Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/433

Rh On the 11th Aug. 1797, the Jason assisted at the attack of several small armed vessels, which had taken shelter, with some merchantmen, under the guns of the fort at the entrance of the river Sable d’Olonne, one or two of which were sunk, and the fort considerably damaged. On the 27th, the squadron to which she was attached captured five vessels off the Garonne, and drove on shore le Petit Diable, national cutter, of 18 guns and 100 men, some of whom perished in their attempt to get on shore.

At 7 o’clock in the morning of the 29th June, 1798, Captain Stirling being on a cruize off the Saintes, in company with the Pique and Mermaid frigates, discovered and gave chace to a large French frigate; it was not till 11 at night that the Pique brought her to close action, which continued in a brisk running fight until 2 o’clock on the morning of the 30th, when, unfortunately, the main-top-mast of the Pique was shot away, and she dropt a-stern; at this instant the Jason came up, passed between the combatants, and opened her fire with great vigour; soon after both ships ran a-ground warmly engaged, that of the enemy completely dismasted. The Jason having only taken the ground forward, upon the rise of the tide, unavoidably swung round, with her stern close to the enemy’s broadside, and became exposed to a raking fire, which did her considerable damage; Captain Stirling, however, got some of the aftermost guns to play upon her with such effect, that in a few minutes she struck. In the meantime, Captain Milne, of the Pique, eager to renew the combat, and not hearing himself hailed from the Jason, ran a-ground with such violence that his ship bilged, and it was found necessary to destroy her; upon which Captain Stirling directed her officers and crew to take possession of the prize, which with much difficulty, and by great perseverance and activity, they got afloat. She proved to be la Seine, from the Isle of France, bound to l’Orient, of 42 guns and 610 men, (including soldiers,) 170 of whom were killed, and 100 wounded. Captain Newman, in the Mermaid, although not able to arrive up in time to partake in the action, had the satisfaction by his seamanlike conduct to be instrumental in preserving the Jason from being wrecked. The latter ship had 1 Lieutenant, (Robotier,) and 6 men slain, and 12