Gustave, the Paracti Pacha which was sunk in the battle could not be re-floated, he also had the Chiffone repaired.

On the 4^th of September Captain Adam left for Madras with the Sybile and the Chiffone, the Sophie and the Petit Gustave was left behind under the orders of Captain Adam to take the crews of the Chiffone and another private ship under the Seychelles Capitulation flag to Mauritius. The Sophie was given to Lieutenant Campbell to go and rescue the rest of his crew and the mail on the African Banks (On 21 August Lieutenant Campbell was shipwrecked on the African Banks on the Sloop Spitfire carrying mail from the Red Sea to the Cape) and to continued his journey to the Cape.

The Chiffone was re-commissioned as a British Frigate and was in action off the Havre in 1805.

1801, 5^th September, The second batch of 36 political deportees arrived from Nantes, on the 72 guns French corvette La Flèche commanded by Captain Eustace Bonamy, one of his officers Malo Le Nouvel latter became a remarkable corsair. He had left France a month before, Captain Guiyesse on the Chiffone. His progress was slowed down by bad weather, she was damaged twice in battles with English ships, and had to put in for repairs at Ribadeo and Rivadesela two little ports in the North of Spain.

Arriving at the Cape of Good Hope most of his officer and crew where down with fever, he was running out of food and decided to change direction to La Réunion Island, where he was not well received, while there one deportee died and he could not get replacements for his sick crew. He left La Réunion on 24^th August for the Seychelles with a new Surgeon, on the 2^nd September in the surrounding area of Frègate Island near Mahé he was run to ground by the British Sloop the Victor under Captain George Collier. In a short mêlée the Victor with a bigger armament managed to blow up the galley of La Flèche. In the fire fight two sailors on the Victor were killed the La Flèche managed to escaped, the pursuit continued during the night until she was sighted in the direction to Mahé, where she arrived on the 4^th late at night and lay anchored in the inner harbour after a 7 months journey. The deportees were quickly disembarked on terra firma and the ship with its fatigued crew was made ready for battle. The Victor arrived on the 5^th sailed close to the La Flèche, the cannonade started and lasted for two and half hours. During the onslaught La Flèche was hit below the waterline, and sank on fire.

The next day Quinssy and two officers went on board the Victor to present to Captain Collier a copy of the Seychelles Capitulation for his approval and he requested for the safe return of Captain Bonamy and crew to Mauritius, Collier maintained that they should only be allowed to travel under the Seychelles Capitulation flag.

In a week Collier carried out repairs of his ship on Ste Anne Island, he left Mahé on the 13^th September for Praslin where he took the brig Diligente under the French and Portuguese flags. He left Praslin three days later to join the blockading squadron off Mauritius.

The Victor was later engaged in many successive contacts until she was captured by the French Captain on the Bellone in the Bay of Bengal on 2^nd November 1809. She was re-commissioned by the French and fought in several actions around Mauritius during 1810.

1802 11^th March. The French Corvette Le Bélier arrived from Mauritius commanded by Captain Hulot a Créole, on board was Captain Joseph Lafitte of the 8^th Artillery Regiment. Captain Lafitte was appointed commissioner in charge to investigate the colonist’s complaints against the deportees and to take away those, who were proved to be wearisome. When the Le Bélier arrived she lay anchored at North East Point and opened fire to announce her arrival and she fired again in confusion when approached by local pirogue.

Early the next day she stirred in the inner harbour and landed troops after a short time all the exiles were put in a shed. Captain Lafitte then formed an official group of investigation, consisting of him and two residents in a provisional courtroom.

The deportees were brought in one by one for the interrogation, at the end of the consideration, out of 73 the names of 33 troublesome deportees was announced for immediate deportation to Anjouan (popularly known by mariners as Johanna) in the Comoros.

On 13^th March the Bélier left Mahé for the Comoros via Fregate Island to pick up Nicolas François Serpolet a deportee and his four slaves Moutons, Jolicoeur, Fernando and Etienne. She arrived at Anjouan on 3 April where the 37 men where handed over to the sultan, Seyid Abdullah bin Mahamed, they were : Bonin Mathurin, Chrétien Pierre Nicolas, Corshant André, Dupont Guillaume Jean, Fremière or Frimière Barthélémy, Georges Jean-Baptiste, Gerleaun Jean Louis, Gosset Louis, Joly René, La Geraldy Jean-Pierre, Laporte Antoine Jean-Baptise, Lefèvre, Colonel, Marconnel Ambroise, Marmien or Marmier J G Aldre Petit, Mislière François, Moreau Louis, Pachon Charles, Paris Nicolas, Rossignol General, Serpolet Nicilas François dit Lyonnais, Soulier Nicolas, St Amand Jacques Gallebois, Taillefer Claude, Thiret Claude, Thirion Faubourg St Antoine, Vaneck Jean-Baptise.

All of the above later died after a short time in Anjouan and the next four Le Franc Antoine Jean-Baptise, Saulnois Charles, Vauversin Pierre, and Cadet Jean managed to escape on visiting ships.

