad in years, was in 1666 named mate
on board a smart brigantine, the Cochon Gras, which
Valbué was appointed to command on the outbreak
of war with England. But the brutal tyranny of
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
33
his first captain culminated in an act which drove.
Jean Bart and his faithful follower Sauret to seek
their fortunes in another craft, and so opened out
to our young hero a chance which permitted him
to see naval warfare in its grandest aspects. The
incident may well be related, typical as it is of the
religious intolerance of the day, of the absolute
despotism enjoyed by the masters of vessels carry-
ing letters of marque, and of the want of any clearly
defined code of maritime laws, either on board king's
ships or those belonging to the French mercantile
marine.
-
In this very year,' Colbert, in submitting to Louis
XIV. the list of ships of war ready to be used
against England, took the opportunity of pointing
out to the Grand Monarch the necessity for drawing
up a code of laws which should put an end to exist-
ing abuses. There was at this time a perpetual
conflict between the captains of ships-of-war lying in
harbour and the Admiralty officials commanding
on shore. At sea the captain was an absolute
autocrat, the judge of all matters, arbiter of life
and death, and dispenser of an irregular code which
was revolting in the cruelty of its edicts, and which,
dating from the days of Richard Coeur de Lion,
embraced a series of antiquated laws then known
under the title of the Judgments of Oléron. The
old Mosaic doctrine, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth, was the basis of this code; thus, if a man
drew his knife on another, he was pinned to the
mast by a knife through the offending hand; if he
1 1666.
D
34
The Corsairs of France.
wounded a messmate in the arm, his own arm paid
the forfeit; if he committed murder, he was tied to
the corpse of the murdered man and cast into the sea.
There was a charming simplicity about the Judg-
ments of Oléron which rendered the study of naval
law easy enough, and enabled the masters of ships
to maintain discipline amongst the most refractory
crew, and in days when master and seamen in many
crafts lived on terms of the most perfect equality,
and eat and drank and played together, perhaps
summary justice was necessary.
as a messmate.
On board the Cochon Gras there sailed a Hugue-
not seaman, Martin Lanoix by name. Although a
brave man, and second to no man on board in sailor-
like qualities, his religion drew down upon him the
scoffings of his messmates and the most brutal
pleasantries of his captain. Of all the crew Jean
Bart and Sauret were the only members who
showed the Huguenot sympathy, or who treated him
One afternoon Valbué, more than
half-seas over, had been recounting to his open-
mouthed crew the miraculous aid offered to a sink-
ing Breton fisher-boat by a bishop who appeared
walking on the water, and quietly stepping over the
side infused fresh life and vigour into the worn-out
crew, and who with more than superhuman power
remained at the pumps until the craft was safe in
harbour. Having finished his tale, Valbué took the
opportunity to level some injurious epithets at his
Huguenot seaman, finishing up his abuse by hurling
a half-empty tin drinking-can at Lanoix's head.
The Huguenot, with provoking calmness, wiped
WOR
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
35
the dripping cider from his face and beard, and
replied, “Master, the Judgments of Oléron lay down
that the captain should be moderate in his language
and just in his dealings to his crew,-if you please ?"
Exasperated at the tone of Lanoix's reply, Val-
bué advanced upon him with uplifted hand and
threatening words. The Huguenot, falling back, in
the same provoking tone continued, "The Judg-
ments of Oléron, which bind you as well as me, lay
down that the captain is not to punish the sailor
until his anger has cooled down."
"What!" shouted the enraged Valbué, "you, who
blaspheme the Blessed Virgin, dare to quote the law
to me ?—take that!" and lifting high a capstan bar
which lay on the open hatch, he aimed a blow at
Lanoix's head, which, grazing the face, fell full on
the sailor's shoulder.
-
Sauret, the eldest member of the crew, rose and
wished to interpose, but Valbué, turning on him,
threatened to strike him also, and the old salt,
knowing the absolute authority of the captain,
wisely held his peace.
66
Captain," said Lanoix, "I have now received
your first blow as the law enjoins, but now," lightly
jumping over the iron rail which ran across the
fore part of the ship, and which marked the quarters
of the crew, "now, if you strike me you exceed your
rights, and I can resume mine, for I have passed
the chain." 2
2 Le jugement restreint la correction du maître à un soufflet ou
coup de poing que le marinier doit souffrir et rien de plus.
Ensuite le marinier est tenu d'obéir à son Maître quoiqu'il lui dise
D 2
36
The Corsairs of France.
"Comment," shrieked Valbué, beside himself with
rage, you Huguenot overweighted with the load of
never-to-be-forgiven sins, you whose blasphemies
have placed you for ever beyond the law, you dare
to talk to me of laws? Dog of a heretic, wait, just
wait a moment, and I will show you what laws are
applicable to swine, to Jews, and to Huguenots."
Then seeing Lanoix still stood on his guard behind
the chain, Valbué sprung forward and struck him
two violent blows in the face. In an instant the
knife of the Huguenot flashed in the air and de-
scended on the captain's right arm. The gleam of
steel was seen by the crew, and though disgusted at
their captain's brutalities, the sense of discipline
was strong within them, and rushing forward to
Valbué's aid, Lanoix was borne down and pinioned
in a trice, but not before turning on the first man
who approached him (the coward Valbué stood
hounding on his crew), he had stabbed him to the
heart.
CC
Pale and trembling with fright and anger, Valbué
turned to a cabin-boy, saying, "Go into my cabin;
there in a box on the locker you will see a book
bound in white parchment; bring it to me."
The boy disappeared, returning again in a few
moments with the book, whose fatal decrees all
knew so well. Jean Bart, who had been at the
injure et se courrouce avec lui, et se doit ôter de devant lui, fuir à
la proue du navire et se mettre du côté de la chaîne, et si le maître
passe, il s'en doit fuir de l'autre part, et si le maître le poursuit
en l'autre part le marinier peut lors se mettre en défense, requérant
témoignage comme le maître le poursuit, car le maître doit s'arrêter
sans outre-passer la chaîne.-Jugement d'Oléron.
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
37
#
tiller whilst this scene was being enacted, stood
motionless; anon his eye would be thrown on the
compass to see that the craft still held her course,
and then with grim determination cast on the group
at the break of the forecastle. A glance of in-
telligence passed between him and Sauret, who,
walking aft, sat on the weather-rail by Jean Bart's
side. The significance of the movement was not
lost on Valbué, who, turning round, shouted in
tones of ill-suppressed anger, "You know how to
read, Sauret, read this," at the same time holding
towards the scarred and weather-beaten salt the
little-used volume.
"I will not read it," replied Sauret.
"Then I will do so myself," said Valbué.
Valbué," interrupted Sauret, "
C4
you are not
acting according to the law; that unfortunate,
pointing to Lanoix, who, bruised and bleeding, lay
bound upon the deck, "should be allowed three
meals at which he may acknowledge his fault; nay
more, he should be permitted the oaths on bread,
and on wine, and on salt, that he may swear³ to
respect your authority in the future.”
"Silence," thundered Valbué, "his blasphemies
3 Néanmoins, s'il arrive débat ou noise, le maître, avant de punir,
expeller ou mettre dehors le matelot rioteux ou querelleur, doit
souffrir qu'il demeure à son bord un jour et demy, ou pendant le
temps de trois repas. Pendant lequel délai de trois repas, si le
matelot reconnoit sa faute, s'il offre de la réparer, se soumettant au
jugement de l'équipage, le maître est tenu d'accepter la réconcilia-
tion, mais si après ces soumissions, le maître refuse de le recevoir
en grâce, le matelot doit l'obéissance et sortir, et pourra suivre le
navire jusqu'au lieu destiné, où tous ses loyers et gages lui
seront payés comme s'il eût servi dans le navire.-Jugement
d'Oléron.
38
The Corsairs of France.
have deprived him of all right of purging his
offence-the chain of refuge, the oaths of excuse,
the meals of repentance are not for dogs like him.
It is not I who judge him, it is the law; I am
merely the accuser, listen; I, Maître Valbué, swear
by the Holy Apostles that what I read is the law:
• The sailor who strikes or raises his hand against his
captain will be fastened to the mast by means of
sharp knife, and compelled to withdraw his hand in
such a manner that one-half at least of the erring
hand shall remain affixed to the mast." Then half-
closing the book, Valbué said, "According to the
Judgment of Oléron, any sailor blaspheming the
Pope shall have his tongue pierced by a hot iron.
Lanoix had so blasphemed our Holy Father, and it
was my intention to have carried out the letter of
the law for the offence, and in attempting to arrest
him he drew his knife upon me, me his captain, and
wounded me in the arm. Now each man answer in
his turn, did Martin Lanoix blaspheme the name
of his Holiness, and furthermore did he strike his
captain ? "
Then rolling up the sleeve of his coat, Valbué
holding up his arm displayed a flesh wound, fresh
and bleeding, in his right fore-arm.
"Answer,"
shouted Valbué, "Yes or no."
The crew grouped round the captain murmured,
"Oui" but from the stern of the ship, in old
Sauret's well-known voice, came the words, "Cap-
tain, you had passed the chain, and—”
Stamping his foot on the deck, Valbué cried,
"That is no answer to my question, son of a
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
39
dog. Did Martin Lanoix inflict this wound on me
or not?"
"But-" interposed Sauret.
"Was it Martin Lanoix, yes or no," shrieked
Valbué.
Very well-No," responded Sauret.
"No," chimed in Jean Bart.
CC
Valbué, trembling with rage, said, "Six of the
crew affirm that Martin Lanoix did wound his
captain, two of the crew say he did not, the majority
are right. Boy, fetch my cutlass."
And the boy diving below reappeared with a long,
straight Spanish sword, the edge as keen as a Sikh
trooper's tulwar.
Stooping forward, Valbué lashed it to the wind-
lass, edge uppermost, and then directing the crew to
raise Lanoix, he lashed the prisoner's arm to the
trenchant blade.
"Martin Lanoix, withdraw your arm as the law
directs!" The Huguenot hesitated; then the brutal
Valbué, seizing the helpless prisoner by the throat,
dashed him backwards, and as he fell, the sword,
severing flesh and muscle, laid the quivering arm
bare from wrist to elbow.
"Unlash the prisoner," continued Valbué; and,
faint with loss of blood, Lanoix sank bleeding on the
deck. "Bring aft the body of Simon Larret," said
the captain, moving to the stern of the vessel, where
Sauret and Jean Bart remained mute spectators of
the direful scene. Two men carrying aft the corpse
laid it at the feet of the still senseless Lanoix.
"I swear by the Holy Apostles, that what I read
40
The Corsairs of France.
is true," continued Valbué, once more opening the
book.
66
If any sailor kills a messmate or so wounds him that
he dies from the effects of that wound, the living man
shall be lashed to the dead, and both shall be cast into
the sea; if the murder takes place ashore, the murderer
shall be executed as the law provides."
"Yes or no, did Martin Lanoix kill Simon Larret?"
interrogated Valbué.
"Yes," answered the six as before.
"No," replied Sauret and Jean Bart.
"Six recognize the murder, two refuse to do so,
the majority are in the right. Carry out the law,"
and Martin Lanoix, victim to the ungovernable
hatred of a brutal captain, still living, though bound
and hopeless, was lashed to the yet warm corpse and
cast into the sea.
That evening the Cochon Gras entered Calais, and
Sauret with his young master bade farewell for
ever to the brutal skipper, whose inhuman conduct,
however, brought forth good fruit. In accordance
with the law Valbué reported the occurrence to the
Intendant at Calais, and this official, the Sieur de
Imfreville, penned an able memorandum on the in-
equalities of naval laws. This memorandum was
submitted by Colbert to Louis XIV., with a scheme
for the codification of the existing laws, and so,
from the murder of the poor Huguenot, sprang the
present Code Maritime of France.
The part played by Jean Bart and Sauret in the
Lanoix episode met with the high approval of the
Intendant, and when a few days later some French
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
4I
cavaliers reached Calais anxious to join Ruyter's
fleet then blockading the English in the Thames,
Imfreville sent for our young hero, and asked him
if he would undertake to convey the noblemen to
the Dutch admiral. Bart accepted the task with
pleasure. That night, as the sun went down, he
quitted Calais harbour in a well-found half-decked
boat; himself, the faithful Sauret, and two Calais
men as crew; whilst cowering in the stern-sheets
were the Marquis d'Harcourt, and the Counts de
Coislen and de Cavoye, brave men all, but little used
to midnight cruises in open boats in the Northern
seas.
Ruyter was lying off Harwich with a fleet of
seventy-five vessels-of-war and eleven fire-ships.
Monk lay moored off Queenborough with some eighty
ships of various sorts. Already, in the month of June,
a general action indecisive in its results had been
fought between the two fleets, and it was known
that Monk only waited a favourable breeze to come
out of the Thames and try his fate once more. The
French courtiers were anxious to witness the coming
battle. Imfreville impressed on Jean Bart the
necessity of carrying on all sail, and reaching the
Dutch fleet as soon as possible. The young Corsair
was no less keen to participate in the fight; he
saw before him a chance that fell to the lot of but
few Frenchmen, and he needed no second bidding to
use his utmost endeavour to put his passengers on
the Dutch flag-ship. An admiral was to the lad a
thing apart-half angel, half God; for landsmen he
had the most profound contempt, even the Intendant
42
The Corsairs of France.
with powdered wig and silken hose awakened in him
merely a feeling of pity; the French cavaliers, now
helpless and sick, with all their brave finery, their
lace ruffles and jewelled swords, their broad ribbons
and sparkling honours, were but landsmen after all,
objects of contempt and commiseration; but an
admiral, a live admiral, who had under him scores
of huge ships with frowning ports and polished
cannon, such a man was to be dreaded, envied, nay,
died for.
Jean Bart was no fool; he had kept his
eyes open throughout the five years he had now
been to sea, and he could judge what information
the Dutch admiral would be likely to ask for, when •
his little craft ranged alongside the flag-ship.
Could he but earn a word of praise from the hero,
he felt he should die happy. Quickly did he revolve
his plan in his own mind, and after whispered con-
sultation with Sauret, he determined on bearing up
for Queenborough and seeing what the English fleet
was doing; his little craft, if discovered and pursued,
could get into shoal water where no ship-of-war dare
follow. The scheme succeeded to the utmost.
Flying up the Thames on a flood-tide with a breeze
from the south-east, Jean Bart found himself by
midday within easy view of Monk's fleet, and having
leisurely counted their number, he put his boat
about, and on a falling tide bore off past Southend,
round the Essex coast, and at 8 a.m. the following
morning ran up to Ruyter's fleet. There was no mis-
taking the admiral's ship, her lofty poop surmounted
by its huge bronze lanterns, her gilded carvings, and

HOLE FOR
THE SEVEN PROVINCES.
(Ship of the Dutch Admiral.)
好き​す
​
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
43
her powerful armament, irrespective of the admiral's
flag flying bravely from the main top-gallant mast-
head, marked her out at once, and as he ran up
under her lee Jean Bart woke the worn-out cavaliers,
and told them that their voyage was over.
Cramped from their long confinement and soaked
with the salt water which had been shipped in
bucketfuls by the little craft, the three French
nobles rose disconsolately from their hard couch,
and with difficulty climbed the accommodation-
ladder of the Sept Provinces, Ruyter's vessel. When
once on board, however, feeling something stable
under their feet, they recovered their sang-froid and
asked the officer of the watch to be allowed to
present their credentials to the Dutch admiral.
Jean Bart, too, with easy nonchalance requested an
interview to hand over the three passengers
entrusted him by the Governor of Calais. In the
admiral's presence all Jean Bart's assurance forsook
him, and falling at Ruyter's feet he could only
stammer forth protestations of admiration, and
pray that he might be permitted to serve on board
the flag-ship. On hearing of Jean Bart's spirited
cruise up the Thames, and the disposition of Monk's
fleet, Ruyter willingly consented to shipping Jean
Bart (who produced his certificate of gunnery
received from the Intendant at Dunkirk as an
evidence of his efficiency) on board the Sept Pro-
vinces as an able seaman, and at Jean Bart's
entreaties Sauret received a similar rating, and so it
came about that the future Corsair of Dunkirk,
whose proudest achievements were his victories over
44
The Corsairs of France.
the Dutch, first smelt powder in the great naval
battle between Ruyter and Monk. In the hard-
fought action of the 6th of August the young
French volunteer greatly distinguished himself, not
merely at his station on the 'tween decks, but
when the fight was nearly over, he in company with
the Marquis of Harcourt and his two companions,
the Counts de Coislen and de Cavoye, aided
in attacking and driving off a fire-ship that had
drifted on to the Sept Provinces. In June, the follow-
ing year, he formed one of that gallant force which,
sailing up the Thames, bombarded Sheerness, and then
proceeding up the Medway, sunk the British ships
below Rochester Bridge, and taught proud England
that her capital was within a measureable distance
of destruction. For five years Jean Bart served in
the Dutch navy, learning much he would never have
acquired in the service of his own country, and
thoroughly mastering the educational portion of a
sailor's profession.
With this period of his life we have little to do, as
the Corsair of Dunkirk, Jean Bart, had no existence
on a Dutch line-of-battle ship, and we may pass
over the history of these five years without remark
But, though serving under the Dutch tricolour, our
hero's heart was with the spotless flag of France, and
when in April, 1672, the Grand Monarch declared
war against the States-General, Jean Bart, declining
the most tempting offers of employment, left the
Hague and found his way to Dunkirk. His name
was by no means forgotten in that port, and Jean
Bart speedily found subordinate employment on
!
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
45
one of the many Corsairs sailing from his native
town.
Step by step he worked his way aft, and in less
than eighteen months was, early in 1674, placed in
command of his first craft, a chasse-marée, mounting
two guns, with a crew of thirty-six men: a humble
beginning truly, for one who was in after years to
command a squadron of king's ships, and to be
enshrined for ever in the hearts of his countrymen
as one of France's truest seamen.
The King David, Bart's first ship, proved a mighty
man-of-war. Within a week of leaving port she
triumphantly returned towing behind her a Dutch
brigantine, the Homme Sauvage, laden with coal.
Though of little intrinsic value, such an early success
was a happy omen for our young hero, who on the 3rd
of April of the same year put to sea for a second time,
and returned to port on the 6th with a still richer prize
in the shape of the Dutch brig Friendly Adventure,
mounting ten guns, and bound from Vigo to Antwerp
with a cargo of wine. Yet still the tide of success
flowed full and free; on the 11th of May a third
prize, the Saint Paul of Bruges, with 184 hogsheads
of Bordeaux and a like number of Burgundy, hailing
from Bayonne, fell into his hands; and on the 15th
of the same month a Dutch smack, with a miscel
laneous cargo of shellfish, hazel-nuts, and 500 pairs
of knitted stockings, hauled down her flag without
attempting to escape. In the month of June two
more prizes fell to his lot, and now Jean Bart's
name was bandied from tongue to tongue as worthy
son of gallant sire, and the merchants of Dunkirk
46
The Corsairs of France.
spoke openly of him as one likely to walk in the
steps of the grand old Renard of the Sea. It is
true that the six prizes he had already taken had
hauled down their flags without making any resist-
ance, and that young Bart had as yet found no
opportunity of showing his stuff in a hand-to-hand
fight; but tough old Antoine Sauret still prowled
the streets of Dunkirk, and he had not allowed Jean
Bart's conduct when serving under Ruyter to be
under-estimated by his fellow-townsmen. If Sauret
in his cups spoke true, it was Jean Bart, alone and un-
aided, who had beaten off Monk's fleet on the 6th of
August, and who had sunk and burned the English
ships off Chatham dockyard. Allowing for the
pardonable exaggeration of a salt who had served the
Bart family man and boy for more than half a century,
enough was to be learnt from Sauret's tales to prove
that Jean Bart was not the man to show his heels
to any Dutchman in the Channel.
It was then determined to give him a more
important command, and in August of the same
year Jean Bart sailed from Dunkirk in a smart
brigantine, La Royale, carrying ten guns. The two
months spent ashore had evidently not caused the
young captain's star to pale, for on the 27th of the
same month he captured a Dutchman, laden with
planks and cordage, named the Elizabeth; and on
the 11th of the following month, after a sharp
encounter, he carried by boarding a Greenland
whaler mounting eight guns. Cruising now in com-
pany with two other seamen of Dunkirk, William
Doorn and Charles Keyser, Bart once more entered
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
47
on an unchecked career of prosperity: on the 8th
October he captured the Baleine-gris, and on the
24th of the same month the St. George, both bound
from Norway with timber. So in his first year of
independent command he had captured, either alone
and unaided or in company with his friends Doorn
and Keyser, ten prizes, some of which, notably the
two laden with wine, were of considerable value.
The year 1675 opened equally auspiciously. On
the 13th, 17th, and 21st of January respectively
he captured the Ville de Paris, laden with corn;
the Premier Jugement du Solomon, with sulphur;
and the Esperance, twelve guns, flying the flag of
the States-General, and actually in charge of a
convoy of three merchantmen, hailing from Norway
with wood for the Dutch Navy. The merchantmen
escaped, but the Esperance gallantly kept the Cor-
sairs at bay until they had reached the safety of the
land, when, having lost her captain, first lieutenant,
and ten of her crew, she struck her colours. Such
a prize at once put Jean Bart into the very front
rank of Dunkirk Corsairs, and pointed him out as
one worthy to be entrusted with the command of
king's ships, which it was rumoured Colbert, finding
the want of duly qualified men in the navy, intended
to hand over to the care of the most renowned
Corsair captains in the northern ports.
The capture of the Esperance enabled Jean Bart to
do what his father and grandfather had done before
him, namely, to marry young. His bride, a mere
child of sixteen years of age, captivated by the renown
which even now attached itself to the name of the
•
48
The Corsairs of France.
brave Corsair, and little recking the life of anxiety
and misery before her, responded ardently to the
love which the gallant sailor showered upon her,
and so far from checking his aspirations, held it her
highest glory to encourage him in the career which
had brought much honour and much sorrow to the
good old name of Bart.
Four short months did Jean Bart remain with his
bride, and then in the month of July, with the
Royale freshly equipped, he once more put to sea.
Marriage had not caused his right hand to lose its
cunning. On the 30th of the month, after a running
fight of some three hours in duration, he com-
pelled to heave to and captured the Dutch ship
Arms of Hamburg, mounting twelve guns and carry-
ing a valuable cargo of gold dust, elephants' teeth,
and sugar. Five days later, in company with his
old friend Keyser, he took the Dutch ship Lévrier,
carrying letters of marque, and mounting twelve
guns; and four days after that, the Bergère, also of the
same armament: these two vessels were employed in
the protection of the herring fishermen, and at the
same time as they were captured, fifteen fishing-
smacks fell into Jean Bart's hands. Unable to con-
voy seventeen vessels into harbour, Bart and Keyser
agreed to allow the captains of four of the smacks-
Canard Doré, Esperance, Hemp Cloper, and Saint
Nicolas-to ransom their craft for a total sum of
11,6007. This act of admitting prizes to ransom
was in express defiance of the laws appertaining to
French Corsairs, and in the proceedings, still to be
seen in the Archives of Dunkirk, relating to the
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
49
capture of this convoy Bart and Keyser were warned
that no composition with the owners or captains of
prizes is permitted; that all such prizes are to be
brought into port, there to be dealt with by the
Admiralty Court; and that in the event of their so
offending again they will be proceeded against by
the King's Procureur.¹
4
To punish them for this infringement of well-known
laws, half the amount received as ransom was be-
stowed on the Dunkirk hospital. To draw a hard and
fast line refusing the captains of privateers permis-
sion to treat with the captains of captured vessels.
was ill-judged, and in this instance had Bart and
Keyser endeavoured to work their seventeen prizes
into a French harbour, the chances are they would
themselves have been made prisoners by their own
captives. The crews of the Grand Louis and the
Royale amounted to but 112 men, the total number
of hands on the captured craft to over 250; and in
ransoming the four largest fishing-smacks, oppor-
tunity was taken to release 184 Dutch prisoners, and
so to reduce the men on the prizes to a number
compatible, not merely with the safe working of the
ships themselves, but with the safe custody of the
prisoners.
Despite the wordy remonstrances of the Admiralty
Board, we shall find Jean Bart on more than one
4 Fait sa Majesté très-expresses inhibitions et défenses aux dits
Bart et Keyser et à tous capitaines, armateurs et autres, de relâcher
en mer les vaisseaux qu'ils auront pris, ni de faire aucune composition
avec les capitaines et autre gens de l'équipage desdits vaisseaux
pour quelque cause et sous quelque prétexte qui ce soit à peine
d'être punis suivant la rigueur des ordonnances.
E
1.
50
The Corsairs of France.
occasion acting according to the best of his judgment
and arranging compositions with the captains of his
prizes; we shall see him receiving similar warnings
from the authorities in Paris, and we shall see the
Dunkirk hospital benefiting largely by his conduct.
One more short cruise this year resulted in the cap-
ture, on the 24th October, of the Arbre de Chêne, a vessel
hailing from Drontheim, with a cargo of copper.
Satisfied with having made twenty prizes since the
opening of the year, Jean Bart paid off the Royale,
and occupied himself during the winter months with
bringing the influence of his name and his successes
to bear on the merchants of Dunkirk, in order to
induce them to entrust him with a larger craft than
any he had yet commanded. The only objection to
be urged against Jean Bart's repeated applications
was his youth. But in all his actions he had shown
himself possessed of such sterling qualities, such
sound judgment, that his men and officers spoke as
highly of his seamenlike qualities as of his gallantry
in action. The number of his prizes testified to his
success as a Corsair, and it was felt that in confining
him to the petty rôle he had hitherto filled with
honour, the merchants were depriving themselves
of those greater profits which Bart in a more
powerful ship would most undoubtedly bring them.
It was determined then to place him in command
of a smart frigate, the Palme, mounting twenty-four
guns, with a crew of 150 men. Henceforward a
wider sphere was opened out for him, and he felt
that he might now hope to rival the deeds of his
brave ancestor, the old Renard of the Sea.
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
5I
On the 25th of March, 1676, the Palme sailed from
Dunkirk, and as if in happy augury of a successful
future, that same night she captured a small Dutch
craft mounting ten guns. Standing back to harbour,
to place his prize in safety, Bart was received with
tumultuous welcome; but he was anxious to try the
metal of the Palme on craft more worthy of his
steel, and with the next tide he was once more leav-
ing the dunes of Dunkirk in his wake. Two days
later his look-outs signalled several sail in the offing,
and on coming within speaking distance, Bart, who
had fortunately joined company with three other
Dunkirk Corsairs, found himself opposed to a power-
ful squadron of eight armed whalers under convoy
of three Corsairs, one of the latter flying the Dutch
tricolour, the other two the flag of Burgundy. A
smart action promptly ensued, the enemy's vessels
carrying letters of marque, gallantly striving their
utmost to ensure the safety of the convoy entrusted
to them. For three hours the fight lasted, and then
Bart, succeeding in laying his vessel alongside the
Dutch Corsair the Tertoole, carried her by boarding:
she was the most considerable prize he had ever
captured, and the fight, a hand-to-hand one, the
sharpest he had yet been engaged in. Seeing the
fate of their consort, the other Corsairs crowded on
all sail and escaped. Bart's companions, instead of
following them, busied themselves in securing the
eight trading-ships which had not succeeded in making
good their escape. With this rich booty the little
squadron returned to Dunkirk, where Jean Bart laid
the Palme up for a few weeks to repair the damage
E 2
52
The Corsairs of France.
sustained in the action with the Tertoole, and to
alter her rig and increase the spread of her canvas.
It was late in August ere the Palme was once more
ready for sea; but the delay was undertaken with
the object of making the Palme worthy of the career
which Bart had in his mind's eye carved out for her,
and neither captain nor owner grudged either the
time or the money. Hitherto all Bart's successes
had been against small craft; the very nature of
his own ship prevented him venturing to attack
vessels of considerable size, which in those days
carried heavy crews and powerful armaments; now
however, he was in command of a handy fast-sailing
frigate carrying men enough to warrant his indulg-
ing in the hope of at last realizing the dreams of his
childhood.
On the 1st of September Jean Bart left Dunkirk
on his autumn cruise, to return three days later with
a large Dutch smack laden with knitted hose from
the London markets. Having handed his prize, the
Hope of Bremen, over to the Intendant of the port, he
once more stood out to sea, and on the 7th his look-
out reported a fleet of fishing-vessels dead ahead
under convoy of a man-of-war. At last the long-
wished-for opportunity had arrived. Crowding on all
sail, Jean Bart proudly swept into the midst of the
convoy, and throwing out the white flag of France,
fired a shot across the enemy's bows as a signal for
her to heave to and be searched; for an answer the
tricolour of Holland was run up to the Dutch
corvette's main-mast-head, and she saluted the
Palme with a broadside that, whistling through her
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
53
counter.
sails and rigging, warned Bart his adversary carried
as heavy a metal and as well-drilled a crew as any
he had yet been able to encounter. The commander
of the Dutchman, Liémard Cuiper, was a sailor of
renowned skill and courage, and not the man to
strike his flag until his ship was past fighting.
Bart, too, was equally determined that the Palme
should conquer or be captured in the fight. For three
hours at short range the artillery duel lasted, Bart
the whole time manoeuvring his vessel so as to lay
her alongside the enemy and carry her by boarding,
Cuiper endeavouring to avoid this form of en-
At last the main-mast of the Neptune
being badly crippled, the vessel refused to answer
her helm, and Bart skilfully bringing the Palme up to
her weather-quarter, lashed his own fore-rigging to
the after-shrouds of the Dutchman, and at the head
of 120 men of Dunkirk dashed aboard the enemy's
ship. Cuiper, badly wounded, encouraged his men
by voice and gesture; but the long cannonade had
damped their ardour. Their decks were already en-
cumbered with the dead and dying; their ship with
badly wounded spars could not hope to escape; but
little fight was left within them, and within five
minutes of Bart leaping on her deck the flag of the
States-General was hauled down, and that of France
flew from the prize's fore-mast-head. The following
evening Jean Bart rounded the pier-head at Dunkirk,
the Palme, decked with bunting, leading the way;
close in her wake followed the Neptune, a fine vessel
of thirty-two guns, her main-top mast shot away,
but from the shattered stump flew the tricolour of
54
The Corsairs of France.
the States-General, surmounted by the spotless flag
of France; astern at no great distance was a little
fleet of fishing-smacks, the convoy which at the
surrender of the Neptune had also fallen into Jean
Bart's hands.
The fame of this gallant action spread further
than the town of Dunkirk; the Intendant forwarded
a report of it to Colbert, and the Minister realizing
the importance of encouraging the Corsair fleet of
France, forwarded a gold chain to the Intendant
with instructions that it was to be bestowed on
Jean Bart in recognition of the capture of the
Neptune.5
It was just at this period that Colbert was
devoting his best energies towards the development
of the French Navy, which may be said to have had no
separate existence until the advent to power of this
Minister. Imbued with the idea, as he expressed
himself in a memorandum drawn up for the instruc-
tion of his son Seignelay, Commerce is the source of
wealth, and wealth is the nerve of war, Colbert's best
efforts were turned towards the means for encom-
passing the destruction of the fleets of England and
of Holland. "It is necessary," he said, "that the
·
5 Extract of a letter from the Minister of Marine to M. Hubert,
Intendant of Marine at Dunkirk :-
"18th September, 1676. Versailles.
M
"His Majesty has learnt with the greatest satisfaction that the
Dunkirk Corsair commanded by Captain Jean Bart, has captured a
Dutch man-of-war mounting thirty-two guns. As it is most im-
portant to encourage these Corsair captains in their efforts against
the Dutch, his Majesty is pleased to direct that you will present
the accompanying gold chain to Captain Jean Bart as a reward for
the gallant action he has just performed."
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
55
King of France should be absolute master of the
Channel as well as of the Mediterranean."
With this end in view he established schools of
gunnery at all the seaports, granting prizes to the
fishermen who were the most successful marksmen;
he drew up the scheme for the Inscription Maritime,
by which the State secured the services in time of
war of the whole seafaring population; he promised
pecuniary rewards to the most successful Corsair
captains, and placed at their disposal vessels of
war that were not required for immediate com-
mission. He did more, he actually placed them in
command of his Majesty's ships; and, disgusted with
the lack of zeal shown by the aristocrats who alone
had been permitted up to this time to hold com-
missions in the navy, he after a long struggle
succeeded in inducing the Grand Monarch to be-
stow commissions on the most deserving of these
Corsairs.
Colbert, struck with the successes obtained by the
Corsair captains, propounded a scheme by which the
most renowned in each port should be nominated as
it were commodore of the flotillas sailing from that
port; that he should direct the operations of the
various little ships and control their movements, in
the hope that by thus acting in consort they might
be enabled to attack the enemy's larger ships of war,
which as yet remained unthreatened. With this
end in view memoranda were addressed to the
Intendants at the various ports, calling for a return
of the vessels engaged in this calling, with the
names and qualifications of their captains. To
ik
56
The Corsairs of France.
this memorandum the Intendant of Dunkirk re-
turned a reply, dated the 26th of September, 1676,
giving his views on the capabilities of three-and-
thirty captains hailing from Dunkirk; at the head of
this list stands the name of Jean Bart:-
ROLL OF THE CORSAIR CAPTAINS OF DUNKIRK, AND THE SHIPS
THAT THEY COMMAND.
Captain Jean Bart, aged about
thirty years, has been captain
about three years; at present in
command of the Palme frigate,
armed with twenty-four guns,
and carrying a crew of 150 men.
28th September, 1676.
In his last action Captain
Bart alone and unaided by any
other vessel, captured a Dutch
man-of-war, the Neptune, carry-
ing thirty-two guns, together
with the convoy of fishing-
smacks she was escorting.
As a lieutenant, the conduct
of this officer was repeatedly
brought to the notice of his em-
ployers, by the captain under
whom he served, for skill and
bravery. He was then en-
trusted with a command, and in
his first vessel, mounting but
eight pieces of
pieces of cannon, he
attacked and captured a Dutch
ship of ten guns.
With his second ship, carrying
twenty-four guns, in company
with another Corsair, commanded
by Captain Keyser, he captured
a Dutch Corsair of superior
armament, convoying a fishing
fleet from Greenland.
-
Later on, in company with
this same Keyser, Bart attacked
a large merchant fleet, convoyed
by three Dutch men-of-war; Bart
himself carried by boarding the
Dutchman, a vessel of eighteen
guns, leaving to Keyser the task
of securing the merchant craft.
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
57
Not satisfied with the report of M. Hubert, the
Intendant of Dunkirk, Colbert made a second
inquiry into the character of the various officers.
named; the result of this is a memorandum still
extant in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Colbert's
own hand :
LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL CAPTAINS COMMANDING THE DUNKIRK
CORSAIRS.
Jean Bart, Commanding a frigate of 24 guns
Keyser, Commanding a frigate of 18 guns
I place these two captains together because they generally sail
in company. They are of Dunkirk origin, aged thirty and thirty-
five years, sons and grandsons of famous Corsairs, who gained great
renown in the war between Spain and the States-General, prior to the
Treaty of Munster. Cornil Bart, father of Jean Bart, was severely
wounded at the last siege of Dunkirk.
On every occasion in which they have been engaged they have
shown valour and skill. Although the smallness of their means
necessitated their shipping first as seamen, then as petty officers at
the commencement of the present war, they have never lost their
self-esteem or fallen in that of their messmates, and since they have
been fortunate enough to obtain independent commands, they have
raised themselves to the top of their profession. Together they
have captured five of the enemies' frigates, the smallest of which
was far heavier than their own vessels. Amongst the many prizes
they have taken was a valuable Dutch merchantman, carrying
80,000 pounds' worth of powder, a squadron of whalers, and finally
Bart alone carried a Dutch man-of-war of thirty-two guns (the
details of this action I am still ignorant of).
16th November, 1676.
Brave men and
good sailors.
Whilst Colbert was evolving projects for the
employment of these Corsairs, Jean Bart was gain-
ing fresh honours. On the 11th of September,
within four days of the gallant capture of the
Neptune, he overtook and compelled to surrender a
Dutch brigantine, the Golden Hawk, and on the
15th the Corbeau Vert, a fine vessel laden with
Spanish wine, also fell into his hands. On the 21st
58
The Corsairs of France.
a third prize, the Pelican, and on the 22nd two more
hauled down their flags to our hero. These three
last were vessels of considerable value: the Pelican,
bound from Batavia with indigo, spices, and
precious woods; the Lady Christine and the Pro-
phet Daniel, from Archangel with skins and furs.
His own ship's company was so reduced by the prize
crews placed on board these vessels, that Jean Bart
was compelled somewhat reluctantly to interrupt
his victorious career. On reaching Dunkirk, how-
ever, he was persuaded; as the winter was approach-
ing, and navigation in the Northern Ocean was
dangerous, to lay up the Palme until the worst of
the season should be past.
In less than three months Bart, tired of a shore-
going life, was once more at sea, and once more
continuing his career of success. On the 16th of
January, 1677, a Greenland whaler, the Cabillaud,
surrendered and was admitted to ransom, (despite
the express prohibition of the king,) for 28007.; in the
course of the following month, three other vessels
were captured and also set free on payment of bonds
aggregating 65007. The simplicity of this procedure
had a charm for Bart: his cruise was not interrupted
by the necessity of escorting the prize into
barbour. He realized as much from the captain of
the vessel as he would by a forced sale in Dunkirk,
and moreover the money was distributable at once,
instead of being retained for months in the hands of
the Intendant pending the settlement of the many
claims which always sprang up to delay the proceed-
ings in the Admiralty Courts.
-
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
59
In the same month of February, 1677, three more
Dutchmen were taken: the Prince William, which
hauled down her flag at the first shot; the Good
Fortune, which after a running fight of three hours'
duration was dismasted and carried by boarding,
losing her captain and six of her crew in her vain
attempt to escape; and the Elephant, a brigantine
from Oporto, laden with wine. After escorting these
vessels into Dunkirk, Bart was detained some weeks
in port, in order to settle up his accounts with the
Admiralty, and to be once more warned of his in-
ability to admit prizes to ransom: still the captain
stood too high in his profession for M. Hubert to
venture to do more than point out the advisability
of conforming more strictly to the Admiralty
regulations; and the sums realized by Bart in his
pecuniary transactions with the captains of his
prizes realized a handsome addition to the king's
Exchequer, which at
which at this period was sadly
straitened.
On the 1st of May, Jean Bart was once more at
sea, and on the 7th of the same month overhauled
and boarded a fine three-masted ship, the Golden
Prince, bound from the Azores with fruit. On con-
voying his prize to Dunkirk, the merchants who
had hitherto employed him were prepared to
entrust him with a new and finer ship than the
Palme, one that had been specially built with a view
for speed, and was now to be rigged and equipped
under her new captain's eye. The Dauphin, Bart's
new craft, mounted thirty guns, and carried a crew
of 200 men. Anxious to test her capabilities before
-
60
The Corsairs of France.
winter put an end to the free navigation of the
Northern Sea, Jean Bart took his new command out
for a cruise in the month of September, and
succeeded in bringing into port a brigantine bound
from Harwich to Rotterdam with coal and oysters.
Several weeks now passed without his seeing a single
vessel, and as it was evident that the early break
of winter had induced Dutch owners to lay up their
craft, Jean Bart stood in to Dunkirk and paid the
Dauphin off.
Late in December news reached Dunkirk that
the herring fishery was being prosecuted by the
Dutch with considerable vigour, and that owing
to the absence of French Corsairs, no man-of-war
was escorting the fishing fleet. Hastily collecting
a crew and getting the Dauphin ready for sea, Jean
Bart cleared from the port on the 30th of December,
and on the first day of the new year ran into
the fleet on the Doggerbank. The surprise was
complete, five vessels were captured before they
could escape from the much-dreaded Corsair, and
hoping to make more prizes on the morrow, Bart
admitted them to ransom for the round sum of
10,6001., and then stood on and off with the idea of
cruising off the Bank until the fishing-vessels should
return; but the appearance of the Dauphin had
driven the Dutchmen into harbour, and Bart, seeing
no prospect of further prizes, bore up for Dunkirk,
paid off his ship, and remained ashore until the
month of June.
Towards the middle of this month he once more
left port, this time in company with two small
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
61
Corsairs, the Emperor, Captain Keyser, and the Lady
of Lombardy, Captain Soutenage. Cruising off the
mouth of the Meuse, a Dutch frigate was sighted
early on the morning of the 18th of June; the Lady of
Lombardy, the smallest vessel of the squadron, hap-
pened to be nearest the enemy, who, judging her an
easy prey, bore down on her, hoping to carry her by
boarding before the arrival of her consorts. Souten-
age seeing his danger, manoeuvred so as to avoid her
coming alongside, and succeeded in maintaining the
unequal conflict until the Dauphin, arriving within
range, opened a heavy fire upon the Dutchman, and
now it was the turn of the Sherdam to dread the
boarders of Dunkirk; but, less happy than the Lady of
Lombardy, the Dutch captain found himself unable to
keep clear of the French ships. Tacking in response
to signal, the Lady of Lombardy bore down on the
man-of-war, and she in striving to avoid the shock
ran under the lee of the Dauphin. Jean Bart
quickly had his grappling-irons fixed in the Dutch-
man's fore-rigging, and, sword in hand, he himself
led on the boarders, whilst Soutenage, coming up on
the other quarter, poured a strong reinforcement on
the Sherdam's decks. The Dutch, however, were
not to be overcome so easily as Jean Bart hoped.
Ranc, the captain of the Sherdam, was of different
metal to those of his nationality who were wont to
haul down their flags at the first shot of a French
Corsair, and he animated his brave crew by his own
bravery. It was not until he had been badly
wounded himself, and fifty-seven out of the ninety-
four men of his crew lay low on her decks, that the
62
The Corsairs of France.
brave Ranc hauled down his flag; the fight had
lasted an hour and a half, and had been by far the
sharpest in which Bart had yet been engaged; he had
received a bullet-wound through the calf of his leg,
and was badly burnt on the face and hands by the
discharge of a cannon as he leaped on board the
enemy. As for the Dauphin, her cruising days
were over; she had been so grievously hulled by the
heavy guns of the Dutch man-of-war that it was
with the utmost difficulty Bart succeeded in bring-
ing her safe into port. The casualties on the
Dauphin amounted to six killed and thirty-one
wounded. As Jean Bart is reported to have said to
the Intendant when relating the fight, "Le fait
est, Monsieur l'Intendant, que ce William Ranc fit une
• rude défense.
In less than a fortnight, Jean Bart, scarcely re-
covered from his wounds, was once more at sea, this
time in command of a fine vessel, the Mars, carry-
ing thirty-two guns. Already peace negotiations.
had been opened between France and the States-
General, and it behoved Bart to act with vigour if
he desired to add to his fortune before the close
of the war. Good-luck once more favoured him;
on the 7th of July a fine brig, the Saint Martin,
bound from Spain to Amsterdam with wine, and on
the 18th of the same month the Saint Antoine, with
general merchandise, fell into his hands. On the
10th of August the Peace of Nimeguen was signed,
and Jean Bart, in obedience to instructions received
from the Intendant at Dunkirk, paid off his ship
and prepared to rest on his laurels.
399
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
63
Colbert had kept his eye upon the brave Corsair
of Dunkirk, and had determined, as soon as he could
overcome the strong opposition at Court, to enlist
Bart into the king's service: his gallant capture of
the Sherdam enabled him to lay his projects before
the king and to push them with more vigour; he
was able to explain to the Grand Monarch that by
depriving the State of the service of men such as
Jean Bart, he was depriving the Exchequer of
revenues which now flowed into the pockets of
private individuals. Had Jean Bart been in the
employ of the king, one-half of the value of his
many prizes would have been secured to the State,
instead of a beggarly one-tenth. Still, it was
months before the king would listen to Colbert's
pleading, and it was not until the 8th of January,
1679, that Jean Bart received his commission as
lieutenant in the French Navy.
In the future his career is bound up with that of
an officer of the regular service; his days as a Corsair
are numbered; and though many acts of bravery have
still to be recorded-many gallant feats of arms more
notable than any he had the opportunity of perform-
ing when a mere Corsair-yet they are of interest
only as the acts of one whose name is inseparably
connected with the history of the Corsairs of France.
Jean Bart lives in the memory of his countrymen,
not as a distinguished officer of the navy-his career
as such is forgotten-but as one of the best known
and certainly one of the most popular of French
privateers.
It was practically impossible that in a time of
64
The Corsairs of France.
peace any opportunity would be afforded Jean Bart
for the display of those seamanlike qualities which
had attracted Colbert's attention; indeed, the rôle
of a simple lieutenant in a ship of war was little
pleasing to him. It brought him, a rough-and-ready
sailor, possessed of little or no education, into daily
contact with the wealthy curled darlings of the
nation who alone filled the commissioned ranks of
the navy, men with whom he had nothing in
common, and who resented the appearance of the
Dunkirk Corsair on the quarter-deck of a ship of
war. Still, the discipline was of use to our hero; it
accustomed him to phases of life hitherto unknown,
and taught him at the same time that mere
personal valour was not the only necessary quali-
fication for a sailor.
Having served two years in a subordinate posi-
tion, Jean Bart, still a lieutenant, was in 1681
entrusted with the command of a small expedition
for the purpose of chastizing the Barbary pirates,
who were interfering seriously with commerce in the
Mediterranean and also on the coast of Guinea. The
service was one specially suited to a man of Jean
Bart's temperament and experience, and Colbert
showed as much wisdom in the selection of a com-
mander as Jean Bart did in the execution of the task
confided to him. The nomination of the ex-Corsair
caused some heart-burning in naval circles, and
Colbert, himself of humble origin, was accused of
purposely slighting the many able nobles in the
service who were of superior rank to the young
of
lieutenant, and who, without
any show
-
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
65
*
favouritism, might have been selected for the
task. In the month of June, Jean Bart sailed
from Dunkirk with two small vessels, the Vipère,
fourteen, and Harlequin, twelve; on the 30th of the
same month he fell in with two large feluccas
cruising under the coast, within sight of Cape Saint
Vincent, whilst dead ahead sailed a large English
fleet. Hoisting French colours, Jean Bart fired a
blank shot to signal the feluccas to heave to, but
they, knowing the heavy reckoning France owed
them, separated, and crowding on all sail, endea-
voured to escape. One, bearing up for the shore, ran
for shallow water, the other stood boldly on for the
English fleet, feeling secure that the French man-of-
war would not venture to attack her when under
the protection of the British guns. Jean Bart at
once ordered the Harlequin to give chase to this
latter craft whilst he pursued the larger one; after
a chase of some hours he drove the felucca ashore;
then sending his own boats to complete the work of
destruction, he, after having removed her guns, valu-
ables, and stores, set her on fire. The crew of the
pirate on landing were at once attacked by a detach-
ment of Portuguese troops, and seeing flames arising
from their ship, and then feeling that all hope of
escape was cut off, incontinently surrendered. The
Harlequin, on her side, chased the second felucca
into the heart of the English squadron; then, in
defiance of maritime law, and discourteously neglect-
ing the admiral's signal, she wore ship and stood
back to join her consort without saluting the English
flag.
F
-{
66
The Corsairs of France.
Jean Bart now determined to proceed to Lisbon
and demand on behalf of the French King the
Moorish prisoners who, on the felucca being driven
ashore, were recently captured near Cape Saint
Vincent. Thanks to the intervention of Baron Oppen-
heim, French Minister at the Court of Portugal, the
demand, though somewhat irregular, was complied
with, and Jean Bart, in company with the Harlequin
and a third French vessel then lying in the Tagus (a
Corsair of Dunkirk, commanded by an old friend),
shortly left the Tagus, en route for the Mediterranean,
there to carry on his work of retribution. Two
days after leaving Lisbon he once more sighted the
English squadron, the felucca contentedly sailing on
in their company. Jean Bart decided on a plan of
action by which he hoped to destroy the little craft
which had so outwitted him. The English were stand-
ing on under easy sail, and the three French vessels,
smart sailers all of them, soon overhauled them and
passed to windward, without dipping colours or
lowering topgallant yards. The English admiral
indignant at this breach of etiquette, fired a gun to
demand the salute, whereupon the three Frenchmen,
separating, stood on in different directions; the
admiral signalled to give chase, and the felucca,
thinking the vessels after whom the English squadron
were standing would never venture to attack her,
stood on alone to the westward. Confident in the
sailing power of his little squadron, Bart kept on his
course for some time, then suddenly changing it he
bore up after the felucca, the Harlequin and Dunkirk
Corsair acting in concert with the Vipère. The
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
67
Moorish craft, thinking this was but a ruse to shake
off the English squadron, and taking the three craft
for Portuguese vessels, made no attempts to escape,
and it was not until the Vipère, running up within
range, hauled down the Portuguese and flung out the
French colours that she discovered her mistake;
then it was too late to make any further attempt to
escape, as all three Frenchmen were between her and
the English squadron, the commander of which,
seeing them fling out French colours, was forced
to content himself with merely reporting Jean Bart's
conduct to the Admiralty. Amongst the prisoners
found on board this felucca were some Moorish nobles
who secured their freedom by paying a very heavy
ransom to Jean Bart; this, together with the sum
realized by the sale of the Moorish craft, brought in
sufficient money to recoup Colbert for the money
spent in fitting out the expedition, and moreover it
taught the Moors such a salutary lesson that for a
considerable number of years the French flag was
unmolested in the waters of the Mediterranean.
Two years after the episode of the Moorish
pirates, Jean Bart found himself once more in the
Mediterranean, this time in command of a fine
frigate, the Serpente, of thirty-six guns. France was
again at war, and the services of the ex-Corsair
were required against Spain. Though still holding
but the rank of lieutenant, we find Jean Bart in 1683
exercising an independent command, and with all
his accustomed skill and vigour, and we still see
him accompanied by his usual good fortune. In
the Serpente he made one valuable prize: a large
F 2
68
The Corsairs of France.
Spanish transport, bound from Cadiz to the Balearic
Isles, was sighted, chased, and captured. So far as
can be ascertained from contemporary records,
the Spaniard showed no fight, though she carried,
in addition to her own crew, 350 soldiers destined to
increase the garrison of Majorca. Bart's success
was once more the signal for hostile attacks on the
part of the officers of the king's navy, and Colbert,
in deference to the Grand Monarch's wishes, was com-
pelled to relieve the gallant Corsair of his command,
and post him as lieutenant to the Modéré, another
vessel on the Mediterranean station. During the
two years he served on this ship, he saw a great
deal of active service, was present at the bombard-
ment of Cadiz, capture of Genoa, and rendered
material aid in the attack on two large Spanish line-
of-battle ships, which struck their flags after a
desperate resistance; in this engagement Bart was
severely wounded by a fragment of shell in the thigh.
The wound necessitated his being invalided home;
but with war-clouds hovering over France, Jean
Bart was not the man to idle away his time in
Dunkirk, and long ere his wound was fairly healed,
we find him once more petitioning for employment.
The Minister of Marine was unable to give him a
ship; Court influence was too strong.
Colbert succeeded, however, in inducing Louis
XIII. to promote the brave lieutenant to the rank
of commander, and in this grade he remained
unemployed for two years. At the expiry of this
time, France found herself engaged, not merely
against Spain, but against nearly every State in
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
69
Europe. The operations, it is true, were chiefly
carried on on land, and the Grand Monarch, to
Colbert's chagrin, bestowed never a thought on his
navy.
In the following year, 1689, when England
threw her balance in the scales, the war
naturally assumed a maritime character, and then
the value of Colbert's Inscription maritime began
to be readily recognized. The lists of Corsair
captains were once more rescued from dust-covered
pigeon-holes, and efforts made to resuscitate the
system that had proved so destructive to Dutch
trade in the last naval war. But in the ensuing
war the profits of privateering were not to be
wholly absorbed by private firms. Ministers threw
themselves heart and soul into such enterprises, and
we find Seignelay, Colbert's son, and now acting
under his father's instructions as Minister of Marine,
directing the Intendant at Dunkirk to fit out his two
smartest frigates, the Railleuse, twenty-four, and the
Serpente, sixteen, and to hand them over to Jean
Bart for service in the Channel. Seignelay and the
Marquis de Louvois, the Minister of War, conjointly
sharing the expense of equipment.
6
• Extract of a letter from the Marquis de Seignelay, Secretary of
State for the Navy, to M. Patoulet, Intendant at Dunkerque :-
"Le roi m'ordonne pour donner exemple en cette occasion de
faire armer en course pour mon compte au commencement de cette
guerre: nous voulons armer, M. de Louvois et moi conjointement,
un vaisseau à Dunkerque, et j'ai dessin d'en armer un autre avec
M. de Croissy. Je suis bien aise de vous le mander de bonne
heure, afin que vous choississiez les deux meilleurs. Faites-moi
savoir aussi qui vous estimerez plus capable de commander ces
bâtiments."
70
The Corsairs of France.
Such an undertaking was more congenial to Jean
Bart than the more regular warfare in large
squadrons, and he resumed the old life, though
under new conditions, with the utmost pleasure.
The fishermen of Dunkirk rallied round him to a
man, and when Jean Bart commissioned the
Railleuse he could have shipped a crew twice as
heavy. Although Bart was originally intended to
fight against the English, his first encounter in his
new command was against the Dutch, and here I
might remark that up to this time Jean Bart had
never exchanged a single shot with a vessel flying
the Union Jack, if we except those fired from the
main-deck guns of the Seven Provinces when he
was serving as A.B. in Ruyter's Fleet. Every prize
he captured in the King David, the Palme, and the
Dauphin flew Dutch colours, and Bart had yet to
learn that there were seamen scouring the English
Channel every whit the equals of those that hailed
from Dunkirk; however, on this occasion he was
once more to have a deal with a Mynheer.
After cruising for some weeks between Harwich
and Calais, the look-out on the Railleuse signalled
a convoy to windward. Shortening sail, Bart per-
mitted the strangers to come up to him, when he
discovered them to be a number of small Dutch
traders under the escort of a powerful fifty-gun
frigate. It was too late now to avoid an action,
even had Bart so willed it, but he judged that his
two vessels well handled ought to be more than a
match for the Dutchman, and even if they could
not capture her, they might inflict serious damage
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
71
on her convoy. Though commanding a Corsair
primarily intended to capture trading-ships, and so
to turn war into a mercantile speculation, Bart
felt that, holding the king's commission, he would be
equally performing his duty were he to attack and
sink an enemy's man-of-war. He consequently
determined on giving fight to his big adversary with
his own ship, whilst the Serpente should busy her-
self in capturing the convoy. The self-imposed task
was a perilous one, for the frigate carried twice as
many guns as the Railleuse, and as she bore proudly
down to accept the proffered combat, appeared not
only to be ably handled, but to be very powerfully
manned. The tactics of the Dutchman were
evident; she meant to close on the Railleuse, rake
her with a broadside delivered at pistol-range, and
then having dismasted her and rendered her incap-
able of manoeuvring, to perform the same task with
the Serpente, and capture both craft at her leisure-
or, should they fail to surrender, sink them.
Jean Bart divined the plan, but he had fought
Dutchmen before this, and was little concerned at the
issue of the encounter; putting a couple more trusty
men at the helm, he ordered the hands on deck to
lie close, and still stood on his course parallel to the
frigate. She, with all sail set, was overhauling the
Railleuse,-coming up, in fact, hand over hand on her
weather quarter. Bart eyed her attentively now
she was within hailing distance. Still not a shot,
the most intense silence reigned on both ships.
Now the bowsprit of the frigate was abreast of the
poop-rail of the Frenchman, now it crept up to her
72
The Corsairs of France.
main-rigging, now-and as the voice of the Dutch
captain's "Fire," came clear on the breeze, Bart in
tones of thunder shouted "Starboard!" and the
Railleuse, flying up in the wind-crashed into the
mizen-chains of the great frigate, and the small-arms
men of Dunkirk, springing to their feet, poured a
murderous volley on to the deck of the Dutchman,
whilst two guns on the forecastle of the Corsair,
double shotted with canister, swept the frigate with
their point-blank discharge. Ere the captain of the
Dutch vessel could realize what Bart's manoeuvre
might portend, for he little thought the Frenchman
would be rash enough to attack a vessel double
his own size, Jean Bart and near two hundred of
his fellow-townsmen were on the Seahorse's deck.
And now the fight waxed furious; the guns on the
main deck of the Dutchman were quickly reloaded and
trained on to the sides of the Railleuse, which for a
moment or two could only bring her forward guns
to bear on her enemy; but as she gradually swung
round broadside on to the Seahorse, and the two
vessels grappled in their deadly embrace, the
artillery duel became more equal; the forward
battery of the frigate was useless, and through the
after ports French sailors poured on board. Nothing
could withstand their ardour. Were not they men of
Dunkirk, and had not Jean Bart himself, now a
commander in the French Navy, commenced life by
clambering through the hawse-hole of a Corsair ?
The Dutch fought bravely too, but, out-manoeuvred,
they grew faint-hearted, and when their captain sank
to the deck, his skull fractured by a blow from a
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
73
boarding-pike, the first lieutenant, handing his sword
to Captain Bart, surrendered his ship at discretion.
In the meantime the Serpente, in obedience to
orders, had been overhauling the convoy, and on
Bart's signal of recall it was seen had placed prize
crews in nine vessels; with his ten prizes, the frigate
badly crippled, her rudder and mizen-mast both shot
away, Jean Bart bore up for Boulogne, the nearest
port. The Rallieuse, too, had suffered severely,
having been hulled so badly that the pumps were
kept going night and day. On the following morn-
ing, when within sight of land, a vessel was descried
in full chase, and as she overhauled the slow-sailing
squadron, she was soon made out to be an English
cruiser. Bart was loth to lose his prizes, yet to fight
with the Railleuse crippled and sinking was an
impossibility; throwing himself therefore into his
long-boat with thirty of his picked men, he trans-
ferred his flag to the Serpente, and ordered his first
lieutenant, M. de Guermont, to convoy the prizes
into Boulogne; then wearing ship he bore down to
meet the Englishman-the first English vessel he
had yet encountered. Steadily the enemy bore down
upon him, and as in the case of the Seahorse, captured
on the preceding day, without firing a shot. Will she,
as the Dutchman did, trust to an artillery duel, or
will she cling to the old English tactics, and trust
to boarding? Small time for debating on the course
to be pursued, and ere Bart can pour one
broadside into her the Englishman had crashed into
his fore-rigging, and the English boarders were on
his decks. For close on an hour the two crews fought
74
The Corsairs of France.
with desperation; now a steady rush on the part of
the men of Dunkirk would sweep the enemy from the
Serpente, and Bart, sword in hand, would lead his men
on to the holystoned decks of the English sloop;
then a well-timed volley from the small-arms men
on the
poop, and a wild charge by the English sailors,
and the French in their turn were borne back to
their own craft, and ever and anon the loud report
of guns told that there were some on board either
ship who still hoped the day would be decided by
the more powerful engines of war. These last were
right; depressing their pieces and using heavy
charges of powder, the French gunners were sending
round-shot after round-shot clean through the hull
of the English ship, and she was soon seen to be
settling low in the water. To those engaged in the
deadly struggle on her decks, this was not notice-
able, but to those whose duties kept them at the
tiller of the Serpente, the fact gradually dawned that
the English ship was sinking; now her rail was on
a level with that of the little Serpente, and now it sank
below it, and now her upper deck, slippery with
blood and encumbered with dead and dying, was
clear to every eye on the smaller ship. The drums
of the Serpente beat the rally, and with voice and
bugle Bart recalled his men and shouted to the
English to surrender. Axe and hatchet were now
plied to the ropes by which the two ships were
lashed together and they drifted apart. Bart
swung out his boats to save the vanquished crew.
Some few had sought refuge on the Serpente ere she
forged ahead, but many still remained on their own
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
75
ship. Lying on their oars to avoid being involved
in the vortex of the sinking ship, the French sailors
shouted to their late foe, to spring overboard and
swim to the boats, and these, seeing their vessel could
not float much longer, made every effort to save
themselves. The Serpente, hove to but a couple of
hundred yards off, offered them every shelter, though
the British sailor knew full well that the decks of
the Corsair were but the avant-scène of a French
prison. Still life is precious to all, and as the
frigate dipped her nose into the troubled waters, and
then, lifting high her stern in the air, dived to the
depths of the Channel as if there to hide her shame
for ever, there were but three souls who preferred
death to dishonour, and those three were officers of
the ill-fated craft. Her decks encumbered with
prisoners, her scuppers almost flush with the water,
and her main-yard shot away, the Serpente would have
experienced some difficulty in reaching Boulogne, but
the noise of the firing was heard from shore, and the
near approach of the Railleuse and her convoy
warned the good people of that port that a second
fight was being waged, and that help would be
acceptable. Some chasse-marées putting out from
the harbour made for the sinking Serpente, and by
their aid Bart was enabled to work his crippled
craft home in safety.
It was some weeks before the Raillense and
Serpente were in a fit condition to be worked round
to Dunkirk, and when they did reach that port it
was found such extensive repairs were necessary
that it would be impossible to re-commission
76
The Corsairs of France.
them until the following year. Seignelay and his
partners in the venture were more than satisfied
with the conduct of Jean Bart, but the old class
jealousy broke forth, and in order to allow the
nobility to share in the honours and glory of his
next campaign, a new captain was appointed to the
Serpente in the shape of the Chevalier de Forbin, a
young aristocrat of undeniable skill and gallantry,
but with the most sublime contempt for all not born
in the purple. In his Memoirs, Forbin is ever un-
justly disdainful of such men as Jean Bart and
Duguay Trouin, though with equal truth it may be
said that he expresses no very high opinion of
Trouville, D'Estrades, or indeed of any one save the
Chevalier de Forbin.
Early in April, 1689, the two vessels were once
more ready for sea; fresh masts and spars, some
heavier guns, and an increased sail area had
improved the Railleuse and Serpente beyond recollec-
tion, and Bart trusted he might equal, if not excel
his successes of the preceding year. On the 25th of
April two prizes were captured, two Spaniards, one of
four hundred tons, laden with wine, and the second
with mahogany. Less than a week after, after an
exciting chase, they overhauled and boarded a Dutch
Corsair of fourteen guns. By some accident the
boarding grapplings carried away, and the Corsair,
forging ahead, gave the two vessels some trouble to
come up to her; in the meantime the handful of men
thrown on board her had been overpowered and slain.
This so irritated the Frenchmen that on carrying the
ship later on in the day, they refused to give quarter,
✓


