Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v4p2.djvu/116

  After serving through the second Egyptian campaign, from the capture of Alexandria to its evacuation, the Tigre returned to England, and Mr. Matthews joined the Iphigenia frigate, Captain Henry Lambert, with whom he visited Quebec, and subsequently proceeded to the Cape station.

In Aug. 1809, whilst cruising off the Mauritius, the Iphigenia accidentally ran on board the Boadicea frigate, and thereby lost her bowsprit and foremast. The next night she got aground under a heavy battery, where she was long exposed to a very severe cannonade. Not thinking it possible to save her, the senior officer of the squadron sent orders to set her on fire; but, after throwing some guns overboard, she was at length got off, through the persevering gallantry and uncommon exertions of her captain, officers, and crew. In July 1810, she formed part of the squadron under Captain (now Sir Josias) Rowley, at the capture of the Isle of Bourbon.

The disastrous result of an attack made by the Iphigenia and three other frigates, under the orders of Captain Samuel Pym, of the Sirius, upon a French squadron in Grande Port, Isle of France, Aug. 23d, 1810, has been officially described in. The particular share borne by the Iphigenia in this destructive combat is more fully shewn at. Her subsequent proceedings, and surrender by capitulation, are narrated in.

From this period, Mr. Matthews was a prisoner at Port Louis until the subjugation of the Isle of France in Dec.