In return Captain Lafitte under orders from Général Louis Magallon presented the sultan with the French first inducement gift of weapons, which consisted of two 8-pounder cannons, with 100 cannon balls, 16 bales of red cloth, 12 barrels of powder and 40 new muskets. The Bélier returned to Mauritius then back to France.

1803 4^th October*. The British returned with a naval force of the 44 guns Frigate Minerve and a brig to resumed hostilities. Neither ship wore insignia, nor offered any communiqué with the shore. They arrived through the night an armed patrol boarded the two brigs that were in the harbour and took Captain Gondal of the Dauphin and Captain Wolf from Les Seychelles as prisoners. They went on board the re-floated La Flèche which was under repairs and set her on fire. At three in the morning Quinssy went out in a pirogue to investigate, immediately the British set free the prisoners and set sail. When Quinssy arrived on the La Flèche found her on the reef after the British cut down her moorings, the fire was extinguished luckily due to the heavy rain in the night. She was acquired by a Portuguese merchant from East Africa and was re-floated and repaired by Emmanuel Naz, another Portuguese naval constructor.

· The Preliminaries of peace, concluded in London on October 1801 put an end to hostilities, and the short lived Treaty of Amiens of 27^th March 1802 which lasted 14 months. This was the first British onslaught in Seychelles after the end of this non-operational treaty. In conventionality, the agreement of Amiens terminated the Seychelles Capitulation and legally Seychelles was returned to French sovereignty.

1804 24^th September. Captain John Wood in the British Frigate Concord arrived at Mahé from Praslin where she had her water casks refilled and loaded with firewood. Surprisingly the Concord was piloted into the harbour by Captain Jean Sausse a local French Captain who had boarded her at Praslin.

The previous day the slaver brig Zephyr arrived and reported the finding of a British ship at Praslin. On arrival all her human cargo where urgently disembarked and a small schooner was holed and sunk to prevent her being taken by the enemy.

At 8 30 AM Captain Wood gave the Seychelles authorities one hour to surrender at 10 30 Quinssy went on board the Concord to submit his proposed the second Capitulation of Seychelles and the terms was as follows:

Seconde Sommation de Reddition

On His Majesty’s Service. The Governor and Commander of the Island of Mahé, etc. etc. etc.

By John Wood Esqre. Captain of His Britannic Majesty’s Ship “Concord” etc. etc. etc.

I do in His Britannic Majesty’s name demand an instant surrender of the Island of Mahé and its dependencies with everything in and belonging thereto.

I give you only one hour from the delivery of this message to decide; if any resistance is made you must abide by the consequences thereof.

I also insist that the furniture, stores, and blacks which arrived here in the brig yesterday, are immediately embarked on board the said brig, otherwise I will be obliged to send a detachment of men to compel them.

Given under my hand on board His Britannic Majesty’s Ship “Concord” this 24^st September 1804.

Signed: J. Wood.

(Seconde) Capitulation des Iles Seychelles

Jean-Baptiste Quéau Quinssy, Comandant aux îles Seychelles et Gouverneur pour la République Française, Capitaine d’Infanterie avec rang de Chef de Batailon etc. propose, à M. Wood Esqre. Capitaine du Vaisseau de Sa Majesté Britannic « La Concorde, » la capitulation suivante, laquelle sera aussi signée par MM. Poupinel, habitant, officier de Santé en chef de la République, et Sausse, Capitaine et habitant.

Ø By John Wood Esqre. Captain of His Britannic Majesty’s Ship “Concord” etc. etc.

Article 1^er.

La colonie des îles Seychelles, les bateaux de l’île Mahé et toutes ses dépendances se rendront le 24 septembre présente année à 10 heures du matin à M. Wood, capitaine de »La Concorde » commandant et agissant au nom de Sa Majesté Britannique. La garnison anglaise s’emparera des postes, batteries, bâtiments civils et le pavillon anglais sera hissé sur la place.

Ø I shall take possession of the Colony of Mahé and its dependencies.

Article 2me.

La batterie de la place tirera 3 coups par pièce et il sera fait 3 décharges de mousqueterie avant d’amener le pavillon français.

Ø Agreed

Article 3me.

Les propriétés des habitants seront très respectées. Il ne leur sera causé aucun trouble ni dommage dans leurs biens, meubles, immeubles, vaisseaux, marchandises, esclaves et dans leurs personnes en aucune manière.

Les habitants ne seront point inquiétés pour le port d’armes avant la capitulation, attendu qu’il est d’usage aux colonies que les habitants soient armés pour leur sûreté et celle de leurs propriétés. Le libre exercice de leur religion sera conservé aux dits habitants sans être troublés à cet égard. Ils observeront pendant la durée de la capitulation une exacte neutralité et ils se régiront pendant toute sa durée, quant au civil, sous les lois française, sans que les dits habitants pendant ce terme puissent rien innover à cet égard, le commandant restant gérant de ce traité.

Ø Private property shall be protected; the inhabitants and their slaves shall remain unmolested. I shall the brig “Zéphyr” in the state she arrived in yesterday.

