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Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
British forces landed at St. Denys, Isle of Bourbon on 21 Sept., capturing forts and ships including French frigate Caroline and brig Grappler, plus East India company vessels, after naval bombardment led by Capt. Pym's Sirius. Island surrendered, yielding valuable prize including 3.5 million dollars in treasure from prior captures.
Merged-components note: The table lists the ships and vessels captured as described in the preceding text about the Isle of Bourbon, forming a single coherent foreign news component.
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Early in the morning of the 21st Sept. about 500 of our brave soldiers, and 200 of our royal marines, were landed before St. Denys, and soon carried three of the forts. The squadron went in and fired their broadsides, and then hauled out; the Sirius sloop, Capt. Pym stood in again, and anxious to avail himself of the only opportunity that presented itself to his vigilant eye, he asked leave, and was permitted, by signal from the commodore, to anchor; and accordingly, in the most gallant style, carried his little ship in, and placed her within pistol shot of the beach, and half musket shot state the Caroline French frigate and East India men and a French brig were, and opened so heavy a fire on them from his long 24's, that in some time (the troops at the same time charging through the town) the whole struck their colors. Both army and navy joined in this brilliant enterprise, declaring that they had never seen or thought it possible for a ship to keep on so tremendous a fire as the Sirius exhibited on that occasion; and we understand, it was principally owing to the very great exertions of Capt. Pym, his officers and crew that the two India men were saved from being burnt; or that any of the stores and goods from the shore, were taken off and put on board the Streatham.
The following are the ships and vessels taken:
Notwithstanding the burning of the storehouses, in which the greater part of the cargoes of the captured British ships were laid up, this Island is likely to prove a most valuable prize to the land and sea forces to which it surrendered.
It is said, that letters received at the Admiralty, from Admiral Bertie, Commander in chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels on the Cape station, announce the arrival of treasure at that place from Isle Bourbon, to the amount of three millions and a half of dollars, supposed to have been realised altogether by the sale of British captured ships and property, to the Americans who frequented the Island and the Isle of France, for the purpose of making purchases. Judging from this fact, the capture of the Isle of France may be looked forward to as a perfect mine of wealth.
| Caroline, French frigate, a. | |||
| bout two years old, | 46 | 1000 | |
| Grappler, French brig. cop. pered, | 12 | 130 | |
| Streamham, Hen. East India company's ship, | 30 | 819 | |
| Europe, do. do. | 30 | 819 | |
| La Fanny, do. do. | 30 | 819 | |
| Three Friends, do. | — | 50 | |
| Gipsey, brig. | — | 160 |
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
St. Denys, Isle Of Bourbon
Event Date
21st Sept.
Key Persons
Outcome
french forces and ships struck their colors; captured: caroline french frigate (46 guns, 1000 tons), grappler french brig (12 guns, 130 tons), streatham east india ship (30 guns, 819 tons), europe (30 guns, 819 tons), la fanny (30 guns, 819 tons), three friends (50 tons), gipsey brig (160 tons); treasure of three millions and a half of dollars from sales of captured british property
Event Details
About 500 soldiers and 200 royal marines landed before St. Denys, captured three forts; squadron fired broadsides; Sirius sloop under Capt. Pym anchored close, fired heavily on Caroline frigate, East India men, and French brig; troops charged through town; all struck colors; exertions saved ships from burning and recovered stores to Streatham; island surrendered as valuable prize despite burned storehouses; letters from Admiral Bertie report treasure arrival at Cape from Isle Bourbon sales to Americans