Cameleon

Posted by Jon Miller on Sunday 14th of June 2026 14:23

Cameleon, March 3 – Sir, I beg leave to inform you, that on Thursday the 1st of March, at ten AM, Guernsey bearing south eight leagues, I observed a cutter, gave chace, and at half past five PM, it falling little wind, and by the help of her oars she escaped under the forts of the Isle of Bass. If I had got three leagues more distance to run I should have captured her. At 3 AM of the 2d, saw a cutter, gave chace, and at four took possession of her. She proves to be the Souffler, thirteen days from Cherbourg, mounting four carriage-guns, two swivels, and forty men, and having captured this cruize, the vessels as underneath, three of the masters being on board me; and I am in hopes to retake some of those vessels, the wind being south. R R Bowyer.
PS: I have sent the privateer into port, and going in chace.
Peggy sloop, of Cardigan, James Prichard master, from Dover to Penzance, with wheat and barley.
Camilla brig, John McKenzie master, from Hull to Plymouth, with coals.
Delaval, Charles Mann master, from Sunderland, loaded with coals, bound to Plymouth.
Betsey, of Guernsey, Thomas Townsend master, from Guernsey, bound to Plymouth, with wine.
[Hampshire Chronicle, 10 March 1798]