Article 4me

Tous les bâtiments civils et effets appartenant à la République ne seront point touchés, le tout restera dans l’état actuel, artillerie, armes, munitions seront livrés de bonne foi, d’après un inventaire exact signé de nous et remis à la personne chargé par le commandant pour Sa Majesté Britannique de le recevoir et un double signé de nous de la dite personne nous sera remis pour notre décharge.

Ø The cannon, military stores, and effects belonging to the Republic shall remain at my disposal. The public buildings shall be preserved. The two small pieces carrying two pound balls shall only be permitted to remain on the parade facing the Governor’s house, for the purpose of making signals in case of insurrections from the slaves.

Article 5me

Le Commandant Gouverneur pour la République Française aux Îles Seychelles ne sera point fait prisonnier de guerre ni les personnes attachées au service civil.

Ø He shall be prisoner of war during my stay only.

Article 6me

Les registres et papiers utiles aux habitants, ceux du Commandant Gouverneur et ceux de l’administration civile pour la comptabilité seront respectés, non visités, état intéressant pour les familles et pour l’État que des choses aussi intéressantes soient conservées.

Ø Agreed

Article 7me.

La dite capitulation faite de bonne foi sera garantie par la signature de M. Wood Commandant « La Concorde » pour Sa Majesté Britannique et par celles de MM. Poupinel et Sausse habitants.

Ø Agreed

Article 8 me

Il sera permis aux habitants de la Colonie et propriétaires pour les besoins d’avoir deux petites embarcations de trente tonneaux environ et commandées par les capitaines Sausse et Hodoul, habitants de cette colonie des Îles Seychelles.

Ø Agreed

Fait à Mahé, Île Seychelles le 24 Septembre 1804 ; 2 Vendémiaire an XII de la République Française.

Signature autographes :

Jn. Bte. Quéau Quinssy.

Poupinel, Officier de santé.

Sausse.

Ø Done on board His Britannic Majesty’s Ship “Concord” in the Roads of Mahé or Séchelles. 24 September 1804.

(Signature) J. Wood

1805, 8^th October, a month after leaving the Seychelles Captain Wood while sailing 240 miles South-West of Bombay managed to capture one of France most renowned corsair Thomas François Lemême of St Malo in his fast seafaring 24 gun corvette La Fortune. After 12 hours of heavy fighting for the first and last time in his life Lemêne ceded to his enemy. Despite the fact that they were near Bombay the British took many days to take him to port with all honour, soon after he fell sick.

On the 15 February 1805 the sick Lemême and many other prisoners where put on board a big convoy of the Indian Company for England. Four of his former officers were allowed to accompany him to his English prison. Lemêne died while passing through the Cape of Good Hope on the 28^th March 1805, his remains was wrapped in a white cloth, ballasted with a cannon ball and droped in the depth of the Indian Ocean.

Lemême, a former boy captain was almost certainly France’s best naval observer and calculator. In 1779 at the age of 15 years he was captured on the Prince de Montbarrey by the English, taken to England to spend sometime in prison.

1805, 30^th May, Admiral de Linois arrived at Mahé, the squadron had left the port of Brest on 5^th March 1803 with the most dominant force for the Indian Ocean, headed by the Flagship 74-gun Marengo, (formerly Jean Jacques Rousseau renamed shortly before her departure presumably in honour of Marengo, Napoleon’ Horse) under Captain de Larue carrying 593 crew and 418 troops and three frigates, the 44-gun Belle Poule, commanded by Captain Bruilhac with 266 crew and 209 troops, the 44 gun Atalante under the authority of Captain Beauchene with a crew of 264 and 183 troops and the Sémillante under Captain Mothare carrying 215 crew and 164 troops, along with two transports each of 2-gun the Côte d’Or commanded by Captain Dufresne with 87 crew and 361 troops and the Marie-Française under Captain Le Bourg with 18 crew and 12 troops. One more transports the Malabar headed by the corvette Bélier followed latter carrying a battalion of Creole troops, food, wine, vinegar and medicine for the hospital in Pondichéry. The Bélier was commanded by a Creole Captain, the Creole troops came from Guadeloupe which the United States had refused to buy. On board the Marengo was Isidore Decaen the newly appointed Captain-General of the French establishment east of Cape of Good Hope. Isidore Decaen’s personnel consisted of General Martin Vandermaesan, Brigadier Sainte-Suzanne, Brigadiers Penmarch-Mainvielle, and Montigny, Engineer-Colonel Richemont and two aides-de camp, and Louis Legér the Colonial-Prefect.

Linois arrived at Mauritius on 14 August 1803 after visiting La Réunion and Pondichéry where he received news of the restoration of war.

Linois arrived on the Marengo with two escort ship the Belle Poule and the Sémillante his mission to the Seychelles was to cancel Quinssy’s Capitulation to Captain Wood. On his arrival he found that no standard was flying. He urgently sent instruction to raise the French Flag and convene Quinssy to come aboard the Marengo, where they discussed the warning from Decaen about the mocked way in which the Island had capitulated to Captain Wood. During his sojourn Linois made the necessary arrangement for the corsair Barthélémy Hodoul to go and survey Aldabra Island on the Sémillante.

