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1810] a wreck. Her defence had been almost as heroic as that of the Nereide. Captain Corbett, who commanded her, had the reputation of being excessively severe to his seamen, but he was as fearless as a lion. He fought his ship to the last extremity, and fell dead before her flag was struck. Legends of his gallant conduct and of the respect paid to his remains by the French officers who boarded the ship were current in Capetown until the century was far advanced. Commodore Rowley took the Africaine in tow, and enabled her to reach Bourbon safely. On the 18th of the same month he fell in with the French frigate La Venus, of 44 guns, and after a single broadside captured her. On the morning of the same day La Venus had engaged and taken the Ceylon, and this ship was now also recovered. Thus, within five days, the Boadicea rescued two English frigates that had been made prizes and captured a French ship larger than herself. The Otter had by this time become quite unserviceable, and in October she was sent back to England.

Meantime the government of India was fitting out a strong force, which was to sail under adequate convoy from Bengal, Bombay, and Madras, and be joined at Rodriguez by ships and troops from Bourbon and the Cape of Good Hope. The 24th regiment had been sent from Capetown to India in June, and had not yet been replaced, but it was arranged that two battalions should be supplied from the South African garrison. Vice Admiral Albemarle Bertie was to take command of the combined fleets and Major General the honourable John Abercrombie of the land forces, and make a descent at Grand Bay, about twelve miles from Port Louis. This plan was carried out successfully, except that the transports with the soldiers from the Cape did not arrive in time. On the 29th of November 1810 the fleet, consisting of about seventy sail of men of war and transports, came to anchor in Grand Bay, and the troops were at once set on shore. General De Caen, the French governor of the island, recognised the impossibility of successful resistance, and offered to capitulate. While the terms were being discussed the contingent from the Cape arrived, consisting of a hundred artillerymen and