Action off Flushing

The British 24-gun ship Seahorse, commanded by Captain Thomas Taylor, having under his orders the Raven and Bonetta sloops, Captains John Bover and John Clarke, being off Ostend, fell in with two 12-pounder French frigates. The Seahorse being at anchor with the two sloops, immediately weighed and stood out to meet the enemy; and at 12h. 30m. p.m., brought the weathermost ship to action, within pistol-shot distance. The fire of the British ship induced her opponent, after a short engagement, to bear up and close her consort to leeward, under jury topmasts ; but she was closely followed by the Seahorse, which ship, for a considerable time single-handed, engaged the two French ships. The Raven and Bonetta joining, the frigates, at 3h. 45m., bore up and made all sail away, leaving the Seahorse so much cut up in sails and rigging that she was unable to chase them. The Seahorse, in her gallant action, had ten men killed or mortally wounded, and nine wounded, including her captain, slightly. Captain Bover, of the Raven, was also wounded. The Bonetta was disabled early in the action, and did not render any material service.