During his two years in the Indian Ocean his squadron did great damage to the British transports in the Eastern seas. His major attainment was the capture of the British trading post of Bengkulu in Indonesia, which produced much prize money.

The contingent left Seychelles with a cargo of fresh turtles and decided not to return too Mauritius. After a short time patrolling near the Ceylonese coast he sailed to the Cape en route to France. In 1806 near the Canaries, Linois was intercepted by a superior British force both the Marengo and the Belle Poule where taken and the wounded one eyed Admiral taken prisoner to England until 1814. He was born in Brest, in 1815 he was governor of Gauadeloupe when the island capitulated to the English, and he died in 1848 at Versailles.

The Belle Poule later was specially made as a British frigate and did high-quality assistance in the Adriatic Sea, another ship of Linois the 32 gun Psyche was captured by the British on 13^th February 1805 off Vishakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal, she was re-commissioned as a British frigate and was in action in Java in 1807 where she took many prizes she was in the fleet that destroyed 10 ships off Batavia, Dutch East Indies [Now Jakarta, Indonesia].The Sémillante which stayed at Mauritius was in action until 1808, on 21^st November 1805 under the distinguished French Captain Motard she beat off an attack by two British ships the 36 gun frigate Phaeton and the 18 gun brig Harrier. In 1807 she was in action against the British Captain Proctor in the Dédaigneuse after a violent battle she managed to escape to the Rivière Noire in Mauritius. The Sémillante’ last battle was in February 1808 in opposition to the British Captain Montagu on the Terpichore off Ceylon. In a very serious battle both ships were badly damaged which had prevented the Terpichore being taken. The Sémillante with her wounded Captain Motard managed to reach Mauritius and the place of the Sémillante was taken by the 40 gun Cononnière under Captain Bourayne. The Sémillante was later refitted and renamed the Charles, the last vessel of Robert Surcouf, the Atalante was lost in a gale in the Cape, the Côte d’Or which was captured on the 15^th July 1803 at Negapatam by the British vessel Terpsichore was later released and managed to reach Mauritius. The Marie-Française was taken by the British on the 25 August 1803 at Negapatam and she never sailed again, as for the Malabar nothing is known about her fate.

1805, 28 August, two British frigates arrived at Mahé after having been detached from Captain Osborn’s squadron, the Terpischore under the command of Captain Walter Bathurst and the Pitt under the control of Captain Thomas Vashon. The Pitt was formerly the Salsette renamed 1807 in honour of William Pitt, the younger, former British Prime Minister. Their urgent assignment to the Seychelles was in the pursuit of Admiral Linois.

On arrival they tricked Quinssy by coming under French tricolors he was astonished to find the French Flag flying on Mahé instead of the Capitulation Flag, soon after they boarded and took an American ship that was loading in the habour. An armed detachment of 2 Officers and 24 men was sent to arrest Quinssy and take him on board as prisoner for the duration of their stay. On the next day they left the Seychelles without taking any provisions for an unknown destination.

1805, 7^th November, Captain Clement Sneyd of Staffordshire arrived at Mahé in the Frigate Duncan and the Emilie his armed prized privateer taken after a violent battle off the coast of La Réunion. During his six days stay he instructed his crew to carry punitive vandalized raids along the West Coast Soon he sent the Emilie to investigate the sighting of sail between Thérèse and Conception Islands. The next day she arrived with the 45 ton slaver Courier des Seychelles belonging to Captain Michel Blin and Captain Constant Dupont of Nantes. The recently arrived slaver managed to secretly transfer her precious human cargo of 170 slaves in the interior of the island.

Captain Sneyd then sent an armed convoy to capture the Sirius brig that had just arrived from Madagascar, hiding in the reefs of Anse Boileau the English could not take her they decided instead to cannon her and took her mast and all her riggings. At Anse La Mouche they burnt the vessel Rosalie which was under repair. In searching for the slaves the English sailors looted everything out of the houses of settlers who had fled to the interior of the island.

On the 12^th the English left the Seychelles with the Courier des Seychelles without assuming possession leaving behind a few deserted seamen.

1806, 10^th January, the British squadron under Sir Home Popham and General Sir David Baird occupied permanently the Dutch possessions at the Cape of Good Hope and they intercepted the 48 gun French frigate Volontier she was on her way to Mauritius.

1806, the squadron of Admiral Sir Edward Pellew the commander-in-chief in the East Indies consisted of the following ships: The 74 gun Culloden, the 74 gun Powerful, the 74 gun Russell and four frigates the Belligéreux, the following three the Drake, the Terepischore and the Seaflower were mainly occupied against the Dutch in their settlements in the Java Seas. In 1807 he had a new flotilla consisting of two previous ships the Culloden and the Powerful and six new ones the 36 gun Caroline under Captain John Ferrier, the 32 gun Fox, the 36 gun Psyche under the command of the Admiral’ son Sir Fleetwood Pellew, the 18 gun sloop Victor commanded by Captain Bell, the 36 gun Modeste under Captain Elliot and the 18 gun brig Harrier under commander Finlay.

