Page:The history of yachting.djvu/439

Rh he was prepared to bring goods from any part of the East for £21 per ton. This inquiry resulted in the Company building larger and even finer vessels.

In 1779 the Bridgewater fought an American privateer of superior force, and beat her off. For this the crew received a reward of £2000. In 1795 an expedition was fitted out at St. Helena—consisting of the Company's ships Goddard, Mauship, Hawksbury, Airly Castle, Asia, Essex, and Busbridge—which proceeded to cruise to windward of the island. Here they intercepted and captured a valuable fleet of nine Dutch East Indiamen, thereby resulting in the annihilation of the Dutch East India Company. In 1800 the Company's ship Exeter captured the French frigate Mélée. Many other instances might be cited tending to show the fighting ability of these ships, and that of their officers and crews.

In 1787 Dodd painted the portrait of an East Indiaman leaving the Downs, outward bound, which is here reproduced, and gives an excellent idea of the Indiaman at that period.

At the present day it is difficult to realize the comfort and luxury aboard these oldtime ships, or the leisurely, dignified manner in which they navigated the seas. The commanders of these Indiamen also appear to have been gentlemen whose whole idea of commanding a ship was safety and comfort, with no desire whatever to get a vessel to do her best work in the way of speed. They took excellent care of their spars, rigging,