11136
JEAN BART AND HIS SON.
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
77
and had it not been for the personal interference of
Jean Bart and Forbin, there is no doubt they would
have kept their word. It was on this occasion that
the well-known incident occurred of Bart noticing
that his son blanched as the round-shot whistled
through the rigging, ordered him to be lashed to the
mast. "It is necessary that he should get accus-
tomed to this sort of music," said the father as he gave
the necessary orders. The lad was but fourteen years
of age, and as the engagement fought that day was
neither short nor bloodless, he might well be excused
for feeling nervous; in after years Jean Bart had
every reason to be proud of the boy whom he so
rudely taught to hide his feelings.
At the close of this cruise Jean Bart addressed
an able memorandum to the Minister of Marine,
based on Colbert's well-known maxim that I have
already quoted, a maxim that we in England should
ever remember when efforts are made to cut down
our navy estimates: "Commerce is the source of
wealth, and wealth the nerve of war." He suggested
that Government should arm a certain number of
light frigates, the smartest sailers to be found,
man them with picked men, unite them in groups
under the command of a sailor thoroughly conver-
sant with the seas in which they were destined to
cruise, and hurl these groups on the merchant-vessels
which frequent the Channel, the Northern Ocean,
and the Mediterranean.
Enamoured as Seignelay personally was with the
idea, he was unable to persuade the Grand Monarch
to adopt it; the army absorbed the treasury of the
78
The Corsairs of France.
nation, and the navy was allowed to wallow in
comparative neglect. The Minister of Marine, how-
ever, fully realized the enormous benefits to be
derived from the style of warfare in which Bart was
facile princeps, and as an outbreak of war with
England was daily dreaded, he sent instructions to
the Intendant at Dunkirk to bring forward the
Railleuse again for commission, and to join with her
another frigate, the Jeux (which was to replace the
Serpente), as well as the larger prize taken from the
Spaniards in Bart's last cruise, and a small frigate
recently built at Dunkirk. These four vessels
were to be placed under the command of Jean
Bart for the purpose of scouring the Channel. As
soon as these new vessels had been armed and
brought forward for commission, Bart was ordered
to proceed to Havre with them and the Railleuse
and Jeux, and thence convoy to Brest a fleet of
thirty merchant-ships: the task involved more
danger than the Minister anticipated, for English
ships of war patrolled the Channel with frequency,
and were extremely unlikely to allow such a for-
midable fleet to escape their systematic search.
The result might have been foreseen. Two days
after leaving Havre a couple of strange sail were
reported; the strangers came gradually into view,
first topgallant-sails, then top-sails, then the courses
of two large ships were distinctly visible, and as they
drew nearer and nearer their frowning ports could
be counted, whilst the flowing pennants at the mast-
head and the ensign at the mizen-peak showed
them to be English men-of-war. These ships were
-
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
79
undoubtedly far superior in metal and crews to the
four Frenchmen, nevertheless Bart determined on
giving battle he rapidly decided on his plan of
action. With the Railleuse and Jeux he would
attack and endeavour to carry by boarding the larger
ship-the Nonsuch, forty-eight-whilst the two smaller
frigates of his squadron should keep the smaller
Englishman, mounting forty-two guns, employed;
the convoy, thus freed from danger, were to carry on
sail and shape a course for Brest. Unfortunately
Bart's subordinate commanders, always excepting
Forbin, were not men of the same calibre as their
commander, and after receiving one broadside from
their enemy they hauled down their flags; this
enabled the commander of the Nonsuch to attack
the Railleuse and Jeux with two powerful ships,
and never for a moment left the battle in doubt,
although the heroism with which Bart and Forbin
fought in order to save their squadron was of the
very highest order. For upwards of two hours the
battle raged, and when at last the Railleuse struck,
every single officer of the Nonsuch was killed or
wounded, and her boatswain, one Robert Small, re-
ceived Jean Bart's sword; Forbin had received six or
seven wounds, Bart a bad scalp wound. But though
the fight had been gallantly fought and the victory
dearly won, the French captains had the proud satis-
faction of knowing that the convoy which had been
entrusted to their care had not been molested, and
that the losses inflicted on their assailants in officers
and men were nearly double that which they them-
selves had suffered.
80
The Corsairs of France.
Having placed prize crews on board the four
captured ships, Small bore up for Plymouth, and in
the castle under watch and ward the French captains
were safely lodged, but were allowed not only to
receive visitors from the outer world, but the services
of their own personal servants. It was not long ere a
plan of escape was decided on. Both captains, prior
to the surrender of their ships, had secreted in their
chests considerable sums of money; they knew full
well that a golden key would open most prison doors.
Through the dearly-purchased aid of the Flemish
doctor who was called in to attend the wounded
prisoners, a boat was purchased, fitted out, and
provisioned. All efforts to win over the co-operation.
of the prison officials failed, and it was determined
to resort to the time-honoured expedient of filing
the window-bars and descending the walls by means
of a rope extemporized out of their bed-clothes. On a
stormy night, when the wind and rain beating against
the outer wall drove the sentries to seek the shelter
of the lee of the prison, the two captains, warned by
their faithful servants of the laxity of their guards,
quickly filed through the small portion still left of
the iron bars, and lowering themselves by the ropes,
hastened to the spot where their boat was drawn up
in charge of a heavily-indemnified fisherman. Bart
had in his early days been long accustomed to
Channel cruises in an open boat, and this venture
was nothing new to him; to Forbin and the Flemish
doctor, who shared his perils, the danger was vivid
enough. The task of launching the boat in face of
such a heavy sea was one of considerable difficulty,
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
81
and when this was surmounted, there was the
additional danger of falling into the hands of the
small cruisers which patrolled the entrance to the
port. Fortunately, owing to the heavy weather, these
vessels that night showed a lack of vigilance, and
when morning dawned and the wind fell to a strong
steady north-westerly breeze, the coast of England
was already out of sight. The voyage presented no
further difficulties, and forty-eight hours after leav-
ing Plymouth the fugitives beached their boat at
Hanqui, a small village near St. Malo. To the In-
tendant of that port full accounts were rendered of
their action with the Nonsuch, the cowardly desertion
of De Guermont, their capture, and escape. Having
thus acquitted themselves of their official obligations,
the two captains separated, Forbin hastening to
Versailles to claim a reward from the king; Jean
Bart to Dunkirk with the object of obtaining further
employment and wiping out what he imagined would
be the stigma attaching to him on account of his last
engagement.
Seignelay held other views than Jean Bart on this
question, and within a few days of the arrival of our
hero at Dunkirk he received the gratifying intelligence
that as a reward for his past brilliant services, more
especially as a reward for his gallant action with
the Nonsuch, his majesty had been pleased to direct
that a commision as Capitaine de Vaisseau should be
conferred on him, in lieu of his commission as
Capitaine de Frigate lost in the capture of the
Railleuse. Forbin was similarly honoured; indeed,
if we may accept the statement in his Memoirs as
G
82
The Corsairs of France.
accurate, it would appear that Jean Bart owed his
advancement not to the high value set on his services
by the king, but to the personal solicitation of one
Chevalier de Forbin. In the archives of Dunkirk,
where many precious relics of Jean Bart are
treasured, this Commission of Captain may yet be
seen, as also the one captured in the Nonsuch.
Such is the fortune of war-seven years after, on the
4th January, 1696, Duguay Trouin, in the François,
after a desperate fight, captured this very ship, the
Nonsuch, and was thus enabled to restore to Jean
Bart and Forbin their commissions, which were
found framed in the captain's cabin.
On Jean Bart's arrival at Dunkirk, he found
that Seignelay had already devised fresh schemes.
for his employment, and that Patoulet, the In-
tendant of Marine, was busily engaged in fitting
out a small squadron which, under Bart's command,
was destined to intercept the Dutch fleet, which
at this season of the year annually brought to the
Scheldt the produce of Russian ports. Unfortu-
nately, considerable delay occurred in the armament
of these ships, and it was not until the middle of
November, 1687, that Bart set sail with the Jason
(45), Opiniâtre (26), Capricieuse (24). On the 19th
of the same month he captured off the Doggerbank
a Dutch brigantine, the Saint Antoine, and on the
following day a fine English bark, the Rose of the Sea,
conveying 450 Dutch soldiers to Edinburgh for
service under William the Third. The Rose of the Sea
was in no position to resist the vastly superior force
(so far as guns were concerned) opposed to her, and
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
83
hauled down her flag without firing a shot.
Her capture necessitated the return of the little
squadron to Dunkirk, for it was impossible that Jean
Bart could spare a prize crew sufficiently numerous
to overawe the crowd of soldiers on the decks. It
now being too late to hope to intercept the Dutch
fleet, Bart was ordered to proceed to Hamburg and
escort thence to France two large vessels laden with
gunpowder required for the king's service. In
cruising off the mouth of the Elbe, whilst waiting
for his convoy, Bart fell in with and captured three
Dutch whalers, and being unable to convoy them
back to France he admitted them to ransom for the
sum of 38007. On his homeward voyage another
vessel, the Huron, laden with timber and salt fish,
hauled down her flag and accompanied the squadron
to Dunkirk.
In the following year Jean Bart, now in command
of the frigate Alcyon, bore a prominent part in Tour-
ville's naval fight on the 10th June, off the south coast
of England, at which Torrington was accused of
allowing the Dutch to withstand the full attacks of
the French fleets. Here again aristocratic jealousy
led to the exclusion of Jean Bart's name from the
admiral's despatches, though for some days previous
to the engagement, he was detached from the fleet
to gather information concerning the enemy, and
spent the night before the battle in an open boat,
satisfying himself as to the accuracy of his informa-
tion, and drawing up for the admiral a plan in which
the exact position of the enemy's ships was laid down.
Despite these gallant services, performed at great
G 2
84
The Corsairs of France.
personal risk, Bart was ignored by Tourville in the
pompous despatches which announced his barren
victory of Beachy Head.
After the dispersion of the English fleet, Tourville
returned to Brest, whilst Bart, in obedience to
instructions, stood to the eastward, for the purpose of
destroying the enemy's commerce in the North Sea.
His successes in the Alcyon must have reminded
him of his most prosperous Corsair days. In the
short space of a fortnight twelve prizes; an English
barque, the Resolution; a Dutch brigantine and
ten craft sailing under Hamburg colours were
captured, the latter ransomed for a sum of 31,750l.,
the two former carried into Dunkirk. Having re-
shipped his prize crew, he once more took up his
station off the Dutch coast, and once more pursued
an uninterrupted career of victory. Cruising off the
Doggerbank he inflicted terrible losses on the fishing
fleets, and after a sharp struggle he boarded and
captured a Dutch frigate of 28 guns.
With the new year Jean Bart was appointed to a
new ship, the Entendu, a splendid vessel mounting
70 guns with a crew of 400 men, and his first
employment was in the Channel squadron com-
manded by Tourville. Such work gave no scope to
Bart's peculiar talents, and was at the same time
particularly distasteful to him; the haughty, super-
cilious manner of the French naval officer accorded
little with his innate simplicity, and he longed for
orders to free himself from what he looked on as
the servitude of the service. The death of Seignelay
in the preceding month (3rd Nov., 1690), opened up
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
85
to Jean Bart fresh visions of the accomplishment
of his great scheme-namely the destruction of
English and Dutch commerce by squadrons of swift-
sailing craft under picked commanders. Seignelay,
whilst secretly approving of the scheme, did not
hesitate to borrow it in parts, and to turn these
parts to his own advantage. His own personal greed
prevented him giving full effect to Jean Bart's views,
and instead of scouring the Channel with groups of
cruisers, equipped at the king's expense, he com-
missioned one small group, as we have previously
seen, at the joint charge of the Minister of War and
of himself, and drew large profits from Bart's suc-
cessful cruises.
Phélippaux de Pontchartrain, the new Minister of
Marine, threw himself cordially into Jean Bart's
scheme, and despite the jealousy and opposition
evinced by a certain clique at Versailles, sent instruc-
tions to the intendant at Dunkirk that Jean Bart
was to be assisted in every way in fitting out his
squadron. Forbin so far conquered his aversion
to serving under a plebeian as to solicit a command
in Jean Bart's squadron.
Some few months necessarily elapsed before Jean
Bart's little flotilla was ready for sea. News of his
intentions had oozed out, and the port of Dunkirk
was rigorously blockaded by an English squadron
under Benbow; but the habile Bart waited until
a heavy southerly gale had cleared the immediate
neighbourhood of the blockading squadron, and then
putting to sea, evaded the look-out ships. On finding
Bart had escaped, Benbow at once gave chase, two of
86
The Corsairs of France.
the English ships got within a league of him, the rest
were three leagues astern; seeing the French out-
sailed him, Benbow gave up the pursuit. The result
of his first action proved the justice of Jean Bart's
views on the value of small squadrons of light ships.
On the 26th July, after a combat of four hours' dura-
tion, in which the enemy were considerably over-
matched, he captured four English merchantmen under
convoy of a forty-four gun frigate: two days later
he steered into the middle of the Dutch fishing fleet
and burnt eighty-four of them. His decks now being
encumbered with prisoners, he steered to the west-
ward and disembarked over 800 English and Dutchmen
on the coast of Scotland. Then, standing to the south-
ward, anchored at the mouth of the Tyne, and dis-
embarked a powerful landing-party under the Chevalier
Forbin, with orders to ravage the country as much
as was possible within the space of four and twenty
hours. Over 300 houses were burnt, an immense
amount of valuables carried away, and all the corn
in the neighbourhood destroyed. The approach of a
body of troops compelled Forbin to fall back on the
coast, and he re-embarked under cover of the guns
of the squadron, having lost but one man killed.
On the 24th of November, Bart re-entered Dun-
kirk with treasure and merchandise amounting to
100,000l., and with four large ships as prizes. Of the
damage committed in the raid on the Northumbrian
coast it is impossible to make any estimate; it at any
rate showed to the English that their shores were
open to a hostile descent, and should serve us their
descendants a very salutary lesson.
G
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
87
A short cruise in the month of December, enabled
Jean Bart to add to his list of prizes six Dutch
merchant-ships laden with grain, and a fifty-gun
frigate which had them in escort. In the course of
this service he brought himself into conflict with
the Admiralty authorities. Rumours had been per-
sistently circulated that in ransoming prizes, Jean
Bart had always retained for his own use very con-
siderable sums, and had systematically understated
the amounts received. Patoulet, the Intendant of
Dunkirk, accordingly placed an official on board the
Entendu, as a sort of Admiralty agent, to overhaul
Bart's accounts. As might have been anticipated,
constant quarrels supervened, and Bart maintaining
his right to be captain on board his own ship,
clapped the officious official into irons, and steered
home to Dunkirk. Patoulet's indignation was ex-
treme, and he made the strongest representations to
Pontchartrain on the subject. Bart retorted with
acrimony, and finally the minister summoned the
irate captain to Versailles to give an account of his
own behaviour.
Innumerable are the stories told of the con-
duct of the simple captain at Versailles, but
they have little to do with his career as a Corsair
of France. Both sovereign and minister treated
him with the most perfect cordiality, and if any
suspicions ever existed in Pontchartrain's mind as
to the probity of our hero they were speedily
dispelled.
So struck was the Grand Monarch with the
modesty and simplicity of Jean Bart, that it is stated
88
The Corsairs of France.
he openly said at a levée, "Jean Bart, I would to
God I had ten thousand men like you."
"I can well believe it," naively replied the sailor,
looking simply round on the perfumed courtiers,
who regarded his appearance at the court with
indignation.
The winter 1691-2 was spent by Jean Bart ashore.
Pontchartrain judged it expedient not to excite too
much the jealousy of naval officers by a too con-
tinuous employment of one who had entered the
service, not by the regular door of favouritism,
but by the back entrance of merit. In the fol-
lowing spring (1693), however, he was to join the
flag of Tourville in the Glorieux frigate (62). In
this vessel he was present at the disastrous fight of
La Hogue, where the French fleet, overpowered by
numbers was broken into fragments and destroyed
piecemeal.
The Glorieux, however, escaped, and again in the
following year was attached to the fleet assembled
under Tourville at Brest for the purpose of attack-
ing a heavy fleet of merchantmen en route from the
Mediterranean to the Channel. Having once cleared
the Straits of Gibraltar, the English admiral looked
on his convoy as safe (little dreaming that Louis XIV.
had collected another fleet), and made his way home,
leaving but a small squadron of ships of war in
charge of the valuable Smyrna fleet. Off Cape St.
Vincent, Tourville fell in with the English squadron,
attacked and dispersed it, destroying property esti-
mated at many millions. Bart on this occasion
carried by boarding two fine Dutch Indiamen which
-
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
89
had joined company with the English fleet a few
days before the battle.
Whilst Tourville bore up for Brest, Jean Bart
was directed to take the frigates Moor, (52),
Fortuné, (52), Mignon, (44), Comte, (40), Adroit,
(40), to Vleker in Norway, thence to escort a
convoy of merchant-vessels laden with corn
for the French markets. Having satisfactorily
accomplished this mission, he once more put to sea,
and on the 15th of November was fortunate enough,
off the Doggerbank, to capture three armed English
cruisers the Milford, Warrington and Prince of
Wales. The first-named ship being an exceedingly
smart craft, he determined to retain her; therefore,
gutting the other vessels of their armament and
valuables, he sold them to their captains for a sum
aggregating 5000l., and conveyed the Milford alone
into port, reaching Dunkirk in the early days of
December without having met with any further
adventure.
Once more the winter was passed ashore,
and once more with the spring, Jean Bart was
ordered to proceed to Vleker and escort to France
a large convoy of merchantmen, laden with grain.
To the squadron commanded the previous year the
frigates Bienvenue and Portefaia were added. Bart's
instructions were not merely to convoy the fleet
home, but to attack and capture any enemy's vessels
he might meet.
On the 28th of June, 1694, the little squadron sailed,
and on the following morning a large fleet was seen
to windward. Beating up to meet it, to Jean Bart's
90
The Corsairs of France.
dismay it proved to be the very convoy he was about
to escort, which, leaving Vleker before the time ap-
pointed, had been captured by a fleet of eight Dutch
men-of-war, under the command of Vice-Admiral
Hidde de Viries. Although immensely outnumbered,
Jean Bart determined to attempt to retake the fleet;
its loss meant famine in the land, and this fact, well-
known to the Dutch authorities, had induced them to
send forged orders to Vleker, and to take other
steps for the capture of so rich a prize.
The immense superiority of the Dutch gave Jean
Bart no hope of victory were he to permit an
artillery battle to be entered on, he therefore hung
out the signal for his vessels to close on the enemy,
and carry their ships by boarding.
This list shows the magnitude of the task :-
FRENCH.
Glorieux
Maure
Fortuné
Mignon
Comte
Adroit
Bienvenue
Portefaix
·
•
•
62
52
52
44
40
40
26
20
336 guns.
DUTCH.
Prince de Frise
Princess Emilie
Oster Stelling
Stadenland
City of Flushing
Buscherneis
Oudenarde
Zee Reipe
74
68
54
54
54
44
40
40
428 guns.
Laying himself alongside the Prince de Frise, Jean
Bart himself led on the boarders; and as the whole
crew of the Glorieux formed the boarding-party,
which poured on the decks of the Dutch Flag-ship
whilst a great number of her men were employed below
working her lower deck-guns, the French in this
struggle had the advantage, and were able to prevent
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
91
the Dutchmen in the lower batteries from aiding
their messmates above. For close on half an hour
the fight raged with relentless fury on the Dutch
ship's decks, and then Admiral Hidde Von Vries, to
avoid further bloodshed, hauled down his flag.
Over 300 dead and wounded lay on his decks, and
he himself was so grievously hurt that he died
shortly after reaching Dunkirk.
The other vessels of the French squadron showed
equal energy and determination; the Fortuné (52),
without a moment's hesitation, laid herself
alongside the City of Flushing (54), but the
Dutchman cutting adrift the grappling-irons,
crowded on all sail, and so escaped from the fight.
The Comte though carrying but forty guns, pressed
on in pursuit, but was in her turn attacked by the
Princess Emilie, a large two-decker armed with
sixty-eight guns, and was compelled to sheer off
and seek a weaker antagonist; the Mignon (44)
after an extremely sharp conflict succeeded in com-
pelling the Stadenland, a large vessel and carrying
ten more guns, to strike her flag. The Adroit
(40), found a worthy foe in the Zee Reipe of the same
number of guns; but being attacked on the other
quarter by Oster Stelling (54), was forced to
signal the Fortuné, now disengaged, to come to her
aid, and so was deprived of reaping the fruits of
the capture of the Zee Reipe, which struck to the
Fortuné after a few moments' experience of the
boarding qualities of the men of Dunkirk. Seeing
the fate of their three consorts, the remaining
Dutch ships, abandoning the convoy they had failed
<<
92
The Corsairs of France.
to preserve, stood off for the mouth of the Scheldt,
and Jean Bart, signalling his own squadron to close
round the recaptured convoy, and having placed.
strong prize crews on the three fine men-of-war he
had captured, bore up at once for Dunkirk. In
the museum of that town there exists a somewhat
indifferent picture, representing Jean Bart disem-
barking from the Glorieux amidst the plaudits of
the whole population. Never before had such a
sight been witnessed by the town of Dunkirk, yet
in its day it had seen many thousand prizes borne
into its harbour; but now their brave fellow
townsman had not only recaptured the sixty vessels.
laden with corn, the loss of which would have been
such a terrible blow to France, but had torn them
from a convoy carrying ninety-two guns more than
his own squadron, and had safely brought into port
three men-of-war of seventy-four, fifty-four, and forty
guns, on one of which flew Bart's flag surmounting
the broad pennant of a Dutch Vice-Admiral.
On the day of his arrival at Dunkirk, Jean Bart
at once despatched his son to Versailles, as bearer
of his own written report of the engagement. The
Minister of Marine received the lad with the greatest
cordiality, and led him, travel-stained as he was, into
the king's presence. The Grand Monarch's welcome
was not less gracious, and to commemorate more
particularly the victory that had dissipated all fears of
the famine, which was even then threatening the
country, the king gave instruction for a medal to be
struck and distributed to all officers present in the
engagement. One of these medals still exists in the
เ
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
93
museum of Dunkirk. On the one side is an effigy
of the Grand Monarch, with the words, "Ludovicus
magnus, rex Christissimus;" on the other, the
Goddess Ceres standing on the sea-shore, with hands
outstretched and in them ears of corn, welcoming
an approaching vessel, and the words, "Annona
augusta Fugatis aut Captis Bat: nav. MDCXCIX."
In addition to this very rare distinction, Louis XIV.
bestowed on Jean Bart the order of Saint Louis,
granted him a patent of nobility, and handed to his
young son Cornil, a commission as Enseigne de
vaisseau, and further charged his Treasury with an
annual payment of 2000l. to the gallant captain.
On the 13th July following, Bart, cruising off the
mouth of the Meuse, fell in with a convoy of eighty
small craft escorted by three Dutch frigates of forty-
two, twenty-four, and sixteen guns. At once en-
gaging the largest of the three, he sunk her, and
then turned on the smaller craft, which, profiting by
a favourable wind and shoaling water, succeeded in
shaking off their pursuer and escaping. It subse-
quently transpired that the sunken ship carried
treasure exceeding the value of 100,000l. The loss
of this ship was a great blow to Bart, who ever
regretted that he had not on this, as on so many
former occasions, determined to trust his fortune
entirely to his boarding-party.
It is related, but without much proof, by French
authors that the Prince of Orange was on one of
these smaller vessels, and that, on learning from his
captain that the vessel approaching under French
colours was no other than the Glorieux, he at once gave
94
The Corsairs of France.
instruction for his flag to be struck.
"If this brave
man sees that I am on one of these ships, he will
risk everything to capture me;" and thus unnoticed
and unpursued, William III. lost an opportunity of
seeing the lower deck of a French frigate. On the
other hand, the Gazette de la Haye of the 18th
of November, 169 1, gives a totally different view of
the transaction, merely stating that, being about to
embark at Orange Polder on the 16th, and there
learning that on the 13th of that month Jean Bart
had attacked a convoy of Dutch ships in the
immediate neighbourhood, the Prince deferred his
departure until he had learnt that the intrepid
Corsair had re-entered Dunkirk.
In the course of the succeeding year the English,
who in 1694 had bombarded with varying success
St. Malo, Havre, and Dieppe, determined on reducing
Dunkirk to ashes. On the 6th of August, 1695,
a powerful squadron of ships-of-war, mortar-boats,
and fire-ships appeared off the port and subjected
the town to a violent cannonade, throwing, it is said,
over 1200 shells into the place. During this affair
Jean Bart had disembarked his crew and taken
charge of the Fort Bonne Espérance; the fire of his
guns inflicted considerable damage on the enemy's
squadron, a frigate of twenty-eight guns and two
fire-ships sinking opposite its walls. That night,
having failed to fire the town, and, according to
a contemporary historian, not having inflicted a
single louis' worth of damage, the English fleet
withdrew.
The next year (1696), owing to a succession of
Jean Bart of Dunkirk—1650-1702.
95
bad harvests, Jean Bart was once again deputed to
proceed to Flekkefiord to escort a convoy of grain-
laden ships. The squadron under his command con-
sisted of the Maure, 54, Mignon, 44, Adroit, 44,
Jersey, 40, Comte, 40, Alcyon, 38, and Milford, 36 (this
last being an English prize). News of his intended
despatch having leaked out, Jean Bart, when ready to
put to sea, found the port closely blockaded, and was
compelled, as on the previous occasion, to act with
caution in order to avoid the belcaguering squadron.
Taking advantage of a dark night and a heavy
north-westerly gale, which had induced the English
squadron to run for shelter to their own coasts, Jean
Bart with his well-found squadron beat out of the
harbour and up into the North Sea.
into the North Sea. A week later
he spoke two Danish vessels, and from them he
learnt that a large Dutch fleet under Admirals
Mindger and Wanzell was lying in the port of
Christiania waiting for the departure of the French
convoy in order to repeat their tactics of the previous
year. Bart determined to change his plan of action,
and, instead of waiting for the convoy as he had
intended, resolved first to attack and drive off the
Dutch fleet, and then to escort the grain-ships
peaceably to Dunkirk. A day or two later Bart
learnt from other vessels that a large fleet of
Dutch merchant-vessels was on the point of leaving
the Baltic for the Scheldt and that Admiral
Mindger had detached part of his fleet to escort
them home. While beating up to the northward
for the purpose of attacking the Dutchmen, Bart
sighted the enemy's squadron on the 17th of June,
-
96
The Corsairs of France.
about six miles to windward, and standing south-
south-west. It consisted of eighty merchant-ships
and five men-of-war-frigates only, two of 44, two
of 38, and one of 24 guns. Jean Bart signalled his
squadron to close on the flagship, and for the captains
to come on board the Maure for orders.
In a few short impassioned sentences the brave
Bart explained his plan of action. "Avoid all
artillery duels, lay yourselves alongside the enemy's
men-of-war, carry them by boarding, and then the
merchant-vessels will have no chance of escape."
The Maure, Jersey, Mignon, Adroit, and Comte were
told off to attack the men-of-war, the Alcyon and
Milford were ordered to watch events, offer assist-
ance if necessary, but should they see all going on
well to take steps for the capture of the convoy.
Unfortunately that afternoon the wind fell, and the
two squadrons lay within sight of each other: the
Dutch unable to escape, the French unable to attack.
At dawn, on the 18th, seeing the Dutch squadron
gradually edging to the southward under a light
northerly breeze, Bart, who during the night had
drifted some distance from them, at once put his
squadron about and made sail after them.
-
At eight a.m. Bart overtook the enemy's fleet and
at once bore down on the flagship. In passing,
however, he ran to windward of a smaller craft, the
Dent Arent, and poured in such a broadside at close
range as to entirely dismast her; then signalling the
Milford to board and capture her, he moved on to
attack the City of Haarlem. The Dutch commodore
endeavoured to avoid the Maure, but in bearing
*
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
97
away from her she fouled a merchant-vessel, and
this enabled Bart to lay the Maure alongside and
throw his boarders on to the Dutchman's decks;
the struggle was of short duration but sharp enough
while it lasted, Bart's casualties amounting to seven-
teen killed. The Dutch had suffered far more
severely, the commodore, Bokem, and fifty-one men
lying dead on the City of Haarlem's decks.
In the meantime the Jersey and Alcyon passing
on either side of Lord Holmes, an English-built ship
flying the tricolour of the States-General, poured in
most destructive volleys. The Jersey, wearing ship
when she was a cable's length ahead, discharged a
second broadside which raked the unfortunate
Dutchman, and left her an easy prey for her own
boarders. The Alcyon, as agreed on between the
two ships, stood on to attack the Meldam, and after
a desperate hand-to-hand fight, in which the Dutch
captain perished, she too struck her flag. There
was now but the Sauldeck remaining of the whole
Dutch squadron; this vessel, ably commanded, gave
the Mignon an infinity of trouble before she was
captured, and this was not effected until the Adroit
had passed alongside and poured in broadside after
broadside under her lee.
Jean Bart learning from the officers of the City of
Haarlem that the fleets of Admirals Mindger and
Wanzell were but a few hours' sail astern, hastened
to put prize-crews on board the captured men-of-
war, and instructed the officers in command of the
prizes to bear up for Dunkirk.
for Dunkirk. As for the merchant-
fleet, unfortunately no time could be spared to
H
98
The Corsairs of France.
pursue those that were standing off in-shore, but
the Comte and the Milford adroitly performed the
task assigned to them, and succeeded in capturing
nine of the largest.
Barely had the prize-crews been placed on the
captured vessels when the look-outs signalled
thirteen large ships away to leeward; these
proved, as Jean Bart feared, the leading vessels
of Wanzell's fleet, and comprised two line-of-battle
ships of 74 guns, two of 64, and one of 60, three
frigates of 46, one of 40, and one of 34; in all
548 guns.
The inopportune arrival of this powerful
squadron in nowise disconcerted the intrepid sailor.
His men, inflamed with their recent victory, were
ready enough for another fight and more than con-
fident of success; but some of the ships had suffered
severely in the recent engagement, notably the
Mignon, whose rudder was disabled, and it was idle
to hope to fight a successful battle with half his
crews manning the Dutch prizes, and with his own
decks encumbered with over a thousand prisoners.
Signalling his captains to come on board for orders,
Bart at once communicated his plans. All the
prisoners were to be placed on board the Dent
Arent and allowed to proceed to Holland, the
captains and senior officers only being retained as
hostages, and the Dutch officers jointly signing an
agreement that the Dent Arent should be sent
round to Dunkirk as soon as she had landed her
discharged prisoners. The guns of the remaining
four ships were to be hove overboard, their powder
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
99
damped, all valuables removed, and vessels then set
on fire.
Jean Bart had no wish to expose his own squadron
to loss, as he felt that loss must inevitably result from
an engagement with such a vastly superior force;
but he was determined that the enemy should reap the
full loss of his gallant action of the morning, he there-
fore shortened sail until the burning men-of-war and
merchant-ships were utterly consumed, and then
crowding on all sail stood down south for Dunkirk.
Stupefied at Bart's audacity, and fearing that crews
might be on some of the burning ships, Wanzell's
squadron wasted some time in endeavouring to offer
aid; when the whole truth was learnt, and the
signal for chase hung out, the French squadron was
hull down and night supervening made good their
escape.
The Dutch losses on this occasion amounted to four
men-of-war and thirty-seven merchant-vessels burnt,
their value being estimated at close on a million
sterling; the commodore, one captain, and eight
other officers were killed, whilst in the lower ranks
eighty-seven men were killed and 143 wounded.
The French losses were but three officers and
twenty-seven men killed, one officer and fifty-six
men wounded.
Irrespective of this striking victory, the cruise
was otherwise thoroughly successful; the Dutch
fleets having been dispersed, the convoy reached the
coast of France in safety, and Bart once more had
been instrumental in saving France, if not from
actual famine, at any rate from grievous want. The
H 2
Uor M
100
The Corsairs of France.
}
t
Grand Monarch was not forgetful of his services, for
on the 1st of April, 1697, he was promoted to the
rank of commodore, and placed in command of his
Majesty's ships and squadrons in all the ports of
Flanders, in the place of the Marquis de Lanzeron,
deceased.
In the following year Jean Bart saw no active
service, and the Peace of Ryswick in 1698 put an end
to all hopes of further employment for the present.
The peace, however, was not of long duration; within
two years, Austria, England, and the States-General
entered into what was termed the Grand Alliance,
and once more declared war on France. Whilst
busily preparing to meet his enemies on land, the
Grand Monarch was not unmindful of the excellent
service performed during the last war by his fleet,
and was not likely to overlook those in particular of
Jean Bart.
Instructions were at once forwarded to Dunkirk for
that commodore to prepare a squadron for employ-
ment in the Channel, and a fine 74-gun ship, the
Fendant, recently launched at Havre, was worked
round to Dunkirk for Bart to commission as his
flagship. But Bart's last fight was fought, his last
prize won. Never sparing himself when work was
to be done, and never calling upon his men to do
what he would not do himself, he slaved night and
day in order to bring forward his squadron for sea.
Night and day, wet and fine, the indefatigable old
commodore-not old in years, for he was but two-
and-fifty, but grey and worn with wounds and
exposure was seen tramping round the dockyard
30
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
IOI
encouraging the workmen and stirring up the
sluggards. He was little used to the peculiar
mental strain such work involved, and somewhat
dreaded the responsibility attached to his new post.
Large sums of money destined for wages, stores,
and purchase of timber, sails, and cordage, naturally
passed through his hands, and not blessed with a
high-class education, Jean Bart was much exercised
lest defalcations should be suspected. He had not
forgotten Patoulet's suspicions. The excitement
connected with the administration part of his office
produced a fever, and this coming on after a severe
chill brought on pleurisy. The hardy seaman had
suffered much in health of recent years, and he was
in no condition now to battle with disease. Vainly
he strove to carry on his work, still more vainly
to bear up with the heroic remedies of that age.
Cupping and blisters, blisters and cupping were the
only specifics used by the faculty of Dunkirk, and
they quickly did their work. On the 27th of
April, 1702, just five days after his first seizure,
Jean Bart, who had faced death in a hundred deadly
fights, passed peacefully away in the little house in
the Rue de l'Église: the house in which he had
been born, and in which his father, the stout old
Cornil Bart, too had met his only conqueror.
Still may his tomb be seen at the foot of the high
altar in the church of St. Eloi in his native town,
and in its museum and its archives many most in-
teresting memorials of his gallant actions may be
found. Whilst his name is perpetuated in his native
town, it still lives in other parts of France, and
ance and
102
The Corsairs of France.
was until a recent period preserved in the French
navy as the baptismal appellation for one of their
ships-of-war. In 1801 we find the Jean Bart,
74, playing a brave part under Gantheaume in
his attempt to prevent Abercromby landing in
Egypt. Eight years later, the same line-of-battle
ship, escaping from Brest with the squadron under
Willaumez, was driven into the Basque roads by
Lord Gambier, and there destroyed by the fire-ships
of the daring Cochrane. In 1828 the flagship of
the squadron destined to demand satisfaction from
Don Pedro of Brazil, was the Jean Bart; in the
year 1864, the training-ship for French naval
cadets bore the same undying name. What more
suitable one could be chosen for a vessel destined
to be the field of instruction for the future Jean
Barts of France? Now, unfortunately, no Jean
Bart is to be found in the Navy List; but along
the northern coast of France many a fine chasse-
marée and many a staunch lugger bears the name of
one of the most popular and one of the most
successful sailors France has yet produced.
Jean Bart of Dunkirk-1650-1702.
103
Date of
Capture.
List of prizes captured from the Dutch by Jean Bart, in vessels
carrying Letters of Marque, before he was granted a King's
Commission.
1674
Mar. 27
April 5
May 11
15
""
June 3
Aug. 27
Sept. 11
Oct. 8
24
"9
1675
Jan. 13
17
در
21
July 31
Aug. 4
8
""
Oct. 21
1676
Mar. 25
Name of Prize.
Homme Sauvage
Friendly Adventure
St. Paul of Bruges
Smack, name not
given
Two brigs, names
not given
Elizabeth...
....
A Greenland wha-
ler, 8 guns
Baleine Gris
St. George
…………….
Ville de Paris......
Premier Jugement
de Solomon
Esperance, 12 guns
Arms of
Ham-
burg, 12 guns
Levrier, 12 guns...
Bergère 12 guns...
15 fishing crafts...
Arbre de Chêne...
Name of Corsair.
King David, 2 guns,
36 men.
King David
Royale
Palme
Dauphin
Mars...
...
91
Royale, 10 guns,
and 80 men.
***
>>
...
"}
"}
11
>>
**
Brig, name un- Palme, 24 guns,
known
150 men.
**
;"
****
...
CAN
***
...
...
...
...
...
...
Date of
Capture.
...
1676
Mar. 28
Sept. 3
7
""
""
...
""
...
در
...
""
...
5)
1677
Jan.
Feb.
52
Total number of prizes.
""
>"
رد
* ER223
23
19
7
May
Sept. 8
1678
Jan.
ور
11 Golden Hawk.
15 Corbeau Vert......
Pelican ..
21
22 Lady Christine
Prophet Daniel.
16
8
June 12
July 7
18
10
14
1
...
...
...
414
**
Name of Prize.
Tertoole, 16 guns
Eight fishing lug-
gers
Hope of Bremen
Neptune, 32 guns
Eight fishing-
smacks
Cabilhan
3 brigs,
unknown
guns
Elephant
Golden Prince
Brig, name
known
Prinz Wilhelm
...
Good Fortune, 8
St. Martin
St. Antoine
...
...
...
...
Five fishing-lug-
gers
Sherdam, 24 guns
26
names
33
7
Total 74
PANOO
19
……….
....
...
6 vessels.
""
"+
...
"I
""
...
un-
Name of Corsair.
Palme, 24 guns,
150 men.
"}
"}
11
21
17
11
> ·
**
22
ܝ
"}
">
31
Dauphin, 30 guns,
200 men.
}}
Mars.
}}
104
The Corsairs of France.
1
Date
of Cap-
ture.
Principal prizes made by Jean Bart after receiving a
King's Commission.
1681
1683
1689
1690
1691
1693
1694
1696
Name of Prize.
2 Moorish feluccas,.
Spanish transport
Seahorse, 50 guns
……..
2 Spanish ships
Dutch Corsair, 14
Saint Anthony
Rose of the Sea
3 Dutch whalers
Huron
Resolution
Dutch brig
10 Hamburg traders..
4 English brigs
··
...
...
••
……………
……….
···
84 Dutch fishing-smacks
6 Dutch whalers
1 Dutch frigate, 50 guns
Milford
••
Prince of Wales.....
Warrington
Prince de Frise, 74
Stadenland, 54
Zeeripe; 40.
Dent Arent, 74
City of Haarlem, 74
Lord Holmes, 50
Weldam, 44
Sauldeck, 30
37 Merchant-vessels
‹
...
..
··
••
4
•
•
Name of
Captor.
Vipère, 16
Serpente, 36
Railleuse, 24
Serpente, 16
در
Jason, 48
در
در
Alcyon, 26
""
""
Entendu, 60 Landed
"J
>>
Glorieux, 60,
& 7 consorts
ވހާ
""
29
^
""
""
""
""
""
Also sunk English Cor-
sair, and was in turn
captured by Nonsuch,
50.
35
and ravaged
the neighbourhood of
Newcastle.
Medal struck to com-
memorate this fight.
The Dent Arent was ran-
somed, the other prizes
all burnt to prevent
their recapture.
105
CHAPTER III.
JACQUES CASSARD OF NANTES.
A prophet unhonoured in his own land-Commences life as a
fisherboy off Newfoundland-Serves as mousse in a St.
Malo Corsair Commands a bombship in the bombardment.
of Carthagena-Entrusted with the command of a Corsair by
the people of Nantes-Gallant capture of the William
Duncan-Presented to Louis XIV., and nominated to the
command of a king's ship-His successes in the Saint William
-Captures Dutch corvette Catherine-Makes fresh prizes off
coast of Ireland-Shifts to the Saint Anne--Convoys a fleet
of Marseilles merchantmen from Tunis to France-Ingratitude
of merchants-In 1710 safely convoys a fleet from Syracuse—
Captures two English men-of-war, the Falcon and Pembroke
-Promoted captain in the navy-Commands expedition to
the Cape de Verdes-Ravages British and Dutch settlements
in West Indies-Superseded in his command-Returns to
France-Falls into disgrace-Insults Fleury-Incarcerated as
a State prisoner-Dies in prison.
THE cloud that hung over Cassard's later days may
perhaps account for the fact that he is practically
unknown outside France, and that even in his own
country he is almost a prophet without honour.
Contemporary with Jean Bart and Duguay Trouin,
his early deeds vie with theirs, nay excel them; had
it not been that his life was embittered by the
ungenerous actions of the merchants of Marseilles,
whose city he saved from famine, and by the
insults and neglect of the Government he served so
106
The Corsairs of France.
well, he would doubtless have been handed down to
posterity as one of France's noblest heroes.
As it was, the sense of unredressed wrongs, of
unrequited services, converted the open-hearted,
daring Corsair into the soured misanthrope; and the
Court of Versailles, which at one time was wont to
shower down upon him honours with no niggard
hand, turned a deaf ear to his supplications, and
finally, weary of his importunities, cast him into a
State prison. Thus it was that no contemporary
historian was found to laud his gallant actions, and
that he himself was disinclined to write his own
memoirs. Had he but achieved the fame which at
one time seemed within his grasp, doubtless, like
Jean Bart, he would have found some writer anxious
to record the career of the dashing and successful
Corsair, or maybe, like Duguay Trouin or Forbin,
he could have left us his own personal recollections
painted with the glaring colours of self-love and self-
glorification. But, doomed to failure and to dis-
appointment, Cassard found no historian bold enough
to risk the anger of the Court, by compiling the
memoirs of the sailor who twice saved France from
famine, and who by his own unaided exertions won
for the cabin-boy of Nantes the uniform of a
captain in the king's navy ere he had attained
the age of five-and-forty years, and a king's com-
mission ere he was thirty.
Though but little known outside his native city,
Cassard's name is borne in affectionate remembrance
by the good people of Nantes. Many a visitor to
that Breton port wonderingly asks who may be the
*
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
107
Cassard whose statue adorns the façade of the
Bourse, and what was his renown that one of the
quais of the city should be named in honour of an
unknown man? At the opening of the eighteenth
century the name of Jacques Cassard was on the
lips of every Frenchman, at the close of the nine-
teenth not one in a hundred knows or cares one iota
about him.
Of Cassard's early life we know but little. This
we know, that he was born in 1672, and that his
father was the captain of a small craft trading
between Nantes and the Levant. At his father's
death, which happened when our hero was but ten
years old, the widow found herself thrown on the
world with three daughters and one son. Utterly
unprovided for, Madame Cassard turned to her
friends for help. These friends at once determined
that our young hero should follow his father's call-
ing, and he was straightway shipped off to the
coasts of Newfoundland in a fishing-brig hailing
from St. Malo. Three years were passed in this
way, years fraught with hardship and with peril, but
serving in no small degree to accustom the future
Corsair to a life of danger and privation, and
innoculating him with a love of adventure.
At the age of fourteen, in 1686 the young Corsair,
through the influence of his late captain, obtained an
engagement in a Malouine Corsair, and passed the
ensuing nine years of his life in this exciting call-
ing. No particulars of this portion of his career are
to be found, but that he gained more than mere
local renown is evident,for we learn from the Archives
108
The Corsairs of France.
of the Marine that when he was five-and-twenty
(1697), the Baron de Pointis selected him to command
the bomb-ship attached to the squadron proceeding
to Carthagena. De Pointis was a man of noble
birth and of considerable reputation in the king's
fleet. He had served under Duquesne at Algiers,
and with D'Estrées at Tripoli; he had commanded a
line-of-battle ship in Tourville's memorable engage-
ment with the English fleet on the 10th of July, 1690,
and had been nominated one of the first Knights on
the institution of the Order of St. Louis. As an
aristocrat, and a member of the most aristocratic
profession, it was natural that he should select none
but men of birth and station to serve under him.
That Cassard, erstwhile the cabin-boy of Nantes,
should have been thus chosen, proves that though
his early deeds have not been handed down to pos-
terity, they were of such a nature as to have
established his reputation amongst his contempo-
raries.
The expedition of M. de Pointis was one of those
semi-filibustering affairs so often waged by France
in distant climes. All the resources of the kingdom
were needed for the carrying on of wars in Europe,
and the French Government had little leisure, and
still less money, to warrant it turning its thoughts
further afield. Yet treasure was to be gained, and
the enemies of France weakened, by descents on their
far-off colonies, and the king's ministers turned will
ing ears to proposals from speculative filibusters who
proposed these trans-oceanic excursions. When
adequate guarantees were offered, king's ships were
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
109
freely given, and the king's commission willingly
bestowed on those ready to risk money and life in
attacking the colonial possessions of the foes of
France.
Just as the king would place one of his own ships
at the disposal of a renowned Corsair, on the
condition that the State was put to no expense in
the fitting of her out, and that one-tenth of the
profits made during the cruise were paid into the
king's coffers, so were the ministers ready to share
in like manner in more ambitious flights. When
M. de Pointis, the tried and trusted friend of
Duquesne, of D'Estrées, and of Tourville, suggested
to Pontchartrain, then Minister of Marine, that he
was prepared to undertake a descent on Carthagena,
one of the richest Spanish settlements in South
America, and submitted names of wealthy ship-
owners and merchants in Paris and Brittany, who were
willing to advance all the funds for the venture, the
minister gladly welcomed the proposal. De Pointis'
force consisted of ten line-of-battle ships carrying
from seventy-four to fifty-six guns, four frigates
carrying thirty-six, a bombship, and some smaller
craft, in which were embarked 5000 troops destined
to form the army of invasion. Pontchartrain, who
took a warm interest in the undertaking, had sent
instructions to M. Du Casse, governor of St
Domingo, to raise 1200 men from amongst the fili-
busters of the West Indian Islands, to add to the
strength of the land forces, and he had also placed
at M. de Pointis' disposal a number of engineers and
artillery officers to direct the land operations.
ΠΙΟ
The Corsairs of France.
Cassard, whose name for daring gallantry and
smart seamanship had led to his selection by De
Pointis, was nominated to the command of the
bombship, and in this capacity he accompanied the
fleet which left Brest on the 7th of January, 1697.
The passage across the Atlantic, undertaken at the
very worst season of the year, was fraught with
extreme peril; a series of very heavy gales were en-
countered, and Cassard's craft, little adapted for
such a perilous voyage, was compelled to part
company with the rest of the fleet, and it was only
by dint of the greatest exertions that the strained
and leaky bombship was safely navigated to the
island of St. Domingo, which had been named as the
point of rendezvous. There Cassard found the
whole of the fleet assembled, and he also found that
quarrels had already broken out between the
haughty aristocrat, De Pointis, and Du Casse, the
commander of the filibusters; these were for a time
appeased, and after having filled up with water and
provisions, the expedition set sail for Carthagena,
reaching that port in June.
To the summons to surrender the governor
returned a defiant answer, and on the ships standing
in to bombard the city, the forts opened such a
destructive fire that De Pointis was glad to seek an
offing, and to take counsel of his captains on the
course to be pursued. Cassard and Du Casse
strongly urged an immediate attack, the latter
volunteering to land his filibusters under cover of
the fire of the fleet; the consultation was long and
stormy, De Pointis inclined to delay, but the fiery
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
III
arguments of Cassard and the filibuster commander
carried the day, their enthusiasm spread to the
other commanders, and it was finally determined
that at dawn the fleet should stand in and bombard
the forts, and that when Du Casse saw an opening
he should dash ashore with his 1200 men, De Pointis
promising to support him with the 5000 soldiers in
the fleet.
On the following morning, favoured by a gentle
south-easterly breeze, the French squadron once
more neared the forts, once more the Spanish
batteries opened a deadly fire, but the ships stood
boldly on, the little bombship attracting general
notice by taking up a position within 400 yards of
the strongest fort, and subjecting it to a most
accurate and destructive fire. On Cassard's craft
was Du Casse, with over 100 of his filibusters, the rest
in coasting schooners were anxiously awaiting the
signal to disembark, which it was agreed on should
be thrown out from Cassard's ship. When once De
Pointis was fairly engaged, all timidity vanished, and
the Spaniards, who, the evening before, had counted
on an easy victory, were now speedily disenchanted.
The guns of the fleet were served with rapidity and
precision, the artillery officers embarked by the
thoughtful care of Pontchartrain had been dis-
tributed amongst the ships, and their skill and
science was soon discernible. By 10 a.m. the fire
of the forts had slackened, and Du Casse, seeing that
the sea-face of the work nearest the bombship was
in ruins, signalled to his filibusters to pull in and
land, at the same time he and Cassard springing
II 2
The Corsairs of France.
into the boats of the galliot headed the assault.
Bravely did the Spaniards meet the attack, but the
wild pirates of St. Domingo were not to be denied,
whilst Cassard and the hardy Bretons who formed
his crew were not backward in showing Du Casse's
men that the Corsairs of Brittany were worthy
descendants of the heroes who had planted the
ermine of their province on the sterile coasts of
Newfoundland and on the burning sands of Gaboon.
After a desperate fight, in which Spainard and
Frenchmen showed equal valour, the first fort
was carried. Cassard then directing its guns
on a neighbouring work, signalled to De Pointis
to concentrate the fire of his fleet on the same.
fort, at the same time sending word that, as soon
as its guns were silenced, he would carry it
by assault. Then step by step the various bat-
teries were assaulted, and by evening the citadel
alone remained in possession of the Spaniards, and
from its walls the white flag of surrender was also
flying. Terms were speedily arranged, the garrison
being permitted to march out with all the honours of
war, leaving the city to the tender mercies of the
conqueror. On the morrow with banners flying
and drums beating, and accompanied by two small
field-pieces, the garrison quitted the town. In
their wake followed the citizens carrying whatever
they were able, but as their burdens were limited to
what the master and slaves could carry, much that
was valuable was of necessity left behind; those
citizens who preferred to remain in the city were
guaranteed protection by the French commander.
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
113
Small protection was it in De Pointis' power to
afford them. Regulars and filibusters, drunk with
victory, spread through the streets; women seeking
refuge in the churches were ravished at the very
steps of the altar; officers striving to restore order
were ruthlessly shot down by the maddened men,
and scenes of carnage and wild rapine ensued-
scenes, alas! too often re-enacted by troops more
civilized than De Pointis' lawless followers. De
Pointis seemed powerless to act; and Du Casse,
jealous of the treatment accorded him at St. Domingo,
refused to hold his men in check-refused, because
he too was powerless. Cassard, accustomed to the
rough and ready discipline of a Corsair's deck, and to
the stern justice of the Jugements d'Oleron, sought
permission to restore order, and selecting a band of
some 300 Bretons, culled from the crews of the ships
of war, he disembarked for the purpose of subduing
the conquerors of Carthagena. And now ensued a
second combat, a combat bloody and long sustained,
but which in the end resulted in the triumph of
order and discipline. The mutineers, worn out with
lust and drink, were terrified at the stern examples
shown by Cassard. They were little used to the
prompt punishment meted out by the brave
Breton, and the sight of their own miserable com-
rades shot down in the act of plunder staggered
those who thought rapine the necessary sequel to
victory. Posting strong parties at the gates of the
city, Cassard steadily searched every street, and by
nightfall of the second day after the capture of the
town, he was able to assure De Pointis that order
I
G
114
The Corsairs of France.
reigned in Carthagena. And at what a price! It
is said by a contemporary writer that the bodies
of 370 women were buried by Cassard's orders, and
that that stern judge had himself executed over
twenty men who were caught red-handed in the
act of plunder.
The next few days were spent in an organized
search for treasure, in this De Pointis was much dis-
appointed, as it transpired that the inhabitants,
learning of the proposed expedition, had transported
several hundred waggon-loads into the interior.
Still the booty was not to be despised, over 350,0007.
in hard specie were discovered in the city, besides a
vast amount of gold and silver in bars, and a con-
siderable quantity of plate, jewels, church ornaments,
and other articles of value. What the total amount
of prize was it is hard to say, but as it is asserted
that the sum of 1,200,000 louis fell to the share of
the filibusters, we may assume contemporary his-
torians not to be far wrong when they maintain it
exceeded three millions sterling.
In September, 1697, after an absence of nearly
nine months, De Pointis re-entered Brest, and one of
his first acts was to bring the gallant conduct of
Cassard to the notice of the Court of Versailles. In
his despatches to the king, Monsieur de Pointis
specially singled out the Corsair officer for unquali-
fied praise, and submitted his name to the Minister
of Marine for enrolment in the navy. Class pre-
judices were too strong, however, and Cassard was
fain to content himself with the assurances of De
Pointis' support and protection, and the hearty
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
115
ovations granted him by his fellow-townsmen.
Failing employment in the Navy, Cassard now
found himself compelled to accept the command
of a private Corsair, fitted out especially after his
own design by some merchants of Nantes. His
fellow-townsmen were jealous that all his good deeds
should be monopolized by the Malouines, who had
come to look on him as a true representative of
the Corsair city. On this craft Cassard cruised most
successfully, until the severity of the winter compelled
him to take the ship into port, there to lay her up until
the summer should permit him to renew his opera-
tions. An English brig, the William Duncan, bound
from the West Indies, with rum and sugar, two large
Dutch East Indiamen, and three small English traders
fell into his hands during this cruise. The first-
named, a well-armed and powerfully-manned craft,
made a stout resistance, in the course of which the
English captain and eleven of his crew were killed;
Cassard losing eighteen of his own men killed and
wounded. The capture of the William Duncan added
not a little to the fame of Cassard, besides bringing
him in a considerable sum. De Pointis, delighted
at the fresh success of his protégé, once more brought
all his influence at court to bear, with the view of
obtaining him a commission in the navy.
Louis this time was not inexorable, and in
the spring of 1700 Jacques Cassard was called to
Versailles, and there interviewed by the Grand Mon-
arch. "Monsieur Cassard," said the king, "your
praise is in every one's mouth, and M. de Pointis
assures me you are lost in your present vocation. I
I 2
116
The Corsairs of France.
have need of all the brave men I can find for my
navy, and as you, they say, are the bravest of the
brave, I have appointed you a lieutenant in my fleet,
and have given M. Pontchartrain instructions to
hand over to you a sum of 2000l. to enable you
to support your position properly."
Cassard, more accustomed to the rough life in the
'tween decks of a Corsair than to courts, found few
words in which to express his thanks and gratitude
to his monarch; but a legend has been handed down
that, throwing himself at Louis' feet he embraced
the padded calves of the astonished sovereign,
and with tears in his eyes declared himself willing
to die for one whose condescension was so over-
powering.
Cassard's stay in Versailles was limited; his
services were urgently needed at sea, and by Pont-
chartrain's instructions he immediately proceeded to
Dunkirk, and there assumed the command of one of
the king's corvettes, "The Jersey," a prize recently
captured from the English. This ship he fitted out
with all speed, and in her carried on a very successful
campaign in the Channel, capturing in the course of
the year 1698, no less than thirteen vessels flying
the English and the Dutch flags; but his very suc-
cesses roused the jealousy of the old naval school.
Gallant as French aristocrats ever were, they
were not cast in the mould whence good Corsairs
spring; they had not the hardy perseverance which
prompted them to keep the sea in all seasons and
in all weathers, to scour distant seas and lie off
distant ports in the hope of picking up a stray
ļ
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
117
7
prize. They were ready enough to lay their ships
alongside an English vessel of equal, aye! of superior
size, or to stand in to a stone-girt harbour, and try
to knock its walls about the ears of its defenders;
but they liked their deeds of daring to be performed
in the company of their fellow-gallants, in the sight
of nobles who should carry to Versailles lengthy
reports of the glorious bravery of the blue blood of
French. They were content that the humble rôle
of harrying an enemy's commerce should be played
by men who bore no arms and who knew no quar-
terings; but they waxed wroth that the successes of
such men, whose hands betrayed the tar-pot, should
be considered a passport to entrance into the king's
own navy, and should entitle them to wear the king's
own livery. Cassard's successes as a Corsair had
brought him within the pale of court protection,
and, alas! within the malevolent influence of court
jealousy.
Like Duguay Trouin and other Corsairs, who by
force of merit had earned the right of wearing the
king's uniform, Cassard was destined for subordinate
employment during the first few years of his service
under the king. He had to pass through that
great mill of discipline, a man-of-war, ere he was
considered fit to exercise command over gentlemen,
socially his superiors. He had to learn the niceties
of French etiquette, and to forget the Jugements
d'Oleron, which were to the Corsair the foundation of
all law. He had to comfort himself that he should
overcome the jealousies of his brother officers, and
maintain in the face of their jaundiced reports, the
118
The Corsairs of France.
high reputation already formed of his merits by the
authorities at Versailles.
As a mere lieutenant of a man-of-war in times of
peace, it is not to be wondered that all trace of
Cassard should be lost during the early years of his
naval career, or that he should soon have wearied
of such uncongenial employment. In his disgust at
his new profession he turned to his old friends the
shipowners of St. Malo, and his appeal was not in
vain. They knew his real worth, and had enjoyed
many material proofs of his value. As yet the
prophet had but small reputation in his own country,
and Nantes, forgetting his successes in the craft built
for him on his return from Carthagena, refused
to entrust him with a command. At St. Malo,
however, he was more fortunate, and in June, 1705,
he received a commission from the Count of
Toulouse, then Lord High Admiral of France, to fit
out a Corsair under the usual conditions. The
Royal Treasury was in too impoverished a condition
to give Cassard a ship furnished at the king's own
expense, but there were vessels rotting in the king's
dockyards which were always at the disposition of
enterprising merchants, who would undertake the
risk of fitting them out for war and providing them
with efficient crews.
A little group of Malouine merchants readily
found the necessary funds, and on the 27th of June,
1705, Cassard hoisted his flag on the Saint William,
a small craft carrying eight guns, and manned by a
crew of sixty-eight men gathered from the scum of
the seafaring population of the Breton seaport.
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
119
Cassard's first cruise was fruitless enough, and in
the month of November he returned to St. Malo,
and paid off his vessel without having made a single
prize. The weakness of his crew and the lightness
of his armament had cost him many a pang.
His
heaviest gun threw a shot weighing but three
pounds, and his crew being composed of men of all
nations-the failures too of all professions, for but
few of them were real seamen-were scarcely to be
depended on in the hour of danger. Cassard felt
that he must renounce all attempt of carrying on
his depredations in the open sea; the Saint William
was no match for the well-found Dutch or English
trader, carrying often as many guns and as heavy a
crew as a sloop-of-war, and he determined therefore
to harry the shores of Ireland in the hopes of pick-
ing up some coasting-craft.
In March, 1706, he again set sail from St. Malo,
and steered a direct course for the Head of Kinsale.
Hoisting English colours, he was readily mistaken
for a coasting-vessel, and was thus enabled to
capture in the course of a short fortnight six small
traders, which he admitted to ransom for the sum
of 6501. sterling. Taking the captains of these
ships on board the Saint William as security for
the payment of the bills drawn in payment of
the ransom money, Cassard bore up for Brest,
and handed his six prisoners over to the Naval
Commandant of that port on the 6th of April,
1706.
After a short stay in Brest to take in food and
water, Cassard once more set sail for the coast of
I 20
The Corsairs of France.
66
Ireland. Within twenty-four hours of Brest, how-
ever, he sighted a vessel sailing under Dutch colours,
which summoned him to send a boat on board
with his papers. Cassard took no notice of the
summoning gun," but kept steadily on his course;
the Dutchman thereupon fired a shotted gun across
the Saint William's bows, and no notice having been
taken of the second and more peremptory summons,
the Dutchman pressed on all sail and cleared for
action.
The Saint William was far the smaller craft of
the two, but the recent successful cruise off the
Irish coast had knocked the rough crew into fight-
ing shape; the men had confidence in their captain,
and the captain confidence in his men. Cassard,
therefore, was nothing loath to accept the proffered
combat; but he determined to fight the battle on
his own ground. His three 3-pounders were of
small use against the fourteen 9-pounders which
his adversary was now bringing to bear on him,
and he saw that if he allowed the fight to degene-
rate into a mere artillery duel, he would be sunk
before being able to make even a show of force.
Success lay in his being able to board the enemy
at once, and Cassard quickly explained his plan of
action to the men. As the Dutchman was over-
hauling him hand-over-hand, and threatening to
dismast him by the accurate fire of his bow-chasers,
he brailed up his courses, squared his main-
yard, and allowed the enemy's vessel to range up
alongside, then putting down his helm, he threw
the Saint William into the fore-chains of the Dutch-
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
121
man, and followed by the majority of his crew
dashed on board. A sanguinary hand-to-hand
fight ensued, the Dutchmen, taken by surprise at
the manœuvre of the little vessel which they looked
upon as virtually their own, were little prepared
for the sudden irruption of sixty desperadoes
over their bulwarks, or for the terrible discharge
of chain-shot with which Cassard's three guns
swept their crowded decks the moment before his
men sprung on board.
The confusion on the Dutchman's decks was
intensified by the fury with which Cassard's men
fought. They neither sought nor gave quarter, but
forming up in one dense mass under the break of
the Dutch ship's lofty forecastle, they drove the
cnemy step by step aft. Cassard was a man of
more than ordinary coolness in situations of danger,
and prior to boarding the enemy, he had told off a
brave Malouine, named Guillois, for the task of work-
ing one of the Dutch ship's guns on her own crew.
No sooner were the Frenchmen on the deck of the
Dutchman than Guillois and some half-dozen of his
Breton messmates made for one of the upper-deck
guns, and running it inboard slewed it round to sweep
the decks from stem to stern; at a given signal the
Corsair crew opened out and Guillois, having loaded
the gun to the muzzle with pistol-bullets, chain-
links, and scraps of old iron, discharged it at this
short range into the disorganized mass crowding
the after-part of the ship. Ere the noise of the dis-
charge had died away, Cassard and his men sword
and pike in hand were amongst the discomfited
P
122
The Corsairs of France.
Dutchmen, whilst Guillois, calm as ever, was reload-
ing the gun for a fresh discharge. Once more
above the din of the combat was heard the guttural
tones of the Breton gunner," Gare à vous, mes gars,
once more, as the Frenchmen dashed to the bulwarks,
the gun belched forth its leaden hail on the terror-
stricken Hollanders. This second round decided
the day.
Faint and bleeding from three severe
wounds, the Dutch captain pushed his way through
the throng and tendered his sword to Cassard, and
amidst loud shouting from those on deck, Guillois, to
whom most of the honours of the day were due,
climbed the main-rigging and tore down the States-
General tricolour which had been nailed to the
mainmast-head.
""
On the 24th of April, Cassard re-entered Brest,
whilst following in his wake, under the command of
the gallant Guillois, was the Dutch corvette Catherine,
of fourteen guns. From her mast-head flew the
white flag of France, whilst beneath it, with its fly
whipped to a backstay, hung drooping the tricolour
of Holland.
The fight had been a severe one, and that the
Dutch had borne themselves well during the fray
was evident. Of their own crew of 113 men,
thirty-seven were hove overboard dead, and fifty-one
wounded prisoners were carried into the hospitals
of Brest. Cassard's crew too had suffered heavily;
sixteen had been killed and twenty-three wounded,
ere the intrepid Guillois had hauled down the
enemy's flag.
The Saint William stayed in Brest for one short
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
123
week, just long enough for Cassard to transfer
four of the long 9-pounders of the Catherine to
his own batteries and to make good the casualties
amongst his crew. In this he had no difficulty. A
successful Corsair had always the pick of the
labour-market on the coast of Brittany, and when
on the 2nd of May the Saint William stood out
of the harbour on a fresh cruise, Cassard felt that
with his new crew of eighty picked men and
his fine long-range heavy Dutch cannon, he was
a match for most craft he might happen to come
across.
Once more steering for the south coast of
Ireland, Cassard again played the rôle of an English
trader. The majority of his men were kept
between decks and his ports kept constantly
closed, so that his heavy crew and powerful
armament should not betray the real nature of his
craft. This cruise was marked with much the same
good fortune as had attended the voyage in the
early spring. Two vessels, the Fort Dreck, a Dutch-
man bound from the West Indies to the Scheldt, and
the Couronnement, a French-built craft sailing under
English colours, were captured without resistance
and ransomed for the considerable sum of 12501.
Then, fearing he might fall into the power of English
cruisers, he stood out to sea, and sighting another
St. Malo Corsair, the Saint Denis, he sailed in her
company for some weeks. Cruising off the coast.
of Scotland, the Saint William and Saint Denis
took eight prizes, which were ransomed for the sum
of 16001.; but heavy weather coming on, the two
124
The Corsairs of France.
privateers determined to get an offing, and in the
gales that ensued they parted company.
On the weather moderating, Cassard once more
stood to the eastward, and was fortunate enough, on
the 17th of June, to capture a Belfast collier named
the William, and in the following week three grain
ships, the James, the Livonia, and the Elizabeth, all
surrendered without firing a shot.
In opposition to the express orders of the Minister
of Marine on the question of prizes, Cassard made
no attempt to work these vessels into a French port;
but, in accordance with the rule he had prescribed
for himself, admitted each and all to ransom, taking
their captains as prisoners to ensure payment of the
bills drawn for the purchase of their freedom.
There is much to be said in favour of this plan of
ransom followed by Cassard, Jean Bart, and other
well-known Corsairs. By retaining possession of all
prizes, and working them into a friendly port, it was
necessary to weaken the Corsair's own complement
by a heavy prize-crew, and furthermore it was
unavoidable that the Corsair's decks should be
encumbered by crowds of prisoners from the
captured ships. It happened more than once that
the Corsair thus hampered with sick and wounded
men, and deprived of half her crew, was captured on
her homeward voyage by a vessel of inferior force.
Still more often did it happen that the prizes manned
only by a few seamen fell into the hands of an
enemy's cruisers. Thus the fruit of the original
victory was lost.
By ransoming the captured ship, the Corsair was
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
125
free to resume her cruising with crew unweakened,
and the prize now released still remained a possible
prize on some subsequent occasion.
With bills to the amount of 7000l. in his pockets,
Cassard might well be satisfied with the result of
this summer's campaign, and on the 25th of June, his
provisions and water running low, he willingly fell in
with the wishes of his officers and bore up for France,
entering St. Malo on the 2nd of July, 1706.
The good people of Nantes now began to see some
worth in the hero they had so long spurned, and no
sooner had Cassard paid off the Saint William than
he was offered the command of a fast sailor just
launched in his natal port, the Duchess Anne.
This little craft, named after Bretagne's most popular
ruler, was a smart little barque of 150 tons, mount-
ing sixteen guns, and carrying a crew of 104 men.
Details of his cruises of the next two years are
wanting; but from the records to be found in the
Admiralty Archives at St. Malo, it would appear
that thirteen English vessels of various size were
sold in that port by the Intendant of the Marine,
for the account of the Corsair Cassard, and that
these thirteen vessels produced a total sum of
37,000l. One-tenth of this sum, as I have already
explained, went to the State, the remainder was
divided between the merchants taking the risk of
the venture, and the officers and crew of the
capturing ship.
Whether Cassard had ransomed any other vessels,
or whether the thirteen ships sold in St. Malo gave
him opportunity for any further display of personal
126
The Corsairs of France.
bravery, we have no means of knowing. It would,
however, seem evident that Cassard, like Jean Bart,
had been the recipient of official remonstrances on his
custom of admitting all his prizes to ransom, and
that in consequence of these remonstrances, he had
determined to bring the majority of these prizes, at
any rate, to France for sale.
It is also clear from a study of the Admiralty
Archives at St. Malo, that Cassard was now looked
upon as one of the leading Corsairs on the coast of
Brittany; that he no longer sailed with crews,
the refuse of St. Malo docks, but that he com-
manded a little squadron of three small vessels which
always sailed in company, acted under his orders,
and that by detaching one of his consorts as escort
to any prizes he might wish to send home, he was
enabled to keep the sea for longer periods than
would have been possible had he been merely in
command of his own ship.
His fame, too, had spread beyond the shores of
Brittany, for we next hear of him, in 1709, as being
entrusted by some merchants of Marseilles with the
task of convoying from Bizerta a fleet of six-and-
twenty vessels laden with grain. Long years of
drought and of war and of persistent blockade on the
part of the English had reduced France to scarcity
-to within a measurable distance of famine.
Although a Breton, Cassard's fame had reached the
Mediterranean, and the remembrance of his gallant
deeds at the bombardment of Carthagena induced
the merchants of Marseilles to turn to him for help
in their distress. Cassard now was a. man of
-
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
127
means, his numerous rich prizes had placed a con-
siderable fortune at his disposal, and the speculative
merchants of Marseilles were anxious to find some
person who should put money into a venture which
they intended should bring them no loss, and might
bring them considerable gain. Cassard, a simple
sailor, was little competent to deal with these un-
scrupulous Southerners, and never doubting their
bona fides he fitted out at his own expense two
king's ships, the Eclatant and Sérieux, placed at his
disposal by Pontchartrain, and at once worked his
way round from Brest to Marseilles, then proceed-
ing to Bizerta he assumed command of the convoy.
The news of his intentions had reached England,
and the admiral commanding the English fleet in
the Mediterranean was ordered to watch the Tu-
nisian ports, and prevent Cassard's return to France.
The Bey of Tunis at this period enjoyed a reputa-
tion which any western monarch might have envied.
Unscrupulous, cruel, and tyrannical, he treated all
Christian merchants as slaves; even the consuls of
the western powers were subjected to treatment
which ought to have provoked retaliatory measures
on their part, and have bound Christian nations
together to destroy the piratical nest which, strong
only in its insolence, exacted observances from the
most powerful States which were degrading and
humiliating in the extreme. His Corsairs, held almost
undisputed sway over the Mediterranean, and every
Christian sovereign payed him tribute.
So long as he was within Tunisian waters
Cassard felt sure no English fleet would dare,
128
The Corsairs of France.
molest him. For England, which even then claimed
the title of Mistress of the Seas, still lowered her flag
in Tunisian waters. But he knew also that his
passage from Bizerta to Marseilles would never be
accomplished without risk. He determined, therefore,
to resort to stratagem, and on the occasion of a
strong westerly gale he directed a part of the convoy
to weigh anchor, and, under the charge of the
Eclatant, make all sail to Malta, there to await
further orders. The English were unprepared for
this ruse; their ships were lying at anchor, and
taking advantage of the heavy northerly gale, which
the admiral knew was unfavourable enough for Cas-
sard's designs, he had taken the opportunity of giving
his men liberty ashore. On seeing the French convoy
stand out to the westward, the English commander
hoisted the signal of recall for his men, and ordered
one of his smartest frigates to start in immediate
pursuit. But night was falling as the French convoy
gained the offing, and Cassard, cutting his own cables,
stood after the English frigate to prevent her gaining
wind of the movements of his fleet.
A sharp running fight at once commenced between
the Sérieux and the English frigate, in which the
former, over-weighted, suffered heavily; Cassard,
however, succeeded in carrying out his designs.
Before night fell he contrived to signal to the
Eclatant to haul her wind, and to make the best of
her way with the convoy to Marseilles, whilst he
would keep the English squadron in play. It was
a perilous game, and one in which Cassard narrowly
escaped capture. One by one the English vessels,
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
129
slipping their cables, worked their way out of Bizerta,
and standing on to the noise of the distant firing,
gradually overhauled the Sérieux; but Cassard was
not to be taken easily, the convoy he felt was safe,
and he too might now seek his own safety in flight;
therefore, running under the stern of an English
ship which lay between him and the shore, he bore
up for the nearest port, and was fortunate enough
to reach Porta Farinà, with over five feet of water
in his hold.
The Tunisian pirates showed Cassard every atten-
tion, and placed all their government stores at his
disposition; so availing himself of their hospitality,
he careened his badly-damaged vessel and deter-
mined to give her a thorough overhaul. It was
some weeks before the Sérieux was in a fit state to
take the sea, and when she was ready, Cassard had
to act with caution to avoid capture at the hands of
the English frigate which still watched his actions.
At last evading the cruiser, he succeeded in
beating out of harbour and shaping his course to
Marseilles. In standing across the Gulf of Genoa
he was fortunate enough to fall in with two English
merchantmen, the one laden with oil and fruit from
the Levant, and the other with corn from Syracuse.
Finding themselves vastly inferior in force to the
French Corsair, these two craft hauled down their
flags without attempting any resistance, and Cassard,
placing prize-crews on board, bore up in their com-
pany for Marseilles, which he reached in safety with-
out further molestation. On reaching Marseilles he
found that the convoy had arrived without mishap, but
K
S
D
130
The Corsairs of France.
that the unscrupulous merchants, taking advantage of
a clause in the agreement, refused to carry out their
pecuniary obligations because, forsooth, Cassard had
not personally escorted the grain-ships to Marseilles!
Disgusted with their meanness, Cassard brought an
action against them, but the members of the Mar-
seilles Tribunal civile were too closely allied to the
Marseilles merchants to give an honest verdict in
favour of the Breton Corsair, and Cassard lost his
Convinced of the justice of his case, the
brave sailor appealed to the higher court at Aix,
but here again hidden influences were brought to
bear on the judges, and the decision of the Mar-
seilles court was upheld.
cause.
This unfortunate contretemps rankled deeply in
Cassard's mind. He had invested a very consider-
able sum in fitting out the Eclatant and Sérieux, and
the heavy damage sustained by the latter vessel in
her engagement with the English squadron-an
engagement undertaken solely with the view of en-
suring the safety of the Marseilles convoy-had also
necessitated a large outlay. The legal expenses
attendant on his appeals to the tribunals at Mar-
seilles and Aix had likewise been heavy, and though
a large proportion of the sum realized by the sale of
the two English prizes had fallen to Cassard's
share, the intrepid sailor had the mortification of
feeling that he had been mulct in the sum of
10,000l. for the performance of a duty which placed
Marseilles beyond the reach of famine, and which
had filled the pockets of the greedy speculators of
that city.
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
2
131
Still, though brought within a measurable distance
of ruin, Cassard was not the man to sit down and
mourn over his misfortunes. He had still friends in
Brittany who believed in his good star, and in truth
the good folk of Marseilles were not averse to
trusting him with another expedition; but Cassard
was in no way anxious to place his services at the
disposal of a city that had shown him so much in-
gratitude, and though in the following year he was
offered the command of the Smyrna fleet, he indig-
nantly rejected the proposal.
Early in June, 1710, the fleet set sail; it con-
sisted of eighty-four merchant-vessels destined for
the conveyance of grain from Asia Minor to France,
and of six ships of war as escort. These were the
Téméraire, 60, Toulouse, 60, Etendard, 50, Fleuron,
50, Hirondelle, 36, and Vestale, 36, the whole being
under the command of a M. de Feuquières. The
convoy reached Smyrna in safety, and in the month
of October commenced the return voyage, but on
nearing the coast of Sicily, M. de Feuquières learnt.
from a passing vessel that a strong English squadron
was cruising in the Gulf of Genon for the express
purpose of preventing his entry to Marseilles. As
his vessels of war were heavily laden with corn, and
in no condition to manoeuvre against a well-equipped,
fast-sailing English fleet, M. de Feuquières deter-
mined on taking refuge in the harbour of Syra-
cuse and sending despatches to France demanding
relief.
The non-arrival of the Smyrna fleet caused the
greatest consternation in Marseilles. It was known
K 2
132
The Corsairs of France.
that the English squadron was cruising in the Gulf
of Genoa, and it was also known that the convoy
had long since left Smyrna. Its capture by the
English meant starvation to thousands in the South
of France, and financial ruin to the very merchants
whose perfidy had caused the ruin of the brave
Cassard of France. The doubts and fears of the
Marseillais were set at rest by the arrival of M.
Lambert in the Toulouse, 60, at Toulon bringing
intelligence that the convoy had reached Syracuse in
safety, and was waiting additional escort before
venturing to cross the Gulf.
The merchants of Marseilles in their difficulty ap-
pealed to Cassard; but Cassard, mindful of their past
ingratitude, refused to listen to their overtures. In
their despair-for famine was staring them in the
face-they turned to the Minister of Marine, and
sufficient influence having been brought to bear on
Pontchartrain, M. d'Aligré de Saint Lie, the Intendant
of Marine at Toulon, was instructed to fit out all
available ships of war in his port, and place them
under the command of Cassard for the relief of the
blockaded fleet. Further despatches had been
received from M. de Feuquières, and it was now
known that the English Fleet, learning the move-
ments of the French convoy, had quitted the Gulf
of Genoa, and was closely watching the port of
Syracuse.
On receiving his orders from the Minister of
Marine, Cassard at once proceeded to Toulon, and
on the 8th of November set sail for Syracuse at the
head of a well-found little squadron consisting of
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
133
the Parfait, 70, flying his own flag, the Toulouse, 60,
Captain De Lambert, Sérieux, 60, M. de l'Aigle, the
Phœnix, 56, M. du Haies. Favoured with a strong
westerly breeze, Cassard reached Syracuse on the
evening of the following day, and then found that
the blockading squadron had borne up for Port
Mahon, leaving but two ships, the Pembroke, 64, and
Falcon, 36, to watch the French convoy. Knowing
that the English had merely proceeded to Port
Mahon for stores and water, Cassard determined to
profit by their absence, and to at once attack the
ships watching the port. He accordingly ordered
De Feuquières to weigh anchor and proceed with
the convoy to Marseilles, whilst he with the Parfait,
70, Sérieux, 60, and Phoenix, 56, bore down on the
two English frigates. Although outnumbered and
overmatched, Rumfry, the captain of the Pembroke, did
his utmost to delay the escape of the French convoy;
but he had no means of sending information to his
admiral, and all he could do was to endeavour to
sink some of the enemy's ships and avoid capture
himself. He soon found, however, that the new
commander of the French squadron was a very dif-
ferent man to De Feuquières, a man anxious to pro-
voke rather than to avoid a combat, one capable of
handling a vessel with coolness and judgment, and
that every effort would be needed to save himself
from capture all thought of harming the French
convoy must be put on one side.
-
Cassard on his part was determined to take or to
sink the English vessels; he felt that the convoy was
now secure from all chance of capture, and that he
134
The Corsairs of France.
might act at his leisure with the two craft before
him. He directed M. de l'Aigle and M. de Haies
with the Sérieux and Phoenix to engage the Pembroke.
whilst he in the Parfait attacked the little Falcon,
The unequal combat was not of long duration,
though the defence of the Falcon was marked by
much determination and much gallantry. Unable
to escape from her more powerful and swifter-sail-
ing adversary, the little frigate determined to sell
herself as dearly as possible, and when the Parfait
ranged up alongside, and succeeded in lashing her
bowsprit to the fore-chains of the Falcon, the English
captain, Constable, forestalled Cassard's intention by
pouring over one hundred well-armed boarders on
the Parfait's decks; this attempt to carry Cassard's
ship was quickly repulsed, not, however, without
serious loss, and when Cassard attempted to throw
his own boarders on to the Englishman he found
that the grappling-irons had been cast loose, and
the Falcon, filling, was standing away from him.
The heavy metal of the Parfait soon put an end to
the Falcon's flight, and once more Cassard grappled
to the Englishman's rigging, endeavouring to carry
the frigate by boarding. This second attempt was
also driven back; but the crew of the Falcon had made
their last effort: Constable and seventeen of his men,
had been left dead on the Parfait's decks in their first
gallant attempt to carry the Frenchman, and in beat-
ing off Cassard's assaults, forty-three killed had been
added to the total. Number now began to tell, and
though the crew of the Parfait was also much
weakened, she was able to bring into action three
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
135
men to every one the Falcon could show. At last,
seeing two-thirds of his crew hors-de-combat, and
seeing also that the Pembroke was too hard pressed to
offer him any assistance, the First Lieutenant of the
Falcon hauled down his colours. Placing a prize-crew
on board, with orders to its commander to bear up
after De Feuquières' convoy, Cassard stood on to aid
the Sérieux and Phonix, which were merely indulging
in a cannonade with the Pembroke. On noticing
the approach of the Parfait, the captain of the
English two-decker at once bore down on the new-
comer, with the intention of throwing his boarders
on her; in manoeuvring to avoid the shock of
collision, Cassard laid himself open to a raking fire
from the broadside of the Pembroke, which, tearing
through his stern galleries, killed over thirty men on
his lower deck. Broadsides now were exchanged
at close quarters, yard-arm to yard-arm, muzzle to
muzzle the two ships fought on, but the Pembroke
was doomed to capture. The Sérieux, ranging up
on her other quarter, exposed her to a raking fire as
she took up her position, and in a few moments her
main top-mast and her mizzen went by the board,
lumbering her decks with their wreckage and
disabling many men in their fall. After half an
hour of this unequal combat the Pembroke struck
her colours, and on taking possession of her, Cassard
found that her captain, the gallant Rumfry, and
seventy-four men were dead, and six officers and 134
men lay wounded, out of a total of 320 men.
-
On the 15th of November, Cassard entered Toulon
with the two prizes and the convoy of M. de
*
136
The Corsairs of France.
Feuquières. A perfect ovation awaited him, but the
merchants of Marseilles were none the less unwilling
to fulfil their agreement of the preceding year, and
though the brave Nantais had rescued a convoy
worth eight million livres tournois, which they had
almost given up for lost, the Marseillais refused to
listen to his just claim for the paltry 10,000l. he had
spent in equipping the Eclatant and Sérieux for their
aid in 1709.
Although Cassard had brought the convoy in
safety to Toulon, he still felt his task but partly ac-
complished. Six English ships of war lay in Port
Mahon harbour, and many English merchantmen
were peacefully cruising in the Mediterranean Sea.
Some vessels richly freighted were, he knew, en route
between Smyrna and Gibraltar, and he determined to
try and capture them.
With the permission of M. Aligré de St. Lie, the
Intendant of Marine at Toulon, he left that port, as
soon as he had made good his defects, with the
Parfait, 70, and Sérieux, 60, and shaped his course
for Smyrna. Off Cagliari he fell in with and
captured a small Tunisian Corsair, which he sunk,
and the next day he sighted a convoy of ten
English merchant-ships under the escort of a small
frigate mounting twenty-four guns. The frigate,
exercising a wise discretion, made no attempt at
defence, and within ten days of his leaving Toulon,
Cassard re-entered that harbour with eleven English
ships following in his wake.
On his arrival at Toulon, early in 1711, Cassard
learnt that Louis XIV. had been pleased to promote
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
137
him to the rank of Captain of Frigate, and had
nominated him to the command of the military works
about to be constructed at Toulon.
It seems strange that a Corsair bred in the fore-
castle of a Newfoundland fishing craft should be
appointed to an important engineering command,
but it appears that Cassard had turned his attention
to matters other than mere privateering, and had
been employed at St. Malo in drawing up plans.
for the defence of the place. If we may believe the
accounts of his biographer, Richer, Louis XIV.
was well satisfied with Cassard's industry and
intelligence. New detached works were thrown up
on all the commanding sites in the neighbourhood of
Toulon, and several fresh ravelins constructed in
advance of the old fortifications.
Though employed in the king's service and wear-
ing the king's uniform, Cassard sighed for the
freedom of the Corsair life; he was wearied of the
inaction ashore, disgusted with the injustice shown
him, and longed for active employment in order to
purge his mind of the anger he nourished against
the merchants of Marseilles. Cassard's was a hard
calling, and a hard calling produces a hard nature.
Defeated in his actions at the courts of Marseilles
and of Aix, he ventured to lay his case before the
king; but the merchants of Marseilles possessed
golden means of controverting even this appeal,
and Cassard had the mortification of seeing
all his efforts to wrest from these robbers his
well-earned savings treated with scorn and con-
tumely.
:
-
138
The Corsairs of France.
Finding himself worsted at every turn, Cassard
applied to his friends of St. Malo and Nantes for
aid, and laid before them a plan for the capture of
the Portuguese islands of Cape de Verde. The
immense profit derived by those who had shared in
the fitting out of De Pointis' expedition to Cartha-
gena, fired the imagination of the usually phleg-
matic Bretons, and knowing that much of the
success at Carthagena was due to the boldness and
sagacity of Cassard, it was not long before the
brave Nantais was able to submit his plan to
Pontchartrain. Backed as it was by the names of
some of the wealthiest merchants in Brittany and
Provence, the minister welcomed it with warmth,
and at once placed the resources of the dockyard at
Toulon at Cassard's disposal.
Destitute of Court influence, Cassard was unable
to collect such a formidable flotilla as that which De
Pointis had led forth to Carthagena, nor was he
able to interest Pontchartrain so sufficiently in the
undertaking as to induce the minister to place at
his disposal skilled officers of the scientific forces.
Cassard was one of the people, admitted, it is true,
into the blue-blooded ranks of the king's navy, but
still not to be 'confounded with such men as De
Pointis, whose merit consisted in his quarterings,
and whose success was due to the energy, skill, and
gallantry of his subordinates; consequently Cassard
was forced to content himself with such men as might
be attracted to his flag by the knowledge of his past
services these fortunately were neither few in number,
nor were they destitute of experience and valour,
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
139
Early in 1712, Cassard found himself ready for
sea; his squadron comprised the Neptune, 70,
Téméraire, 64, Rubis, 64, Parfait, 64, Médusa, 40,
Prince de Frise, 36, and D'Aligré, 36, with two
smaller craft, the Anne and the Marie. In addition
to the crews of these ships, numbering over 3000
men, Cassard had succeeded in enlisting some 1200
soldiers, whom he intended to use whenever shore.
operations became necessary. The scenes he had
witnessed at Carthagena had convinced him that
the discipline of sailors when employed ashore is
apt to become slack, and that it is far more difficult
to utilize landing-parties hastily made up from
the crews of men-of-war than bodies of troops
accustomed to fight and to manoeuvre on dry
ground.
On the 12th of May of the same year Cassard
arrived off St. Jago, the largest of the Cape de Verde
islands, and landed his troops, which he formed up
into four weak battalions to the southward of the
town. He himself, with his fleet, stood on to the
northward, and when from signals he perceived that
M. de Forgues, whom he had placed in command of
the shore party, had reached the heights dominating
Port Praya, he stood in-shore and summoned
the governor to surrender. The garrison was a
strong one, the place well fortified, and the walls
were mounted with over 200 pieces of ordnance; but
the troops, though numerous, were ill-disciplined,
and mainly composed of negroes recruited from
the coasts of Africa; to Cassard's surprise, the
place surrendered at the first summons. Placing
•
140
The Corsairs of France.
the Portuguese officers on one of his own ships,
Cassard landed and at once took steps for marching
on Riviera Grande, the then capital of the island.
The advanced guard consisted of 500 soldiers
under M. de Forgues, the main body, of 1200 sailors
under Cassard, whilst the rear was made up of 200
men under M. de la Garde. The safety of Port Praya
was assured by the fleet, and a detachment of 300
troops under M. de Pienne. The governor of Riviera
Grande showed himself as averse to fighting as his
colleague at Port Praya, and on receipt of Cassard's
summons to surrender, he requested that a senior
officer might be sent into the city to arrange the
terms of the capitulation: at the same time he, with
what Cassard stigmatized as duplicity, but what
others might style prudent forethought, warned the
bishop and clergy to remove all church plate and
valuables to a place of security. According to the
terms of the surrender the governor was to hand
over to Cassard, within three days, the sum of
350,000l. in specie in order to save the town from
pillage and destruction; but, when once the treaty
was signed and the valiant governor safe in the
mountains, he troubled himself little about the
terms arranged on, and, having saved his own effects.
whilst the treaty was being discussed, cared little
what happened to the property of others. Cassard,
furious at his duplicity, instituted an organized
pillage; he blew up the fortifications, destroyed the
public buildings, carried on board his own ships the
church bells, all the cannon and munition of war,
and over 20,000,000 francs' worth of property. This
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
141
done, he handed the city over to a three days'
plunder, and then having taken on board 400 negro
soldiers who volunteered to serve under him, and
having seized two large Portuguese ships lying in
Port Praya harbour, he made sail across
across the
Atlantic, and anchored safely under the shelter of
the French batteries in Martinique.
Elated at his success with the Portuguese,
Cassard determined to seek foemen more worthy of
his steel, and at once set about organizing an expe-
dition against the British settlements in the West
Indies. Armed with the profits of the pillage of
the Cape de Verdes, Cassard purchased fresh vessels
in Martinique, and manned them with the brave
filibusters of St. Domingo.
In July, 1712, he made a descent on the British
island of Montserrat and ravaged it, carrying off
not only immense quantities of loot, but also five
large ships which, unfortunately, were lying in the
harbour unguarded by any ship-of-war. From
Montserrat, Cassard sailed to Antigua, which was
likewise unable to make any defence, and which in
the same way was subjected to eight days' pillage.
Freighted with the rich booty of these two islands,
Cassard once more bore up for Martinique to caulk
and repair his vessels, and make a preliminary dis-
tribution of his spoils, in order to calm the rising
murmurings of the undisciplined filibusters of St.
Domingo.
Having satisfied the malcontents, Cassard deter-
mined on attacking the Dutch colony of Surinam.
This was a formidable undertaking, as Surinam was
142
The Corsairs of France.
12
not merely well-garrisoned, but had fortifications
mounting over 300 guns. Still Cassard, nothing
daunted, determined on the attempt, and in October
his fleet appeared at the mouth of the Surinam river.
The Dutch were well prepared for him, and made a
most gallant defence. But all was in vain, for
Cassard, assuming the direction of the land opera-
tions himself, established some batteries on shore
which in conjunction with the fire of the fleet
rendered the town untenable. Seeing himself
reduced to the last extremity, and the civil popula-
tion of the town becoming rebellious under the
straits to which they were reduced, the governor
proposed a capitulation, and though the terms were
hard, he was compelled, owing to the representations
of the merchant residents, to agree to them. Fifteen
thousand barrels of sugar and 300,000l. in specie
was the price paid to save Surinam from French
pillage!
Whilst lying off Surinam waiting for the embark-
ation of the sugar, Cassard despatched two of his
subordinates to seize Berbice and Essequibo; these
were successfully captured, and ransomed for a
further sum of a quarter of a million sterling.
From Surinam Cassard proceeded to
to St.
Eustace, which surrendered without resistance, and
having extracted from the governor a sufficient
ransom, the French fleet stood on to Curaçoa, arriv-
ing off the island on the 16th of February, 1713.
But heavy weather had been experienced on the
voyage from Surinam, and the Neptune, one of the
largest vessels in Cassard's command, had been
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
143
driven ashore and totally wrecked. Fortunately but
few lives were lost, and the rescued crew having been
distributed amongst the other ships of the squadron
the actual fighting strength of the expedition was
not much impaired.
At this period Curaçoa was the most important
of all the Dutch possessions in South America;
it had been in their possession just eighty years,
and was looked upon as one of their richest
colonies. Every effort had been made to render it
impregnable to the attacks of the jealous enemies of
Holland, to whom, of course, its wealth pointed it
out as a tempting prize. Its commerce consisted
chiefly of sugar, wool, skins, and spirits, and besides
its Dutch population, a number of wealthy Jews
had settled on the island, who carried on a lucrative
trade with the neighbouring coasts. Not merely
was the capital of the island defended by admirably
constructed fortifications on its sea-front, but a
series of works surrounded it on the shore side, which
seemed to forbid all hope of successful attack in any
direction.
Cassard was well aware of the difficulties of his
enterprise, but he considered that a victorious result
would more than repay him for the risk to be run,
and though he was aware that a very opposite feel-
ing existed amongst his subordinate commanders,
he determined on carrying out his project at all
hazards.
On arriving off the port, Cassard sent a boat
ashore to the governor, demanding the surrender
of the island. To this, of course, a contemptuous
144
The Corsairs of France.
answer was returned, and though the boat itself was
not fired on, yet when Cassard stood in-shore on
the Parfait to reconnoitre the works, he was
greeted with such a well-directed and heavy fire
from the forts, that he saw all hope of attack from
the sea-front must be abandoned.
Like many a commander before and since, Cassard,
whilst always acting on his own responsibility, and
generally in accordance with his own judgment,
would often collect around him his senior officers,
in order to learn their views, and often to obtain
from them practical suggestions as to the ensuing
operations. On this occasion he once more followed
his usual plan, and signalling for the captains of all
ships-of-war, the commanders of the troops, and the
leaders of the filibustering battalions, to come on
board his ship, he assembled a counsel of war.
There the mass of opinion was against attack.
It was pointed out to Cassard that the Dutch
garrison was more numerous than his own, and
was at least equally well-disciplined, that the guns
mounted on the ramparts of the town were of
heavier metal than those on his own ships, that
the strong currents sweeping round the island
rendered landing difficult, and that to undertake a
descent in the face of the Dutch troops was to
court defeat. M. de Sabran, one of the officers
of the land forces and the commander of the fili-
busters, opposed these sentiments, and strongly
supported Cassard's views, which were in favour
of an immediate attack. As often happens, the
doubting many were won over by the hot-
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
145
headed few, and ere the council broke up it had been
unanimously determined to attempt a landing on the
morrow, and the details of the landing had been also
arranged.
It was decided that the fleet should divide into
two squadrons, in order to induce the Dutch to
separate their forces; these could be discerned from
the French ships, drawn up on the heights over-
looking the town, ready to move to any spot where
a landing might be attempted. One portion of the
fleet, with the mass of the troops under M. de Sabran,
stood to the westward, with orders to change their
direction during the night, and rendezvous before
dawn at the Bay of St. Croix, some fifteen miles
from the port of Curaçoa. Cassard, with the rest of
the fleet, stood in to the main harbour, and opened
a steady fire upon the works. To this fire an
accurate response was immediately returned, and the
Dutch troops, as if divining that Cassard's bombard-
ment was but a feint to draw off attention from the
main attack, at once moved off along the coast to
the westward, to oppose the anticipated descent
from the other squadron.
As night fell and darkness enshrouded his move-
ments, Cassard still kept up his fire, and still kept the
lights of his ships-of-war burning to deceive the
Dutch as to his real intentions; but under cover of
the fire, he had silently transferred the greater
portion of his crews and all the troops on board his
squadron to the small coasting-craft in attendance
on the fleet, and quietly drifted down with the
current towards St. Croix. There, in the short hours
L
146
The Corsairs of France.
of a tropical winter night, he succeeded in throwing
ashore some 1100 men, and anxiously awaited the
arrival of M. de Sabran with the 2000 men under
his command. The landing was not accomplished
without difficulty, and fortunate it was that it was
unopposed; the current ran strong and swift round
the coast, which was studded with rocks and reefs,
rendering the approach dangerous in the extreme.
In the darkness the true perils of the undertaking
were fortunately not visible; had they been, it is
doubtful if they would have had much effect on
Cassard and his brave followers, who were too keenly
alive to the prize within their reach to think much
of the difficulties to be encountered ere it was won.
Cassard's first act-and this was accomplished
ere morn broke-was to throw up a rough work
close to the shore, as a cover for his landing party;
in this he placed some light guns landed from the
coasting-craft in his squadron, and manned it with
500 soldiers under one of his most trusted officers.
As the sun rose, anxious glances were cast seaward
for signs of M. de Sabran's squadron, and to Cassard's
intense dismay this was seen some miles to leeward
endeavouring to beat up against wind and tide to
the place of rendezvous, which in the darkness of the
night it had passed by. To add to Cassard's per-
plexity, a powerful work was also visible about a
mile from the landing-place, and it was abundantly
evident that the strength of his force had been ac-
curately gauged, and that the Dutch commandant
was making preparations to move forward and drive
him into the sea, ere reinforcements could arrive.
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
147
The Corsairs of old were not wont to ponder long
over their plans of action; "l'audace, l'audace,
toujours l'audace" was their motto, and by it many
an apparently lost game had been won. Delay in
this case was fatal, some hours must elapse ere De
Sabran could reach St. Croix, and long before his
own reinforcements could arrive the garrison of
Curaçoa would have strengthened the hands of the
Dutch commandant of the fort in front of him.
It was necessary then to carry it at once, and
Cassard, with that promptitude which characterized
the actions of men of his calling, despatched a boat
to the squadron lying off St. Croix, from which his
own men had been landed, directing them to land
every available man to hold the field-work he had
thrown up, and then with the 1100 soldiers at his
command he moved against the Dutch fort. Cas-
sard's own version of the affair is simple enough he
says that two of his assaults were repulsed, and that
in the third, which was successful, he was wounded
by a musket-bullet in the foot, which prevented his
taking any part in the further operations of the day,
but that he directed M. de Hesquinet to pursue the
enemy to a position some four miles nearer Curaçoa,
where another work existed. This also was carried
in gallant style, and the French now satisfied them-
selves with strengthening the defences of the two
captured forts, in order to guard against counter-
attacks,—but no counter-attacks came.
For some inscrutable reason-inscrutable as it
appeared to Cassard-the governor of Curaçoa made
no attempt to retake the lost forts, and it was not
1 2
148
The Corsairs of France.
until the capital of the island had been captured that
Cassard learnt the real reason for this inexplicable
conduct. It then transpired that the governor,
hearing of the extreme weakness of the force landed
at St. Croix, never believed that Cassard was there;
he still thought the descent at that spot was a mere
feint to draw away the mass of his troops from the
capital on which the real attack would be made.
Thus M. de Hesquinet was enabled on the following
night to push on still nearer to Curaçoa, and on De
Sabran's landing, a night march was made on the
very capital itself, and two works, Fort St. Michael
and Fort Pescadera, seized by storm before the
astonished governor could afford them any aid.
These two forts were built on a hill commanding the
southern approach to the town, and when Cassard,
who was now on the Parfait lying off the port, saw
the white flag of France flying over their ramparts
he sent in a parlementaire to the governor, threaten-
ing to bombard the town by land and sea if it
did not surrender at discretion. But the Dutch
governor refused to listen to such terms, and at once
took steps for the recapture of the nearer works.
De Sabran was ready for him, and every effort to
dislodge the French being found useless, the governor
in his turn sent off an officer to Cassard's ship to
discuss terms. Finally it was arranged that on
600,000 Louis d'or or their value in current
specie being handed over to the French commander,
Curaçoa would be left in peace.
The wealthy Dutch merchants could scarcely
credit the fact that Cassard, the grasping Corsair,
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
149
would be satisfied with such a sum, and fearing that
he might change his mind and name some ransom
more in keeping with the vast sums received at
Surinam and Antigua, they hastened to pay over
their ingots to the governor, and so rid themselves
of their unpleasant visitors. On the third day the
ransom-money was ready, and on the 28th of February
De Sabran handed over Forts Michel and Pescadera
to the Dutch, marched down to the beach, and em-
barked his men. On the following morning Cassard
set sail for Martinique.
There a cruel blow awaited him. His continued
successes in the West Indies had aroused the
jealousy of the blue-blooded sailors of Versailles,
and Pontchartrain, listening to unfounded tales, des-
patched another officer, an aristocrat endowed with
many quarterings, to Martinique, with instructions to
assume command of all the French ships in those
waters, and with them return at once to France. The
indignation of Cassard's subordinates was extreme,
and the mortification of the brave Corsair was fully
as deep as his worst wisher could have desired. He
made no effort to appeal against the minister's orders,
but merely asked a few days' delay in order to settle
up the accounts of the filibusters and to rest his
wounded limb, which in truth needed rest after the
rough treatinent it had received at Curaçoa.
The delay was grudgingly granted, and was after-
wards made an excuse for one of the charges
against the Corsair. Having handed over to his
gallant allies from St. Domingo their full share of
the booty captured during the successful cruise,
-
150
The Corsairs of France.
Cassard reported himself ready to sail, and the whole
flotilla immediately weighed anchor, shaping a course
for Brest.
The homeward voyage was characterized by an
incident illustrating the indiscipline prevalent in
the Corsair fleet. An English squadron being
sighted, the French admiral signalled his ships to
avoid action. Cassard, "spoiling for a fight,"
solicited permission to attack; this was peremptorily
refused, whereupon Cassard, turning to his second in
command, "My duty to my sovereign over-rides
my duty to my admiral, and I take it that my real
duty is to fight his Majesty's enemies wherever I
see them." He accordingly bore down on the
enemy, signalling to his old associates to follow
him. Night put an end to the engagement, which
resulted in the capture of two small English craft
by Cassard's squadron.
After this Cassard parted company with the
admiral and made his way to Brest alone. On
arrival there he was much gratified at learning that
the king had been graciously pleased to promote
him to the rank of capitaine de vaisseau and to
bestow on him the Order of St. Louis.
But a reaction speedily set in. The irate admiral,
indignant at the mutinous conduct of his subor-
dinate, preferred charges against him, and Cassard
was summoned to Versailles to justify his conduct.
There his unpolished exterior and rough speech
found but little favour; he had none of the self-
assertion which carried Jean Bart with safety
through the perilous intricacies of courtly conven-
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
151
tionalities. On the contrary, he was shy, morose,
diffident, yet obstinately perverse in preferring what
he imagined to be his just claim.
Other enemies cropped up. It was asserted that,
in distributing to the filibusters of St. Domingo
their share of the buccaneering expedition to the
West Indies, Cassard had retained for himself a
large amount of valuable property, and the mer-
chants interested in the re-partition of the plunder
induced the minister to waive Cassard's claim to
any share in the final distribution.
In vain Cassard called on the officers who had
served under him to testify to the falsehood of
these charges; in vain did he apply for the settle-
ment of the affair to be delayed until the arrival of
witnesses from St. Domingo. The minister lent a
willing ear to the false tales, the distribution of
the vast sums realized by the sale of the captured
property was proceeded with, the Count of
Toulouse as High Admiral of France claimed his
tenth, the merchants who furnished the expedition
with its initiation funds took their half, the captains.
and crews divided the remainder, and Cassard-
the life and soul of the enterprise, the head that
planned, the hand that carried out every under-
taking, the man ever foremost in danger, to whom
alone success was due-was left penniless to beg his
bread from those who had made thousands and
thousands by his skill and gallantry.
Not absolutely penniless as yet: some 60,000
francs, the proceeds of one of his earlier expedi-
tions, had been settled on his unmarried sisters, and
Uorm
}
E
152
The Corsairs of France.
these good women furnished him from time to time.
with small sums to enable him to remain at
Versailles in the hope of obtaining a reversal of the
decree which left him a ruined man.
For years a shabbily-dressed seaman, decorated
with the Star of St. Louis, walking with the aid of
a stick, and bearing the marks of many wounds, was
a conspicuous figure at all Court ceremonials, the
spectre at every feast; but menial officials were
always at hand to prevent his intruding on his
sovereign or the ministers. In truth the Grand
Monarch thought he had done enough for the
Corsair, and the consciences of the ministers-if
Louis's ministers had any consciences-dreaded the
awakening that an interview with the hardly-used
man would surely have caused. Gradually the
throng became accustomed to the sight of the
neglected hero, and gradually it forgot his history,
and forgot even his presence. It is related, how-
ever, that one day Duguay Trouin, in the very
height of his fame, was attending some Court cere-
monial. Suddenly when in the midst of a group of
courtiers, he saw Cassard, bowed and bent, leaning
against the niche of a doorway; and leaving the gay
nobles, who did not shun the manly presence of the
Malouine Corsair, Duguay rushed to Cassard, and
shaking him warmly by the hand, remained for
some time in earnest conversation, and on leaving
him, pressed on the brave old hero, down whose
cheeks coursed hot tears of gratitude, his well-filled
purse. "Who is the droll old man you spoke to,"
said the Marquis d'Harcourt.
Maou
+:
Jacques Cassard of Nantes.
153
"That man," replied Duguay Trouin, "is Jacques
Cassard, Captain in his Majesty's marine, and one
time a Corsair of Nantes. He is the bravest and
the best sailor the king possesses, and I would will-
ingly exchange every action I have fought to be the
hero of the paltriest fight won by such a man.'
Duguay Trouin's advocacy was of no avail and
Cassard sunk more and more into oblivion. At
last, one day avoiding the attendants, he accosted
Cardinal Fleury and implored that his claim
against the Government for the West Indian, and
against the merchants of Marseilles for the
Tunisian expedition might be
be inquired into.
Fleury rudely pushed the old man aside, and
Cassard retorted with burning words and uplifted
cane. A cardinal and a king's minister was not
lightly to be bearded, and that night as Cassard lay
in his humble lodging, he was arrested and con-
veyed to the fortress of Ham.
In that castle, rendered famous by the incarcera-
tion of many a more powerful prisoner, the brave
old Corsair of Nantes was confined until his death
in 1740.
دو
-
Although Cassard never achieved personal
popularity like Duguay Trouin and Jean Bart,
there is no doubt that he must rank as their equals.
He was more than a mere Corsair, he was a success-
ful leader of great expeditions, for surely the
capture of the Cape de Verdes, of Antigua, Mont-
serrat, Surinam, Essequibo, and Curaçoa must rank
with Duguay Trouin's brave exploit at Rio Janeiro-
nay, should surpass it, for whilst the Malouine was
154
The Corsairs of France.
unfortunate enough to lose the vessels bringing
home the treasure from Rio, Cassard was fortunate
enough to carry into Martinique treasure to the
value of 7,000,000l. sterling. (See Note.)
That these figures are somewhat exaggerated
every impartial person must allow, yet putting on
one side the value-the money value of his exploits-
the exploits themselves raise Cassard far above the
level of the ordinary Corsair, above that even of the
spirited naval commander, Jean Bart, and place
him in the category of the Drakes and Blakes of
our own seventeenth century. That such a man
should have been reduced to penury and have
died in a prison is a disgrace even to the age in
which he lived. Cassard is no popular hero, never-
theless his career is one that deserved to be disen-
tombed from the musty volumes of the last century;
the people of Nantes have done well in doing
honour to one who was a honour to their city, and
whose melancholy ending was one of the many
shameful acts which stained the memory of the
Grand Monarque.
NOTE.-" Célèbres Marins," par Richer. Paris.
Treasure and sale of property seized at the Cape
Verdes
·
Treasure and sale of property seized at Antigua
and Montserrat
Treasure and sale of property seized at Surinam,
Berbier, and Essequibo
Treasure and sale of property seized at St.
Eustach
Treasure and sale of property seized at Curaçoa.
£2,400,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
480,000
£7,880,000
4