1806, the British 36 gun frigate Caroline took the Dutch 36 gun frigate Maria Regent, the Terepischore captured the Dutch frigates William and Maria Wilhelmina, and the Phoenix sank two Dutch ships Adventurière and Zeeplong.

1806, 31^st April, the French Captain Bourayne from Cherbourg, on the 40 gun Canonnière near the Cape managed to cripple his stronger adversary the 71 gun British Tremendous.

1806, off Ceylon the 74 gun Powerful took the 40 gun Frigate Bellone and the 40 gun French frigate Piémontaise took the Indiaman Warren Hastings.

1806, 14 June, the Duncun returned again this time under the command of Captain Lord George Stuart, Quinssy arranged for a renewal of capitulation. The next day 74-gun Russell arrived commanded by Captain Cowell, before reaching the Seychelles the Duncun was damaged in capturing the 44-gun French corsair Ile de France the ships stayed several days carrying out repairs, taking on water and enough provisions to feed his crew and the 71 prisoners (the former crew of the corsair).

The crew of the Duncan seemed to have loved Mahé this time 13 of them deserted including the purser’s steward the Duncan and Russell later sailed for Bombay. In 1807 the Duncan was renamed the Dover.

1806, 29^th August, a squadron composed of the 74 gun Albion under Captain John Ferrier, the frigate Pitt under Captain Walter Bathurst, the frigate Drake under the command of Captain Sir Fleetwood Pellew, (the second son of Sir Edward Pellew, the commander-in-chief East Indies) the sloop Seaflower was under the command of Lieutenant William Owen, and the Psyche. During their few hours stay Commodore Ferrier had all his ships loaded with firewood, refilled their water casks, and renewed the Seychelles Capitulation.

1807, Cheng I and Cheng I Sao, alias Ching Shih one of the greatest pirates of all time. Born into a family of practicing piracy, Cheng I became the leader of the infamous Red Flag Fleet a union of very organized pirates with over 1500 ships, which cruised, the China Sea down to the south of Malaysia. Cheng I died in 1807 at the height of his success his wife Cheng I Sao, replaced him as commander of the Red Flag Fleet and leader of the pirate union. Mrs. Cheng appointed Chang Pao her husband adopted son to replace her and issued a short and severe pirate code of laws harsher than that of the Caribbean. Later she married Chang Pao and Chinese officials tried many tactics without success to bring the Red Flag Fleet to justice, and even the navy’s of Portugal and Britain could not defeat Mrs. Cheng. In desperation, a general amnesty was offered to all pirates in 1810, she took the advantage of it and negotiated pardons for all her men and even managed to get Chang Pao a high post in the Chinese Army. Mrs. Cheng retired with all her fortune and died in 1844 as the most celebrated woman pirate.

1807, January, Admiral Sir Thomas Trowbridge in the 74 gun Blenheim and the Java were lost in a hurricane off Madagascar.

1807, 9^th June, Captain William Beauchamp Procter arrived in the 36-gun Dédaigneuse a captured French frigate to renew the Seychelles Capitulation, he left 4 days later.

1807, 9 October, the Modeste took the 24 gun French corvette Iéna.

1808, 6^th March, off Ceylon the British Captain Harding on the 36gun frigate San Fiorenzo, took the 40 gun French Piemontaise under Captain Caron. In the battle the British Captain was killed and buried in Colombo, Ceylon.

1808, 12^th August, Captain Bourayne on the Canonnière captured the English ship the 22 gun Laurel under Captain Warlecombe which was blocking incoming food supply to Mauritius. The Laurel was carrying some French Ladies taken as prize. As reward he was presented by Isidore Decaen with a pair of pistol and the following words engraved on the case “ Le commerce de l’île de France à M. Bourayne capitaine de vaisseau septembre.” Bourayne on the Laurel went on to cruise around Malaya, China and Madagascar. The Canonnière was disarmed in Port Louis and sold to the mercantile fleet and was renamed the Confiance under Captain Péroud. Later in 1809 the Confiance was lent by Isidore Decaen to some wealthy merchants of Mauritius to take to France valuable cargoes, on her homeward trip with Bourayne and Barois ADC of Isidore Decaen as passengers she was captured by the British off the Breton Island of Ouessant. Later Bourayne became Naval Major General in Brest and died in the same place in 1817.

1808, 12^th November, the French authorities sent four new 40 gun frigates to the Indian Ocean, two of them the 40 gun Venus under commodore Hamelin and the Manche commanded by Captain Breton, came from Cherbourg and the other two the Bellone under Captain Duperré and the Caroline commanded by Captain Jean-Baptise-Henri Feretier came from the port of Vlissingen in Holland.

1809, 31^st March, in combat with three Indiamen the 40 gun French frigate Caroline took the 20 gun Streatham and the 20 gun Europe, and the other one the Lord Keith managed to escape. The two prizes were taken to La Réunion Island; they were taken when the Island was captured by the British in 21^st September 1809.

1809, 26^th July, the Venus and the Manche captured the Indiaman Orient and took her to Mauritius.

