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The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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British ships St. Fiorenzo and La Nymphe, under Capt. Neale, captured two French frigates, La Resistance and La Constance, near Brest harbor on March 9, 1797, with no British losses and French casualties of 18 killed and 9 wounded.
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March 18.
Extract of a letter from Capt. NEALE, to Lord Bridport.
St. Fiorenzo, at sea, March 9, '97.
I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that after having (agreeable to your direction) with the assistance of Capt. Cooke, of his majesty's ship La Nymphe, under my orders, reconnoitred the enemy's force in the outer road of Brest harbor, Captain Cooke informed me he saw two ships to the westward, standing in for Brest; in consequence of which, we tacked, and made sail, close on a wind, for the purpose of gaining the weather gage, which being with ease accomplished, we bore down upon the ships together, having ascertained them to be two French frigates; and as we were not more than 2 or 3 leagues from Point St. Matthew's, with a leading wind out of Brest, and the French fleet in sight from our tops- it was an object of great importance to be as decisive as possible in our mode of attack. As the largest ship was the headmost, we both engaged her very warmly, at the distance of about 40 yards, and compelled her to surrender, after a short resistance. By this time, the smaller frigate had arrived up, and being immediately attacked in the same manner as the former, her resistance, though better made, was not long: she struck her colors about nine o'clock, A. M. The whole of the action was a running fight, and did not last more than half an hour.
"The ships taken, are, La Resistance, commanded by Mons. Montagne, mounting 48 guns, 18-pounders on her main deck, and manned with 345 men: She is only 6 months old, built upon a new construction, and is, in every respect, one of the finest frigates the French had, and certainly the largest, measuring 45 feet beam. The other frigate, La Constance, commanded by Mons. Deanney, mounting 24 9-pounders upon the main deck, and manned with 189 men: she is 2 years old, and a very fine ship. These are two of the frigates which landed troops in Wales:-It is a pleasing circumstance to have completed the failure of that expedition. I am particularly happy to inform your lordship that neither the St. Fiorenzo or La Nymphe have had any men killed or wounded, or the ships hurt; the St. Fiorenzo only has received two shot in her hull. -La Resistance had 10 men killed, the first lieut. and 3 men wounded. La Constance had 8 men killed, and 6 wounded."
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Brest Harbor
Event Date
March 9, '97
Key Persons
Outcome
la resistance captured: 10 men killed, first lieutenant and 3 men wounded. la constance captured: 8 men killed, 6 wounded. no british casualties; st. fiorenzo received two shot in hull.
Event Details
After reconnoitring Brest harbor, Capt. Neale's St. Fiorenzo and Capt. Cooke's La Nymphe engaged and captured two French frigates, La Resistance (48 guns, 345 men) and La Constance (24 guns, 189 men), in a half-hour running fight near Point St. Matthew's. The frigates had previously landed troops in Wales.