Catalogue description Folios 113-115: Commander Goddard Blennerhassett, aboard the French frigate La Pregel,...

Folios 113-115: Commander Goddard Blennerhassett, aboard the French frigate La Pregel, Brest. Reports the capture his ship, HMS Challenger, by the French. On 12 March 1811, after exchanging signals with HMS Plantagent and HMS Princess Charlotte, he steered towards the Isle of Bas [Batz] in company with HMS Le Firm and met two enemy frigates. He tried to report them to HMS Plantagenet and HMS Princess Charlotte, while sending HMS Le Firm to the nearest port. The French ships proved to be better sailers, and while he was being chased his Main Topmast carried away and he came under heavy fire. After about an hour he was forced to strike his colours. The French frigates were the La Pregel and Revenge, the former commanded by Captain Menuet, which had sailed from St Malo that morning. His ship was sent into Le Conquet and he and Lieutenants George Philips Cowley and Miller and Purser Mr Richardson were carried aboard La Pregel to Brest. He commends the conduct of his officers and crew during the battle, and reports that one seaman, James Boyd, was lost overboard when the topmast fell and another, William Tree, was killed by a musket ball.