1809, 4^th September, The corsair Hirondelle was lost on Île aux Vaches, the channel on the reef in which she wrecked was named la Passe Hirondelle, and the well that the survivors dug on the island to obtained water is still in use and it is called puits Hirondelle

1809, 10^th October, the Venus, the Manche and the 18 gun Créole took three 20 gun Indiamen: The Windham under Captain Stewart, the United Kingdom and the Charlton. On the way to Mauritius the Windham was taken by the British frigate the Magicienne and taken to the Cape. Before reaching Mauritius the convoy encountered a cyclone, the Venus with Captain Stewart on board was separated from the rest and lost one of her mast, during the tropical storm, Commodore Hamelin passed over the charge of his ship to Captain Stewart who managed to bring her in to Mauritius.

The Manche also arrived safely at Mauritius with the two prizes, United Kingdom and Charlton.

In recognition of his services Isidore Decaen allowed Captain Stewart and his crew to go under cartel to the Cape where they rejoined the Windham.

1809, 2^nd November, Captain Duperré had cruised North of Mauritius on the 40 gun Bellone, capturing the British sloop Victor, on the way to Mauritius the two managed to take the 52 gun Portuguese frigate Minerva under Captain Pinto. All the ships arrived safely in Mauritius.

1810, 3^rd July in the Mozambique Channel, the newly promoted Commodore Duperré on the Bellone along with the Minerva and the Victor under Captain Morice encountered three 20 gun Indiamen the Ceylon under Captain Meriton, the Windham commanded by Captain Stewart and the Astell.. In the battle the Ceylon and the Windham were captured but the Astell managed to escape. All the ships were badly damaged and had to stay at Ajouan for repairs.

Captain Meriton was a hero on 1^st August 1800 on the Indiaman the Exeter when he captured the 36 gun French frigate Medée, her unlucky Captain Coudin committed suicide when he knew that he had to surrender.

1810, 13^th August the British took the fort at Île de La Passe of Grand Port, Mauritius with the following three 36 gun ships: The Sirius commanded by Captain Pym, the Iphigenia under Captain Lambert and the 36 gun Néréide commanded by Captain Willoughby, the cordon did not last long. Sixteen days later a French Squadron under commodore Duperré arrived off Grand Port with 5 ships the Bellone, the Minerva under Captain Bouvet, the Victor, the Windham and the Ceylon. In a violent battle the Sirius managed to capture the Windham. This was the forth time in 10 months that the Windham had changed hands. Then the Magicienne arrived as a British reinforcement and immediately took part in the conflict. In the battle the Magicienne and the Sirius were blown up and sunk, the Néréide captured she was the Venus a former French Frigate. The Iphigenia was taken on the next day by a returning French Squadron consisting of the following ships the Venus, the Manche and the Astrée. In the actions commodore Duperré was wounded and was later replaced by Captain Bouvet.

The Néréide under Captain Watkins in 1800 was involved in an intense action in the Channel and in December of the same year she was in the West Indies to track down French privateers and engaged in the capitulation of the Dutch in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The Sirius was commissioned in the channel in 1801.

1810, 12^th September, the 38 gun British frigate Africaine on her way to Madras fell in at night off Mauritius with the newly fitted French Squadron including the captured Iphigenia and Astrée. In the battle the Africaine was dismasted and captured losing two thirds of her crew.

The next morning two British ships cruising of the La Réunion Island, the 38 gun Boadicea and the 18 gun brig Otter, they recovered the wreck of the Africaine.

1810, 17^th September, the Venus and the Victor near Mauritius intercepted and captured the British frigate Ceylon which was on her way to India. The next day the Boadicea under Captain Hatley and the brig Otter engaged the French Squadron. In the battle the Boadicea took the Venus and the Otter recaptured the Ceylon and the wreck of the Africaine. The Africaine was originally a French frigate captured by the British on 19^th February 1801off Tangier while she was full of troops going to the Antilles. In the action she lost 335 soldiers and sailors and General Desfourneaux and two other general officers where taken prisoners.

1810, 28^th July, The British Governor of La Réunion, Robert T. Farquhar’s Proclamation to the Inhabitants of Isle de France (Mauritius).

From St Denis, Isle of Bourbon (La Réunion).

“ Inhabitants,

The English are about to appear in the name of their King before your Port, not as enemies but as your sincere friends; your commerce, the precious production of your Isle, the fruits of your industry, have for several years been annihilated or shut up n your magazines; all the nations that are under French domination cannot consume a pound of their colonial productions without the permission of England.

Engaged in the pursuit of an unjust and unbounded ambition, the French Government has endeavoured to crush, and to hold in the most vile slavery, all the nations of the continent, but it can do nothing against England, who blockades its ports and prevents its sending ships to sea.

The insatiable desire which increases every day in France, to adsorb kingdoms, has obliged the English to assume and to maintain the sovereignty at sea, and to occupy all the French colonies, not to make a monopoly of their productions, but to open a favourable market at the colony, and to all its good friends and allies; we are informed that plotters have tried to lessen our character in your eyes.

