Come and ask, answer or inform.
L'Impromptu | 20729 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal Guns | Lightly Armed | BWAS-1714 | |
| Nationality | République Française | ||
| Operator | Private Owners | ||
| Previously | British Merchant 'Ann of Dartmouth' (1797) (Unknown)
1797-1797 British Unknown Gun Merchant Unknown | ||
| Captured | 1.1797 | BG | |
| Home Port | Cherbourg - Normandy | ref:692 | |
| Shipyard | Unknown | BG | |
| Category | Privateer | BWAS-1714 | |
| Ship Type | Cutter | BWAS-1714 | |
| Captured | 7.3.1797 | BWAS-1714 | |
Couey Dulongprey of Cherbourg
Admiralty-Office, March 11 , 1797.
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant Henry Festing, commanding His Majesty's Cutter the Nimble, to Evan Nepean, Esq; dated Yarmouth Road, Isle of Wight, March 8 ,1797.
SIR, I have pleased to inform my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I sailed from Dartmouth the 6th Instant with the Convoy for the Downes. Yesterday scorning, about 7 o'Clock, off St Aldan's Head, I captured a French Privateer Cutter, called L'Impromnptu, Citizen L'Eccuyer, Commander, with 4 swivels, plenty of small arms, cutlasses , &c and 31 men ; sailed from Cherbourg this preceding night, but had taken nothing. She has the Ann of Dartmouth on her stern, her original name, and was taken away from Brixham 6 weeks ago by some French Prisonners.
Discovering another suspicious Cutter in chace of a Sloop, I immediately hauled after her, and made the signal for my Convoy (as the Weather seemed variable, and little Wind to the Southward) to run in through the Needles. About 4 P.M. came up with the chace ; she is named Le Bonheur, Citizen Burnel , Commander, with 2 3-pounders; 2 swivels, small arms, cutlasses and 24 men. The cutlasses in both vessels were ground as sharp as razors She has the Mary of Dartmouth on her stern, but French built, sailed in company with the other, and had taken nothing. I immediately took her in tow, and shall proceed to Spithead to get rid of the prisoners.
I have the Honor to be, &c. &zc. &c.
H. FESTING.