IN
இ ஒ பையுகம்
DUGUAY-TROUIN.
155
CHAPTER IV.
DUGUAY TROUIN OF ST. MALO-1673-1736.
Duguay Trouin, the hero of St. Malo-Birth and early career—
Destined for the Church-Youthful insubordination Ships
as volunteer on the Corsair Trinité-His first prize-
Gallantry in capturing the Concorde-Commands Danycan-
Raid on Lord Clare's house near Limerick-Shifts to the
Coëtquen-Captures fourteen English prizes-Given command.
of king's ship Profond, 32-Transferred to Hercules, 28
Captures four English prizes - Quells a mutiny-Promoted to
Diligente, 40-Captures Dutch ship Panther, 32-Engages
and escapes from Prince of Orange, 50—After desperate fight
captured by Channel Squadron under Sir David Mitchell
Carried prisoner to Plymouth-Escapes-Given command
of François, 48-Captures two English frigates, Nonsuch and
Boston-Boston retaken--Receives sword of honour from
the king-Joins squadron under Marquis of Nesmond-
Nesmond's jealousy-Trouin leaves the squadron-With aid
of one other Corsair captures Defence, 58, Resolution, 56, and
Black Prince, 40, Dutch Indiamen-Ordered to Versailles-
Gracious reception by the king-Given command of his old
prize, Nonsuch, henceforth the Sanspareil-His brother killed
near Vigo-In 1698 given command of small squadron by
the Minister of Marine-Captures Dutch squadron under
Admiral Von Wassenaer-Given commission as commander
in the navy-Captures English man-of-war Coventry, 60-
Promoted post-captain-Signalizes his promotion by taking
Elizabeth, 50, and Gaspard, 30-Given Star of St. Louis-
Under Forbin assists at capture of English men-of-war,
Cumberland, 60, Chester, 50, Ruby, 30, and sinks Devonshire,
60- Jealousy of Forbin-Ill-success off the Azores-Captures
English ship Bristol, 60-Granted Letters of Nobility-
Successful expedition to Rio Janeiro-Commands Mediter-
ranean fleet-Made admiral and Knight of St. Louis-His
death and character - Ships named after him.
Ma
h
ST. MALO, the Corsair City, as it is not inaptly
styled, boasts of no nobler hero than René Duguay
Trouin. Other Corsairs-sea-wolves, as the Breton
156
The Corsairs of France.
fisher-folk love to call them-are claimed as fellow-
townsmen by the Malouines, and their names and
fame are interwoven with many wondrous tales of
local colouring; but though the gallant deeds of
Surcouf and of La Bourdonnais may vie with the
early exploits of Duguay Trouin, none of these men
have succeeded in gaining such a hold on the love
of their fellow-townsmen, or in conferring on the
city of their fathers the gift of their own immor-
tality. What Jean Bart did for Dunkirk, what
Duguesclin did for Dinan, that has Duguay Trouin
done for St. Malo. He has linked the name of
an insignificant town to that of a gallant warrior,
and enabled later generations to take an ever-
present interest in deeds which now, though old,
live fresh in the memories of all to whom brave
deeds serve as the foundation on which all noble
actions are built. Duguay Trouin is pre-eminently
the hero of St. Malo. Jacques Cartier may dis-
pute with Columbus the honour of the discovery of
the New World, La Bourdonnais may claim with
Dupleix the proud title of Conqueror of the English
in India, but it is Duguay Trouin's statue that the
Malouines have set up in the Place,—it is his por-
trait which graces the Salle des Délibérations in
the Hôtel de Ville, representations of his gallant
actions look down on you from the walls of its
museum, and relics of his prowess are shown you
at every turn. If the brave old Corsair found
honour in his own country, Paris was not less
ready to enroll him as a national hero. In the year
1818, when Louis XVIII. determined to erect
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo—1673-1736. 157
on the bridges of the Seine statues of the twelve
most illustrious warriors of France, the commis-
sion which sat to select the heroes unanimously
fixed upon the sailor of St. Malo as one of the
twelve; and this day in the Entrance Court at Ver-
sailles, Duguay Trouin's statue may yet be seen.
And truly his career is one of which France may
well be proud. Indomitable gallantry, fertility of
resource, generosity to his subordinates, courtesy to
his prisoners, a keen love of adventure, and an
abiding faith in his own star, these were the attri-
butes of the man who, alone and unaided except by
those opportunities which come to all worthy to use.
them, raised himself from the position of a graceless
candidate for the priesthood to that of Lieutenant-
General of the King's Navies and Commandant of
the Port of Brest.
Those who have faith in signs and tokens may
well believe that Duguay Trouin was born under a
lucky star. He was born on the 10th of June,
1673: between the 7th and 21st June, the combined
fleets of France and England inflicted a series of
crushing defeats on the Dutch squadrons under
Tromp and Ruyter: the first sounds which struck the
ears of the future Corsair were the bells of St. Malo
ringing, and the guns of St. Malo firing in honour of a
victory-one of the earliest ever gained by a squadron
composed entirely of a French king's vessels. The
house in which Duguay Trouin was born, a quaint old
wooden structure in the Rue Jean Chatillon, is still
pointed out to visitors; though if no cicerone be
at hand, it may readily be recognized by the little
158
The Corsairs of France.
tablet on its walls bearing the words, "Ici est né
Duguay Trouin." Sprung from a race who had ever
made their living by the sea, it is a matter of surprise
that the lad should have been destined for another
career; but the father's later enterprises as a priva-
teer had not been crowned with success. An uncle
was French Consul at Malaga (a post which appears
to have been hereditary in the family, as we find
it had been held by men of the same name for over
200 years), and this uncle was a close friend of the
Bishop of that see, who happened to be a brother of
Philip IV., King of Spain. Through this influence,
clerical preferment was anticipated, and though
the little René loved to play amongst the rotting
boats behind the old arsenal, or to wander in the
shipping-yards away up the banks of the Rance,
and thought the smell of tar was sweeter than that
of incense, he never dared to question his father's
decision, and quietly acquiesced in the future carved
out for him; so after an early education in the
College of St. Malo, he was despatched to Rennes,
there to complete his studies for the priesthood.
The vacations spent at home served more and more
to draw the lad away from his intended calling.
One by one his little playfellows were drafted off
to sea-some to follow in the wake of the early
Corsairs of Bretagne, others to endure still greater
hardships and privations on the fishing-banks of
Newfoundland and René fretted out his soul at
home. Well read and active both in mind and
body, his spirit revolted at the thought of the future
marked out for him, and on more than one occasion
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 159
outbreaks of insubordination brought down on him
severe and condign punishment. In 1688 his father
died, and then occurred an episode rare indeed in the
history of French youth. A priest, wearied with
young René's continued inattention, took up a ruler
and struck the boy over the knuckles. In these days
of "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," corporal punish-
ment is absolutely forbidden in French schools.
René, however, brooked no such treatment; before
the priest had time to realize his intention, he seized
the unfortunate cleric by the collar, and wrenching
the ruler from his grasp, broke it over the tempting
shaven pate. The consternation in the college was
extreme: a reverend father assaulted by a candidate
for the priesthood!—never was such an outrage heard
of; the lad was hurried off to a refractory cell, and
his widowed mother hastily summoned. Duguay
scorned to ask pardon for his offence, and stoutly
threatened to repeat it should a like indignity be
offered him. To retain such a godless youth was
impossible, so he, graceless and impenitent, was
forthwith removed to Caen, where it was hoped
severer discipline and closer attention to study
might wean the youth from mundane matters. But
the good priests at Caen relished not the lad whose
sturdy frame and well-knit muscles showed full well
that he was capable of repeating the experiment
tried at Rennes, and few if any efforts were made to
induce the young Malouine to conform to college
rules. He roamed the town at his own good will,
and soon made friends outside the walls of the
college, whose tastes were more congenial than those
160
The Corsairs of France.
who dwelt within. From these he learnt much that
was useful and some things perhaps wiser left un-
known, he became an adept at sword-play, passion-
ately fond of gambling, and more and more averse
to the calling for which he was destined. The in-
judicious liberality of his mother enabled him to
follow pretty much his own inclinations in every
respect, and we may judge of the precocity of the
youth when we read that in his sixteenth year he
succeeded in paying a visit to Paris and another to
Rouen, when supposed to be studying religion at
the College of Caen. It was clear that René
Duguay Trouin was scarcely likely to justify the
kind intervention of the Bishop of Malaga-his own
inclinations pointed to the sea. The sound of war
was rife in France. Louis XIV. was standing at
bay against all the great powers, and the French
navy, Colbert's magnificent legacy, was now at the
very zenith of its glory. There were men holding
high commands who had sprung from Corsair
origin, and courtly smiles and courtly influence were
not entirely reserved for those of noble birth. Men
high in the land, deep in the king's counsel, did not
hesitate to mix themselves up in expeditions by
which money might be made, and in which no
king's ship ventured to appear. Every port in
France was interested in this style of naval warfare,
but none had thrown themselves into it with more
cordiality than the Corsair city of St. Malo. In the
year 1689 no fewer than seventy-eight craft of all rigs
and all sizes from that port alone were employed in
scouring the seas for the sole purpose of destroying
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
161
the commerce of those nations at war with France.
Here was the opportunity for René Duguay Trouin,
here he might find heads harder to break and more
legitimately to be broken than that of the worthy
frère of Rennes : his father was not without renown
as a Corsair, and there were many captains sailing.
out of St. Malo who would gladly welcome on board
their craft a son of Luc Trouin of la Barbinais, for
they were well aware that the relatives of the lad
were rich enough and willing enough to assist sub-
stantially in equipping a vessel for this lucrative, if
dangerous trade.
Young Duguay Trouin knew well the life before
him. The streets of St. Malo were full of men who
plied the trade of Corsair: from his own father's
lips he had heard many a tale of hard encounters,
of dismasted craft, and shot-torn hulls, of prize and
captor cast helpless on the perilous reefs which
fringe the coasts of Brittany; and many a lad, scarce
his own age, had sturdily played his minor part in
scenes which our young hero pictured to himself
only too vividly. Brought up midst companions
like these, Duguay was not the one to shirk the
opening now offered him, and in November, 1689, he
embarked on a smart craft, the Trinité, mounting
twenty-eight guns and carrying a crew of 123 men.
His first experience was rude enough, the month
of November in the Channel rarely offers the most
tempting weather to the sailor, and young Duguay
Trouin had his full share of gales and fogs, of
strong head-winds, accompanied with blinding sleet,
of dreary beatings off an iron-bound coast, and
M
162
The Corsairs of France.
never the excitement of a single prize to relieve the
miserable monotony of a winter's cruise. A solitary
unit in a crew of 128 men on board a craft of 180
tons, his lines were by no means cast in pleasant
places, but the life, such as it was, was made light
and agreeable so far as it could be, for Marguerite
Trouin, our hero's mother, had contributed a con-
siderable sum towards the equipment of the Trinité.
A whole year elapsed ere Duguay Trouin smelt
powder, for it was not until the month of November,
1690, that the Trinité captured, after a short
struggle, a small craft hailing from London named
The Three Friends. Duguay formed part of the
prize-crew placed on board the English ship, and in
assisting to bring her into port, ran a narrow
chance of shipwreck on the ugly reef, the Min-
quiers, which bars the entrance to St. Malo
harbour. And now the run of luck was about to
set in the opposite direction. Within the month
four other British ships fell into the hands of the
Trinité, and on the 16th of December she had a
sharp and successful fight with the Dutch Corsair,
Concorde. The two vessels were equally matched as
regards armament, but the crew of the Trinité had
been weakened by some thirty men escorting prizes
to France, and so Captain Fossart fought at a disad-
vantage. The Malouines have never been accus-
tomed to count the odds, and Fossart was not the
man to show a pair of heels to any Dutchman
afloat. At dawn on the 16th the Dutchman was
seen hull down to leeward; cracking on all sail, by
mid-day the Trinité was within gunshot, and firing
-
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo—1673-1736. 163
a blank cartridge signalled the Concorde to heave
to; no answer being vouchsafed, a shotted gun was
fired across her bows, and in reply the Dutch vessel
saluted the Trinité with a heavy broadside. For
more than two hours the cannonade continued; but
the Frenchman having the heavier metal, and, thanks
to Colbert's admirable instructions, her crew being
better versed in gun-drill, succeeded in inflicting
considerable damage on the top-hamper of her foe,
receiving in return but little harm. The casualties on
the Concorde, too, were heavy, and noticing that her
fire was beginning to slacken, Fossart ranged along-
side and calling away his boarders, was the first to
leap on board the enemy's ship. Young Duguay
Trouin sprung over by his side, and this, his first
introduction to hand-to-hand fighting, was graven
on his memory to the day of his death. As the
Frenchmen dashed on board the enemy's ship, the
vessels swung apart, and then again the man at the
Trinité's tiller brought her up against the Concorde:
more than one brave fellow, missing his foothold,
fell short into the sea, to be crushed to death
between the grinding hulls. Amongst the unfortu-
nates was one Jean Desmoulins, an old friend of
Duguay Trouin's, and as the novice, young and
active, leapt into the mizen-chains of the Dutchman,
the brains of his poor messmate were bespattered in
his face. Small time was there for musing why
the one should be taken and the other left, for a
big Flessinger, seeing but a youth in front of him,
rushed on what he flattered himself would be an easy
prey; but the fencing lessons of Caen now came in
M 2
164
The Corsairs of France.
good stead, and though scarcely accustomed to the
rolling decks of a small vessel, Duguay Trouin had
a keener eye and a quicker hand than his adversary.
Deftly avoiding the lumbering sweep of the Dutch-
man's cutlass, René laid him low with a thrust
through the throat; then, seeing his captain hard
pressed by three of the enemy, he rushed to
Fossart's aid, and here again his knowledge of
sword-play proved of incalculable service. Few
sailors, especially those who shipped on Corsair
craft, knew aught of the intricacies of quart
and tierce, of points and parries; the pike and
cutlasses when wielded by stalwart arms were
formidable weapons, and brute force in nine cases
out of ten won the day. But Duguay Trouin had as
cool a head as he had steady a hand, and he was as
nimble of foot as he was quick of eye, and these
qualities enabled him, not merely to rid his captain
of two out of the three Dutchmen who were making
matters unpleasant for the brave old Malouine,
but also permitted him to earn more than a novice's
share of the glory in the capture of the Concorde.
The fight was sharp enough whilst it lasted, and
when at length the white flag of France flew from
the Dutch vessel's mast-head, over twenty brave
men of Flushing lay stark on the Concorde's decks.
As one of the prize-crew detached to take the cap-
tured vessel home, young Duguay Trouin shared in
the tumultuous triumph which greeted the arrival
of the Dutch ship as she rounded the mole of St.
Malo. He was destined to share in many a more
glorious ovation, but this his first taste of the
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 165
joys of victory was sweet enough. There on
the mole-head stood many a whilom playmate,
many a winsome lassie, crowding down to see
the entry of the fresh-won prize. There, too,
was his mother leaning on the arm of her good
cousin, Jean Danycan, himself in younger days.
a worthy Corsair of the Corsair city, and in
the crowd was many a well-known face of priest
and merchant, all eagerly joining in the acclama-
tions which greeted the shot-torn craft as, with
jury rig and splintered bulwarks, she forged
into the inner harbour. Under the white flag of
France flew the tricolour of Holland, and displayed
on a board in the mizen-rigging were the names
of the six members of the Corsair's crew who had
fallen in the gallant fight. The rejoicings were
great in the Rue Jean Chatillon that night, for
every member of the prize-crew had some fresh
version to give of young Duguay Trouin's prowess
on the 16th. Besides glorying in her son's bravery,
the good widow had the solid satisfaction of feeling
that her money had not been risked in vain. The
barren success achieved by the Trinité during the
preceding year had been more than atoned for in
the past month, when six valuable prizes had fallen
to her share, and a sum equal to the amount
invested in her equipment was ready for distribu-
tion to the lucky Corsair venturers.
René Duguay Trouin was more than ever deter-
mined to continue his new-found calling, and his
relatives in no way discouraged him. They were
anxious, however, that he should
should master the
•
166
The Corsairs of France.
educational requirements of his profession, in order
that he might be ready as soon as opportunity
offered to assume command himself.
During his
year at sea he had realized the necessity for a know-
ledge of navigation, and he applied himself with
vigour to mastering the intricacies of solar observa-
tions, and such simple knowledge as the sailor of
the seventeenth century deemed essential.
In June of the following year, 1691, Duguay
Trouin once more embarked as a volunteer on board
the Grenedan, a smart sailor of 300 tons, mounting
eighteen guns, with a crew of 205 men: this craft
had been jointly fitted out by the families of Trouin
and of Danycan. It may readily be imagined that
the position of this young volunteer was made as
little irksome as Captain Legoux could make it, and
that the greatest deference was paid to his views and
to his wishes. Proceeding to the west coast of
Ireland, it was not long ere the Grenedan entered
on her career of victory. On the 21st of August she
sighted a fleet of fifteen merchantmen, which steered
for the shelter of Bantry Bay; but, as so often
happened in our wars with France, the Malouine
Corsair was by far the smartest vessel that day, and,
thanks to the able seamanship of old Legoux and
the dashing gallantry of the young volunteer, three
out of the fifteen vessels were boarded and captured
before they reached Dingle Bay. In boarding the
second prize, Duguay Trouin narrowly escaped the
fate of the brave Desmoulins at the capture of the
Concorde. All anxious to be the first on the enemy's
decks, no sooner had the two vessels neared than
-
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 167
the young volunteer, without waiting to see that
the grappling-irons had caught in the rigging or
that the craft were lashed to each other, sprung to
the mizen-chains of the Englishman; her helmsman,
wishing to avoid the shock, kept his own ship away
a bit, and Duguay Trouin, jumping short, fell into
the water. Both vessels were moving some six or
seven knots, but his fall being seen, a rope was
hove him just in time, and he seizing it, was dragged
through the water and so on to his own craft. With
the eagerness of youth he was yet one of the first
amongst the boarders; dashing aft to where the
fight raged thickest he was fortunate enough to
wound, disarm, and personally receive into his own
hands the sword of the English captain, a sturdy
man of Kerry, little versed in those intricacies of
sword-play which Duguay Trouin had so fortunately
for himself mastered at Caen. On the 5th of
September, 1691, the Grenedan re-entered St.
Malo; following in her wake came the three English
prizes, the Francis Samuel, 28, the Europe, 24, and
the Seven Stars, 28. For those who have witnessed
the return of the Newfoundland fishing-fleet in this
nineteenth century, it is not difficult to picture the
welcome accorded to the Corsairs of two hundred
years ago. Pride and grief chased each other by turns
from the faces of those who crowded the cale: pride
at the brave sight before them, grief for those who
had fallen in the fray. Amongst those whose pride
was unalloyed was Marguerite Duguay Trouin,-her
son had now won his spurs, and she already pictured
him, not as a mere volunteer, but as a captain
168
The Corsairs of France.
convoying in a string of prizes even more valuable
than those now before her, in the capture of which
he had borne so brave a part. More than one
member of the Grenedan's crew shared the feast that
was prepared at the Rue Jean Chatillon that day,
and the proud mother was made prouder still by
the universal testimony borne to the bravery of
her favourite son. It was not merely in action that
his good qualities shone forth. In fair weather or
foul he was the life and soul of the crew; and
more than one weather-beaten tar privately in-
formed old Jean Danycan that they would rather
sail under René Duguay Trouin than under any cap-
tain hailing from St. Malo. But Colbert's rules were
still in full force: the Inscription maritime, yet in its
infancy, forbade men eligible for the king's service
to enter that of private employers in time of war,
and though Seignelay and his successor, Pontchar-
train, the Minister of Marine under Louis XIV., were
ready enough to grant letters of marque to Corsairs
of known valour and fidelity, they were by no means
likely to approve of a youth still in his teens being
entrusted with an independent command. Despite
these drawbacks it was determined to let young
Duguay Trouin make a voyage on his own account,
and his friends, unwilling at first to run any great
risk, gave him command of a small craft, the Dany-
can, mounting but fourteen guns, and of no great
renown either for speed or seamanlike qualities. Thus
handicapped, small wonder that the young captain's
first voyage was not very propitious. Every craft he
chased sailed two knots to his one, and he returned
W
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
169
empty-handed to St. Malo. Empty-handed, but
not without additional honour; for, having chased
some vessels into the friendly shelter of the Shannon,
Duguay Trouin landed in the night, and seeing some
craft beached on the mud in an undefended harbour,
attacked and burnt them, then moving inland per-
formed the same feat to a property belonging to Lord
Clare. The utmost consternation spread throughout
the neighbourhood. Trouin's fifty men were magnified
into a force of all arms, his miserable old craft, the
Danycan, into a French fleet; and despatches were
sent north and south for troops to come and repel the
invaders. The officer commanding William III.'s
troops at Limerick was the first on the scene; he,
misled by reports and fearing an ambuscade failed
to act with vigour, and Duguay Trouin was thus
enabled to draw off absolutely unmolested, after
having caused an incalculable amount of damage,
and spread terror throughout the western provinces
of Ireland, during his four-and-twenty hours' cruise
ashore.
The following year Duguay Trouin was pro-
moted into a better craft, and this time, the fame of
his incursion into the county of Limerick having
reached the ears of Pontchartrain, letters of marque
were granted him, and he was thus permitted to ship
a crew of seamen, not of waifs and strays such as
formed the ship's company on the Danycan. His
new ship, named the Coetquen, mounted eighteen
guns and carried a crew of 140 men. She too was
fitted out at the joint expense of the Trouins
and Danycans and was destined to scour the Channel
170
The Corsairs of France.
in company with another craft, the Saint Aaron,
also the property of the same firm.
The two vessels sailed from St. Malo early in June,
1692, and steered for the Cornish coast, off which they
cruised for some three weeks in the hope of cutting
off the West Indian fleets which usually entered the
Channel at that season of the year. The young com-
mander's fortune was evidently about to turn once
more, for on the 22nd of June a squadron of thirty
craft, under convoy of two small frigates mounting
sixteen guns, was sighted astern. Shortening sail
and showing English colours, Duguay Trouin
enticed the Englishmen within range; then running
up the white flag, he bore down on the leading
frigate, at the same time that the Saint Aaron by his
instructions steered into the middle of the squadron
of merchant-ships. These vessels were unable to
make any resistance, and Captain Welsh, a man of
English extraction, who commanded the Saint Aaron,
was able to board and man with prize-crews twelve
ships; more men he has unable to spare, and the
remaining eighteen English vessels, chiefly coasting-
craft of small tonnage, were consequently enabled
to press on more sail and shape their course for
Plymouth. In the meantime the two frigates were
doing their utmost to beat off Duguay Trouin's
persistent attacks; but the young captain, with his
usual intrepidity, had laid the Coetquen alongside the
leading English vessel, and poured 100 stalwart
Bretons over her bulwarks. The fight was long and
obstinate, and its issue was for a long time doubt-
ful, for the other English craft ranged up on the
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 171
Coetquen's quarter and made a desperate attempt to
take her by boarding. Welsh, seeing the straits to
which the Coetquen was reduced, ordered his prize-
crews to bear up for St. Malo, and he at once opened a
fire of chain-shot and case on the half-deserted decks of
the little frigate which had dared to board the Coetquen.
Coming up under the quarter of this craft, he lashed
his bowsprit to her mizen-rigging, threw the whole
of his crew on board her, and speedily overpowered
the handful of men still living on her decks; then
bracing round her yards he caused her to sheer
away from Duguay Trouin's ship. Before doing so,
however, some twenty or thirty brave Bretons
rushed across the English ship's decks, and gain-
ing those of the Coetquen, were so enabled to
restore the balance of this uneven fight. Welsh,
having cut the Saint Aaron adrift from his prize, now
ranged up on the disengaged quarter of the remain-
ing uncaptured Englishman, and this vessel, taken
between two fires, had no course open but to haul
down her colours. Thus, thanks to the valuable
assistance of the quick-witted Welsh, Duguay Trouin
was able to steer for St. Malo with no fewer than
fourteen prizes. But the Channel was not always
open to the free passage of French Corsairs: English
cruisers patrolled its waters, and many a hard-won
prize was recaptured by their ever watchful care.
So it happened on this occasion. On rounding
Jersey a squadron of six English men-of-war was
descried, and Duguay Trouin, trusting to the dangers
of the coast and his own knowledge of those dangers,
at once shaped his course for the Bréhat islands,
172
The Corsairs of France.
lying to the westward of Cape Frehel. The whole
coast is here dotted with dangerous reefs, some of
which are visible at high water, but many more
are rarely uncovered except at exceptionally high
spring-tides. The tide, too, runs like a mill-race
round the cape, and the young Corsair knew no
captain would dare to venture with a king's ship
into the neighbourhood of these iron-bound reefs.
Before reaching their shelter, however, he had the
misfortune of seeing two of his prizes retaken,
and he was somewhat exercised at the conduct of
Welsh, who, shaping his course for St. Malo with
four of the captured merchantmen, seemed more
likely even than himself to be overtaken by the
English squadron.
Duguay Trouin, though exposed for some hours
to the fire of the bow-chasers of the English frigates,
rounded Cape Frehel in safety, and was fortunate
enough to bring eight of his prizes uninjured into
Paimpol harbour. For the next three or four days
the English squadron hovered off the coast, and
there seemed every prospect of their attempting a
cutting-out expedition. Duguay accordingly landed
his prisoners, and moored his ships across the
entrance to the harbour. He thus presented such a
formidable broadside of guns to any boats attempt-
ing to force an entrance, that after one or two fruit-
less attempts the English commodore bore up for
Jersey. A few days later Trouin convoyed his prizes
in safety to St. Malo, where he was glad to find the
Saint Aaron lying with the remaining four captured
ships.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 173
Not content with this successful cruise, Duguay
Trouin, as soon as he had filled up with fresh pro-
visions and water, and given his men forty-eight
hours' run ashore, once more put to sea, and once
more chose the neighbourhood of the Scillies for his
cruising-ground. Again he was successful, and this
time he was fortunate enough to capture two rich
West Indiamen laden with sugar, who struck their
flags at the first summons. Returning to St. Malo
with his prizes, the young Corsair found that his
name had been submitted by the Naval Commandant
of the port to the Minister of Marine, for the
command of one of his Majesty's ships. Not that
he was to be enrolled as an officer of the navy, and
entitled to wear the uniform almost exclusively re-
served for members of the aristocracy. No, for the
French navy in the days of the Monarchs of France
was always a very close borough. Then, as now,
the French nation possessed ships for which she
was unable to find either officers or men, or indeed
money for their fitting out. The ministers, however,
were always willing to lend these ships to solvent
merchant firms, who, finding officers and crews and
funds for equipping them, stood all risk attendant
on their ventures. Prizes were, as I have said before,
handed over to the Admiralty courts and sold by
auction, one-tenth being retained by Government,
the remainder being divided in proportions as before
agreed upon between the firms who commissioned
the ship and the crew who manned her. Ofttimes
ministers themselves would embark considerable
sums in equipping such vessels, especially those
174
The Corsairs of France.
about to be commanded by men like Jean Bart,
Duguay Trouin, and Forbin. A code of laws was
drawn up for the guidance of captains commanding
such craft, and these vessels were recognized by all
maritime nations as being engaged in legitimate
warfare. Not only did the State derive a very
considerable revenue from the captures made by
these Corsairs, but the King's navy received
valuable reinforcements in the persons of officers
and men inured to war, skilled in seamanship, and
possessing a profound knowledge of the coasts of
France.
It was late in the autumn of 1692 that Duguay
Trouin received instructions to proceed to Brest,
and there take command of the corvette Profond, 32.
Not yet twenty years of age, it is scarcely to be
wondered at that the Minister of Marine should
hesitate to entrust the youthful Trouin with any
very valuable command, although indeed the State
was guaranteed from all loss by the joint indemnity
of the rich firms of Trouin de la Barbinais and
Danycan. The Profond was a veritable tortoise at
sea, and though the young captain sighted many
craft, he was unable to come up to any of them.
More than one misfortune befell him: one dark
night at the mouth of the Channel he encountered a
Swedish man-of-war, and through some inexplicable
error (Sweden being then at peace with France),
the two craft opened fire on each other. The
cannonade lasted until daybreak when the error was
discovered, and when too, in comparing losses, it
was discovered that the Swede had lost her fore-top-
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 175
mast and sixteen men killed and wounded, whilst
the Profond had been hulled nine times, and had
four men killed. To add to his troubles fever
broke out in the ship, and of such a severe and
virulent form that ere she could show a clean bill
of health, eighty of Duguay Trouin's crew were
dead. During the outbreak the Profond put in-
to Lisbon, and there was cleansed and fumigated,
and the young captain took the opportunity to
careen and clean his ship's bottom in the hope of
improving her sailing qualities. When ready for
sea, Trouin was ordered to proceed to Brest and
pay off, for from his own account it was evident
that small results would be obtained from any
cruises of the Profond.
Fortunately, however, for the young captain, the
day after leaving Lisbon he sighted a large Spanish
vessel bound from the West Indies with rum and
sugar; but weakly manned and badly armed, the
Spaniard surrendered without firing a shot, and with
this one prize Duguay Trouin re-entered Brest.
He had been at sea four months, had lost one-third
of his crew, from sickness, and had captured but
one vessel. The cargo of this one, however, was of
such a rich nature that the firms interested in the
venture were ready enough to use their influence to
obtain a more important command for Duguay
Trouin, and the Minister of Marine was equally
ready to entrust him with one. He had been ashore
but a month when he received instructions to
proceed to Brest, and to commission the Hercule, a
corvette mounting twenty-eight guns and one of the
176
The Corsairs of France.
smartest vessels of her size in the navy. Early in
July the Hercule put to sea, and once again Duguay
Trouin chose the neighbourhood of the Scillies as
his cruising-ground; and this his second cruise in a
king's ship, bade fair to be more prosperous than his
last, for within a mouth of leaving Brest four Eng-
lish prizes were captured, and captured too without
the loss of a man. Then, however, his good fortune
deserted him, and he was two whole months at sea
without sighting a single hostile ship; provisions
and water were low, and his officers and men
murmuring loudly, but the young captain showed
no intention of returning to port; the murmurs grew
louder and louder, and his position became critical,
for his tween-decks were crowded with 200 prisoners,
who performed their share of lessening daily the
food and water. Short commons soon tells on the
sailor, and sickness broke out on board; still Duguay
Trouin refused to listen to the representations of
his officers or to pander to the murmurs of his crew.
At last the discontent culminated into something
like open mutiny; the crew came aft in a body, and
demanded that the vessel should be put about and
a course steered for the nearest French port. One
of the youngest men on the ship, Duguay Trouin
might have been pardoned had he shown some
hesitation on this occasion, but he evinced as much
coolness and firmness in the presence of his
disaffected crew as he had done when boarding the
Concorde. Partly by threats, for the Corsair com-
mander was a veritable autocrat on board his ship,
partly by persuasion, Duguay Trouin induced his
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 177
men to return to their duty, promising that if, at the
end of seven days, no prize was captured, he would
return to France, and further assuring them that
the first prize sighted should be handed over to the
men to pillage. Slowly enough did the days pass
for the half-starving crew, but all too quickly for the
ambitious captain; night succeeded night yet no
strange sail was reported; dawn followed dawn,
and Duguay Trouin would descend from his morn-
ing visit to the main-topmast head more and more
despondent. At last the seventh day drew to a
close, and on the morrow he would have to relin-
quish the cruise and stand away for Brest. As he
lay tossing wearily in his bunk, he dozed off, and in
a dream saw bearing down on him two full-rigged
English ships, lying low in the water evidently
heavily laden. So vivid was the dream that the
young captain woke, and leaving his cabin, spent the
remainder of the night pacing his little quarter-deck
and feverishly watching for dawn. Day broke clear
and bright, and as the first streaks of light illumined
the sky Duguay Trouin mounted to the topgallant-
yard and with anxious eyes swept the horizon. As
he himself says in his memoirs, he was so firmly
convinced in the truth of his vision that he evinced
no surprise at seeing two large vessels, carrying
exactly the sail of those he had but an hour before
dreamt of, bearing down on him. Nearing their own
coast, Duguay Trouin felt that these vessels would
rather avoid than accept an encounter, and he there-
fore hoisted the English flag, and shortened sail to
enable them to come up to him. Little suspecting
N
-
178
The Corsairs of France.
the nature of the craft they were approaching, the
two large merchantmen stood boldly on, and in
response to Trouin's blank shot, commanding them to
heave-to, merely dipped the English colours, and stood
on. We may judge of their surprise when the next
act of their supposed countryman was to run up
the white flag of France and to fire a shotted gun
across their bows. Hastily clearing for action, the
merchantmen determined on making a stout re-
sistance, but Duguay Trouin's men, inflamed by the
hope of pillage, fought with even more than their
accustomed bravery; the task before them was no
easy one; gun for gun each of the Englishmen was
a match for the Hercule; but Duguay Trouin's crew
was nearly double that of the enemy, and when,
despite the excellent manoeuvring of the English
captains, he was enabled to lay his craft alongside
the enemy and throw his boarders on their decks,
the question of ownership was soon decided; ere the
sun was over the main-yard, Duguay Trouin's prize-
crews had made all snug on board the English
vessels, and were bowling away before a north-
westerly breeze for Brest. The first ship captured
was handed over to the crew of the Hercule to
plunder, in accordance with the young captain's
promise; the second one was reserved intact for the
Admiralty agent, and seals placed over the hatch-
ways. Leaving the two prizes at Brest, and filling
up with provisions and water, Duguay Trouin
started once
Once
on a winter cruise.
more
on the 27th
more fortune favoured him, for
of November he captured a fine English bark
{
ܢ
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 179
laden with sugar, rum, and silver ingots from the
West Indies; and two days later, when escorting her
to Brest, he fell in with and secured a rich Dutch
prize. The result of this year's cruising was a hand-
some profit to the firms which had fitted out
the Hercule, and a considerable sum was retained by
the Admiralty agent at Brest on behalf of the king's
share.
After a stay of a month ashore, Duguay Trouin,
still supported by his brother and cousin, applied
again for a king's ship, and on the 16th of January,
1694, sailed from Brest in the frigate Diligente,
40, with a crew of 250 men, with orders to cruise
off the coast of Spain, and intercept the vessels
arriving from the West Indies. In the month of
February he captured three prizes, two Dutch and one
English, and, having despatched them under prize-
crews to Brest, put into Lisbon for fresh provisions
and water. Early in April he was joined by his
old ship the Hercule, which brought out his prize-
crews, thus again bringing up his complement to
250 men, and the two vessels in company continued
their cruising. On the 25th of the same month a
squadron of ships-of-war was reported in sight,
these proved to be four large Dutch armed mer-
chantmen hailing from Curaçoa, laden with rum,
cocoa, and bar silver. Selecting the largest of the
four, named the Panther, a fine ship carrying thirty-
two guns, and ordering the Hercule to attack the next
largest, Duguay Trouin ran up the French colours,
and, in accordance with custom, ordered the Dutch-
men to heave-to and be searched. For all answer
N 2
180
The Corsairs of France.
they threw out the tricolour of Holland and
pressed on more sail. A lively cannonade at once
ensued, and a lucky shot having crippled the fore-
mast of the Panther, Duguay Trouin was enabled
to lash the Diligente alongside her and to carry her
by boarding. The Hercule had not been so fortu-
nate; her opponent was the faster vessel of the two
and mounted heavier metal, her captain too would
give his antagonist no opportunity of coming along-
side, consequently Trouin had the mortification of
seeing three out of the four escape him. Giving
the command of the Panther to his cousin Jacques
Boscher, Duguay Trouin stood away for St. Malo,
where he arrived the following evening, prize
and consort rounding the mole in his immediate
wake. Warm as had been the welcome accorded
him when convoying in small coasting-craft as
his prisoners, the seafaring populace outdid their
former efforts when they saw their own townsman,
a lad just one-and-twenty years of age, work his
way up the dangerous passage from the Minquiers,
past the island of Cézembre, and moor his little
squadron off the Cale by the Arsenal. However
anxious Duguay Trouin might have been to spend a
long holiday ashore, he was now in command of
one of the king's ships, and personal considerations
had to be sunk; he merely remained long enough
to fill up with fresh water and provisions, and then,
this time without the Hercule which had suffered
somewhat from the fire of her antagonist in the
recent action, stood out alone to sea. On the 30th
of April he fell in with a convoy of thirty colliers
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
181
escorted by a 56-gun ship, the Prince of Orange.
Flying the English colours, the Diligente sailed into
the centre of the convoy without being discovered,
then ascertaining that the vessels carried nothing
but coal, a practically useless commodity in France,
Duguay Trouin stood away from the English fleet.
Seeing a vessel thus leaving her escort, the Prince
of Orange fired a gun to warn the Diligente, who
was still flying the English colours, to keep on the
given course; but the Corsair merely pressed on
more sail, in order to avoid capture, for the dis-
covery of her nationality she knew could be no
longer delayed. Seeing that the Diligente paid no
attention to blank cartridge or to signal, the
captain of the English man-of-war began to suspect
something wrong, and signalling the convoy to keep
close order, he started in pursuit of the Frenchman.
But the Diligente was the faster sailer of the two,
and when she had well out-distanced the man-of-
war, Duguay Trouin brailed up his courses and
waited for the Prince of Orange to come within
range. Then, with the English colours still flying,
he treated the English ship to a broadside, and
once more filling her sails the Diligente again bore
away from pursuit. When out of range Duguay
Trouin hoisted his own colours and again hove-to,
hoping to be able to dismast the Englishman by a
lucky shot, and then to carry her by boarding; but
the Prince of Orange, fearing to lose some of her
convoy, and satisfied with having chased away
the Corsair, changed her course and rejoined the
squadron under her charge.
܂
182
The Corsairs of France.
It was impossible that the young captain's career
should continue without a check. Hitherto, he had
passed through some privations and many dangers,
he had in the course of his four and a half years'
sea-service risen to the rank of commander, had
shared in the capture of over thirty craft of various
rigs and sizes, as yet he had escaped without a
scratch, and had on more than one occasion, by
good seamanship and by gallantry, brought himself
clear from situations which looked as if they could
only end in his capture.
Emboldened by these successes, Duguay Trouin
began to consider himself as well-nigh gifted with
some special quality. He was already looked upon
as the leading Corsair of the Corsair city, and there
were not wanting men in Brittany who put him on
a par with Jean Bart of Dunkirk, the most popular
of all French naval heroes; but Duguay Trouin's
pride was to receive an awkward fall.
The morning of the 12th of May broke dull
and heavy, a dense summer fog obscured the
horizon, and the Diligente lay becalmed some thirty
miles south of the Scillies. Ever and anon a little
puff of wind would arise, enough to fill the light
upper sails of the frigate, but not enough to clear
away the fog. The wind, such as there was, was
blowing up from the south-east, and Duguay Trouin
meant to take advantage of it, and to round the
islands for the purpose of scouring the Bristol
Channel, in which at this season of the year ships
from the West Indies might generally be found.
The fog grew denser and denser all the fore-
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736., 183
noon, and the wind fell to nearly a dead calm; the
Corsair, fearing he might be driven on the islands,
determined on heaving-to until it lifted, his men,
wearied with inaction, were lying on the decks,
some playing cards or dominos, others patching
sails or furbishing up arms, none thinking of the
danger into which they were leisurely drifting,-
every man had a firm faith in their captain's star.
Suddenly the man on the look-out shouted a sail on
the lee-bow, and in almost the same breath reported
two more on the weather-bow. In a moment all was
bustle, bustle but not confusion, for Duguay Trouin
had trained his men with almost the discipline of a
man-of-war's crew; quickly the men got to quarters,
whilst the captain slightly changed his course with
the object of approaching the nearest ship to ascer-
tain her nationality.
A few brief seconds ended the suspense. The
long pennant hanging idly from the topgallant
mast-head and the ensign flapping lazily at the
mizen-peak showed an English man-of-war, whilst
the double row of open ports proved to the young
Corsair that there was but one course open to him.
His keen eyes showed him that the two other vessels
were also ships-of-war, and he now knew that he
was in the very grasp of a squadron cruising at the
mouth of the channel, under the command of
Admiral Sir David Mitchell. There was for a
moment the bare hope that his vessel in the fog
might be mistaken for one of the squadron, and to
favour this supposition, Duguay Trouin determined
to run up English colours, but the look-out on the
184
The Corsairs of France.
Adventure had already made out the strange craft,
and a blank cartridge from the English frigate
summoned the Corsair to heave to. The Malouine,
however, rapidly counted his chances. In his own
ship's speed he had the fullest confidence, and he had
no wish to see the inside of an English prison; by
running close in shore and doubling the islands he
might shake off his pursuers, at the worst-should
his attempt fail-he could but fall into their hands.
A bid for escape was therefore determined on, and
taking no notice of the Englishman's gun beyond
hanging out the Enlish ensign, Duguay Trouin held
on his course. The English squadron was heading
to the north-east, he making to the westward. The
Adventure, seeing no notice was taken of her summons,
repeated it with a shotted gun, and at once signalled to
her consorts the presence of the stranger; at the same
time she went about and stood after the Frenchman.
The wind was too light to permit the Diligente to gain
much on her adversary, and all chance of escape
was banished by the first broadside of the English
frigate, which, flying high over the Diligente's decks,
hurtled through her top-hamper and shattering both
topmasts, sent masts and spars crashing down on
deck, many men being injured in their fall.
Although in the very midst of the hostile squadron,
the young captain's presence of mind did not desert
him. To escape in his own vessel was an impossibility,
but he instantly conceived a plan of action which,
hopelessly daring in its conception, was helplessly
impossible of execution. As the Adventure ranged
alongside to demand surrender of the dismasted
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 185
Frenchman, Duguay Trouin, whose vessel still had
some way on her, put his helm hard up, and crashing
into the frigate's sides called on his men to board
and capture her-the wild idea coursed through his
brain that he might overpower the English crew,
make himself master of their vessel, and abandoning
the Diligente to the enemy, carry the Adventure, a
larger and more powerful and more heavily-armed
vessel, into St. Malo as his prize. The English
captain was no novice in the art of naval warfare,
and as the French crew endeavoured to board by
the fore-chains, they were met with such a volley of
musketry from the small-arms men in the tops, and
such a fierce assault from the blue jackets on the
deck, that they fell back checked on to their own
craft; at the same time putting his own helm down,
he caused the Adventure to fall away from the
Diligente, and at once reopened fire on the floating
wreck; the Corsair replied with spirit and execution,
but it was evident that surrender could not long be
stayed. The Monk, a large two-decker of sixty-six
guns, now ranged up under the lee of the Diligente,
and also opened fire on her, whilst three other ships,
the Canterbury, Dragon, and Ruby, were slowly com-
ing up to join in the unequal combat, and already
with their pivot-guns were raking the unfortunate
Corsair from stern to stem. To add to the other
dangers, fire now broke out in the hold of the
Diligente, and, though Duguay Trouin refused to
listen to any proposal of surrender, his men by main
force surrounded him and hauled down their colours.
It was some moments ere, owing to the fog and
186
The Corsairs of France.
heavy smoke, this act of surrender could be seen;
but gradually the fire slackened and then died away,
and with it Duguay's luck died also, for almost
the last shot fired from the Monk struck the young
captain in the groin, and dashed him senseless on
the deck. Tenderly raising their gallant commander,
his men at once carried him below, and so he was
spared the humiliation of witnessing the final scene,
though, through the courtesy of his opponents, this
was of a nature to have soothed rather than irritated
his pride. On learning what a youthful opponent
was the hero who had thus encountered the full
force of five English men-of-war, the captain of the
Monk himself boarded the Diligente, and arranged
that the young captain should be transferred to his
own vessel, placed in his own bunk, and tended him,
as Duguay Trouin owns in his memoirs, as his own
child. Such treatment was but a just recompense
for the Malouine's aptitude and gallantry-a gal-
lantry which unfortunately had caused the deaths
of no less than forty men on board the Diligente, and
nearly double that number on the two English
ships-of-war. Taking the Frenchman in tow, the
squadron bore up for Plymouth, reaching that port
on the 2nd of June. Here again Duguay Trouin must
have been flattered at the treatment accorded him.
He was at once admitted to parole, and, though his
men were imprisoned in the Citadel, he was allowed
to communicate with them freely through two
members of his crew who were placed at his
disposal as servants. Unfortunately the generous
treatment was not allowed to continue. Sir David
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 187
Mitchell's squadron once more put to sea, and in the
captain of the Monk, Duguay Trouin lost a powerful
protector; soon, too, he was to meet in the captain of
the Prince of Orange a bitter foe. In the middle of
August that ship put into Plymouth for repairs.
Hearing of the capture of the renowned Corsair, the
captain, Stackpoole, had the curiosity to visit the
prize, and there recognized in her the adversary who
had treated him so cavalierly on the 30th of April.
Complaints were at once lodged with the port
admiral, and Duguay Trouin, on being interro-
gated, was unable to deny that he had fired a
broadside at the Prince of Orange before displayiug
his own colours. This act, a clear breach of inter-
national law, exposed the young Corsair to being
treated as a pirate, and the irate Stackpoole did not
hesitate to press on the admiral the necessity of
making an example of Duguay Trouin. More
humane than the captain, and secretly admiring the
young captain for his gallant fight with the
Adventure and the Monk, the admiral contented
himself with ordering Duguay Trouin's removal to
the Citadel, where, though circumscribed as to his
exercise, he was still almost a prisoner at large,
allowed to communicate with the outer world by
means of his servants, permitted to receive visitors
of either sex, to entertain guests, and generally
treated as an officer of superior rank, not as a
mere Corsair captain. The change, though irksome,
was fraught with much good: as a prisoner on parole
Duguay Trouin was in honour bound to make no
efforts to escape, as a prisoner under watch and
188
The Corsairs of France.
ward he was at full liberty to use his utmost
endeavours to obtain his freedom, and though
months elapsed ere his wound healed, and autumn
turned to winter and winter to spring ere the use
of the shattered limb was regained, Duguay never
lost hope, nor did he shrink from the many
difficulties which stood between him and liberty.
Opportunities of gaining that freedom were few
and far between, and if it was to be gained, it
must be effected by the most precarious means.
At last an opening presented itself. Duguay
Trouin, from the days of his truanthood at Caen,
had always been a devout admirer of women, and if
we may judge from some of his biographers his
successes in the field of love had been no less striking
than those gained at sea. Even at Plymouth he
had experienced a double captivity, and had found
himself, when a prisoner on parole looking anxiously
forward to his release by exchange, entangled in
the meshes of a fair compatriote, the wife of a
Devonshire merchant. The lady apparently was
willing to risk a good deal on behalf of the brave
young sailor; availing himself of the privilege
accorded him of receiving visitors in the Citadel,
Duguay Trouin extended his invitations to the
worthy merchant's wife, and she, nothing loth, paid
frequent visits to the wounded hero. She was soon
won over to the congenial task of assisting him
towards obtaining his liberty, and with the shrewd-
ness of her sex brought her batteries to bear on the
captains of neutral ships, who in the course of
business visited her husband's house. The interest
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 189
she suddenly developed in mercantile affairs must
have somewhat surprised her husband, and the
eagerness with which she sought after knowledge on
matters nautical ought to have awakened his sus-
picions; but, he, good worthy man, slumbered on in
contented ignorance, whilst she day by day increased
her store of knowledge, and day by day kept her
countryman informed of the vessels in harbour,
their nationalities, the ports to which they were
bound, and the dates of their sailing. Week after
week, month after month, vessels entered and
cleared from Plymouth, and Duguay Trouin still
beat his heart out in the misery of his confinement;
but the fair intriguante still worked on, undis-
heartened by failure or undismayed by the difficulties
before her. A year had nearly elapsed since that
foggy May morning on which the Diligente struck
her flag to the English squadron, when a Swedish
vessel commanded by an old admirer of Duguay
Trouin's fresh love, entered the Hamoaze. At once
the young Frenchwoman brought all her power to
bear on the still faithful Swede, and finally succeeded
in enlisting him in her cause. At the young Corsair's
suggestion the Swede's pinnace, its masts, sails, and
oars, together with six muskets and six cutlasses,
were purchased, and such a handsome price was
paid for these to the captive-priceless articles that
the Swedish captain would gladly have sold his ship
from truck to kelson at the same rate. The gallant
deeds of Duguay Trouin were still the theme of
public talk in Plymouth, and the Swedish sailors
were glad enough to wend their way to the Citadel
AN
•
190
The Corsairs of France.
and listen to the yarns of the Corsair crew. With
true sailor-like generosity, these tars soon busied
themselves with projects for Trouin's escape, and
more than one suit of clothes was quietly smuggled
into the Citadel to facilitate this great end. At
last all plans were completed: the pinnace lying in
a little cove outside the town was well freighted
with cooked meat, bread, biscuit, water, and a keg of
good English beer. Thanks to the liberal largesses
of the good merchant's wife, Duguay Trouin
succeeded in bribing one of the officers of the
garrison, and on the 18th of June, taking ad-
vantage of this gentleman being on guard, the
Corsair captain, his first lieutenant, Nicolas Dupré,
his doctor, Antoine l'Hermitte, and his own servant,
dressed in the clothes of the Swedish sailors,
boldly left the prison, and sauntered through the
town to an inn where every preparation had been made
for their reception. As night fell they drove down
to the cove where the pinnace was lying in charge
of a trusty Swede, and at once pushed off to sea.
Twice in the course of the night they found them-
selves hailed by English ships-of-war and twice did
they give themselves up for lost; fortunately these
vessels were making for harbour and held a fair
wind. Seeing the little craft standing out to sea,
they were satisfied with the answer "fishermen "
shouted back in response to their hails, and with
thankful hearts our escaped prisoners saw the
Englishmen hold on their course without troubling
themselves any further about such a cockle-shell.
With the dawn the breeze freshened and soon
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
191
developed into a strong gale, heavy seas broke over
the little craft, threatening every moment to engulf
her, and whilst Duguay Trouin at the tiller was
occupied every moment in guarding against her
rounding to and capsizing, his crew at the bottom
of the boat were busy baling out the water which
poured in in gallons. Fortunately the kindly
thoughtfulness of the little French woman had
provided them with a good meal before embarking,
otherwise they would have fared badly in mid-
channel; the salt water had thoroughly soaked the
tasty patty prepared for them, and their cask of beer
in a sudden lurch had gone over the side. Happily
the wind veered round to the north-east, and now
all Duguay Trouin's efforts were needed to prevent
the little boat being overwhelmed by the great waves
which, dashing on in tempestuous confusion, seemed
as if nothing could prevent their sweeping over the
frail boat. To heave-to was to increase the danger
of capture, so with close-reefed sail and two oars
out over the sides, the little pinnace sped on. Her
crew were Bretons, well used to open boats in heavy
weather, and they were leaving behind them the
unpleasant memories of an English prison, whilst
before them, in their mind's eye, loomed high the cliffs
of Brittany. Small need had Duguay Trouin to
enjoin them to be watchful. Night came on, and
by means of a small lantern thoughtfully provided
by the Swedish captain, the young captain was
enabled to steer a compass course for the Breton
coast. The state of the sea compelled him to avoid
the dangerous race of Alderney, its tumbling waters
192
The Corsairs of France.
}
would most assuredly have swamped his boat, and
so, giving the islands a wide berth, he passed to
the westward of Jersey. Small rest had the little
crew that night, constant baling was necessary to
keep the boat afloat, and constant watchfulness both
at the sheet, the oars, and the helm, to prevent the
heavy rollers dashing over her stern. As morning
broke the wind fell considerably, and with it the sea
calmed down; all cause for anxiety, except from the
enemy's cruisers, was now at an end, and Duguay
Trouin gave orders to shake out the reefs from the
main-sail and then to set the mizen, and now the
little craft leaning over under the pressure of canvas.
bowled through the waters as if she too shared her
crew's anxiety to sight the coast of France. Hungry
and thirsty, the little crew dared not drink salt
water, and the taste of the sodden biscuit was
merely conducive to thirst. As the second night
drew on their sufferings became more acute, but
Duguay cheered them up assuring them that ere
dawn broke they would be in sight of land. Un-
provided with instruments save a tiny compass, they
were unable to judge their position, though from the
rough dead-reckoning kept by the captain they
judged they must be abreast of Jersey. The wind
held favourable throughout thenight, and all hands were
able to get some rest-such rest as only sailors can
appreciate, who have been tossed at the sport of the
winds and the waves in a five-and-twenty foot open
boat. As the sun rose, Duguay awoke his men with
a joyous cry; for there, dead to leeward, were the
rocky isles of Brehat, behind which he had sought
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 193
shelter from the English frigates just three years
previously, and behind them was the rugged coast
of Brittany. In less than an hour the boat was
entering the little harbour of Treguier. With the
simple faith of Breton fishermen a faith still
undiminished by
by the proselytizing effects of
Republicanism the first act of the escaped
Corsairs was to repair to the village church of
Treguier, and there, amidst the votive offerings of
many a shipwrecked sailor, to return thanks for their
happy deliverance. Already one of Breton's best
known heroes, Duguay Trouin and his brave com-
panions were accorded a hearty welcome by the
good people of Treguier. Fresh clothes were supplied
them, and a hearty meal prepared and eaten amidst
general rejoicing; then hiring a country cart, the
whole party set off for St. Malo, there to lay before
the Naval Commandant the whole story of the loss.
of the Diligente, now a twice-told tale, and of the
fortunate escape of a portion of her crew. Their
rude passage from Plymouth to Treguier occupied
but fifty hours, their jolting ride from Treguier to
St. Malo took them ten days.
f
Duguay Trouin was not permitted to remain long
inactive. The gallantry he had displayed in his action
with the English squadron outweighed, in Pontchar-
train's mind, the loss of the Diligente, and within
a month of his landing at Treguier the young
captain received directions to repair to Rochelle, and
there commission the new frigate François, 48 guns,
which had been placed at the disposal of the now
wealthy firm, Trouin de la Barbinais. In the
O
194
The Corsairs of France.
month of October, Duguay Trouin was ready for
sea, and shaped his course for the Irish coast.
Prizes tumbled in fast; ere the year closed five
vessels, averaging from 300 to 500 tons, laden with
tobacco and sugar, fell into his power.
The new year opened auspiciously, for on the 3rd
of January, 1694, a large ship, hailing from New
England with a rich cargo of skins and a deck-load of
spars destined for masting ships of the English navy,
was captured without a shot being fired. From this
vessel Duguay Trouin learnt that a large and rich
fleet of merchantmen hailing from North America
was but a few hours' sail astern, and that their sole
escort was two men-of-war, the Nonsuch and the
Boston. Though his own ship's company was weak-
ened by the crews working his six prizes to France,
though his decks were encumbered with nearly 200
English prisoners, and though the two vessels he
proposed to attack carried eighty-eight guns against
his own forty-eight, Duguay Trouin determined on
inflicting on the English a defeat which should
purge his own conscience of the defeat and loss
of the Diligente. Towards noon the look-out sig-
nalled the English squadron, and at 3 p.m. the
François was within gunshot of the Boston, a fine
two-decker pierced for seventy-four guns, but on
this occasion she carried none on her lower deck,
and had but thirty-eight mounted. Duguay Trouin
from the first showed the Englishmen he wished to
fight. The white flag of France fluttered from his
mizen-peak, and another hung over his taffrail,
whilst the absence of the streaming pennant from

