Looe

Posted by Brian on Saturday 31st of May 2014 21:17

Whitehall, Aug 31, 1742
The Earl of Nortbesk, Capt. of his Majesty's ship Loo, being on a cruize of Cape Finisterre, and the parts adjacent, received intelligence of a small privateer being at Porto Novo, upon which he stood in there on the 30th of June, but the privateer discovering him, got higher up the river than the Loo could venture, and it falling calm, Ld Norfolk was obliged to anchor close to the towns of Porto Nova and St Jago, into which he fired a few shot, then landed some men and dismounted four guns which were on a battery at Porto Nova and set fire to several houses at St. Jago. On July 7, Lord Nortbesk met with his Majesty's ship Dealcastle commanded by Capt. Elton, and receiving intelligence of some vessels being at Vigo, the run up the river and anchored before that town, where they made prizes of four vessels, 2 of which they set on fire, being light, and not having sails on board to bring them out. They fired several shot into the town, to cover the boats while they cut away the vessels, there being a pretty smart fire at them with small arms from the shore. On July 19, upon intelligence that the privateer was still about the river of Porto Nova, the Loo run in and anchored under the Island of Blydones, where Lord Nortbesk put a Lieutenant, and 60 men, with 2 of his ships six pounders, into a sloop taken at Vigo and sent her up the river in quest of the privateer; the sloop could see nothing of her, but in her return, chased a Bark on shore, and set her on fire, and Lord Nortbesk landed some men and burnt a village of about 40 houses.