Alexander

Posted by Brian on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 21:36

London Gazette, March 18, 1780 Extract of a letter from the Right Honourable Lord Longford, Capt. of his Majesty's ship Alexander. Dated Spithead March 16, 1780 - On the 12th inst. being to the westward of Scilly we gave chase to a large frigate in the S.E. quarter, and after eighteen hours chase got within half gun shot of her; at daylight in the morning of the 13th she hoisted French colours and we fired chace guns at each other for about two hours. When we had got nearly alongside her, my foretop mast, without being struck or any part of the rigging cut, and without wind, went over the side. I found it quite rotten. The Courageux continued the chase, and about noon after firing a great number of shot, came up with and took her. She proved the Monsieur privateer, of Granville, of 40 guns, twelve and six pounders and three hundred and sixty two men commanded by Jean de Bochet. She had been eight days from L'Orient and taken nothing. She is a very fine frigate, almost new, 134 feet on the gun deck, and I hope will be found fit for his Majesty's service.