| Early on July 3rd, off Mayotte, the outward-bound Indiamen Ceylon, Henry Meriton (senior officer), Windham, John Stewart, and Astell, Robert Hay, discovered on their starboard bow the French men-of-war Bellone, 40, Captain Victor Guy Duperre, Minerve, 40, Captain Pierre Franois Henri Etienne Bouvet, and Victor, 22, Commander Nicolas Morice. As soon as the Indiamen had satisfied themselves that the strangers were enemies, they prepared for action, while trying at first to avoid it; but, the Frenchmen pressing, Meriton ultimately formed a close line of the Windham, Ceylon, and Astell, in the order named, and awaited the attack, which began at about 2.15 P.M. A most determined and gallant fight was made of it, both by the crews of the ships and by the numerous troops in them [About 250, in each ship, all of the 24th Regt]; and it was not until 7.20 that the Ceylon, having had 7 killed and 21 (including Meriton) wounded, hauled down her colours. The Windham continued the struggle for 25 minutes longer, and struck only when she had had nine guns dismounted, and had lost 6 killed and 18 wounded. The Astell, after losing 8 killed and 37 (including Hay) wounded, put out her lights and escaped in the darkness. The losses on the French side were 22 killed and 38 wounded. Seldom has a braver defence been made by peaceable vessels against an overwhelming force of men-of-war. The prizes were carried to Mauritius. |