her going
down, four of her men took to her stern boat, which had been much
damaged during the action, which I hope reached the shore (p. 188)
in safety; but from the heavy sea running at the time, the
shattered state of the boat, and the difficulty of landing on the
coast, I much fear they were lost. I have not been able to
ascertain from her officers the exact number killed. Captain
Peake and four men were found dead on board. The master, one
midshipman, carpenter, and captain's clerk, and twenty-nine
seamen were wounded, most of them very severely; three of them
died of their wounds after being removed, and nine drowned. Our
loss was trifling in comparison. John Place, killed; Samuel
Coulson and Joseph Dalrymple, slightly wounded; George Coffin and
Lewis Todd, severely burnt by the explosion of a cartridge. Todd
survived only a few days. Our rigging and sails were much cut;
one shot through the foremast, and the bowsprit slightly injured.
Our hull received little or no damage. At the time the Peacock
was brought to action, the L'Espiegle (the brig mentioned above
as being at anchor), mounting sixteen two-and-thirty pound
carronades, and two long nines, lay at about six miles in shore,
and could plainly see the whole of the action. Apprehensive that
she would beat out to the assistance of her consort, such
exertions were made by my officers and crew in repairing damages,
&c., that by 9 o'clock the boats were stowed, a new set of sails
bent, and the ship completely ready for action. At 2 A.M. got
under weigh, and stood by the wind to the northward and westward,
under easy sail.

On mustering next morning, found we had 277 souls on board,
including the crew of the American brig Hunter, of Portland,
taken a few days before by the Peacock. And, as we had been on
two-thirds allowance of provisions for some time, and had but
3,400 gallons of water on board, I reduced the allowance to three
pints a man, and determined to make the best of my way to the
United States.

The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels of
her class in the British navy, probably about the tonnage of the
Hornet. Her beam was greater by five inches, but her extreme
length not so great by four feet. She mounted sixteen twenty-four
pound carronad