| On December, 1808, the Topaze, 40, Captain P. N. Lahalle, with a cargo of flour for Cayenne, had escaped from Brest, after a brush with the Loire, 38, in which she suffered some damage. On reaching Cayenne, she had found the port blockaded, and had steered for Guadeloupe. Beaching that island on the night of January 21st-22nd, 1809, she was sighted by the Hazard, 18, Commander Hugh Cameron, Jason, 38, Captain William Maude, and Cleopatra, 32, Captain Samuel John Brooke Pechell, and took refuge under the guns of a battery on Pointe Noire. The Cleopatra was the first of the British ships to get near her, and at about 4.30 P.M. on the 22nd anchored with springs and opened fire. The Topaze had moored with springs, and she poured in her fire as the Cleopatra approached. Almost at once one of the Topaze's springs was shot away, and the French frigate swung round, exposing herself to be raked. Though unable to bring the greater part of her broadside to bear, she held out till the Jason and Hazard came up, when she struck, with 12 killed and 14 wounded. The British loss was 2 killed and 1 wounded. |