CAPTURE OF THE CARTHAGENIAN FLEET,

BY LIEUT. DE COURCY,

February, 1841.

Among the numerous states which have arisen from the fragments of the Spanish empire in South America is that of Carthagena on the northern coast, and on the eastern shore at the entrance of the Gulf of Darien. The inhabitants, like those of all the other states of Spanish origin on that continent, have continually been quarrelling among each other, and one party has always been found ready to set up a Dictator, President, or Governor in opposition to the man who happens to be in power. It appears that the British brig 'Jane and Sarah,' in company with a sloop called the 'Little William,' were lying at Sapote, a harbour of Carthagena, when, on the 6th of February, 1841, some Carthagenian ships-of-war, under the orders of General Carmona, attacked the two vessels and plundered them, to a large amount, of goods and specie. A Colonel Gregg and other passengers, together with their crews, were taken on shore and imprisoned. We are not aware of what crime Colonel Gregg and the other persons were accused. They found means, however, to communicate their condition to the British Consul resident at Carthagena, who immediately interested himself on their behalf, and applied to the government for their release. His intercession was perfectly unsuccessful. As soon, therefore, as he was able, he sent off a despatch to Lieutenant De Courcy, commanding Her Majesty's brig 'Charybdis,' stationed on the coast to protect British interests, and which was fortunately then in the neighbourhood. Immediately on receiving the communication, Lieutenant De Courcy came off the port of Carthagena, and despatched a boat, with an officer, bearing a letter to the Commodore of the squadron, then at anchor inside, demanding the release of Colonel Gregg and the other British subjects.

The Carthagenian squadron consisted of a corvette, a brig, and three schooners-of-war. When the officer got on board the corvette, he found the Commodore, who treated him with great insolence, observing, that as the letter was not written in Spanish, he could not understand it, and therefore could not receive it, treating the threatened interference with the greatest contempt. The unfortunate Colonel Gregg, it appears, was shot immediately after the application for his release had been made, so that, probably, the Commodore was acting under the orders of the Government, who were little aware of the punishment they were about to draw down on the head of the Commander of their ships. As soon as the British officer had returned on board the 'Charybdis,' and reported these circumstances, Lieut. De Courcy determined to compel attention to his communications. The 'Charybdis' was rated as a 6-gun brig, but she carried only one long gun amidships, and two carronades, and her full complement of officers and men was but 55. Nothing daunted, however, he boldly entered the port, and was passing up to an anchorage, when, without any provocation, he was fired into by the corvette, the Commodore's vessel, and the forestay of the 'Charybdis' was shot away. This was an insult not for an instant to be borne, and, in spite of the small size of his vessel, and the apparently overwhelming force opposed to him, he immediately took up a position, and opened his fire on the corvette. His officers and crew enthusiastically seconded him, and working their guns with a will, so rapidly was their fire delivered, and so well was it directed, that in a short time, the corvette hauled down her colours and surrendered, when, on taking possession of her, it was found that the Commodore and 25 of his men had been killed. In the mean time, a brig-of-war had been coming down to the assistance of the corvette, followed by three schooners, and scarcely had the first been disposed of, when she came into action. Unexhausted by their exertions, the gallant crew of the 'Charybdis' fought their guns as before, and, in five minutes after they had been brought to bear on the brig, she sank, and in a short time, the schooners, after exchanging a few shots, also surrendered. Thus, in the course of less than an hour, the whole of the Carthagenian squadron was captured and destroyed,—the victor remaining at anchor in their port, with his prizes, to await the decision of the Admiral on the station as to their disposal. Although, probably, the vessels of the enemy were neither well-found nor well-manned, still, their force was so immensely superior to that of the British brig, that we must allow, that not a more spirited or gallant action has been performed since Her Majesty came to the throne than that of Lieut. De Courcy's capture of the Carthagenian fleet. He, in consequence, at once received his promotion to the rank of Commander.