They have also falsely related that the price of coffee, of Martinique, had greatly fallen, but on the contrary, since we have taken possession of this island it has risen. How can it be otherwise? Our ships will come from all quarters into your roads to barter merchandise from Europe and India for those of your Island; the only views of Britain are justice, commerce, and plenty. Our Government is generous; it rewards the cultivator and the workman, as well as the sailor and the soldier, to the highest value of their services, without the least deduction. The French pay in paper and Bills of Exchange, and we pay in Spanish coin.

Inhabitants, we are ready to land on your coasts with a formidable force by sea and land; to what purpose would you make a sacrifice by opposing the troops of His Britannic Majesty who only desires to take you under His gracious and royal protection! What has your Government down for you? It has ruined your commerce, and forced your fathers and children to take service, without affording them the least subsistence; we have orders to cultivate the friendship of the colony, and to assure you that His Britannic Majesty is disposed to give you every protection that he gives to his own subjects, your own property of all kind will be respected, you will have full exercise of your religion, your religious establishments shall maintained with all their privileges, your charitable institutions shall be respected, your laws and customs continued and honoured.

Not only your inland commerce shall be perfectly free, but you will be also allowed to trade to all our ports with the same with the same advantages, that and the same rules as His Britannic Majesty’s subjects; the inhabitants shall be most favourably treated, and will be permitted to make use of all commercial advantages, that the situation of the island can offer.

Having given you this communication, it is our duty to make known to you on the other hand, that if, against the expectation of His Britannic Majesty, you abandon your property, to make resistance to our troops, you will lose all the rights and indulgencies which are now offered, and we have the most positive orders to subjugate all quarters and parts of the island, by force of arms. Should you thus reject the favourable intentions of His Britannic Majesty towards you, you will be responsible for the intentions of His Britannic Majesty towards you, you will be responsible for the effusion of blood, the loss of your property, the depredation and revolt of your slaves, and, in short, for all the calamities of war which may befall you, Inhabitants, remain on your estates, maintain the order of your household, hold your slaves in respect, and let peace reign everywhere amongst you.

I desire with much earnestness that the inhabitants should listen to my salutary and paternal advice as I have the satisfaction to be nominated to the Government and general administration of the Isles of France, Bourbon and its dependencies.

I engage to re-establish you in your different quarters and to make choice of those inhabitants who merit your confidence; that in the end you may appreciate the justice of my observations.

Be assured that these are my real sentiments, the Bourbonese already enjoy the happiness which awaits you and I entreat you by this Proclamation to imitate them”.

1810, 29^th November, the British naval expedition arrived and blockaded Mauritius most of the troops managed to reach the shoreline without to much difficulty. On the march on Port Louis there was some hostility with defending forces, General Isidore Decaen and his second in command General Martin Vandermaesan realized the superior forces of the enemy capitulated at noon on the 3^rd December 1800. Later the two Generals returned to France and were re- employed; Vandermaesan was later killed on 31^st July 1813 serving under Marshall Soult in a battle in the Pyrenees.

Isidore Decaen was in charged of the French army in Catalonia and later in Holland. Imprisoned 1815 until 1817, reserve general until 1830 and died of cholera at Egmont, near Paris in 1832. On the day of the admission of defeat there were at Port Louis 35 French ships in the habour and they where 5 frigates, the Bellone, the Minerve, the Manche, the Astrée and the Iphigenie. Three corvettes the Victor, the Intreprenant and another, three captured Indiamen the Charlton, the Ceylon and the United Kingdom and 24 merchant vessels. Two frigates the Iphigenie and the Manche later managed to escape and were chased by three British frigates they were in action off Madagascar, the Manche and Iphigenie was recaptured, the latter was a former British vessel she was given back her former name the Iphigenia, sent back to England in 1821 and was based at Plymouth. The Bellone was later sent to England and was renamed the Junon in 1811 she was based at Plymouth.

The terms of the capitulation of Mauritius was set a follows:

We, the undersigned, Major-General Henry Warde, and Commodore Josias Rowley, nominated on part of His Britanic Majesty, by Vice-Admiral Albermarle Bertie, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s ships and vessels employed at the Cape of Good Hope, and the seas adjacent, and Lieutenant-General the Honourable John Abercombie, Commander of His Britannic Majesty’s forces on the part; and Martin Vandermaesen, General of Division, Member of the Legion of Honour, and Commandant of the Troops of His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Emperor of France, and M. Victor Duperré, Capitaine de Vaisseau of his Imperial and Royal Majesty, nominated on the part of Charles Decaen, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, General of Division, Captain General of the French settlements to the Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope on the other part, being severally and respectively armed with full powers to settle a Treaty for the Capitulation and surrender of the Isle of France and all its dependencies to the arms of His Britannic Majesty, do agree as follows:

Article 1. The troops of His Imperial and Royal Majesty of France, forming the garrison of the Isle of France, the officers and non-commissioned officers; the officers of the Imperial and Royal Marine, and the crews of ships of

war, shall not be considered as Prisoners of War, neither the Civil Authorities.

