Minotaur 1803 - Letters & Newspaper Reports
Capture of the French frigate la Franchise (called la Francaise by Mansfield)
Copy of a Letter from Captain Mansfield, of his Majesty's ship
Minotaur, to Sir E. Nepean, Bart. dated at sea, 30th May 1803.
SIR,
I beg leave to acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that I this
evening saw the French republican frigate la Francaise safe off the Dodman,
agreeably to signal made by the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis. She was captured by
his Majesty's ship in my command, on the 28th May, in company with his
Majesty's ship Thunderer, having chased from the fleet, and during the chase
was joined by the Albion, which ship had parted from the fleet some days
before in thick weather. The Prize proves to be the Republican French frigate
la Francaise, from Port-au-Prince thirty-five days, Captain Jurien. She is
pierced for twenty-eight twelve-pounders on her main-deck, and sixteen nine-pounders
on the quarter-deck and forecastle, ten of which were in her hold, and had on
board one hundred and eighty seven men.
The Naval Chronicle vol.9:
Plymouth Report
June 2
At nine A.M. that fine French prize frigate, la Francaise, of 44 guns, went up
the harbour; by ten she cleared the narrows, and was at her mooring safe at a
quarter before eleven A.M.
June 5
Among the passengers on board la Francaise, of 44 guns, captured by the
Minotaur, of 74 guns, on the 28th ult. is a French General in Chief, from St.
Domingo; he is lodged at March's Hotel, attended by two grenadiers from the
picquet from each regiment.
June 6
Came in his Majesty's ship Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain Mansfield, from a
cruise, for the purpose of collecting her officers and men, sent in her
prizes; she might have taken a great many more, but had no hands to board
them.
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