DUGUAY-TROUIN'S BATTLE.
中國
​Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 195
his mast-head clearly showed he was no king's ship.
The Boston, on seeing the nature of the craft, fired
a shotted gun as a signal for the François to heave-
to; for all answer Duguay Trouin stood across the
line-of-battle ship's bows, and when within pistol-
shot discharged a broadside which swept the English
ship from stem to stern, then quickly bouting ship,
stood once more across her wake, and treated the
Boston to a second broadside. As the smoke from
the twenty guns cleared away, the main-top mast of
the Boston was seen to snap short off at the cap,
and all its wreckage, with that of the main-yard
which too had been shot away in the slings, fell in
hopeless confusion on the Englishman's decks.
Again altering his course, Duguay Trouin steered
alongside the Boston and passing under her lee, all
shrouded with falling spars and tattered sails and
useless rigging, poured in a third broadside, which
committed fearful havoc. Lying helpless on the
water, the Boston was unable to evade the last
assault, and the guns on her main-deck were
blinded, as it were, by the sails and spars hanging
over the sides, so that the Frenchman stood on to
attack the Nonsuch without having received any
injury. Keeping to windward of his new anta-
gonist, who was rather hampered in her movements
by a merchant-vessel, Duguay Trouin succeeded in
pouring in a broadside at close range, and then
heading straight for the Englishman he managed to
lay his own ship close alongside her, and, as the
majority of the Nonsuch crew were working the
lower-deck guns, the boarders of the François were
0 2
196
The Corsairs of France.
soon in possession of the upper deck; but in the
meantime the lower-deck guns were being worked
with terrible accuracy, and the French suffered
heavily from a party of small-arms men barricaded
in the high forecastle-man after man fell dead, and
not all Duguay Trouin's heroism could induce his
crew to close on that well-served fire. The fight
thus raged for well-nigh half an hour, when streams
of smoke were seen issuing from the ports of the
Nonsuch, and these curling upwards were quickly
licking the shot-torn sails of the François. Still,
loth to leave his nearly-won prize, Duguay Trouin
called on his men to storm the forecastle, and he
himself led them forward with all his usual dash;
but soon a cry arose that the François too was in
flames, and Duguay, calling off the boarders, cut
his ship adrift. Having subdued the fire, which
had taken but a slight hold of the François, he once
more steered alongside the flame-covered English-
man and poured broadside after broadside into her.
To these the Nonsuch replied with spirit and pre-
cision, and the Boston ever and anon sent her quota
towards equalizing the fight. In the meantime the
merchant-fleet had, in obedience to signal, stood on
for Plymouth, and as night fell the Corsair and the
two English men-of-war were alone visible. With
the night the noise of the guns slackened and finally
ceased altogether, and then the crew of the Nonsuch
bent their utmost efforts towards subduing the fire,
which threatened to destroy their ship, and the
crew of the Boston worked hard at sending up a
jury-mast, in order that they might offer more
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 197
serviceable aid to their consort than they had yet
been able to afford. But fortune was to favour the
French Corsair even more decidedly than on the
preceding day. As dawn broke it was found that
the François was some six miles from the Nonsuch,
which in turn was nearly three miles from the
Boston, and to Duguay Trouin's great delight, he
perceived that the Boston had very imperfectly
succeeded with her jury-rig. He determined then
on first attacking the Nonsuch, and by 9 a.m. he
was within range of her stern guns. Firing only
an occasional shot from his light bow-chasers,
Duguay Trouin waited until within half-range of
the English ship; then, putting his helm hard down,
ran under her stern and delivered a double-shotted
volley from his twenty-four broadside guns. Slowly
bending over to leeward, the good ship staggered
under the effects of that discharge, and as she
righted herself, her main and mizen masts fell over
the side and left her a helpless wreck. But from
the fore-top mast-head flew the English colours,
whilst others were quickly nailed to the shot-torn
stumps of the standing spars, and from her charred
and still smoking ports an intermittent cannonade
was yet kept up. Leaving the Nonsuch for a time,
the François filled and stood on in pursuit of the
Boston, which ship, foreseeing the impossibility of
maintaining the combat, was crowding on all the
sail she could spread in her crippled condition, in
the hopes of escape. But the François at the best
of times was more than a match for the American-
built ship, and now that the latter was standing on
J
198
The Corsairs of France.
under jury main-topmast and with a mere apology
for a main-yard, the Corsair was not long in over-
hauling her. Seeing the Nonsuch a helpless cripple
unable to render any assistance, his own ship badly
hulled, and his crew much reduced by casualties, the
captain of the Boston for all answer to Duguay
Trouin's first broadside hauled down his flag, and
lowering a boat proceeded to consummate his
surrender by handing over his sword to the young
French Corsair on the decks of the François. The
task of transferring a moiety of the crew of the
Boston to the French ship and of manning the prize
with Breton seamen occupied some time, and Duguay
Trouin stood by her until he had personally
satisfied himself by close inspection that there was
little danger of the Boston's recapture, then he put
his ship about and bore down once more on the
Nonsuch: But the Nonsuch was in no condition to
prolong the combat; the fire, though got under was
still smouldering, owing to its ravages many of the
main-deck guns could not be worked; her fore-mast
was alone standing, and over 180 wounded men
cumbered her decks-under these circumstances the
captain had had no alternative but to haul down his
flag at the approach of the François.
And now occurred an incident that must have
afforded unparalleled satisfaction to Duguay Trouin.
Until now the name of his antagonist was unknown
to him, but on proceeding on board the last-captured
prize to superintend the removal of prisoners, he
learnt that the Nonsuch was the identical vessel
which in May, 1689, had, after an equally severe
-
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
199
combat, captured the two Dunkirk Corsairs, the
Railleuse and the Jeux, commanded respectively by
Jean Bart and Forbin, and that the commissions as
captains in the French navy of these two renowned
sailors had been carefully preserved as trophies on
the Nonsuch. In handing over his sword to the
Malouine Corsair, the captain of the Nonsuch
said, "Sir, five years ago this vessel, after a
fight as gallant and obstinate as the one fought
to-day, captured two of your countrymen. You have
emulated their brave deeds, and with this sword I
have the honour to transfer to you the commissions
of Captains Jean Bart and the Chevalier de Forbin.
The goddess of war is a fickle dame to serve, and
she has treated the Nonsuch very cavalierly in thus
compelling her to surrender her most cherished
trophies. The bitterness of my surrender is softened
by the knowledge that my crew have done their
duty, and that I have been conquered by the smart-
est sailor and most gallant fighter I have yet met."
The remainder of the day was spent in repairing
damages and placing all three ships in a condition
to make the run to the coast of France. The François
had suffered heavily: her fore-topgallant and mizen-
topmast had been shot away, her sails were in
ribbons, her mizen-yard burnt and charred, her
bulwarks almost entirely carried away, and half her
crew either killed or wounded. Indeed the journey
to Brest was beset with many dangers, for Duguay
Trouin had twice as many prisoners on board his
own ship as he had fighting-men, and he was com-
pelled to batten down his hatches and keep these
}
$
200
The Corsairs of France.
men below, in order to avoid the possibility of their
attempting to capture his ship. Jean Boscher, who
was placed in command of the Nonsuch, had even a
more arduous task to perform. Duguay Trouin
could spare him but twenty-five men to work the
prize home, and he was compelled to make the
slightly wounded prisoners work at the pumps in
order to save the ship from sinking. The Boston had
suffered little in comparison, and was soon sufficiently
provided with jury-spars to warrant Nicolas Thomas,
who was placed in command of her, parting com-
pany from the other ships and standing on alone
for France. To add to the troubles which beset the
Nonsuch and the François, a heavy gale sprang up,
and Boscher was compelled to throw all his guns.
and anchors overboard in order to lighten the ship.
Perseverance and seamanship as we all know-did
not Rous navigate the Pique home without a
rudder?—will accomplish everything, and on the 24th
of January the Nonsuch and François entered Brest,
little more, it is true, than floating wrecks; yet in
their crippled, shattered condition, they were still
prouder tokens of Duguay Trouin's gallant fight. As
for the Boston, her fate was not so fortunate. Having
parted from the Nonsuch and François on the morrow
of the fight, Thomas shaped his course for St.
Malo. The heavy gale, which nearly proved fatal to
the Nonsuch, drove him much to the eastward and
compelled him to take shelter under the lee of the
island of Ouessant; Thomas then determined to
bear up for Brest as soon as the weather moderated,
but his crippled condition attracted the notice of
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 201
four Dutch Corsairs, who, like him, had run for
shelter to the Fromveur channel, and after as sturdy
a fight as circumstances would permit, Nicolas
Thomas had the mortification of seeing his prize
retaken and himself transferred to the cabin of a
Dutch craft.
Duguay Trouin met with a joyous reception at
Brest as well as at St. Malo. Merchant-ships and
Corsairs commissioned by letters of marque were
prizes common enough in those days, but an English
line-of-battle ship was quite a different matter:
few of these had been brought into Brest harbour
and the capture of one by a mere Corsair captain
was a red-letter day in the annals of the young
French navy.
The news was received with the
most intense satisfaction at Versailles; and Pontchar-
train, the Minister of Marine, wrote a most flatter-
ing letter to the young Malouine, thanking him for
his gallant behaviour, and announcing to him that
the king had been pleased to bestow upon him a
sword of honour.
The name of the young Malouine was now
familiar enough in the mouths of all French seamen,
and it was foreseen that he would be soon lifted
from the ranks of those who fought under mere
letters of marque ; but the jealousy of outsiders was
strong in the French navy, and though Duguay
Trouin was second to no man in the service, either
in aptitude for warfare or for seamanlike qualities,
and far ahead of any man of his own age and
standing, Pontchartrain hesitated before granting
him permission to don the king's livery. He was,
202
The Corsairs of France.
however, to be employed in a more honourable
manner than mere privateering, and was directed
to join the fleet under the command of the
Marquis of Nesmond so soon as the François
should be ready to proceed to sea. It was late in
July, 1696, before the François left the port of
Brest; her injuries had been more severe than had
been anticipated, and Duguay Trouin was too practial
a sailor to overlook anything when fitting her out,
as the cost of this fell on his brother's firm, and he
was largely interested in the success of his captures.
He spent much time in thoroughly overhauling her,
giving her entirely fresh masts and spars, mounting
heavier guns in her waist, and rendering her in every
way fit for her new calling.
Within a very few days of putting to sea, the
squadron, which consisted of five vessels mounting
from forty-eight to fifty-six guns, encounted three
English men-of-war, the largest of which, the
Esperance, carried seventy-four. Nesmond signalled
to carry on all
all sail in pursuit, and soon the
François, the fastest sailer in the squadron, was
within range of and had opened fire on the Esperance.
The other French ships were some distance astern;
Nesmond, anxious for the safety of the François,
which was nearly overmatched, signalled Duguay
Trouin to heave-to until the rest of the squadron
was abreast of him; the Malouine had no course but
to obey, though he had the mortification of seeing
the Esperance stand on and rejoin the other Eng-
lish ships. In less than a quarter of an hour, Nes-
mond once more signalled to resume the chase, and
•
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 203
ere evening closed in, the Esperance had struck,
not, however, to the François, but to the Excellent,
Nesmond's flag-ship. The young Malouine bitterly
complained of the conduct of the Marquis, and
stoutly asserted that jealousy was at the bottom of
his vacillating and contradictory orders. A few
days later two large ships bound from the Dutch
East Indian settlements, laden with sugar, spices, and
a valuable general cargo, fell into Nesmond's hands.
Satisfied with his successes, the Marquis returned to
Brest, and Duguay Trouin, irritated beyond measure
at the treatment accorded him, made interest with
Pontchartrain, and succeeded in being removed from
Nesmond's command.
On leaving Nesmond's squadron, Duguay Trouin
was directed to proceed to the coast of Spitz-
bergen, in company with the Fortuné frigate, there
to harry the Dutch fishing-fleets.
But news of
their approach had been obtained through spies in
Paris, and on the arrival of the French ships off
the island, they found the fleets had dispersed to
neighbouring harbours; blockading these for some
weeks, in the hope of picking up a stray prize, the
Corsair had the mortification of seeing his provisions
diminish and his water give out, before a single
stranger had been signalled. Disaffection was rife
amongst the crews, and Duguay Trouin felt obliged
to bear up for the coast of Ireland, where it was
hoped, by a raid ashore, he might refill his water
casks and seize some live-stock. For himself, ever
sanguine, he felt convinced the cruise would
terminate auspiciously, and endeavoured to instil
204
The Corsairs of France.
his own cheerfulness into the hearts of his men; he
reminded those who had sailed with him in other
voyages of his prediction when in command of the
Hercule, and promised them similar good fortune
this voyage.
Still the discontent spread, and
Duguay Trouin had to promise that, if within a
week no prize was captured, he would bear up for
St. Malo. Once more the Corsair's good fortune
came to his aid, though we hear of no prophetic
dream this time. On the morning of the seventh
day, three sails were sighted ahead, and to the
intense delight of the Frenchmen, these vessels,
powerfully armed ships, hove-to, ran up English
colours, and evidently were prepared to fight. The
Fortuné was nearest the enemy, and passing under
the stern of the sternmost ship gave her a raking
volley, and then stood on to engage the second
ship, leaving the one flying the commodore's flag
to the care of Duguay Trouin. In a few moments
the François was alongside the Englishman, and
hotly engaged; reverting to his old manoeuvres,
Duguay Trouin succeeded in lashing his ship along-
side the Englishman, and his crew, inflamed by the
promise of plunder, were not long in capturing the
enemy. Turning his attention to the unengaged
ship, Duguay Trouin carried her by boarding also;
the Fortuné, not belying her name, after a severe and
prolonged fight, had likewise succeeded in com-
pelling the third ship to haul down her colours.
The prizes proved to be the Defence, 58, Resolution,
56, and Black Prince, 40, armed East Indiamen,
laden with silk, indigo, copper, and gold-dust.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 205
Having secured his captures, Duguay Trouin bore
up for Brest, but being driven south by contrary
winds, took his prizes into Port Louis, and handed
them over to the Admiralty agent there.
At Port Louis, Duguay Trouin received instruc-
tions to proceed to Versailles; the news of this
successful cruise had reached the court, and the
Malouine Corsair was now to be numbered amongst
those men whom kings delight to honour. The young
captain was overwhelmed with his reception; in his
memoirs he quaintly says, "The great Monarch
deigned to appear satisfied with my poor services,
I left his presence penetrated to my inmost heart
with the sweetness of his character, and the nobility
displayed in his very smallest actions; my desire to
render myself worthy of his esteem is more ardent
than ever."
Before leaving the court, Duguay Trouin was
appointed by Pontchartrain to the command of his
old prize, now metamorphosed into the Sanspareil,
mounting fifty guns of the heaviest calibre. Pro-
ceeding to Port Louis, the young captain busied
himself in superintending her equipment: he had
great hopes that her English build and appearance
would impose on foreign vessels, and so enable him
to get within range of ships which now kept at a
respectful distance from French-built craft.
In the month of July, 1697, the Sanspareil was
ready for sea, and Duguay Trouin at once proceeded
to the coasts of Spain, in the hope of intercepting
the West Indian fleets. On nearing Vigo he learnt
from a French fishing-craft that three large Dutch
206
The Corsairs of France.
vessels were in that port, filling up with water.
Never hesitating an instant, Duguay Trouin, running
up English colours, boldly entered the port, and
of course was permitted to do so without question;
two of the Dutchmen were just weighing anchor to
start on their homeward voyage, and this they did
with all the more confidence as they were expecting
an English vessel-of-war to escort them through the
Channel. Standing out of harbour in their wake,
Duguay's movements excited but little surprise
until, when clear of the guns of the harbour works,
he hauled down English colours, threw out the
white flag of France, and summoned the Dutchmen
to surrender. Resistance was useless; they at once
surrendered, and Duguay Trouin, placing prize-
crews on board, steered a course for Port Louis.
During this voyage he narrowly escaped losing his
own ship and her two prizes, for on the morning of
the 28th of July he found himself a few miles to
leeward of an English fleet, which detached a
26-gun frigate to speak him. Flying English colours,
the Sanspareil proceeded on her way, whilst the
prizes, in obedience to Duguay's instructions,
carrying on all sail endeavoured to make good their
escape. Surprised that the Sanspareil took no notice
of her signals, the frigate, which had outdistanced the
English fleet, fired a shotted gun to call the attention
of the supposed English ship; upon which Duguay
Trouin hove-to until the frigate was within easy
range, then running up the white flag, the Sans-
pareil opened such a terrible fire on the astonished
frigate that she was compelled to sheer off and hang
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 207
out signals of distress for her consorts to come up
to her assistance. These were too near at hand
for Duguay Trouin to hope to carry her by board-
ing before they came up, so he was forced to content
himself with the damage already inflicted and to
stand on his course, thankful to have secured the
escape of his prizes.
On his arrival at Brest, Duguay Trouin induced
his brother's firm to fit out a small craft, the Lenore,
of sixteen guns, and to entrust her to the command of
his younger brother Etienne, a youth not yet twenty
years of age, but who in the three years he had sailed
in the Hercule and Sanspareil had shown himself
possessed of skill and courage. Alas! that the lad's
career was to be such a short one.
-
Late in August the two vessels, the Sanspareil, 50,
and Lenore, 16, left Brest for the coasts of Spain, off
which they cruised for some weeks without sighting
a possible prize. Duguay Trouin, however, was deter-
mined not to leave these waters, as he was most
anxious to intercept merchantmen known to be due
from the Philippines: he had ever found Spanish
ships richly laden and not given to vain fighting,
and, though a very tiger in his love of blood
himself, Duguay was sensible enough to know that
easily-captured prizes involved less risk, and entailed
greater profits than those craft which were only
mastered after heavy and sanguinary engagements.
Desirous then of not leaving the coast of Spain,
Trouin determined to fill up with water at some
convenient spot, and so avoid the voyage to Port
Louis or Bordeaux. Putting into a sheltered bay
1
208
The Corsairs of France.
between Vigo and Cape Finisterre, the two vessels
came to an anchor, and Duguay Trouin disembarked
in the Sanspareil's pinnace with twenty well-armed
men; pulling in to where a small stream emptied itself
into the sea, the captain was preparing to land, when
he was warned off by desultory shots from a small
work on the brow of a neighbouring hill. Not
stopping to count the odds, and knowing that, in
compliance with the instructions he had left with his
brother Etienne, a strong landing-party would be sent
ashore as soon as the sound of the firing reached the
ships, Duguay Trouin immediately sprang on shore
followed by his little crew, and at once proceeded
to mount the hill whence the shots came.
As they
reached the crest some ten or a dozen men hastily
left the work, and retired quickly on to a neighbour-
ing village, round which groups of armed men were
seen collecting. To carry this before the arrival of
his reinforcements Duguay knew to be impossible,
he therefore contented himself with keeping up a
sharp fire on a body who seemed disposed to oust
him from his position, and on the arrival of Etienne
with 150 well-armed men, he at once made plans
for assaulting the village and carrying off its corn,
oil, wine, and live-stock to his ships. Directing
Etienne with a company of fifty men to work round
the flank of the village, and attack it where it seemed
more open, Duguay Trouin himself advanced
against the place through some groves of olive-trees,
which partly sheltered his men until they arrived
within some seventy yards of the place; then, with
drums beating and loud shouts of "En avant, mes
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo—1673-1736. 209
gars, en avant," Duguay Trouin dashed to the front.
His men were as keen to follow him here as in any
boarding expedition, and the Spaniards equally averse
to meeting him hand to hand, for no sooner had the
little party of Frenchmen emerged from the olive-
trees than the fire which had galled them consider-
ably in their advance ceased, and the leader of the
Spaniards with lowered flag came forward in token
of surrender, whilst his men in obedience to his
commands grounded their arms. On the far side
of the village the French had suffered more severely,
and Duguay Trouin learnt with the most profound
sorrow that his brother Etienne had been shot
through the body by a musket-ball. The faithful
L'Hermitte, who had shared Trouin's captivity and
stood by his side in many a bloody fray, did all that
the surgical skill and science of that day could do
for the badly wounded lad, but from the first the
case was hopeless. Carefully the boy was carried
down the hill and placed on board the Sanspareil,
Duguay himself superintending the removal, whilst
Boscher stayed on shore to collect all the plunder
possible, and to cover the re-embarkation of the
landing-party. For two days the little squadron lay
moored in the bay, filling up with water and scouring
the neighbourhood for wine and live-stock. All this
time Duguay never left his brother's side, and when
at last the cruel ball had done its worst, and the
lifeless body of the brave boy alone remained to
mourn over, Trouin weighed anchor and stood into
the Port of Viana, a small town on the borders of
Spain and Portugal; then with full military honours,
P
210
The Corsairs of France.
and in the presence of all the military officials of
the place, young Etienne Trouin was laid to his last
rest. At Viana Duguay Trouin stayed but two days,
then heavy at heart, for he was both proud and
fond of his brother, he again set sail and steered for
Brest, meaning to relinquish the sea for a time. En
route he fell in with and captured a large Dutch
Indiaman, which attempted no resistance when
overhauled by the Sanspareil and her little consort.
Having paid off his crews, and handed over his prize
to the Admiralty agent, Duguay Trouin set out for
St. Malo, there to spend the winter with his mother
and family.
Towards Duguay Trouin, Pontchartrain, the
Minister of Marine, had a strong affection. The
almost unvarying success that attended his cruises
had resulted in very considerable profit to the Crown,
and the minister was well aware that in securing
Captain Trouin's service for the navy, he would be
adding a pillar of strength to the maritime forces of
the country. The jealousy of the nobles, however,
still stood in his way, and Pontchartrain saw himself
obliged again to delay the inevitable promotion.
As for Duguay Trouin he was as modest as he was
brave, and never even in his memoirs, which were
not intended for the public eye, does he allude to
what all French Corsairs were then discussing-
the unaccountable delay in promoting the Corsair
captain to a position in his Majesty's fleet. The
young Malouine was easily satisfied with flattering
letters and swords of honour, and these were more
easily granted by Louis XIV. than commissions in his
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 211
very exclusively officered fleet. Pontchartrain, in
forwarding to Duguay Trouin the expression of his
Majesty's high satisfaction at the capture of the
Dutch Indiaman and at l'action de rigueur sur la
côte d'Espagne, offered him the command of a little
squadron consisting of the Saint Jacques des Victoires,
48, Sanspareil, 40, and Leonore, 16, with instructions
to cruise off the coasts of Spain and destroy their
Indian commerce.
On the 15th of March, 1698, the three vessels
sailed from Brest, and before the week closed,
during a heavy gale from the south-east, ran right
into the middle of the Spanish merchant-fleet,
numbering over thirty sail. The convoy was found
to be under the escort of three Dutch men-of-war,
the Delft, 54, Houslaerdich, 54, and Nassau, 38.
As the majority of the Spaniards were heavily
armed, and carried powerful crews, Duguay
Trouin hesitated for a moment before venturing
to attack; indeed, the state of the weather
forbad a naval engagement. The whole fleet, under
close-reefed topsails and furled courses, were beat-
ing off the land, and our Corsair contented himself
for the moment with merely keeping them in sight.
On the morrow two more sail were in view, and to
Duguay Trouin's keen delight these proved to be
the St. Malo Corsairs, the Faluère, 28, and Aigle
Noire, 26. Signalling these ships to approach, Duguay
Trouin desired all the captains to assemble on board
the Saint Jacques des Victoires as soon as the weather
moderated. That evening the five captains met in
the cabin of Duguay Trouin's ship, and decided on
P 2
212
The Corsairs of France.
the plan of action: the Saint Jacques des Victoires,
leading, was to pass under the stern of the Hous-
laerdich and, pouring in a broadside, was to pass on
to the Delft, lash herself alongside the vessel,
which flew a rear-admiral's flag, and carry her by
boarding; the Sanspareil, following in the imme-
diate wake of Duguay Trouin's ship; was to lay
herself alongside the Houslaerdich directly the
Saint Jacques had cleared her; the Faluère and Aigle
Noire were to range up on either side of the Nassau;
whilst the Leonore was to devote herself exclusively
to the merchant-men. In this manner Duguay
Trouin hoped not only to capture all three Dutch
ships-of-war, but a considerable number of Spanish
vessels too. At midday on the 24th of March the
weather was sufficiently calm to admit of the French-
men carrying their main-deck gun-ports open, and
Duguay Trouin at once hoisted the signal for action.
The Dutchmen, anxious to save their convoy, hove-
to to windward of the fleet, and also cleared for
battle, the Houslaerdich astern, the Delft in the
centre, and the Nassau leading. On observing
Duguay Trouin's signal, the Faluère and Aigle Noire,
both extremely fast ships, pressed on past the Dutch
line-of-battle ships and engaged the Nassau, one on
either side. The Saint Jacques des Victoires arriving
within half-range of the Houslaerdich, poured in her
agreed-upon broadside, meaning to put her helm up
when clear of her and steer on after the Delft; but
the Houslaerdich, divining her intention, at once put
her helm down, and treated Duguay Trouin's ship to
a broadside just as she was putting about, inflicting
grievous damage to her top-hamper and also killing
:
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 213
several of her crew: the Delft at the same time came
up in the wind, and poured in a second murderous
discharge into the Saint Jacques. The French plan
was thus interfered with, but the gallant Boscher in
the Sanspareil never hesitated a moment. Seeing the
Saint Jacques engaged with the Houslaerdich and
the Delft (as yet unattacked), he boldly laid his craft
alongside the Dutch admiral's ship, and took up
the position Duguay had reserved for himself-as
gallant an action as ever performed at sea, for the
armament of the Dutchman consisted of fifty-six
heavy guns against the forty lighter pieces of the
Sanspareil, whilst the crew of the Delft was more
than twice as numerous. The Saint Jacques, crippled
by the united fire of the two Dutch line-of-battle
ships, nevertheless succeeded in pushing alongside
the Houslaerdich, and the grappling-irons having
caught in her main-chains, he threw himself with
120 selected men on her decks. And now ensued a
murderous fight. The Dutchman, surprised at the
suddenness of the onslaught, had more than two-
thirds of her crew below working the main-deck
guns, and Duguay, with that ready wit which ever
characterized him, stationed strong parties of small-
arms men at the hatches, to prevent these gaining
the upper deck, whilst he with picked swordsmen
made himself master of the ship. Whilst the fight
raged above, below the Dutchmen poured broad-
side after broadside into the Saint Jacques; gun
touching gun, port against port, hull grinding
against hull, the murderous fight continued, until
some Bretons, clambering through the
ports gained the lower deck of the Houslaerdich,
open
214
The Corsairs of France.
and carried the fight into those regions. There,
in the well-nigh pitchy darkness of the lower
deck, illumined here and there by the dimly burn-
ing battle-lanterns, the hellish fight raged on with
fury men naked to the waist, grimed with
powder, stained with blood, fought with sponge and
rammer, axe and bar; and as the vessels surged
apart, the still heavy rollers would sweep between
them, swirling up tons of water on the deck, and
dashing eager combatants stunned and senseless
against the smoking guns; and then the two ships
once more would crash together, and the noise of
creaking timbers and falling spars would drown the
roar of battle. With disciplined rush, Duguay's
swordsmen drove the Dutchmen from break of poop
to break of forecastle, until the hard-pressed enemy
plunged through the open hatchway and added to
the infernal scene below.
-
On deck the Houslaerdich was won, and the white
flag flew from truck and peak; but below the fight
continued long after the vessel had struck, for, in the
din and turmoil of the blacky darkness, orders were
difficult to convey and men loth to obey them.
At last, cutting his own ship adrift, more light was
thrown on to the lower deck, and by the united
efforts of the French and Dutch officers, the French
sailors were called up on deck and the prisoners
ordered below. Then the Dutch officers descending
carried on the work of disarmament, and when this
was completed, busied themselves in removing all
traces of the terrible strife from the blood-stained
decks, and in plugging the many shot-holes through
which the water was entering and flooding the hold.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 215
*
Having left a strong prize-crew on the Hous-
laerdich, Duguay Trouin stood off to aid the gallant
Boscher, who was hard-pressed by his powerful an-
tagonist. Boscher, following his commander's lead,
lashed the Sanspareil to the Delft and tried to carry
the Dutch flagship by boarding; but a shell having
fallen into a large tank containing cartridges for the
guns on the poop, had caused a fearful explosion,
destroying the whole of the after-part of the ship,
carrying away the mizen-mast and killing over eighty
men. Boscher was forced to cast off his grappling-
irons and stand away from the Delft, so
as to
employ all his men in endeavouring to subdue the fire
which threatened to reach his main powder-maga-
zine, and to repair as well as he was able the shattered
poop. In this helpless condition he was exposed to
the full fire of the Delft, and was unable to answer
except by a few guns from the waist of the ship.
Still no thought of surrender entered Boscher's
mind; he knew full well that as soon as Duguay
Trouin had captured his opponent, help would arrive,
and he brave man that he was-was content to wait
until that help should come. He had not to wait
long. Passing the weather-quarter of the Sanspareil,
Duguay Trouin shouted a few words of praise to
the brave Boscher, and then prepared to throw the
Saint Jacques on the broadside of the Delft. The
Dutch admiral made no effort to withstand the
shock beyond putting his helm hard down as the
French ship approached, so that, instead of running
up alongside and lashing the two vessels broadside
to broadside, Duguay Trouin found his bowsprit
crashing into the main rigging of the Delft, and he
216
The Corsairs of France.
being raked from stem to stern by the Dutchman's
powerful broadsides. Not a moment was to be lost;
already the Dutch admiral, seizing his advantage, had
lashed the Saint Jacques' bowsprit to his own main-
shrouds, and was encouraging his gunners to fire
low into the hull of the French ship in order to
sink her. Duguay saw his danger, and at once
calling on his men to follow him, dashed sword
in hand over the forecastle-head into the Dutch
ship. A terrible hand-to-hand fight ensued: three
times did Duguay Trouin lead his men to the assault,
three times were they driven back with heavy loss
to their own ship. At last, seeing the hopelessness
of carrying on the fight under such conditions,
Duguay cut his ship adrift, and bore off from the
enemy to recuperate his crew and repair damages.
But he was by no means prepared to relinquish the
fight. Seeing that the French flag was flying from
the Nassau's mast-head, he signalled to the Faluère
to engage the Delft. Without a moment's hesitation
the little craft ranged up, and commenced to
exchange broadsides with her formidable antagonist;
overpowered by the superior weight of metal, the
frigate would most undoubtedly have been sunk,
had not Duguay Trouin once more borne down on
the flagship, and reopened fire. The crew of the Saint
Jacques des Victoires, refreshed by half an hour's
respite and a liberal ration of eau-de-vie, were
ready for a fresh attempt at boarding, and in this
their fourth attack, they were aided by fifty men.
from the Faluère, who, unfatigued by previous
struggles, bore a great share in deciding the day.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 217
This time Duguay laid his ship alongside the Delft
and lashed the Saint Jacques to her chains. At the
same moment, the Faluère, in the most spirited
manner, came up on the opposite side and threw
her crew on to the Dutchman's decks. Gallantly as
the enemy fought, they were now clearly out-
matched, and the admiral, seeing he could expect no
aid from his consorts, at last consented to haul
down his flag. Proud must have been the Malouine
Corsair that day: three men-of-war and twelve
merchant-vessels of heavy tonnage were the
trophies of that gallant fight, in which an admiral
had handed over his sword to a Corsair. But
though as the sun went down the struggle with
man ceased, the battle with the elements was about
to commence. The wind, which had dropped during
the day, now increased to a heavy gale, and the sea,
which had moderated its violence during the height
of the action, now rolled in almost resistless billows
from the Atlantic. The frigates and the merchant-
men were alone uninjured in the fleet; and Duguay
Trouin signalled the Faluère, Aigle Noire, and Leonore,
to escort the Nassau and twelve merchant-vessels,
to Port Louis with all speed, whilst he and the
Sanspareil, in company with the Delft and Hous-
laerdich, would heave-to until the gale abated.
Truly the position of these four vessels was a
perilous one; little there was to choose between
prize and victor, all were grievously wounded in
their top-hamper, all had been hulled in many
places, all were short-handed, and all were encumbered
with several hundred wounded. In spite of the most
218
The Corsairs of France.
strenuous efforts of whole and wounded, crew and
prisoners, the water gained on the pumps, and if on
the following day the weather had not abated, there
is no doubt all would have foundered. Fortunately
they were near the coast, and the Leonore, standing
in to land, signalled their perilous position, and then
returned to offer what help she was able. She was
speedily followed by a whole fleet of chasse-
marées, and by the sturdy efforts of these willing
seamen the leaks were got under, and the four
crippled men-of-war entered Port Louis in safety.
As may
be supposed, Duguay Trouin's reception was
of the warmest, and he, with the modest courtesy of
the French sailor, insisted that the honour of the
day equally belonged to the brave Boscher, and the
unfortunate admiral whom the fortune of war had
deserted.
On the news of the victory reaching Versailles,
the king gave instructions that Duguay Trouin
was to repair to the capital, in company with the
Dutch admiral, the Baron von Wassenaër. The re-
ception of the vanquished admiral was as considerate
and courteous as that accorded to the Corsair
captain was warm and distinguished, and Duguay
Trouin gained not a little in public estimation by the
very flattering encomiums passed on his gallantry and
seamanship by the captive admiral. This time pro-
fessional jealousy was stilled, and the king, despite
the objections of some few who even yet main-
tained that the king's uniform should be reserved for
the nobility, offered the Malouine Corsair the rank
of commander (capitaine de frégate) in his navy.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 219
The appointment was proudly accepted, and with
it Duguay Trouin passed from the ranks of the
Corsairs to that of the navy of France. His deeds
when in the king's service were no less brilliant than
-nay, they even excelled-those performed when
yet but a Corsair, but with them we shall only briefly
deal. He commanded single ships and squadrons.
and fleets, and in all his commands he showed the
same modesty of demeanour, gallantry, and readiness
of resource that characterized the Corsair captain.
At the close of the Peace of Ryswick, which
lasted from the date of his entering the French
navy until the year 1701, he was appointed com-
mander of the line-of-battle ship, the Dauphine,
commanded by the Comte de Hautfort, a discipli-
narian and aristocrat of the bluest blood. This was
doubtless with a view of accustoming the young
officer to the regulations on board king's ships, for
at the expiration of the year (1702) he was placed in
command of a squadron of light frigates, with
instructions to cruise between the Orkneys and
Spitzbergen; several small prizes were captured
and safely convoyed to France, but a large Dutch-
man which surrendered after an obstinate fight,
was driven ashore and lost on the coast of Scotland,
and Duguay Trouin and his two consorts narrowly
escaped this fate.
The following year he again was placed in com-
mand of a squadron for a similar purpose, and
was fortunate enough in the single month of May,
1703, to capture six English prizes, four of which
were safely taken into Brest. Early in July he ran
220
The Corsairs of France.
a narrow escape of capture at the hands of a fleet
of fifteen Dutch men-of-war; after a running fight
of some hours, he succeeded in shaking off his
pursuers, thanks to the superior sailing powers of
his ships. In the same month, when off Spitzbergen,
he captured some Dutch whalers who were ran-
somed for a considerable sum, and on his homeward
voyage he captured a large English merchantman
bound from the West Indies with sugar.
The next year Duguay Trouin was furnished with
a more powerful squadron, and directed to cruise in
the Channel. The season opened inauspiciously, for
the sloop Mouche belonging to his squadron was cap-
tured by the English; but the following day its loss
was amply revenged, for, after a brilliant defence, the
Coventry, 50, fell into his hands, and whilst escort-
ing her to Brest, his consorts and himself succeeded
in taking twelve English and Dutch coasting-craft,
and in beating off a very determined attack on the
part of the Revenge, 60, and the Falmouth, 54, who
attempted to retake the Coventry.
In the year 1705, again cruising in the Channel,
Duguay Trouin had a sharp engagement with two
English ships-of-war, the Elizabeth¹ and Chatham;
the former, owing to superior force was forced to
surrender, the latter, one of the smartest vessels in
the navy, escaped. Once more on his homeward
voyage he was fortunate enough to add to his prizes;
in this instance a powerful Dutch privateer, mount-
ing forty-two guns, which, after a gallant struggle
1
¹ Captain Crosse of the Elizabeth was tried by court martial,
cashiered, and sentenced to imprisonment for life.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 221
against overwhelming odds, was forced to surrender.
The cruise, however, was marred by the death of
Nicolas Trouin, Duguay's youngest brother, a
promising young man commanding the Corsair
Valeur. In the engagement with the Dutchman,
Nicolas received a mortal wound, to which he suc-
cumbed two days after reaching Brest. In the
month of July, when continuing his cruise in the
Channel, Duguay narrowly escaped capture at the
hands of an English fleet of twenty-one sail; then,
finding the seas near home too well patrolled, he sailed
south to the coast of Spain, where better fortune
awaited him. Three Dutch East Indiamen, laden
with cocoa, spices, and silver, two English armed
merchantmen, mounting thirty-two and twenty-
eight guns, bound from the Levant to Bristol, and
a fine English vessel of 500 tons, carrying powder
to the West Indies, all fell into his hands; and
finally, in rounding Cape Finisterre, a fourth English
ship was captured. All these prizes were safely
carried into Brest, where Duguay Trouin paid off his
crews and busied himself in the fitting-out a squadron
for the next year's cruise.
Amongst the promotions made on the occasion
of the new year (1706), the king was pleased to
include Duguay Trouin, who was raised to the rank
of post-captain (capitaine de vaisseau). At the same
time he was nominated to the command of a
squadron, with instructions to proceed to Cadiz and
afford every assistance to the
assistance to the governor, the Marquis
de Valdacagnas. On his way thither he fell in with
and captured an English privateer, the Marlborough,
222
The Corsairs of France.
and a few days later attacked a convoy of thirty
sail escorted by six Portuguese men-of-war; by these
he was grievously maltreated, and had to return to
Port Louis for refit. Once more sailing for Cadiz,
Duguay Trouin on his arrival endeavoured to afford
the governor every assistance; but the pompous
Spaniard rejected all advice, and behaved most
insolently to the French officers. On Duguay
remonstrating, he was thrown into prison; but the
intervention of the ambassador not only procured
his release, but also the removal of the ill-condi-
tioned governor. Duguay Trouin was then instructed
to return to Brest with his squadron, as all fear of
Portugal acting with a fleet against Cadiz was at an
end. On his homeward voyage, Trouin ran into a
convoy consisting of fifteen English merchantmen
escorted by a 36-gun frigate, the Gaspard. After
an encounter lasting two hours the Gaspard struck,
and in the meantime Duguay's consorts had made
so good use of their time that twelve out of the
fifteen merchantmen had been manned with prize-
crews. On reaching Brest with his thirteen prizes,
Duguay Trouin was pleased to receive letters from
the minister announcing the king's high apprecia-
tion of his services at Cadiz, and summoning him at
the same time to Versailles, there to be invested with
the accolade of the Order of St. Louis, as a reward
for his past brilliant services.
Duguay Trouin was not allowed to remain long
idle. No sooner had his ships filled with water and
shipped fresh stores, than he was ordered off with
a squadron of six vessels to cruise off the Portuguese
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FORBIN.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 223
coast. Here five more English merchantmen, laden
with sugar and tobacco, fell into his hands, and on
convoying them to Brest, he was instructed to join
the squadron under the Count de Forbin, and cruise
under his orders, with a view of intercepting a large
convoy of munitions of war about to sail from
England for Portugal. On the 24th of October, 1707,
a convoy, escorted by a strong squadron of ships-of-
war, was sighted, and Duguay Trouin with his usual
ardour pressed on to attack; his movements, how-
ever, were checked by signal from Forbin who, with
the true aristocrat's jealousy, showed himself as
morbidly sensitive to Duguay Trouin's honours as he
had previously with regard to Jean Bart. Despite
Forbin's conduct, a general engagement ensued, and
thanks to Trouin's courage and dexterity-qualities
generously recognized by the captured English
captains, though studiously ignored by Forbin
both in his despatches and in his memoirs-three
English men-of-war, the Cumberland, Chester, and
Ruby,² were captured, and one, the Devonshire, was
sunk in addition; a number of merchant-vessels
composing the convoy were also taken. Forbin's
idiosyncrasies were well known at court, and
Pontchartrain at once addressed a letter to Duguay
Trouin according him a pension of a thousand livres
a year. In acknowledging this, and tendering his
gracious thanks to the king, Duguay Trouin solicited
permission to proceed to Versailles, and there enlist
2 According to Lediard, the Royal Oak, not the Ruby, was
the third ship captured. All the captains were tried; Edwardes
of the Cumberland, and Balchin of the Chester were acquitted;
Lord Wyld of the Royal Oak was dismissed the service.
224
The Corsairs of France.
the king's protection for the commanders and men
who had fought so bravely under him. This was
granted, and Duguay had the satisfaction of seeing
all his subordinate captains promoted, and one of his
petty officers granted a gold medal.-How unlike
was this conduct to that of Forbin!
On his return from his successful cruise,
Duguay Trouin spent the winter in superintending
the fitting-out of a powerful squadron of eight
vessels, with which he intended to intercept the
Portuguese Brazilian fleet. The produce of the South
American colonies left the shores of Brazil annually
about the month of July, 1708, under a strong
escort, which, owing to the activity displayed by the
French Corsairs since the commencement of the
war, generally received a considerable reinforcement
at the Azores. Duguay Trouin's recent successes
strengthened the confidence of his townsmen, and
his brother, Barbinais de la Trouin, had no difficulty
in forming a syndicate of Breton merchants to
provide the funds for the equipment of the ships
that the king had entrusted to the Malouine captain.
It was the month of August before all preparations
were complete, and the eight well-found ships sailed
from Brest. On nearing the Azores, Duguay Trouin
learnt that a squadron of seven large ships-of-war
were there awaiting the arrival of the Brazilian
merchant-fleet, and he determined therefore to
cruise to the eastward of the islands until he could
assure himself of the rich booty. Every day's delay,
however, worked against the success of the scheme.
The voyage from Brest to the Azores had been long
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 225
and arduous, owing to heavy weather and bad winds,
and both provisions and water commenced to run
low, Duguay Trouin's captains therefore urged upon
him the advisability of attacking the ships-of-war
in the harbour, seizing them, and thus lessening the
difficulties that would otherwise attend the capture
of the merchant-fleet, and, in addition to this un-
doubted advantage, he would be able to fill up with
live-stock and water before the arrival of the fleet
from the Brazils. Unfortunately for the success of
his expedition, Duguay Trouin refused until it was
too late to agree to this proposal, and when at last he
consented and bore up for Fayal, the Portuguese
men-of-war were no longer in the harbour. Still the
want of water necessitated a landing, and Duguay
Trouin, after a sharp engagement with the land-forts,
disembarked a strong body of seamen and small-arms
men, and completely defeated the garrison. Large
quantities of wine, fruit, corn, and live-stock were
seized, fifteen standards and 100 pieces of cannon
captured, and the ships filled up with water. From
prisoners the French commander learnt that the
Portuguese men-of-war had sailed for Lisbon, and
that the Brazilian fleet had not yet touched at the
islands. The fine season was now drawing to an
end; a succession of violent gales compelled Duguay
Trouin to re-embark and give the islands a wide
berth. During these storms his squadron became
scattered, many of the vessels suffered severely and
were forced to run for France, and he himself with
the two vessels that remained in his company were
driven far to the northward. Ere he could again
Q
226
The Corsairs of France.
make the islands, the Brazilian fleet had succeeded
in gaining the Tagus in safety, and Trouin, disap-
pointed of his great prize, returned to Brest with
three Dutch merchant-ships and an English vessel
laden with iron.
The failure of his expedition during the preceding
year caused the merchants of St. Malo to look with
no very favourable eye on Duguay Trouin's proposal
to equip a second squadron for the same purpose,
and the brave Malouine found himself compelled
to limit his cruise to the west coast of Ireland,
off which with four vessels he took his station.
In the month of March, 1709, he encountered
a large English convoy under escort of three English
men-of-war; after a heavy engagement, in which he
lost one of his own ships, but beat off the English
vessels, Duguay found himself in possession of five
large merchantmen laden with tobacco and other
American produce. After escorting his prizes to
Brest and making good his defects, Duguay Trouin
once more sailed for the entrance to the Channel, and
once more his good fortune did not desert him. After
a running engagement of sixteen hours he came up
to and boarded the Bristol, 60. The fight was long
and obstinate, and the victory, though it undoubtedly
remained with Trouin, was dearly purchased; not
only did his losses amount to two officers and
eighty men killed, but shortly after surrendering, the
Bristol foundered with her prize-crew, and, as if to
add to his misfortunes, an English squadron hove in
sight, which at once engaged the French ships. These,
all crippled as they were with their recent fight with
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 227
the Bristol, were neither in a condition to prolong
the engagement nor to fly. Night fortunately put an
end to the pursuit, and Duguay Trouin was able to
reach Brest in safety; his consort, the Gloire, less
happy, fell into the hands of the English. Before
reaching harbour Trouin managed to pick up a fine
English armed-merchantman of 500 tons, which, with
his five previous prizes, constituted a fair profit for
that year's cruise.
On reaching France he was further honoured by
the king, by the receipt of a letter granting to him
and to his elder brother, Barbinais Trouin, letters
of nobility and permission to bear arms. The
letter conferring these rights, relate succinctly all
Trouin's principal actions, and further bear official
witness to the fact that, since he had embarked on
his career as a Corsair, he had convoyed to the
ports of France more than 300 merchant-ships and
twenty vessels-of-war or armed privateers!!
In the succeeding year 1710 Trouin once more
selected the entrance to the Channel as his cruising-
ground, and with his little squadron of five vessels
made several prizes, the most important being the
Gloucester, a new man-of-warmounting sixty-six guns.3
A violent attack of dysentery, however, compelled
him to leave the squadron and proceed homewards,
where he arrived more dead than alive. Months
elapsed ere he recovered his health sufficiently to
warrant his again proceeding to sea, and these
months were spent by him in evolving a project
3 Balcher, the Captain of the Gloucester, had been captured by
Trouin in the Chester, on the 10th of October, 1707.
Q 2
228
The Corsairs of France.
which should at once raise him above the ordinary run
of Corsair heroes, whose visions of conquest were
limited by the destruction of an enemy's commerce
and the occasional capture of a ship-of-war. His
project, however, required considerable expenditure,
and though, if successful, it would result in conferring
benefit on the State, the condition of the National
Exchequer was such that the Minister of Marine was
reluctantly compelled to withhold State assistance
from the enterprise. The capture of the Brazilian
fleet had, as we have seen, been previously contem-
plated by Duguay Trouin, and his failure to achieve
the object had rankled considerably in his mind; he
now determined to go further, and by storming Rio
Janeiro reap at the fountain-head the riches of
Portugal's richest possessions. The scheme, though
daring, seemed feasible enough; Duguay Trouin, at
any rate, succeeded in convincing many of the
wealthiest merchants of Brittany of its practicability,
so that, when he proceeded so Versailles to solicit
State countenance if not pecuniary support, he was
in a position to assure the Minister of Marine that
the greater part of the necessary funds had been
already subscribed or guaranteed. A similar
attempt had been made by a Monsieur Du Clerc
with five vessels-of-war and 1000 troops, but this
had been an ignominious failure. Little information
was obtainable as to the cause of Du Clerc's defeat,
but it was generally supposed that he had first of all
undertaken the expedition with too small a force,
and secondly, that he had allowed himself to be
entrapped into negotiations whilst the Portuguese
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 229
were strengthening their defences and bringing up
reinforcements, so that when at last he delivered
his attack, he was opposed by far stronger forces
than he would have found had he not been beguiled
into delay. Du Clerc's disaster necessarily caused
many people to throw cold water over Duguay
Trouin's scheme. Nothing daunted, however, by the
prophets of evil, the brave Malouine set off for
Versailles, and there laid all his plans before
Pontchartrain. He had previously secured the
support of M. Gallet de Coulanges, Comptroller of
the King's Household, of M. Beauvais Lefer, and
his cousin M. Saudre-Lefer, M. Belle Isle-Pepin,
M. Epine Danycan, M. Nicolas Chapdelaine, M.
Langrolé-Colin, and his own brother, Barbinais
Trouin, who between them guaranteed the necessary
funds, and in the face of this guarantee M. Pont-
chartrain submitted the scheme first to the Count
of Toulouse, Lord High Admiral of France, who
accorded it his warmest support, and then to the
king, who also considered it favourably. The Minister
of Marine was instructed to afford every assistance,
and steps were at once taken to fit out a force which
should put the expedition beyond all chance of
failure. Not only was a powerful fleet requisite but a
strong land-force was also necessary, and in the equip-
ment of these Trouin now busied himself. It was
June before all preparations were completed and the
armament ready to set sail. The utmost secrecy
had been observed, and vessels commissioned at
every port from Port Louis to Dunkirk, for it was
feared that, were the English to suspect the real
M
230
The Corsairs of France.
destination of this large number of vessels it was
rumoured were being prepared, the expedition
would be attacked in mid-ocean, and the garrison of
Rio Janeiro warned of the impending danger.
At last the whole force rendezvoused off the Cape
de Verdes, and a proud command indeed was it for a
post-captain to be entrusted with-a captain be it
minded who boasted of no courtly influence, but had
risen from the despised ranks of a Corsair crew. The
squadron consisted of seven line-of-battle ships, the
Lys, 74, flying Duguay Trouin's flag; the Magnanime,
74, Chevalier de Courserac; Achille, 66, Chevalier de
Beauve; Brilliant, 66, Chevalier de Goyon; Glorieuse,
66, M. de la Jaille; Fidèle, 66, M. de la Moinerie-
Miniac; Mars, 56, M. de la Cite Danycan: eight
frigates, Argonaut, 46, le Chevalier du Bois de la
Motte; Aigle, 40, M. de la Mar; Chancelier, 40, M.
Durocher Danycan; Bellone, 36, M. de Kerguelin;
Amazon, 36, M. du Chesnay le Fer; Glorieuse, 36,
M. de la Perche; Astrèe, 22, M. de Rogou; Concorde, 20,
M. de Pradel Daniel, and the Françoise and Patient
bombships. In addition to their own armament and
crews these vessels carried a strong detachment of
the king's troops, both artillery and infantry, making
up a total of 738 guns, six mortars, and 5684 men.
4
On the 6th July the expedition, having escaped
the English fleet which had endeavoured to intercept
the Brest detachment, left St. Vincent, and on the
·
4 Dotted along the lovely banks of the Rance, may be seen
Chateaux yet belonging to the descendants of these brave men.
The names De la Jaille, De la Mar, Chesnay le Fer, De la Perche,
De la Motte, and Moinerie-Miniac, are highly honoured still in
Brittany.

