Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p1.djvu/88

 June, 1803, he joined the Tonnant 80, Captain Sir Edward Pellew (now Viscount Exmouth); and in May, 1804, the Culloden 74, bearing the flag of the same officer, as commander-in-chief on the East India station, where he was successively appointed acting lieutenant of the Howe frigate and Harrier sloop, both commanded by Captain Edward Ratsey, in the early part of 1805. The following is Mr. James’s account of the action alluded to :–

“On the 2d Aug. 1805, at 1-30, as the British 38-gun frigate Phileton, Captain John Wood, and 18-gun brig-sloop Harrier, Captain Edward Ratsey, were entering the straits of St. Bernadino, Philippine Islands, a strange frigate (la Sémillante) was dicovereddiscovered [sic] lying at anchor in the road of St. Jacinta. * * * * * *

“Immediately on discovering the British vessels, the Sémillante began warping in-shore, between a battery on the south point of St. Jacinta and a reef of rocks; in which operation she was assisted by several boats, and subsequently by her sails, which she loosed in order to take advantage of a light air that sprang up from the north-east. At 2-40, hoisting French colours and a broad pendant, the Sémillante commenced firing her stern-chasers at the Harrier; from whom the Phaeton was then distant about three miles in the north-west. The battery began firing also; and in two minutes afterwards the Harrier, being off the north point of the bay, opened her starboard broadside. Finding the water to shoal from ten to seven, and then to five and four fathoms, the brig hove to; but still continued a smart fire. At a few minutes past 3, the Phaeton got up and joined in the cannonade; and a round tower now added its fire to that of the battery at the point. The British frigate and sloop, although, from the difficulty of the navigation and the lightness of the breeze, unable to clone as they wished, continued to engage. At 4, the latter wore and fought her larboard guns. At 4-30 she caught fire in her waist hammock-cloths, supposed to have been caused by red-hot shot from the battery: the flames, however, were soon extinguished. The weather now became nearly calm, and the brig, in consequence, began drifting towards the reef. At 5, finding that the Phileton could not get alongside of the enemy without warping, and that his boats would, in such a case, run the risk of being cut to pieces, Captain Wood ceased firing, hauled off, and signalled Captain Ratsey to do the same. The Harrier, by means of her boats, towed her head round: and, in a minute or two afterwards, the action ended.

“The Phileton had her sails, rigging, and some of her masts damaged by the enemy’s fire; three of her boats were injured, and she received nine shot in her hull; but, fortunately, had only two men wounded. The Harrier having from her nearness to the shore, at its commencement, bore