Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp1.djvu/495

  It has been incorrectly stated by a contemporary, that Captain Spear, “having ascertained that they were enemy’s vessels,” previous to his leaving Grand Bourg bay, “hoisted a signal to that effect to the brig-sloop Supérieure, of 12 eighteen-pounder carronades and 2 long twelves. Captain Andrew Hodge, at an anchor a few miles off in the N.W.” It is true that the vessel alluded to had arrived in St. Louis’ bay the preceding evening; but she anchored so close to the shore, in the bight of the bay, that it was impossible to see even the heads of her masts from where the Goree lay; and, moreover. Captain Spear was quite ignorant of her being there. The fact is, that the Supérieure knew nothing of what was going on to windward, until an officer, sent round by the governor of Marie-Galante, informed her commander that Captain Spear had already commenced action. We mention this circumstance in order that the latter may not be deprived of any portion of the credit justly due to him, for having so promptly gone out to fight an enemy of nearly double his own force, no other British vessel being then in sight, and the Goree eight men short of complement. At the same time great praise is also due to the commander of the Supérieure for his activity in getting under weigh immediately the governor’s message reached him, particularly as he was then in the act of landing his empty water casks, and his vessel unavoidably in disorder.

The same author says, that, after the action, when “with no other sail to set than her fore-sail and driver, the Goree hauled her wind for Marie-Galante, and in about half an hour regained the anchorage she had left;” whereas we know that Captain Spear, finding he had not a whole sail left, and his small bower-cable being shot through, brought up with the stream-anchor, in deep water, on the very spot where the enemy left him; and continued there until the boats left at