VILONLY
DUGUAY-TROUIN FORCES THE ROADSTEAD OF RIO DE JANEIRO.
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 231
19th August sighted Ascension; standing to the
westward it again rendezvoused at Bahia on the
27th of the same month. Having filled up with
water, Trouin bore up for Rio Janeiro, which he
sighted on the 11th September; the wind being
favourable, the hardy Malouine determined to stand
at once into the harbour, taking no notice of the
works at the entrance, and led by the Magnanime,
the commander of which knew the port, the fleet
crowding on all sail dashed through the narrow out-
let, not a mile across, under a terrible fire from the
astonished Portuguese, who little anticipated such a
reckless proceeding, and who were prepared for a
lengthy bombardment from the open sea rather than
from the inner harbour. Handled in the most
masterly way the Magnanime swept through the
entrance without firing a shot, then exchanging
broadsides as she passed with four Portuguese
line-of-battle ships moored just inside the
harbour, brought up beyond the range of the
defensive works opposite the town itself. Each
vessel as it passed received the fire not only of the
forts at the mouth of the harbour and of the
seven ships of war moored just inside it, but
also of the forts Notre-Dame-de-bon-voyage, Ville-
gagnon, Saint Alousi, de la Misericorde and Chevres,
mounting on the aggregate over 200 guns. Owing
to the advent of an English frigate, which had been
despatched by Queen Anne to warn the Portuguese
Governor of the probable destination of Duguay
Trouin's squadron, the works had been strengthened,
more guns mounted, and the garrison considerably
232
The Corsairs of France.
reinforced. When once inside the harbour Duguay
Trouin still had a difficult task before him; the
number of troops opposed to him exceeded 13,000
men, and these too were flushed with the victory
obtained over Du Clerc's expedition. The French
commander felt that he must act with promptitude
and yet with caution. On the 13th September a
strong party under the Chevalier de Goyon stormed
and seized the Chevres fort, and turned its guns
upon the city. At nightfall 3300 men were dis-
embarked on the mainland and formed into three
brigades under the Chevaliers de Goyon, de
Courserac, and de Beauve, and at once commenced
the siege of the city, erecting batteries which caused
considerable damage to the works on the surround-
ing hills, and so galled the eneiny that when on the
21st of September Duguay Trouin determined to
assault the town, he was met by an escaped prisoner,
one of Du Clerc's aides-de-camp, who informed him
that the place had been evacuated during the night.
One by one the sea-forts also surrendered, and all
the defensive works were at once occupied by the
French so as to guard against any attempt at
surprise on the part of the Portuguese, who it was
known were collecting forces in the interior.
Negotiations in the meantime were opened with Don
Castro Morais, the Governor-General of Brazil, and
finally a treaty was signed, Duguay Trouin agreeing
to evacuate the place upon payment of 600,000 crusa-
dos, 5000 cases of sugar, and all the Portuguese and
English ships in the harbour. These terms having
been complied with, the French squadron set sail for
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 233
Europe on the 13th November, just two months after
its gallant entry into the bay. From this time,
however, misfortune never ceased to attend the
expedition; a series of head-winds and heavy gales
caused the vessels to separate, and Duguay Trouin
signalled each to steer her own course homeward:
off the Azores the Lys again found herself in com-
pany with the Amazone, Argonaut, Aigle, Bellone,
and Brilliant, all of which had suffered severely and
were straining heavily from the bad weather: keep-
ing together to avoid the risk of capture from the
English frigates, these vessels reached Brest on the
6th of February, 1712; on the following day the Achille
and Glorieux also arrived; about the same date the
frigates Chancelier and Glorieuse and the bombships
Françoise and Patient made the harbour of St. Malo,
and a few days later the Mars under jury-masts was
helped into Port Louis; these were all that returned.
The Magnanime, 74, Fidele, 66, Aigle, 40, Concorde,
22, and a fine Portuguese prize, Notre Dame de l'In-
carnation, were never heard of more, and what
added to the bitterness of their loss was the fact that
the greater part of the treasure, amounting to half
a million crusados and several hundred cases of
sugar, were on M. de Courserac's unfortunate ship
the Magnanime. In spite of these heavy losses, not
only did the officers and men of the expedition
realize handsome sums in loot and prize-money, but
the guarantors gained a profit amounting to 92 per
cent. upon their outlay. It was subsequently ascer-
tained that the Portuguese estimated their losses,
irrespective of the four men-of-war and sixty
234
The Corsairs of France.
merchant-ships captured or destroyed, at about
two million sterling.
Dark hints were thrown out at the vast sums
made by pillage, both by officers and men, and
though Louis XIV. accorded the brave Trouin a
warm welcome and bestowed on him a pension of
two thousand livres a year, he was unwilling, in face
of the popular feeling, to advance him to the rank of
commodore, a reward barely commensurate with the
services rendered.
By the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, Duguay Trouin
was once more put on the shelf, and he now retired
to his pretty little cottage la Haute-Fleurie, over-
looking the lovely valley of the Rance, where he
busied himself in writing his memoirs. From the
garden he had a full view of the rock-studded pas-
sage leading past the island of Cézembre to the
rough reef of the Minquiers, up which in his younger
days he had beat with many a hard-won prize; there,
surrounded by Malouine friends, the brave Corsair-
for his heart was still with the little craft in which he
gained his first distinctions-would fight his battles
o'er again, and draw up plans for the development
of the colonial grandeur of France and the destruc-
tion of English commerce. He still looked foward
to further employment, for when the bitter partisan-
ship which enveloped the discussion of the Rio
Janeiro treaty had somewhat modified, full justice
was done to the courage and energy he had dis-
played. The foundering of the Magnanime and loss
of treasure could not be laid to his charge, and as
the firms who equipped the expedition rallied round
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736. 235
their brave commander, public opinion soon followed
suit. At intervals Duguay Trouin would visit Ver-
sailles, to assure the monarch of his fidelity and
anxiety to serve again, and he had the satisfaction
of receiving at the hands of Louis XIV., the month
previous to his death (1715), the commission of
Commodore in the French fleet. He was then
called to the Board of Council of the French East
India Company, and in this position he was enabled
to give the new king and his advisers sound practical
advice, but with the capture of Rio Janeiro Duguay
Trouin's active career closed. He gradually rose in
the navy list, receiving the rank of rear-admiral
and the knight commandership of the Order of
St. Louis in the year 1728, and three years later he
hoisted his flag in command of the Mediterranean
fleet. This was but a peaceful cruise, though at
one time it was anticipated that the brave Malouine
might have rough work cut out for him. The
pirates in that sea interfered much with European
commerce, and Duguay Trouin was entrusted with
the task of compelling the Beys of Algiers and of
Tunis to keep their subjects in order; fortunately,
the firm attitude adopted by the French admiral
had the desired effect, and after a cruise of some
months, and showing the white flag in the principal
ports of the Mediterranean, Duguay Trouin returned
home and paid off his fleet at Toulon.
His next employment was as naval commandant
of Brest, with the rank of lieutenant-general of the
king's navies; and it was whilst holding this ap-
pointment that he was overtaken by the final stages
236
The Corsairs of France.
of a disease from which he had long suffered. By
the advice of local physicians he was moved by slow
stages to Paris, in the hopes that the famous surgeons
of the capital might ease him of his malady. Their
efforts were in vain, and the brave admiral, feel-
ing his end approaching, addressed a touching
letter to Cardinal Fleury, in which he announced
his approaching end and solicited from the king
some pecuniary help for his family, who had bene-
fited but little from his exploits.
The cardinal's answer removed all causes of
anxiety from the mind of the dying man, who then,
turning to religion for its last consolations, passed
away peacefully and without pain on the 27th of
September, 1736.
Without rising to the heights of Tourville or
Duquesne, Duguay Trouin throughout his career
showed all the attributes of a good sailor. He was
not merely daring in action, but he had the happy
knack of inflaming his crew with his own valour
he was equally steadfast under adversity, and
whether we see him navigating the Channel in the
open boat in which he escaped from Plymouth; or
working the sinking Saint Jacques des Victoires, into
Port Louis after his victory over the Dutch admiral
Von Wassenaër; or pressing past the batteries of
Rio Janeiro without firing a shot; or boarding an
English line-of-battle ship with his corsair crew,-
we cannot withhold an admiration which the more
carefully worked out combinations of greater
admirals fail to evoke. Like so many of his Breton
compatriots, Duguay Trouin was a devout Catholic.
I
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
237
His first act on landing from that hazardous voyage
across the Channel after his escape from Plymouth,
was to repair to the little church of Treguier, and
there return thanks for his deliverance; and at the
capture of Rio Janeiro he hung-considering them
unworthy of a more honourable death, some of his
own men, taken in the act of pillaging churches.
The handsome gifts made by him to the churches of
St. Malo, testify to his possessing the religious
feeling of the Breton sailor, and is perhaps the
reason that his most eulogistic historians are the
Abbé Manet and M. le Curé Cunat, both members
of the Catholic Priesthood. Like other corsairs.
sprung from humble origin, Duguay Trouin by sheer
bravery forced himself into the good graces of the
Minister of Marine, and his nomination to the navy
was but a tardy acknowledgment of the most
brilliant services-services, indeed, never surpassed
by one so young, on a par with those of Lord Dun-
donald or of Jean Bart.
Professional jealousy thwarted him at every turn,
Nesmond and Forbin, under whose command he
sailed, were both aristocrats, and whilst the one, as
we saw on page 202, signalled the corsair captain
to abstain from pressing an advantage gained over
an English ship, the other in his despatches arrogated
to himself captures really made by Duguay Trouin's
own vessel. Despite the disadvantages of lowly
birth, and the jealous hatred of the blue-blooded
naval officers, Duguay Trouin triumphed over every
obstacle. Early in life he gained the love and
admiration of his fellow-townsmen, and ere he had
238
The Corsairs of France.
attained middle age, he was high in favour with his
king. His name still lives, not merely enshrined in
the hearts of Breton sailors or in musty volumes.
of contemporary historians, or even on the in-
different statues raised in various places to his
honour, but as he would have it live, in the imper-
sonal personality of a French man-of-war, carrying
into distant waters the living memory of one of
France's bravest sailors and one of England's
bravest foes. During the long period of war, from
1793 to 1815, the name Duguay Trouin was often
found in the log of British ships-of-war, as causing
us an immensity of trouble in the West Indies. On
more than one occasion we read in history of vessels.
bearing his name perpetuating his tactics against
his old enemies the English. A line-of-battle ship,
the Duguay Trouin, was one of the four vessels that
escaped from Collingwood after Trafalgar, only to
be captured by Sir Richard Strachan a few days later
in a futile effort to reach a French port. Since then
the guns of a Duguay Trouin have never been fired
in earnest; should France ever be engaged in
another naval war, we may be sure that officers and
men entrusted with the task of manning any
Duguay Trouin would bear aloft the Tricolour
of France as proudly and as bravely as the gallant
corsair bore the Lilies of France close on two
centuries ago.
i
Duguay Trouin of St. Malo-1673-1736.
239
Date
of
cap-
ture.
1692 Coetquen, 18 guns
1693
Sep
Nov.
"
99
April
May
1695
1696
1697
1698
1703
1704
List of Prizes captured or sunk by Duguay Trouin.
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1712
Name of capturing ship.
1691
Feb. Diligente, 40 guns
Profonde, 32
Hercule, 28
"}
D
"
"
N
19
Francois, 50
****
55
""
Sanspareil, 40
Leonore, 16
""
>
…………
""
""
………………
در
"
د.
""
"
"
""
………♥
•
……………………
……………….
...
.....
……………
JON»
………….
…………………..
....
Name or number of prizes.
14 English coasting-vessels.
1
Defence, 58
Resolution, 56
Black Prince,48
2 arme Dutchmen.
& }
}
......
1 Dutch Indiaman.
Sanspareil, 40
Leonore, 16
Saint Jacques des Vic- Captured Dutch convoy under
toires, 48
Rear-Admiral Von Wassenaer.
armed merchantman,
>"
16 guns.
1 English armed
..
14 guns.
1 Spanish merchantman, 24 guns.
4 English coasters.
2 English merchantmen.
1 English merchantman.
1 Dutch
""
"
2 large Dutch merchantmen.
1 English coaster.
Panther, 32; Dutch corsair.
5 English merchantmen of 500—
700 tons.
H.M.S. Nonsuch.
H.M.S. Boston
"
Delft, 54.
Houslaerdich, 54.
Nassau, 3.
12 merchantmen.
armed Indiamen
5 English merchantmen.
3 Dutchmen.
... ……………
1 English corsair.
66 merchantmen.
H.M.S. Coventry, 50.
12 English and Du ch merchant-
men.
H.M.S. Elizabeth, 50.
1 Dutch corsair, 42.
2 English armed merchantmen.
3 Dutch Indiamen,
2 English traders
Corsair Marlborough.
H.M.S. Gaspard, 36.
12 English merchantmen.
5 English merchantmen.
H.M. ships Chester, Cumberland,
Ruby, and Devonshire.
3 Dutch merchantmen,
1 English merchantman.
H.M.S. Bristol, 60.
6 English merchantmen.
4 Portuguese men-of-war.
Remarks.
captured by English
squadron.
retaken by Dutch cor-
sairs; for this action
Trouin received
sword of honour.
granted commission
as Commander
French Navy.
in
Promoted Post Captain.
in conjunction with
Forbin's squadron.
at capture of Rio
Janeiro.
Giving a total of 10 English men-of-war, 2 privateers, 7 heavily armed merchantmen, and 66
traders, all flying the English flag; in addition to these we have 4 Portuguese and 3 Dutch men-
of-war, 2 powerful Dutch corsairs, and 94 merchantmen of other nationalities.
240
The Corsairs of France.
CHAPTER V.
FRANÇOIS THUROT OF BOULOGNE-1727-1760.
Thurot born in an inland town-Destined first for the priesthood,
and then for the medical profession-Quits his home-Trudges
across France to Dunkirk-Shows his surgical skill in a
tavern brawl-Ships as surgeon on a Corsair-Captured by
the English-Escapes from Dover and enters as seaman on
a Boulogne privateer-Turns honest trader-On outbreak
of war commands Corsair Friponne-Made Enseigne de
Vaisseau-Placed in command of a squadron-Gallant action
with the Southampton frigate-Ill-success of his cruise in the
Belle-Isie-Heavy fight with the Dauphin and Solbay-Change
of fortune-Captures numerous prizes off coast of Denmark-
Runs towards west coast of Scotland-Takes several fine
English prizes-Returns to France and proposes a descent on
the Irish coast-Project supported by the Marquis of Belle-
Isle-Entrusted with the command of an expedition-Quarrels
between Thurot and the military commanders-Mutinous
spirit shown by his captains-Lands on north coast of
Ireland - Seizes Carrickfergus Threatens Belfast-British
squadron appears off coast-Thurot re-embarks-His gallant
fight and noble death.
ALTHOUGH Boulogne claims this gallant corsair as
one of her sons, and named one of her principal
streets in his honour, there is no doubt that this claim
is absolutely unfounded, and that the specious argu-
ments of the eminent Egyptologist, the late Monsieur
Mariette, are incapable of support. To us in England,
it is of little importance whether Thurot was born
in one town or another; but in France, where the
heroes of one administration are dethroned to make
room for those of another, and where there is but little
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 241
continuity of fame, much jealousy is evinced by the
various communes with regard to those who without
having leaned to Royalty or Imperialism, can now,
in these days of Republican simplicity, be handed
down to posterity as heroes sprung from the people.
Under this head Thurot may undoubtedly be classed.
As a corsair in this he does not stand alone, but
what is peculiar in his career is that of all the
corsairs whose histories I have been able to trace,
he is the only one whose early associations are not
connected with the sea, whose youth was not spent
amongst those who were the veritable sea-wolves of
France.
Jean Bart, with corsair blood flowing in his veins,
was born in Dunkirk, and his infant lullaby was
the thunder of the English cannon besieging that
oft-captured town. Duguay Trouin, the son of
seafaring people, was wont as a lad to bask on the
mole at St. Malo and weave dreams of his own
future from the tales he had heard from his father's
men of their encounters with the hated English.
Jacques Cassard in like manner imbibed the love of
his future profession on the quays at Nantes-quays
now named in his honour. But François Thurot
was born in the vine-clad valleys of Burgundy, and
none around him were in any way connected with
the marine.
It was in the now well-known town of Nuits,
better known perhaps in England by the excellence
of its wines than by the beauty of its situation and
the loveliness of its surrounding scenery, that
on the night of the 21st July, 1727, the wife of the
Ꭱ
242
The Corsairs of France.
worthy postmaster presented her husband with his
first-born son. At that time, in addition to his
official calling, François Thurot the elder, cultivated
his family acres, and made a comfortable living out
of the good wine he sold; but the doctrines of
Malthus had not in those days obtained a hold on
the population of France, and children came to the
young couple with annual precision, and alas! with
annual precision came also a long succession of bad
vintages. The two combined served to plunge the
good postmaster into pecuniary embarrassments,
and when in 1735 his office became vacant and his
wife a widow, little was left for the support of his
family.
Kind friends came to the front and offered to re-
lieve the mother of the education of her eldest son;
but he, more than probably a spoiled child, cared
little for the career these friends had marked out
for him. The first idea was to make him a priest,
and for some few years he pursued his education at
a Jesuit college in Dijon, but it was soon evident
that the young Thurot was little fitted for the
"frock;" his wild untamable disposition grated on
the reverend fathers, and his mother was fain to
think of more secular employment. On leaving the
Jesuit college, he was apprenticed to a worthy
surgeon of the same town, and showed scme interest
in this direction. Unfortunately the pecuniary
circumstances of his mother became more and more
embarrassed, and Thurot, overwhelmed with grief at
her position and willing to sacrifice all for his mother,
was tempted to purloin some valuables belonging to
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 243
his aunt, and selling them handed the money thus
obtained to the widow, and then knowing that dis-
covery was inevitable, he quitted Dijon to seek his
living as best he might.
The gallant deeds and brilliant successes of Jean
Bart and Duguay Trouin had penetrated even to the
peaceful valleys of Burgundy; and Thurot, albeit
that he had never seen the sea, determined on
following the calling which had brought fame and
riches to so many. Alas! he little thought of the
misery it had brought to the thousands, whose linger-
ing captivity in English prisons was chronicled by
no historian, or of the desolation spread throughout
the coasting population of Northern France by the
loss of those gallant men who, falling in many an un-
known conflict-unhonoured and unsung-left their
families dependent for their daily bread on the
charity of their poor, warm-hearted fellow-villagers.
Thurot, blessed with youth and health and
strength and spirit, looked only on the bright side
of the picture, of the reverse little was known in
Burgundy. It will be a bad day for a country when
its youth weighs the pros and cons before entering
one of the sterner professions, when the empty
sleeve is pitted against the cross of valour, and the
priceless decoration considered the least valuable of
the two.
Thurot had but one aim in view: to put as
great a distance as possible between himself and
Dijon, and to hide his early history from every eye.
In both of these he was successful. Paris offered
but slight temptations to one with such an empty
R 2
244
The Corsairs of France.
purse, and pushing through the capital, Thurot
never stayed his steps until he found himself at
Dunkirk. Here, his evident ignorance of the
sea stood in the way of his employment. Tall
and well-grown for his age, he was too old to be
taken as a mousse-these urchins usually began
their career at the age of eleven or twelve-and for
some days the forlorn landsman saw his offers of
service scouted on every side. At last a chance
opportunity gave him the necessary opening. Hang-
ing about the doors of cabarets frequented by the
wild Corsairs of Dunkirk, Thurot happened to
be present when a drunken brawl terminated in an
open fight; knives were drawn and lives were
threatened, and ere the patron of the cabaret had
cleared his premises of the shouting, fighting crowd,
two of the number were lying on the floor, their
life-blood welling from gaping wounds. Pushing
his way through the gesticulating throng, Thurot
entered the darkened room, and with the air of a
practised hand, knelt by the side of the wounded
men. One he immediately saw was past all hope,
but the other might be saved by prompt aid, and
calling for linen and water, the future Corsair busied
himself in staunching and binding up the bleeding
wounds. The cool, methodical air with which the
lad removed the wounded man's clothes and bathed
his hurts, the skilful manner in which he applied
the bandages, and the authoritative way in which he
demanded the man's address, and having seen him
carried to his humble rooms, enjoined perfect quiet,
and forbad the entrance of any of his messmates,
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 245
struck more than one of the rough Corsairs, who
witnessed the scene. On the morrow the patient
was better, and though Thurot still enjoined ab-
solute quiet, he himself was ready enough to
explain as much of his past as he chose should be
known, as well as all his aspirations for the future.
Now had his opportunity come. The wounded man
was mate of a small lugger which had made some
name as a Corsair in the Straits of Dover, and he
promised to interest himself for the young Thurot.
Nay more, he assured the lad that such a skilful
surgeon as he would never lack employment, for a
recent ordinance of the king laid down that every
craft to which letters of marque were issued, should
bear on her rolls one chirurgien. What stamp of
man it was expected would ship on board a lugger
of twenty tons in the capacity of surgeon it is hard
to say, still the fact remains that the Government
of France, ever solicitous for the welfare of those
engaged in the destruction of English commerce,
had determined that no Corsair should put to sea
without a doctor to attend to the sick and wounded
of her crew.
Thurot's qualifications, backed up as they were by
the recommendations of his patient, soon secured
for him the looked-for employment, and early in
1744 we find him embarked as surgeon on board
the Corsair Cerf Volant, a small lugger carrying
four 4-pounders, and a crew of twenty-eight
Fortune, however, was against the youth,
for in this first cruise his craft was captured after a
sharp resistance by an English cruiser, and carried
men.
246
The Corsairs of France.
a prize into Dover. Still Dame Fortune was not
altogether unkind to our hero, for as the English
officer deputed to work the prize into harbour
stepped on the Cerf Volant's decks, Thurot was
seen busy with the wounded men, and as the English
cruiser carried no doctor, the young man was at
once transhipped to the king's vessel to perform the
same work of charity to the wounded English
seamen; and so it came about that when the Cerf
Volant's crew were lodged in watch and ward at
Dover, Thurot was allowed out on his parole.
The hours of his captivity dragged wearily
enough we may be sure; but the lad had more in
him than the average Corsair, and he determined
that every hour should be well employed. Thanks
to the kindly intercession of the captain of the
cruiser that had captured the Cerf Volant, Thurot
obtained permission to attend his own wounded.
There, in the hospital attached to the prison, he was
thrown into daily contact with the English surgeons,
who, hearing the lad's history, were willing enough
to aid him in his self-imposed duties, and to impart
to him as much surgical knowledge as he chose
to learn. But Thurot was by no means content to
look forward to no higher career than that of
surgeon of a Corsair or, may be, even of a king's
ship; he was determined to enter the combatant
ranks, and every moment that he could spare from
the hospital was devoted to a study of navigation,
of the charts of the Channel, and of the English
language. Weeks rolled on, and still no hope
of release; at every fresh exchange of prisoners,
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 247
the Corsair crew found themselves still unfriended.
It was those in the king's service who were first
selected for exchange; privateers' men were left to
make their own arrangements for escape, unless, as
too rarely happened, high State influence could be
brought to bear in their favour. Thurot was little
inclined to rest quietly at Dover until a general
peace should release all prisoners, and he determined
on making an effort to secure his own liberty.
The question of prisoners of war was just then
exciting much attention. The Marquis de Belle-
isle had been despatched on a mission from Ver-
sailles to the Courts of the Emperor Charles (then
in Bavaria), and thence to Frederick in Silesia. On
his return to France, the marquis had been seized
when passing through Hanover, and, despite his
own personal remonstrances and the indignant
protests of the French Government, had been carried
a prisoner to London. The French insisted that
the sacred person of an ambassador was free from
capture; the English, on the other hand, maintained
that Belle-isle, although an ambassador, should
have avoided entering Hanover, then subject to the
English crown; that had a passage through the
electorate been necessary for his return to France,
he should have applied to the Court of St. James's
for a safe-conduct, and that by voluntarily entering
the enemy's territory, he voluntarily placed himself
in that enemy's power. Matters were eventually
arranged, and Belle-isle permitted to return to
France. During the ambassador's sojourn in
London, Thurot, obtaining leave from the com-
248
The Corsairs of France.
mandant at Dover, contrived to gain access to the
marquis, and implored him to exert his influence to
obtain the release of the many thousand Corsairs
now prisoners in English ports. As Thurot very
justly pointed out, these men were fighting France's
battles, and playing France's game as effectually as
any of the seamen belonging to the king's navy.
Many of the vessels worked by these Corsairs were
the king's own ships, and one-tenth of the sums
realized by their prizes went into the king's coffers.
Belle-isle, struck by the lad's arguments, promised
to bring the matter before the Minister of Marine;
more he could not do, his instructions as to obtain-
ing the release of prisoners at that moment referred
only to soldiers and sailors of the king's forces.
Thurot disheartened returned to Dover, and once
more threw himself heart and soul into the pursuit
of those studies which were destined to gain him
pre-eminence in his calling. Days passed, and yet
no sign that the Marquis of Belle-isle had made
representations to Versailles regarding the French
Corsairs now prisoners in English gaols, and Thurot,
despairing of obtaining freedom by legitimate means,
determined on making one bold bid for escape.
Taking advantage of the bustle attendant on
Belle-isle's departure for France: a departure
attended with the ceremonial usually bestowed on
ambassadors by the town of Dover, which was wont
on these occasions to deck itself in holiday array,
and cause the representatives of Foreign Powers to
be escorted to the craft destined to convey them
across the Channel, by the military and municipal
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 249
authorities, and to be wafted on their journey by the
thunder of the Castle guns.
England, willing to atone for the rude circum-
stances connected with Belle-isle's capture, was
ready to give as much éclat as possible to his
embarkation; troops were drawn up on the old
pier, and amidst the rattle of arms and the booming
of cannon, the ambassador to the Courts of Bavaria
and of Brandenburg, stepped on to the English
ship-of-war destined to convey him to Calais.
And Thurot saw the craft cast off her hawsers,
warp out beyond the jetty, and then under a crowd
of canvas press on before
press on before a strong northerly
breeze to the French coast. That night, warily
evading the ever-watchful sentries, Thurot found
his way down to the jetty, and leaping on board
a small dingey attached to a fishing-lugger, he
silently sculled her outside the harbour; then,
feeling the influence of the northerly breeze, he
rigged up his shirt into a temporary sail, and once
more taking to the oars steered by the stars his
southerly course. As dawn broke the little boat
was descried by some Calais fishermen, and Thurot,
exhausted with his long pull, was taken more
dead than alive on board their hospitable craft.
The noise of his escape from a British prison soon
spread through the French town, and, coming to the
ears of the Marquis of Belle-isle, caused the ambassa-
dor to command that the brave lad should be led
into his presence. There he was at once recognized
as the unsuccessful suitor of London, and Belle-isle,
struck by the youth's determination, promised that
250
The Corsairs of France.
he would never lose sight of him. He kept his word
with greater exactness than French gallants of the
last century were in the habit of doing, and Thurot,
thanks to his intervention, obtained almost immediate
employment on board a Corsair. This time in the
capacity of seaman, not surgeon, for Thurot was
determined that he would work his way up, and
learn how to obey ere he sought to command. And
now his education stood him in good stead. Naturally
quick, he soon mastered the manual work of his
profession; whether Belle-isle's influence had aught
to do with his rapid advancement I know not, but at
the end of the year 1747 we find him in command
of a small Boulogne lugger, plying the trade all craft
of her build and port were wont to ply in those days.
was
In the following year peace was declared, and
Thurot now turned honest trader, and made a series
of successful voyages to England; but legitimate
trading was but sorry work after the exciting life
of a Corsair, and it was soon found that smuggling
it did a
more profitable, combining as
spice of danger more to the fancy of Thurot and
his crew, than sober trips to the Thames or the
Avon. Throughout the years that peace lasted, the
Marquis of Belle-isle never lost sight of his protégé,
and when, in 1755, war once more broke out with
England, the Intendant of Marine at Boulogne
received instructions from Paris to hand over the
king's ship Friponne to François Thurot, to be armed
by him as a Corsair. It is more than probable,
though history is silent on this point, that Belle-isle
furnished Thurot with the means of equipping the
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 251
Friponne, and stood guarantee to the State for her,
as it is extremely unlikely that Thurot could have
amassed enough money in his seven years' Channel
trading—or smuggling, if you will-to undertake
such a weighty responsibility on his own shoulders,
and had any local merchants shared the risk with
him, local historians would have recorded the fact
and immortalized their names.
Unfortunately no details of this cruise have been
preserved, but we may be certain that it was success-
ful beyond all expectations, from the fact that when
in December, 1756, Thurot returned to Boulogne
to lay up and pay off the Friponne, he was called
to Paris by the Minister of Marine, and there
nominated to a commission as enseigne de vaisseau
in the king's navy. Many of his biographers, in
writing of this cruise, say :-
"Avec ce petit bâtiment, il alla croiser dans la
Manche et se distinguer par plusieurs combats, et
nombre de bonnes prises."
On the other hand an anonymous author writes:-
"Pendant la campagne qu'il fit avec ce petit bâtiment
il livra plusieurs combats et prit un grand nombre
de navires de commerce. On en a porté le chiffre à
soixante environ."
When in Paris, Thurot laid before the Minister of
Marine a project for the destruction of Portsmouth by
means of a fire-ship, and offered to take command of
the expedition himself. The scheme, however, found
no favour with the court officials, and Thurot was
compelled to renounce all hope of earning fame this
way.
252
The Corsairs of France.
The success attending the cruise of the Friponne
had very naturally increased the favour with which
the Marquis de Belle-isle regarded his protégé
and through his interest the young enseigne de
vaisseau was entrusted with a command less hazard-
ous and promising greater results even than the
scheme for the destruction of Portsmouth Dock-
yard.
The havoc committed by Jean Bart and Duguay
Trouin on English trade had not been forgotten at
Versailles, and in Thurot was seen a worthy
successor to the Corsairs of Dunkirk and St. Malo.
He combined all the qualities needed for a success-
ful Corsair great personal gallantry, a knack of
winning to himself the confidence of his employers
and of his subordinates, and an intimate know-
ledge of the English coasts and the seas surrounding
them.
W
Belle-isle pressed forward his claims and his quali-
fications, with the result that Thurot was ordered
to proceed to St. Malo, and there superintend the
fitting-out of a small squadron destined to cruise
in the North Sea, but with the primary intention
of capturing a valuable convoy bound from Arch-
angel to London with furs and Eastern produce.
Thurot's squadron was composed of the Belle-isle,
a full-rigged ship of nearly 400 tons, carrying thirty
guns, and a crew of 140 men, her sister-ship, the
Chauvelin, 30; a brigantine, the Gros Thomas,
carrying six 3-pounders and thirty men, and a
large cutter, the Bastien, ten guns and sixty men.
The two smaller craft were to be used as tenders
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 253
and despatch-boats, to convoy prizes into port, and
to return to the squadron with prize-crews, fresh
provisions, and water.
At dawn on the morning of the 12th July, 1757,
Thurot sailed from St. Malo, and heading to the
northward, endeavoured to beat out between the
islands and Cape la Hogue; but as the sun went
down, two large men-of-war were discerned cruising
off Granville, and Thurot, seeing that one was a line-
of-battle ship and the other a powerful frigate, deter-
mined to bout ship and run under the shelter of the
land for the night. The Englishmen, divining his in-
tentions, crowded on all sail after him, and the frigate
standing in between him and the island of Cézembre,
prevented his entering St. Malo. He, however,
succeeded in anchoring with the Chauvelin and Gros
Thomas under the guns of the batteries on Cape
Frehel, and so narrowly avoided capture. The
Bastien, not so fortunate, was captured in endeavour-
ing to enter the Rance. For more than a week
the two English vessels standing on and off com-
pelled Thurot to remain at anchor, but a heavy
northerly gale coming on forced them to gain an
offing, and as when the wind went down no signs of
the Englishmen were visible, Thurot once more hove
anchor and stood out to sea. On the 24th he
sighted the English coasts, and on the following day
made his first prize, a fine brig, the Rotterdam,
bound from St. Vincent to Southampton with sugar
and coffee. The same afternoon, having parted
company with his prize, Thurot sighted a large vessel
standing to the westward close under the land.
-
254
The Corsairs of France.
Taking her for a merchantman, the Belle-isle crowded
on all sail in chase, but on coming within range dis-
covered that her antagonist was flying a captain's
pennant and was a heavy-armed frigate. Although
the Chauvelin was hull down and no hope could be
expected from her, Thurot determined on attacking
the frigate, and at once opened fire with his 12-
pounder bow guns. The Englishman promptly re-
sponded and with such good effect that she cut away
the slings of the Belle-isle's mainyard, thus effec-
tually stopping further pursuit. Still the Englishman
was very severely handled, and was glad enough to
escape before the arrival of the Chauvelin. The
Belle-isle's casualties amounted to seven killed and
twenty-six wounded, the Southampton suffered a
loss of sixty killed and wounded. Throughout the
night the crew of the Corsair were busily engaged
in repairing damages, sending up their mainyard
and a new mizen-topmast in lieu of the spar badly
wounded by the Southampton, and on the morning
of the 26th, finding himself within sight of several
large craft which looked suspiciously like English
men-of-war, Thurot determined to gain an offing and
bear up for a French port, in order to land his
wounded and prisoners. Before reaching Calais he
was fortunate enough to fall in with a Dutch brig-
prize to an English privateer-the prize-crew were
too weak to offer any resistance, and hauled down
their flag on being summoned to surrender. On the
28th Thurot entered Calais, and having sent his
wounded to hospital and shipped fifty fresh men, he
once more put to sea. On the 30th of July he fell
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 255
signal the
In this pre-
in with and captured the packet-boat carrying pas-
sengers from Ostend to Dover, but a heavy gale
springing up he nearly lost his own ship as well as
his prize in trying to work into Boulogne. His
spars, crippled in the engagement with the South-
ampton, were in no state to weather a fresh north-
wester, and in order to save his ship Thurot was
compelled to cut away his masts and
Chauvelin to come and take him in tow.
dicament three English privateers bore down on the
French squadron, but M. Desages and M. de la Tour
Audaye, two gallant Malouines serving on the Chauve-
lin, gave proof of rare devotion and courage, and
showed such a bold front with that frigate that the
Englishmen hauled off without persevering in their
attempt, and Thurot, getting some canvas on the
stumps of his lower masts, was enabled under the
escort of the Chauvelin to work his way with his
prize into Flushing. There he determined to give
the Belle-isle a thorough refit, and it was not until
the 18th of September that he was once more
ready to take the sea. Ill-fortune still clung to him.
On the following morning he fell in with an English
squadron of five ships-of-war, and once more
narrowly escaped capture, being compelled again to
run for shelter and safety into Flushing.
G
In the engagement the Belle-isle lost her bow-
sprit and fore-topmast, besides being hulled no less.
than sixty-five times; her casualties, however, only
amounted to five killed and seven wounded. Once
more a thorough refit and overhaul became neces-
sary, and whilst Thurot was engaged in preparing the
256
The Corsairs of France.
Belle-isle for sea, the Chauvelin and Gros Thomas
made short excursions in the hope of picking up a
prize. In this expectation they were not only unsuc-
cessful, but M. Desages was unlucky enough to lose
the Gros Thomas, which was captured by an English
frigate. Early in October, Thurot again put to sea,
and this time stood to the northward, intending to
cruise off the east coast of Scotland. Heavy
weather now ensued, and whilst Thurot hoisting
English colours ran into the Bay of Findhorn for
shelter, the Chauvelin stood out to sea; thus the
two craft parted company, and for the remainder of
the cruise the Belle-isle was alone. On the weather
moderating, Thurot, who had learnt that the Arch-
angel fleet had reached London whilst he was
repairing ship at Flushing, determined to stand
across the Northern ocean to Bergen, and pick up
what prizes he might at the entrance of the Baltic.
But the severity of the weather told heavily on the
Belle-isle, and on arrival at Bergen, Thurot was obliged
again to lay up his ship for repairs. On the voyage
he picked up a prize which Thurot's biographer, M.
de Marcy, asserts to have been "une frégate du roi,'
and this capture to a certain extent calmed the
mutinous spirit of the Belle-isle's crew, who found
the constant cruising in heavy weather in a leaky
ship far from according with their ideas of a
Corsair's career. Throughout the month of Novem-
ber the crew worked away at repairing ship, and
about the middle of December, Thurot again set
sail. Again his evil fortune attended him: heavy
gales pursued him wherever he went, and late in
""
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 257
December, when off the Orkneys, he was once more
dismasted and driven helpless far to the northward.
On the gale abating, Thurot rigged up jury-masts,
and favoured by a westerly breeze succeeded in
working his crippled craft into Gottenburg. Here
he determined to spend the winter, and before
starting on his summer cruise to submit the Belle-
isle to a thorough overhaul. It was not until the
month of May that Thurot recommenced operations,
and now fortune deigned to smile on the vessel she
had so rudely treated throughout the preceding
year. Standing to the southward, Thurot's plan
was to cruise off the east coast of England, and
intercept vessels engaged in commerce with the
Baltic. His first prize for the year was made on
the 17th of May. She was the William and Charles,
a collier brig bound from Newcastle to Arundel;
this was but the opening of a fortunate week, for in
the ensuing five days he had captured the Martha,
the Prudent Mary, Friendship of Sunderland, and
the Russia, all laden with coal. King's ships,
however, were cruising in these latitudes, and
Thurot's voyage was not destined to be one of un-
interrupted success. On the 26th he sighted four
large vessels, evidently ships-of-war, and he
prudently endeavoured to avoid them; in this he
was disappointed, as two of them, fine, fast-sailing
frigates, overhauled him, and ranging up alongside
hailed him to surrender. Thurot, paying no atten-
tion, stood unconcernedly on his course. To the
summoning gun the Belle-isle replied with a broad-
side, and the unequal engagement at once com-
M
S
-
258
The Corsairs of France.
menced. For seven hours
For seven hours the running fight
continued, and then a lucky shot from the Belle-isle
having carried away the fore-topmast of one of the
frigates, and the other being in flames, the pursuit
slackened, and Thurot was enabled to shake off the
larger ships in the course of the night. The
Englishmen proved to be the Dauphin, whose
captain, Macleod, was killed during the engagement,
and the Solebay, whose commander, Craig, was
dangerously wounded in the throat. The Belle-
isle's casualties amounted to nineteen killed and
thirty-four wounded.
In her engagement with the English frigates the
Belle-isle had been very roughly handled, and his
ship's company was much weakened by the prize-
crews placed on board the five colliers captured in the
course of the preceding fortnight, as well as by the
heavy casualties sustained on the 26th May; Thurot
therefore determined to put into Bergen once more
for repairs and to recruit his numbers. In those
days the crews of privateers were generally a hetero-
geneous mass; men of all nations shipped under any
flag, and as in France there were very stringent rules,
forbidding corsairs to carry more than a very limited
number of French sailors (this with a view of retain-
ing the services of the seafaring population for the
king's ships), it generally happened that the majority
of men serving on French corsairs were either
landsmen or sailors of other nationalities. Many
an Englishman might have been found sailing out
of Dunkirk or Calais, and if the records of those
cities are true, some of their most famous corsairs
M
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 259"
..
12
were either English or American seamen who had
good reason for not sailing under the Cross of St.
George. Swedes, Norwegians and Danes had then,
as now, a great reputation as honest, sober, good
sailormen, and now that the tide of luck had turned
in his favour, Thurot felt sure he would have little
difficulty in filling up his crew in Bergen.
The voyage across the North Sea was unmarked
by any incident save the capture of a small English
schooner, which being a smart sailer Thurot de-
termined to turn into a tender to the Belle-isle.
On reaching Bergen the Belle-isle was at once put
into the shipbuilders' hands, and fearful of losing
touch of his good fortune Thurot, placing one long
twelve-pounder and six four-pounders upon the
prize, which he named the Homard, he started off in
her himself for a cruise off the coasts of Denmark.
Once more fortune favoured him, and he returned to
Bergen on the 4th June with two prizes, the brig
Christian, laden with coal from Newcastle to Riga,
and the barque Bourgan, bound for London with
hemp. In the course of a few days the Belle-isle was
again ready for sea, and Thurot, finding that a stream
of English traders was pouring into the Baltic,
determined to continue his cruising to intercept
these vessels. In the three weeks that intervened
between his again putting to sea and his return
to Christiansand for provisions and water, he
captured nine prizes, the Amity, Catherine, Lothian,
Margaret, Elizabeth, Sally, Jenny, Success, and Jane
and Elizabeth; with the exception of the last named,
none of these vessels attempted any resistance, and
S 2
· 260
The Corsairs of France.
the essence of fight died out of the Jane and
Elizabeth when a round shot, in reply to her first
gun, plunged on to her poop, carrying away her tiller,
killing the man at the wheel, and wounding three of
her hands.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and
of this proverb Thurot felt the proof; his crew were
now in good fighting order and in capital spirits,
no signs of disaffection since the prizes had been
tumbling in so fast; still Thurot felt it wise to give
them a run ashore now and then, for obvious reasons.
Reaching Christiansand on the 27th July, he deter-
mined to wait there until the Homard should rejoin
him with some of the men working his prizes to a
French port, and consequently it was not until the
12th of July he made the sea again.
The opening of this cruise was inauspicious
enough. As dawn broke on the 13th he found him-
self within sight of a large English convoy of seven-
teen fine merchantmen and two ships of war; the
two latter, at once divining the character of the
Belle-isle, bore down upon her, and it needed all
Thurot's skill and ingenuity to escape them. It
was not until night fell that Thurot shook off his
pursuers, and this he did by the then common ruse
of dousing all his own lights and setting a boat
adrift with a square sail set and rudder lashed, to
carry a lantern away to leeward; then, putting about,
the Belle-isle ran through the convoy and was safe.
The escape had been a narrow one, for the pursuing
craft had kept up an accurate fire on the Belle-isle
for some hours, and though the range had been
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 261
long and the Corsair had suffered little in spars or
rigging, Thurot had to deplore the loss of four
killed and twelve wounded amongst his already too
depleted crew.
As dawn broke, the convoy was out of sight, and
Thurot drew a sigh of relief. This was soon turned
into one of self-gratulation as he saw coming
towards him a fine brig, whose every spar showed
her to be an Englishman. Running up the English
flag, Thurot signalled the brig to send a boat aboard
with papers, and as the Englishman, in obedience to
the summons, hove-to and prepared to obey these
orders, the Belle-isle ranged up alongside, ran up
her true colours, and hailed the brig to surrender.
Resistance was out of the question, and in an
hour the brig George and Joseph, from London to
St. Petersburg, was bowling along towards Boulogne
with a prize-crew on board. That same evening a
second prize was captured, the Blankney of Leith;
but on the following day the Belle-isle herself had a
narrow escape, being chased until night fell by
three English frigates, the Chatham, Deptford, and
Aquilon. It was evident that cruisers were too
plentiful in these latitudes, so Thurot continued his
northerly course, and ran to the Faro isles for shelter
and for fresh water. On the 10th August he ven-
tured to sea again, this time standing down the west
coast of Scotland and on the 18th of the same month
he captured two brigantines, the John and the True-
love, the former in ballast, the latter laden with pig-
iron.
On the 31st of the month, being close off the land,
-
262
The Corsairs of France.
he ran into Lough Swilly, and sent his long-boat
ashore to buy fresh meat; the officer in command
came across a farmer, who refused to make a deal
unless he purchased his whole flock of 150: the
privateersman, with ready wit, paid for a dozen,
which he put into the long-boat, and told the
farmer if he would come off to the ship the captain
would pay for the remainder and send other boats
ashore to ship them. On reaching the Belle-isle,
the Irish farmer at once saw the real nature of the
craft, and roundly abused the officer who had
deceived him into selling his sheep to a Frenchman.
To put the man ashore would have been once more
to put the English Admiralty on his track, so
Thurot at once put to sea, carrying the Irish farmer
with him. Standing to the northward, on the
following day Thurot sighted a barque, and on
coming up to her saw two more craft ahead; placing
a prize-crew on the barque, which proved to be the
Henry, a fine vessel, bound from St Vincent to
Glasgow with sugar, the Belle-isle stood on after
the two strange sail, which proved to be two armed
merchantmen, who evinced a disposition to fight, but
the Belle-isle's crew were well drilled and disciplined,
almost ready to hold their own with a man-of-war
of equal size, they served their guns with rapidity
and precision, and the two merchantmen soon saw
that they had no chance against a powerfully-armed
and well-manned Corsair. After a few rounds from
the Belle-isle, these vessels hauled down their colours,
and Thurot, on taking possession, found them to be
the Charlestown, twelve guns, and Britannia, four-
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 263
teen, both bound from Liverpool to New York.
Placing prize-crews on board, with orders to take
the vessels into Brest, Thurot determined himself
to return to Bergen, there to ship fresh men in
place of the many hands placed on board his prizes,
and to land also the prisoners, who, being exceedingly
numerous, rendered the working of the ship difficult,
and occupied a considerable number of the crew in
guarding them. When off the Mull of Kantyre,
Thurot fell in with a Dutch ship, the Admiral
Ruyter, carrying eighteen guns, and in charge of a
prize crew of H.M.S Boyne, which frigate had cap-
tured her in the West Indies. The young officer
commanding the Admiral Ruyter did not feel himself
justified in opposing force to Thurot's summons to
surrender; he had but sixteen English seamen on
board, and with only these to work her guns resist-
ance was well-nigh useless. Still further weaken-
ing the Belle-isle's crew by sending men on board
his new prize, Thurot determined to put into the
nearest neutral port without delay, and was thank-
ful enough to reach Bergen on the 13th September,
where, landing over 270 prisoners who cumbered his
decks, he proceeded to careen and repair his ship.
Upwards of a month was spent in Bergen.
There, being rejoined by the Homard, with eighty
of his old hands from Boulogne, Thurot again
put to sea, this time for a cruise off the east
coast of England. On the 30th of November, the
Buxton, bound from London to St. Petersburg, with
cotton goods, and on the 1st of December, the Dublin,
a collier brig, was captured. And now winter was
264
The Corsairs of France.
closing in, a succession of heavy gales, which tested
the seaworthy capacity of the crank old Belle-isle,
warned Thurot that he would be foolish to run the
risk of a second winter campaign. Well satisfied with
the twenty-seven goodly vessels that had fallen
into his hands during the summer, he hauled his
wind, and standing to the southward made for
Boulogne. Nearing the French coast, he learnt that
a numerous English flotilla was watching the ports
of Boulogne and Calais, so Thurot, wisely avoiding
all risks, put into Ostend, and there paid off the
Belle-isle, and proceeded at once to Paris, to solicit
anew the protection of his powerful patron, in whose
name he had carried on such a successful expe-
dition.
We have seen that during his recent cruise,
Thurot had been enabled on several occasions to
take refuge in Scotch and Irish ports, merely by
hoisting English colours and taking advantage of
the service of the many English-speaking men on
his vessel. He had played the rôle of an English
ship, and when, owing to stress of weather or short-
ness of provisions, he had deemed a run to port
necessary, he had never hesitated to make for one
in the north of Scotland or of Ireland. The facility
thus afforded him of landing on an enemy's shores,
very naturally opened up to him dreams of utilizing
the credulity of the people in order to inflict upon
them those ills which France was desirous of inflict-
ing upon England. A descent upon the coasts of
Scotland or of Ireland was practicable enough, a
compact force landed suddenly in a spot far from
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 265
regular garrisons might ravage the country far and
wide before compelled by superior force to beat a
retreat to its ships, and Thurot found no difficulty
in explaining to the minister of marine that it was
feasible enough to pay England back in her own
coin-that France could play the part of organizing
minor expeditions as well as England, and that the
grand monarch was as capable of carrying the war
into the enemy's country as was the king of
England.
There were, of course, at Versailles men who
stoutly opposed Thurot's project, and who, mindful
of his dreams of destroying Portsmouth dockyard,
endeavoured to cast ridicule on the more sober plan ;
on the other hand there were many who saw in it
every element of success, and amongst these was
Thurot's old patron, the Marquis de Belleisle; he,
indeed, supported it with all his eloquence and all
his influence, and though Belleisle was not able to
secure for Thurot the chief command, he succeeded
in getting him nominated to the charge of an inde-
pendent squadron, acting in concert with the fleet
under Monsieur de Conflans. The news of the in-
tended expedition soon spread abroad, and caused the
greatest consternation in England. Fresh credits
were demanded from the House of Commons, in
order to place the kingdom beyond reach of this
threatened danger, and Parliament not only
cheerfully voted the sums asked for the defence
of the coasts, but sanctioned the issue of letters of
marque to a large number of corsairs, destined to
aid the more effectually in blockading the French
ng
266
The Corsairs of France.
ports, and thus preventing the exit of the invading
fleet.
Despite the fact that his designs had been be-
trayed, and no one knew better than Thurot that
secrecy was the first element of success in an affair
of this sort, the preparations for the expedition were
pushed on with vigour-Rochfort, Brest, and Port
Louis resounded with the din of toil-night and day
workmen were busy in fitting out ships destined to
take part in the invasion of England, and from all
parts of France troops were concentrating on the
shores of the Atlantic for embarkation on de
Conflans' fleet. Thurot in the meantime was busily
employed at Dunkirk on a humbler project; his
orders were to make sail to the west coast of
Ireland, in order to draw off the attention of the
English from the true attack. The defeat of
Conflans' fleet off Quiberon, by Hawke, forms no
portion of my narrative, and I will confine myself
merely to a recital of Thurot's exploits.
On the 15th of October, 1759, Thurot, now a
capitaine de frégate in the king's navy, left Dun-
kirk on his perilous mission. His squadron was
composed of five frigates; the Maréchal de Belle-
isle, 44, Bégon, 36, Blonde, 32, Terpsichore, 26,
Amarante, 18, and Faucon, despatch-boat. These
vessels carried, in addition to their crews, 1200 men,
made up of detachments from the Grenadiers of the
Guard, the Brigades d'Artois and de Bourgoyne,
and the foreign legions; the whole under the com-
mand of M. de Flobert, general of brigade. A
strong south-west wind had driven the English
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 267
blockading squadron away from the French shore,
and consequently Thurot was enabled to get out of
the port in safety; but, being ignorant of the exact
whereabouts of the enemy, and knowing that in-
structions had been sent to the commanders of the
troops in Scotland and Ireland to be on the watch
for him, he determined to put into Ostend until he
was certain of being able to make a clear run to
the northward. On the 18th he once more stood
out to sea, and on the 22nd put into Gothenburg,
feeling sure that the fact of his being reported in
these latitudes would induce the English commanders
to scour the North Sea for him. During the voyage
from Ostend to Gothenburg, Thurot made a couple
of prizes, the brigantine William, and a three-masted
schooner, the Lincoln. Here he was joined by his
old despatch-boat, the Homard, which had done him
such good service in his cruise during the preced-
ing year. After a few days' stay in Gothenburg, in
order to thoroughly overhaul his ships, Thurot once
more put to sea, and on the 28th anchored at Thors-
haven, in the Faro islands, where he took on board
live-stock and other provisions. Throughout the
voyage from Gothenburg the squadron had experi-
enced extremely heavy weather, and had been com-
pelled to separate. Thurot, however, had given
Thorshaven as a rendezvous, and within a few days
of his arrival all his fleet with the exception of the
Bégon had entered the port.
And now commenced a series of quarrels between
the naval and military commanders, which thus early
threatened to mar the success of the expedition.
268
The Corsairs of France.
De Flobert, a general of brigade in the army, felt
aggrieved at the position accorded him, and openly
gave vent to his dissatisfaction: it was not long ere
he had succeeded in ranging on his side not only the
officers of the land forces, the majority of whom
were men of birth and fortune, but also the
captains of the Amarante, Blonde, and Terpsichore,
who happened to be bearers of the king's commission,
and as members of that aristocratic service the
king's navy felt humiliated at being subjected to
the indignity of serving under a man who had com-
menced life as a corsair.
Flobert openly showed his hatred of Thurot, and
took every means of letting his feelings be known
throughout the fleet: and, taking fresh offence at
his being kept in ignorance of the ultimate destina-
tion of the expedition, openly, in the presence of
some junior officers, demanded that Thurot should
submit his plan of operations, if indeed he had
any plan, to a council, consisting of the commanders
of the various vessels and the officers of his Majesty's
troops. Thurot had long foreseen that he was an
object of aversion to de Flobert, but knowing that
a cordial co-operation with the land forces was
essential to the success of the expedition, had
endeavoured so to comport himself as to remove all
cause for jealousy, and even now he offered to explain
his plans to Flobert, on consideration that that
officer would keep them secret. The ministry had
enjoined on Thurot the absolute necessity of
secrecy in regard to his destination, and this in itself
should have been sufficient to have induced de
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 269
Flobert to remain satisfied with Thurot's silence; but
jealousy, that demon which has ruined so many
military enterprises, and which is so rarely absent
from those conducted by French troops, again stepped
in, de Flobert refused to listen to a word of expla-
nation unless given fully and freely in presence of all
his Majesty's officers. This Thurot refused to do,
and de Flobert, galled to the quick at the firmness
displayed by the plebeian sailor, was injudicious
enough to threaten to place Thurot under the custody
of a file of the grenadiers of the guard and return
to France with him as a prisoner. The knowledge,
however, that Thurot had powerful friends at court,
prompted de Flobert to rest satisfied with the threat,
but what induced Thurot to allow the mutinous
general of brigade to remain in command of the
troops it is difficult to say. Had the naval com-
mander shown one tithe of the decision of character
with regard to these unseemly dissensions, that he
showed gallantry in action, the result of the expedi-
tion would have been very sensibly affected: had
he placed de Flobert under the custody of a file of
his own crew, and sent him a prisoner to France,
the mischievous dallyings which took place at
Carrickfergus would never have occurred. France,
perchance, would have been able to congratulate
herself on the success not the failure of Thurot's
enterprise.
·
De Flobert, too weak to carry out his threat of
making a prisoner of Thurot, now formulated
lengthy complaints as to the treatment accorded to
his men. The provisions served out to them were
270
The Corsairs of France.
scanty, and of bad quality, water prior to putting
into the Faroes had been undrinkable, the
accommodation bad, sickness too had broken out
which had impaired their health and efficiency; he
therefore demanded that the squadron should return
to France, its numbers being too weak to effect
even a favourable diversion on the Irish coasts.
Thurot listened to the complaints, and read the
wordy documents with praiseworthy patience, but
he was in noways moved from his original design.
England is the objective of this expedition, he said;
when the weather gets more favourable we will seek
fresh food and water on the coasts of the British
Isles, but to return to France before having made a
raid on Great Britain was not to be thought of.
Finding Thurot obstinate, de Flobert now
endeavoured to seduce the captains from their
allegiance, and succeeded in winning over the
officers commanding the Amarante, Blonde, and
Terpsichore to his side, these miscreants promising
that directly they received their orders from de
Flobert they would part company with the
Maréchal de Belle-isle, and make the best of their
way homewards. Thurot had some intuition of
what was going on, for he insisted on de Flobert
remaining on board his own ship-the better, as he
said, that their schemes for landing on the Irish
coast might be carried out, but in reality to
prevent his plotting more with the sailors of the
fleet.
With the break of the new year, the long succés-
sion of heavy gales moderated, and on the 6th of
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 271
January Thurot, with the Amarante, Blonde, and
Terpsichore in company, put out from Thorshaven,
and steering a southerly course, endeavoured to make
Londonderry. The fair weather was not of long con-
tinuance, and though the isles of Lewis and St. Kilda
were passed, and the Irish coasts actually sighted,
a terrible gale from the west compelled Thurot to
seek an offing, and gradually beat up to the north-
ward. On the 10th of February, the weather
having again moderated, Thurot once more bore
up for Ireland. That evening the Maréchal de
Belle-isle fell in with and captured an English brig,
the Boyne, laden with grain and wheat-flour, and
by dividing her cargo amongst the four ships of
his squadron, Thurot was enabled to ameliorate the
condition of his men, who had not touched soft
bread since leaving Gothenburg.
Although the promised land was actually in sight,
and a landing might be effected at any moment-
a landing in which the highest qualities of his men
would be needed in order to achieve success, de
Flobert never hesitated in the course he had marked
out for himself. His hatred and jealousy of Thurot
had reached such a pitch that his one thought was
to thwart the naval commander on every oppor-
tunity: he was always loudly asseverating the folly
of persisting in the enterprise, the impossibility of
its succeeding, and inveighing against the unfair
treatment accorded to the soldiers on board the
fleet. Thurot, of course, was well aware of this,
and also aware that the crews of the other vessels
were tainted with disaffection. He hoped, how-
P
272
The Corsairs of France.
ever, that the prospect of a fight with the hated
English, backed up by the prospect of plunder,
would induce the men to remain faithful to him until
he had given them a chance of proving that the
difficulties and danger of the enterprise were not so
formidable as de Flobert chose to suppose. This
was not to be. Even with the coast of Ireland on
their lee, with the prospect of an engagement within
the next four-and-twenty hours, the Amarante, re-
fusing to obey signals to close with the flagship,
stood on to the southward, and signalled her in-
tention of returning to France. The Blonde and
Terpsichore did the same, but Thurot, laying
himself alongside the former vessel, threatened to
blow her out of the water unless she hove-to and
sent her captain on board the Maréchal de Belle-isle.
The commanders of these two ships, overawed at
Thurot's attitude, at once repaired on board the
flagship, and there explained to their chief that
they were practically helpless in the matter, as the
officers of the king's troops had threatened them
with death unless they at once made sail for France.
Thurot was not long in making up his mind.
Sending a second boat to the Blonde, he ordered
M. de Rusilly, the colonel of the Brigade d'Artoise,
to repair on board the Belle-isle, and then summon-
ing de Flobert to his cabin, he found himself face
to face with the instigator of the mutiny. De
Flobert, a haughty aristocrat of violent passions,
refused to listen to Thurot's explanation, but dash-
ing out of the cabin, ordered a corporal and four
men of the guard to place the naval officers in
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 273
irons. Matters were fast approaching a crisis.
De Rusilly and the captains of the Blonde and
Terpsichore counselled prudence, and besought de
Flobert not to proceed to extremities: the latter
raged and fumed and gesticulated, inciting his
hesitating men to carry out their orders. Thurot
alone preserved his sang-froid. First taking his
loaded pistols out of their case and seeing that
the priming was fresh in the pan, he warned the
grenadiers halting in indecision at the cabin-door
that the first one who entered was a dead man;
then turning to his servant, he ordered him to tell
the boatswain to pipe all hands aft, and then unlock-
ing his desk, he took from it an imposing-looking
document, sealed with the royal arms, and angrily
striding past the shrinking grenadiers, mounted the
poop, where de Flobert, de Rusilly and others
were in close talk.
-
On the crew assembling under the break of the
poop, Thurot addressed them in a few well-chosen
words, reminding them of the successful termina-
tion of their cruise of the preceding year which had
opened so inauspiciously. Many of those now
before him had sailed in the old Belle-isle too, and
could trust him when he promised them an equally
happy ending to this expedition. The dissensions
that had unfortunately broken out had been none of
his seeking; it was impossible harmony could exist,
or success be hoped for, as long as two men aspired
to the chief command. CC
Here, then," said Thurot,
"is my commission from the king-here are my
instructions. If M. de Flobert can show me aught
T
274
The Corsairs of France.
placing him over me, I will bow to his Majesty's
decision; if not,"—and here Thurot turned to de
Flobert, and with a stern and solemn air added, "I
promise him that, should he fail to obey my every
order, or endeavour to incite further mutiny, I will
carry him a prisoner to Versailles, and there have
him shot as a mutineer."
The reading of the king's commission had a great
effect on de Rusilly and the doubting captains, and
when Thurot, turning to his clerk, ordered him to
make out four copies of each of the documents in
order that they might be posted on the decks of
the other ships, these gentlemen saw that their only
course was submission, and this they also counselled
de Flobert to follow. Checkmated for the present,
the proud soldier agreed to follow Thurot's orders
so long as he was on board the Belle-isle, but with
a bad grace threatened that on their return to
France he would bring before the king Thurot's
hesitating, vacillating conduct, and point out how
valuable time had been wasted and priceless oppor-
tunities ignored by their senseless delays at Gothen-
burg and Thorshaven. Satisfied with this temporary
truce, Thurot permitted the captains of the Blonde
and Terpsichore to rejoin their ships, and warned
M. de Rusilly against any further tampering with
his officers.
That night heavy weather again broke, the
French squadron once more was driven to the
nor'ard. Finding himself near the isle of Isla,
Thurot determined to run in and purchase live-
stock and provisions for his men, but the High-
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 275
landers were afraid to have any dealings with the
French, fearful lest such might be construed into
treachery and draw down upon them the punish-
ment of a not too lenient government. Provisions
Thurot was determined to have, so landing four
companies of grenadiers, he marched to the
principal farms and succeeded in seizing over forty
head of cattle and a considerable amount of grain
and flour. It was no part of French policy to
irritate the Highlanders, and Thurot paid the men a
goodly price for what they were glad enough to
part with under compulsion.
On the 17th February Thurot once more stood to
the south, and on the 19th captured the Ingram, a
large ship bound from Lisbon to Glasgow with
oranges and wine, a prize specially valuable at that
juncture, when the men were suffering somewhat
from scurvy.
On the following day, being in sight
of land, and the weather giving every promise of
holding, Thurot explained to de Flobert his project
for a descent on the Irish coast. His two principal
objects were to release the French prisoners in
Belfast and Carrickfergus, and to lay these towns.
under contribution. Their garrisons were weak,
and consisted chiefly of militia, their defences con-
sisted of some old stone castles, unworthy the name
of fortifications, and happily no vessels of war were
in the neighbourhood, nor was it yet known to the
English that the French squadron was in these
waters. At Isla Thurot had learnt from a Scotch
gentleman that Conflans' fleet had been ignomini-
ously defeated by Hawke, and that the English
*
T 2
276
The Corsairs of France.
Government was under the impression that Thurot
had been recalled to France.
It was not in de Flobert's nature to acquiesce
tamely in the projects of another. Thurot wished
to land at Whitehouse, and then to move rapidly
on Carrickfergus and Belfast. De Flobert, after
studying the map, insisted on landing at Kilroote
and then moving on Carrickfergus and Belfast.
That Thurot should have given in, though against
his better judgment, is not to be wondered at.
De Flobert was a man of considerable military
experience, of high military rank, and many
years the senior of the young naval captain, and
after a short discussion it was decided that de
Flobert, with all the troops, should be landed at
Kilroote, and that Thurot, with the squadron, should
anchor at Whitehouse and afford such assistance as
might be necessary.
The landing was unopposed, and de Flobert at
once marched on Carrickfergus. Here he met with
most determined resistance; but, with the aid of
four guns, dragged by the blue jackets of the Belle-
isle, he soon knocked a breach in the castle walls,
and then attempted to carry the place by assault.
But the English soldiers, though outnumbered four
to one, held out gallantly; twice were the assaulting
columns repelled, but the commandant knew that
though he might perchance hold his own in the
castle he could not protect the town from sack, and
after a consultation with the mayor, he hung out a
NOTE.-In the text I have adopted the French version; for an
account published in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1760, see
Appendix.
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 277
white flag and despatched an officer to treat with
de Flobert. The terms were soon arranged. The
town was to be spared assault and pillage, and in
return was to furnish the French with a stated
quantity of live-stock and provisions, the garrison
were not to be considered prisoners of war, Colonel
Jennings agreeing that an equal number of French
prisoners in Belfast and Carrickfergus should be
handed over to Thurot in exchange; the place was
to be evacuated by the English garrison immediately,
who were to march out with all the honours of war,
suitable hostages being left in de Flobert's hands to
answer for the fulfilment of the terms. The
fight, though short, had been severe; the French,
working in the open, had suffered more heavily than
the English, sheltered as they were behind the walls
of the castle. Colonel Jennings' force had lost but
four killed and twelve wounded, whilst the
casualties of the French had been nineteen killed
and thirty-four wounded, amongst the latter being
de Flobert, who, in gallantly leading on the second
assault, had been shot through the leg by a musket
ball.
On disembarking at Whitehouse, Thurot learnt
of de Flobert's wound and of his success, and he at
once sent orders that the next senior officer should
assume command and should move immediately on
Belfast. Thurot felt there was no hope of making
more than a series of dashing raids on the nearest
towns and inflicting as much damage on the English
as he possibly could in as short a time as possible.
News of his descent would speedily reach Dublin, and
then not only would troops be moved northwards to
278
The Corsairs of France.
drive his small force into the sea, but a fleet would
most assuredly be sent round to the north coast to
prevent his escape. He was in no condition either
to face regular troops on land or to fight king's ships
on the high seas. The Amarante had deserted him,
the crews of the Blonde and Terpsichore were tainted,
their officers openly disaffected, and his own ship's
company had been considerably weakened by the
necessity of embarking prize-crews on the captured
English merchantmen. De Flobert once more
refused to fall in with Thurot's projects; he was
either of a more cautious mood or was determined
to thwart Thurot to the very end: he absolutely
refused to move on Belfast until the terms
of the surrender of Carrickfergus were carried out
to the letter, and not all the orders nor all the threats
of Thurot induced him to abate his fixed resolve.
Finding himself in this impasse, Thurot landed,
and at once inaugurated measures for a raid on
Belfast; two officers of the king's troops, M de
Beauhamel and the Comte de Scordich, volunteered
to command the expedition; but de Flobert addressed
such a powerful remonstrance to Thurot that that
officer, feeling the weight of military opinion was
against him, and feeling also that in the event of
defeat he would be held responsible at Versailles
for the loss of his Majesty's grenadiers, reluctantly
consented for the moment to abandon the enterprise.
Still Thurot did not abandon all hope of inducing
de Flobert to change his opinion, and answered de
Flobert's remonstrance with a despatch, in which he
cogently advanced the advisability of an advance.
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 279
De Flobert was immovable. He pointed out that his
men were weak in numbers (the Amarante had
carried away 250 of his best troops); that they had
been cooped up on shipboard for some months,
that their health as well as their discipline had
suffered, and that their morale had been impaired by
the disinclination shown by Thurot to land them on
the Irish coast. Finding that there was no hope of
making the raid on Belfast, and knowing that every
hour's delay rendered attack on the part of the
English more probable, Thurot gave instructions for
the re-embarkation of the troops. The town of
Carrickfergus, in lieu of the unprovided balance of
provisions, agreed to pay Thurot the sum of a
thousand pounds, and the mayor and three of the
principal inhabitants were conveyed on board the
Maréchal de Belle-isle as hostages for the due
performance of Colonel Jennings' terms of surrender.
De Flobert and a few of the more seriously
wounded cases were left on shore, the English
commander promising to take them under his
special protection.
On the 25th February the troops re-embarked,
but Thurot still remained anchored off Whitehouse,
waiting for the money and provisions: the monotony
of the proceedings were varied by the capture of a
vessel called the Clyde, laden with tobacco and sugar
from the West Indies. On the 27th, Thurot learnt
that the Duke of Bedford had despatched a squadron
to the nor❜ard to attack him, and feeling himself all
unequal to the combat, he weighed anchor and stood
to sea, in the hope of escaping action. Scarcely had
280
The Corsairs of France.
he left the harbour, before the English ships were
sighted; these were the Eole, 36 guns and 240 men,
Captain Elliot, who was also in command of the
squadron; the Pallas, 32, Captain Clements; and
the Brilliant, 32, Captain Logie; each of these
frigates carried 220 men. The details of this fight
are fully given in "Contemporary Historians," and are
familiar enough to naval readers; suffice to say that
the French commander was basely deserted by his
consorts, the Blonde and Terpsichore, who crowded on
all sail and endeavoured to escape; they paid no
attention to his signals of ralliement which were fly-
ing throughout the engagement, and that for two
hours the Maréchal de Belle-isle, alone and unaided,
bore the united attacks of the three English frigates.
At last, dismasted and helpless, and with ninety of her
crew hors de combat, her flag was silently lowered:
but not by Thurot's orders, for on an English officer
pulling alongside to take possession of the prize, it
was found that the brave young Corsair had been
struck in the pit of the stomach by a round shot
and killed on the spot; then, and not till then, did
his officers venture to think of surrender, and ere
admitting the English to the ship Thurot had fought
so well, they had, with feelings of misplaced chivalry,
consigned the body of their gallant commander to
the sea, in order that he in death might avoid the
fate he so dreaded when alive-of falling into the
hands of his hated foe.
The Belle-isle captured, Elliot ordered the Pallas
and Brilliant to stand after the two other French
ships, and these, as might have been expected from
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 281
their previous conduct, hauled down their flags
without attempting further resistance. That evening
Elliot worked his squadron, with their prizes, into
Ramsey harbour (Isle of Man), and then set to work
to repair damages. The Belle-isle, it was found, had
eight feet of water in her hold, the Eole and Pallas
were in but slightly better condition, the former vessel
having been hulled forty-seven times, and having
lost a large proportion of her crew. The represen-
tatives of the Duke of Athol, who then owned the
Isle of Man absolutely refused permission to Captain
Elliot to land his prisoners on the island, so that, as
soon as the vessels were sufficiently repaired to
undertake the voyage to Belfast, the little fleet set
sail for that port, and the Frenchmen, after a short
stay in Ireland, where they were treated with every
kindness, the officers being allowed the most perfect
liberty, were embarked on board two English ships,
the William and George and the Lord Dunluce, and
conveyed to St. Malo, where they were released.
The news of Thurot's defeat and death caused a
violent sensation in France. By those who remem-
bered the achievements of Duquesne, Jean Bart, and
Duguay Trouin, all of whom had sprung from the
ranks and had been compelled to fight against the
jealous enmity of the aristocrats of the king's navy,
he was looked upon as a martyr to aristocratic
jealousy; the failure of his expedition was attributed
to the conduct of de Flobert, and his death laid at
the doors of the cowardly captains of the Blonde and
Terpsichore. On the other hand, there were many
who rejoiced in the collapse of his enterprise, and
-
282
The Corsairs of France.
who saw in it a death-blow to the system which
gave plebeian Corsairs high commands, and subjected
men of noble blood to the ignominy of serving
under them. The most unjust accusations were
levelled at the dead hero. It was asserted that his
ultimate defeat was due to his rapacity, and that
had he been content with the meagre success won
at Carrickfergus (and knowing that he could no
longer aid de Conflans, it was maintained that he
ought to have been so satisfied), and at once re-em-
barked his troops and made sail homewards, he
would have avoided Elliot's squadron, and in all
probability have returned unharmed to France.
Thurot's whole career, short as it was, gave the lie
to these aspersions. He had ever shown himself
generous to his prisoners, and his treatment of the
people of Isla, as well as the small sum which he
accepted in lieu of provisions at Carrickfergus, show
that he was actuated by no mercenary motives, but
looked on his expedition not as a mere buccaneer-
ing excursion, but as one waged on the higher prin-
ciples of war. If further proof were necessary of
the integrity of his main motives, it may be found
in the fact that he through whose hands such vast
sums had passed, and who had captured so many
prizes and had enjoyed so many opportunities of
amassing a fortune, left his wife in absolute penury.
Her circumstances were made known to the
Minister of Marine, but he, fearful of offending the
king's navy, the members of which looked upon
Thurot as a personal foe to their interests, and his
memory as a blot on their escutcheon, was afraid to
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 283
aid the poor woman with even a paltry pension.
Fortunately there were others about the Court less
fearful of courtly favourites than the Duc de
Choiseul; and Madame de Pompadour, learning the
straits to which Madame Thurot was reduced, sent
her a handsome remittance, and in a galling letter
to the Marquis de Belle-isle announced her intention
of providing for the widow of one of the bravest
men France had ever possessed. It were charitable
to believe that Belle-isle had been till then in igno-
rance of the real circumstances of Madame Thurot,
and that his future action was based on real gene-
rosity not on false shame. At any rate he now
moved in the matter, and the monarch, on Belle-isle's
representation, administered a severe rebuke to the
Minister of Marine, with the result that a pension
of fifteen hundred livres tournois' was bestowed on
the young widow.
It is evident, from the very nature of the force
placed at Thurot's disposal, that the French
government did not regard the enterprise in
any very serious light. The real invasion of
England was to be effected by de Conflans, Thurot
was to arrange a diversion which should distract the
English fleet from the real point of descent, and
then leave the coast clear for the high-born admiral
to reap fresh honours. Hawkes gallantly nipped.
the enterprise in the bud, and after the battle of
Quiberon it was well known in England that Thurot
could accomplish nothing that could not be stamped
1 About 601.
284
The Corsairs of France.
out by a handful of men under a determined and
energetic leader. Even when he had landed and
Carrickfergus had been seized, there was no danger
of his making good his foothold in Ireland, and
the temporizing policy pursued by Colonel Jennings,
so easily fallen in with by de Flobert, was well
calculated to keep the French expedition on the
coast until the Duke of Bedford should be able to
crush it by sea and by land. I am far from
grudging Captains Elliot, Clements, and Logie, or
even Colonel Jennings, the high honour accorded
them of a vote of thanks by an Irish Parliament,
though the speeches delivered on that occasion were
worthy the repulse of a powerful army, not a pitiful
600 scurvy-stricken men led on by a mutinous com-
mander, and would have been more in keeping with
a vote of thanks to Hawke, who really saved Eng-
land, rather than to Elliot, who, with three well-
found, well-equipped vessels, succeeded in capturing
one stoutly-defended ship and her two craven con-
sorts, who struck without firing a shot. All credit is
due to our military and naval officers, who did their
duty then as they have ever done it since. The
boastful vapourings of a verbose Parliament re-
flected humiliation not on the officers who were
the recipients of the thanks of its terror-stricken
members, but rather on those members themselves.
who magnified a comparatively innocuous descent
into a grave national danger.
Thurot was the only one of the great Corsairs of
France who perished in action, and his striking
career is also noticeable for the fact that his early
François Thurot of Boulogne-1727-1760. 285
life was spent far from the sea and that he did
not embrace a sailor's calling until he had reached
an age when Jean Bart, Duguay Trouin and
Jacques Cassard were already in independent
commands. More than this, he attained fame at an
earlier age than any of them, and though he held
but the rank of commander (capitaine de frégate)
when he so bravely fell on the Belle-isle's decks,
there is no reason to doubt that had he been
spared he would have reached the highest honours,
and, like Duquesne and Duguay Trouin, have shown
that a humble origin was no bar to a man possessed
of bravery, energy and self-reliance aspiring to, aye
and obtaining, the command of the fleets of the
King of France.
For a short five years only did Thurot wear the
king's uniform, and surely history has not handed
down to us the name of one officer who in such a
brief period achieved so much. The determination
evinced in his daring escape from Dover, won for
him one powerful friend, and then good seamanship,
gallantry, and self-devotion achieved the rest.
Though his career was cut short at an age when
other Corsair heroes were but wooing fame, the name
of François Thurot stands on a par with the greatest
seamen France has yet possessed. The halo of nobility
and the prestige of having commanded large fleets
clings to the memory of D'Estrées and of Tourville,
but although the makers of history have chosen to
place the Corsair captains on a lower footing, the
blue jackets in the 'tween decks of a French man-
of-war have a warmer affection and a truer admira-
286
The Corsairs of France.
tion for those brave commanders, who, coming in
at the hawse-holes, raised themselves to the top of
their profession, than for the blue-blooded gallants of
Versailles whose connection with the navy, as a
rule, resulted much to their own glorification and
but little to their country's advantage.
287
CHAPTER VI.
LEVEILLÉ OF DUNKIRK.
Eagerness of the Dunkerquois for Privateering-Antagonism between
Naval officers and Privateers-Protection offered to the latter
by members of the Convention-Leveillé's first cruise in
command-Captures twenty English prizes-Sharp contest
with two Indiamen-Captures English barque Eliza-After
a heavy fight takes three English vessels, one the Coldstream,
with troops on board-Carries them into Ostend, despite
efforts of English cruisers to recapture them-Renewed
successes in the Vengeance-Offered a Commission in the
Republican Navy-Dislike to Government service-Given
command of the Corsair Psyche of Bordeaux-Captures several
English and Portuguese vessels-Returns to France, pays off
the Psyche, and returns to private life.
THE biographies of Jean Bart and of François.
Thurot have shown us that the shipowners of Dun-
kirk were keenly alive to the advantages to be gained
from the pursuit of privateering. Situated opposite
the mouth of the Thames, and on the very frontiers
of Holland, the port is well placed as a harbour of
refuge for Corsairs, or as a base for their operations
against vessels bound for London or Antwerp; this
accounts for the fact that it has ever been noted as
one of the most successful privateering ports in
France. When the year 1793 saw France and England
once more in arms, the merchants of Dunkirk threw
themselves heart and soul into the old calling. The
hatred of the Dunkerquois towards the English was
288
The Corsairs of France.
intense and of long standing; the numerous bombard-
ments their town had sustained at the hands of its
hereditary foe, and sometime master, had left traces
which time could never efface, and which its inhabi-
tants could never forget. On the outbreak of every
fresh war, no matter what flag might be flying over
their ramparts, the sturdy mariners of Dunkirk
were ready to carry on their raids on English
commerce. The wars of the Republic and the
Empire proved no exception to those which had
preceded them. No sooner had the Convention
sanctioned the commissioning of privateers, than
Dunkirk prepared itself for the fray, and within
three weeks of the date on which the Decree of the
31st January was promulgated, seven and twenty
craft had applied for letters of marque to the
Commissary of Marine at Dunkirk.
It was late on the evening of the 2nd February
that the Decree reached Dunkirk, and ere that month,
the shortest of all the year, had drawn to a close, ten
English prizes were lying in the port.
Into the details of the doings of the Corsairs of
Dunkirk it is not my intention to enter, nor is it
possible to give even a brief résumé of the career
of the many gallant sailors who, deprived of the
opportunity of navigating merchant-ships, were
of necessity driven to command privateers. Their
names are now forgotten in France, what need then
to revive them in England? but a reference to the
archives of the Marine in Paris or to documents at
Lloyd's would show that these privateers of Dunkirk,
at the beginning of this very nineteenth century,
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
289
carried many hundred English vessels prizes into
the port which Charles II. bartered away from the
English crown.
A few lines will show with what success the
Corsairs of Dunkirk followed their calling. In the
month of February, 1793, as I have just said, ten
English prizes were worked into Dunkirk; in the
following month eight more were captured, and in
April eighteen were brought in. Then, finding that
the cruisers and revenue-cutters of Dover and
Harwich were exercising too rigorous a control over
their movements, the bolder spirits
bolder spirits suggested
a bolder course of action, and we find the Corsairs
of Dunkirk cruising with their fellows of St. Malo
in the very chops of the Channel, and far away into
the blue waters of the Atlantic. Here the same
good fortune followed them, and though the prizes
now captured were taken into Cherbourg, Dieppe, on
some occasions even to Brest and Rochefort, for
disposal, the proceeds of their sale found its way
into the pockets of the shipowners and seamen of
Dunkirk. It is impossible to ascertain accurately
the number of vessels captured by vessels fitted out
in Dunkirk for this reason, but this we know, that
407 English prizes were sold in that port alone before
the Treaty of Amiens put an end to the war: of these
doubtless many were coasting craft of small tonnage,
others colliers worth but little, but some were fine
merchantmen, bound from the East Indies with
rich freights of silks and jute and indigo, or from
the West India islands, with equally valuable cargoes
of sugar, tobacco, coffee, and rum.
U
290
The Corsairs of France.
It has been seen throughout these lives what
scant support the Corsairs of France, in all wars.
prior to 1793, had received from the government
they served so well. Between the officers of the
king's navy and these men a broad gulf was fixed,
a gulf few indeed ever succeeded in bridging, and of
those who did succeed the majority sank into the
obscurity of disfavour; and yet, to all thoughtful
men, it was well known that the French privateers
had worked more harm to England than ever had
done the French fleets. Successive Ministers of
Marine had become so persuaded of this that we
have seen Colbert, Seignelay, Pontchartrain, and
others, endeavouring to beat down class prejudices,
and to throw open to the Corsairs of France situations
and appointments which Court jealousy and class
prejudices had forbidden them.. But all was of no
avail, the commissions in the King's Navy, despite
the valour and successes of Duquesne, Jean Bart,
Duguay Trouin, Cassard, and Thurot, plebeians all
of them, were reserved for the blue-blood of France;
and when, by chance, a Corsair more fortunate than
his fellows worked his way by merit into the charmed
circle, he was doomed to be denied the highest
rank, and ofttimes was deprived of his well-earned
honour or his hardly-earned wealth.
On the outbreak of the Revolution, the leaders of
the Convention were not slow in perceiving how all
this class-hatred might be turned to good account.
The officers of the mercantile marine were reminded
of the treatment accorded to their comrades who
had been grudgingly received into the charmed
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
291
profession. They were reminded how Duquesne
had been deprived of rank and estates, because he
clung to the Protestant faith, how hardly Duguay
Trouin had been used, and what unjust suspicion.
had been levelled against him on his return from Rio
Janeiro how Cassard had been cast into prison,
and how Thurot had been abandoned in fight.
Such treatment was now at an end, the broad
pennant of an admiral of France was now within the
reach of the mousse in the fo'csle as the baton of
the marshal within that of the private soldier. The
seafaring population of France was called upon to
aid their country in its peril, and by sweeping
English commerce from the seas, to deprive England
of that maritime supremacy which enabled her to
wage so successful a war against France. Every
inducement was offered the French seaman
embark in privateering, and the worst passions
were aroused by the dissemination of the most
glaring falsehoods as to the treatment of French
prisoners of war in Great Britain. The downfall of
the monarchy and the wholesale massacre of the
aristocracy had deprived France of her navy, she now
turned to her mercantile marine to supply its place.
to
Citizen Boyer Fonfrède in the Convention said,
"We now have to wage a war of iron against gold.
"We must ruin the commerce of our enemies,
"and in order to remove all
remove all opportunity of
"reprisals we must suspend our own. Our ship-
"building yards must build nothing but Corsairs, and
"our manufactories turn out nothing but munitions
"of war."
U 2
292
The Corsairs of France.
Other members followed in the same strain, and
far away in inland cities subscriptions were raised for
the purchase of ships destined to ruin the commerce
of la perfide Albion. A company, styling itself "les
Armateurs de la liberté," with a capital of twenty
million francs, offered to provide the Convention
with an auxiliary fleet, consisting of two seventy-
four gun ships, six frigates of forty, and six of
thirty-six guns, twenty corvettes of twenty-four
guns, and twelve smaller craft; but the government,
not yet alive to the advantage to be derived from
private assistance, insisted on the imposition of the
usual tax on the profits of this society, the project
consequently fell through. Other schemes proved
less abortive. A club in Strasburg fitted out a
Corsair, named the Jacobin, which made several
successful cruises and well repaid her owners the
70007. spent in her outlay. The municipality of the
city of Bordeaux equipped three Corsairs, one of
which, the General Dumourier, in her first cruise,
returned with prizes valued at 240,0007. Several
hundred craft, of all rigs and all sizes, were speedily
commissioned; blank letters of marque were issued
to the commissaries of marine in every port of
France, and from Dunkirk to St. Jean de Luz the
coast was studded with companies formed on
commandetarian principles, whose sole aim and
object was the destruction of English commerce.
Foremost among the Corsairs of Dunkirk at this
period were John Blackmann, by some said to be an
Irish patriot, by others an American, and Louis
Leveillé, a native of Dunkirk itself: there were
.
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
293
others too, too numerous to mention, whose imagina-
tion and hopes of fortune had been fired by the
inflammatory speeches delivered by the members of
the Convention.
Leveillé was one of that race of hardy seamen
indigenous to the soil of Northern France; his whole
life had been spent at sea, and the greater part in
vessels hailing from his native port. He had.served
in traders between Dunkirk and Leith, in fishing craft
on the Doggerbank, and in the smugglers which plied
so lucrative a trade between Ostend and the Sussex
coast. He was well known as a daring and skilful
seaman, one looked up to by his men, and one who
enjoyed the confidence of his employers. When,
therefore, the decree of the 31st January turned the
attention of the hitherto peaceful traders to the
more exciting and presumably more profitable
game of privateering, Leveillé was early selected by
some of his former patrons for the command of a
Dunkirk Corsair.
It was not, however, until the year 1795 that his
name began to make itself heard on both sides of
the Channel. Not that Leveillé ever achieved the
fame of his fellow-townsmen Jacobsen and Jean Bart,
or of those world-renowned Malouines, Duguay
Trouin and Surcouf. He was no Corsair scouring
distant seas at the head of powerful squadrons, or
commanding buccaneering expedition on a grandiose
scale; he was a privateer pure and simple, whose
field of operations was, until his last cruise, confined
to the Channel, whose vessel was little adapted for
long sea voyages, and whose success depended on
294
The Corsairs of France.
the swiftness of his ship and his knowledge of
the coasts round which he sailed. The success
which attended his first and humbler efforts led to
his being placed in a more important command, but
it was in the waters nearer home that his fame
was gained.
It was in the month of September, 1795, that
Leveillé cleared out of Dunkirk on the Vengeance, a
smart brig, carrying twelve guns and a crew of
eighty-four men. Constructed especially for pri-
vateering, the Vengeance was built on extremely fine
lines, and her armament intended to enable her to
cope,
with the numerous small govern-
if necessary,
ment craft which the English Admiralty had com-
missioned to check the depredations of French
privateers. Her
Her broadside
broadside guns consisted of
ten six-pounders, and a couple of long twelves
were mounted, one on her top-gallant forecastle, one
under her poop. Her crew, largely composed of the
usual riff-raff with which French Corsairs had to
content themselves, numbered some fourteen sturdy
seamen who had sailed under Leveillé in more
peaceful days, and who were well prepared to
follow him now in these more exciting times, and
twenty landsmen who had yet to learn their calling.
Leveillé's first cruise was crowned with the
greatest good fortune; he was absent from port but
thirty-three days, and yet in these short five weeks he
made no fewer than twenty English prizes; of these
five were either sunk or burnt at sea by Leveillé's
orders, their crews and gear, and cargoes having
been first removed; the remaining fifteen were
Leville of Dunkirk.
295
convoyed into harbour by the Vengeance. The
feeling of generosity and of pity was rarely to be
found in the breast of a privateer, and though the
ransoming and wanton destruction of an enemy's
ship was against the rules laid down by the
National Convention for the guidance of captains
holding letters of marque, these gentry, when
their prizes were small craft not worth the trouble
of sending into harbour, would either ransom them,
if the captain of the prize was able to give satis-
factory evidence of his ability to draw a bill in
favour of the captor, or, failing this pecuniary in-
demnification, they would quietly send the ship to the
bottom―many and many an English fishing-smack
or small trader was thus summarily disposed of.
The fifteen prizes Leveillé convoyed or sent into
port during his first cruise produced a rich profit.
Four of them were laden with Admiralty stores,
four with wheat, and two with wood from Russian
ports: Two were fine East Indiamen which had
left Calcutta before the declaration of war, and were
totally unprepared for resistance. These vessels,
proceeding up Channel under a fair breeze, were
nearing home after a long voyage; their crews, look-
ing forward to the delights of Wapping and
Ratcliffe highway after having been cooped-up for
five months in the forecastle of an Indiaman, were
busy painting ship and making everything smart
and ship-shape before hauling into dock. The
summoning gun of the vicious little brig which was
standing across their bows as they neared the South
Foreland, had but small terrors for them, she was
296
The Corsairs of France.
merely a British cruiser, anxious to show a little
spell of brief authority to the large merchantman,
socially her inferior. In accordance with the
universal custom of French Corsairs, the Vengeance,
on firing the summoning gun, had hoisted English
colours, and the leading Indiaman, thinking she was
a ship of war, first lowered her royal and top-
gallant-yards in salute, and then bracing her main-
yard in answer to the summons, prepared to send a
boat on board. Suddenly, as the brig ranged up
within pistol-shot, the English colours were hauled
down, the tricolour flew out in their place, and a
peremptory summons to surrender was heard from
the crowded decks of the brig. In the open sea,
and with no passengers on board, the captain of
the Indiaman might have made some show of fight,
but now resistance was out of the question. Some
of the hands were aloft blacking yards and stays,
others were over the side painting ship, some bend-
ing on the anchors and lightening up the cable.
The 'tween decks, on which stood some long nine-
pounder carronades, were lumbered
up with
passengers' luggage, whilst the poop was crowded
with eager forms anxious to make out the man-of-
war brig which was slipping through the water to
speak to them.
The stern summons to surrender sent a thrill of
excitement and of horror through the ship. For a
few brief seconds the true purport of the French-
man's demands were scarcely grasped, then, for an
equally short space of time the thought flashed
through the minds of all on board. With Old
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
297
1
England on our lee, with her white cliffs standing
high in the noonday glare, capture is impossible,
escape certain. "Square the main-yard, hands to
those royal and top-gallant halyards," was the
captain's first order, and at the word all hands
came tumbling down from aloft, or clambering up
from the stages over the ship's sides, whilst the
carpenter and some of the junior mates running aft,
endeavoured to cast loose some of the carronades in
the waist of the ship, determined to make one effort
at any rate, one big bid for freedom. The main-
yard swung slowly round, the royals and top-
gallants were quickly sheeted home, and as the
Indiaman gathered way upon her and gradually
forged ahead, Leveillé fired a shotted gun across
her bows, and then letting his own ship fall off,
poured a broadside into the merchantman. In
another moment he had filled and was standing on
parallel to the Indiaman, and his men merely
waiting orders to fire their second broadside. On
the merchantman all was disorder. With all the
will in the world, it was impossible to bring her
guns into action. The doors of the magazines were
lumbered up with passengers' baggage, and valuable
time was wasted ere a single round of ammunition
could be obtained, port-fires were then wanting, and
even the galley fire could not produce a hot iron for
firing off the charge.
The first broadside of the Vengeance, purposely
aimed high, had cut about the rigging and sails of
the Indiaman, and the captain, seeing how unequal
the combat would prove, and fearing for the lives of
-
298
The Corsairs of France.
his many passengers, in the interests of humanity
felt constrained to strike his flag. The second
vessel made no attempt at resistance, and Leveillé,
placing a strong crew on each of his prizes, per-
sonally escorted them into Dunkirk.
Some few weeks were occupied in refitting the
Vengeance, furnishing her with heavier spars, and
shifting some of the nine-pounder guns from the
captured Indiamen on to his own decks, in place of
the six-pounders which formed her broadside pieces,
so that it was not until the 3rd February, 1796,
that Leveillé found himself ready to take the sea,
this time with a heavier armament, a greater spread
of canvas, and a far stronger crew. The success
which had crowned his first venture, had won for him
no small notoriety in Dunkirk, and when Leveillé
announced to the owners of the Vengeance that he
should require 120 hands, one-sixth of whom were
to be seamen borne on the rolls of the Inscription
Maritime, these merchants, who had made such a
handsome profit out of his first cruise, were ready
enough to fall in with his views. No difficulty was
experienced in selecting twenty able seamen as the
nucleus of his crew. Indeed, had he wished it,
it would have been easy enough for Leveillé to
ship ten or twenty times that number: but the
navy of the young Republic had need of all the
seamen she could find, and the officials at every
port exercised a strict surveillance over every
Corsair commissioned within their districts, so
that the clause restricting the number of sailors to
one-sixth the total crew was very difficult of evasion,
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
299
As to the remaining 100 hands, there were
plenty of daring spirits loafing about the streets of
Dunkirk, willing enough to ship under a popular
commander. These were of all trades and of all
professions, of all nations, and of all religions, and it
required no little knowledge of character to choose
the right men from the motley crowd, and no little
force of character, after having chosen them, to
keep them in order. As sailors, they were at first
practically useless, but when once they had got
their sea-legs they were valuable enough in board-
ing a strange craft. Desperadoes, all of them, they
fought for plunder, and they fought with fury; and
the great majority, quickly falling into the rough
and ready ways of a privateer's life, soon picked up
the mechanical duties of seamanship, and in course
of time became valuable sailors.
-
This second cruise was short enough. Standing up
to the nor❜ard, Leveillé sighted many craft, but these
were flying neutral flags, and were in too close
proximity to English cruisers for him to venture to
show his true colours, and so the Vengeance once
more made the Channel her cruising-ground. On
the 8th of February, at dawn, he found himself
within gun-shot of a fine barque which was lazily
running up Channel under her courses and topsails,
the skipper evidently acting on the good old plan
more days, more dollars." In answer to the sum-
moning gun she ran up English colours and stood un-
concernedly on. The Vengeance replied by a shotted
gun across the English barque's bows, at the same
time displaying the tricolour from her mast-head.
66
300
The Corsairs of France.
The Englishman, a smart sailer, now learnt the
true nature of her neighbour and made a gallant
attempt to escape; sheeting home her top-gallant
sails and loosening her main royal, she tried to show
a clean pair of heels to the privateer, but the
Vengeance could sail as well as most vessels that
were to be found in the Channel, and she had gun-
ners on board who had won the Communal prizes in
the artillery competition on the Dunes. The
English barque soon found that if she did escape,
her escape would be due as much to luck as to good
management. Though the good management was
all there, the luck was found wanting, shot after
shot from the long twelve-pounder on the
fo'csle of the Vengeance came whistling alongside
the barque which, with every inch of canvas set,
was tearing away to the English coast; but with
all her spread of canvas she could not shake off
her pursuer, nor did the shot from the little four-
pounder carronades which were replying to the
Vengeance's twelve-pounders, ever succeed in
reaching the Frenchman. Still, a stern chase is a
long chase, and every knot brought the Englishman
one mile nearer home, every moment increased the
chance of a friendly sail appearing on the offing.
Leveillé knew this full well, and his crew were
equally alive to the necessity of putting an end to
the chase; yet, though every shot fell either along-
side the Englishman, or whistling overhead, plunged
into the waters beyond her, she seemed to bear a
charmed life, and hull and spar and rigging remained
intact. Going forward, Leveillé encouraged his
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
301
guns' crew by promises, and finally offered ten
louis to the man who should dismast the enemy.
The prize was won by a seaman named Cardon, who
by a lucky shot struck the English barque just at
the cap of the main-mast head, and cutting through
the topmast, sent topsail, topgallant and royal yards
in hopeless confusion on her deck. A wild shout
rose from the Frenchman's crew, it was answered
by one of stern defiance from the barque, and it was
clear that even now warm work would be required
ere the Vengeance would be in full possession of the
prize. As the privateer overhauled the Englishman
and brought her broadside guns into play, she was
answered with a very accurate and galling fire, and
as she sheered up alongside with a view of carrying
her by boarding, the resolute attitude of the
English crew and the murderous volleys of small
arms poured in from a group of English soldiers
on her decks, caused Leveillé to stand off out of
musket-shot and recommence the artillery duel.
The fight was hopelessly unequal, and at noon, no
sign of help being visible, his main-topmast and all
its gear gone, fourteen of his crew badly hurt and
his ship hulled in many places, the brave English
captain reluctantly hauled down his colours.
Leveillé was a brave man, and he could appreciate
bravery in others, and when the fight was over he
received the English crew with warmth and made
his own doctor attend on their wounded. The
Vengeance had not come scathless out of the fray;
two of her men had been killed and eight wounded
by the musketry fire of the prize, and her foretop-
302
The Corsairs of France.
sail-yard had been badly wounded by a four-
pounder shot. Placing a prize-crew on board the
Eliza, Leveillé stood by her until a spare topmast was
fitted and sent up, and then escorted her into Dun-
kirk, reaching it on the 9th February, 1796. The
speedy return to port of the Vengeance, with a
richly-laden prize of 400 tons, was not merely a
matter of congratulation in a pecuniary sense to
both captain and owner, but at once placed Leveillé
at the head of the privateer captains sailing out of
Dunkirk.
It was the 20th of the month before the Ven-
geance was again fit for sea; a new fore-topsail-yard
was necessary, and Leveillé thought it desirable to
strengthen and to heighten the bulwarks round the
waist of the ship, so as to afford his guns' crew more
protection from the musketry fire of their opponents.
This ever-watchful care for the safety of his men
was not lost upon them, and whilst it rendered
Leveillé the most popular of all the privateer com-
manders who sailed out of Dunkirk, it gave him the
pick of the seamen in the port, and caused his fame
and the noise of his kindliness to be spoken of in
every shipping town in France.
The Vengeance, on leaving Dunkirk, shaped her
course for Yarmouth, and on the 22nd of February
arrived within sight of that port. Leveillé had
learnt that a convoy had left Hamburg for London,
and he was anxious, if possible, to intercept it; it
was necessary, however, to act with caution, the
number of English cruisers in the Channel had been
considerably increased, and many vessels bearing
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
303
66
letters of marque were always on the look-out for
French privateers. He therefore stood in close
enough to Yarmouth to ascertain that no large
vessels were in port, and then, dipping the English
colours and running up some numbers which he
took care should be indistinguishable, once more
stood out to sea and beat up to the north-east.
Ere the low-lying Norfolk coast had sunk below
the horizon, a man on the look-out had signalled
a sail on the starboard bow," and then another
and another, and in less than a quarter of an hour
three vessels were seen running down to the south-
ward with a fair breeze. In a moment the boat-
swain's whistle had called the Corsair crew to
quarters, and though the odds seemed great against
them, the men, confident in their skipper, answered
his question as to whether they should stand away
from the coming squadron or bear up to them, with
loud cries of "Vive la République !"
"À bas les
Anglais !!"
The three leading vessels were Englishmen, of that
there was no doubt, and as they showed themselves
plainer and plainer above the horizon, until at last
they were hull up, one was discovered to be a full-
rigged ship, one a large brigantine, and the third a
small brig. Putting his ship on the other tack,
Leveillé now manoeuvred to place the Vengeance
between the land and his enemy, and they, at once
divining his manœuvre, altered their course likewise,
in order to checkmate him. To enter upon an
artillery duel would be to waste valuable time, and
to give time for the revenue cruisers lying in
304
The Corsairs of France.
Yarmouth to stand up to the noise of the guns,
Leveillé determined, therefore, to lay himself along-
side the largest of the three vessels, and to carry
her by boarding. As this ship, the Coldstream,
arrived within cannon-shot, the Vengeance once
more altered her course, and, despite the efforts of
the quartermaster of the English vessel to avoid
the shock, Leveillé succeeded in lashing the
Englishman's bowsprit to his own main rigging:
as the Coldstream and Vengeance swung together
with a shock, Cardon, the Corsair gunner, ever
watchful for an opportunity of using his long
twelve-pounder with effect, poured in a volley
of small shot, scrap iron and chain links into the
crowd of redcoats and blue jackets, who, staggered
by the force of the collision, were crowding under
the Englishman's poop. The smoke of the dis-
charge had not cleared away, ere Leveillé, at the
head of his boarders, dashed over the bulwarks,
and, sword in hand, threw himself on the English
crew. The fight lasted just one quarter of an hour,
and then the colours of the Coldstream were hauled
down and Leveillé found himself receiving the sword
of an officer in command of a detachment of some
seventy-five soldiers bound to reinforce the marines
on Lord Bridport's Fleet.
But with the capture of the Coldstream but half
Leveillé's work was done. Remaining himself on his
prize with eighty of his own men, he directed his
second in command to cut the two ships apart and
to stand after the brig, whilst he, in the Coldstream,
attacked the brigantine. It was a risky manoeuvre;
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
305
the whole sea was studded with sails, several of
which were evidently bearing down to the sound of
the guns, and in addition to this danger there were
upwards of one hundred Englishmen on board the
prize; but Leveillé never counted the risk; dis-
arming his prisoners, he hurried them all below
and clapped the hatches on them, and then stood
on after the brigantine, which had passed them
during the fight and was now about a mile to lee-
ward. The Coldstream proved a good sailer, and
in less than a quarter of an hour was well within
short range of the enemy, but Yarmouth was in
sight and the brigantine carrying on all sail, strove
to reach the friendly shelter of the English batteries.
At the same time she returned the Coldstream's fire
with vigour, but the big ship was sailing two fathoms
for the little ship's one, and as Leveillé sheered up
alongside and poured a broadside into the brigan-
tine's hull, the captain saw further resistance was
hopeless, though the possibility of recapture was
by no means so, and in order to avoid further loss of
life he struck his flag. In a few minutes some thirty
sturdy Frenchmen were on the new prize's decks,
her own crew were hurried below and her course
altered for Dunkirk. The Vengeance in the mean-
time had not been idle, for she was also seen stand-
ing away to the eastward with the tricolour flying
from the peak of the brig.
Although all three vessels had been taken, danger
was by no means past, the chase after the smaller
craft had led the Vengeance and Coldstream within
long range of the Yarmouth batteries, and already
X
306
The Corsairs of France.
some of the shots from the heavy guns on the
works were ricochetting around them, and what
was more serious still, three cutters were visible
standing out of the harbour in pursuit of the
privateer. Signalling to the Vengeance to close with
the Coldstream, Leveillé returned to his own ship,
and ordered the masters of the three prize-crews
to crowd on all sail for Ostend, the nearest port,
whilst he determined to endeavour to hold the
cutters in check, and so save his prizes. How he
succeeded is best told in his own words.
The
"At dawn, on the 23rd of February "-he wrote
to Monsieur Barnet, his owner-" being about four
leagues from Ostend, I noticed three English cruisers
within short range, astern of me; they were evi-
dently the same that we had seen the preceding
evening stand out from Yarmouth roads.
slowness of my prizes had compelled me to reduce
my own speed during the night, and now I was
again compelled to shorten sail. I opened fire upon
the leading cutter with my twelve-pounder stern
gun; but notwithstanding this, the three craft
pressed on to within musket-shot. I then saw
they carried respectively, fourteen, twelve and
ten cannons. Wishing to protect my prizes, and
seeing no French sail near enough to offer assist-
ance, I signalled to the prize-masters to stand on
to Ostend, and then falling off before the wind, I
poured a broadside into the leading vessel which
did much damage to her sail and rigging. As I filled
again I gave her a well-aimed shot from my stern
twelve-pounder. In a few moments I put the ship
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
307
about again, and poured a broadside from my port
guns into the second cutter. For three hours I
followed this manoeuvre, then seeing that my prizes
were safe under the guns of Ostend, and having
only thirty men on board the Vengeance, not enough
to warrant my attempting to board the well-manned
Englishman, I stood on to port.
"The English cruisers suffered severely, their sails
and rigging being especially damaged. You
You may
judge of the continuity of the fire I kept up, when
I tell you that I fired fifty-three rounds from my
stern gun alone. All my officers and men showed
a courage and coolness worthy of French Repub-
licans, and when we were near enough to the slaves
of St. George for them to hear us, we chilled their
ardour with the cherished cry, 'Vive la République.'
During this chase I suffered but one casualty, one
man having his arm shattered at the shoulder by a
round shot. The ship, however, was hulled on
several occasions.'
At mid-day the Vengeance entered the port
followed by her three prizes. The entire popula-
tion of Ostend had been watching the progress of
the fight between the three cruisers and Leveillé's
ship with the most intense interest, and as the
Corsair with her short torn sails, and pitted
hull and splintered bulwarks, stood in to the
harbour, loud cries of "Vive la République-
Vive la Vengeance-Vive Leveillé," went up from
the hardy fishermen on the mole. The three
English flags flew out in the breeze under the
Vengeance's tricolour, whilst from the mizen-
X 2
308
The Corsairs of France.
peak of the three prizes the French colours now
were shown.
The prizes proved to be the Coldstream, 450 tons,
laden with munitions of war, and carrying seventy-
five soldiers for Lord Bridport's fleet; the Duke of
York, 250 tons,¹ also laden with ammunition and mili-
tary effects, and the Chancellor, 300 tons, carrying coal
for the fleet. All three prizes had suffered heavily
in men, the one single round from the bow-chaser
of the Vengeance having killed and wounded over
thirty men on the Coldstream.
The various formalities connected with handing
over the prizes to the Commissary of Marine at
Ostend, arranging for their sale and obtaining a
fresh letter of marque, kept the Vengeance nearly
three weeks in harbour. The delay was welcome
enough to Leveillé, his vessel had received several
shots between wind and water from the fire of the
cutters, and her upper works and running rigging
had been considerably cut about. Success in a
Corsair was mainly dependent on the manner in
which she was equipped, and the rich prizes made
by Leveillé confirmed him in the determination that
the Vengeance should never come to grief by reason of
lack of care in fitting her out, and these three weeks
were spent in thoroughly overhauling his ship.
On the 9th of March the Vengeance once more
cleared out of Ostend. This time she stood down
Channel, and on the 11th, when off the west of the
Isle of Wight, overhauled a convoy which had just
cleared out from Spithead. Taking advantage of the
According to Lloyd's List, the Duchess of York.
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
309
confusion invariably attendant in convoys during
the first few hours at sea, Leveillé, hoisting
English colours, stood in amongst the sternmost
ships, and noticing the slack supervision exercised
by the English frigates escorting them, he determined
as the sun went down to make a clean sweep of
as many vessels as he could manage to board.
How this was carried out we have no means of
knowing, but this we do know, that on the 13th of
March the Vengeance reached Cherbourg, escorting
five prizes, the Rouen Packet, 250 tons, and the
Nancy, 260 tons, both laden with salt pork and bis-
cuit; the Mayflower, 230, corn, flour and biscuit; the
Intent sloop, 190 tons, iron and zinc; the Friend-
ship sloop, 170 tons, sugar, tea, and other stores.
On the 25th of March, having arranged about
the sale of his prizes and given his men a run ashore,
Leveillé once more quitted port and stood over
towards the Isle of Wight. That evening he
captured a fine brig, the Fortune, of 280 tons, but
being surprised by a couple of smart corvettes, was
obliged to abandon her, not before he had removed
her crew and set her on fire. On the 27th, off the
Lizard, the Morgan, a brig of 210 tons, laden with
limestone, was captured; and the same evening
a three-masted brigantine, the Daedalus, of 220 tons,
with fruit and olive oil from the Levant, also fell
into his hands. Two days later the Fortitude
barque, of 430 tons, from the West Indies, was
carried by boarding, the Vengeance losing one killed
and seven wounded in the fight. The richness of
the prize, which was fully laden with sugar, rum,
310
The Corsairs of France.
and precious woods from the West Indies, more than
compensated for the risk attending her capture.
Sending the Fortitude under a prize-crew to
Cherbourg, Leveillé still stood to the westward,
and on the last day of March, off the Scillies, was
fortunate enough to fall in with and capture, after
the exchange of a few rounds, the Friendship,
another fine West Indiaman of 550 tons.
His crew was now so weakened by the many
hands sent away in prizes, and he had so many
prisoners on his own decks, that Leveillé determined
to bear up to Dunkirk; there he remained ashore for
six months. Either the owners of the Vengeance were
satisfied with their profits and did not care to run
further risk, or Leveillé, corsairlike, was seeing how
well he could run through his money ashore; at
any rate we lose sight of him until early in
November, when we find the Vengeance escorting into
Brest the English barque Brinhall, 400 tons, and a
vessel under Danish colours, the Three Sisters, both
carrying English Government stores, and a few
days later the Eagle, a collier brig, and the Thomas,
a small brigantine, laden with salt, were both
escorted by the Vengeance into Lorient.
And now Leveillé had won more than a mere
local reputation; his name was known in every port
in Northern France, from Dunkirk to Brest, and
into most of them the Vengeance had convoyed some
of her prizes. It is not to be wondered at, then, that
the members of the Directory should have looked
on Leveillé as being capable of better things than
the command of a mere corsair, and should have
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
311
endeavoured to secure his services for the Re-
publican Navy. To Leveillé himself the change
was by no means welcome. In the Vengeance his
authority was supreme, he was free to cruise north
or south, east or west, at his pleasure, he could
avoid combat with a superior force, and so long as
good luck followed him he was sure of amassing a
considerable fortune; he ran the risk of seeing the
English hulks, it is true, but such a fate was as
likely to befall him when serving in a man-of-war,
and there, too, his freedom was curtailed, he was
compelled to sail in accordance with his sailing
orders, and could not avoid engaging a more
powerful antagonist without incurring the risk of
censure, perhaps of ruin. Much as he would have
preferred remaining in the Vengeance, Leveillé felt,
in the then unsatisfactory condition of the country,
that it was scarcely politic to avoid government
employ when offered it. Espionage was at its
height, the guillotine was by no means idle, and suspi-
cion would most certainly attach to the man who
seemed to avoid the service of the state. Leveillé,
therefore, with a heavy heart, felt constrained to
accept the position of Lieutenant de Vaisseau on
board the frigate Terpsichore, then lying in Lorient.
His position on board this ship was not a pleasant
one, the majority of the crew were Bretons, many of
whom were heart and soul with Georges and
Larochejacquelin; the whole population of the coast
from St. Brieuc to Brest were wrath with the
Republic and with reason: their brethren had been
massacred after the shamefully perfidious conduct of
312
The Corsairs of France.
the Directory to the prisoners of Quiberon, and their
country had been laid waste by Republican troops.
It was well known that the crew of the Terpsichore,
aye, and of many another vessel over whose decks
flew the tricolour, would never fire a shot in
defence of the colours they abhorred so cordially.
The spirit of disaffection was present too
amongst the officers of the fleet, and Leveillé was
made to feel that he was not a heaven-born member
of the navy. Although a republican heart and soul,
he was not made of that baser stuff which revelled
in bloodshed and massacre, and though many an
opportunity was doubtless given him of working
evil to those amongst whom he was thrown, the
brave young Corsair of Dunkirk avoided all
attempts to retaliate on his messmates for their
treatment of him, and merely busied himself in
efforts to shake himself free from his present sur-
roundings and to embark once more on his old
career.
Three years passed ere he was able to accom-
plish his desires, and then, through the influence
of some new-found friends at Lorient, Leveillé
was introduced to a firm of Bordeaux ship-owners
who were anxious to fit out a craft for privateering
in the western seas. Obtaining leave to visit
Bordeaux, Leveillé soon completed his negotiations
with these gentlemen, and they, after some difficulty,
succeeded in procuring Leveillé's discharge from
the Navy and inducing the Minister of Marine to
grant him letters of marque for the vessel they
were fitting out.
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
313
Leveillé's new command was a fine full-rigged
ship, carrying thirty-six guns and a crew of 250 men.
In the letter of marque appointing him to the Psyche,
she was designated by the Minister of Marine as a
"frégate corsair;" she had been fitted out under
the personal supervision of Leveillé, whose anxiety
that his ship should be well-found and perfectly
equipped led him into an expenditure which rather
frightened the worthy merchants of Bordeaux. The
Psyche carried one long eighteen-pounder on her
forecastle and two twelve-pounders and a second long
eighteen on her poop; in the waist of her upper
deck were eight nine-pounders, whilst on her main-
deck were twenty-four twelve-pounders. In point
of weight of metal she was one of the most for-
midable craft of her size afloat, and was certain to
prove a very formidable opponent to any frigate
that might fall in with her. Her crew consisted of
Dunkirk fishermen, brought round from that port by
Leveillé himself, and some few Basque sailors, but
he also carried forty trained seamen borne on the
rolls of the Inscription Maritime; some of these had
sailed in the Vengeance with Leveillé, others had
been with him in the Terpsichore at Lorient; all had
been selected on account of their sailorlike qualities
and steadiness. With a couple of hundred men
on board unaccustomed to the working of a big
ship, Leveillé felt that he would need a sprinkling of
good reliable hands to form the basis of his crew.
On leaving Bordeaux Leveillé steered a course
for the Western Islands; there be hoped to fall in
with some of those large East Indiamen amongst
314
The Corsairs of France.
whom Surcouf and his fellows had been working
such havoc in the Bay of Bengal. These vessels, in
their homeward voyage from Calcutta, generally
made the longitude of the Azores before running
down their easting to the Bay of Biscay, and by
cruising in these latitudes Leveillé promised the
Psyche a succession of rich prize-money. His first
capture proved but an indifferent one, a small brigan-
tine of 110 tons, the Sally, bound from Bristol to
the West coast of Africa; being picked up when three
days from port, a prize-crew was put on board her,
with orders to work her into Teneriffe, which port
she reached in safety, and she was finally sold there
for the sum of two thousand pounds. Leveillé looked
on this capture as an omen of good fortune, she
was fallen in with on the anniversary of the day on
which he beat off the three English cruisers which
endeavoured to rescue the Coldstream from the
Vengeance outside Ostend in 1796.
Three days later (25th February, 1799), Leveillé
made a second prize, the brig Jeune Lyonnaise, a
French-built craft, captured by the English in the
West Indies, and now carrying a valuable cargo
from London to Jamaica; this vessel was taken
within sight of the island of Madeira, and leaving
four of her own crew on board, Leveillé sent six
French seamen to take her into Teneriffe. She
was sold there for 80007. On the 2nd March
the Alfred, of London, bound to Carthagena, and on
the 3rd the Whitworth, from Madeira to London,
with wine, fell prizes to the Psyche. On the
following day the dull routine of capturing prizes
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
315
unable to make any resistance met with welcome
variation. At 6 a.m., a squadron of four ships
were seen bearing down on the Psyche; they were
heavily sparred, and evidently ships of war, but it
was not until they approached to almost within
gunshot that Leveillé could make out they were
Portuguese. Although out-numbered, Leveillé felt
so confident in the superior handiness and metal of
his vessel, and so thoroughly satisfied that his men
would do him justice on this occasion, that he made
no effort to avoid the combat, but in answer to the
summoning gun of the leading Portuguese man-of-
war, ran up French colours and continued on his
course; the summoning gun was followed by a ball
which, cutting up the water under the dolphin-
striker of the Psyche, was a summary signal for her
to heave to.
"Lie close, my men, and aim only at the masts and
spars of the flagship," shouted Leveillé, and as the
puff of a third discharge was seen curling away from
the fo'csle of the Portuguese frigate Leveillé gave
the word, and instantly eighteen heavy shot were
hurtling through the rigging of the astonished
enemy; the first broadside was followed up with a
succession of admirably served shots from the heavy
guns on the poop of the Psyche, which at once bore
down on the Amavel Luisa with a view of finishing
the combat by carrying her by boarding. But the
Portuguese had no stomach for this kind of fight-
ing; as the Psyche ranged up alongside, the frigate
fell off to avoid the grappling-irons which the corsair
crew endeavoured to throw on board, but she
316
The Corsairs of France.
received the full force of a broadside at short pistol
range, which tearing through the bulwarks dis-
mounted some of the upper deck guns, and killed
fourteen of her crew. Passing on, the Psyche treated
the second Portuguese vessel to her starboard
broadside, and then putting his ship about Leveillé
stood on after the crippled vessels, to repeat the
same manœuvre. This time he was fortunate enough
to grapple with the Amavel Luisa, and throwing
100 of his men over her sides, soon caused the
captain to strike his flag.
The capture of one vessel of war carrying twenty-
four guns was but a part of the day's work; hastily
disarming the crew and driving them down below,
Leveillé left a prize-crew of fifty men on the ship,
and stood on after the largest of the remaining three;
she had been much cut about in her top hamper
by the Psyche's broadsides and was overhauled in
a very few minutes. Seeing that she was now
entirely overmatched, her captain likewise struck
his flag, and Leveillé, shifting her officers on to his
own ship, placed a strong crew on board her and
stood on in chase of the other vessels, which, poor
sailers as they were, had succeeded in putting some
miles between themselves and the Frenchman. It
was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon ere the
Psyche overhauled these two vessels, which made
no efforts at resistance, but hauled down their flags
directly they found themselves within range of the
Psyche's heavy guns.
Leveillé had so weakened his ship's company in
despatching prize-crews in the four prizes already
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
317
despatched to Teneriffe and in the two ships of
war already taken, that he determined to sink his
two last prizes; but the weather being calm he re-
moved their brass guns, some of their spare spars
and gear, food, powder, and over 140,000 francs
in specie on board the Psyche before firing them.
He then stood back to the two vessels now far
astern; these proved to be the Amavel Luisa, 20,
Activo, 16, whilst the burnt ships were the Amizade,
12, and Aurore, 10, all four bound from Lisbon to
Pernambuco, carrying government stores, and under
charter to the Portuguese Admiralty, whose flag they
were flying.
The Psyche had not come scathless out of the
fray, her mizen-topmast and her main-yard had
been badly hurt, her sails had been much cut about,
and two of her guns had burst during the fight;
these last were replaced by fine brass twelve-
pounders from the Amizade, and her wounded spars
were quickly sent down, others from the Portu-
guese prizes being sent up in their places. All
night long prisoners and crew toiled at the task of
refitting the Psyche and her prizes, new sails were
bent in lieu of those cut to ribbands during the
fight, fresh running gear was rove, and by the follow-
ing morning the three craft bore few traces of the
struggle they had been engaged in on the preceding
day.
Leveillé now determined to bear up for Teneriffe,
there to get rid of his prizes, and pick up his prize-
crews. The voyage was one presenting many risks,
numerous English cruisers were in these waters, and
318
The Corsairs of France.
every neutral port was closely watched. Still it was
easier to reach Teneriffe than Bordeaux, and accord-
ingly the Psyche, with her two consorts, shaped her
course for that island.
Light winds and calms prolonged the voyage, and
it was not until the 18th of March that the island
hove in sight. Even now it was a matter of doubt
whether it would be advisable to try and force an
entrance, or to bear away for a French port; for
Leveillé had learnt from a passing vessel whom he
had spoken under Portuguese colours that the
English frigate Métisse was cruising on and off the
island, waiting the arrival of a French corsair, whose
prizes were already in the port. On nearing the
island, the spars of the English frigate were dis-
tinctly visible against the dark hill-sides, and as
soon as she made out the approaching squadron her
sails were sheeted home, and she stood out to meet
them. Leveillé's mind was soon made up. His own
ship was an exceedingly fast sailer, and having only
been some forty-five days at sea, her bottom was
clean enough to enable her to keep up her greatest
speed.
He therefore determined to entice the
Métisse away from his prizes, or to fight her should
she refuse to be enticed.
He ordered the commanders of the Amavel Luisa
and Activo to stand in to the land, coast along the
shore, and then enter the port of St. Croix, whilst
he himself bore straight down on the Métisse. Not
having the English account of the succeeding fight,
I must confine myself to Leveillé's own description,
which is bald enough. The two vessels merely ex-
Leveillé of Dunkirk.
319
changed a couple of broadsides, when the Psyche,
keeping away from the Englishman to avoid being
boarded, succeeded in gaining the port without
being struck.
At St. Croix, Leveillé got rid of his prizes,
which realized the large sum of 98,000l., and then,
in obedience to instructions received from home, he
carried the Psyche back to Bordeaux, and then paid
her off. The Peace of Amiens shortly supervened,
and Leveillé, finding his occupation gone, returned
to Dunkirk. From this time all trace of him is lost.
On the outbreak of the war no mention is made of
him as applying for a letter of marque, nor do the
archives of Dunkirk make any reference to his name.
I have included him amongst the Corsairs of France,
not because he achieved greatness like Jean Bart or
Duguay Trouin, but merely to show what terrible
damage was inflicted on British commerce by men
who, devoid of all the higher forms of naval educa-
tion, knew how to reef and steer, how to work a
dead reckoning, and how to serve a gun. It was
men such as these who played havoc with our
merchant fleets in the last great war, and it is
against men like these we shall have to guard in
future years. The days of buccaneering expeditions
are over; we shall see no more a Duguay Trouin
seizing Rio Janeiro by a coup de main; no Cassard
over-running the West Indian Islands. Such expe-
ditions can never again be attempted by individuals;
they will need the resources of the state: but the
minor actions, which gained fame for the Corsairs
of France, may well be repeated by their descendants,
화
​320
The Corsairs of France.
and it may be that Thurot and Leveillé, Surcouf
and Fourmentin, aye, and Jean Bart and Duguay
Trouin, so far as their successes against England's
ships are concerned, may find imitators amongst the
seafaring population of France, and that, through
them, we shall be made to feel that our maritime
supremacy and the proudest title to which England
lays claim, that of "Empress of the Seas," rests on
a very insecure tenure.
321
CHAPTER VII.
ROBERT SURCOUF OF ST. MALO-1773-1827.
Surcouf a typical Malouine-Early years-Ships on the Aurore—
Is wrecked-Promoted-Returns to St. Malo and fits out the
Créole-Engages in the slave trade-Serves as a volunteer on
the Jean Bart in raising blockade of the Isle of France-
More slaving-Escapade with the police-Turns privateer or
pirate (?)-Commissions the Emilie-Captures the Penguin,
also a rich Dutchman, the Russell-Sam Borlase-Shifts his
flag to a captured pilot schooner, the Diana-Daring capture
of the Triton-Action disavowed by colonial authorities
Returns to France-His acts are recognized by the
Corps Législatif-Commissions the Clarisse-Proceeds to the
Mauritius-Cruises off Sumatra-More prizes-Chased by
the Sybille Captures the Jane-Commands the Confiance-
Still more prizes-The Kent Indiaman-Captain Rivington
-Returns home-The Ebro-His marriage-Marie Blaize-
Made Enseigne de Vaisseau-Refuses a command under
Admiral Linois-Sails once more in the Revenant-Panic
in Calcutta-Losses of the Indian Insurance Offices-The
Conception de Saint Antonio-More quarrels with colonial
authorities-Returns to France-Abandons the sea-Becomes
owner of privateers-The last of the Revenant.
AMONGST the many Corsairs who gained wealth and
renown in the last great war that was waged between
France and England, the name of Robert Surcouf
stands out pre-eminent. St. Malo, the Corsair
city, claims him as her child-and with reason.
Born and bred and educated a Malouine, Surcouf
was descended from some of the worthiest bourgeoise
families that St. Malo owns. He always chose
Y
322
The Corsairs of France.
his craft from the ship-building yards on the Rance;
when practicable he selected his crews from the
stout sea-wolves of the Breton coast who thronged
its narrow streets, and when his task was over, it
was to St. Malo that Robert Surcouf turned for
peace and quiet, and it was there that he finally
passed away to rest. There are Malouines who
have distinguished themselves in other walks of life,
but it seems to be but the natural order of things
that a lad born in the town which gave to France a
Duguay Trouin and which trained for France a
Cassard, should turn to the sea for a profession.
There were many reasons why Robert Surcouf
should have done so. On his father's side, he was
descended from another Robert Surcouf, who, in
the early days of the eighteenth century, had com-
manded a vessel carrying letters of marque in the
expedition which M. Chambert had led to Peru;
on his mother's side he was closely connected with
the Porcons de la Barbinais, who had made their
wealth in the guerre de course, and distantly with
that preux chevalier of all Malouines, Duguay Trouin.
Small wonder, then, that Robert Surcouf should
have taken kindly to the sea-there are few
Malouines who do not-or that his thoughts should
have centred more on the fame to be gained from
privateering rather than on the fortunes to be
amassed by trading.
I may pass over his early life, though his admiring
biographer, M. Cunat of St. Malo, dwells lovingly
on the escapades of the high-spirited lad, who seems
to have rivalled his connection, Duguay Trouin, in
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 323
his hatred of school discipline, and in the frequency
of his assaults on his preceptors. He was evidently
unsuited for any of the learned professions; he
was equally averse to entering upon commercial
pursuits, and his parents, with some reluctance,
felt compelled to give their sanction to his going to
sea.
At the age of fifteen, then, in the year 1789, he
embarked as a volunteer on board the Aurore, a
vessel of 700 tons, bound for the East Indies.
An old friend of the Surcouf family, one Tardivet
by name, commanded the Aurore, and he undertook
to instruct the lad in the mysteries of navigation.
Ill-fortune intervened in the course of the cruise to
make young Surcouf cruelly acquainted with the
rudest side of his profession. The Aurore, honest
trader when honest cargoes were to be found, was
fitted for more than the East Indian commerce.
The isles of France and of Bourbon were but centres
of that great slave trade which was in those days
openly carried on between the coast of Africa and
the East Indies, and which, under another name, is
still worked, though on a smaller scale, between
Madagascar and Réunion.
In the very first year of his apprenticeship, the
Aurore, with a cargo of close on 600 slaves on
board, was caught in a cyclone off Madagascar,
and being driven far to the westward, was dashed
ashore on the coast of Africa, the captain and
major part of the crew, with some women and
children who mercifully had not been fettered in the
'tween decks, were saved, but over four hundred
Y 2
324
The Corsairs of France.
miserable creatures perished of hunger or of suffo-
cation in the battened-down craft. It was some
weeks ere the hull was cleared of the bodies which
lay festering in the hold, and when this work was
at last accomplished, Tardivet found that the
Aurore was incapable of repair. He accordingly
chartered a native dhow to carry himself and crew
to the Mauritius, and there succeeded in obtaining
command of another vessel, the Revanche, and in
her continued his nefarious traffic.
Surcouf had so distinguished himself during the
shipwreck of the Aurore, and in the subsequent
ghastly task of clearing her hold, that Tardivet,
guaging his real worth, gave him a subordinate
post in his new craft. The ill-fortune that attended
the Aurore seemed transferred to the Revanche;
contrary winds and heavy gales drove her out of
her course, and in a voyage from the Isle of France to
Mahé in the East Indies, she was compelled to put
into Singapore for refit. Thence Surcouf worked
his way back to Bourbon, and for some few months
was engaged in trade between that island and
Madagascar a trade which consisted in importing
"free labourers" from the great African island to
the French plantations on Bourbon and Mauritius.
Surcouf saw the profit that was to be derived
from this traffic, and he determined no longer to be
a mere tool in the amassing of wealth for others.
He had purchased his experience dearly enough,
and was well able to exercise an independent com-
mand, but his influence in the colonies was small,
and he had no capital behind him. If his influence
-
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 325
in Réunion was limited, it was far otherwise in St.
Malo, and in 1792 Surcouf worked his passage
home, and succeeded in inducing his friends to fit
out a small brig, the Créole, and to entrust him with
its command.
In the Créole Surcouf made many successful
voyages between the French islands and Mada-
gascar, and laid the foundations of that immense
fortune which rumour asserts he amassed in his
early years. The Créole was nothing more nor less
than a slaver-a slaver pure and simple-and when
in 1789, the Convention thundered forth its Decla-
ration on the Rights of Man, the Governor of
Réunion had been compelled to declare the slave
trade illegal; yet to suppress it would have been to
bring ruin upon the French settlers in the island,
to put a stop to the sugar industry, and to earn the
hostility of the hundreds, nay thousands of his
fellow-countrymen who were directly or indirectly
engaged in the traffic. What the governor was
unable or unwilling to do, was performed very
effectually by the English blockading squadron, for
a time, at any rate, but the French had too much at
stake to permit the blockade to be carried on for
any lengthy period without making an effort to
relieve themselves. Our Admiralty, unfortunately,
were not in a position to detach a sufficient force to
the East Indies to perform the necessary task of
effectually nipping in the bud the corsair-like pro-
pensities of the slavers of the French islands, and
of keeping open our main ocean highway between
the Cape of Good Hope and Calcutta. The small-
326
The Corsairs of France.
ness of the force keeping watch and ward over them
induced the French to try conclusions with the
British squadron, and Surcouf, compelled by the
blockade to lead an idle life, volunteered with his
crew to serve in any capacity the governor might
denote. Two French frigates, the Cybèle and
Prudente, lay in the harbour, and these being re-
inforced by two powerfully-armed merchantmen,
the Coureur and Jean Bart, the squadron stood out
to attack the English vessels; these comprised
the Centurion, 50, and Diomede, 44. This was
Surcouf's first engagement, and, as such, is deserving
of record. In it he played but a subordinate part,
for he was but a volunteer on the Jean Bart priva-
teer, but it was the turning-point in his career; he
resolved then and there to abandon trading and
take to the guerre de course.
The action was dis-
creditable enough to the English; the blockade
was raised, and the isles of France and of Bourbon
henceforth became veritable nests of Corsairs,
which carried destruction to our Eastern commerce
from the Straits of Sunda to the Red Sea.
10
Anxious as Surcouf was to embark on privateering,
there were yet difficulties in his way, difficulties
which time, it is true, could overcome-time and
money. His youth stood in his way, the caution-
money that the government insisted should be depo-
sited ere a commission or letter of marque could be
granted, and the fact that a large number of vessels
were, at the moment of the raising of the blockade,
ready to start forth on their war of retaliation on
English shipping, were also impediments to his at
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo—1773-1827. 327
once obtaining his commission, and the young com-
mander was compelled to turn slaver once more, in
order to raise the funds wherewith to purchase the
right to privateer. Even slavery had its risks, and
these risks doubtless lent a charm to the occupation.
There was the off-chance of a brush with an English
cruiser; I say off-chance advisedly, for our force in
the Indian Ocean was so reduced that the prospect
of capture at the hands of an English cruiser was
remote indeed. Then there was the prospect, by no
means so remote, of prosecution and confiscation at
the hands of the French Government. Whether it
was that Surcouf too openly defied the law, or
whether his largesses to government officials were
not substantial enough, it is impossible to determine;
one thing is clear enough, that whilst certain owners
were permitted to carry on the slave trade with
impunity, orders were suddenly issued to the
harbour authorities, both in the Isle of France and
of Bourbon, to seize the Créole and to arrest her
commander. Surcouf received ample warning; he
was on a slaving excursion when the order was
issued, and his agent in Réunion at once sent word
to Madagascar, warning him of the danger awaiting
him at the termination of his cruise. The expected
had now occurred, and Surcouf had long made up
his mind on the course to be pursued; he quietly
shipped his slaves, stood away to the eastward,
landed them in the dead of night at Grande Chaloupe,
where he had instructed his agent to make prepara-
tions for their reception, and then again weighing
anchor, calmly entered the harbour of St. Paul's.
328
The Corsairs of France.
The police were ready for him, and before his crew
had removed all traces of the slaves from the
'tween decks, the Commissaire and a couple of
assistants boarded the Créole with an invitation to
its commander to accompany them ashore.
Proof there was and in plenty of Surcouf's real
trade—he made no attempt to disavow it, the long
rows of leg-irons fitted down below, the double
decks, between which the miserable men were so
cruelly forced, the large galley, with its immense
cauldrons for cooking their daily allowance of rice;
the powerful well-armed crew, and above all the
sickening stench of human ordure, enabled the
Commissaire to draw up a most damning report
against the accused. But Surcouf was a man of
ready wit and many resources, or he would never
have raised himself to the position he afterwards
attained, and he was by no means inclined to accept
the Commissaire's genial invitation without some
attempt to evade the law.
The Commissaire, with all the pomposity of the
subordinate official, requests to be shown into the
cabin in order that he may draw out the procés ver-
bal which must be read to the accused
ere he
leaves the ship, and Surcouf, with true French
politeness, shows the official down below, and there
provides him with such luxuries as the Créole can
afford; the cook is requested to bring in breakfast,
and the Commissaire and his assistants accept
Surcouf's invitation to share it with him. In the
meantime the young captain had contrived to make
matters clear to his lieutenants, and they to the
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 329
seamen under them. Some plausible excuse was
found for despatching the police-boat ashore, then
the cable was quietly cut, and as quietly the
sails sheeted home; gently the Créole slipped
through the water, passing close under the rails of
French vessels of war, the crews of which lazily
wondered why the little craft was making such a
short stay in the harbour; gradually she got more
weigh on her, and in a few anxious moments was
beyond the range of the guns of the forts, and then,
as she cleared the bay and felt the full force of the
trade-winds, she leaned over to the breeze and
plunged into the open sea. And now the motion of
the Créole, for she was "flying light," caused the
good Commissaire and his comrades some uneasiness;
they had been well plied with generous wine during
their hasty meal, but when they rushed on deck and
saw the island rapidly growing more distant they at
once realized the trick that had been played on
them, but even then they barely realized that
Surcouf would dare to disobey the orders of a
Republican official. The Commissaire ordered
Surcouf to put the vessel about instantly, and to
return to St. Paul's, threatening him with the
direst penalties of the law in the event of refusal.
Little did he know the sort of man he had to deal
with; Surcouf quietly answered that it was just for
the purpose of keeping out of the clutches of the
law he had taken upon himself to escape from the
island, and that he intended standing over to the
coast of Africa for another cargo of slaves, and
furthermore he meant to land Monsieur le Commis-
330
The Corsairs of France.
:
saire and his colleagues on the Dark Continent,
among the negroes they loved so well; in the
meantime the Créole was at the disposition of the
Republican officials, and the steward would attend
to their every order.
Ere night fell the island was lost to view, and
as Surcouf had no intention of taking a longer
cruise than necessary, he hove to, in the hopes that
his unwilling passengers would come to reason in
the morning. Throughout the night the wind blew
fresh and the Créole made as bad weather of it
as she was able: with the fear of death before his
eyes, the worthy Commissaire listened to the
relentless Surcouf's proposals, and destroying the
original report as to the damning evidence against
the Créole, he now drew up another, in which he
asserted that having made a careful examination of
the ship and her fittings he was quite convinced
that the allegations made, that she was engaged in
the slave trade, were perfectly unfounded; and that
he was the more able to assert this, as, owing to an ac-
cident to the cable when he was examining the vessel,
she had been carried out to sea, and that he conse-
quently had spent some eight days in the company of
the citizen Surcouf, who was a brave and honourable
man. Surcouf, however, was not prepared to let
his new-found friends off so easily as they desired;
he pretended that adverse winds compelled him to
bear up for Réunion, where he landed them a week
later; then, not caring to run any more risks at
the hands of the colonial authorities, he deemed it
wiser to enter into an arrangement with some of
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 331
the leading Government officials in the island;
this secured him, at any rate so long as these
gentlemen remained in power, from any
penalties he might become liable to, but it also left
him reduced in purse, and realizing that larger
fortunes were to be made from privateering than
from slaving, Surcouf determined on entering upon
a new career.
For some reason which his biographer Cunat
thinks fit to suppress, the Governor of Réunion
refused to grant Surcouf letters of marque: his
first voyages, carried on without the necessary com-
mission, can only be characterized as mere filibuster-
ing expeditions, and during them Surcouf and his
men were undoubtedly laying themselves open to
the risk of being treated as pirates. The young
commander-who was only in his twenty-second
year-was compelled to set sail as it were under
false colours and to conceal his real design even
from his own crew.
The Créole was utterly unsuited to the task
Surcouf had in view, and his means, crippled as
they had been by his efforts to win over to his side
some of the leading Government officials, did not
permit him to purchase or charter a craft which
should enable him to carry out in their entirety his
original designs. He was forced to content himself
with a smart-sailing colonial-built craft, the Modeste;
she measured but 180 tons, and her crew numbered
but thirty men; her armament, limited by the edicts
which governed the armaments of merchantmen and
privateers, consisted of four six-pounder cannon.
332
The Corsairs of France.
Unfurnished with letters of marque, Surcouf
was compelled to combine trade with privateering;
indeed he was forced to register his new vessel,
which he re-christened the Emilie, as a merchant-
man his armament was permitted for purposes of
defence only. France and England being at war,
every merchant-vessel was allowed and expected to
make arrangements for her own defence. On the
3rd September, 1795, Surcouf left the port of St.
Denis for the Seychelles, having been chartered to
carry a cargo of rice and turtles thence to Réunion;
but on the 15th of the month two large English
vessels were observed approaching the harbour, and
Surcouf, who had already commenced to fill up with
rice, cut his cables and stood away to the eastward
to avoid them. At the Seychelles he had shipped
some more hands, and the day after leaving the island
he determined on announcing his real purpose to
his crew. It was received with ringing acclamations,
and convinced that his men were of a stamp to
stand by him in the event of fighting being un-
avoidable, Surcouf, thinking the neighbourhood of
the Seychelles unsafe, crossed the Indian Ocean and
cruised for close on three months in the neighbour-
hood of the Andamans and of Sumatra. But one
prize fell to his lot, the Penguin, a timber-laden ship
from Burmah, and placing a prize-crew on board
her, he despatched her to the Isle of France.
His next prize was a more valuable one. A
Dutch vessel, homeward bound with gold bars to
the value of 15,000l., 800 tons of rice, 200 tons of
pepper, a large quantity of sugar, was picked up
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 333
and sent into the Isle of France. Such a capture
placed captain and crew on a different footing.
And now Surcouf's career was to commence in
earnest, he felt he had got his men in hand, and
that mutual confidence existed between them; he
accordingly, risking all chance of capture, bore away
to the Sandheads and made a bold bid to cut in at
the trade of Calcutta. Nor was he unsuccessful.
Unsuccessful!! his success was only paralleled by
his audacity. On the morning of the 19th Janu-
ary, 1796, his look-outs signalled three sail, and on
the Emilie coming up with them they proved to be
a couple of vessels laden with rice, under charge
of a pilot brig, proceeding to Calcutta. Flying the
English colours, Surcouf succeeded in getting along-
side the brig, which with its crew of Lascars was
little prepared to offer any resistance; she surren-
dered on the first shot from the Emilie, and the
other two craft, the Russell and Sam Borelase,
at once followed her example. The pilot brig, like
all vessels of her class, was a stoutly-built, fast-
sailing craft, far better suited for Surcouf's require-
ments than the Emilie, and his resolution was soon
taken to shift his flag (?) from the latter vessel,
whose bottom was very foul from long cruising in
eastern waters; he therefore placed prize-crews on
board the Russell and Sam Borelase, and despatched
them to the Isle of France under convoy of the
Emilie. As his prizes were all manned by Lascars,
with but a sprinkling of European officers,
Surcouf's own crew was not much weakened by this
proceeding, and it is pretty certain that on every

334
The Corsairs of France.
prize he took he found one or more sailors of divers
nationalities willing enough to exchange the mono-
tony of serving before the mast in an Indian trader
for the excitement and prospect of prize-money to
be found on a corsair.
The guns and stores of the Emilie being shifted
to the pilot brig, Surcouf was ready for a fresh
cruise; he christened his new craft the Cartier,
after another famous Malouine, Jacques Cartier,
the founder of Newfoundland. On the 28th Janu-
ary, about daybreak, Surcouf fell in with and
captured the Diana, a large vessel of about 800 tons,
laden with rice. The Diana had a proportion of
English in her complement, they were, however,
prepared to offer no resistance to the Cartier ; but
Surcouf, whose crew now numbered only some five-
and-twenty men, felt it would be inadvisable to
attempt to carry her into the Isle of France with the
aid of the ordinary prize-crew, and he determined to
convoy her to the island himself.
His plans were interrupted in a more pleasant
manner than he had anticipated. On the following
day, running down the Orissa coast, he sighted a
large vessel lying at anchor, and he judged it worth
his while to make the attempt to cut her out. The
English colours flew out at the peak, and from her
trim appearance and well-squared yards there was
but little doubt she carried an English crew.
Through her ports peered the muzzle of many a
gun, and Surcouf felt that the task before him was
one that would call forth the mettle of his men. The
crew of the Emilie had been reinforced by a number

Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 335
of Lascars from the Cartier, good sailors as our
great steamship companies know, but not men on
whom the stout Malouine could depend in a fight;
still they enabled Surcouf to utilize all his men.
for fighting purposes, and their presence conse-
quently was an unmixed blessing. The approach
of the brig caused no uneasiness to the English-
men; she was at once recognized as a Calcutta
pilot, and there was no necessity for Surcouf to
throw out English colours in order to deceive his
prey. It was past noon ere the Cartier ran along-
side the Triton; crew and passengers were below
having their dinner, and the few men on deck little
troubled themselves as to the near approach of the
brig, above whose bulwarks peered the heads of
some fifteen or twenty Lascars. Surcouf took in
the situation at a glance; quickly running
the Cartier alongside, he dashed on board the
Englishman at the head of but nineteen boarders,
and ere the watch on deck could rush to their
arms they were overpowered, the hatches secured,
port balyards cut, and the English absolutely
prisoners on board their own vessel. A slight
attempt at defence was easily quelled, for slewing
round one of the quarter-deck guns in the direction
of the poop Surcouf threatened to fire unless all
attempts at resistance immediately ceased. The
captain was powerless; it is true he had close on
150 men on board, but he had many women and
children; his vessel was a merchantman pure and
simple, his crew untrained, his decks cumbered with
cargo, and all he could have hoped for would have
336
The Corsairs of France.
beer to drive the Frenchmen on to their own vessel
after a stubborn fight, in which many lives would
most undoubtedly have been lost. Yet the captain,
in face of all these probabilities, did make a
gallant effort to save his ship. At the head of a
small band of officers and passengers as gallant as
himself, he sallied out of the poop and made one
bold bid for freedom. It was not to be. The
captain himself, a brave young midshipman, an
officer of the army (a passenger on board) and a
couple of seamen, were killed, some half-dozen men
wounded, and then the chief officer, seeing further
resistance useless, unconditionally surrendered the
ship.' She proved to be the Triton, carrying twenty-
six guns and a valuable cargo, but the multitude
of her prisoners rendered her an awkward prize, and
Surcouf judged it expedient to release the Diana
on her captain giving a bond for her ransom, to
transfer the crew and passengers of the Triton to
her and then to make his way in the last named
ship to the Mauritius. The transfer of the
prisoners to the Diana was speedily accomplished,
and ere the sun was below the horizon, the Triton,
with the Cartier in company, was standing away
to the southward, whilst the Diana, crowded with
¹ The Triton was one of the finest vessels sailing under the
East India Company's flag, and her capture was a great blow to
the Indian Government, reflecting as it did on the discipline, which
permitted the privateer to range up alongside unhailed. She had
been employed as a vessel of war in the blockade of Pondicherry,
had convoyed down the Governor-General, the Marquis of Corn-
wallis, when he visited that settlement after its capture in 1794,
and had then been employed as a cruiser in the China seas to
protect our shipping.
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 237
the crew and passengers of the Triton, was lying in
Balasore Roads. Various accounts of this combat
are extant. M. Cunat, of St. Malo, Surcouf's friend
and biographer, and who served himself on a French
privateer, gives perhaps the truest, whilst one that
appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, in June, 1796,
gives a very exaggerated idea of the affair. Mr.
Laughton, Lecturer on Naval History at Greenwich,
in his biographical sketch of Surcouf in Colburn's
United Service Magazine, comments with some
sarcasm on Cunat's writings, but those who are
acquainted with the French character will easily
reconcile the flowery speeches put into the corsair's
mouth by his admiring biographer with the senti-
ments usually expressed by Frenchmen themselves;
the rough and ready dialogue of the British skipper
is far removed from that indulged in by our more
volatile neighbours, in whose college curriculum
oratory is invariably included.
So far as one can
one can judge from contemporary
records, Surcouf treated his prisoners with con-
siderable kindness; their private property was
respected, and the sum demanded for the release
of the Diana one well within the means of her
captain to discharge.
This, unfortunately, for a time at any rate, seemed
the only profit Surcouf was to make out of his
marvellously successful cruise, for on reaching the
Isle of France, the Governor, Monsieur Malartie,
who had always shown himself hostile to Surcouf,
refused, as indeed he was perfectly justified in
doing, to recognize the legality of his proceedings,
Z
338
The Corsairs of France.
and laid claim, on behalf of the Republic, to the
prizes captured. In point of fact, Surcouf, up to
now, was a pirate pure and simple, and had he been
captured in the course of this cruise would have
been liable to death. Letters of marque were recog-
nized by all civilized nations, their holders conformed
to certain authorized rules, and they were treated on
capture as bona fide belligerents, but for a private
individual to roam the seas as an ocean free-lance
was a course deserving of condign punishment,
and much as we may admire Surcouf's gallantry and
resource, the illegality of his conduct admits of no
question.
The Cartier, less fortunate than the Triton, was
captured on her voyage to the Isle of France by
H.M.S. Victorious, 74, so that, on reaching that
island, Surcouf found only the Penguin, Russell,
and Sam Borlase prizes, with his original craft, the
Emilie. The owners of the Emilie very naturally
supported Surcouf's claim to the prizes, but the
governor was inexorable. The Emilie carried no
letter of marque; she cleared for a voyage to the
Seychelles, and the capture of the Penguin off the
Andamans, of the Russell and Sam Borlase off the
Sandheads, and of the Triton in Balasore Roads,
were acts unjustifiable by any law. It was true
that the arrival of the rice-ships had saved the
island from distress, but that had nothing to do
with the law of the case; Surcouf's conduct had
been distinctly illegal, and any captures made by him
were the property of the state.
There was a strong party in the island, however,
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 339
who thought otherwise, and this party was headed
by those members of Government to whose
support Surcouf owed his immunity from punish-
ment in the matter of the escapade with the com-
missaire of police. Fortified with the opinion of
these gentlemen, Surcouf determined to proceed
himself to France, and personally to lay his case
before the Directory, who, anxious to encourage all
blows made at English commerce, partially reversed
the decision of the Colonial Executive, and granted
the owners of the Emilie one-third of the value of
the prizes taken. Surcouf's own share, it is said,
amounted to 27,000l.
The question of legalizing the action of the Emilie
opened up very wide issues; that Surcouf's conduct
was diametrically opposed to the Law of Nations
is incontestable, but the France of those days cared
little about such matters. The Corps Législatif
showed themselves at the outset desirous to put a
very
liberal construction on Surcouf's actions. He
was fighting the common enemy, and following in
the steps of Jean Bart and Duguay Trouin. The mere
formality of a commission. a privateer was
wanting, it is true, but he had actually applied for
that commission, and his application had been re-
fused. The whole matter was referred to a small
committee, consisting of the citizens Villaret-Joyeuse,
Boissy-Anglas, and Mersau. Their report is to be
found in the Bibliothéque, Histoire de la Révolution
(Marine, 4, 5, 6). It was strongly in favour of
rewarding Surcouf and his brave companions.
"Le corps législatif honorera la nation, en remet-
z 2
340
The Corsairs of France.
tant à l'equipage de l'Emilie ce qu'il a si étonné-
ment conquis: la victoire quand elle est légitime est
le plus beau des titres.
66
Législateurs, vous connaissez le caractère
national. Vous saurez le diriger, et vous ne
permettrez pas qu'on arrache le prix de la
victoire à ceux qui l'ont cémentée
l'ont cémentée de leur
در
sang.
In face of such a recommendation, it is not sur-
prising that the crew of the Emilie were substan-
tially rewarded for their labours.
-
Many months and much money were expended
ere this satisfactory decision was arrived at; in the
meantime Surcouf was enslaved in the meshes of
a fair Bretonne, Marie Blaize, and evinced small
anxiety to resume his dangerous calling. The
Blaizes to this day are renowned in Northern Brit-
tany for their beauty, and if the Marie Blaize who
led Surcouf captive was like some of her name
whose successes on similar occasions are of more
recent date, Surcouf's anxiety for a quiet life is not
to be wondered at. Still it was not to be indulged
at this early period of his career. His share of the
large sum made by his cruise in the Emilie was not
sufficient to satisfy the aspirations of Mademoiselle
Marie Blaize, and in July, 1798, Surcouf was once
more outward bound.
His successes in the Indian seas had found a
cordial echo in the minds of the Breton armateurs,
and directly it was known that Robert Surcouf, of
St. Malo, was willing to accept a command, offers
of one were not wanting. This time he sailed from
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo- 1773-1827. 341
Nantes in a vessel specially built for speed; she was
named the Clarisse, and carried a crew of one hun-
dred and forty stout Bretons, men of Surcouf's own
kidney, hailing from the many seaports in that
rocky stretch of land between Morlaix and the
Rance. Her armament consisted of fourteen guns,
mostly long twelve-pounders, and her chief officer
was Robert's second brother, Nicholas, a smart and
gallant sailor.
When crossing the line, the Clarisse fell in with
a large Indiaman, but Surcouf found that she was
more than a match for the little Clarisse, and after
an action of some hours, the Frenchman was glad
to escape with the loss of her fore-topmast. The
Indiaman carried six-and-twenty guns, and her crew
was doubtless as numerous as that of the Clarisse,
so that small credit can be given to the one side, or
small shame to the other with regard to this engage-
ment.
Off Rio Janeiro the Clarisse overhauled a brig,
which, not being in a position to offer any resistance,
hauled down her colours to the summoning gun.
Surcouf transferred the majority of her crew to the
Clarisse, and placing one of his officers, a Breton of
good old stock, named Dujardin, on board with a
dozen of his own men, instructed him to bear up
for the Isle of France.
In December, 1798, the Clarisse and her prize
arrived at Port Louis within a few days of each
other. Furnished now with a letter of marque that
had been issued by the Minister of Marine in Paris,
Surcouf was in a position to stand on his rights
342
The Corsairs of France.
before M. Malartie, and his prizes, when taken
before the Prize Court, were promptly recog-
nized as "good and lawful." The brig sold for
400,000 francs (16,0007.), an auspicious opening to
the cruise.
Having filled up with provisions and water, and
added one or two heavy guns to his armament,
Surcouf cleared out from the island, and bore away
to Sumatra, where English vessels were constantly
to be found loading up with pepper. In the Bay of
Soosoo he came across two large ships lying at
anchor, but the entrance to the port was so intricate
that he was unable to get within range before
his intention was divined, and the Englishmen,
running their guns to the exposed sides of their
vessels, opened a heavy fire on the Clarisse. This
was returned with interest, and under cover of this
artillery duel, Surcouf called away the boats, and
directed his brother Nicholas to carry the largest
vessel by boarding. In the meantime Surcouf
worked the Clarisse through the shoals, and laying
her alongside the other vessel, carried her too.
The Clarisse had been much knocked about in the
engagement; her spars and rigging had suffered
considerably, and she had expended a considerable
amount of ammunition. Surcouf therefore deter-
mined to convoy his prizes to the Mauritius, and
there refit.
It was not until the month of August, 1799, that
the Clarisse was once more ready for sea, and Surcouf
then again stood across to his old cruising-ground,
the coasts of Java and Sumatra. Good fortune again
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 343
attended him. His first prize was a Dane, but as
she carried an English cargo she was seized and
despatched under a prize-crew to the Isle of France.
On the following day, the 2nd of October, he fell in
with a Portuguese, which, in addition to a rich
cargo of spices, had one hundred and sixteen thou-
sand dollars in specie on board. She, too, hauled
down her flag without a show of fight, and was
promptly despatched to a French port.
Surcouf now stood up to the Bay of Bengal, his
old cruising-ground in 1795, and again met with
astonishing good fortune. On the 8th of November,
a large country-built ship carrying rice was cap-
tured and ransomed, and on the 10th, the Auspicious,
a merchantman mounting twenty guns, also fell into
his hands. Emboldened by his success, Surcouf now
cruised off the Sandheads, and picked up several
small craft; but on the 30th of December he had a
narrow escape from capture at the hands of the
Sybille frigate, and had to throw several of his
guns overboard, and resort to many devices ere
he succeeded in shaking off his pursuer. Indeed,
whether we take the account culled from the log of
the Sybille by Mr. Laughton, or that obtained from
Surcouf's own lips by Cunat, there is no doubt
that night alone saved the Clarisse from capture.
In point of fact, Surcouf had grown callous to
danger. The neighbourhood of the Sandheads was
very risky cruising-ground, and he brought on him-
self the chase by the Sybille. At dawn on the 30th
of December, he had sighted an American ship
bound for Calcutta, and had at once endeavoured to
344
The Corsairs of France.
cut her off. The Sybille, lying at anchor, heard
Surcouf's summoning gun, and quickly divining the
real state of the case, weighed and stood out to sea
to relieve the American. Had it not been for the
fortunate occurrence of a ship-of-war lying at anchor
off the mouth of the Hooghly, Surcouf would doubt-
less have made one more prize; but again, had it
not been for his own consummate seamanship, and
the approach of night ere the Sybille gained on her
foe, Surcouf would have seen the inside of the
Calcutta prison, euphemistically styled Number One
Chowringhee.
Little daunted by his narrow escape, Surcouf, on
the 1st of January, 1800, fell in with and captured
a vessel called the Jane, bound for Bombay, and as
the report of the captain of this vessel to her
owners, describing the occurrence, is of consider-
able interest, I make no hesitation in reproducing
it:
"You will no doubt be surprised to receive a
letter from me dated Bemblepatam, but such is the
fortune of war. We were captured by the Clarisse,
French privateer, Monsieur Surcouf commander, on
the 1st of January, after a very respectable defence
for a country ship. But that you may have a clear
view of our proceedings I will begin my narrative
from the 30th ult.
"On the morning of that day we passed through
Saugor Roads, and in a few hours after we joined
the Honourable Company's ships Manship and Lans-
downe, bound to Negapatam and Madras. In the
afternoon a boat from the American ship Mount
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 345
Vernon came alongside of all the ships, the officer
of which informed us that they had been chased
the day before by a French privateer mounting
eighteen guns, but had happily been relieved by the
Sybille frigate, who pursued the privateer out of the
roads.
"This information determined me to keep company
with the Indiamen two or three degrees to the
south of Point Palmyras, conceiving them to be a
very sufficient protection against privateers. On
the 31st at 7 a.m. the pilot left us, Point Palmyras
bearing west by south twenty-seven leagues. We
pursued our course to the south-west in company.
Between seven and eight o'clock we were spoken by
H.M.S. Sybille, returning from the chase of the
privateer. Throughout the night we had moderate
winds from the eastward. At daylight on the 1st of
January the Indiamen were five or six miles ahead.
At the same time we saw a strange sail to the
windward, standing to the northward, who on
perceiving us, bore down with great caution,
because, as Monsieur Surcouf afterwards told us, he
took one of the ships to be either the Sybille or
Nonsuch, seeing the other ships safe into the sea.
When I saw the strange sail altered her course I
took it for granted that she was the privateer
which the American had given intelligence of, and
immediately ordered a gun to be fired as a signal to
the Indiamen. We continued the signal until
about eight o'clock. When the privateer saw that
the ships ahead paid no attention to our firing, she
hoisted English colours, up studding-sails and
346
The Corsairs of France.
royals, and came on with more confidence. At half-
past eight she gave us a shot, hauled down the
English colours, and hoisted the French national
flag. We returned her fire from a 6-pounder which
we got down off the deck into a stern port in the
great cabin, at the same time carrying on every sail
after the Indiamen, anxiously hoping that the con-
tinual firing would bring them to our assistance;
but we looked in vain, for they never made the
smallest movement to assist us.
"At nine, the privateer having got very near us,
they began to fire grape-shot from the two brass 36-
pounder cohorns, which they had mounted forward.
At this time it came on a light squall from the
southward, which brought the Indiamen directly to
windward of us. During the squall we carried a
press of sail, and the firing ceased on both sides.
The superior sailing of the privateer soon brought
her up again, when she commenced a smart fire
of musketry and grape-shot from one of the 36-
pounder cohorns, the other having been disabled
early in the action. At eleven our powder was
wholly expended, the last gun we fired being loaded
with musket cartridges. The Frenchmen then pre-
pared to board us; they triced up graplins to their
main and fore-yard arms, and Surcouf gave orders to
board, animating his men with a promise of
liberty to plunder. Seeing that we were incapable
of resisting the force that was ready to be thrown
on board of us, I was under the necessity of ordering
the colours to be hauled down, and we were taken
possession of by an officer from the Clarisse, for-
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 347
merly mounting eighteen guns, but now no more than
nine 4-pounders, one 9-pounder, and two cohorns
already mentioned. She has likewise several bell-
mouthed blunderbusses in each top, which we saw
them sending down after we were on board. Her
reduced force is owing to her being chased by the
Sybille frigate. At that time she threw overboard
four 12-pounders, three 9-pounders, with their
carriages, and all the spars; sawed through a bulk-
head which runs across abaft the main-mast and
separates the officers from the crew; knocked down
all the stanchions, and got the axes and saws up to
cut off the poop, when unfortunately it fell little
wind, and they found they could save themselves
without having recourse to this last resource.
"The crew consists of M. Surcouf, his brother,
four officers, and a surgeon, sixty Europeans of
several nations, ten Kaffirs, eleven Lascars, and a
Serang, who entered when he took the Albion, and a
few Malays. Surcouf sent on board the prize one
officer, by trade a tailor, sixteen Frenchmen, and
ten Lascars; they were employed until sunset
shifting the prisoners and refitting the rigging.
All this time the Indiamen were in sight to the south-
west. At sunset, Surcouf, viewing them from the
poop, requested I would tell him, upon my honour,
whether they were Indiamen or not. I repeated what
I had said, that they were two Company's ships with
whom I had kept company ever since we left the
pilot. He replied they were two Tritons, alluding
to the easy capture which he made of that ship, and
said the commanders deserved to be shot. This
348
The Corsairs of France.
I
was the universal opinion of the French officers.
fear their conduct will be attended with bad con-
sequences to the Honourable Company's ships, as
it has given the Frenchmen a very contemptible
opinion of them, and will subject them to many
attacks, which a spirited behaviour would have
freed them from. The prize made sail about 7 p.m.,
steering S.S.E., and was accompanied by the
privateer until daylight on the 2nd, when they
parted, the privateer steering to the westward, and the
prize continuing her course. On the 4th, we fell in
with a Pariah dhow, from Bengal, bound to Madras,
which the privateer brought to, took out all her
cargo, forty bags of rice, two bales of twine, a coir
cable, and a chest of sugar-candy, and then put
the crew of the Jane on board her, together with
the second officer of the Auspicious-a very rich
prize which he captured about seven weeks ago,
bound from Bengal to Bombay, loaded with 4000
bags of rice, 500 bags of sugar, and 375 bales of piece
goods. We landed at Bemblepatam yesterday, from
whence I have written you these particulars.
Surcouf does not mean to come any more near the
Sandheads, being very much afraid of the Sybille and
Nonsuch, but intends to cruise in the latitude of 19°
or 20°; and should he be joined by La Constance,
as he expects, the trade of Bengal will be entirely
cut off, until they have surfeited themselves with
prizes, and return to the Mauritius to recruit their
crews.'
رو
It is impossible to avoid a tribute of admiration
to Surcouf. On the 30th, he narrowly escaped
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 349
capture at the hands of the Sybille, having, as Mr.
Laughton says, to heave guns, spare spars, and booms
overboard, ease off the lanyards of the shrouds
and backstays, knock away the stanchions of the
decks and the wedges of the masts, in order to
give his ship lightness and elasticity; yet within
four-and-twenty hours we find him standing again
to the northward and capturing English vessels
within a few hours' sail of the Sandheads.
Audacity like this deserves success.
Having transferred the crew of the Jane on board
the dhow, Surcouf bore away in the Clarisse, with
the Jane in company, for the Isle of France. His
vessel sadly needed refitting, and his armament was
much reduced. Despite these drawbacks he made
no attempt to shirk combats, for on the 5th of
January, overhauling a couple of large American
vessels, he succeeded in ranging up alongside, and
then demanded their surrender. As these ships
mounted sixteen guns each, Surcouf was desirous
of avoiding an artillery duel, and laying his jibboom
over the poop of the sternmost craft he carried her
by boarding. In this affair the Clarisse lost her
jibboom and fore-topmast, and so was unable to
pursue the second American, which, showing the
Clarisse a clean pair of heels, was soon hull down.
The complement of the Clarisse had been much
reduced by prize-crews, and Surcouf judged it
inexpedient to delay his return to the Mauritius
any longer, and with the Jane and the Louisiana,
his American prize, ran into Port Louis early in
February, 1800.
350
The Corsairs of France.
The Clarisse needed a thorough refit, and Surcouf,
who was anxious to put to sea as soon as possible,
was glad enough to obtain command of a large and
more powerfully armed craft, the Confiance, which
mounted eighteen heavy guns, and besides her crew
of 100 men, carried five-and-twenty soldiers of the
Bourbon battalion, whose skill as marksmen it was
hoped would render them especially valuable.
Through his brother's influence Nicholas Surcouf
obtained command of a small privateer, the Adèle;
but the goddess Fortune failed to smile on the
younger brother, for in the month of November,
1800, Nicholas was captured by the sloop-of-war
Albatross.
The tide of fortune, too, had turned for the poor
Clarisse. She sailed under another captain, and
though she succeeded in taking one valuable prize,
whose capture caused a loss of 60,000l. to the
members of Lloyd's, she was herself taken by
H.M.S. Leopard in the course of the same year.2
Robert Surcouf remained some three months in
the Mauritius, superintending the transformation of
the Confiance from a merchantman into a privateer.
2
Copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Blankett to Vice-Admiral
Rainier, commanding on the East India Station.
(6
Bombay, September 3rd, 1800.
((
SIR,
I beg leave to inform you of my arrival here on the 30th
of August, after a passage of eleven days from Mocha. About
fifty leagues to the eastward of Aden, I fell in with and took the
Clarissa, French privateer, from the Mauritius, who threw over her
guns and cut away her anchors with a view to escape. We found
148 men on board her. She is only between two and three years.
old, built at Nantz.
"J. BLANKETT.”
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 351
:
The vessel, according to Cunat, was a perfect specimen
of shipbuilding—she was long, sat low in the water,
possessed great beam, was very stoutly built; but
Surcouf was determined to make her all that a
privateer should be. He had experience enough to
know what was requisite, and money enough to see
that her necessary alterations were carried out.
Her decks were considerably strengthened in order
to admit of a heavier armament being carried than
was usual even with sea-rovers. Two long 18-
pounders were mounted fore and aft, and short
carronades of the same calibre placed in the waist of
the ship as broadside guns, heavier and stouter
spars were put into her, and her crew selected with
care.
It was not until the month of February that all
these preparations were completed, and that Surcouf
was ready to recommence his career of plunder.
There were many objections to the Bay of Bengal
as a cruising-ground; his recent exploits there had
aroused the vigilance of the English naval authorities,
and it was unlikely he would be able long to evade
the frigates which were on the look-out for him. He
therefore determined to bear away for the Straits of
Sunda, where he might hope to intercept some of
the vessels trading in spice with the Dutch islands.
This project, however, was nipped in the bud, as
the American frigate Essex was on the station.
Surcouf therefore once more stood to the westward,
and putting into Seychelles for provisions and water,
established himself off the south-eastern shore of
Ceylon.
352
The Corsairs of France.
No spot could have been more favourable for
his purpose. The Confiance lay in the very fair-
way of our Eastern commerce, and in the space of
a very few weeks fourteen prizes, two of them
large heavily-armed Indiamen, styled by Cunat
bâtiments de guerre anglais," fell into his hands.
Some of these, despite the order to the contrary,
were ransomed; others were despatched to the
Mauritius under prize-crews. From some a few
extra hands were picked up, but very few in
comparison with the numbers necessarily employed
in navigating the prizes to a French port, and the
consequence was that Surcouf found his crew
reduced from something over 200 to about 120
men, when on the 7th of October, 1800, he fell in
with the Kent, East Indiaman, bound to Calcutta.
By this time Surcouf, emboldened at meeting with
few men-of-war, had once again stood up to the
northward, and was now cruising off the Sandheads.
The Kent was a large vessel, heavily armed and
manned, and it would appear from contemporary
records that Surcouf had some doubt as to whether
he should attack her: however, audacity once more
carried the day. He reflected that his men were
well disciplined and keenly alive to the advantages
of so rich a prize, and it scarcely needed his promise
of an hour's pillage to induce the crew of the Con-
fiance to enter on the fight. It was no part of
Surcouf's plan to allow the Kent to guess his real
character, or to open on him with her guns, for she
was as well armed as the Confiance. By running
up alongside under false colours, and throwing 100
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827.
353
No
men on board, he felt confident of success.
organized resistance could be attempted on the
deck of a merchantman crowded with women and
children, all in the hurry and bustle attendant on the
last days of a long voyage. Fortune favoured Surcouf
in this instance once again. The Kent was more
than usually crowded. On the voyage she had fallen
in with the Queen, another East Indiaman, and had
rescued her crew and passengers from the burning
wreck of that unfortunate ship.
In the Gentleman's Magazine for March, 1801, an
account of the capture of the Kent appears under
the heading of "East India News," and as the state-
ments of the Bengal correspondent of that magazine
corroborate in a great measure those of Monsieur
Cunat, I reproduce them :-
"Bengal, October 8th, 1800.
"With great concern we announce the capture of
the Kent, East Indiaman, yesterday in the Bay of
Bengal, off the Sandheads, by the Confiance, French
privateer of 26 guns and 250 men, after an obstinate
engagement of near one hour and forty-five minutes,
in which Captain Rivington of the Kent was un-
fortunately killed, bravely defending the Company's
property till the last moment of his existence, when
he exclaimed, 'Do not give up the ship.' Mr. Cator,
a free merchant, also fell covered with wounds. The
Kent was in twenty-five fathoms of water, and took
the Confiance for a pilot sloop. The crew of the
Confiance were all armed with sabres and pistols, and
had been thrice encouraged with liquor previously
to their boarding, after which the fight continued
A a
354
The Corsairs of France.
desperately for twenty minutes. General St. John
and his family were on board the Kent, and appear
to have been particularly unfortunate. All his
jewels, plate, and baggage had been burnt on board
the Queen, and he was now almost destined to
behold his lovely wife, daughter to the Margravine
of Anspach, and his three charming daughters,
victims to the lawless excesses of a savage banditti.
The gallant Captain Pilkington, the general's aide-
de-camp, was severely wounded in defending the
general's family. The French behaved with a
cruelty almost unexampled in sea-fights, giving no
quarter, and stabbing with their sabres even the sick
in their hammocks. Previous to their boarding,
the Kent had evidently the advantage, and had the
crew been equally armed with offensive weapons,
or had more musketry, the Confiance would in all
probability have paid dearly for the rashness of her
attempt. This is the same ship that was beat off
formerly by the Arniston. Besides the gallant
captain, the names of the killed are:-Mr. John
Fairly, carpenter, William Bazely, boatswain's mate.
Passengers-Messrs. James Richard Barwell, writer,
Bengal; John Andrew, assistant surgeon, Madras;
Anthony Blagrave, writer, Bengal; William Puller,
writer, Bengal; Robert Moore, cadet, Madras;
M. Cator, merchant, and William Franks, free
mariner, and a seaman. Total, eleven killed and
forty-four wounded.
"The fate of some of the passengers in the Kent
was singularly distressing. They had taken their
departure from Europe in the Queen East Indiaman,
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 355
which was unfortunately burnt at St. Salvador.
The Kent happening to be there, Captain Rivington
very humanely offered them every accommodation
his ship could afford, even to the inconvenience of
himself in the ship. They fondly flattered them-
selves they had reached their destination and their
sufferings were at an end, being off the mouth of
the Bengal river, when they were taken, as has been
already stated. In violation of the rights of
humanity as of those of war, the commander of the
banditti who took them, pillaged them of every
article of wearing apparel, and after having done so,
put them, including six ladies, in an open Arab boat,
with no other sustenance than a little bad water and
some dates. In this dreadful state they continued
four days until they reached Calcutta."
There are one or two evident exaggerations on
the part of the correspondent of the Gentleman's
Magazine. In the first place, he accuses Surcouf's
men of giving no quarter, yet the losses of the Kent,
with over 300 souls on board, were but eleven killed
and forty-four wounded. In the second place, he
states that the ladies were four days in an open boat,
yet he dates his letter the very day after the fight.
That Surcouf did hand the Kent over to pillage is
undeniable, Monsieur Cunat acknowledges this, but
he also states that sentries were placed over the
ladies' cabins, and he mentions a conversation that
he had with one of these very sentries, with whom
he was in after years a shipmate on the Adèle
privateer. Excesses invariably occur in war-even
in war carried on between disciplined troops-and it
A a 2
356
The Corsairs of France.
would be manifestly impossible to prevent them
being enacted where a privateer crew was con-
cerned.
Amongst those captured in the Kent were two
young Bengal Cadets: Mr. Littler, who in after years
rose to much distinction, as Sir John Littler he
commanded a division in the Gwalior and Sutlej
campaigns; and Mr. afterwards General Sir William
Nott, G.C.B., who defended Candahar during the
Afghan war of 1839.
The death of the captain of the Kent is thus
recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine; it will be of
interest to the book-making world :-
"Captain Rivington, who so nobly fell in defend-
ing his ship (the Kent), was a young man of the
greatest merit and conspicuous talent. It was his
first voyage as captain, and the ship, a new one
belonging to Henry Bonham, Esq. Captain R. was
the son of a highly respected father, John Rivington,
Esq., bookseller, of St. Paul's Churchyard, where
he lived universally esteemed for more than half a
century. The father and son, from their lives and
death, have made their memories immortal."
His valiant death gave occasion to the following
lines, which also appeared in the same magazine.
To the memory of Captain Rivington, who commanded the " Kent,"
belonging to the East India Company, who fell gloriously on
the 7th October, 1800, in an Action with "La Confiance," a
French Frigate, in the Bay of Bengal.
If active spirit tempt thee e'er to roam,
And quit thy native for a foreign home,
Remember well that, distant though you move,
No space Friendship shall divide, or Love.
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 357
Lo, Robert nurtured from his early youth,
To glow with virtue and to feel with truth,
In ripening age matur'd his just disdain
Of all that cringing Flatt'ry taught to feign;
His manly virtues mark'd their genuine worth,
And naval toil confirmed their native source.
In fortune's adverse trial undismay'd,
A seaman's zeal and courage he display'd;
For Honour firmly stood at Honour's post,
And gain'd new glory when his life he lost.
H. G.
Whilst giving all praise to the gallantry shown
by Captain Rivington and the crew of the Kent, it
would be obviously unjust to withhold a tribute of
admiration from Surcouf. The Kent was a large
frigate-built ship, far superior in size and armament
to the Confiance: indeed it would appear, from
Cunat's own account, that the French crew took
her to be a vessel of war, and that it needed
all Surcouf's powers of persuasion, backed up,
doubtless, by copious rations of grog, to induce his
men to enter on the combat. Could Rivington
have kept the Confiance at a distance, and so avoided
boarding, he would undoubtedly have escaped; but
Surcouf knew full well that in an artillery combat
he would have all the worst of it, and so he
strove his utmost to shorten this phase of the fight,
but even when alongside, the captain of the
Kent manoeuvred so skilfully, that nearly an hour
elapsed between the moment the first shot was fired
and the actual boarding. Had it not been for the
men of the Bourbon Militia serving as marines on
the Confiance, it is possible the Kent might even
then have driven the boarders off their decks, but
these men, stationed in the tops of the privateer,
358
The Corsairs of France.
kept up such a harassing and well-directed fire on
the defenders of the Kent, that they were at last
compelled to desist from working the upper deck
guns, and on their captain being killed from the
explosion of a hand-grenade thrown from the
maintop of the Confiance, the men, without a leader,
abandoned the upper deck. Below they were
practically powerless, the halyards of the gun-ports
were cut, rendering the guns useless, and volleys of
musketry poured down the hatches effectually
prevented any attempt at organized resistance
being carried out. Without cutlasses, and with but
a small proportion of small arms, there was but
little hope of the main deck being defended, and
the French by a determined charge, drove the
seamen of the Kent from point to point, until at
last they took refuge in the orlop deck. Then, and
not till then, the chief officer surrendered: he had
fought on long after all hope of success was over,
then seeing the condition of the French crew, and
knowing that the lives of many women and children
depended on his not stirring the passions of his
opponents to the utmost, he surrendered, nothing to
be said in disparagement of his conduct. He had
fought the ship gallantly, and though we, as
Englishmen, might have hoped for different results,
there is no doubt that the untrained crew of a
merchant-vessel must always be at the mercy of a
body of trained men, numerically their inferiors.
Had the Kent been as well furnished with small
arms as she was with heavy guns, the issue might
-nay, probably would--have been different. Sur-
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 359
couf and his compeers knew well the weak point in
the arming of merchant-vessels, and we find them
always endeavouring by stratagem to range up
alongside and settle the question by boarding. In
this they were unfortunately, as a rule, only too
successful.
The story of the Kent should be a warning to
our merchant shipowners. A few stands of small
arms, a plentiful supply of cutlasses, a crew made
up of Naval Reserve men trained in the use of these
weapons, will be of more value in saving a vessel
than guns that cannot be effectually worked, and
hands culled from the maritime population of half
the countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Having transferred a certain number of the
prisoners captured on board the Kent to a native
craft, which agreed to carry them to Calcutta,
Surcouf, with the remainder distributed between the
Confiance and her prize, set sail for the Mauritius,
where he arrived without further adventure or
mishap.
There he found instructions to proceed to France
with the Confiance, and after a few weeks spent in
settling up the pecuniary affairs relative to the
disposal of his prizes by the local Admiralty Courts,
and in refitting his own ship, which had suffered
considerably in her engagement with the Kent, he
set sail on the homeward voyage. In the Atlantic
he fell in with, chased, and captured a Portuguese
vessel, the Ebro, mounting eighteen guns; she
struck without showing fight. Unwilling to under-
take the risk of convoying the Ebro through the
360
The Corsairs of France.
cordon of English vessels which so closely blockaded
the French coasts, Surcouf gladly admitted his
prize to ransom, for a bond drawn by the captain
on her Lisbon owners, for 2000l. The wisdom of
this was apparent, for before entering Rochelle,
Surcouf bimself narrowly escaped capture, and had
to heave his guns and spare spars overboard in
order to lighten his ship. The capture of the
Confiance would indeed have been a piece of rare
good fortune for any of his Majesty's vessels, for
in announcing her arrival the Moniteur states:-
"Le 13me est entré à La Rochelle un bâtiment, la
Confiance, venant de l'Ile de France, dont la car-
gaison est évaluée à deux millions" (about eighty
thousand pounds sterling).
And now Mademoiselle Marie Blaize was pre-
pared to reward her hero with her hand. His
fortune was presumably sufficient to satisfy the
demands of Monsieur le père, for at the end of the
following month there is an entry of his marriage
in the registers of the Mairie at St. Malo. Surcouf
settled down in his native town, and the peace of
Amiens putting an end to all chance of further
distinction in his own particular line, he prepared
to spend the rest of his days in well-deserved
prosperity. Possibly, too, the fact that Surcouf
now possessed a commission in the Republican
navy may have influenced Monsieur Blaize (the
Blaizes have ever been staunch republicans), for in
June, 1800, prior to taking the Confiance to sea,
the Minister of Marine, anxious to secure the ser-
vices to the state of such a skilful seaman, had
-
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 361
granted a commission as enseigne de vaisseau to
Citizen Robert Surcouf. Thus at last, like Cassard
and Jean Bart and Duguay Trouin before him, the
whilom privateer became an officer in the service
of the state. But under the Republic the whole
condition of affairs was much altered; the navy
was no longer a close borough, service in which
was rigidly reserved for the nobility. It was thrown
open alike to gentle and simple, and any sturdy sea-
man who displayed sufficiently advanced views was
sure of advancement in the commissioned grades.
Many are the amusing tales told of Surcouf
during his stay ashore. His contempt for all shore-
going officials more than once brought him within.
the verge of trouble, but he had some warm ad-
mirers in Paris, and these contrived to keep him
from serious harm.
On the renewal of the war with England, Sur-
couf, who had been one of the first recipients of
the Legion of Honour, was sent for to Paris and
offered by Napoleon the command of a small
squadron for the purpose of destroying England's
commerce in eastern waters, but as the French
East Indian Fleet of which the squadron was to form
a part was under the command of Admiral Linois,
whose conduct and capacity were not deserving of
the highest confidence, Surcouf refused the honour,
even though the commission as capitaine de frigate
in the French navy was to accompany it.
Surcouf was never weary of impressing upon the
naval authorities of France the necessity of avoiding
general engagements. Light vessels, swift vessels,
362
The Corsairs of France.
and small vessels in abundance, was the tenor of his
cry. Strike at England's commerce; pour out your
cruisers in every sea; let them find shelter in every
colonial harbour.
A powerfully-worded memorandum on the subject
which he submitted to Napoleon was the signal of
his summons to Paris, and he pointed out to Napo-
leon's satisfaction that France would gain more by
the destruction of England's merchant fleets than
by the sinking of her ships of war. The idea was
one which readily fitted in with Napoleon's views,
and he at once proceeded to give effect to them by
offering Surcouf the command of one of these light
squadrons, and by the issue of fresh rules for the
guidance of the naval commandants at each port in
the matter of granting commissions to privateers.
Surcouf's views were but the reflex of those held
by Cassard, by Jean Bart, by Duguay Trouin.
They have found an echo in a more recent work by
the late lamented Monsieur Gabriel Charmes, of the
Débats, and they have now (1887) a stout supporter
in the person of Admiral Aube, French Minister of
Marine.
3
Although unwilling to serve under Linois, or
indeed in any position where his sphere of usefulness
could be interfered with by the commands of
superiors, Surcouf was not averse to fit out priva-
teers at his own expense. Three we know of-one
under his brother Nicholas, the Caroline, he put on
the Indian station, two smaller craft he kept
3 La Reforme de la Marine, Paris, 1885, and republished in
England, "Naval Reform," W. H. Allen and Co.
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 363
cruising in the Channel. At last, in 1806, on the
news arriving of Admiral Linois' capture in the
Marengo, Surcouf determined to take to the sea
once more. It is probable that his decision was
due to some ill-feeling between the corsair captain
and the admiral. Surcouf had a knack of disagree-
ing with those placed in authority over him.
Monsier Malartie, the Governor of the Mauritius,
and Bléchamp, Commissaire of Marine at St. Malo,
are both instances of this, and it is extremely likely
that Surcouf, during his many cruises in Indian
waters, had in some way fallen foul of Linois. At
any rate, within a few weeks of the news of the
admiral's capture reaching France, Surcouf pur-
chased a fine craft of 400 tons, and naming her the
Revenant, made his preparations for a return to the
scene of his former successes.
In his capture of the Kent, Surcouf had seen the
true value of discipline, not discipline as we under-
stand the word-high military training and prompt
obedience, giving cohesion, yet flexibility; inculcating
self-reliance on the individual and confidence in
comrades and commander-but such elementary
discipline as could be enforced on men hastily got
together in an outlying dependency. With the
Revenant Surcouf determined on acting in a different
manner. He carefully selected as many men as he
was able from the hardy fishing population of St.
Malo and its neighbourhood. A large proportion
of these had served in vessels belonging to Surcouf,
and all were acquainted with him: they were made
aware of the conditions under which they were to
364
The Corsairs of France.
serve, and in return for the irksome restraints
of a discipline to which French seamen in those
republican days were quite unaccustomed, they were
promised liberal pay and still more liberal prize-
money. Surcouf fully realized the danger he ran
in attacking a powerfully armed Indiaman. Many
of these vessels carried a far heavier armament than
he could trust on board the Revenant, and he knew
that his only chance of success lay in coming at
once to close quarters, and then carrying his oppo-
nent by boarding. To do this his men needed drill
and discipline; many of them were raw fishermen
all untrained in the use of arms, and it was neces-
sary to establish a school of instruction. During
the outward voyage the hands underwent several
hours' drill daily in sword exercise and musketry
practice at the hands of officers specially selected for
their knowledge. It must not be inferred, however,
that the crew of the Revenant were all, or indeed in
a great measure, men who could be thus easily
moulded. There were decrees existing which for-
bade the entertainment on board privateers of more
than a very small proportion of men borne on the
Inscription Maritime, and though Surcouf, by reason
of his position as enseigne de vaisseau, and the
influence he possessed in Paris, was able to evade
these regulations to a certain extent, yet his crew
comprised a heterogeneous mass of men from every
country and every profession, with a good sprinkling
of able-bodied seamen and some excellent officers
as a foundation on which to work.
The early days of the voyage were spent in
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 365
working the crew into shape, though the monotony
of this form of entertainment was varied by the
capture of several small prizes. A Moorish vessel
mounting sixteen guns was rash enough to offer
resistance, and after a short encounter, in which
the Revenants showed their mettle, was forced to
strike her colours. Not caring to weaken his crew
at the very outset of his cruise, Surcouf admitted
all these prizes to ransom, and when, in the month
of August, the Revenant reached Mauritius,
Surcouf found himself at the head of a body of
men whom Cunat describes as
"true sons of
Armorica."
The Revenant was warmly welcomed in the island,
the inhabitants of which remembered how her com-
mander had on a previous occasion relieved them
from threatened famine. Once again scarcity stared
them in the face; the blockade of the English
cruisers was strictly and methodically carried out,
and native vessels laden with provisions rarely
escaped capture. Surcouf, it was felt, would put
an end to all this, and he did so. In September,
having filled up with water, he stood out to his old
.cruising-ground, and by the end of the year had
carried into Port Louis fourteen vessels laden with
rice.
The pecuniary value of these prizes was consider-
able, but besides putting money into the pockets
of his crew, their success had the effect of strengthen-
ing the bonds of discipline, and thus rendering the
Revenant a valuable addition to the colonial de-
fences.
366
The Corsairs of France.
We can realize the losses occasioned by the
Revenant when we remember that the merchants of
Calcutta, in a memorial to the Admiralty, dated the
10th December, 1807, state that the sums paid by
the insurance offices in Calcutta alone for losses
during September and October of that year
amounted to 291,2567.!
A new system was now inaugurated by Sir
Edward Pellew (afterwards Lord Exmouth), the
commander-in-chief on the East Indian station, and
a succession of severe blows was struck at the
French cruisers. The Bellona, one of the most suc-
cessful privateers, was captured by the Powerful, 74;
the Piedmontaise, a French frigate, which in com-
pany with the Revenant had inflicted much damage
on English shipping, was very gallantly taken by
the San Fiorenzo, a Spanish prize, converted into
an English man-of-war, and commanded by Captain
G. N. Hardinge, a brother of the celebrated Vis-
count Hardinge, at one time commander-in-chief of
the army.
These losses so crippled the naval resources of
the island, that the governor, availing himself of his
prerogative, pressed the Revenant into Government
service, and appointed Surcouf to the command of
an inferior vessel, the Semillante, an old man-of-war.
Whilst the dispute between Surcouf and Decaen the
governor of the island was at its height, the Revenant
proceeded to sea under the command of Monsieur
Potier, an old shipmate and tried friend of Surcouf's,
who, indeed, had succeeded him in the Confiance in
1804.
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 367
Under Potier the Revenant was no less successful.
Off the coast of Natal she brought to action a large
Portuguese vessel homeward bound from Goa. The
Conception de S. Antonio was one of the finest vessels
then afloat. She measured 1500 tons, and carried
thirty-four guns on her main-deck; her crew con-
sisted of 400 men, and besides a number of pas-
sengers, she had a detachment of fifty soldiers on
board. Her commander was a captain in the
Portuguese navy, many of her men were trained
gunners, and she was altogether a very formidable
opponent for the Revenant. Surcouf, it is true, had
no direct part or lot in her capture, but we may
surely assume that it was to his careful training
the success of that day's fight was due. Potier had
full information as to the defensive power of the
Portuguese, and he felt that it would be unwise to
attempt to carry her by boarding in the face of the
well-drilled detachment of soldiers on board. He
therefore determined to carry on an artillery duel,
and, thanks to the superior manoeuvring power and
sailing quality of the Revenant, was enabled to take
up and maintain a position on the big vessel's quarter,
and to rake her with his broadsides, whilst exposing
himself only to the fire of the stern chasers of the
Portuguese. Fortune or good marksmanship came
once more to the aid of the Revenant. An explosion
on board the Conception de St. Antonio occasioning
heavy loss of life and much structural damage, com-
pelled the Portuguese captain to strike his colours,
and in the early days of June the little Revenant, with
her huge prize under convoy, reached the Mauritius.
368
The Corsairs of France.
This new and striking proof of the value of the
Revenant only strengthened Monsieur Decaen in his
determination to press her into Government service,
and in order to rid himself of Surcouf he gave him
positive orders to convey the Portuguese prisoners
captured on the Conception de St. Antonio to France
on the Semillante. To this Surcouf strongly objected;
the crew of the Semillante, now christened the
Charles, consisted of as unpromising a band of
ruffians as it was desirable to command. Men of
all nations who, glad to escape the usual lot of
prisoners of war, had volunteered their services to
the governor of the island. Amongst them were
many Portuguese, and, as Surcouf pointed out, it
would be easy enough for these men to rise on the
officers, and to carry the Semillante into a Portu-
guese port.
M. Decaen was inexorable, he was anxious to get
rid of Surcouf at any price, and at last, by threaten-
ing to ship him in a subordinate capacity on a vessel-
of-war, he succeeded. On the 21st of November,
1807, the Charles cleared out of Port Louis, but
Surcouf still had a card up his sleeve, and this he
determined to play rather than run the risk of being
carried a prisoner of war into a foreign port. As
soon as he got clear of the harbour, he called the
pilot-boat alongside, and crowding her with the
major part of his prisoners, carried on all sail, and
was soon beyond reach of pursuit.
The voyage home was eventful enough, and Sur-
couf more than once ran narrow escape of capture.
He, however, thanks to good seamanship, succeeded
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 369
in shaking off his pursuers and arrived safely at St.
Malo in February, 1809.
This was Surcouf's last cruise, but he still inte-
rested himself largely in privateering, and such was
the confidence reposed in his judgment by the
merchants of Brittany, that they were willing
enough to aid him largely in his adventures. It is
said that at one time he possessed no fewer than
nineteen vessels all engaged in preying upon our
commerce. The more famous of these, inasmuch
as their names have been handed down to us by
Surcouf's biographer, were the Auguste, Dorade,
Biscayenne, Edouard, Espadon, Ville de Caen,
Adolphe, and Renard.
On the peace of 1814, these vessels were for the
most part turned into peaceful traders, but the
larger ones were despatched to Surcouf's old cruising
grounds, the Mauritius, and actively and satis-
factorily employed in trading between Madagascar
and Bourbon, with the "free labourers" of the great
African island. In fact Surcouf, in his latter days,
was largely engaged in the slave trade: a calling
which was extensively followed by some of the
wealthiest Breton merchants.
A few words are due to the Revenant. Leaving
Mauritius under the command of Lieutenant Morice
of the French navy, she was captured by the
Modeste, and being renowned as a fast-sailing
craft was commissioned by Sir Edward Pellew as
the Victor, and the command given to Captain
Edward Stopford. As a British man-of-war her
career was short, for in November, 1809, she once
B b
370
The Corsairs of France.
more changed her nationality, being taken by the
French frigate Bellona; she kept her new name,
however, and as such was surrendered to the
English at the capture of the Mauritius in the follow-
ing year.
-
The following extract letter from the London
Gazette of May, 1809, gives the official report of the
capture of the Jena (late Revenant) :-
"Letter from Honourable George Elliot to Sir
Edward Pellew, Bart., Commander-in-Chief in the
East Indies.
"Modeste, off Sandheads, October 9th, 1808.
"SIR,-I have great satisfaction in acquainting
your Excellency, of his Majesty's sloop Modeste,
under my command, having last night captured La
Jena, French National corvette, pierced for 24 guns
but only 18 on board, and complement 150 men,
commanded by Monsieur Morice, lieutenant-de-
vaisseau; after a chase of nine hours, and a running
action of nearly one hour (from it being but a
light breeze, which enabled her to keep her distance
with her sweeps), when she struck, a complete
wreck in her sails and rigging. She had cut away
her boats and booms, and thrown three guns over-
board in the chase. We received no damage to
signify, but the loss of Mr. William Donovan (the
master), a very valuable and gallant officer, and
one seaman wounded. La Jena has not received
any material damage in her hull; she sails well,
and appears a very fit vessel for his Majesty's
service. She had been four months from the Isle
of France; had taken the Jennet, of Madras, and the
Robert Surcouf of St. Malo-1773-1827. 371
Swallow of Penang. The first she sunk, the latter
was in sight during the chase, but sailing very well,
got out of sight to leeward before La Jena was
taken, and we have not been fortunate enough to
see her since.
"I am, &c.,
"GEORGE ELLIOT."
Bb 2
372
The Corsairs of France.
CHAPTER VIII.
CONCLUSION.
Minor Corsairs-British Isles invulnerable to invasion-Precarious
tenure of our food supply-French policy to destroy England's
commerce-Favourable position of French colonies for
blocking our ocean highways and attacking defenceless
dependencies-Bombardment of Sierra Leone in 1794-
Helpless condition of crews of merchant-vessels-Necessity
for reorganization of our Naval Reserve, and for instruction of
merchant-seamen in gun and small-arm drill.
I HAVE endeavoured in the foregoing chapters to
give succinct biographical sketches of the most
notable Corsairs of France. Doubtless my selection
is open to criticism. There are many other gallant
seamen inscribed on the rolls of France's chivalry
who might well lay claim to be the equals of those
whose deeds I have here recorded. Jean Bart
did but embrace a profession which his grandfather
had followed successfully before him; Surcouf was
the second of his name,¹ who had carried English
prizes into the safe shelter of Breton harbours. St.
1 Robert Surcouf, grandfather of the great Surcouf of the
Republican era, is one of those whose names might well be
included in the rolls of the Corsairs of France. The early years of
his life were passed in the mercantile marine, and it was not until the
outbreak of the War of Succession in 1704 that he thought of
following the role of privateer. Then, being well known as a
careful navigator and gallant sailor, he was entrusted by his fellow-
townsman, M. Nonäil, with the command of the Comte de Toulouse,
a smart barque carrying 24 guns, specially built and equipped for
privateering. With her, he captured many vessels, English and
Conclusion.
373
2
3
Malo alone can boast of heroes who, if less suc-
cessful in a pecuniary point of view, were none the
less daring than the two I have selected as repre-
sentatives of the Corsair city. Dunkerque and
Boulogne, Havre and Cherbourg, Morlaix and
Nantes, all furnished their quota towards those
mosquito fleets which ever in our wars with France
have proved so baneful to England's commerce.
But to enumerate all the gallant actions of French
privateers would be beside my purpose, and beyond
my powers. I have selected those whose actions
exemplify the dangers to which we are as subject
in these, the closing years of the nineteenth, as we
were in the wane of the eighteenth or even of the
seventeenth century.
I have shown how our flag in every sea was at the
mercy of swift-sailing privateers; how squadrons
Dutch; his principal English prize being the Esperance, of Bristol, a
vessel of 400 tons. In 1706 Surcouf in the Danycan-a name
yet met with in St. Malo-accompanied M. Chambert in the famous
expedition to Peru. It is said that this undertaking put a million.
and a quarter sterling into the exhausted treasury of Louis XIV.
2 Hervé Dufresne, of St. Malo, besides being a most successful
privateer, was employed by the exiled King James in a confidential
mission to England. Claude Raoul of the same city. Pierre Legoux,
who commanded a vessel (the Comte de Toulouse) fitted out by the
wealthy firm of Danycan; his principal prizes were vessels trading
between Baltimore and Bristol. In the month of July, 1691, we read
of his carrying five large American traders prizes into his native
port.
3 Fourmentin and Huret, of Boulogne, were equally famous on the
northern coast. The former was, with Surcouf, one of the original
recipients of the Legion of Honour, and was ennobled by Napoleon
as a reward for his depredations on English commerce. Many quaint
tales are told of him in Boulogne, and men of his name and boasting
of their connection with the doughty Corsair, are yet to be met with
in that town.
374
The Corsairs of France.
1
of these vessels, under men waging only an irregular
warfare, were able to harry our distant colonies,
aye, and to effect landings in the United Kingdom
itself. I have shown how the merchant community
of Calcutta cried aloud against the inefficiency of
the naval forces in the Indian Seas. I have shown
how, despite the gallant defence shown by many
of our merchant-craft, despite the heavy crews and
armament they carried, they were no match for
their smaller antagonists; and I have shown that,
despite the innumerable captures of privateers by
English vessels-of-war, the losses inflicted upon
our commerce was out of all proportion to that we
inflicted upon our foes.
Our sea-girt isle is, we all hope, invulnerable to
attack, or rather, I should say, proof against invasion.
Incalculable damage may be inflicted by the bombard-
ment of our defenceless commercial seaports at the
hands of an enemy's fleets, but the landing of a
hostile force on our shores with the idea of making
good a foothold on the island is practically out of
the question. There are considerably over half a
million of men in the country who have gone
through a pretty close probation in the profession of
arms: either in the regular or in the auxiliary.
forces. The shooting and drilling and marching
powers of these auxiliary forces are certainly equal to
those of the reserve forces of some of our European
neighbours, and though certain defects in equipment
and in organization are patent, yet it must be pretty
generally conceded that England possesses all the
elements for home defence.
Present Dangers.
375
But having said this, I have said all. England's
wealth depends upon her commerce, nay more-
her very existence depends upon the food she receives
from distant lands. In our last great war, the
population of the United Kingdom was but eighteen
millions, and the people lived on the produce of the
soil. Now in 1886 the population has increased to
thirty-seven millions, and the value of the food
supply imported from abroad, averaged close on
ninety millions sterling a year for the years 1879-
1885. Were that food supply cut off for one short
week, starvation would ensue.
4
We have seen how in every war with France the
key-note of her policy has been "Strike at
England's commerce." Kings, directories, emperors,
have all harped on the same theme. Destroy
England's commerce, and you destroy her power for
good and evil, and now, under the Third Republic,
we have the French Minister of Marine openly
discussing a system of naval reform which shall
restore to France the freedom of action taken from
her by the Declaration of Paris of 1856, and shall
permit her to embark on a war similar to that waged
by the Corsairs of the last century.
4 TOTAL IMPORTS OF FOOD. 1879-85.
£203,323,000 Meat-Beef, Pork,
69,235,000 &c., fresh and
10,776,000 salted
3,545,000 Fish
9,483,000 Butter and But-
65,553,000 terine .
Wheat
Flour of Wheat
Potatoes
Onions
Hops
Live stock.
. £117,884,000
14,077,000
Cheese
80,618,000
32,871,000
17,813,000
Eggs
Giving a total of 625,448,000l. or a yearly average of 89,350,0007.
376
The Corsairs of France.
I am aware that under the terms of that Declara-
tion the great powers of Europe solemnly re-
nounced privateering, but I am also aware that
if England were to become involved in war with
any one of those signatory powers, the Declaration
of Paris would not be worth the paper on which it
is written. The volunteer fleets of Russia, and
Admiral Aube's writings show, at any rate, that
the Government of the Czar and of the French
Republic would refuse to be bound by such an
engagement. Richelieu, Colbert, Napoleon, all saw
that the surest way of humbling England was to
strike at her commerce-how hard they struck these
pages show
If we were vulnerable in the wars of the
last century, how much more vulnerable are we now?
If it was worth while striking at our commerce
then, how much more is such a policy to be desired
now? At the outbreak of the war in 1793 the
total imports and exports of the United Kingdom
amounted to 39,646,000l., in 1886 they had risen
to 561,883,6887.!! In the same period the imports
of wheat and wheaten flour had risen from 748,000
cwt. to 77,331,700 cwt.! In the week ending the
19th March, 1887, the imports of wheat were equal
to the annual import of 1793.
The success of enemy's privateers in olden days
meant pecuniary embarrassment, possibly ruin, to a
few mercantile shipowners. The success of priva-
teers in a future war means starvation, national
humiliation, and the disruption of the Empire.
It is generally believed that in our wars with
France, on the sea at any rate, we were manifestly
England's Maritime Losses.
377
superior. In the matter of privateering this is far
from being the case. I have already shown 5 what
losses we suffered prior to the Republican era. I
will now give a few details concerning the last war,
1793 to 1815. From the outbreak of hostilities in
February, 1793, up to the end of 1795, we had lost
3000 craft of all sizes and rigs, and had captured
barely 800. In the six months from the 1st October,
1804, to the 1st April, 1805, we lost 271 vessels and
we captured 7!! It is impossible to form even an
approximate estimate of the damage inflicted on our
commerce during the last war. The number of
English vessels taken, as published in the Moniteur
and in Lloyds' list, are marvellously discrepant, and,
without a specific return of the tonnage and cargoes
of vessels lost, any estimate of the value of these
prizes would be purely speculative. Some ships
were colliers flying light, others rich China and East
India traders worth several hundred thousand pounds.
Taking one with the other, it is very certain that, if
I were to name two hundred million pounds as the
loss inflicted on British commerce by the action of
French privateers in the years 1793-1814, I should
be well within the mark.
It was not at the hands of privateers alone that
our trade suffered. In the year 1805, a squadron,
known as the Rochfort squadron, kept the sea for
148 days, despite the efforts of our cruisers, and in
those five months captured one line-of-battle ship,
the Calcutta, 3 corvettes, and 42 merchantmen.
5 See page 21.
378
The Corsairs of France.
Later on, in May, 1812, H.M.S. Northumberland
and Growler engaged and drove on shore the
French frigates Ariadne and Andromache, but
these two vessels in the preceding six weeks had
taken thirty-three English merchantmen.
In no part of the world were our vessels safe.
In May, 1805, the French West Indian squadron
made a succession of raids on our colonial harbours,
and took seven large craft from Dominica, five
from St. Kitts, and six from Nevis. In the follow-
ing July five merchantmen were cut out from
Mont Serrat. Nearer home they were equally active.
In July, 1807, a brig lying at anchor within half a
mile of Dover was carried off, and a vessel sunk in
Dublin Bay. The ubiquity of the French privateers
was only equalled by their success. In the month
of October, 1807, eighteen East Indiamen were
captured in the Bay of Bengal, and fifty-seven other
craft in waters nearer home!! It was not unarmed
merchantmen only that fell into the hands of
French privateers: in the preceding pages I have
related the capture of H.M.S. Pembroke and Falcon
by Cassard, the Corsair of Nantes; of H.M.S.
Nonsuch, Boston, Coventry, Elizabeth, Gloucester,
and Bristol, by Duguay Trouin of St. Malo.
Coming down to more
more recent times, we have
H.M.S. Wolverene sunk by a French privateer
in April, 1804; H.M.S. St. Lucia captured by a
privateer in May, 1807; and in the same month
the Nimble and Argus, Revenue cutters, mounting
sixteen guns each, were also taken by vessels
sailing under letters of marque.
J
Present Dangers.
379
The wholesale manner in which our ships were
captured is indicative of the sterling quality of
our opponents. We read in Lloyds' list for August,
1803, that the French privateer Blonde, twenty-two
guns, fell in with the Young Nicholas, English
privateer of eighteen guns, and, after an engage-
ment of an hour and a half, compelled her to strike.
The captain of the Blonde gave up the Young
Nicholas to her captain, as a reward for the
courageous conduct of his crew. The Blonde
had already taken seventy-eight ships in the course
of that cruise, including one East Indiaman, four
West Indiamen, and a South-sea whaler! Just ten
years later, in 1813, we also read in Lloyds' list of
the Lion, of Bordeaux, capturing in one single year
seventy-five English prizes.
If we look at the map, we see how skilful were
the strategic combinations of the Corsairs of France.
Look how the life-blood of England's wealth
pulsates through her main arteries of commerce!
Look how the Corsairs of France, recognizing this,
endeavoured to sever those arteries! Gigantic as
the damage was that these sea-rovers inflicted on
us in days gone by, would it not be tenfold greater
in the wars to come? The colonies which formed
their bases of operations are still in their hands,
and they have been supplemented by other posses-
sions which render our trade routes more insecure
than ever.
In the wars of the past, France possessed no
harbour on the southern shore of the Mediterranean,
none in the vicinity of the Red Sea, none in the
380
The Corsairs of France.
neighbourhood of China, none in the Pacific. Now
the harbours of Algiers and of Tunis, of Obock and
Saigon, of Tahiti, the Marquesas, New Caledonia,
and Tonquin all afford a refuge for her ships-of-
war.
We do not possess a single commercial highway
that is not flanked by a French harbour, whence the
Corsairs of France could swoop down upon our
shipping, and so thoroughly is this realized in that
country that a scheme for utilizing these ports in
this very sense has been formulated by French
theorists and approved of by the French Minister
of Marine.
Let those who are shaky in their geography turn
to the map; there they will see that every course
our vessels sail lies under the domination of a French
settlement.
St. Pierre and Miquelon, barren rocks though
they be, possess a secure harbour, and they are on
the flank of the route necessarily followed between
Canada and Great Britain.
Martinique, Guadaloupe, and their dependencies,
command our West Indian trade.
Senegal and the Gambia afford shelter for
squadrons that might cut off our vessels from the
Cape.
Reunion and the Bay of Diego Suarez, in Mada-
gascar, may in the future, as they have in the past,
seriously cripple the commerce with the East Indies
round the old long sea-route.
New Caledonia and the New Hebrides are dan-
gerously near our Australasian possessions.
Present Dangers.
381
Saigon, as the headquarters of a fleet, could
effectually play havoc with our communications with
China, and with our trade in the Straits Settle-
ments.
Obock stands menacingly near to the Straits of
Babel Mandeb and the entrance to the Red Sea,
whilst Tunis gives (as St. Louis said it would give)
its
possessor the key of the Mediterranean.
Have we any reason to hope that France will
avoid in the future what she has so successfully
carried out in the past-a war against England's
commerce? Have we any reason to doubt that each
and all of these harbours will be made the depôts
not only for Admiral Aube's groupes de combat, but
also for squadrons of light vessels carrying Letters
of Marque? Have we any ground for believing
that we shall be able to cope more successfully with
these sea-rovers in the wars of the future? The
scheme for imperial defence, which it is hoped will
be the outcome of the conference of colonial dele-
gates in this jubilee year of Queen Victoria, should
put it out of the power of any Cassard to levy con-
tributions from our distant colonies, or of any
hostile squadron to bombard unopposed an English
settlement. But is there any scheme before the
6 On the 28th of September, 1794, a French squadron composed of
the Experiment, 50; Vigilance, 24; Félicité, 18; and Mutine,
12; approached the town of Sierra Leone under English colours,
and unmolested drew up before it in such a manner as to command
every street and alley in it. When they hoisted their own colours
and commenced a heavy cannonade, the inhabitants, unable to resist
so formidable a force, struck their flag, but two of the frigates, regard-
less of this submission, continued their fire for nearly two hours after,
raking every street with grape-shot. The French then landed and
382
The Corsairs of France.
public for the efficient protection of our commercial
highways. The terminal and intermediate stations
may be guarded, but without an organized system
to declare the line "all clear," what guarantee have
we that our trade would not suffer as heavily in 1897
as it did one hundred years ago? Are the cruisers
on our Indian station now more efficient than they
were then? Are our merchantmen better able to
emulate the Kent in the defence they would make
in the event of attack? The doings of the Alabama
are too fresh in our minds to need recall.
Let us
picture the damage that would accrue to us were a
dozen Alabamas let loose on England's commerce.
The Alabama had not one port of refuge in the
whole wide world; the Corsairs of France would
have harbours in the immediate vicinity of every
route followed by our ships.
For months Surcouf, despite the incessant watch
kept by Sir Edward Pellew's cruisers, virtually re-
mained master of the Bay of Bengal; for months
Semmes, in like manner, laughed to scorn the efforts
of the United States navy. Yet both the Revenant
and the Alabama fell a comparatively easy prey to
the first vessel-of-war that actually brought them
to an engagement. In Surcouf's case there is no
reason why his career should not have been checked
at the outset, for there is no doubt that many
began to plunder such houses as remained standing, after which
they fired the church, the Company's warehouse, and the houses of
every English inhabitant. They remained off the settlement until
the 23rd of October, when, having thoroughly pillaged the town and
filled their vessels with plunder, they set sail for the Isle of
Bourbon.
Present Dangers.
383
vessels which fell into his hands were far superior to
his own craft both in the numbers of their crews and
the weight of their armament, and it is equally certain
that the Corsairs of France of whom I have written
were encouraged in their career by the poor front
shown by our merchant-vessels. In the majority of
cases these vessels, unfortunately, were not in a
position to offer resistance, but there are many
instances recorded in these pages where the privateer
should have been carried into an English harbour
had the crews of our merchant-vessels been in-
structed in naval discipline and in rudimentary gun-
drill. There were occasions, notably in the cases
of the Coldstream and the Kent, where there were
detachments of British soldiers on board, but pre-
sumably these men were embarked with but a small
percentage of firearms, and these arms were stowed
away in the hold."
7
S
The wealth of England is dependent on her com-
merce: and that commerce is all too inadequately
protected. It would tend to the security of our com-
merce and to the efficiency of our mercantile marine
were serious efforts made to attract its officers and
men to the ranks of the naval reserve. The formation
7 See page 304.
* See page 352.
9 In the year 1866 I returned from India in one of Greens'
vessels with some 200 time-expired men and invalids. A case of
twenty Enfield rifles was handed over for the use of the troops,
and there were about the same number of muskets in an arm-
rack belonging to the ship. When we left Calcutta Europe was at
peace, when we reached Spithead war was declared between Prussia
and Austria. How would it have been had that war been between
France and England and had we been met by a Revenant ?-C.B.N.
384
The Corsairs of France.
of corps of naval volunteers, culled from the fisher-
men and boatmen of our seaports and watering-
places, will doubtless strengthen the hands of those
entrusted with the defence of the kingdom. The
discussion of such a scheme is foreign to this work;
but the enlargement of the Royal Naval Reserve,
and the inclusion in its ranks of every able-bodied
man in the mercantile marine, would practically
place our merchant-ships beyond the reach of an
enemy's privateer. Nay, more, it would enable the
Admiralty by a mere stroke of the pen to convert
our swift ocean cruisers into men-of-war destined to
patrol the highways of the ocean and to protect
weaker and slower craft.
Colbert's Inscription Maritime may be unsuited
to British ideas, but there are many other ways of
enlisting the sympathies of the British sailor in a
scheme having for its object the preservation of our
merchant navy in case of war. The press-gang has
been abolished, and life in the navy ameliorated
in every way, yet the merchant-sailor has a
rooted antipathy to serving on board a ship-of-war,
and consequently the number of our Royal Naval
Reserve is far weaker than it should be. Is it the
fault of the system which fails to reach the men,
or is it the fault of the men who refuse to appre-
ciate the system?
Ashore this antipathy between the volunteers and
the regulars does not exist, and we periodically see
thousands of the former brigaded at Aldershot or at
the various brigade depôts with regiments of the line.
Is there any reason why the same close connection
Naval Reserve.
385
should not be established between the seamen of the
mercantile marine and their brethren in the Royal
Navy. Is it that the Naval Reserve do not meet
with the same encouragement at the hands of the
Admiralty as the auxiliary forces do from the Horse
Guards? The militia or volunteer officer may rise
to the rank of colonel, and he may receive the ribbon
of the Bath and the A.D.C.ship to his Sovereign;
but though the naval reserve officer may be called
upon to perform far more arduous duties than
are likely to fall to the lot of his comrade in the
land forces, he can never advance beyond the rank
of lieutenant. Is there any reason why they should
not be promoted commanders and post-captains, and
this, too, at an age when they are able to officiate in
such ranks ?
In January, 1887, I find the state of the Royal
Naval Reserve to be:-
Lieutenants 45, of whom 8 have held that rank
upwards of 20 years.
Sub-Lieutenants 113, 5 of whom have held the
rank more than 20 years.
Midshipmen 109, 3 of these have been midship-
men for 10 years.
Surely the inducements held out to officers of the
mercantile marine must be very slight, and the
rules which govern promotion very stringent, to
admit of such a state of things.
There are many ways of popularizing the Royal
Naval Reserve, and of proving to both officers and
men that by joining it they not only do the State
some service, but that they reap benefit from the
ос
386
The Corsairs of France.
State themselves. Our navy is not on a a war
footing, and in order to commission a sufficient
number of vessels to enable it to perform the
onerous duties it would have to carry out, should
war unhappily overtake us, very large numbers of
men would require to be entertained. Seamen are
not trained in a day, and the Royal Navy has
practically no reserve to fall back upon. Not
merely would able seamen be wanted, but artificers,
and engineer crews: these are already to hand, if
only the Admiralty will open wide the doors of the
Royal Naval Reserve.
war.
The protection of her commerce is of priceless
worth to England, and the few hundred thousand
pounds that would be necessary to organize an
efficient means of manning our merchant-vessels
with men trained to the use of arms, as well as to
the working of a ship, would be but a small
premium to pay for insurance against capture at
the hands of those sea-rovers, who will inevitably
be let loose to scour the ocean in the next European
The value to the country of a powerful
reserve to the navy cannot be over-estimated. To
the vessels manned by the reserve will fall the
task of patrolling our ocean highways, on these men
will devolve the defence of their own vessels in case
of attack. In the ranks of the mercantile marine are
to be found gallant men and skilful, ready to under-
take the task, but their gallantry needs encourage-
ment and their skill proper training. In the event
of war, the country would reap substantial advantage
from the employment of the men of the mercantile
}
}
Conclusion.
387
marine; why should not they, in time of peace, reap
some advantage from their connection with the State?
More generous treatment in the matter of rank
and honour would attract officers of the merchant
service to the commissioned ranks of the Royal
Naval Reserve. Any one acquainted with the
habits of the British sailor would formulate a
dozen plans which would induce him to do the same
thing. The severe discipline of a man-of-war is
irksome to the man accustomed to the fo'csle of a
merchantman, and many a good sailor is hindered
from joining the reserve because of the strict dis-
cipline maintained on the training-ships. The success
of the volunteer movement ashore has been mainly
owing to the fact that the volunteers have been
commanded by amateur soldiers, that pipeclay and
red tape have been conspicuously absent, and that
but a small permanent staff of professional soldiers.
have been given to each commander for the in-
struction of his men. In the Naval Reserve we
have acted differently. An officer who has com-
manded a Peninsular and Oriental vessel or a
Cunarder, is junior to any lieutenant on board a
training-ship, and the men do not treat him with the
deference he receives-and very justly receives—
on board his own vessel. It would be an experiment
worth trying to attach a vessel, say a P. & O.
steamer, to our Channel Squadron during its next
summer cruise. Let her be manned and officered
entirely by Naval Reserve men, with the exception
of a gunnery lieutenant and his crew, for the
purpose of instructing the men in gun-drill, and let
0c 2
388
The Corsairs of France.
the Admiral commanding the fleet report upon her
efficiency at the end of a fortnight. It is not often
that officers and men in the merchant service can
spare a longer period than this, and competition is
keen, and berths are not long kept vacant; but there
are times when work is slack, and when employ-
ment would be thankfully received. In the winter
months when many vessels are laid up, and when
hundreds, aye, thousands of sailormen are on the
verge of starvation, the Royal Naval Reserve could
sweep into its net whole crews of able-bodied
seamen. In colonial and Indian ports, too, Jack is
often stranded high and dry, and would be thankful
enough of a month's work on a training-ship. The
money spent in feeding, and paying, and instructing
these men would by no means be thrown away.
Every merchant-seaman trained in the use of arms
becomes an important factor in the defence of his
ship, and a unit in that great scheme of Imperial
Defence which is needed to place the commerce of
Greater Britain beyond the reach of our enemies.
It will be said that the question of a Naval
Reserve is not cognate to the subject matter of this
book; but I contend that, if the officers and crews.
of our merchant-vessels are as well versed in the
management of guns and of small arms as they are
in navigation and seamanship, the future need
trouble us but little.
The nation is alive to the importance of defend-
ing our coaling-stations, and so keeping intact
the chain of our naval communications round the
world, but it is not alive to the perilous position
+
Conclusion.
389
of our ships navigating distant seas. In the
event of war, the ships of the Royal Navy will
have enough to do in guarding our own shores,
and those of our dependencies, from the attacks of
hostile fleets. Our merchant-vessels will have to
perform their voyages without escort, and they will
undoubtedly in the future, as they have been in
the past, be exposed to attacks at the hands of
privateers. In 1878, Russia openly avowed her
intention of preying on our commerce. French
naval authorities and the French press discuss
the question with equal openness; it behoves us to
prepare for the result.
The Corsairs of France have not always had it
their own way when cruising in English waters;
we have had Cochranes and Parkers in plenty, who
have carried French privateers with almost mono-
tonous celerity into English ports, but it cannot be
denied that many of the achievements I have related
are humiliating to our national pride, and a warning
as to the future. They are pregnant with the gravest
lessons. They teach us the absolute necessity of a
thorough defence of our colonies. Greater Britain
cannot afford to allow Sierra Leone to be bom-
barded or Mont Serrat to purchase its immunity
from pillage. They teach us the necessity of
maintaining swift cruisers on our distant stations,
not lame ducks which cannot overhaul a privateer;
and above all, they teach us the necessity of exer-
cising some supervision over, and affording some
assistance to the officers and crews of our merchant-
vessels, so as to enable them to fight with at least
390
The Corsairs of France.
some hope of success, should the fortune of war
once more expose them to the danger of seeing our
commercial highways in the hands of the Corsairs
of France.
It is far from my intention to underrate the un-
equalled services performed by our Navy in the last
great war, or the great gallantry displayed on many
occasions by the officers and men of our mercantile
marine. Neither the one nor the other saved
England's commerce from terrible loss, a loss which
never yet has been put clearly before the country,
and which most assuredly never will. This loss,
from the very nature of things, was far in excess of
that which we inflicted on France. Yet France
suffered heavily at our hands in the long years which
elapsed between 1793 and 1814; the French
Minister of the Interior, in a report presented to
the Chamber of Deputies in March, 1814, owned
that English ships had captured-
43 Line-of-battle ships,
82 Frigates,
76 Corvettes,
1
62 Transports owned by Government,
besides several hundred craft fitted out by private
individuals and carrying letters of marque. The
long list of privateers I have given in the Appendix ¹
is by no means complete, yet it shows clearly
enough the danger to which our merchant-vessels
were exposed, and the heavy task thrown upon our
cruisers in patrolling the seas.
¹ See Appendix Nos. IX. and X.
Conclusion.
391
In some cases merchant vessels well found and
manned, succeeded in holding their own when
assailed. The gallant defence of the Windsor Castle,
West India packet, and Regent East Indiaman, are
notable instances, and the sailor-like reports of
their commanders are worth reproducing.
Windsor Castle Packet,
Carlisle Bay,
October 3rd, 1807.
Sir,-Having on my passage from England in
the Windsor Castle packet, with the mails for the
Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, been attacked
by a French privateer within the limits of your
station, I take the liberty of acquainting you that
we were fortunate enough to capture her after a
severe action, and arrived with her safe in this
Bay.
She was seen on the morning of the 1st October,
in lat. 13° 53' N. and long. 58° 1′ W., and about
half-past eight made all sail in chase of the packet,
when every exertion was made to get away from
her; but finding it impossible, preparations were
made to make the best resistance we could and
arrangements to sink the mails if necessary.
At noon the schooner got within gunshot, hoisted
French colours, and began her fire, which was re-
turned from our stern-chace guns: this was con-
tinued until she came near, when we were hailed in
very opprobrious terms, and desired to strike our
colours. On refusing to do so, she ran alongside,
grappled the packet, and attempted to board, which
we repulsed by the pikes with the loss of eight or
392
The Corsairs of France.
ten men on the part of the enemy, when the
schooner attempted to get clear by cutting the
grapplings, but the main-yard being locked in her
rigging, she was prevented. Great exertions were
continued on both sides, and I had occasion to
station a part of the crew in charge of the mails to
shift them as circumstances required, or to cut them
away in case of failure.
About three we got one of our 6-pounder carronades
to bear upon the schooner, loaded with double grape,
canister, and 100 musket-balls, which was fired at
the moment that the enemy was making a second
desperate attempt to board, and killed and wounded
a very great number. Soon after this I embraced
the opportunity in turn with five men, and suc-
ceeded in driving the enemy from his quarters, and
about four o'clock the schooner was completely in
our possession. She is named the Jeune Richard,
mounting six 6-pounders and one long 18-pounder,
having on board at the commencement of the action
ninety-two men, of whom twenty-one were found dead
on the decks and thirty-three wounded. From the
very superior number of the enemy still remaining,
it was necessary to use every precaution in securing
the prisoners. I was obliged to order them from
below, one by one, and place them in our own irons
as they came, as three of our little crew were killed
and ten severely wounded; the mizzen-mast and
main-yard carried away, and the rigging, fore and aft,
much damaged. It is my duty to mention to you, sir,
that the crew of the packet, amounting at first to
only twenty-eight men and boys, supported me
up
Conclusion.
393
with the greatest gallantry during the whole of this
arduous contest.
I have the honour, &c.,
W. ROGERS.
Surely such gallantry as this is worthy of per-
manent record in our naval annals?
No less deserving of mention is the conduct of
the Regent Indiaman, which found herself assailed
by three French privateers on the 12th November,
1812. "With these she sustained a smart action
for some considerable time, till being at length able
to bring the whole of her guns to bear on one of the
assailants, I gave her such a broadside as sunk her
immediately, whereupon her consorts with difficulty
made their escape.
The Regent carries twelve guns
and thirty-six men."
It will be seen on a reference to the list of privateers
captured, that every French port, and every French
colony, was converted into a nest of privateering.
Our fleets, after Trafalgar, held their ships of war
blockaded in their harbours, but no amount of
vigilance could prevent the escape of the small
craft specially built and fitted out for the purpose
of preying upon our commerce. In any future war,
we shall possess one incalculable advantage. Then
wind was the motive power, and the wind was
common to all. Now ships are dependent on coal,
and France has to look to foreign nations in order
to carry on even the internal railway traffic of the
country. If her ports are thoroughly blockaded,
her ships are powerless. But in order to blockade
394
The Corsairs of France.
these ports we need more than mere harbours of
refuge in our colonies, we need more than mere
forts armed with heavy guns-we require per-
manent garrisons to man them, and we require
squadrons of swift-steaming cruisers to patrol our
ocean highways, and we require docks at many
points in which these vessels can be placed for
repair, in order to obviate the necessity of their
being compelled to make long voyages in a
crippled condition, as is now unfortunately too
often the case when any accident occurs.
Providence, which has given us coal and iron, has
once more given us the mastery of the sea, but we
must remember that at the present moment our
fleet of merchant-steamers is just ten times as
numerous as that of France, and that it offers a fine
field for the exercise of those talents which were so
conspicuously displayed in olden days by the
CORSAIRS OF FRANCE.
THE END.
395
APPENDIX I.
PROCEEDINGS OF ADMIRALTY COURT OF DUNKIRK ON
CAPTURE OF "ESPERANCE" BY JEAN BART.
Saint Germain, 25th March, 1675.
WHEREAS the King in Council has had before him the proceedings
of an inquiry conducted by the delegate of the Admiralty at
Dunkirk, held at that port on the 24th of January and 4th Feb-
ruary, 1675, upon the request of Jean Bart, Captain Commandant
of the frigate Royale, who states that on the 21st of the same
month of January, when off the Vlie, he captured an armed vessel
acting as convoy to three traders, the said vessel being armed
with ten guns, all stamped with the arms of the Prince of Orange;
that during the combat, which lasted over an hour, the captain, the
lieutenant, and several of the crew of his prize were killed.
Hetgart Hessel, the pilot, and three seamen of the prize, being
questioned, state that they are all Dutchmen, their ship was
named the Esperance, armed with ten guns, all stamped with the
arms of the Prince of Orange, and that the ship herself belonged to the
Admiralty of Friesland. That the vessel sailed under a commis-
sion from the Government of Friesland, and was acting as convoy
to a merchant fleet proceeding from Holland to Norway; that on
the return voyage, when near the island of Escalin, they were
captured by Jean Bart after a fight lasting some hours, in which
the captain, lieutenant, and several men were killed; that at the
time of the fight they were flying the flag of the Prince of Orange.
The commission of the Admiralty of Friesland is produced by
Jean Bart; it bears date the 6th July, 1674, is granted to Hanis,
the deceased captain of the Esperance, authorizing him to act as
escort to vessels trading with Norway, and to convey them back to
Harlingen.
Having carefully considered the proceedings of the said Court,
the King in Council declares the said frigate, the Esperance, her
gear and tackle, good and lawful prize, and adjudges them to the
396
Appendix.
1
said Jean Bart, and the Admiralty officials at Dunkirk are en-
joined with the execution of this decree.
(D'Aligré.)
""
COLBERT.
APPENDIX II.
PROCEEDINGS OF ADMIRALTY COURT AT DUNKIRK ON
CAPTURE OF "NEPTUNE (30) BY JEAN BART.
1st December, 1676.
WHEREAS the King sitting in Council has had the proceedings of
a Court of inquiry instituted by the Admiralty authorities at
Dunkirk submitted to him, whereby it appears, upon the report of
Jean Bart, commanding the frigate Palme, sworn to on the 10th
September, 1676; that on the 7th of the same month, after a severe
and long fight, he captured a vessel carrying thirty guns, acting as
convoy to a fleet of traders, which ship he took into Dunkirk.
On the 16th of the same month, Liemard Cuiper, a native of
Enchuysen, captain of the said frigate Neptune, thirty, being in-
terrogated, answers that the vessel in question was actually the
property of the Enchuysen fishing company, that she had been
sent to the northward to convoy down the fleet of traders, that on
the return voyage she was captured by the Jean Bart; that the
Neptune flew the flag and sailed under a commission of the Prince
of Orange, and that during the combat, in which he was captured,
he lost twenty men killed, and he himself, with several others, was
dangerously wounded.
Jean Peterssen Box, pilot of the said frigate Neptune, confirmed
the statement of Liemard Cuiper, whose commission from the
Prince of Orange bore date 3rd October, 1671.
Having heard the report of Monsieur de Breteuil, privy coun-
cellor to his Majesty, who was present at the inquiry held at
Dunkirk,
The King in Council declared, and declares the frigate
Neptune, gear and tackle, good and lawful prize, and adjudges the
same to the said Jean Bart.
The Lieutenant of the Admiralty at Dunkirk is enjoined to
undertake the execution of this decree.
(D'Aligré.)
LE JONNELLIER-BRETEUIL.
BAZIN.
COLBERT.
PUFFORT.
Appendix.
397
APPENDIX III.
PROCEEDINGS OF ADMIRALTY COURT AT DUNKIRK ON
CAPTURE OF "DEMOISELLE CHRISTINE" BY JEAN
BART.
Versailles, 29th December, 1676.
WHEREAS the King in Council has had before him the proceedings
of the Court of Admiralty at Dunkirk, upon the request of Jean
Bart, Captain of the frigate Palme, from which it appears that on
the 22nd of the same month, when off the Vlie, he sighted four
vessels, two of which, after a long chase and sharp fight, in which
he lost eleven men killed, he captured and convoyed into Dun-
kirk.
Michel Collombeau states that he is a native of St. Martin de
Ré, living at Sardam with his family, that he was master of one of
the two captured ships, named the Demoiselle Christine; he had
lived in Holland since the age of twenty years, that the said
ship belonged to two merchants of Amsterdam, of Ackersilot and
to himself, that she was built to their order and he placed in
command. That he sailed from Amsterdam on the 13th June for
Russia, being freighted by some merchants of Amsterdam with
pepper, cloth and silver; that he was on his return voyage to
Amsterdam laden with 260 barrels of wood ash, twenty-five cases
of potash, a hundred bales of hemp, eighty bundles of skins,
twenty-two bales of silk, twenty-five barrels of salt fish, twenty-five
bundles of salt pork, five cases of hair, two bales of morocco skins,
twenty-five bales of horsehair, and a hundred bales of stock-fish,
and some firewood, all of which merchandise was consigned to
merchants of Amsterdam, to whom he thought it belonged, with
the exception of the silk, which was the property of some Persian
and other foreign merchants on board the other vessels. These
also had property on the other ships, not wishing to risk all their
property in one craft. He further declared that he had no papers
of consignment on the ship, but that he had signed them and re-
turned them to the shipper at Archangel, in order that they might
be remitted by letter to the consignees at Amsterdam. That he
had a list of all his cargo, but that this had been captured by the
said Jean Bart, who had captured his vessel off the Vlie; that his
ship carried a crew of eleven men and two boys, whom he had
shipped in Amsterdam--some Dutch, some Swedes, some Pomera-
nians; that his vessel sailed under the Dutch flag and carried
nine guns, and that he had worked these and made as sturdy a
defence as he was able.
398
Appendix.
Cornille Reyenen, native of Ackerstot, where he lived, pilot of the
said ship, confirms all sworn to by his captain. On the 29th of
Nov. he was present at the searching of the other prize, the Prophet
Daniel, on which were discovered a quantity of papers, amongst
them 124 private letters and thirty-nine letters of consignment for
the cargo of the said ship, the Christine, the most part sealed and
addressed to merchants of Amsterdam.
Colombeau, re-examined on the 29th Nov., recognized the said
letter of consignment, and the bill of lading made out by his
pilot.
Monsol, native and merchant of Teluert in Persia, affirms that he
shipped on the said Demoiselle Christine three bales of silk for
sale at Amsterdam.
Jacob Gregoriof, native and merchant of Tiply (Tiflis ? ) in Persia,
affirms that he left Persia for Archangel and thence for Amsterdam,
that he had shipped nine bales of silk on the Christine, three of
which had been sold to a merchant of Amsterdam for 505 crowns,
receipt produced. He recognized the sailing orders of the said
Colombeau, also some documents signed by the provost of Arther-
stoot in Holland, dated 8th July, 1674, the charter-party for the
said voyage from Amsterdam to Archangel, dated 29th May last:
also the thirty-nine letters of consignment, of which thirty-eight
were for merchants of Amsterdam, and one for Arisnit Martiras, of
whom he knew nothing, all dated 1st October of the present year,
three letters relating to eleven bales of silk consigned to Henri
Brust, a Dutch merchant, who had paid certain sums to Armenian
and Persian merchants therein named for the account of Jacques
Schuyf, merchant of Amsterdam: he also recognized other letters
and bills relating to the cargo of the said ship, signed by Arapiet
de Martirois, David Boghem, Jacoms Naciat, Sachav Karacos and
other Persian and Armenian merchants living at Ispahan, all of
which letters had been seized, together with bales of silk and other
merchandise belonging to them.
Having attentively considered the report of the Admiralty
Lieutenant at Dunkirk,
The King in Council declares the said ship, the Demoiselle
Christine, her gear and tackle, and her freight, good and lawful
prize, and adjudges the same to be confiscated for the profit of the
said Jean Bart, less one-tenth belonging to the Comte de Verman-
dois, Admiral of France. His Majesty directs that these proceed-
ings be explained to the said Michel Colombeau, according to
ancient ordinances and edicts, by the officers of his Admiralty at
Dunkirk, who are charged to enforce this decree.
Appendix.
399
123
18
19
20
21
22
3
4 L'Aigle
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Name of ship.
ROLL OF CORSAIRS COMMISSIONED IN BOULOGne,
1793-1814.
L'Adèle
L'Adolphe
L'Adolphe
L'Anacreon…………..
L'Aimable Coralie
L'Aimable Nellie
L'Aventurier
La Coquette
Le Curieux
•••
..
L'Eclair
L'Églé
Enjoleur
Escamoteur
Le Boulonnais
Le Cami
Le Cerf-volant
Les Cinq Amis
Comtesse de Maurepas
Compère Mathieu......
Cygne
Le Desiré
Les Deux Frères
Les Deux Frères
Epervier
Esperance
L'Espiègle
L'Espiègle
L'Etoile
Furet (1)
Furet (2)
Le Furet (3)
Furet (4)
Figaro
Filibustier
La Fortune
a
Les Sept Frères
La Dorade
Duc de Dalmatie
……..
..
....
....
..
……….
•••
•
▼
APPENDIX IV.
Captain.
Malo.
J. J. Fourmentin.
Beauvois.
Fourny.
Corcel.
Routher.
Palette.
Lemairé.
Pollet.
Unruch.
Broquant.
Castagnier.
Dumay.
Ducarnoy.
Paulet.
Lautonne.
Lefebvre.
Routiere.
Lescan.
Claireaux.
Margollet.
Henin.
J. Lefebvre.
Denis.
J. B. Pollet.
Leclerc.
Duchene.
Huret.
Altazin.
Bucaille.
Broquant.
Fourmentin.
Roullier.
Demary.
Benoit.
་ས་ཇ་—ས་
40 41 42 43 4
44
45
46
47
48
Name of ship.
6+
65
66
67
68
La Fortunée
Friendship
General Gaffarelly
Le Génie
Le bon Génie
Glaneur
49
Hasard...
Industrie
Impromptu...
Intrépide
50 Josephine
Liberté des Mers
Le Loup
51
52
53
Le Lynx
54
55
56
Le Neptune...
Ossean
Papillon
Le Poisson Volant
Princesse de Boulogne
57
58
59
60
61
Le Prospère......
Le Prospère (2)
Riccocheuse
Rancumer
Reciprocité
Renard
62
63
Renée
…………..
...
…………
......
...
....
Vautour
Vautour
Vengeur
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
Voltigeur.
78 Voltigeur
Somnabule
Subtil
Unité
….
…………………….
Revanche....
Rodeur....
Rusé
C
Vengeance
Victoire...
…….
****
……….
...
…………
4
....
...
Captain.
Soubitez.
Renaux.
Corner.
Delperré.
Souville.
Beauvoir.
Huet.
T. Fourmentin.
Bourgeon.
Soubitey.
Fourny.
Huret.
Trucquet.
Wasselin.
Fresson.
Lefort.
Aucomy.
Altazin.
Henin.
Broquant.
Blondin.
Ponchin.
Souville.
Altazin.
Benard.
Huret.
Audibert.
Sauvage.
Demay.
Cary.
Durand.
Oreille.
Huret.
Lefort.
Fourny.
Fourmentin.
Margollet.
APPENDIX V.
DECREE OF THE DIRECTORY REWARDING THE CAPTAIN
OF A PRIVAteer.
The Directory, having received and taken into consideration the
report of the Minister of Marine and of the Colonies relative to
the combat sustained on the 14th of this month by the corsairs
400
Appendix.
Furet, armed with four twelve-pounders, and the Rusé, eight three-
pounders, against an English corvette, carrying eighteen eighteen-
pounder broadside guns and four thirty-six pounder carronades,
resolves
Art. 1.-The citizen Audibert, Enseigne de Vaisseau, command-
ing the Rusé, is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant de Vaisseau,
as a reward for his skill and gallantry displayed in that engage-
ment.
Art. 2.-The Minister of Marine will transmit to the family of
Citizen Fourmentin, captain of the Corsair Furet, who died of
wounds received in that action, the regrets of the Directory on the
loss of such a brave sailor.
Art. 3.-The Minister of Marine and of the Colonies is charged
with the execution of this decree.
(Signed.)
APPENDIX VI.
NAMES OF SOME OF THE ENGLISH PRIZES CARRIED
INTO BOULOGNE, 1793-1814.
1. Active.
2. Addison.
3. Adventure.
4. Aid.
5. Alexandrine.
6. Amiable Julia.
7. Anna.
8. Anna Maria
(brig).
9. Anna Maria
(sloop).
10. Ardent.
11. Argo.
12. Argus.
13. Arrow.
14. Atalanta.
15. Autumn.
16. Auk.
17. Ave Maria.
18. Bacchus.
19. Bedford.
REVEILLIEU Lepaux.
LAGARDE, Secretary General.
20. Bewley.
21. Blessington.
22. Blakeney.
23. Britannia.
24. Calypso.
25. Catharine.
26. Concord.
27. Cygne.
28. Dasher.
29. Day.
30. Defiance.
31. Diligence.
32. Dorchester.
33. Dorothea.
34. Ellen.
35. J. Emery.
36. Esdaile.
37. Esperance.
38. Expedition.
39. Experiment.
40. Falcon.
41. Fame.
42. Forester.
43. Fortitude.
44. Fox.
45. Friends.
46. Friendship.
47. Friend'sGoodwill.
48. Friendship's Ad-
venture.
49. Gibraltar.
50. Glory.
51. Gratitude.
52. Ham.
53. Hannah.
54. Harmony.
55. Hastings Smith.
56. Henrietta.
57. Honduras.
58. Hope (4 of this
name).
62. Industry.
Appendix.
401
63. James.
85. Nautilus.
64. Jane (3 of this 86. Neptune.
name).
67. John and Helena.
68. John and Mary.
69. Kingston.
70. Lais.
71. Liberty.
72. Little George.
73. Lisbon.
87. Northumber-
land.
88. J. Nicholson.
89. Oxford.
90. Paragon.
91. Particular.
92. Peggy,
93. Phoenix.
94. Plymouth.
95. Providence (4 of
this name).
99. Romulus,
100. Rover.
101. Royal George.
74. Lister.
75. Lydia.
76. Margaret (5 of
this name).
81. Mary and Mar-
garet.
82. Mary (5 of this 102. Ruby.
name).
103. Sarah.
83. Maria.
84. Nancy (2 of this 105. Star
name).
104. Scheldt.
of
North.
•
Liberté-Egalité.
106. Sunderland.
107. Swan.
108. Syrène.
109. Testimony.
110. Thetis.
111. Thomas
Jane.
112. Thomas
Betty.
APPENDIX VII.
COMMISSION GRANTED TO A PRIVATEER.
and
and
113. Thug.
114. Tor Abbey.
115. Unity.
115. Urania,
116. Walpole.
117. Wilhelms.
118. William.
119. William Bed-
ford.
120. Young England.
the 121. Zephyr.
Au nom de la République française.
•
Le conseil exécutif de la République française permette par ces
présentes à . . de faire armer et équiper en guerre un
nommé . . du port de . . tonneaux ou environ, actuellement
au port de.. avec un tel nombre de canons, boulets et telle
quantité de poudre, plombe, et autres munitions de guerre et vivres,
qu'il jugera nécessaire pour le mettre en état de courir sur les
pirates, les forbans, gens sans aveu et généralement tous les ennemis
de la République française en quelque lieu qu'il pourra les rencontrer :
de les prendre et amener prisonniers avec leurs navires, armes et
autres objets dont ils seront saisis à la charge pour ledit . . . de
se conformer aux ordonnances de la marine, aux lois décrétées par
représentants du peuple français et notamment à l'article 4 de la
loi du 31 Janvier concernant le nombre d'hommes devant former
son équipage de faire enregistrer les présentes lettres au bureau des
classes du lieu de son départ, et d'y deposer une rôle signé et
certifié de lui contenant les noms et surnoms, âge, lieu de naissance,
D d
402
Appendix.
et demeure des gens de son équipage, et à son retour de faire son
rapport par devant l'officier chargé de l'administration des classes et
de ce qui se sera passé pendant son voyage.
Le conseil exécutif provisoir requiert tous peuples amis et alliés
de la République français et leur agents de donner au dit . . .
toute assistance, passage et retraite en leurs ports avec son dit
vaisseau et les prises qu'il aura pu faire, offrant d'en user le même
en pareille circonstance.
Mande et ordonne aux Commandeurs du bâtiments de l'état de
laisser passer ledit . . . avec son vaisseau et ceux qu'il aura pu
faire prendre sur l'ennemi et de lui donner secours et assistance.
Ne pourront les preséntes servir que pour. . . mois seulement à
compter de la date de leur enregistrement.
En foi de quoi le Conseil exécutif provisoire de la République a
fait signer les présentes lettres par le ministre de la marine et y
a fait apposé le sceau de la République.
Donné à Paris, le
179.
Ministre de la Marine.
APPENDIX VIII.
BLANK COMMISSION TO BE GIVEN TO OFFICERS PLACED
ON PRIZES.
COMMISSION
POUR LES CONDUCTEURS DE PRISES.
Par sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français, Roi d'Italie et
Protecteur de la Confédération du Rhin.
au Port de
Le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies autorise par ces pré-
nommé l'
du
sentes
Capitaine du
tonneau ou environ, armé et équipé en guerre
port de
suivant la lettre de marque
par
expédiée sous le No. dûment enregistrée au Bureau de l'inscrip-
tion maritime à amener ou à envoyer dans les portes de l'Empe-
reur ou de ses Alliés tous les Bâtiments des ennemis de sa Majesté,
des pirates, forbans, gens sans aveu, qu'il aura pu prendre et faire
ou celui qu'il
prisonniers, à moins que ledit Capitaine du
les
aura chargé de ladite prise, n'ait été forcé par la tempête ou par
ennemis de relâcher en quelque port neutre; auquel cas il sera
tenu de justifier des motifs de la relâche; et d'en donner
incessamment avis aux intéressés à l'armement à la charge
ou par son Capitaine de Prises, de faire par devant l'officier
d'Administration chargé de l'inscription maritime, ou devant les
Appendix.
403
Conseils de sa Majesté, au lieu du retour ou de la relâche, le
Rapport ordonné par les Lois et de se conformer à celles relatives
aux Prises maritimes.
Les officiers et agens des Puissances amies et Alliés de l'Empe-
reur sont invités à donner aux
ou à son Capitaine de
Prises, secours, assistance, passage et retraite avec ladite prise.
Il est ordonné aux Commandants des Bâtiments de sa Majesté
de le laisser librement passer, sans lui faire ni souffrir qu'il soit
faite aucun trouble ni empêchement quelqonque.
Le dit Capitaine
sera tenu d'inscrire ci-dessous le nom et
le pavillon du bâtiment pris, le jour et l'heure où il aura été en
quel lieu et quelle hauteur.
À Paris, le
Signé Decres.
Le
j'ai remis à
Capitaine du
ci-dessus désigné Commission
de Conducteur de prises et celle-ci
en fait partie.
A
le
le
de Marine.
>
Formule dont le Capitaine remplira les blancs et qu'il signera.
Je soussigné, Capitaine du Corsaire nommé l'
ai delivré
en
la présente Commission à Conducteur de la Prise nommée
dont était maître
du port et havre d
ladite prise faite par moi soussigné, Capitaine dudit Corsaire.
Fait en mer le
Je soussigné
jour engagé avec MM.
Par Monseigneur
le Chef de la 2º Division,
signé Ches. M. Jurien.
Pour ampliation certifiée
conforme,
Le Commissaire de Marine.
APPENDIX IX.
TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT ON A CORSAIR.
de ce Port de
reconnois par ces présentes m'être ce
Armateurs du Corsaire le
Capitaine
mois de mer effective sur
moyennant le prix de
pour faire une Course de
ledit corsaire en qualité de
par chaque mois de mer, à condition de recevoir le jour de la
Revue
de mon Engagement par forme d'avances de
Dd 2
404
Appendix.
manger
à bord dudit corsaire durant toute la Course et me conformer
en tout point à l'ordonnance du Roi.
Signé
À
ce
17
APPENDIX X.
DECREE OF THE 31ST JANUARY, 1793, SANCTIONING
PRIVATEERING.
Art. 1.-Les citoyens français pourront armer en course.
Art. 2.-Le ministre de la marine pour accélérer les armements en
course, s'ils ont lieu, délivrera des lettres de marque ou
permissions en blanc d'armer en guerre, et courir sur les
ennemis de la République. Ces permissions seront conformes
au modèle annexé au présent décret.
Art. 3. Ces lettres ou permissions en blanc, signées du ministre,
seront envoyées par lui aux directoires des districts maritimes,
qui ne pourront les délivrer que sous leur responsabilité,
et à la charge de prevenir exactement le ministre de leur
livraison.
Art. 4.—Il ne pourra être employé sur les bâtiments en course qu'un
sixième des matelots classés en état de servir la République.
Pour cet effet les préposés aux classes ne pourront recevoir
d'enrôlements, ni délivrer de permis d'embarquer pour la
course qu'autant que le nombre des matelots employés à ce
service n'excédera pas le sixième des gens classés de leur
arrondissement. Ils seront ainsi que les armateurs responsable
de toute contravention à cette loi.
Art. 5.-Les chefs, souschefs préposés aux classes et les capitaines
des bâtiments de la République ne pourront dans aucun
cas forcer les capitaines du bâtiments en course à en debarquer
aucun matelot, qu'autant que le nombre de ceux classés
excéderait la proportion determinée par l'article ci-dessus.
The decree was terse enough, and occupied but a few moment's
discussion in the Convention: on its receiving the sanction of the
council of the ancients, special couriers were at once despatched
to the various seaport towns, and within a few hours of the
arrival of these messengers, the sea-wolves of France were thirsting
for their prey.
Appendix.
405
Name of ship.
APPENDIX XI.
ROLL OF SHIPS, WITH THEIR CAPTAINS AND CREWS,
IN THE FRENCH NAVY IN THE YEAR 1666.
Frédéric
Grand Normand
Sophie
Neptune
A
Invincible
Bourbon
Princesse
Conquèrant...
Saint Louis
Intrépide
Royale
Navarre
Justice
Jule
A
Tigre
Auna..
AAAAAAA
KERANA
--
****
***
AAAAA
Triomphe......
Saint Charles
St. Jean de Bayonne
Sauveur
D
A
St. Antoine
St. Augustin
AAAAA
Vierge ....
Notre Dame
St. Sebastien
Leon d'Or
T
A
A
ANAKANAN
Marguerite
Concorde
Aigle d'Or
Petite Enfante
Auroré
4
*
=
**
A
...
4
Gung.
Crew.
84
84
84
80 600
550
550
550
68 450
66 450
66 500
60 400
60 400
60 400
58 400
56 400
56 450
42 350
42 350
42 500
40 300
40 300
40 300
40
300
38
350
38
350
38 300
38
250
38
300
36
250
36 200
28 150
26
160
26 150
8 50
Captain.
de la Roche
Gabaret
Forier...
Chevalier de Buone
KATAN
CANADIANUARI
A
Ta
Chevalier de Bouillon
de Rabesmères............
Marquis de Martel
Gabaret (le jeune)
de Verdille
d'Aplemont
de Verdille (le jeune)…..
de Turelle
de Mangard
de Belle Isle
de Bouillon
Michaud...
Duclos.....
KANAA
+
K
TRA
*
*****
C
de Lamoignon
d'Estival
Chateau-rénault
de Viviers
de Bardel
Louis Gabaret
de Vaudré
de Pasdejeu
d'Etienne
le Conedie
de Bourselle
Perotteau
Chevalier d'Olonne
de Riveau
BERKENAAN
P
A
PARA
MA
******
BANATA
AAAAAAAA
J
**
D
4
***
Good sailer.
Very fast.
Good sailer.
Better in fine than in
heavy weather.
Bad in stays.
Very fast.
**
**
**
**
>+
2
17
Remarks.
*
Heavy in stays.
Very fast.
**
**
AAA
Heavy in stays.
Good sailer.
Brigantine.
APPENDIX XII.
DECREE OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION REGARDING
PRIVATEERS.
23rd THERMIDOR, AN. III.
Art. 1.-It is permitted to all French citizens to arm vessels for
the purpose of attacking the enemy's ships.
Art. 2. The Commission of the Navy and of the Colonies is
authorized to deliver to all shipowners, Letters of Marque,
signed by four members composing the committee of public
safety, and countersigned by the Commissary of the Marine.
406
Appendix.
Art. 3.-Every owner who wishes to arm a privateer will address
a letter to the Commission of the Navy and the Colonies,
explaining the nature of his proposition. The Commission
having considered these will forward the letter of marque.
Art. 4.-Shipowners will enjoy the benefits of the law 31st
Jan., 1793, which sanctions the crews of Corsairs being
composed up to one-sixth of their number, of sailors borne on
the rolls of the Inscription Maritime.
Art. 5.-So far as is possible, powder and munition of war will be
supplied on payment from Government Arsenals.
Art. 6. Shipowners will be required to furnish written guarantees
for the sum of 50,000 francs.
Art. 7.—The laws relating to armament, discipline, sale of prizes,
hitherto in force, will continue to remain in vigour.
APPENDIX XIII.
REPORT OF AN EMISSARY OF THE CONVENTION ON
PRIVATEERING AT ST. MALO.
LE CARPENTIER, REPRÉSENTANT DU PEUPLE AU
PRÉSIDENT DE LA CONVENTION NATIONALE.
Port Malo, le 6 floréal, an II.
J'aurai encore avant mon départ, dont j'attends toujours l'autori-
sation du comité de salut public, le plaisir d'annoncer à la Conven-
tion nationale l'arrivée en ce port de deux prises intéressantes
enlevées par les aigles républicaines.
L'une est un bâtiment danois de 150 tonneaux ou environ
chargé de planches et mâtures, destiné pour l'Angleterre, et
amené en France par la corvette la Citoyenne du Havre; l'autre
est un bâtiment anglais de 6 canons, portant charge de fer, de
poudre et de fusils, allant à la traite des nègres et détourné de sa
route par la frégate l'Unité faisant partie de la division du Contre-
Amiral Nielly. La cargaison de la prèmiere est arrivée fort à
propos pour hâter la confection des bâtiments de guerre qui se
préparent ici, et indépendamment du contenu du second on peut
faire du navire, qui est doublé en cuivre, une bonne corvette de 14
canons.: ainsi tout est profit.
C'est bien dommage que Pitt soit tant occupé à souffler aux
yeux du peuple ses globules phosphoriques. S'il avait un petit
moment de trop, il pourrait l'employer plus utilement pour
nation anglaise en proposant en lieu d'un bill, une bulle de savon
la
Appendix.
407
contre la République française, une lecture de la liste des prises
faites par nos vaisseaux: mais non, ce grand homme n'a pas de
temps à perdre et il sait mieux choisir l'objet des délibérations
du parlement pour prolonger l'erreur et compromettre la fortune
de l'Angleterre.
Salut et fraternité.
APPENDIX XIV.
THURUT'S RAID ON THE IRISH COAST.
IN Volume VII. of the Proceedings of the Percy Society an
interesting account is given of Thurot's attack on Carrickfergus.
I regret that I discovered the fact too late to embody the
narration in my biographical sketch of that gallant Corsair,
but I trust the narrative will not be out of place in an Appendix.
It testifies to the humanity as well as to the gallantry of one of
the Corsairs of France.
C. B. N.
During the spring, summer, and autumn of 1759, active
preparations were going forward at most of the ports of France
for an invasion of the British dominions. Thurot was appointed
to the command of a small squadron fitting out at Dunkirk, which
consisted of
Le Maréchal Belle-Isle
La Blond
Terpischore
Begon
Amaranthe
/
LE CARPENTIER.
•
Guns.
48
36
24
36
24
Sailors. Soldiers.
200
400
200
400
60
70
200.
40
400
100
With two cutters as tenders.
And which force, according to the rumour of the day, was des-
tined to effect a landing in Scotland.
The design against England, report stated, was to have been
carried into effect by the transport of troops from Havre and
other parts of Normandy, in "flat-bottomed boats," which were the
"bugaboos" of popular opinion in all invasions from France.
The third descent was to have been made upon the South of
Ireland, from Vannes in Lower Brittany, where a considerable
body of troops were assembled under the command of the Duke
d'Aiguillon, the governor of that province; and the transport of
these troops was to have been protected by a formidable fleet of
ships of war, which had been fitted out at Brest, and was com-
408
Appendix.
manded by M. de Conflans. "Had this design," observes a
writer in the "Annual Register," "been such as it was represented,
and had it been put into execution, there is no doubt that such
an attempt upon both kingdoms at three different places at
once, must have thrown the whole into no small confusion."
Dunkirk was watched by a squadron under Commodore Boys,
which, however, Thurot contrived to evade. Admiral Rodney
bombarded Havre. Hawke blocked up the harbour of Brest,
and with a small squadron kept a watch on that of Vannes.
After the defeat experienced by the French at the battle of
Minden, greater exertions were used to forward the projected
invasion.
The winter did not delay the operations at Vannes, as it was
hoped that season would compel the English squadron to retire,
and indeed a violent storm did oblige Sir Edward Hawke to quit
his station off Brest, and with his fleet to anchor in Torbay. On
the 14th November the French fleet under Conflans sailed.
On the same day Hawke put to sea, and a general action took
place on the 20th November, now remembered as Hawke's
victory.
On the 15th October, Thurot with his small squadron, favoured
by a hazy night, got out of Dunkirk, and after touching at Ostend,
sailed the next evening for Gottenburg, where they arrived on
the 26th, and after procuring supplies of provisions and other
stores there, put to sea on the 14th November, the same day with
Conflans and Hawke. A strong gale dispersed Thurot's squadron
in the night between the 15th and 16th, and four of his vessels
only joined company the next day. The Begon had received so
much damage that she was compelled to return to Dunkirk, and
was supposed to have foundered. On the 17th his squadron
anchored at Bergen in Norway, where they remained until the
5th December, when they weighed, and steered northward, and
from the 14th to the 27th were beating about within sight
of the Faro Islands, but without being able to make them.
A general council was called on the 1st January, when it was
resolved that each man's allowance should be reduced to ten
ounces of biscuit, and half a septier of wine or spirits per day.
Notwithstanding this regulation they had no more biscuit left
than would serve them to the 14th, and of wine and spirits
only to the 1st February. It was then determined to steer the
first fair gale for Londonderry, as Thurot's instructions were to
attempt the capture of that town, but if the winds continued con-
trary, he was to sail for France.
On Saturday, the 16th February, Thurot's ship appeared on the
north-east coast of Islay, when two of the islanders, named Macneil
and Macdonald, went off in a small boat, believing the vessel to be
-
Appendix.
409
English, and in want of a pilot. At this time the Belle-Isle had
been seriously strained by the stormy weather, and was so leaky
that two pumps were constantly kept going, and sometimes all
the six together. Macneil and Macdonald were introduced in
Thurot's cabin, where they found him with ten or twelve officers
at dinner. Wine and glasses were placed before the visitors ;
Thurot and a gentleman who acted as interpreter to the land.
officers, alone spoke in English. And here it was that Thurot
first heard of the defeat of Conflans by Hawke, which was told him
by Mr. Macdonald. Thurot gave no credit to the fact, until Mac-
donald showed him the account in a magazine which he had in
his pocket.
When this was communicated to the other parties at
the dinner-table, they are said to have "hung down their heads
and laid down their knives and forks." After a short conversation
about the safety of the anchorage, Mr. Macneil was desired to go
ashore and tell the country people that they had nothing to
fear, and that all that would be required was some fresh pro-
visions, to be paid for in ready-money.
But Mr. Macdonald, in consequence of his possessing a printed
account of Hawke's victory, was retained on board the Belle-Isle
for some days, during which time he was treated with the utmost
politeness.
On Sunday, the 17th February, a council of war of the land
and sea officers was held in the great cabin of the Belle-Isle, at
which Macdonald was present. According to his report this
council consisted of thirteen members, of whom eleven gave their
opinion for plundering, burning, and destroying the country.
"Thurot and one other only were of a different opinion, and
spoke with some warmth against the majority. He told them
they might, if they pleased, go ashore, but swore that not a man
of them should ever set foot on board the Belle-Isle, if they were
guilty of the smallest irregularity, and at length he brought from
his trunk the French king's orders, which expressly forbids their
committing any hostilities, unless they met with opposition, in
Scotland."
Previous to this declaration it would appear that Thurot had
denied to Mr. Macdonald all knowledge of an act of aggression
committed by the long-boats of the Belle-Isle upon the night
when that vessel anchored in Claggencarrock Bay, when two sloops
were plundered, from one of which, belonging to Mr. Macdonald,
five tons of flour had been taken, and in payment for which
Thurot insisted on his receiving fifty guineas. Macdonald's reply
was "that the flour was overpaid, being somewhat damnified
before."
Upon this, Thurot remarked " that it was good enough
for those who were to eat it," and added "that no good merchant
should spoil his own market.'
410
Appendix.
After the council of war broke up, Thurot landed, and entered
into negotiation with Mr. Campbell, of Ardmore, respecting the
purchase of some live cattle, poultry, and corn; and so far
amicably arranged matters that about 200 soldiers were allowed
to land to bring off the supply of provisions his little squadron so
much required. Respecting the condition of these soldiers, a
contemporary writer says, "These poor creatures had no sooner
touched dry land than with their bayonets they fell to digging up
herbs and every green thing they met with. At length they came
to a field of potatoes, which they very eagerly dug, and after
shaking off the earth, and wiping them a little on their waistcoats,
ate them up, raw as they were, with the greatest keenness."
Forty-eight head of cattle were procured for the general supply,
and seven sacks of barley in grain were sent on board each vessel,
with a quern or handmill to grind it.
Thurot quietly embarked, after presenting Mr. Macdonald with
a handsome double-barrelled fuzee, valued at twelve or fifteen
guineas. When Mr. Campbell complained to Thurot that the
commissary of the land forces had valued his cattle at twenty
shillings a head, and had given him a bill on the French Resident
at the Hague for that amount, Thurot replied that the bill was
not worth a farthing, and ordered the officer, after upbraiding him
for his attempt to cheat an honest gentleman, to value the cattle at
fifty shillings a head, to pay down fifty guineas in part, which was
all the English gold he had, and to draw a bill for the remainder
on the French king's banker at Paris, which Thurot assured Mr.
Campbell was good money, even though the banker should not
honour it, for that the commissary-general was rich, and might
easily be forced to pay it, if the other party should refuse. "Every
other thing they got," it is stated, "was paid for in ready-
money."
On the morning of Thursday, the 21st February, Thurot's squad-
ron, reduced by the desertion of the Amaranthe to three frigates,
appeared off the island of Magee, standing in shore for the Bay of
Carrickfergus, where, at eleven o'clock, they came to anchor, scarcely
distance three miles from the town, and within musket-shot of the
Point of Kilroot. The small garrison of Carrickfergus consisted of
four companies of the 62nd Regiment, which did not amount to
150 men, who were, at the monent, exercising in a field half a
mile from the town, on the Belfast road. At a quarter after
eleven the guard was turned out, made up, and marched to relieve
the guard on the French prisoners in the castle, an old and ruinous
fortification, built upon a rock, which adjoins the town, and pro-
jects into the bay. The rest of the men continued in the field, where
intelligence soon arrived that three ships, which at first were taken
for Indiamen, and then for an English frigate and two store-ships,
Appendix.
411
CC
had seized a couple of fishing-boats, and with these boats anl
several others, were plying between the shore and the ships, land-
ing soldiers. An order was immediately despatched to the castle
by Lieutenant-Colonel Jennings, the commanding officer, for both
guards to continue under arms, and to double the sentries over the
French prisoners, with directions to be particularly strict and
watchful upon them, until it could be ascertained whether the
disembarking troops were friends or enemies. The garrison
soldiers, most of whom were recruits, then marched from the
exercise-field to the market-place of Carrickfergus, and the Adju-
dant, Lieutenant Benjamin Hall, was despatched with a small
party to reconnoitre. From the rising ground upon which he posted
himself, Mr. Hall observed eight boats landing armed men, who
formed in detached bodies and took up the most advantageous
positions they could find. "My daughter," said Mrs. Cobham to
John Wesley, came running in and said, 'Mamma, there are
three Indiamen come into the bay, and I suppose my brothers are
come in them' (who had been in the East Indies for some time).
An hour afterwards she came in aud cried, "Oh, mamma, they
are Frenchmen, and they are landing, and their guns glitter in
the sun.'" After posting his little party, Lieutenant Hall left
them, with instructions to fire upon the French troops as they
advanced, and to retard their progress as much as possible, and
hurried back to Carrickfergus to inform Colonel Jennings that
there could be no doubt of the hostile intention of the body of men
just landed, whom he estimated at one thousand. Detachments
were immediately made for the defence of the town and the
approaches to it; the French prisoners of war were instantly
marched off to Belfast in charge of the sheriff, and, escorted by
forty townsmen under the command of Mr. James Micklewaine, or
McIlwain, and the mayor (Willoughby Chaplain), requested
Colonel Jennings to inform him what his instructions were with
respect to defending Carrickfergus. The colonel is traditionally
said to have coolly received the demand of the mayor by the offer
of a pinch of snuff, which being impatiently received by his
worship, and after taking a huge one himself, he laconically replied
to the question, "Fiddle-de-dee." The mayor demanded a more
distinct answer, when Colonel Jennings said that, considering the
smallness of the force at his disposal, not one hundred and fifty
men, and as had been reported to him, the numerical superiority of
the enemy, together with the ruinous state of the castle, he deemed
resistance rather unnecessary; but the valiant mayor, with no doubt
the memory of the fame of the defence of Londonderry in his
mind, notwithstanding that there was a breach in the castle wall
towards the sea of fifty feet, that it did not possess a single
cannon mounted, and that there were only a few rounds of ball-
412
Appendix.
cartridge for the soldiers, regarded the castle of Carrickfergus as
impregnable, and angrily insisted upon resistance, accompanied by
the threat of reporting the conduct of Colonel Jennings to the
government, if he declined the defence; and it would appear from
the London Gazette (No. 9978) that some such communication
was actually made, as it is there chronicled, in the official docu-
ment which records the capture of Carrickfergus, that "Lieutenant-
Colonel Jennings had suffered himself, with four companies
of Major-General Strode's regiment, to be made prisoners of
war."
Upon the mayor's declaration, Colonel Jennings retired into the
castle, and aware of the want of sufficient stores there for any
serious opposition, made the best preparations in his power for a
temporary stand, and his small force was joined by the mayor,
Lieutenant Hercules Ellis, and a few other zealous and loyal in-
habitants; and here it is only right to state, in using the word
loyal, that there was no mark whatever of disaffection among the
inhabitants of Carrickfergus at the period of this surprise.
one
The French advanced against the town in two bodies
marching up to the east, or Water Gate, by what is called the
Scotch Quarter, the other crossing the fields to the North
Gate.
Twelve soldiers and a corporal were posted on the wall. They
fired upon the advancing enemy, when General Flaubert fell, his
leg having been broken by a musket-ball, and he was carried into
the house of Mr. James Craig. The next in command, tradition-
ally said to have been "the young Marquis D'Estrées," then led
on the division, and entered the High Street by the Water Gate,
where, after a few shots had been fired, it was joined in the market-
place by the division that had forced its way down North Street
with the loss of an officer and several men. The small party of
the 62nd, by whom the town walls were defended, having ex-
pended all their ammunition (four rounds), retired into the castle.
During the firing in the High Street, between the advanced divi-
sion and the retreating English soldiers, a child, the son of Mr.
John Seeds, the sheriff, ran between the conflicting parties, which
the Marquis D'Estrées observing, took the boy up in his arms, and
seizing a musket from a soldier, who had just fired it, sledged in
with the butt-end the door of a house in the High Street, which
happened to be that of the child's father and after placing him in
The child
the hall, immediately returned to resume hostilities.
was subsequently Dr. Thomas Seeds, of the Royal Navy, by whom
the editor was told the circumstance, which is mentioned by Mac-
Skimin as a "tradition of old inhabitants.”
The united divisions proceeded from the market-place against the
castle in the most determined manner, and readily forced the out-
Appendix.
413
"1
ward gate, which had not been properly secured by the retiring
party of the 62nd. Although the number of men within the castle
of Carrickfergus amounted only to one hundred and sixty-two, and
the French force was estimated at between seven and eight hundred,
they were received with so warm a fire, that they retreated with
some loss, especially that of their humane and gallant leader, the
Marquis D'Estrées, who is described as "a remarkably fine-looking
man. Upon the gate being forced open he was the first to enter;
"at which time he was observed to kiss a miniature picture that he
took from his bosom." Upon his fall the French troops, which he
had headed, took up position under cover of the adjoining houses
and an old wall, north of the castle, when Colonel Cavenac imme-
diately assumed the command and formed for the assault. Perceiving
this movement, and the ammunition of the besieged being nearly
exhausted, it was determined by them to beat a parley and capitu-
late upon honourable terms, stipulating that the town should not be
plundered. The number of troops who surrendered amounted to
10 officers, 11 sergeants, 10 corporals, 5 drummers, and 102 rank
and file; of the garrison there had been two killed and three
wounded, and in the encounter about fifty of the French were killed,
among whom were three officers. They were buried," said
MacSkimin, "close by the castle, in the ground now (1829)
occupied as a garden by the Ordnance Storekeeper." This
surrender, which suited the views of both parties, was followed by
an agreement to furnish the French troops with provisions in six
hours; but that could not be performed, there not being a sufficient
supply in the town. "On this," says John Wesley in his journal,
"Mr. Cavenac sent for Mr. Cobham, and desired him to go to Bel-
fast and procure them, leaving his wife with the general as a
hostage for his return. But the poor Frenchmen could not stay for
this. At the time prefixed they began to serve themselves with meat
and drink, having been in such want that they were glad to eat
raw oats to sustain nature. They accordingly took all the food they
could find, with some linen and wearing apparel; but they neither
hurt nor affronted man, woman, or child, nor did any mischief
for mischief's sake, though they were sufficiently provoked; for
many of the inhabitants affronted them without fear or wit, cursed
them to their face, and even took up pokers and other things to
strike them."
k
The terms on which the garrison of Carrickfergus surrendered are
given in the "Memoirs of Thurot." They are stated to have been
signed by Colonel Jennings and Colonel Dusulier, in the house of
William Wilkinson, in the High Street, in the presence of Thurot,
who "spoke English fluently, and was very polite." The French
officers invited the mayor to dine with them. After dinner, "the
glass," says MacSkimin, "having circulated freely, Thurot re-
414
Appendix.
quested Mr. Chaplin to sing a song, who, after some entreaties
from the different officers, complied, and sung with much spirit
"The British Grenadiers." Thurot heard him out with perfect
good-nature; but some of the officers who understood English were
rather ruffled." The French being masters of Carrickfergus, guards
were placed by them in the evening on the different roads leading
into the town, and sentinels on the houses of some of the
principal inhabitants. On the first alarm the more timid fled;
those who remained, shut up their doors and windows; and con-
sidering that some cases of intoxication occurred among the French
soldiers, it is surprising that so little damage was done or plunder
committed. When Wesley inquired of Colonel Cavenac (who
had told him that, being almost famished, having only one ounce
of bread per man daily, they had landed merely to procure provi-
sions), whether they had a design to burn the town, he cried out,
“Jesu Maria! we never had such a thought. To burn, to destroy,
cannot enter into the heart of a good man.
""
That plunder to any great extent did not take place is proved
by the Irish House of Commons granting, on the 21st October
following, only the small sum of 42857. 12s. 03d., in full com-
pensation to the inhabitants of Carrickfergus for their losses by
the French; about 6007. of which was afterwards returned to the
Government. Among the items was 177. for the church plate.
In June of the next year an additional 2007. was paid to Mr. John
Campbell, surgeon, for his losses.
MacSkimin relates an anecdote which, although it may esta-
blish his statement "that many houses were broken into and
despoiled of their most valuable effects, and even the church was
robbed of its plate," tends to show how trifling this plunder must
have been. "Two French soldiers going into the house of an old
woman, called Mave Dempsey, one of them took her silk handker-
chief, and was putting it into his pocket, when Mave, who was a
pious Roman Catholic, presented her beads at him, doubtless
expecting that he would be struck with compunction by such a
forcible appeal to his conscience. 'Ah!' said the soldier, with a
significant shrug, dat be good for your soul, dis be good for my
body.' It was observed that the French soldiers never lost their
national politeness.
"On one occasion, in taking a lady's earrings, the soldier who
requested to have them, made as many bows, scrapes, and motions
with his hand, as one of our most consummate dandies on entering
a drawing-room.
""
Nor is there any good evidence to fix the loss of the church
plate on the French. For on the morning of Friday, the day after
the surrender of Carrickfergus, it appears that John Hagan, the
mayor's servant, who had been hiding his master's plate near Lower
Appendix.
415
Woodburn Bridge, was called on by a sentinel to stand; but
hastening his pace, he was fired at and shot.
In the course of Friday, the French liberated most of the
prisoners confined in the county of Antrim gaol. There was
only one woman found in the county prison at Carrickfergus,
charged with the murder of her child, and they did not release her,
'professing the utmost detestation of the crime with which she
stood charged."
66
As the town of Carrickfergus could not produce the required
supply of provisions, the Rev. David Fullerton, a dissenting
clergyman, accompanied by a French officer, proceeded to Belfast
with a flag of truce, and a letter to the mayor of that town,
demanding provisions to the value of about 12007., which it was
stated would be paid for, and threatening, if not immediately sent,
to burn both Belfast and Carrickfergus. The answer returned
was that "their wishes would be complied with as soon as
possible;" and, in part of the demand, two lighters were loaded
on Friday evening, but the weather was so rough that they were
unable to sail. On Saturday morning a flag of truce was sent
from Belfast to the French commandant, to state the cause of
the delay, and to assure him that one lighter would, if possible,
proceed with the evening tide: this vessel did so, but was
stopped in Garmoyle by a tender commanded by Lieutenant
Gentil. Intelligence having reached Carrickfergus that armed
parties had been seen in motion, from the assembling of some
militia, and the expected supply of provisions not having
arrived, another flag of truce was despatched to Belfast, with a
letter from Mr. Fullerton to the mayor, acquainting him that
if the provisions were not forthcoming early next morning, the
French "would burn Carrickfergus, put the inhabitants to the
sword, and march to Belfast.”
"These threats had the desired effect, for early on Sunday
some cars arrived from Belfast with part of the promised pro-
visions, and a number of live bullocks, with which returned as
drovers some of the inhabitants who had guarded the French
prisoners to Belfast. The lighter that had been detained also
arrived about the same time, and the enemy were very busy
this evening in getting provisions and fresh water on board.
Monday they continued actively employed as above, and evi-
dently were in some confusion: it was believed they had received
notice of the troops marching against them."
On Tuesday the last of the French force, which consisted of
volunteer drafts from regular regiments, embarked from the
quay of Carrickfergus, at four in the afternoon, taking with them
the mayor, Mr. Spaight, port surveyor, and the Rev. David
Fullerton, as hostages for the delivery of the French prisoners.
416
Appendix.
$
The latter gentleman, being very unwell, was afterwards put on
shore at Kibroot.
They had scarcely left the town when the advanced guard of
the English forces arrived from Belfast, whither the following
regiments had been marched with all speed from different parts
of the kingdom:-Pole's (10th), Anstruther's (26th), Sandford's
(52nd), and Seabright's foot; with Mostyn's, Yorke's, and
Whitley's (7th, 8th, and 9th Light) Dragoons.
At four in the morning of the following Thursday (28th),
Captain Elliot's squadron got sight of Thurot's ship, and gave
chase.
The details of the action supplied by the logs of these vessels
are as follows:
"H.M.S. Æolus.— Wednesday, 27th February, 1716.-Wind
W.N.W. and N. W., strong gales and squally.
“28th.—Wind N. by W., N.N. W., N. by E., N.N.E.
"Aire Point, Isle of Man, S.S.E.E., distance 2 miles.
First part, strong gales and squally; latter, moderate and clear
weather. Wore ship several times, by reason of the narrowness
of the channel. At 8 p.m. Mull of Galloway, E. by N. 7 miles.
At 12 Copland Light, N.W.IN. four leagues. At 3 a.m. dis-
covered three sails to windward; cleared ship and gave chase. At
6 discovered the chase to be the enemy's; fired two chase-guns,
which they returned. At half-past 6 got close alongside the largest
of the enemy and engaged, and soon after the action became general,
and continued about an hour and a half, when our antagonist struck
her colours, as did the other two soon follow her example. They
proved to be the Marshal Belle-Isle, Mons. Thurot, commander, the
La Blonde, and Terpsichore. Being locked with the M. Belle-Isle,
was obliged to let go our small bower anchor to clear us; slipped
the cable, and bore away for Ramsey Bay in the Isle of Man, to refit
the ships, which were all greatly disabled in the action. We had
four men killed, and fifteen men wounded, the enemy about 300
killed and wounded; amongst the first was Mons. Thurot,
commodore, with several officers of distinction."
"Friday, 29.-Wind N.E., moored in Ramsey Bay. Light
breezes and cloudy at 3 p.m. Anchored in Ramsey Bay, and
moored a cable each way. It was with great difficulty we kept
the M. Belle-Isle from sinking, she having six foot in the hold.
A. M. employed in repairing our rigging, &c.
"C
Saturday, March 1.-N.W., moored in Ramsey Bay; ditto
weather. Sailed the Pallas with five hundred prisoners for Belfast.
Employed fishing the masts, being all wounded."
The log of the Brilliant, Captain James Loggie, represents that
vessel to be on the 28th February distant three miles from the
Point of Aire, in the Isle of Man, S.E.S. At 8, when the enemy
Appendix.
417
struck, the Point, bearing S.E. by S., distant seven or eight miles.
A lieutenant and thirty men were put on board La Blonde prize;
and the Pallas is recorded to have sailed on the 1st for Ireland
with 550 prisoners.
The log of the Pallas, Captain Michael Clements, states that
vessel to be on the 28th February, 1760, with the Point of Aire,
in the Isle of Man, S.E. by E., distant two miles :-
"First part, fresh gales and squally; middle and latter, moderate
and fair. At 3 p.m. unbent the main-sail, and bent another. At
4 a.m. saw three strange ships on our weather bow, bearing down
upon us; cleared ship and gave them chase; they hauled their wind
for the Mull of Galloway, then bore away right before it. At day-
light were almost within gunshot; out third and second reefs of
the top-sails, got up top-gallant yards. Quarter past six the Æolus
made the signal for engaging. They proved to be the Marshal
Belle-Isle, La Blonde, and La Terpsichore, French frigates. Half-past
began to engage, and at eight they struck. During the engagement
had one man killed and two wounded, our sails and rigging very
much damaged, one shot through our main-mast, and our best
bower anchor shot away. When they struck the Point of Aire, in
the Isle of Man, bore S.E., distant three or four miles. At nine
the Eolus made the signal to anchor, and bore away for
Ramsey Bay. Sent our first lieutenant, a mate and nineteen
men on board the Terpsichore. At noon, the Point of Aire,
S.E. by E., distance two miles, the commodore made our
signal to stay by the Belle-Isle, she having made the signal of
distress."
"March 2nd.-Employed sending the prisoners ashore to Carrick-
fergus."
Such are the meagre accounts supplied by the official docu-
ments respecting this smart action; nor do the private letters
communicated by Mr. Cole furnish any anecdotes, as they are
all most business-like: one from the first lieutenant of the
olus to his agents may serve as an example:-
'Portsmouth, 29 March, '60.
“GENTLEMEN,—I received your favour of the 27th with pleasure,
and am much obliged to you for your good wishes in setting me
down commander of the Belle-Isle; I wish Lord Anson could be
brought to think as you do, I might then be satisfy'd tho' with a
much less ship; my command is yet very uncertain. As for the
particulars you desire to know, they really are soon told, for I
know no more than three English frigates engaging three French
and taking them. As for making you part agents, was it in my
power you should have the whole: you shall be mine while you
think it worth while. I should by this post send you up my
Be
418
Appendix.
journals, but wait to see whether I may make them up for my
whole time in the Eolus, or a twelvemonth only.
"I am, gentlemen, with esteem,
"Your obliged humble servant,
"P. FORBES."
Captain Elliot, after placing some of his men, who were danger-
ously wounded, on shore in Ramsey, under the care of Mr. Thomas
Gillespie, surgeon of that place, despatched the Pallas with some
prisoners to Carrickfergus, and hired a small vessel for the trans-
port of 200 more of them to Whitehaven. On the 3rd of March,
the Pallas returned from Carrickfergus, after landing 450 prisoners;
and H.M.S. Nightingale and Weazle having arrived in Ramsey
Bay, 158 supernumeraries and marine recruits, were discharged
from them into the Eolus and Brilliant, for the purpose of
manning the three prizes, and with the Pallas in company, the six
frigates sailed on the 7th from Ramsey. On the 9th the wind
changing, Captain Elliot judged it right to bear away for Kinsale,
where he arrived with his little victorious squadron on the 10th,
and from whence he proceeded to Spithead, where he anchored on
the 25th March.
"The Irish House of Commons voted their thanks to the several
captains of his Majesty's ships of war, who on the 28th February
signalized their courage and conduct in pursuing, defeating, and
taking the French squadron, that rashly and fruitlessly presumed
to insult the coasts of that kingdom; expressing their high sense
of the honour and advantage accrued to that kingdom by their
diligence, bravery, and success, and the discouragement thereby
given to such vain attempts for the future." And likewise to
Lieutenant-Colonel Jennings, "for his prudent and resolute conduct
at Carrickfergus, and for the gallant stand he made there, against a
much superior force, by which he gained time for the militia to
assemble, and preserved Belfast from being plundered."
“Even this inconsiderable action," says the editor of the "Annual
None had
Register," "added to the glory of the English arms.
been better conducted, or fought with greater resolution. This sole
insult on our coasts was severely punished, and not a vessel con-
cerned in it escaped.¹ The public indeed lamented the death
of brave Thurot, who, even whilst he commanded a privateer,
fought less for plunder than honour; whose behaviour was on all
occasions full of humanity and generosity, and whose undaunted
1 This was not the case: the Begon, which was supposed to have foundered,
returned to Dunkirk,and the Amaranthe, which had separated from Thurot's
squadron on the 12th February, got back to France by the west of Ireland,
and reached St. Malo on the 25th of that month, which port her crew entered
almost dead with fatigue, hunger, and thirst.
Appendix.
419
courage raised him to rank and merited distinction. His death
secured the glory he always sought; he did not live to be brought
a prisoner into England, or to hear in France those malignant
criticisms which so often attend unfortunate bravery. This was the
fate of the last remaining branch of that grand armament which had
so long been the hope of France, the alarm of England, and the
object of general attention in Europe."
T. C. C.
Hyde Park Gate South,
Kensington Gore,
26th October, 1846.
APPENDIX XV.
ENGLISH CONTEMPORARY VERSES ON THUROT'S RAID.
THE CAPTURE OF CARRICKFERGUS.
Louis of France with hunger loud does cry,
"A shepherd's dog in Ireland, lives far better than I,
With their butter and their bacon, they have them in stores,
But I'll send forth my forces, to plunder their shores."
Sing fall, &c.
It was lately I dreamed my army was away,
And all these rich dainties I thought were their prey ;-
So in the province of Ulster invaded were we,
By Commodore Thurot and French frigates three.
Sing fall, &c.
To Londonderry City their course they did steer,
But they were prevented, although very near;
Their fleet while at sea, they were scattered away,
By a storm from the heavens, which did them dismay.
Sing fall, &c.
But three of them remained, and there came about
To the Bay of Carrickfergus, near the Point of Kilroot;
Then with flat boats they landed a thousand men well armed,
Under English colours, to prevent our being alarmed.
Sing fall, &c.
Under General Thurot these men did march away
Unto Carrickfergus, and he to them did say,
"The garrison are but a handful of silly gossoons,
And at our appearance, I am sure they will run.
Sing fall, &c.
E e 2
420
Appendix.
But sore he was mistaken, for soon they let him know,
And left him broken-legged, to France he could not go ;
One hundred of his soldiers and more they did destroy,
With nothing but the loss of four Carrick boys.
Sing fall, &c.
Like unto hearts of gold, so bravely did they stand,
Though but one hundred and fifty, against a thousand men ;
And they were all six feet high, of chosen tories wild,
And slighted us gossoons, as Flobert them styled.
Sing fall, &c.
They sail'd away by morning, before the sun arose ;
Brave Elliot he espied them, and cried, "Boys, here are foes !"
With frigates three like fire-darts, he boldly did pursue,
He from Kinsale had sailed, these robbers to subdue.
Sing fall, &c.
"My boys," he says, "they're yonder, betwixt us and the sun;
Now coolly and with courage, fall on, my boys, fall on !"
And betwixt the Mull of Galloway and the Point of Ayre,
The thundering of our cannon the nations round did hear.
Sing fall, &c.
Now in this hard engagement, poor Thurot he did die,
By an unlucky shot that through his heart did fly;
Aloud they called for quarter, for lady Mary's sake,
For Captain Elliot's cannon made all their hearts to quake.
Sing fall, &c.
And now then taken prisoners, upon the raging main,
And back to Carrickfergus they were brought again;
Here's the praise of brave Elliot, who conquered the foe,
And likewise to Clements and Loggie also.
Sing fall, &c.
THE SIEGE OF CARRICKFERGUS.
FROM Dunkirk, in France, in the month of September,
Fitted out was a fleet, and away they did sail,
And Monsieur Thurot, their only commander,
With him at their head they were sure not to fail.
So away they did steer, without dread or fear,
And searched and plundered all ships they could find,
[Till] at length they arrived on the coast of old Ireland,
And landed their men on our Irish ground.
Appendix.
42 I
[It was] at Carrickfergus, in the north of this kingdom,
They landed their men and marched up to our walls;
Then cry'd the undaunted brave Colonel Jennings,
CC
My boys, let's salute them with powder and balls.”
The battle began, and the guns they did rattle,
And bravely we fought under Jennings' command.
Said he, "Play away, play away, my brave boys,
The beggars the force of our fire cannot stand.'
The town then they took, without any resistance,
The castle they thought was as easy likewise,
So they came marching up in grand divisions,
To storm it, then guarded by the brave Irish boys.
But we kept constant fire, and made them retire,
Till our ammunition entirely was gone;
Then aloud we did say, "Brave boys, let's away,
And sally out on them with sword in hand."
((
"But," says our brave colonel, we cannot defend it,
For to make a sally it is but in vain,
As our ammunition you see is expended;
We'll therefore submit and good terms we'll obtain,
For plainly you see, that to one they are three;
'Tis best then in time for to capitulate,
[For] if they take it by storm, by the law of arms,
Then death without mercy will sure be our fate."
Then these beggars obtained possession of Carrick,
Where they revelled and sotted, and drunk all the while,
Poor people they did sorely ransack and plunder,
And hoisted it all on board the Belle-Isle;
But Elliot soon met them, nor away did he let them,
But forced them to yield up their ill-gotten store;
Now, monsieurs, lament in the deepest contrition,
For now you can brag of your Thurot no more.
Let's exalt the brave Elliot, who gained this action,
And sing to his praise in the joyfullest song,
For we of our foes have got satisfaction,
And Thurot lies rotting in the Isle of Man.
Their general is wounded, his schemes are confounded,
The brave British tars they can never withstand;
The fire of the fierce and the bold British lions,
Appeared in the men under brave Captain Bland.
422
Appendix.
But now to bring my story to a conclusion,
Let's drink a good health to our officers all,
First brave Colonel Jennings, likewise Bland our captain,
Yet never forgetting the brave Mr. Hall.
Let's drink and be jolly, and drown melancholy,
So merrily let us rejoice too, and sing,
So fill up your bowls, all ye loyal souls,
And toast a good health to great George our king.
THUROT'S DREAM.
THE twenty-first of February as I've heard the people say,
Three French ships of war came and anchored in our bay,
They hoisted English colours and landed at Kilroot,
And marched their men for Carrick without further dispute.
Colonel Jennings being then at that pretty town,
His heart it was a breaking while the enemy came down,
He could not defend it for the want of powder and ball,
And aloud to his enemies for "quarter" he did call.
As Thurot in his cabin lay he dreamed a dream,
That his grandsire's voice came to him and called him by his name,
Saying, "Thurot, you're to blame for lying so long here,
For the English will be in the night, the wind it bloweth fair.”
Then Thurot started up and said unto his men,
"Weigh your anchors, my brave lads, and let us begone,
We'll go off this very night, make all the haste you can,
And we'll steer south and south-east straight for the Isle of Man.
Upon the next day, the wind it blew north-west,
And Elliot's gallant seamen they sorely were oppressed,
They could not get in that night, the wind it blew so high,
And as for Monsieur Thurot, he was forced for to lie by.
Early the next morning as daylight did appear,
Brave Elliot he espied them, which gave to them great cheer;
It gave to him great cheer,—and he to his men did say,
"Boys, yonder's Monsieur Thurot, we'll show him warm play."
The first ship that came up was the Brilliant without doubt,
She gave to them a broadside and then she went about,
The other two then followed her, and fired another round,
"Oh, oh, my lads," says Thurot, "this is not Carrick town."
Appendix.
423
Then out cries Monsieur Thurot with his visage pale and wan,
"Strike, strike your colours, brave boys, or they'll sink us every man;
Their weighty shot comes in so hot on both the weather and lee,
Strike your colours, my brave boys, or they'll sink us in the sea.”
Before they got their colours struck great slaughter was made,
And many a gallant Frenchman on Thurot's decks lay dead;
They came tumbling down the shrouds, upon the decks they lay,
While our brave Irish heroes cut their booms and yards away.
And the gallant Monsieur Thurot, as I've heard people say,
Was taken ashore by Elliot's men and buried in Ramsey Bay.
And now for to conclude and put an end unto my song,
To drink a health to Elliot I hope it is not wrong,
And may all French invaders be served the same way,
Let the English beat the French by land, our Irish boys on sea.
EPITAPH ON M. THUROT.
HERE lies the pirate brave Thurot,
To merchant's wealth a dreadful foe:
Who, weary of a robber's name,
Aspired to gain a hero's fame;
But oft ambition soars too high,
Like Icarus when he strove to fly :
In short, Thurot with ardour fill'd,
His breast with emulation swell'd.
Abjuring Sweden's copper shore,
His course to fair Hibernia bore;
There took some peasants unprepared,
So struck his blow and disappear'd;
But luckless fate which oft pursues us,
And when we least expect subdues us,
This scheme, how well soe'er concerted,
Into a dire mischance converted,
And made it prove, as we'll relate,
The sad forerunner of his fate ;
For Eolus brave Elliot led,
Who early in his school was bred,
Cut short this champion's thread of life,
And with it closed the doubtful strife;
In which Belle-Isle, a name we own,
Amongst ten thousand heroes known,
Of France the wonder and the brag,
Again compelled to drop the flag,
424
Appendix.
Was forced such fortune to lament,
As erst her namesake underwent.
But to return to him whose glory
Is now the subject of our story :
He was no wit, nor quite an ass,
But loved his bottle and his lass.
You then good fellows passing by,
Afford the tribute of a sigh,
His fate lament-enough we've said,
Thurot once lived-Thurot is dead.
}
Appendix.
425
SHOWING DOCKS IN ENGLISH POSSESSIONS ABROAD.
EUROPE.
Malta-Royal Dockyard, Outer Dock...
Inner Dock...
در
...
>>
...
Somerset Dock
Aug. Maltese Dock Co., Pontoon
No 1
13
...
ASIA.
...
در
•
>>
Aden
Burmah: Rangoon-Hoppen Gridiron
No. 1
در
•
APPENDIX XVI.

