The Merchantman and the Privateer.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2159, 11 July 1895, Page 49

The Merchantman and the Privateer.

A. DETEEMINED FIGHT.

Richard Hornby, an ancestor of the late Sir Geoffrey Hornby, was in 1744 master of a merchantman, the Isabella, of Sunderland. While he was on a voyage to the Hague he was attscked by a French privateer, the Marquis de Brancas, of ten guns and eight swivels, with 75 mea and 300 small arms on board. The Isabella's crew consisted of but five men and three boys besides the master, and the craft carried only four guns and two swivels ; but Hornby, finding himself in a tight place, put the best face on tbe situation, hoisted the British colours, and fought his enemy. Almost from the first the French fire was so I hot that the Englishmen were driven and kept under the poop of their ship ; but by using bis helm, Hornby managed to frustrate two attempts to board. After an hour's action, however, tbe privateer ran her bowsprit into the Isabella's main shrouds and lashed it there. Hornby challenged Andre, the French captain, to come on board' and strike the colours, if he dared. Twenty Frenchmen at once swarmed over the side, but were driven back by email-arm fire directed from the "close quarters^" The privateer then broke away, but approached again on the other beam, lashed the two vessels together as before, and made a new attempt. Yet a second time the boarders were compelled to retreat. Weary at length of a combat which had already cost him many men, Andre cut himself free, and wat leaving tbe Isabella when two taunting rounds fired from her brought

him back. For two hour 3 longer the fight went on, yardarm to yardarm, and it was only interrupted by the French vessel, which had received a shot between wind and water, sheering off to careen. By that time both ships had drifted in near the English coast. When Andre had stopped his ie»k ho returned to the combat, but soon another wellaimed shot forced him to withdraw. When he next returned, he once more lashed tha vessels together, but his men were disheartened and mutinous, and bad had enough of it. They insisted upon his finally retiring, and he had no other course before him but to comply. Yet he did not get away ; for, while he was making off, a chance shot reached the magazine of tbe Marquis de Brancas and blew her up. — W. L. Clowes, in the National Review.