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ESPIEGLE Taken on 30 November 1793 by NYMPHE (36) and CIRCE (28) off Ushant.
Sold in 1802.

  • 1793 J. BOORDER, North Sea.
    Vice-Ad. MITCHELL with all the spare seamen and marines from ISIS, MELPOMENE and JUNO, shifted his flag to a lightened BABET on 21 September 1799 and, accompanied by ESPIEGLE, SPEEDWELL, the LADY ANN lugger and four bombs, sailed over the shallow mud flats to Enkhausen in the Zuyder Zee.
    The Admiral and the captains were welcomed ashore by the Burgomasters who expressed loyalty to the Prince of Orange and pleasure at being delivered from the tyranny of the Batavian Republic.
    Capt. BOORDER in ESPIEGLE was detached with SPEEDWELL to reconnoitre Steveren and he returned on the 23rd. with the intelligence that they had hoisted Orange colours.
    They were then sent to scour the coast between Steveren and Lemmer.
  • He found that the French had 1,000 regular troops in Lemmer and that they were determined to defend the place.
    Against attack from the sea they had reinforced the pier with the addition of some 18-pounders.
    To prepare for an assault Capt. BOORDER had commandeered two schuyts in each of which he placed two of ESPIEGLE's 6-pounders.
    On Friday the 27th. Capt. BOLTON arrived in WOLVERENE accompanied by HAUGHTY and PIERCER and Capt. BOORDER brought him up to date.
  • In an effort to spare civilians Capt. BOORDER was sent ashore at daylight the next day to inform the authorities that they had one hour to evacuate women and children and to surrender the town to the Prince of Orange.
    They asked for 24 hours so Capt. BOLTON gave them half an hour and moved his vessels inshore through two miles of shallow mud.
    The enemy, notwithstanding the flag of truce still flying, opened fire which was immediately answered by the squadron.
    After an hour the enemy troops fled from the town and PIERCER planted the British flag on the pier.
    Capt. BOORDER took charge of the seamen and marines ashore while the squadron struggled to free itself from the mud.
  • The following morning the enemy attempted an advance on the town along the northern causeway but they were soon repulsed.
    Because the town was almost surrounded by water a few gun boats were able to defend it.
  • 1800 James SLADE, 09/1799, North Sea to 1802.


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