Moolmein--Mopoon Dock
Hongkong-Hope Dock...
…….
Cosmo Bock
•••
Pontoon No. 2
···
"J
...
Lamont
Kowloon Dock No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
Slip
·
••
………
...
··
...
None
350 50
No. 2 200 30
...
...
…….
EAST INDIES.
Bombay-British India S. N. Co. Dock
Mazagon Slip...
>>
P. & O. Co., Ritchie Dock
Small Dock
Upper Old Bombay Dock
Middle Old Bombay Dock
Lower Old Bombay Dock
Upper Duncan Dock...
Lower Duncan Dock
Hydraulic Lift
T
***
...
A
Length.
A
Breadth.
ft.
ft.
256 82
256 74
468 79
344 56
210 56
Depth
of Sill
at or-
dinary
High
Water.
ft. in.
25
27
33
18 6
18 6
170 44
433 84 24
310 64 16
340 74 18
245 49 13
500 86
GOO 60
29
4.65 85 20
17
409 60
225 60
470 66 18
150 34 10
200 45 17
183 51 17 6
18 6
256 51
286 63
17 6
246 63
19 6
380 85
...
>>
For vessels of 500 tons.
1000
1500
2000
1500
Lifting power 7000 tons.
"
"}
""
در
رد
دو
>>
در
در
""
>>
426
Appendix.
Calcutta-British India Co., Upper Union
Lower Union
Hooghly Dry Dock
Upper Hourah Dry Dock
Commercial Dry Dock
Caledonia Dry Dock...
East India Dry Dock
Lower Hourah Dry Dock
Calcutta Dry Dock
Government Upper Dry Dock
....
Middle
Lower
""
Kurrachee-Dry Dock
Singapore-Victoria
در
...
British
Dock
Hay Dry Dock
Stevenson Dock
Albion
New Patent Slip
Old Patent Slip
Albert
Cloughton
New Dock
Bon Accord...
Penang-Pyre River Dock
Slip
""
...
...
در
MAURITIUS.
""
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
FT
...
4.
A
···
...
...
...
...
•
...
NOVA SCOTIA.
Halifax-Patent Slip No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
Picton-Patent Slip No. 1
""
No. 2
Port Hawkesbury-Patent Slip...
··
...
...
...
SOUTH AMERICA.
Guiana :
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Cape Colony-Robinson Dry Dock
Cape Town Patent Slip...
East London Pontoon
Simon's Bay
•••
•
"1
""
...
..
...
...
•
--
..
...
:
...
...
•
...
...
Demerara-Sproston
...
...
Length.
Breadth.
ft.
ft.
342 76
354 57
260 44
350 52
245 41
226 44
242 42
190 40
354
51
180 46
192 45
174 36
167 32
450
470
Depth
of Sill
at or-
dinary
High
Water.
270
48
200 35
180 28
232 40
178 40
185 75
ft. in.
10 8
12 2
10 6
15
10 8
17
65 20
60 21
416
42 13
444 55 19
330 55 16
250 50 13 6
100 20
96
96
11 6
325 47 16
380
19
GO
380 60 19
143 47
136 36
230 43
542
68 26
860 51
100 20
930
66
...
17
For vessels of 400 tons.
Appendix.
427
FIJI ISLANDS.
Levuka-Patent Slip
WEST INDIES.
The Bahamas-Marine Railway Co.
Trinidad-Patent Slip
...
NORTH AMERICA.
...
Canada.
Montreal-Tate's Dry Dock
Quebec-Floating Dock No. 1
No. 2
})
British Columbia.
Victoria-Esquimault Graving Dock
"}
در
•••
39
Gridiron
Graving Dock
))
Russel's Floating Dry Dock
Adelaide-Taylor's Slip
Bermudas.
St. George's-St. George's Marine Slip 750 40
Patent Slip
Dinning's Floating Dock
No. 2 Floating Dock
Harbour Commission Dock
Wolfe's Floating Dock
29
Gridiron
...
رد
AUSTRALASIA.
Australia.
**
Cape Breton.
North Sydney-3 Patent Slips ...
*
...
Cruickshanks' Slip
Jenkins' Slip...
Fletcher's Slip
Newfoundland.
St. John's-Simpson Dry Dock...
Dry Dock Co.'s Pontoon
Wood's Patent Slip
...
"Dry Dock
•
494
•
...
···
...
·
...
No. 2
...
Length.
...
ft.
Breadth.
ft.
100 20
600
185 25
400 69
WERJAR
:
38885
Depth
of Sill
200 45
236 41
180 38
500 40
42
14
230
155
500
40
15
18
212 42 16
322 70
64 18
300
225
160
200
600
150 40
100
at or-
dinary
High
Water
120 30
160 23
150 20
250 33
130 23
250
ft. in.
...
...
TH
10 10
41 15
15
15
CO LO GI
12
•••
: :
•
...
...
26
For vessels of 1200 tons.
For vessels 100 ft. long.
For vessels of 1200 tons
For vessels of 2500 tons.
1000
در
>>
>>
Can take vessels of
1000 tons.
"
For vessels of 300 tons.
400
">
""
428
Appendix.
Brisbane-Government Dry Dock
Kangaroo Point Slip
Cockatoo Island-Fitzroy Graving Dock
در
Maryborough-2 Slips
Newcastle-Patent Slip
Sydney-Australian S. N. Co.'s Slip
Mort's Graving Dock...
Patent Slip
Rowntree's Floating Dock
Davy's Patent Slip
Nelson
••
در
...
Dunedin Dry Dock
Floating Dock
Lyttelton-Graving Dock
Patent Slip
Napier-Northey's Patent Slip...
دو
Wellington-Patent Slip
Coffee's Slip
...
...
Tasmania.
Hobart Macgregor's Slip
Lucas' Slip
Mackey's Slip
Launceston-Floating Dock
...
...
...
...
•
New Zealand.
Auckland-Auckland Harbour Bd. Deck 310
Calliope Graving Dock
...
...
...
"
...
...
+
...
...
...
...
•
Algiers-Dock No. 1
No. 2
Martinique-Government Dry Dock
Tabiti-Dry Dock
Papeetie-Patent Slip
Saigon
---
...
...
...
...
***
...
*
···
...
...
...
...
•••
...
...
...
...
...
**
...
...
••
…….
Length.
...
...
ft.
ft.
60
320
230
42
500 59 21
635
84 28
350 36
430
37
410 66 18
210 27
160 42
180 40
42
525 80
328 50
170
40
450 82
190
...
::
...
Breadth.
Length.
130 37
::
...
::
320
APPENDIX XVII.
DOCKS IN FRENCH DEPENDENCIES.
ft.
ft.
426105
278 65
418111
Breadth.
Depth
of Sill
at or-
dinary
High
Water.
ft. in.
18
..
75
13 6
33
18 6
23
...
:
...
:::
...
Depth
of Sill
at or-
dinary
High
Water.
ft. in.
32
25
28
For vessels of 150 tons.
2000
100
::
""
در
""
""
""
For vessels of 400 tons.
1000
150
در
""
"
دو
""
در
""
در
For vessels of 400 tons.
500
""
>>
Appendix.
429
Date
oť
Capture
Feb.
Entrepenant...
Schooner
Jean Bart
Jeune Marie
Patriot
March Sans Culotte...
Trois Amis
Républicaine...
Hirondelle
Amérique
Triton
Hélène
April Surprise
Désir...
Palm
Fantaisie
Angélique
May Franklin
June
July
Oct.
Nov.
APPENDIX XVIII.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1793.
Name of Prize.
...
...
Coureur
Suprème
Furet...
•••
•
...
...
...
...
...
•
••
Ambitieux
Sans Culotte...
Espérance
Aimable Marie
Auguste
Dido ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
•.•
•
··
**
..
•••
:
..
...
··
+
Fils de la Patrie
Guidelon
Robert
Liberté
Égalité
Petite Victoire
...
Oiseau
General Washington
Phoenix
L'Ami
...
...
•
...
···
•••
..
...
Passe-Partout
Reine de Golconde and
her three prizes ...
République Française
Patriote
***
•
Espoir
Cercle de Cherbourg...
Guns Men.
10
4
6
2
6
12
4
6
16
9
4
BIBN ∞O CO CO LO CO CO
3
12
Q11
8
6
8
10
18
14
16
45
90
160
100
10
84
6
29
12 80
3
30
20
200
170
∞O LO CO
8
180
50
37
39
5
40
60
25
37
85
80
30
30
45
27
60
43
30
60
12 55
50
40
6
50
16 180
12 140
10
16
30
57
90
120
20 200
16 140
12
90
12
140
9
60
Place of Capture.
Channel
...
•••
...
...
...
...
•
...
-
..
4
...
***
944
..
•••
+4
••
4
...
...
...
...
4
...
...
...
..
4
...
...
*
PA
♥
→→
••
14
..
4
A
...
...
→
14
··
...
...
…….
***
••
··
+
**
...
1
Name of Vessel making Priz
II. M.S. Juno.
4
Hind.
Ferret.
""
Childers.
Scourge.
Lizard.
Royal Charlotte.
Boston.
Latona,
Childers.
Orpheus.
""
ور
Juno.
Ferret.
Mermaid.
Latona.
""
Nymph.
Druid.
Hind.
Circe.
در
99
Dolphin.
Trial.
Alarm.
Boyne.
Syren.
Hind.
Total for 1793-44 vessels, carrying 412 guns, 3188 men.
در
Ceres.
Lottery.
Tartar.
Flora.
Queen privateer.
Thought.
Edgar and Bed-
ford.
Flora.
Liberty.
Crescent.
""
430
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Jan.
Feb.
July
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1794.


Name of Prize.
Vipère
Sans Culotte, having
taken in her cruise
...
11 prizes
Cutter
Syrène
Guillotine
Trompeuse
General Washington
Vrai Patriot...
Poisson Volant
...
در
..
A schooner
Jean Bart
···
...
...
Vengeur
Espionage (late H.M.S.
Wasp)
...
...
...
National Cockade
A brig
National Razor
Guillotine
Total for 1794-9 vessels,
Vacua
Liberté
Victorieuse *
Suffisante t
Vigilante
Lugger
Péron...
Lugger
Prend-Tout
Sans Peur
...
...
•••
...
...
...
••
10
...
...
...
...
Dumourier
Expédition
Espérance
Cocarde National
..
...
...
...
...
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1795.
28 | 230
Straits of Sunda
•••
18 188
10
103
18
203
24
220
14
80
16
75
6
80
10
130
18
145
20
16
12 136
14 95
5
40
6 40
6
42
4
30
60
80
20
180
18
120
16 140
14 180
Total for 1795:-23 vessels, carrying 305 guns, 2610 men.
* Had taken 21 prizes on her last cruise.
···
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
::
•
Guns Men.
··
...
18 160
20
14
16
14
18
20
12
140
90
180
110
140
160
96
10 | 81
Schooner, name un-
known
12
10
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
Channel
***
Feb.
March Aspie, with her prize
the John of Galway
Coureur, with her prize
Diamond of Aberdeen 10
10
West Indies
Norway
West Indies
6
Channel
Off Gibraltar
Channel
Off Gibraltar
Channel
J
""
carrying 142 guns, 1170 men.
رو
···
در
...
West Indies
Off Rochefort...
•
...
>>
Coast of America
در
رد
Channel
""
...
""
J
Off St. Thomas
Flushing
Dunkirk
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
""
...
...
...
...
A
...
...
...
··
•••
H.M.S. Flora.
...
Blanche.
Aurora.
Intrepid.
Scorpion.
...
Sphynx.
Phaeton.
Vulcan.
Phaeton.
H.M.S. Resistance.
...
Lively.
Phaeton.
Squadron under Sir J.
Calpoys.
Squadron under Sir J.
Warren.
H.M.S. Sphynx.
Solebay.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1796.
Alarm.
Minotaur.
Admiral Duncan's fleet.
II.M.S. Childers.
Ferret.
Repulse.
Ferret.
Alligator.
رد
Phaeton.
Galatia.
Arrogant.
Had taken 5 prizes on this cruise.
ور
56 Off Marie Galante H.M.S. Pelican.
57
Off St. Malo
Quebec.
Porcupine.
80
Appendix.
431

Date
of
Capture
March Pichegru
Epervier
Name of Prize.
July Revanche
Aug.
April Alexandre, with prize
Montcalm of Lisbon
Sept.
Oct.
May Fantaisie
Chasseur
Eveille
Morgan and six prizes
Nov.
Jan.
...
Lugger
Brave
Bonaparte +
Vengeur
Victoire
Iris
...
Providence
Franklin
Cerf Volant
Africaine
Hirondelle
Dec. Espoir
Aventure
Dido ...
General Rigaud
Hind *
Susanna *
Calvados
Marguerite, with her
prize John of Sun-
derland
...
··
...
Vulcan
Poisson Volaut, late
H.M.S. Flying-fish
...
...
...
Augustine and 1 prize
Nigger
•
Sally of Blakeney *
La Rochellane
Thurat
Boune Espérance
Active
Phoenix
Ariel ...
..
...
: :
...
•••
...
...
...
4
··
Newcastle...
Fortunée
Musette
Deux Amis
Hirondelle
...
...
...
***
...
...
..
•
•
...
•
...
•
...
•
*
...
••
Coup d'Essai and her
prize the Anne of
•
•
Guns Men.
10
2
...
14
6
10
66
14
75
12
62
10
100
10 100
14
167
8
45
5 30
60
38
4
12
15RAGNA CONNA CNA
4
6
4
12
16
18
6
6
4
12
10
7
10
2
16
9
34
26
20242
40
80
12
40
37
35
35
20
27
40
25
25
23
32
75
167
110
65
50
29
100
136
61
53
20
62
30
18
74
150
14 180
70
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
Havre ...
Dunkirk
Nantes...
Channel
19
Atlantic
Channel
Bay of Biscay..
Off Grenada
Channel
""
West Indies
>>
Channel
"
39
North Sea
Channel
".
""
39
""
>>
""
در
Irish coast
رو
West Indies
""
Channel
""
29
""
""
""
""
""
در
در
Channel
""
...
>>
da
⠀ ⠀
...
··
""
Total for 1796-41 vessels, carrying 326 guns, 2413 men.
* English prizes, armed and manned, and commissioned as French privateers.
+ Had captured and sent into Brest three large prizes.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1797.
•
..
...
…….
•
•
...
...
H.M.S. Rattler.
Flora.
...
Invincible.
Pomona.
Assistance.
Engageante.
Suffisante.
Melpomene.
Favourite.
···
""
""
Cerberus
Seahorse.
Telemachus.
Spencer.
Bonita.
Lion.
Speedwell.
Dispatch.
Antelope.
Argus.
Queen.
Lion.
Childers.
Racoon.
Sylph.
Indefatigable.
Santa Margareta.
Zebra.
L'Aimable.
Dover.
Thalia.
Magicienne.
""
>>
Cerberus.
Coburg.
Greyhound.
Cerberus.
H.M.S. Star.
and
Magicienne.
Hazard.
Polyphemus.
Cleopatra.
432
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Atalante
Poisson Volant
Favourite
Brutus
Éclair...
Liberté
Feb. Reguin
Sans Peur
Difficile
Tartane
Filibustier
Bonaparte
Recovery
Appocrate
Hirondelle
Furet +
Actif...
Surveillante
Molinette
Réfléche
Hardi...
Amitié
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
March Jeune Emilie *
Chasseur
Adolphe
Lugger
...
..
...
•
1.
...
...
...
...
Lugger
Voltigeur +
Sophie
April Croyable
Amis
Petite Hélène
Neptune
Général
...
···
...
...
...
Daphne
Casca...
Espérance
Aimable Manette
Trompeuse
Enfant de Patrie
Filibustier
...
...
Nouvelle Eugénie
Basque
Dunkerquoise
Aventurier
Bon Ami
Prenez Garde à Loup
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
→.
...
4.
...
***
•
4.
...
•
...
...
Maria
Victorieux
Justine Adèle
Terrible
Heureuse Catharine.
Poisson Volant
TI
...
...
...
•
...
...
*
...
...
...
* I
Guns Men.
16 112
12
80
8
60
129
120
18
20
18
206
20
18
3
NW W
3
2
18
16
14
16
16
14
14
6
14
18
16
14
6
12
∞ N N ∞ + +226 + 2 CLO
TH
10
12 80
18 164
2
8
14
24
16
14
6
5
18
S2OHN
6
60
63
6
12
110
62
106
65
65
100
120
156
105
20
40
40
55
40
69
14
6
40
16
130
14
70
16 120
8
50
100
11
68
30
20
25
6 51
40
80
35
2 36
220
30
33
80
104
25
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
Channel
…….
→
•
...
..
J
·
...
•••
1
···
•••
...
...
··
...
•••
...
...
...
...
..
::
..
………
···
•
...
...
...
•
..
..
•
··
..
·
...
...
..
...
••
...
...
…….
...
...
...
••
A
•
**
•••
...
...
…….
…….
...
..
..
•
··
}
II.M.S. Phoebe.
Magicienne.
Hind.
}
Magicienne.
Unicorn.
Nassau.
Lion.
Syren.
Phoenix and Triton.
Greyhound and Plover.
Eurydice.
Espion and Martin.
Triton.
""
Stag.
""
Scourge.
Phaeton.
Alcmène.
Swallow.
Zephyr.
Hazard.
Plymouth.
Spitfire.
Dover.
Swallow.
Vestal.
Kangaroo.
Flora.
Racoon.
Suffisante.
Aurora.
Kingfisher.
Nancy.
Bittern.
Diamond.
Spitfire.
Boston.
Spider.
Indefatigable.
Phoenix.
Cerberus.
Swift.
Minerva.
Leopard.
Pilot.
Penguin.
Tamar.
رو
Aimath.
Nautilus and Seagull.
Dolphin.
* She had captured the Friendship of Liverpool and an English privateer, the Battalion, of ten
guus, after an action lasting three-quarters of an hour.
† With twenty-two English prisoners on board.
Fourteen men away in three prizes.
Appendix.
433
Date
of
Capture
April Flying-fish
Zoé
Espérance
Audacieux
July
Name of Prize.
Oct.
Argonaut
Tigre...
Espoir
Success
Poisson Volant
A Brig
Prosher
···
Les Grâces
Castor
Bayonnaise
Port au Paix..
Liberté
Bonaparte
General Toussant
Adour
A
***
Heureuse
Victorine
...
Lynx...
Prodigy
Revanche
Filibustier
+
**
A lugger
Triton
Papillon
Hardi
Courier de la Mer
Incroyable
Surprise
Actæon
N
A
+44
+4
Duguay Trouin·
Jalouse
Galate
Batave
Tiercelet
Oiseau +
Sept. Poisson Volunt
Barbarousse
**
44
G
Louis Bonfoi...
Légère
Va-Tout
A
La Victoire
Cocyte
Furet...
L'Epervier ..
+
•
•
+
+1
•
Vengeur des Françaises
Captain Thurot
Acheron
41
•
J
14
•
***
**
J
T
4
A
...
■
+
J
•
***
|
A
+
...
---
A
A
Gun Men. Place of Capture.
2 24
120
32
46
15 Spanish waters
42
20
*A*Q+2*EINNO m 00
16
4 60
11
16
6
14
2
18
+42246+2*
12
20
4826444
AA
16
14
14
12
come to
12
18
∞ NAGPA
2
4
36
28
20
57
36
17
13
39
50
147
24
73
25
180
30
30
51
21
48
127
45
55
26
82
87
34
104
54
47
119
38
61
+
+
-
+
44
West Indies
***
■
PA I
>>
Channel
***
++
N
30
35 West Indies
22
Channel
28
MA
ار
>>
5)
ILA
+4
***
•
+
,,
West Indies
66
50
32
22
30 Channel
50
20
+
+
A
..
•
4
KA
J
***
···
...
+
4+
·
--
+4
•
A
A
***
1
Name of Vessel making Prize.
H.M.S. Lively.
Phaeton.
C
Harpy.
Diligent.
Viper.
Telemachus.
Trent.
Galatea.
Repulse.
Viper.
St. Fiorenza.
Cygne.
Swallow.
Proselyte.
Ambuscade.
Swallow.
Santa Margarita.
Aigle.
Rambler.
Hind.
Magnanime.
Dolphin.
Telemachus.
Trial.
Hind.
Kangaroo.
Hamadryad.
Zephyr.
Seagull.
Mary.
Doris.
Santa Margarita.
Stork.
Espiègle.
Resolution.
Maidstone.
Roebuck.
Magnanime.
Penguin.
Tamer.
"J
Lapwing.
Zephyr.
""
Espiègle.
Stag.
Triton.
Fairy.
* In the month, the squadron under Rear-Admiral Harvey in the West Indies, besides taking
five privateers, recaptured thirteen vessels that had fallen into their hands.
+ One prize.
Commanded by M. Hammond, an Irishman, who unfortunately escaped.
I f
434
Appendix.

