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Updated: May 26, 2025
By the direction in which he was now steering it seemed probable that he had determined to seek shelter in one of the indentations to the westward of Frehel, many of which were at that time defended by earthwork batteries for the protection of the French coasting craft from our cruisers and privateers.
As for the frigate, she had disappeared, probably behind Cape Frehel; there was nothing, therefore, so far as we could see, to put the French on the alert, or to alarm them in any way. We, therefore, now headed the boats straight in for the beach, catching a momentary glimpse as we did so of the other division, apparently doing the same thing.
We then shortened sail to our fore-and-aft canvas only, and, taking in our gaff-topsail, held on as we were going, with the French coast close aboard, to leeward, until we reached Granville, when, having seen nothing worthy of our attention, we tacked to the westward, and eventually found ourselves off Cape Frehel, the easternmost extremity of Saint Brieuc Bay.
The fear that she would do so was still further strengthened when at midnight we made Cape Frehel light, with the chase still leading by a full eight miles; the only chance in our favour being that, as the bearing of the light proved, the Indiaman was some three miles to windward of her course, and would have to bear away for it, while we were heading for Saint Malo as straight as we could go.
And that, in the end, was precisely what occurred; for when at length we weathered Cape Frehel we were just in time to see him entering Pleher Bay, where he presently rounded-to, clewed up his canvas, and let go his anchor.
A few minutes after we had cleared the harbour the frigate appeared in sight from behind Cape Frehel, and half-an-hour later our prize the H.E.I. Company's ship, Masulipatam, of 1196 tons register, with a full cargo of Indian produce, homeward-bound from Bombay to London was hove-to under her lee quarter, while Mr Adair had gone on board to make his report.
The wind being to the southward, we were unable to fetch to windward off Cape Frehel in the morning; and observing several sail at anchor off the isles of Brehat, particularly two large ships and a brig, in a bay to the northward, which there appeared a great probability of attacking with success, I stood in for them; but the tide of ebb setting us to the westward, prevented our fetching into the bay, and enabled the enemy's ships to get under way with the first of the flood, and save themselves between the rocks.
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