La Marquise de Seignelay

Posted by Brian Stephens on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 16:44

E.A. Feb. 1 1780 p. 3
Extract of a letter from Havre de Grace; Jan. 12
The Marquis de Seiguelay privateer of this port, carrying 20 guns, 8 pounders, and 160 men, after having brought in here an English ship called the London, which she had taken, sailed again the 3d inst. and got over on the English coast. Between 9 and 9 o'clock in the morning, she met with a three mast ship coming right before the wind, being the North and South om St. Helen’s Point, the wind east south east, the Marquis de Seiguelay tacked directly, and chased the ship till noon, when she came within cannon shot. The English ship hoisted her colours, and fired a gun, which the French ship answered. The two ships naving got with-in a pistol shot, the English fired a broadside, but Captain Cottin finding the enemy had twenty, 12 pounders, and twelve howitzers of four pounds each, thought the English must have the advantage of weight and metal and resolved to come to boarding which was done immediately with great spirit, almost all the officers leaping at once into the enemy. The English ship proved to be the Harpooner, privateer, Capt. Lionel Hill, going from London to Plymouth to complete her complement of men, having but 58. Her howitzers were of brass having letters of marque, and six months stores of provisions. She had ten men killed, and fifteen dangerously wounded, amongst whom was the Captain.
The Marquis de Seiguelay had two men killed and several wounded.

The Harpooner, Hill, of 56 men and boys, was taken by The Marquis de Seiguelay of Dunkirk, of 160 men, after engaging two hours, and carried into Havre de Grace; she also took the Ann Gratwell, from London to Chester, and carried her into Cherburg.