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Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Letter from Brest dated March 20, 1803, reports French fleet of 42 sail of the line preparing to sail from Brest, with over 17,000 former British subjects, mostly Irish seamen, serving aboard, eager to fight the British. Irish crew on La Vengeur determined to sink rather than surrender. Fleet plans to anchor at Bantry or Cork. Visited by General Tandy and Captain Corbet.
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" We are preparing for sea with great activity; 42 sail of the line compose the fleet--hands are abundant. There are upwards of 17,000 former subjects of Geo. III, principally Irish seamen, in the French ports, principally Brest and Toulon. In our ship more than one half the crew are Irish, and who pant to go out and engage the British. You know how it will be with us if we are defeated ; that is enough for us, and we are determined to go to the bottom, sooner than suffer under the legal tyranny of our former masters. Either at Bantry or Cork we Shall have an anchorage before long. Our countrymen are well received and treated, and officers placed over us who speak to us in English. We are often visited by General Tandy and captain Corbet his aid, [ The letter of which this is an extract, is from the carpenter of the ship.]
Aurora.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Brest
Event Date
20th March, 1803
Key Persons
Outcome
fleet preparing to sail and anchor at bantry or cork; irish seamen determined to fight to the death rather than surrender to british.
Event Details
French fleet of 42 sail of the line preparing for sea at Brest with abundant hands. Over 17,000 former British subjects, mostly Irish seamen, in French ports including Brest and Toulon. More than half the crew of La Vengeur are Irish, eager to engage British. They prefer sinking to suffering British tyranny. Well-treated by French, with English-speaking officers; visited by General Tandy and Captain Corbet.