Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/169

Rh  more particular notice, we shall here insert Captain Russell’s official letter relative thereto.

“Hussar, off Sandy Hook, Feb. 6, 1783.

“Sir. On the 22d of last month, in a fresh gale and hazy weather, lat. 36&deg; 20’ in soundings, I chased a sail standing to the westward, with the starboard tacks on board, wind N.N.W. On my approach, she displayed an English ensign reversed in her main shrouds, and English colours over French at the ensign staff. Having likewise discovered that she was under very good jury-masts, had some shot-holes in her quarter, and not supposing that French tactics contained a ruse de guerre of so black a tint, I took her to be what her colours intimated a distressed prize to some of his Majesty’s ships; every hostile idea vanished; my mind was employed in devising means to succour and protect her; I declined the privilege of my supposed rank, and stood under his lee to hail. At that moment, by a pre-concerted and rapid movement, he put up his helm, aimed at laying me athwart hawse, carrying away my bowsprit, raking, and then boarding me. I felt the error of my credulity; ordered our helm hard-aweather, shivered, and shortened the after-sails. The Hussar obeyed it saved me from the murdering reflection of a surprise baffled in part the enemy’s attention, and received only a half-raking fire; which, however, tore me to pieces forward, and killed two of my men. By this time both ships were by the lee forward, and almost aboard each other. I called loud, to stand by to board him. It had the desired effect; he put up his helm wore off the Hussar closed with him and a fair engagement commenced before the wind. He yawed frequently; the Hussar kept as close and as parallel to him as possible; in about forty minutes his situation appeared disagreeable to him; his fire grew less frequent, and soon after contemptible. At the hour’s end it ceased; and, under cover of our smoke, he extended his distance, put his helm 