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Updated: June 8, 2025
It was a quarter of an hour before the Frenchman returned to the attack. Captain Oughton had again hauled his wind, as if not wishing to decline the combat; which, indeed, the superior sailing of his antagonist prevented.
"Where's Major Clavering? I'll ask to dismiss the men." "They are dismissing a great many little men, forward, I suspect," said the first-mate, laughing. "I cannot imagine what induced Captain Oughton to give the order: we never shake bedding except when the ship's before the wind." This last very consoling remark made it worse than all; the officers were in an agony.
When Newton returned on deck, he found that the corvette had gradually edged down until nearly within point-blank range. "Shall we lay the main-topsail to the mast?" observed Newton. "We shall see his manoeuvres." "Why, he hardly would be fool enough to bear down to us," replied Captain Oughton; "he is a determined fellow, I know; but I believe not a rash one. However, we can but try.
JOHNSON. 'Sir, Hume is a Tory by chance, as being a Scotchman; but not upon a principle of duty; for he has no principle. If he is any thing, he is a Hobbist. There was something not quite serene in his humour to night, after supper; for he spoke of hastening away to London, without stopping much at Edinburgh. I reminded him, that he had General Oughton and many others to see.
The English seamen sprang up to return the compliment, when Captain Oughton roared out, "To your guns, you fools! Hard down with the helm fly the jib-sheet check headbraces look out now, my lads." The corvette had already put her helm up and paid off to pass under the stern of the Windsor Castle, with the intention of raking her.
Happy were the military officers to hear the order given for the anchor to be let go upon their arrival in Madras Roads; more happy were they to find themselves again on shore; and most happy were Captain Oughton and his officers to witness the debarkation of the troops, who had so long crowded their decks and impeded their motions.
Newton was soon ready, and quitted the ship with Major Clavering; to whose credit it ought here to be observed, that a daily note was despatched to Captain Oughton, requesting the pleasure of his company at the mess, until he was satisfied that, in this instance, the general invitation was sincere.
Dr Johnson remarked, 'how seldom descriptions correspond with realities; and the reason is, that people do not write them till some time after, and then their imagination has added circumstances'. We talked of Sir Adolphus Oughton. The Major said, he knew a great deal for a military man. JOHNSON. 'Sir, you will find few men, of any profession, who know more.
I've got the newspaper in the cabin, with the fight forty-seven rounds; but we can't read it now; we must see after these soldiers and their traps. Look at them," continued Captain Oughton, turning to a party of the troops ordered for the passage, who were standing on the gangway and booms; "every man Jack, with his tin pot in his hand, and his great-coat on.
"Can you make out her hull, Mr Forster?" cried Captain Oughton, hailing Newton, who was at the mast-head with a glass. "No, sir; her fore-yard is but now clear of the water, but she rises very fast." "What do you think of her spars, Forster?" said Captain Oughton to Newton, who had just descended to the last rattling of the main-rigging.
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