tish armed
vessels on the lakes. The public despatches were lost, as the
Alliance very imprudently hoisted American colours, though
English colours were then flying on board the Bonhomme Richard.
Captain Landais sent a small boat to ask whether I would man the
ship, or he should, as in the latter case he would suffer no boat
nor person from the Bonhomme Richard to go near the prize.
Ridiculous as this appeared to me, I yielded to it for the sake
of peace, and received the prisoners on board the Bonhomme
Richard, while the prize was manned from the Alliance. In the
afternoon another sail appeared, and I immediately made the
signal for the Alliance to chase; but, instead of obeying, he
wore and laid the ship's head the other way. The next morning I
made a signal to speak with the Alliance, to which no attention
was shown; I then made sail with the ships in company for the
second rendezvous which was not far distant, and where I fully
expected to be joined by the Pallas and Cerf.

The 2d of September we saw a sail at daybreak, and gave chase;
that ship proved to be the Pallas, and had met with no success
while separated from the Bonhomme Richard.

On the 3d the Vengeance brought to a small Irish brigantine,
bound homeward from Norway. The same evening I sent the Vengeance
in the N. E. quarter to bring up the two prize ships that
appeared to me to be too near the islands of Shetland, while with
the Alliance and Pallas I endeavoured to weather Fair Isle, and
to get into my second rendezvous, where I directed the Vengeance
to join me with the three prizes. The next morning, having
weathered Fair Isle, and not seeing the Vengeance nor the prizes,
I spoke the Alliance, and ordered her to steer to the northward
and bring them up to the rendezvous.

On the morning of the 4th the Alliance appeared again, and (p. 102)
had brought to two very small coasting sloops in ballast, but
without having attended properly to my orders of yesterday. The
Vengeance joined me soon after, and informed me that in
consequence of Captain Landais' orders to the commanders of the
two prize ships, they had refused to follow him to the
rendezvous. I am to this moment ignorant of what orders these men
received from Captain Landais, nor know I by virtue of what
a