Answer. The land and Sea forces, officers, subalterns, and privates shall not be considered as Prisoners of War.

Article 2. The troops of His Imperial and Royal Majesty shall retain their arms and colours, without ammunition, and all their personal effects and baggage to the extent of that which, upon honour, shall be declared private property.

Answer. They shall take away their effects and baggage.

Article 3. The troops of His Imperial and Royal majesty and the crews of the ships of the Imperial and Royal Marine, shall be sent, with their families, to a port in European France.

Answer. They shall be conveyed, together with their families, to a Port in the French Empire.

Article 4. For the above conveyance, I shall keep the four Imperial Frigates, Le Manche, La Bellone, l’Astrée, and La Minerve, as well as the Victor and Entreprenant Corvettes, with their Officers, Crews, Guns, Stores, and provisions.

Answer. Altogether inadmissible. The crews of the ships of War of the Imperial and Royal Marine are provided for by the preceding article.

Article 5. To the above Ships shall be added six Transport vessels, to be selected by me, for our conveyance, with the necessary provisions for the Crews and passengers.

Answer. Proper vessels shall be forthwith equipped as Cartels, at the expense of the British Government, provisioned and stored to convey the French garrison and the crews of the Ships of War, to European France.

Article 6. These conditions being agreed to, I shall give up the Colony and all its Dependencies, Magazines etc. Inventories shall be taken of all the articles belonging to the Emperor and to be preserved for hi and restored at a peace.

Answer. The Colony and its Dependencies shall be ceded unconditionally; no power being vested in the parties contracting to determine its future destination. Inventories shall be taken by Commissioners, to be appointed on behalf of the contacting parties, of all public Magazines and stores, which shall be given up to the Forces of His Britannic Majesty in their actual state, and without deterioration.

Article 7. The property of the inhabitants shall be respected.

Answer. All private property shall be respected.

Article 8. The inhabitants shall preserve their Religion, Laws and Customs.

Answer. The inhabitants shall preserve their Religion, Laws and Customs.

Article 9. The Colonists shall have the option, during two years to come, to quit the Colony with their respective private property.

Answer. They shall enjoy, during two years to come, the liberty, in order to proceed to any place they may wish.

Article 10. The wounded or sick that it shall be necessary to leave in the Hospitals shall be treated the same as the subjects of His Britannic Majesty; French Surgeons shall be permitted to remain with them, and they shall afterwards be sent France at the expense of the British Government.

Answer. The wounded who may be left in the Hospitals shall be treated in the same as the subjects of His Britannic Majesty.

1811, 23^rd April, the British ship Ninus, arrived at Mahé under the command of Captain Philip Beaver, he immediately sent a party ashore to inform Quinssy that he was taking possession of the Seychelles in the name of His Majesty King George II and to cut firewood and refilled the water casks. The next day in a ceremony mounted by some armed marines the British flag was raised. The Ninus fired a salute of 15 guns to commemorate the permanent establishment of the British on its new colony. The next day the Ninus left leaving behind a wounded marine Lieutenant Bartholomew Sullivan as the sole representative of Britain with no official position, he was lodged under the care of corsair Jean-François Hodoul at Ma Constance to enjoy the food at Hodoul’s table which was comparable to the best in France. Sullivan was wounded on September 1810 in action on the frigate Iphigenia in Grand Port, Mauritius.

1811, 30^th May, Captain Jacques St Criq arrived on the 44 gun Clorinde, she was part of a squadron of three large French Frigates that came from Brest with troops and stores to strengthen Mauritius. The other two ships all 44gun were the Renommée under Captain François Roquebert, and Néréide. On arrival off Grand Port they found the island under British control and immediately the Commodore of the French squadron decided to sail to La Réunion arriving at Ste Rose they were sighted by the English and forced to leave for Madagascar.

On 20^th May off Fullepointe they were in action against a superior British squadron consisting of the 36 gun Astraea commanded by Captain Charles Marsh Schomberg, the 36 gun Phoebe under the command of Captain Hillyar, the 36 gun Galatea under the authority of Captain Losack and 18 gun brig Reindeer commanded by de Rippe. During the battle the French tried to escape The Néréide was taken after her Captain and 100 members of her crew were killed. The Renommée was taken after the death of her Captain. The damaged Clorinde escaped during the night and made her way to the Seychelles. He arrived under the red Flag and fired several cannon, in the afternoon Lieutenant Bartholemew Sullivan and François Le Roy went on board thinking that it was a British ship, once they arrived on board both men where taken prisoner they were allowed to return to their house, with orders to stay there and remove the English Flag. In seven days St Criq managed to have the Clorinde repaired and loaded with a total 650 barrels of water and enough food and firewood to last almost four months. On 7^th June he set sail for France, and the Union Jack was flying again on Mahé, he arrived at Brest on 24^th September and was later court-martial in Paris, served two years in prison after being freed Napoleon ordered his re-arrest St Criq had to stay in prison until Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. On 25^th February 1814, the Clorinde was captured off the port of Brest in a fierce action by the 36 gun British frigate Eurotas under the command of Captain Phillimore.