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What ship is that?" "The transport Mellish." "Very well, you are the one we want. I have a message for you. The Yankees are about, and the admiral has sent us to look up the convoy. Where is the Acasta?" "In the van, Sir James, about two leagues ahead; the corvette is about a mile forward there, sir." "Very good. Heave to and send a boat aboard and get your orders.
I can only regret, that any captain in His Majesty's service should be forced in this way to do his duty as a gentleman and a man of honour." Captain Hawkins bit his lip at the order, and the cutting remarks accompanying it. "Your boat is manned, sir," said the captain of the Acasta, in a severe tone.
The second lieutenant was close to us, and he was ordered to take the duty during my absence. I jumped into the pinnace, and shoved off; ten other boats from the Acasta and the other men-of-war were pulling in the same direction, and I joined them.
Our force consisted of the Acasta frigate, the Isis ship, sloop, mounting twenty guns, the Reindeer, eighteen, and our own brig. The convoy amounted to nearly two hundred. Although the wind was fair, and the water smooth, we were more than a week before we made Anholt light, owing to the bad sailing and inattention of many of the vessels belonging to the convoy.
"Well, then, Captain Hawkins," replied the captain of the Acasta, "you will oblige me by remaining on my quarter-deck till I come out of the cabin."
One of the praams mounted ten guns, and the other eight. The last was opposed to the Rattlesnake, and the fire was kept up very smartly, particularly by the Acasta and the enemy. In about a quarter of an hour I arrived with my division close to the vessel which was the nearest to the enemy. It was a large Sunderland-built ship.
This I did immediately, and the boat that had brought me on board not having left the brig, I sent the letter by it, requesting them to put it into the hands of one of the officers. The letter was received previous to Captain Hawkins' visit being over; and the captain of the Acasta put it into his hands, inquiring if the statement were correct.
As soon as it was manned, I reported it, and then begged to know whether he intended to comply with my request. He answered that he should not, and then went on deck, and quitted the brig to pull on board of the senior officer. I therefore determined immediately to write to the captain of the Acasta, acquainting him with the conduct of Captain Hawkins, and requesting his interference.
In half-an-hour we were within gun-shot of the nearest, which directed its fire at us; but the lieutenant of the Acasta, who commanded the detachment, ordered us to lie on our oars for a minute, while he divided his force in three divisions, of four boats each, with instructions that we should each oppose a division of two gun-boats. This was well arranged.
The next morning he went on board of the Acasta, and made his report to the senior officer, bringing back with him the disappointed passed-midshipman as my successor.
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