Date
of
Capture
Name of Prize.
Oct. Zephyr
prizes
L'Hyène
Emoucher
of Quebec...
Renard
Railleur
A schooner
Trompeuse (sunk)
Epervier, with her
prize the Adelphi
and
Aventure
Pleuvier
Canarde
Dec.* Marie...
Coureur
Agréable
Le Coq
Pont d'Arcole
Renard
Utile ...
Regulus
Saracene
La Manche
Succès
Dorado
Aigle
Intrépide
***
..
...
+
---
Feb. Schooner §
Benjamin
Volage
Bayonnais
Dragon
N
A
KA
•
+4
…
N
Jan. Epervier *
Delphine †
Victoire ‡
Aventure
Polycrate
Zelie
Cheri...
Emprunt Fosse
Hazard
TY
Vengeur
Inconceivable
H
*
-
...
three
·
T
...
+
J
...
A
***
N
··
---
N
...
+4
A
71
4.
**
+4
...
Guns, Men.
24
8
2
12
…….
16
18
20
8
9
8 70
230
55
30
78
145
189
160
43
43
60
14
60
14
90
18 115
6
34
48
10 71
14
131
26
58
222
140
93
64
83
10
TH
C++
4
4
6
18
10
18
12
12
* Had taken one prize.
+ Had taken one prize.
12
4
14
10 190
16
72
4
47
26
230
6
25
14 120
72
55
52
H∞ N
8
4
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
·
16 132
22
195
6
12
West Indies
+
40
80
14
West Indies
+4
J
A
...
··
***
■
+
+
Total for 1797:-134 vessels, carrying 1247 guns, 9141 men.
...
+
…….
***
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1798.
3
A
**
* In this month the squadron under Rear-Admiral Harvey in the West Indies recaptured
thirteen merchantmen that had been taken by French privateers.
----
**
24 | Guernsey
38
Channel
74
***
4
**
A
++
PO
+
***
+
+4
A
+
---
**
AN
P
*
14
+
**
J
H.M.S. Boadicea.
Indefatigable.
Albatross.
Drake.
Pelican.
*
Cerberus.
14
13
Boadicea.
Aurore.
Bonne Citoyenne.
15
Josan.
Blanche.
Bittern.
Alexandrian.
Tamer.
*J
Lapwing.
Scourge.
Diana.
Clyde.
1)
Latona.
35
"}
Shore boats manned by
soldiers.
H.M.S. Niger.
Termagant.
Mermaid.
Racoon.
Stag.
Pomona.
Had taken three prizes.
Had taken four prizes,
از
Phaeton.
Indefatigable.
Aigle.
Mercury.
Melampus.
Blanche.
Tamer.
Appendix.
435
Date
of
Capture
Feb.
Name of Prize.
Dix-huit Fructidor ...
Venturer
Trois Sœurs
Belsey
Henri...
•••
Ship
Bonaparte
Heureuse Nouvelle
Duguay Trouin
Mars
Jason...
Constance
...
...
March Coureur
•••
Revanche (sunk)
Légère
Pour Epie
Sophie
April Antoine
Espoir
Eugénie
Audacieux
...
...
Légère
Emilie
Lynx.
Cæsar...
Pont de Lode
Decidée
Scipio
Ceres...
···
...
•
Harde
Hazard
Mutine
Parfait
Leopard
Renommée
...
Revanche
Brutus
...
...
··
1.
·
Bon Citoyen.
Fortunée
Petit Resource
Créole
Brutus
Magicienne
Bienvenu
May Jupiter
Coureur
Sans Souci
..
...
...
...
...
···
...
...
A schooner
Merveilleuse, together
...
...
...
Chasseur
Dragon
Violette
Jeune Nantaise
with her three prizes
...
...
……♥
..
...
...
...
**
...
...
Da
--
Brave (with 50 English
prisoners on board)
...
...
•••
4
***
**
··
***
...
A
...
04
...
...
$14
...
***
Guns Men.
10
2
16
16
14
20
2
22
NN
24
12
12
12
24
16
14
4
4
16
10
16
18
16
16
10
20
14
10
16
2
6
12
WNNO
8 66
107
137
21
2
3
6
9
NO CO
6
2
22
30
45
80
16 178
14
120
8
36
30
27
200
8
∞ ∞ +
4
6
75
30
100
118
108
180
40
130
150
222
108
96
150
62
130
17
160
60
27
61
10 60
3 40
10 90
4
12
6
20
70
60
110
CO
70
80
102
80
160
110
38883
39
65
25
75
37
36
39
88
50
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
...
...
...
···
...
...
.. •
…….
...
...
→・・
•
•
*
..
...
...
...
F f 2
...
35
...
...
...
ور
...
...
""
...
...
••
...
ĐA
44
...
...
·
•
...
A
•
...
West Indies
4
9.
...
···
...
………
...
•••
•
***
•
...
...
...
··
▼
...
...
...
*
...
...
..
▼
...
A
....
•••
44.
•••
...
...
...
...
...
H.M.S. Tame.
Penelope.
Mercury.
Kingfisher.
Gorgon.
Aigle.
Lively.
Indefatigable.
Shannon.
Dryud.
Anson.
Mercury.
Josan,
Marquis Coburg.
Phaeton.
Resolution.
Telemachus.
Thalia.
Nautilus.
Cleopatra.
Kingfisher.
Cambrian,
در
Alfred.
""
Matilda.
Zephyr.
Magnanime.
""
Terrier.
Wright.
Russel.
Jamaica.
Swallow.
Ceres.
Regulus.
Valiant.
Carnatic.
Cruiser.
Scorpion.
Telemachus.
Phoenix.
Concord.
""
Lapwing.
Roebuck.
Petrel.
Astrea.
Cruiser.
55
Amphitrite.
Garland.
Endymion.
436
Appendix.


Date
of
Capture
May
Huit Amis
Furet...
Hardi
Rosière
Aug. Brutus
Name of Prize.
Oct.
Augustine
Vautour
Aigle ...
Triomphe
Chasseur
Espiègle
Mutine
Sept. Bras de Fer
Julie ...
Revanche *
Incrédible
Hirondelle
...
⠀⠀⠀
***
Nov. Bonaparte
Amazone
Sauveur
Fortune
Invariable
...
...
...
...
•
...
►
...
•
...
..
...
••
··
Sophie
Destin
Étoile
Mahomet
Hussar
Mentor
Lugger
Arraigné
Mutine (sunk)
François
Levrier
...
Schooner
Schooner
St. Mary de Lovaine
Zenodone
5, mounting 75 guns
...
***
***
•
Annibal
Intrépide
La Mort
Aventurier
Heureux +
Neptune (with 270
troops)
Tigre..
Mercure
Colombe
**
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
•
..
...
..
...
···
...
**
...
...
...
...
...
...
Guns Men.
20
2+NONONI
6
12
14
10 64
226∞
8
18
10
2
10
∞∞∞∞ :
6
2
8
14
10
80
3 40
25
61
4
12
16
2 50
18
160
27
47
25
16
8
51
23
10
4
24
86
88
22
18
44
82
120
54
33
140
10 52
8
55
18
132
12
64
20
130
4
46
6
53
4
34
14 124
14 79
...
30
38
150
2 23
70
72
80
20
22
20
97
58
36
79
112
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
West Indies
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
•••
•••
•
...
···
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
··
...
·
West Indies
...
...
...
***
...
...
--
...
...
•
44
...
···
•
**N
...
T
···
...
•••
**
··
*
41
**
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
...
...
♪..
...
··
...
...
...
•••
...
...
··
...
...
4.
••
...
...
...
...
•
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
...
...
...
...
H.M.S. Victorieuse.
Solebay.
Matilda.
Scourge
Amiable.
رو
Requin.
Tamer.
Shannon.
Recovery.
در
""
Fleet under
Parker.
H.M.S. Ceres.
در
Caroline.
Squadron under Admiral
Vandeleur.
H.M.S. Matilda.
Lapwing.
Charlotte.
ر,
Melpomene.
Indefatigable.
Hazard.
Naiad.
Phaeton.
Magnanime.
Endymion.
Solebay.
Matilda.
Hooke.
America.
Lynx.
,,
""
Admiral
""
"
and
Triton.
Ceres.
Corfu.
Phaeton.
Concord and Lapwing.
* She had captured nineteen prizes in her two last cruises.
+ Had taken four prizes, including an English privateer, the Dartmouth, 6, during her cruise.
And her two prizes, Britannia, East Indiaman, and Moyflower, from New York.
Appendix.
437
Date
of
Capture
Dec. Vigilant
Eringobragl...
Succès
Fouine
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Feb.
Enterprise
Hirondelle
Resolve
Calaisen
··
C
La Garonne
Boulonnaise
Glaneur
Foudroyant
March Milan...
...
••
•
•
...
Faucon
Adolphe
Invincible Bonaparte
Cantabre
Resource
Ruser,..
Adolphe
...
4
...
11
...
...
...
...
•
...
...
April Indéfatigable
...
Jason...
Tèle
Hirondelle
Mercure
Heureux Hazard
•
...
Minerve
Heureux Spéculateur
A brig
Rancune (and her two
prizes).
Grand Indien
Aimable Victor
Sérailleur
Guadaloupienne
Prize de Matthe
Bordelais
Prosperité
Indépendance
Sombre
...
...
•
··
...
··
...
..
...
……
•
...
•
•
4
...
•1.
...
...
...
………
•
Name not given
Aimable Marseilles
Triomphante...
Bonaparte
Belle en Cuisse
Petit François and six
others
Requin
Débût
··
•••
··
•••
···
Guns Men.
...
12
10
4
8
12
12
55
50
24
26
80
50
70
18
80
42
20
170
14
66
14 165
11
18
4
6
6
42
14
2
18
16
10
10
8
6
8
12
8
10
14
6
20
6
14
16
16
16
40
26
16 140
14 90
14
64
448
Total for 1798-136 vessels, carrying 1377 guns, 9941 men.
14
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1799.
21
125
86
65
38
61
66
72
47
70
32
186
40
52
69
89
103
16
94
18 120
18 146
56
80
4 40
6
56
50
4
57
35
70
60
...
...
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.

**
………
...
+
..
...
...
•
•••
$
**
M
...
...
...
·
Channel
….
1.
""
>>
...
در
...
West Indies
Channel
>"
…….
""
...
...
***
•
...
•1•
...
...
...
•
••
West Indies
Channel
•
4
1.
……
...
···
...
Ja
••*
...
•
+4
...
...
...
...
...
...
••
...
...
•
• 11
??
...
...
...
..
...
...
...
…….
···
...
...
…….
...
4
...
…….
⠀⠀⠀
H.M.S. Racoon.
Plover.
Lion.
Sylph.
George.
Ambuscade.
···
...
Phaeton.
Badger.
Ambuscade.
Corfu.
Admiral Harvey's squadron
>>
""
Corfu.
H.M.S. Indefatigable.
Shore boats from Brixham.
H.M.S. Triton.
Pigmy.
Shannon.
Triton.
Caroline.
Amphitrite.
""
""
Solebay.
Pearl.
Cyane.
Caroline.
Anson.
Fly.
Phoenix.
Jealous.
>>
Melpomene.
Telegraph.
Melampus.
Naiad.
Ethalion.
Anson.
By squadron under Sir
H. Parker.
Boadicea.
Sylph.
438
Appendix.

Date
of
Capture
April Résolu
June
July
Aug.
Name of Prize.
Oct.
Jan.
Sans Quartier
Prudente
Marsonin
May Coureur
Papillon
Nantais (sunk)
Vengeur
Ribotteur
Vengeur
6
6
14
60
Ruse..
Victoire
Venus
16
160
14
101
14
71
16
125
Vigil ...
Anacreon †
Heureux Spéculateur. 14 58
Hippolyte
Determinée
Courageux
4 43
Intrépide
Aventure
...
Aurore
Leger...
Ruyter
Success
...
Petit Diable
Barras
Fantaisie
Vrai Décide
··
...
...
...
...
...
▼
AU
...
...
•
Amazone
Intrépide
7 small privateers
St. Jacques
Exchange
Hirondelle
Guerrier
...
...
...
Furet...
Aventure
General Brun
Sept. Duquesne
Hirondelle
Caroline
Heureux Espérance ‡
Egyptienne
18 small privateers
Democrat
...
...
...
•
...
...
...
4
***
...
...
...
...
...
···
...
• ··
...
••
..
...
···
•••
...
..
•
+
**
•••
Guns Men.
14
16
18
14
4
10
14
12
24
...
18
28
16
5
16
14
8:22
12
20
14
8
4
16
6
10
16
:
6
10
14
14
P24
14
8888888
56
100
55
46
123
160
98
26
36
166
253
129
23
90
84
64
80
157
105
33
44
104
48
60
80
16
40
50
44
18
80
889
14 60
14
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
...
•••
•
...
...
•
...
•
•••
..
...
...
...
...
...
...
West Indies
...
...
•
•
...
West Indies
...
...
...
··
...
4
...
4
...
D
..
•
...
...
•
...
...
...
*
...
...
...
...
:
•
...
+4
•
50
Total for 1799:-104 vessels, carrying 861 guns, 5625 men.
* The Gazette of this month records the capture of fifteen French merchantmen by the squadron
under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Cristian, K.B., off the coasts of the Mauritius
and Madagascar.
+ Had made eight prizes.
Had taken four prizes.
H.M.S. Spitfire.
Diana.
A
Concorde.
Astrea.
Phoenix (English privateer)
H.M.S. Melampus.
>>
Martin.
Courier.
Amaranthe,
Kite.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1800.
14 74
II.M.S. Viper.
14
42
Autocrat (privateer).
Shore boats at Newhaven.
2
15
Révolutionnaire.
Indefatigable.
Resolution (privateer).
H.M.S. Champion.
Speedwell.
Révolutionnaire.
Alcmène.
Amphitrite.
Hound.
Emerald.
Speedwell.
Netley.
Admiral Parker's squadron.
H.M.S. Amphitrite.
Flora.
""
""
دو
در
در
Atalante.
Echo.
Racoon.
Admiral Parker's fleet.
H.M.S. Triton.
Cerberus.
""
Courier.
Anne.
Driver.
Jalouse.
Racoon.
Appendix.
439
Date
of
Capture!
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Renard
Modère
8 privateers
Aventurier
Éclair (sunk)
Feb. Egyptienne
Espérance
Felicité
Bougainville
Modeste
March Vengeance
Bellegarde
Massena
May
Josephine
Telegraphi*
April Heureux
Courier
Vulture
Persévérant
Filibustier
Chasseur
Junc Eole
...
Furet...
Hardi...
Mars ...
Cerbère
Inattendu
Virginie
Heureuse Société
Pansée
Sapajou
Renard
•••
...
Tarn
Heureux Tirailleur
Neptune
Impregnable...
•
Sept. Ajax
•••
...
...
...
...
Oct.
Nov. Mouche
...
…….
Consolateur
Persévérance...
•••
Aug. Heureux Coureur
Vengeur
Auguste
Françoise
Diligente
...
...
..
...
Fortune
Revanche
Gironde †
Merte...
Clarissa
General Massena
Victoire
...
...
...
...
...
150 armed vessels and
merchantmen
...
**
4
·
⭑
...
...
·
···
...
...
...
...
...
...
··
•
1
40
...
...
...
···
..
···
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
...
...
40
Guns Men.
14
4
1:12
14
16
2
18
16
16
14
44
14
22
10
22
14
14
14
22
6
2
14
14
6
14
4
#
16
10
14
18
463
65
42
*Had captured five prizes.
75
83
56
36
22
82
70
174
140
30
27
78
240
150
137
47
54
30
180
26
25
53
64
55
68
CONS
27
80
191
60
58
35
1
25
16
87
14
54
16 100
10
50
12
42
6
39
4
23
22
202
14 80
16 141
14 84
16 145
16 150
40
145
4
20
60
89
·
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
...
West Indies
4.
•
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
***
...
...
4
•
...
**
•
Ú
...
...
...
••
*••
···
...
..
**
•
...
4.
44
A
...
...
...
•
···
..
*
...
...
...
...
…….
...
..
...
..
···
...
...
2.
·
•
T
ANN
...
**
...
**
··
...
•••
...
•
H.M.S. Nemesis.
H.M. cutter Nile.
Admiral Parker's flect.
H.M.S. Amethyst.
Sceptre.
Mercury.
Netley,
در
Amazon.
Nymph.
Nereid.
Phobe.
Plover.
Suffisante.
Kangaroo.
Phobe.
Révolutionnaire.
Caroline.
Cruiser.
>>
Seaflower.
Amethyst.
Uranie.
Jalouse.
Latona.
Spitfire.
Mayflower (privateer)
>>
""
H.M.S. Lark.
Phoenix.
Sir H. Parker's fleet.
H.M.S. Minerva.
Anson.
Sanspareil.
رو
Surinam.
Unité.
Spitfire.
Indefatigable.
Melpomene.
Loire.
Lark.
Hazard (privateer).
H.M.S. Ruby.
Uranie.
Boadicea.
رد
Bombay.
Tamer.
Badger.
Minerva.
Had taken four large vessels.
440
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture!
Nov. General Hoahe
Dec.
Diable à Quatre
Actif
Name of Prize.
Feb.
...
Jan. Voyageur
Quiproquo
May
26
150
137
Total for 1800:-65 vessels, carrying 661 guns, 4766 men.
Venus
Quinola
Huron
Espoir
Uni
···
March Bonaparte
Ship
Espoir
Bienvenue
Vengeur
Juste...
April Optimiste
...
...
...
Désirée
Jupiter
Bolton *
Huron
Furet
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1801.
14 47
8
98
36
48
190
23
216
44
130
75
80
...
...
…….
4
...
•
...
General Bessières
Premier Consul
Vengeance
Pluto...
Adelaide
Poisson Volant
Mascarada
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
June Bougainville...
Active)
Heureux
Sept. Enfant du Carnival
***
...
••
Heros...
Achille
Préfet de la Manche
Laure...
Renard
Dorade
General Brune
...
1.
44
***
…….
...
...
...
…….
...
...
...
•
...
...
...
...
...
...
Guns Men.
2
16
14
...
14
14
18
6
32
14
16
14
14
2
TL
14
16
4
24
10
14
Victoire (late H. M.S. 14
47
36
150
43
1 14
3
57
14
55
12
40
73
44
49
78
80
53
108
70
60
91
14
6
16
14
10
14
14
8
16
20
27
78
14 35
14 64
67
75
STEP RE
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.

14 78
14 60
...
...
...
...
•••
•
...
•
...
...
...
...
•
D
▼
...
T
•
4
...
20
...
...
...
A
...
+ *
***
...
•••
...
...
4
...
D
...
+1
•••
•••
...
...
..
T
H.M.S. Termagant.
Thames.
**
H.M.S. Favourite.
Gipsey.
Jason.
Active.
Magicienne.
Queen Charlotte.
Arrogant.
Nimble.
رر
Révolutionnaire.
Lord Nelson, privateer.
H.M.S. Coburg.
Swan.
Amelia.
Favourite.
Hussar.
Dryad.
Gannett.
Sheerness cutter.
Pigmy.
Stag.
Fortunée.
Atalanta.
Pigmy.
Lady Charlotte.
Immortalité.
Fortunée.
Jason.
Amethyst.
Leda.
در
""
Lord Spencer, privateer.
H.M.S. Endymion.
Eurydice.
Lady Ann, privateer.
Total for 1801 :-37 vessels, carrying 478 guns, 2593 men.
* English prize manned and armed as privateer.
H.M.S. Amelia.
Defence.
In May, 1803, the London Gazette contained notification of the renewal
of the war with France, and at the same time an Order in Council appeared
Appendix.
44I
sanctioning general reprisals. France had been preparing for the war with.
vigour. England, on the contrary, had been reducing her establishments,
and extraordinary efforts now were made to face the coming storm, and the
Navy particularly showed itself peculiarly alive to the necessity of redoubled
exertions in order to counteract the action of the many privateers that were
being fitted out in every French port. One week only elapsed between the
date of the Order in Council sanctioning reprisals and the capture of the
first privateer. After this the ball was kept rolling until the end of the
war.
Date
of
Capture
May
June
Aug.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1803.
Name of Prize,
Inabordable
Commode
Espiègle
July Marengo
Phoebe
Affronteur
Félicité
Oct.
Sept. Fanny
...
•
...
...
Dec. Vigilante
Lyonnais
•••
Pelagu
Dart
Furet...
Venus
Courier de Terre Neuve
Atalante
Epervier
...
…….
Messajen
General Moreau
Desespoir
Arabe
Lord Nelson*
Chiffonnette..
Oiseau
Espoir
Caroline
Sophie
Aventure
Alerte
Nov. Sept Frères
Quatre Fils
Caille...
General Menou
...
Guns Men.
14
4344244442
16
TH
CH
27 00
24
14
10
6
10
20
24
1
92
22
2
30
33
12
Martinique
34 Channel
150
50
11 120
16
90
2
24
6
40
16
85
28
58
60
SO
68
52
35
10
150
14 8+
26
28
37
35
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
30
78
60
168
35
21
Channel
Off Calais
ور
Off St. Malo
Channel
...
Jamaica
Channel
51
...
H.M.S. Doris.
Hind.
Immortalité.
""
Eling.
Albion.
Hydra.
Doris.
Apollo.
Constance.
Thunderer.
Plantagenet.
در
Jamaica.
Ville de Paris.
Endymion.
Wasp.
Maidstone.
Sea Gull.
Egyptienne.
Argo.
Joseph, privateer.
Constance.
Acasta.
Aigle.
Merlin.
Juno.
Bittern.
Blanche.
Badger.
Vixen.
Total for 1803 :-33 vessels, carrying 264 guns, 1955 men.
* She had been captured a fortnight previously by the Bellona, French privateer, 36 guns,
320 men, and made a very determined resistance when overhauled by the Sea Gull, which craft
lost 2 killed and 8 wounded in the engagement.
442
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Jan.
Feb.
Junc
July
Name of Prize.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1804.
Fortunée
Vigilante
Resource
Mimi...
Harmonie
Sophie
9 privateers
Mutine (sunk).
Petite Fille
Jeune Adèle
Amélie
March Bellona
Penriche
April Jeune Henri..
Récompense
Furet...
May
Bigou
Grande Decidée
La Rose
Egyptienne
Hirondelle
Aventure
Argo...
Cæsar
'Tison...
Amazon
Aug. Clarisse
Trois Frères
Concepcion
Minerve
Hirondelle
14
Lorette
Espérance
Elizabeth
...
Feb. IIazard
...
Gracieuse
...
Felicité
Renommée
Petite Decidé
Hirondelle
Liberté
Blonde
Venus
...
···
...
...
...
...
··
...
***
**
•
14
•
...
1
••
...
...
Guns Men.
2241∞ ∞
∞ 26+∞ 21
18
12
2
12
1
©1♡ HQ O N
6
3
4
12
29
40
12
POLE!
43
21
66
1
2
64
180
180
76
70
8+
40
50
""
10 70 West Indies
2 60
士 ​54
6
60
22
220
3
50
36 240
3 40 West Indies
28
70
46
56
68
157
87
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
1
14 180
3 37
24 240
16
168
West Indies
West Indies
""
""
...
West Indies
Channel
...
ور
...
1 26 West Indies
در
...
***
رد
•
East Indies
Mediterranean
Senegal
West Indies
Channel
West Indies
""
Mediterranean
West Indies
Channel
Atlantic
4.
4
Mediterranean
West Indies
North Sea
West Indies
•.
24
14
..
4.
•
...
...
...
...
24
47
14
111
10
50
5
40
10
54
6
65
Contre Amiral Magon* 17 84
Alliance
6 68
Uranie
3 64
Raccrocheuse
14 56
Total for 1804 :-53 vessels, carrying 358 guns, 3563 men.
Channel
* Commanded by Blackman, a notorious privateer captain. In this cruise the Amiral Magon
had captured four ships.
C
...
*
...
...
...
H.M.S. Blenheim.
Centaur.
Osprey.
...
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1805.
10 80 Channel
14 55
...
در
Blenheim.
Centaur.
Admiral Hood's squadrou.
H.M.S. Racoon.
""
رو
ور
Cyane.
Harpy.
Tartar, privateer.
Admiral Hood's squadron.
در
H.M.S. Eclair.
""
در
Hippomenes.
Stork.
Racoon.
ور
Fortunée.
Cambrian.
ور
Trident.
Termagant.
Penguin.
Ulysses.
Madras.
Hunter.
Loire.
By Indiamen, Union and
Sir William Pulteney.
H.M.S. Ulysses.
Spider.
Topaze.
Tartar.
Pelican.
Halcyon.
Tartar.
Cruiser.
Racoon.
Franchise.
Favourite.
H.M.S. Echo.
Blanche.
Appendix.
443

Date
of
Capture
Feb.
June
Name of Prize.
Chasseur
Vimereux
Heureux
Bonaparte
Tigre...
Espiègle
Passe-par-tout
Frères Unis ...
March General Augereau
April Regulus
General Decaen
Alfred
Zephyr
May Dame Ernout
Bonheur
Deux Amis
Orestes
Oct.
Empereur
Elizabeth
Aug. Desire
Hirondelle
Tup-a-bord
Perseverant
Sep. Renommée
Rencontre
...
Venus
Matilde
Constance
Teazer
Revanche
Prudente
···
...
………
··
...
April Elizabeth
Ranenne
...
...
1.
...
3.
...
...
...
Les Amis Réunis
General Ferrand
Jan.
March Impromptu
Voltigeur
Sorcière
Prince Murat
Bellona
Prudente
Napoleon (sunk)
4.
...
...
...
...
...
………
•••
July Intrepide
63
Hazard
50
180
Confiance *
Belier
104
General Ernouf (sunk) † 24 112
Valiant
30 240
14
71
16
90
46
84
56
42
35
95
40
59
...
••
•
*Bound for East Indies.
...
...
••
...
•••
•
...
••
Guns Men.
CONNE555a
...
15
10
18
..
12
2
2
8
14
26
14
4
16
15
2
14
24443
N N
26
20
4
LOS QT
14.84
200
75
90
80
West Indies
40
Channel
39
West Indies
Channel
34
82 West Indies
1
20
2
7
1
1
66
69
80
160
40
40
36
94
88
24
34
15
6
14
18
15
16
40
50
65
60
120
4
50
12 70
Channel
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
""
West Indies
32 250
10 102
4 60
...
East Indies
4.
West Indies
East Indies
•
""
>>
55
4.
"
Coast of Spain
...
""
West Indies
59
"
...
West Indies
>>
··
3)
...
در
West Indies
...
Off coast of Spain
دو
...
Total for 1805-39 vessels, carrying 404 guns, 2964 men.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1806.
38 East Indies
West Indies
Channel
Off St. Malo
رو
44
West Indies
...
...
...
•••
•
···
•
*••
K
•
*
…….
West Indies
West Coast Africal
...
...
•
H.M.S. Superior.
Greyhound.
Admiral Hood's fleet.
H.M.S. Dédaigneuse.
St. Fiorenzo.
Caroline.
Topage.
PrincessCharlotte
Caroline.
Sheerness.
Terpsichore.
Curieux.
Cerberus.
Kingfisher.
Mosquito.
Eagle.
Epervier.
Grenada.
Blanche,
Loire.
Renard.
Loire.
Heureux.
Venus.
Unicorn.
Seine.
Sandwich.
""
Cambrian.
Circe.
Osprey.
Dominica.
""
")
+ Late H.M.S. Lily.
H.M.S. Victor.
Franchise.
Bruiser.
Growler.
Rebuff.
Druid.
Renard.
Narcissus.
در
Kingfisher.
Forward.
444
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
April Régulateur
Napoleon
Caroline
May *
General Blanchard
*Intrépide
Petite Confiance
Tremense
Princess Murat
Bellona +
Bocume
Huron
Dame Ernouf
Finisterre
Sandora
Amis
June
July
Aug.
Name of Prize.
Oct.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
...
Prospero
Créole
Diligente
Schooner
...
Tigre...
Brave
Jena
...
...
...
Mar. Bougainville
Chasseur
Charlotte
April Bellona
···
...
Uni
Superbe
Jeune Gabrielle
Réunion
Cocotte
Favorite
Austerlitz
Etoile...
May
June Alerte
...
...
...
...
Vengeur (sunk)
Adolphe
••
..
·
Henriette
Ile de France
Emilie *
Vigilante
Déterminée
+4
•
..
...
•
...
··
Austerlitz
Sept. Incomparable
4.
··
··
***
...
...
···
...
A
...
...
··
••
..
14
...
··
...
...
·
···
...
...
···
3.
...
...
...
...
...
Guns Men. Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
10
...
80
66
6 38
16
130
14 80
3
50
23
52
∞ ∞ ∞ co co
3
3
14
3
117
60
18
130
17 150
14
42
18
114
20
14
46
14
106
16 120
7 50
2
47
-H
4
14
94
8 75
4
12
4
16
2
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1807.
2
West Indies
Channel
16
27
180
30
120
39
93
36
118
190
124
Total for 1806-33 vessels, carrying 333 guns, 2595 men.
* During this month the following East Indiamen were reported captured by privateers sailing
out of the Isle of France :-Phoenix, Melville, with 200,000 rupees specie, Waldegrave, and Viper,
armed brig.
† Had on board 8000 dollars in specie.
20
30
20
8
18
3
60
14 108
10
96
4
70
16
150
14
6
14
18
2
West Indies
Channel
Coast of Spain
Channel
West Indies
71
150
96
54
85
125
30
""
""
",
""
Channel
...
""
West Indies
Channel
West Indies
..
,,
""
رد
ور
"}
",
""
:>
"
...
West Indies
East Indies
>>
""
""
West Indies
""
East Indies
West Indies
Channel
>>
West Indies
...
99
Channel
...
*Formerly H.M.S. Trincomalee.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
···
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
H.M.S. Malabar and Wolf.
...
•
در
Greyhound.
Favourite.
Hind.
Wolverine.
""
Grenada.
Heureux.
در
رو
Conflict.
Druid.
Active.
Vestal.
Reindeer.
Renard.
Fortunée.
در
Pitt.
Dart.
H.M.S. Grenada.
Cruiser.
Princess Augusta.
Success.
Norfolk.
Scorpion.
Ariadne.
Diana.
Powerful.
19
Duncan.
Culloden.
Concorde.
Venus.
Galatea.
در
ور
Jason.
Emerald.
Venus.
Pallas.
Circe.
Plantagenet.
Appendix.
445

Date
of
Capture
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Feb.
Mar.
Villarette
Hortlense
...
***
•
Requin
Renard
Ratafia
Jopo l'Oil
Hirondelle
Duquesne *
Alert
Rhone
Jeune Richard
...
•
...
•
...
Sybille
Aigle ...
Réciprocité
Trente et quarante
Aigle (with one prize
in convoy)
Courier
Entreprenant
(one
prize in convoy)
Marsouin
Succés
Cæsar
Grand Argus
Furet...
Nouvelle Entreprise…..
Amiral Gantheaume
Dunkerquois...
Lyonnais
Fortitude
Rennair
April Actif…….
May Tropard (late H.M.S.
Flying Fish)
Malvina
...
...
•
...
•
...
..
••
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
...
•
...
...
Deux Frères...
Etoile de Bonaparte
June L'Été...
...
...
...
Jean Jacque (and a
prize)
Vengeance (late H.M.S.
Tobago)
July Grand Napoleon
Aug. Diane
Griffon
Peraty (late H.M.S.
Barbara) ..
...
Total for 1807 :-33 vessels, carrying 368 guns, 2913 men.
*Formerly H.M.S. Netley.
Guns Men.
5
8
··
14
14
2
14
8
17
20
6
7
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1808.
H.M.S. Seine.
16
14
10
4
HH COLO TH TH Q1 ∞ HH
TH
16 56
18 60
4
16
5
12
3
14
14 43 Channel
14 65
14
14
14
10 H 21 N
5
14
18
4 CO
9
69
90
29
148 Channel
39
38
95
84
120
140
26
92
10
16
**** ** geft
12
45
66
58
60
59
40
41
47
1001 co to ano
55
28
35
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
West Indies
85
90
""
West Indies
80
""
""
...
""
در
...
""
""
39
""
19
""
""
*"
4
در
...
North Sea
Jamaica
...
50
J"
60 Atlantic
Channel
30
36
22 North Sea
...
...
Mediterranean
100 West Indies
"
...
...
...
90 West Indies
...
**
··
95 Bay of Biscay...
Channel
...
Mediterranean
..
•
...
86
38 Mediterranean
Bay of Biscay ...
100
105
...
H.M.S. Blonde.
""
Thalia.
Skylark.
Oberon.
Superior.
Blond.
...
>"
21
Laura.
Windsor Castle
merchantman.
Resistance.
Lion.
Ringdove.
Royal George.
Linnet.
Pandora.
Isis.
Volage.
Hazard.
Sibylle.
Port Mahon.
Nimrod.
Racehorse.
Princess Augusta
Reindeer.
""
Dryad.
Medusa.
Pheasant.
Guerrière.
Active.
Unite.
Cracker.
Lily.
Aurora.
Pylades.
Indefatigable.
Bacchante.
Guerrière.
A
446
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Oct.
Aug. Adèle...
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
|
May
June
Oct.
Name of Prize.
Nov.
Dec.
Jeune Estelle
Jalouse
Morne Fortunée
La Franchise
...
Union
Fanny
Superb
""
•
Hazard (with 2 prizes
that escaped)
Josephina (sunk)
Hercule
Point de Jour
General Paris
Princesse Pauline
General Ernouf
Dorade
1, Name unknown
>>
...
-
L'Espérance...
General Rapp
Vengeur
Clarisse
Revanche
Admiral Villaret
Pommereuil ...
St. Josephe
Fortune
August
Becune
Colibri
April Iphigenie
**
...
••
...
...
..
..
...
...
...
··
...
...
...
...
...
Jena (late Revenant)
Princesse
Tilsit...
Jean Bart
Jason...
Aurora
Hirondelle
Incomparable
Lizard
Grand Rodeur
Heureuse Etoile
Beau Marseille
Comtesse Laure
Téméraire
Véloce
...
...
•
•
··
··
•
...
♥
Guns Men.
18 143
25
4
75
60
23
THL N
4
14 49
18 160
12 57
3 30
35
90
58
3
16
1
1
1
1
8
16
4
14
−−−
∞ +++∞∞
14
80
20
Total for 1808-49 vessels, carrying 436 guns, 2939 men.
14
14
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1809.
2
16
14
16
2
TH
~+++
14
20
30
22
14
20
80
2
4
54
8 41
16
48
14
48
6 44 West Indies
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize
32
60
96
East Indies
West Indies
25
44
69
65
60
70
90
15
60
55
در
30
80
>"
""
...
Channel
""
58 Channel
24
3 38
92
8 26
18
150
16 50
10
41
4
10
16
16
8
Channel
Atlantic
Mediterranean
""
West Indies
East Indies
Channel
Mediterranean
Channel
West Indies
Channel
North Sea
Channel
ور
ور
""
در
15
West Indies
ر,
:5
""
دو
""
...
>1
...
در
...
"1
...
Channel
East Indies
Channel
North Sea
Channel
Coast of Ireland
Channel
""
...
Mediterranean
K..
•
•
•
•••
...
H.M.S. Russell.
Indian.
Bellette.
...
L'Eclair.
Beagle.
Minerva.
رد
Kingfisher.
Brilliant.
Linnet.
Pilot.
Arethusa.
Dispatch.
Julia.
Attentive.
Express.
Culloden.
Naiad.
H.M.S. Sparrowhawk.
Ned Elwin.
Beagle.
Indefatigable.
Bellette.
Goree.
Shannon.
Undaunted.
Beagle.
Helena.
Ferret.
Melampus.
Franchise.
Modeste.
Royalist.
Cruiser.
Nassau.
Helena.
Plover, Lively, and Isis.
Plover.
Emerald.
Plover.
Redpole.
Royalist.
""
Surveillante.
Hind.
Weazel.
Total for 1809-28 vessels, carrying 299 guns, 1565 men.
Appendix.
447
Date
of
Capture
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
May
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1810.
Name of Prize.
Oct.
François
Aventure
Saratu
Amiable Nelly
Harpalode
Perignon
Bernais
Papillon
Charles
Confiance
Comte d'Huneberg
Transet
...
April Levrette
Capricieux
Camille
...
..
...
...
Gascon
Duguay Trouin
Josephine
Modeste
•
Sans Peur
Intrépide
Messalena
**
...
Prince Eugene
Aigle ...
Scipio
Eole
...
*
•
•
Belle Etoile
Navarrois
Tilset...
Grand Napoleon
Alcide (sunk)
Dorade
Cannonière
•
▼
July
Maître de Danse
Sept. Revanche
Fortune
...
General Ottavy
Duguay Trouin
Minerva
Bécassine
•••
A
...
...
Fantôme
Henri...
San Joseph
Nov. Indomptable...
...
...
1.
...
...
...
..
••
..
•
...
·
..
···
Sans Souci
Comtesse Moutalevet
Téméraire
Vengeur
Hirondelle
Edouarde
Somnambule...
..
•A
A
··
•
...
Comtesse d'Hambourg
Loup Garou...
...
Guns Men.
14
14
14
н со
16
2
14
16
109
16
110
14 90
14 137
14
53
14
50
16
113
14
75
14
105
4
43
14
55
10
80
4
69
14
140
16
110
14 58
4
30
56
16 132
18 64
16
124
8
LON O CO
60
82
100
5
60
54
83
4
30
10
43
3
61
4
30
8
53
10 53
12
50
116
60
26
39
6
47
6 38
20 174
14 57
14
68
18 120
10
55
14
57
10
35
16
78
4
14
18
14
16
3
30
90
56
51
100
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
Channel
··
West Indies
...
...
">
Off Belle-Isle
Scilly..
>"
""
...
""
...
...
...
>>
Bay of Biscay...
>>
...
>>
...
Channel
دو
>>
رد
در
>>
...
Off Dantzig
West Indies
East Indies
Channel
""
...
•••
···
Channel
Mediterranean
Bay of Biscay
Off the Texel
Bay of Biscay...
Off Granville
Channel
Off Brest
Channel
...
•
...
··
...
..
...
Mediterrancan
...
...
••
•
..
...
•••
...
...
•
···
...
···
...
...
D
...
·
..
··
...
་
...
H.M.S. Royalist.
Medusa.
Plover.
Cherokee.
Brisk.
Amazon.
Melampus.
Rosamond.
Phonix.
Valiant.
Pheasant.
Clyde.
Unicorn.
Narcissus.
در
Raleigh.
Royalist.
Pylades.
Cephalus.
Weazel.
Echo.
Owen Glendower.
Arethusa.
Emerald.
Rhine.
Drake.
Helena.
Surly.
Orestes.
Nonpareil.
Bonne Citoyenne.
Eclair.
Pomona.
Swallow.
Unity.
Bustard.
Bloodhound.
Minorca.
Sparrowhawk.
Prometheus.
Melampus.
Clorinde.
Rhine.
Owen Glendower.
Briseis.
Rhine.
Fawn.
Revenge.
Niobe.
Sybille.
Apelles.
Calliope.
Orestes,
448
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Sep.
Oct.
Surcouf
Jeune Louise
Venus
Dec.
Charles
Barbier de SeviHe
Diane...
Milan...
General d'Orseum
Glaneuse
Renard
Caroline
Mameluke
Aventurière
Héros du Nord
Feb.
Victoire
March Furet...
...
Mouche
Confiance
Loup Marin
Vigilant
Volocifère
April Cupidon
Ambuscade
Auguste
Dubordieu
Créole
June
Heros...
Aug. Fougère
Sacripan
Rafleur
...
Intrépide
Adèle...
Nov. Olympia
...
Chasseur
Cæsar...
Aimable Flore
Brocanteur
···
*
...
••
………
...
..
•••
...
...
…..
...
..
Espoir
Belle Genoise
Milan...
...
44
...
Hirondelle
Grande Diable
Requin
Victorieux
...
...
...
...
...
•
69
85
24
42
16
45
14
50
12
44
Total for 1810 :-67 vessels, carrying 405 guns, 2558 men.
··
••
…….
...
..
**
...
**
Comte de Reguaud
King of Rome
Courageuse
Heureuse Etoile
•**
...
¡
..4
Guns Men.
HH
44
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1811.
14
56
35
67
22 195
14
14
26444
16 94
لسل
14 80
14
14
6
1
16
4
14
16
16
14
12
36
59
91
52
68
86
60
30
64
50
57
82
10
63
18 126
14
92
14
50
6
40
10 50
28
2
6
14
28
14
14
10 67 67 N
2
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
25
58
35
16
50
2 37
16 52
10
78
6
36
4
28
58
40
85
...
•••
...
...
...
...
•
...
•••
East Indies
...
""
Channel
··
...
...
··
Off Granville
Off Corsica
West Indies
Channel
...
...
...
Mediterranean
Channel
...
•
...
...
16
4
14
10
47
14
70
Channel
4 40 North Sea
*Formerly H.M.S. Viniego.
...
•
...
...
··
•
··
..
...
...
**
Mediterraneau
1
•••
···
H.M.S. Donegal.
Quebec.
•
Curaçoa.
Amelia.
...
Phipps.
Cracker.
Endymion.
Lightning.
Northumberland.
Quebec.
Saracen.
Rosario.
Royalist.
Bellona.
H M.S. Pandora.
Blossom.
PrincessCharlotte.
Rhine.
Zephyr.
Hawke.
Hesper.
Blanche.
Niobe.
Nymphe.
Desirée.
Amazon.
Persian.
Emerald.
Pomona.
Surveillante.
Pheasant.
Plover.
Earnest.
Derwent.
Euryalus.
Emulous.
Rollo.
Swallow.
Naiad.
Quebec.
Ranger.
Naiad.
Redwing.
Rover.
Weasel.
Rhine.
Censor.
Appendix.
449
Date
of
Capture
Dec.
Jan.
Name of Prize.
Anacreon*
Le Brave
Rrodeu
Lugger (sunk)
Syrène
Furet...
Feb. Edouard
March Gazelle
April Invincible
Vera
Cerf
Decide
May Petit Jean
June
Dec.
...
...
July Espadon
Aug. Courageux
Cct. Agile *
...
•••
...
Total for 1811 :-37 vessels, carrying 374 guns, 2158 men,
* Formerly H.M. Cutter Carrier.
•••
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1812.
Mediterranean
...
...
D'Hervilly
Victoire
Formica
Mercure
•••
...
A lugger (sunk)
Pauline
Sans Souci
April Brestois
Ravisseur
May Argus
...
Incomparable
Tulina
Comète
Jean Bart
Comtesse d'Emerieau
Martinet
...
...
Schooner (suuk)
Eole
...
Ville de Caen †
Brave...
Intrépide
Brave...
Leonore
••
•••
...
Petit Poucet...
Pilotin
...
...
...
...
...
***
JAA
24
...
**
...
...
4
...
...
...
...
→
C
...
...
4
...
··
...
•4
...
Guns' Men,
...
3 37
16 60
14 60
***
18
120
6 61
56
14
++ 2 CO LO DI GO LO
14
14
18
5
11
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ #2 ~ +∞ LO
2
3
1
3
2
14
14
8
5
16
TH SOLD
4
5
10
4
4
سام شير
128
33
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
Channel
40
""
""
91 Off St. Malo
""
45
Channel
180 Off Grenada
ور
31 Off Calais
60 Channel
14
10
120
109
11 51
4
85
Coast of Spain
106
110
51
45
47
31
2+ St. Malo
53
Mediterranean
""
19 Channel
در
Off St. Malo
Cuxhaven
Channel
""
...
Mediterranean
61 Channel
60
60
75
22
...
40
112
80
33
31
30
35
2
25
16 70 Channel
Total for 1812-34 vessels, carrying 244 guns, 2085 men.
ور
***
:)
...
>>
•••
Mediterranean
>>
...
···
*.
•••
Mediterranean
Off Heligoland
Off St. Malo
North Sea
Mediterranean
...
4.
...
•••
...
...
•
...
………
•
**
Princess of Wales (cutter).
H.M.S. Desirée.
Royalist.
H.M.S. Thracian.
Guadaloupe.
Royalist.
Apollo.
Leonidas.
···
Sparrowhawk.
Richmond.
Phipps.
Volontaire.
* Commanded by an Englishman, by name Black.
+ A very stubborn fight, the Sealark losing seven killed and twenty-one wounded; the privateer,
fifteen killed, including her captain, and sixteen wounded.
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1813.
Coast of Spain
Bay of Biscay...
North Sea
Mediterranean
Persian.
Blossom.
Badger.
Martinet.
Rota.
Pincher.
Flamer.
Sandwich.
Hind.
Helicon.
Salsette.
Sybille.
Redwing.
Osprey and Britomart.
Sealark.
Levret.
Termagant.
Nautilus.
Dotterel.
Briseis.
Clio.
Aquilon.
Bacchante.
Crocus.
Salsette.
H.M.S. Briton.
Sybille.
Apelles.
Furieuse.
G g
450
Appendix.
Date
of
Capture
Name of Prize.
May Miquellonaise
Louise
Leonide
Diligente
Fortune
June Invincible
Phoenix
Jan.
…….
………
...
•••
...
Aug. Impératrice
Petite Louise
Alcinous
Jeune Thetis...
Aigle
Petit Chasseur
Neptune
...
...
...
...
Flibustier
Subtile
Speculateur
Feb. Audacieux
Revenant
Charlemagne
Guerrier
Aventure
Prospère
March Inconnu
Emile...
Jason...
Ville de l'Orient
April Heureux
Minuit
Comète
...
...
..
...
...
J
..
...
E
...
...
...
4
...
..
4
Guns Men.
▼
20 135
2
21
40
45
31
86
75
140
45
32
76
59
W O W N
...
3
16
6
16
4
2
10
7
16
4 45
65
Total for 1813-18 vessels, carrying 153 guns, 1260 men.
8
со
14
3
CO
14
∞ + 2
FRENCH PRIVATEERS CAPTURED IN 1814.
23 160 Off St. Jean de
Luz ...
Channel
8
Place of Capture. Name of Vessel making Prize.
4
Off St. Malo
Channel
Mediterranean
72
70
40
70
93
15
14
14
14
1
1
14
...
Mediterranean
...
Mediterranean
••
رو
...
""
...
""
>>
>>
""
""
ور
...
12
در
...
60
28
60
109
42
86
97
25
21
65
Total for 1814-16 vessels, carrying 154 guns, 1058 men.
...
...
••
...
...
Mediterranean
...
...
...
...
...
•••
Mediterranean
Channel
...
...
...
...
H.M.S. Unicorn.
Viper.
Nautilus.
Cephalus.
Alemène.
...
Mutine.
Menelaus.
Hotspur.
Bristol.
...
Bacchante.
Cephalus.
Alemène.
Armada.
Thunder.
...
H.M.S. Telegraph.
Seahorse.
Reindeer.
Imperieuse.
Helicon.
Swiftsure.
Swallow.
Badger.
Andromache.
Sylla.
Thracian.
Venerable.
Pyramus.
Castor.
""
Ajax.
Appendix.
451
APPENDIX XIX.
RECAPITULATION SHOWING NUMBER OF FRENCH PRIVATEERS
CAPTURED IN THE WARS 1793-1815.

Date. Ships. Guns.
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
4-4
9
23
41
134
136
104
65
37
33
53
39
33
33
49
28
67
37
34
18
16
1031
412
142
305
326
1247
1377
861
661
478
264
358
404
333
368
436
299
405
374
244
153
154
9400
Men.
3188
1170
2610
2413
9141
9991
5625
4766
2593
1955
3563
2964
2595
2913
2939
1565
2558
2158
2085
1260
1058
69,147
N.B.—In the same period the Board of Admiralty issued 10,605 Letters of Marque
to British vessels; that is to say, that we had ten privateers scouring the seas
for every privateer of the enemy we succeeded in capturing !!
a g 2
452
Appendix.
1234
APPENDIX XX.
SHOWING THE MERCHANT MARINE OF THE WORLD
IN THE YEAR 1886-87.
Steamers.
8547
Country.
Great Britain
France.
Germany
United States
Tonnage.
10,403,958
No. of
Steamers.
APPENDIX XXI.
Sailing-vessels.
SHOWING THE RELATIVE MARITIME POSITIONS OF THE
CHIEF POWERS IN 1886-87.
Tonnage.
4906 6,543,615
468
743,660
12 FODB
529 601,973 3
379
506,668
4.
5
6
42,515
7
8
Country.
Great Britain
United States
Norway
Germany
Tounage.
Italy
Russia
Sweden
France
12,571,384

No. uf
Sailing-
vessels.
Tonnage.
14,581 4,654,214
6,142 | 2,060,258
3,813 1,373,512
2,328 849,869
2,776
825,455
2,157
1,960
2,138
469,098
403,887
385,631
Appendix.
453
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
APPENDIX XXII.
ROLL OF ENGLISH MERCHANT-VESSELS CAPTURED BY THE FRENCH DURING THE WAR
1793 TO 1815.
January February March
...
FREDSSL8
11
21
11
84
64
87
91
59
...
37
35
69
50
52
43
62
81
42
33
27
39
45
129
23
72
75
41
35
34
58
42
103
53
25
41
39
51
37
38
33
9
33
17
112
78
83
58
111
33
96
53
87
60
65
60
49
45
20
50
April
3)
57
92
79
58
64
73
78
47
70
51
45
50
67
28
68
31
53
21
22888
30
May
23
84
50
60
83
81
66
58
36
5
45
93
46
36
55
73
24
33
56
22
………
June
33
58
30
66
106
65
41
35
25
19
37
36
26
31
36
26
20
35
37
19
...
July August September October November December
888888
62
31
118
43
62
53
36
42
65
37
49
33
33
30
59
21
24
31
18
91
57
21
89
32
52
44
14
43
23
24
24
19
23
54
33
29
26
25
...
13
65
57
61
77
42
49
38
17
29
26
64
29
26
28
53
24
53
33
37
::.
35
43
45
37
49
45
ᏎᏐ
26
7
26
18
45
27
57
23
61
51
23
31
13
34
92
47
47
44
47
59
89
31
25
50
17
29
40
30
48
69
37
44
50
...
20
54
14
36
57
52
73
61
12
33
30
67
19
77
37
49
64
39
33
63
···
Total
352
644
640
489
949
688
730
666
399
222
387
507
519
559
469
571
619
470
475
371
145
Total 10,871
INDEX.
A.
Achille, French man-of-war, at capture
of Rio Janeiro, 230.
Activo, Portuguese ship, captured by
Leveillé, 317.
Adèle, French privateer, captured by
H.M.S. Albatross, 350.
Admiral, Lord High, of France, abolished,
5-8.
Admiral Ruyter captured by Thurot,
263.
Admiralty Courts and Prizes, 18.
Adolphe, French privateer, 369.
Adroit, French man-of-war, 89.
Adventure, H.M.S., at capture of
privateer Diligente, 185.
Aigle, French ship, at capture of Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Aigle, Monsieur de l', commands Serieux,
134.
Aigle Noir, French privateer, 211.
Aix, Tribunal of, gives judgment against
Cassard, 130.
Alabama, American privateer, 382.
Albatross, H.M.S., captures Adèle,
350.
Alcyon, French ship, Jean Bart
commands, 83-97.
Alfred captured by Leveillé, 314.
Aligré, French man-of-war, 139.
Aligré, Monsieur, Intendant of Toulon,
136.
Amarante, French man-of-war, 266.
Amavel Luisa, Portuguese ship, cap-
tured by Leveillé, 317.
Amazon, French ship, at Rio Janeiro,
230.
A
Amity captured by Thurot, 259.
Amizade captured by Leveillé, 317.
Andrew, Doctor, killed in the Kent,
354.
Andronache, French man-of-war,
destroyed by H.M.S. Northumberland,
378.
Anne, French man-of-war, 139.
Anne, Duchess of Brittany, 6.
Annuaire de la Marine, the, 12.
Antigua seized by Cassard, 141.
Aquilon, H.M.S., in action with Belle-
isle, 361.
Arbre de Chene captured by Bart, 50.
Argonaut at capture of Rio Janeiro,
230.
Ariadne, French man-of-war, destroyed
by H.M.S. Northumberland, 378.
Arms of Hamburg captured by Bart,
48.
Astree with Duguay Trouin at Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Aube, Admiral, his views on naval
warfare, 325.
Audaye, M. de la Tour, 255.
Aurore, French slaver, 323.
Auspicious captured by Surcouf, 343.
B.
Baleine Gris captured by Jean Bart,
47.
Barbary, pirates on the coast of, 64.
Bart, Catharine, mother, daughter, and
wife of a Corsair, 31.
''
Cornil (the elder), father of Jean
Bart, 30.
the younger son of Jean
Bart, carries news of his father's
victory to Versailles, 92.
Jean, the renowned Corsair, born
in Dunkirk, 27; embarks on a
smuggler, 32; leaves her on account
of the inhumanity of her captain, 40;
conveys French nobles to Ruyter's
456
Index.
fleet, 41; ships on the Dutch flag-
ship, 43; present in action with the
English fleet, 44; commands King
David, privateer, 45; shifts to La
Royale, 46; reprimanded for admit-
ting prizes to ransom, 49; commands
Palme, 51; presented with gold
chain by Colbert, 54; favourably
reported on by Intendant at Dunkirk
and by Colbert, 56; commands
Dauphin, 59; gallant action with
Sherdam, 61; commands Mars, 62;
given commission in the navy, 64;
commands Serpente, man-of-war, 66;
promoted commander, 68; commands
Railleuse, 69; captures Dutch man-
of-war, Seahorse, 73; action with
H.M.S. Nonsuch, 79; taken prisoner
to England, 80; escapes and is pro-
moted, 81; commands Alcyon frigate
at battle of Beachy Head, 84;
commands Entendu, 84; ravages
Northumbrian coast, 86; his recep-
tion at Court, 88; commands Glori-
eux at battle of La Hogue, 88;
gallant action with Dutch squadron,
91; given patent of nobility by Louis
XIV., 93; capture of another Dutch
squadron, 97; promoted commodore,
100; his illness and death, 101.
Bart, Luc, 30.
Barwell, Mr., killed in the Kent, 354.
Bastien, French privateer, 252.
Beachy Head, naval action off, 84.
Bedford, Duke of, Lord-Lieutenant of
Ireland, 279.
Begon, French man-of-war, 266.
Belle Cordelière, early French man-of-
war, 6.
Belle-isle, French privateer, 24; action
with H.M.S. Southampton, 254;
with H.M.S. Dauphin and Solebay,
258; at Carrickfergus, 273; captured
by English, 280.
Bellona captured by H.M.S. Power-
ful, 366.
Bellone, French man-of-war, at Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Benbow, Admiral, blockades Dunkirk,
85.
Bengal, Bay of, cruising-ground for
French privateers, 333.
Berbice captured by Cassard, 142.
Bienvenue, French man-of-war, 89.
Biscayenne, French privateer, 369.
Black Prince captured by Duguay
Trouin, 204.
Blagrave killed in the Kent, 354.
Blaize, Marie, betrothed to Surcouf, 340.
Blankett, Admiral, captures Clarisse,
privateer, 330.
Blankney captured by Thurot, 261.
Blonde, French ship, in Irish expedition,
266.
Boccanera reorganizes French navy, 5.
Bokem, Commodore, killed, 97.
Bonne Citoyenne, H.M.S., 23.
Boscher with Trouin, at capture of
H.M.S. Nonsuch, 200.
at attack on Viana, 209.
Boston, H.M.S., captured by Duguay
Trouin, 194.
Boulogne, English driven from, 7.
Boulogne chasse-marées save Serpente,
75.
Bourbon, Island of, dockyards formed in,
21; headquarters of privateers, 325;
militia serve on the Confiance, 350.
Bourdonnais, La, a Malouine hero, 156.
Bourgan captured by Thurot, 259.
Boyer Fonfrède on destroying English
commerce, 291.
Boyne captured by Thurot, 271.
Bright, Mr. John, on Corsairs, 15.
Brilliant, H.M.S., in action with
Thurot, 24, 280.
Britannia captured by Thurot, 261.
Brittany, fleets of, at battle off Rochelle,
6.
Buscherneis, Dutch man-of-war, 90.
C.
Caen furnishes ships for French Navy,
5; Duguay Trouin educated at, 160.
Canada, Richelieu establishes dockyards
in, 10.
Canard Doré captured by Bart, 48.
Canterbury, H.M.S., at capture of
Diligenti, 185.
Capricieuse, French man-of-war, 82.
Caraquon, early French man-of-war, 6.
Cardon, the gunner of the Vengeance,
301.
Carrickfergus captured by Thurot, 276.
Carthagena captured by De Pointis,
108.
Cartier, Jacques, the Malouine dis-
coverer, 156; privateer commanded by
Surcouf, 334.
Index.
457
Casse, M. Du, governor of S. Domingo,
109.
Cassard, Jacques, the famous Corsair,
105; born at Nantes, 107; at attack
on Carthagena, 110; stern repression
of pillaging, 113; recommended for a
commission, 114; captures William
Duncan, 115; Lieutenant in Navy,
116; successful cruise in the Jersey,
116; commands Duchess Anne, 125;
action with English frigate off Tunis,
128; dispute with Marseilles mer-
chants, 130; captures H.M.S. Pem-
broke and Falcon, 134; promoted
commander, 137; commands expedi-
tion to West Indies, 141; promoted
and decorated, 150; falls into disgrace,
151; quarrel with Fleury and im-
prisonment, 153.
Castille, fleet of, 5.
Catharine captured by Cassard, 120.
Catharine captured by Thurot, 259.
Cator, Mr., killed in the Kent, 354.
Cavoye, Comte de, on Ruyter's fleet, 41.
Centurion, H.M.S., 325.
Cerf Volant, Thurot serves on, 247.
Chancelier, French ship, at Rio, 230.
Chancellor captured by Leveillé, 304.
Charente, early French man-of-war, 6.
Charles II. sells Dunkirk, 29.
Charles V. organizes French Navy, 5.
Charles VI. projects invasion of Eng-
land, 6.
Charleston captured by Thurot, 262.
Chatham, H.M.S., action with Duguay
Trouin, 220; action with Belle-isle,
261.
Chauvelin, French privateer, 252.
Cherbourg furnishes ships for French
Navy, 5.
Chesnay le Fer, M., at capture of Rio,
230.
Chester, H.M.S., captured by Duguay
Trouin, 223.
Christian captured by Thurot, 259.
City of Flushing, Dutch man-of-war, 90.
City of Haarlem, Dutch man-of-war,
90.
Clarisse commanded by Surcouf, 341;
taken by H.M.S. Leopard, 350
Clements, Captain, H.M.S. Pallas, 280.
Clyde captured by Thurot, 279.
Cochon-gras, Jean Bart serves on, 32.
Coëtquen commanded by Duguay Trouin,
169.
Coislen, Comte de, on Ruyter's fleet, 41
Colbert resuscitates French Navy, 11;
his maxim regarding naval warfare,
id; institutes Inscription Maritime,
13; encourages Corsairs, 15; suggests
purchase of Dunkirk, 29; reforms
Maritime Law, 40.
Coldstream captured by Leveillé, 304.
Colonies, French, dominate English trade
routes, 379.
Commissions granted to Corsairs, 16.
Conception de S. Antonio captured by
Potier, 367.
Concorde, Dutch privateer, 163; French
ship at capture of Rio Janeiro, 230.
Condé captures Dunkirk, 29.
Confiance commanded by Surcouf, 350.
Conflans, his abortive expedition to Eng-
land, 266.
Constable, Captain, H.M.S. Falcon,
killed, 134.
Convention to encourage privateering,
288.
Corbeau Vert captured by Bart, 57.
Corsairs, definition and duties of, 3—16.
Courageux, H.M.S., at capture of Guépe,
23.
Coureur, French ship, 325.
Couronnement captured by Cassard,
123.
Coventry, H.M.S., captured by Duguay
Trouin, 220.
Craig, Captain, H.M.S. Solebay, 258.
Créole commanded by Surcouf, 325.
Cuiper, Liémard, taken by Bart, 53.
Cumberland, H.M.S., captured by
Duguay Trouin, 223.
Cunat, Monsieur, Surcouf's biographer,
322.
Curaçoa, island of, attacked by Cassard,
143.
Cybèle, French man-of-war, 325.
D.
Dedalus captured by Leveillé, 309.
Dauphin privateer commanded by Bart,
59; H.M.S., in action with Belle-isle,
258.
Danycan privateer, 168; ship-owner of
St. Malo, 229; Monsieur, commands
the Mars at Rio Janeiro, 230.
Decaen, Monsieur, governor of the Mau-
ritius, 368.
458
Index.
1
Declaration of Paris, 25, 376.
Defence, H.M.S., at capture of Guêpe,
23; Indiaman captured by Duguay
Trouin, 204.
Delph, Dutch man-of-war, taken by
Duguay Trouin, 212.
Dent Arent, Dutch man-of-war, cap-
tured, 96.
Deptford, H.M.S., action with Belle-
isle, 261.
Desager, Monsieur, 252.
Devonshire, H.M.S., sunk by Duguay
Trouin, 223.
Diana captured by Surcouf, 334.
Dieppe furnishes ships to French fleet,
5; bombarded by English, 94.
Dijon, Thurot educated at, 242.
Diligente commanded by Duguay
Trouin, 168; captured by Sir D.
Mitchell, 183.
Diomède, H.M.S., 325.
Domingo furnishes troops for capture of
West India Islands, 109.
Dorade, French privateer, 369.
Dragon, H.M.S., at capture of Diligente,
185.
Duchess Anne commissioned by Cassard,
125.
Dufresne a Malouine Corsair, 373.
Duguay Trouin, Etienne, commands
Lenore, 207; is killed on coast of
Spain, 209; Duguay Trouin, Nicholas,
221; Duguay Trouin, René, the
famous Corsair, 155; his insubordi-
nate youth, 159; ships on the Trinité,
161; his first fight, 162; commands
the Danycan, 168; commands Coet-
quen, 170; given a king's ship, the
Profonde, 174; commands Hercule,
175; prophetic dream, 177; chased
by Prince of Orange, and violates
Maritime Law, 181; captured by Sir
David Mitchell, 185; escapes from
Plymouth, 190; commands François,
193; action with and capture of
H.M.S. Nonsuch and Boston, 194;
given sword of honour by the king,
201; commands Sanspariel, 205;
capture of Dutch squadron, and of
Admiral von Wassenäer, 211; pro-
moted commander in King's Navy,
219; captures H.M.S. Coventry, 220;
promoted captain, 221; at capture of
H.M.S. Cumberland, Chester, and
Royal Oak, 226; H.M.S. Gloucester
227; granted letters of nobility, id. ;
commands expedition to Rio Janeiro,
229; promoted commodore and admiral,
235; his death, 236.
Duke of York captured by Leveillé, 308.
Dumourier, French privateer, 292.
Duncan, William, captured by Cassard,
115.
Dunkirk furnishes ships to French fleets,
5; enormous number of English
prizes carried into, 21; its varying
fortunes, 29; intendant of, reports
favourably on Jean Bart, 56; bom-
barded by English, 94; Bart's popu-
larity in, 101.
Dutch admiral captured by Bart, 91;
by Duguay Trouin, 211; fleet off
Harwich, 41; merchants lend ships
for French Navy, 5; squadrons
captured by Jean Bart, 91; by
Duguay Trouin, 211.
E.
Eagle captured by Leveillé, 310.
Eclatant commissioned by Cassard,
127.
Elephant captured by Jean Bart, 59.
Elizabeth, H.M.S., captured by
Duguay Trouin, 220; merchantman
captured by Bart, 46; merchantman
captured by Thurot, 259.
Elliot, Captain, defeats Thurot, 280;
Captain Hon. George, captures
Revenant, 370.
Emilie commanded by Surcouf, 332.
Emperor, privateer, 61.
England issues letters of marque, 20.
Entendu commanded by Bart, 84.
Eole at capture of Thurot's squadron,
24, 280.
Espadon, French privateer, 369.
Esperance, Admiralty proceedings on
capture of, 47; H.M.S., captured by
Nesmond, 203.
Essequibo ravaged by Cassard, 142.
Estrades, Comte d', purchases Dunkirk,
29.
F.
Falcon, H.M.S., captured by Cassard,
134.
Faluère, privateer, 211, 217.
Faucon, French man-of-war, 266.
Index.
459
Fendant, French man-of-war, 100.
Feuquières, M., commands Smyrna
Fleet, 131.
Fishguard at capture of privateer
Guépe, 23.
Fleury, Cardinal, his conduct to Cassard,
153.
Flobert, M., commands troops in Thurot's
Irish expedition, 266.
Forbin, Comte, sails with Bart, 76;
captured in Jeux, 79; promoted
captain, 82; lands on Northumbrian
coast, 86; at capture of H.M.S.
Chester and consorts, 223.
Fortitude captured by Leveillé, 309.
Fortune, French man-of-war, 89;
merchant-ship, captured by Leveillé,
309.
Fossart, captain of Trinité, 162.
Fourmentin, Corsair of Boulogne, 373.
Francis I., his efforts to improve French
Navy, 7.
Francis Samuel captured by Grenedan,
167.
François commanded by Duguay
Trouin, 193.
Franks, Mr., killed on the Kent,
Frehel, Cape, affords shelter to French
privateers, 172.
French Navy due to Louis IX., 5; fostered
by Richelieu, 7; Colbert's successful
efforts to improve it, 12; the French,
their systematic efforts to destroy
England's commerce, 379.
Friendly Adventure captured by Bart,
45.
Friendship captured by Thurot, 257;
another vessel of same name captured
by Leveillé, 309.
Friponne commanded by Thurot, 250.
Fronde, wars of the, 10.
Furieuse, privateer, gallant defence of,
23.
G.
Gaspard, H.M.S., captured by Duguay
Trouin, 222.
General Dumourier, French pri-
vateer, 292.
Genoa, mistress of Eastern trade, 5.
Gentlemen's Magazine, account of
Surcouf's actions in the East Indian
seas, 353.
Gibraltar, Straits of, passed by French
fleets for first time, 7.
Glorieux commanded by Bart, 88,
93.
Gloucester, H.M.S., captured by
Duguay Trouin, 227.
Golden Hawk captured by Bart, 57.
Golden Prince captured by Bart, 59.
Good Fortune captured by Bart, 59.
Gothenburg, port of, Thurot puts into,
267.
Grenedan, French privateer, 166.
Gros Thomas, French privateer, 252;
captured by the English, 256.
Groupes de combat, 381.
Guépe, privateer, gallant defence of,
23.
Guillois at capture of Catharine, 122.
H.
Haies, M. de la, captain of Phoenix,
133.
Ham, Cassard imprisoned at, 153.
Harcourt, Marquis d', on Ruyter's fleet,
41.
Harlequin, French man-of-war, 65.
Harwich, Dutch fleet off, 41.
Havre, le, furnishes ships to French
Navy. 5; fortified by Francis I., 7;
made a naval arsenal by Richelieu, 9;
bombarded by English, 94.
Hemp Cloper captured by Bart, 48.
Henry captured by Thurot, 261.
Hercule commanded by Duguay
Trouin, 175.
Hermitte, Doctor, 190, 209.
Hesquinet, M. de l', at capture of Curaçoa,
147.
Hidde von Vries, Dutch Admiral, taken
prisoner by Jean Bart, 91.
Hoche, General, his attempt on Ireland,
6.
Hogue, Cape la, Bart present at battle
of,
Holland lends ships to France, 10.
Homard, French privateer, 259.
Homme Sauvage captured by Bart,
45.
Honfleur, town of, furnishes ships to
French Navy, 5.
Hope of Bremen captured by Bart,
Houslaerdich, Dutch man-of-war, 211.
460
Index.
Hubert, Intendant at Dunkirk, reports
favourably on Jean Bart, 56.
Huguenots, brutal treatment of, on board
French ship, 34.
Huret, a Corsair of Boulogne, 373.
Huron captured by Bart, 83.
I.
Imfreville, Intendant at Dunkirk, 40.
Imperial defence, schemes for, 25.
Indiamen and privateers, 14.
Indian ocean scoured by Corsairs, 21.
Ingram captured by Thurot, 275.
Inscription Maritime, established by
Colbert, 13; members of, forbidden to
serve in Corsairs without leave from
Intendants of Marine, 14.
Intendants of Marine ordered to inspect
all Corsairs, 20.
Intrepid, H.M.S., action with Furieuse,
23.
Invincible Armada, the, 6.
Ireland, Duguay Trouin
lands on
coast of; Thurot's expedition to, 265.
Isla, Thurot lands at, 275.
J.
Jacobsen, Michael, the Corsair, 28; his
death, 30.
Jacques des Victoires, Saint, French
man-of-war, 211.
Jago, St., seized by Cassard, 139.
Jaille, Monsieur de la, at Rio Janeiro,
230.
James, the Naval Historian, 2.
Jane, brave defence when attacked by
Surcouf, 344.
Jane and Elizabeth captured by
Thurot, 259.
Jason, French man-of-war, 82.
Jean Bart the famous Corsair, vide
Bart, Jean.
Jean Bart, French man-of-war, 102;
French privateer, 326.
Jennet captured by Revenant, 370.
Jennings, Colonel, at defence of Carrick-
fergus, 277.
Jenny captured by Thurot, 259.
Jersey commanded by Cassard, 116.
Jeune Lyonnaise captured by Leveillé,
314.
Jeune Richard, privateer, captured by
the Windsor Castle,merchantman,391.
Jeux captured by Nonsuch, 80.
Jugements d'Oléron, foundation of
French Naval law, 33.
K.
Kent, Indiaman, captured by Surcouf,
352.
Keyser, the privateer, cruises with Bart,
46; at capture of Lévrier, 48;
favourable reports on, 57; commands
the Emperor, 61.
Kilroot, Thurot lands at, 276.
King David commanded by Bart, 45.
L.
Ludy Christine captured by Bart,
58.
Lady of Lombardy, privateer, 61.
Lambert, M., captain of Toulouse,
French man-of-war, 60.
Languedoc, merchants of, 5.
Lanoix, the Huguenot sailor, 34;
murder of, 39.
Laughton, Mr, Naval Instructor, on
Surcouf, 337.
Legoux, captain of privateer Grenedan,
166.
Leonore, privateer, commanded by
Etienne Trouin, 207.
Leopard, H.M.S., captures privateer
Clarisse, 350.
Leveillé, the famous Corsair of Dunkirk,
287; commands Vengeance, 294;
sharp action with Coldstream and
her consorts, 303; made Lieutenant
in the Navy, 311; commands Psyche,
privateer, 313; captures Portuguese
squadron, 316.
Lévrier captured by Bart, 48.
Lincoln captured by Thurot, 267.
Linois, Admiral, Surcouf refuses to
serve under, 361.
Littler, Mr., afterwards General Sir J.,
taken prisoner by Surcouf, 356.
Lockhart captures Dunkirk, 29.
Logie, Captain, H.M.S. Brilliant,
280.
Lord Holmes captured by Bart, 97.
Lothian captured by Thurot, 259.
Louis IX. strives to create a French
Navy, 5.
Louis XII. builds Charente, 6.
Index.
461
Louis XIII. makes fresh efforts to
form a Navy, 7.
Louis XIV. seconds Colbert's schemes
to improve Navy, 12; sends for Bart
to Versailles, 87; strikes medal in
honour of Bart's victory, 93; gives
Cassard a commission, 116.
Louisiana, American ship, captured by
Surcouf, 349.
Luc Bart; see Bart, Luc.
M.
Macleod, Captain, H.M.S. Dauphin,
killed in action with Belle-isle, 258.
Madagascar, France forms naval esta-
blishments in, 10; danger of fresh
French settlements in, 380.
Magnanime, French ship, at Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Malartie, Monsieur, Governor of the
Isle of France, his opposition to
Surcouf, 337.
Malo, St., the Corsair City, 155;
Malouine heroes, 372.
Mar, M. de la, at capture of Rio Janeiro,
230.
Margaret captured by Thurot, 259.
Marque, Letters of, why and how issued,
ì
14; laws governing those holding
them, and rules relating to prizes
captured by, 16; English govern-
ment issue Letters of Marque, 20.
Marryatt, Captain, his writings, 2.
Mars, French ship, at capture of Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Marseilles, merchants of, their meanness
to Cassard, 130.
Martha captured by Thurot, 257.
Maure or Moor, French frigate, 89.
Mauritius a nest of Corsairs, 325.
Mayflower captured by Leveillé, 309.
Mazarin neglects French navy, 10.
Mediterranean, Bart cruises in, 64;
Duguay Trouin commands fleet in,
235; French harbours dominate
English commercial routes, 381.
Medway, the river, Dutch sail up, 44.
Meldam, Dutch man-of-war, 97.
Mignon, French frigate, 97.
Milford captured by Bart, 89.
Mindger, Dutch Admiral, in action with
Jean Bart, 95.
Miniac, M. de la Moinerie, at capture of
Rio, 230.
Mitchell, Admiral Sir David, captures
Duguay Trouin, 183.
Moderé, Jean Bart serves on board, 68.
Modeste, French privateer, commanded
by Surcouf, 331; H.M.S. of same
name captures Revenant, 369.
Monk, Admiral, 41; H.M.S. Monk at
capture of Diligente, 185.
Montserrat ravaged by Cassard, 141.
Moor or Maure, French man-of-war,
89.
Moore, Mr., Indian cadet, killed on the
Kent, 354.
Morgan captured by Leveillé, 209.
Morlaix, English fleet defeated off, 6.
Motte, M. de la, at capture of Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Mouche, French privateer, captured,
220.
N.
Nantes, birthplace of Cassard, 109.
Napoleon's views on naval warfare, 362,
376.
Nassau, Dutch man-of-war, captured
by Duguay Trouin, 211.
Navy List, Colbert's, 12.
Neptune captured by Bart, 53; priva-
teer, proceedings on capture of, 396.
Nesmond, Marquis of, 202.
Nimeguen, Peace of, 62.
Nonsuch, H.M.S., captures Bart, 79;
taken by Duguay Trouin, 194;
christened Sanspariel, 205.
Normandy, Admiral of, 5; squadron
force join French fleet, 6.
Northumberland coast, Bart ravages,
86;
H.M.S., destroys French
squadron, 378.
Nott, afterwards General Sir William,
captured in the Kent, 356.
Nuits, Thurot born at, 241.
0.
Oléron, Judgments of, 33.
Opiniâtre, French ship of war, 82.
Orange, Prince of, narrowly escapes
Bart, 93.
462
Index.
Oriental trade in hands of Genoa and
Pisa, 5; Marseilles competes for it, 5.
Orissa Coast, Surcouf cruises off, 334.
Oster Stelling, Dutch man-of-war, 90.
Oudenarde, Dutch man-of-war, 90.
P.
Paimpol, Trouin takes shelter in, 172.
Pallas, H.M.S., at capture of Belle-
isle, 24; in action with Belle-isle,
280, 416.
Palme, Bart commands, 50.
Panther captured by Duguay Trouin,
179.
Parfait, French man-of-war, 133.
Parker, Sir W., his prizes, 21.
Patient, French bombship, at capture of
Rio, 230.
Patoulet, Intendant at Dunkirk, 82;
his quarrel with Bart, 87.
Pelican captured by Bart, 57.
Pellew, Sir E., commands East India
Squadron, 366.
Pembroke, H.M.S., captured by Cassard,
135.
Penguin captured by Surcouf, 332.
Perche, M. de la, at capture of Rio
Janeiro, 230.
Philip Augustus, 5.
Philip le Bel, 5.
Piedmontaise, privateer, captured by
H.M.S. San Fiorenzo, 366.
Pienne, M. de, at capture of Cape de
Verdes, 140.
Pisa shares with Genoa Eastern Trade,
5.
Pointis, De, commands expedition to
Carthagena, 108.
Pontchartrain, Minister of Marine, and
Bart, 85.
Porcons de la Barbinais, 322.
Portefaix, frigate, 89.
Port Praya seized by Cassard, 140.
Potier commands Revenant, 366.
Powerful, H.M.S., captures Bellona,
privateer, 366.
Premier Jugement du Solomon, cap-
tured by Bart, 47.
Prince de Frize, Dutch ship, captured
by Bart, 90.
Prince of Wales captured by Bart,
89.
Prince of Orange, H.M.S., 181.
Princess Emilie, 90.
Privateers, laws governing their conduct,
16; commission granted to, 16; rules
relating to disposal of prizes, 18;
vessels they were permitted to capture,
17.
Profonde commanded by Duguay
Trouin,
Prophet Daniel captured by Bart, 58.
Prudente, French man-of-war, 325.
Prudent Mary, collier, captured by
Thurot, 257.
Psyche, privateer, commanded by
Leveillé, 313.
Puller, Mr., killed in the Kent India-
man, 354.
Q.
Queen, Indiaman,
burnt off San
Salvador, 353.
Quiberon, Conflans defeated off, 275.
Railleuse frigate, commanded by Bart,
69;
R.
Ranc, Captain, of Sherdam, 61.
Regent, Indiaman, sinks three pri-
vateers, 393.
Revard, French privateer, 369.
Rennes, Duguay Trouin educated at,
158.
Renown, H.M.S., at capture of Guêpe,
23.
Resolution captured by Bart, 84; cap-
tured by Duguay Trouin, 204.
Réunion, Isle of, home of slavers and
privateers, 323.
Revanche, slaver, 324.
Revenant, privateer, Surcouf commands,
363; re-christened Jena, 370; her
after career, 370.
Revenge, H.M.S., action with, 221.
Richelieu's efforts to improve Navy, 7;
constructs arsenals at home and
abroad, 9.
Rio Janeiro captured by Duguay
Trouin, 230.
Riviera Grande seized by Cassard, 139
Index.
463
Rivington, Captain, his gallant defence
of the Kent, 353.
Rochelle, difficulty of blockading, 9,
Rochfort squadron captures many
English prizes, 377.
Rogers, Captain of Windsor Castle,
captures French privateer Jeune
Richard, 391.
Rose of the Sea captured by Bart, 82.
Rotterdam captured by Thurot, 253.
Rouen furnishes ships for French fleet,
5.
Rouen Packet captured by Leveillé,
309.
Royal Naval Reserve, necessity for im-
proving it, 384; paucity of officers,
385.
Royale, Bart commands, 46.
Ruby, H.M.S., at capture of Diligente,
185; capture of, 223.
Rumfrey, Captain, of H.M.S. Pem-
broke, captured by Cassard, 133.
Rusilly, de, M. 273.
Russell captured by Surcouf, 333.
Russia, collier captured by Thurot, 257.
Ruyter, Admiral, off Harwich, 43;
action with English, 44; patronage
extended to Jean Bart, 44.
Ryswick, peace of, 100.
S.
Sabran, De, at Curaçoa, 144.
St. Aaron, French privateer, 170.
St. Antoine captured by Bart, 62, 82.
St. Malo, bombarded by English, 94;
the Corsair city, 155.
St. Martin captured by Bart, 62.
St. Paul of Bruges captured by Bart,
45.
St. William commanded by Cassard,
115.
Sally captured by Thurot, 259.
Sam Borlase captured by Surcouf, 333.
Sandheads, Surcouf cruises off, 333.
San Fiorenzo, H.M.S., captures priva-
teer Piedmontaise, 366.
Sanspareil, French Corsair, 205.
Sauldeck, Dutch man-of-war, captured,
97.
Sauret, Antoine, Jean Bart's mentor, 32.
Scheldt River, commanded by Dunkirk,
28.
Seahorse captured by Bart, 72.
Seignelay supports the Corsairs, 69;
his partiality for Bart, 69; death, 84.
77
Semillante, Surcouf commands, rechris-
tened the Charles, 368.
Semmes, Captain, of the Alabama, 18.
Sept Provinces, Ruyter's flagship, 43.
Serieux commissioned by Cassard, 129.
Serpente, action with English craft and
narrow escape of, 74; brig accom-
panies Bart, 69; French man-of-war
commanded by Bart, 67.
Seven Stars captured by Grenedan, 167.
Sherdam captured by Bart, 61.
Smyrna fleet saved by Cassard, 133.
Soutenage at capture of Sherdam, 61.
Spaniards own Dunkirk, 29.
Stadenland, Dutch man-of-war, captured,
gn.
Sumatra, French privateers cruise off,342.
Surcouf, Robert, a typical Malouine,
322; ships on and is wrecked in the
Aurore, 33; sails in Revanche, 324;
commands the Créole, 325; present
in action with H.M.S. Centurion and
Diomède, 326; embarks in slave
trade, 327; escapade with police
authorities, 328; is refused Letters of
Marque, 331; cruises in Indian
Ocean, 332; captures Penguin,
Russell and Sam Borlase, 333;
action with Triton, 335; M. Malartie
refuses to recognize Surcouf's claim
to prizes, 338; Surcouf's claim re-
cognized in France, 339; his engage-
ment to Marie Blaize, 340; commis-
sions the Clarisse, 341; captures the
Auspicious, 343; narrow escape of
being taken by H.M.S. Sybille, 344;
captures Jane, 345; and Louisiana,
348; commands Confiance, 350;
heavy action with and capture of
Kent, 352; returns home and cap-
tures Ebro, 360; his marriage, id.;
offered a command under Linois, 361;
fits out Revenant and returns to
Indian Ocean, 363; his great suc-
cesses, 365.
Surinam ravaged by Cassard, 141.
Swilly, Thurot lands at Lough, 262.
Sybille, H.M.S., nearly captures Surcouf,
344.
T.
Tardivet, captain of the Aurore slaver,
323.
Téméraire, French man-of-war, 131.
464
Index.
Terpsichore, French ship of war, 311.
Tertoole captured by Bart, 51.
Thorshaven, Thurot refits at, 267.
Three Friends, capture of, 162.
Thurot, François, born at Nuits, 241;
runs away from home, 243; shows
his surgical skill, 244; embarks on a
Corsair, 245; captured by English,
246; escapes from Dover, 249; com-
mands Triponne, 250; made Enseigne
de Vaisseau, 251; placed in charge of
a squadron, 252; commands Belle-
isle, action with H.M.S. Southampton,
254; captures Dover packet, 255;
action with H.M.S. Dauphine and
Solebay, 258; lands in Lough Swilly,
262; captures English prize, Admiral
Ruyter, 263; pays off Belle-isle,
264; commands expedition to Ireland,
266;
disagreement with military
commanders, 267; disaffection of his
captains, 270; Thurot quells the mu-
tiny, 272; lands near Carrickfergus,
276; it surrenders, 277; action with
English squadron, and his death, 280.
Toulon, Cassard at, 137.
Toulon converted into an arsenal, 9.
Tourville, 10.
Tourville at Beachy Head, ignores Bart's
services, 83; at La Hogue, 88; gives
Bart detached command, 89.
Treguier, Trouin escapes to, 193.
Trinité, Duguay Trouin ships on, 161.
Triton captured by Surcouf, 335.
Trouin, Etienne, his death, 209.
Truelove captured by Thurot, 261.
Turenne captures Dunkirk, 29.
Tyne, Bart anchors in the, 86.
U.
Unicorn, H.M.S., at capture of Guêpe,
23.
V.
Valbué, Jerome, the Dunkirk Corsair,
32; his summary execution of a sailor,
35.
Valincourt, memorandum on privateers,
15.
Varennes, De, Admiral of France, 55.
Vengeance, French privateer, 294.
Vengeur, The, 22.
Venice commands trade with the East, 5.
Verde, Cape de, Islands overrun by
Cassard, 139.
Viana, Etienne Trouin buried at, 210.
Victor, H.M.S., once the Revenant,
369.
Villaret-Joyeuse supports privateers,
339.
Vipère commanded by Bart, 65.
Vleker, Bart visits, 89.
W.
Wanzell, Dutch admiral, 218.
Warrington captured by Bart, 89.
Wassenaër, Dutch admiral, 218,
Welsh, the French privateer, 170.
Whitehouse, Thurot lands at, 276.
Whitworth captured by Leveillé, 314.
William and Charles captured by
Thurot, 257.
Windsor Castle, gallant action of, 391.
Z.
Zeeripe, Dutch man-of-war,
90.
・
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