Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

LONDON, June 26.
NAVAL ANECDOTE of the FIRST of June.
Captain Trowbridge, captured in the Castor frigate, was on board the Sans Pareil, in the action of the 1st of June, standing near the arm chest with the French Commander during the whole action: so severe was the slaughter in this ship, that her decks were totally cleared twice during the action, and at last the survivors refused to come up to quarters.— Capt. Trowbridge seeing the abandoned state of the ship, and the extreme distress of the Captain's mind, entreated him to permit the colours to be struck, to prevent the further unnecessary effusion of blood;—to this the French officer replied, "they should not be struck as long as he had life." The Queen Charlotte at this instant was ranging up alongside to pour her whole broadside into the Sans Pareil, when Capt. Trowbridge, taking up a trumpet, called out, "Is Lord Howe well?" Astonished to hear such a question in English from the enemy's ship, Sir Roger Curtis asked from whom it came, and so being informed, desired to know where the Castor's crew were. "Here on board," was the reply. "Take immediate possession, then, of the ship," said Sir Roger Curtis. "That is impossible," rejoined Captain Trowbridge, "for I am only a spectator here on my parole of honor." "You are commanded to do it by Lord Howe," said Sir Roger Curtis, "to save the lives of his Majesty's seamen, as well as those of the enemy." On this Captain Trowbridge, turning to the French Commander said "You have heard, Sir, the orders, which I dare no longer resist: you have done every thing becoming a gallant officer; therefore permit me to save the ship and her crew, by taking possession of her in the name of my Sovereign." The French officer at length bowed assent—the Castor's crew were released from under the hatches, and the British colours instantly hoisted over those of the Sans Pareil.