attempting to land. Almoft a perpetual fwell rolls upon the
the fandy beach* Being, however, fo conveniently fituated for
an enemy to communicate with the rebellious boors ofGraaf
Reynet, and equally fo with the Kaffers, General Dundas
thought it advifable to Ration at the bay a few troops, and to
ere£t a fmall block-houfe for their prote£tion. It was, indeed,
filrprifing that none of the enemies’ cruifers from the Me of
France thought of attacking this vulnerable, and hitherto de-
fencelefs, fpot, fo diftant from the Cape that much mifchief
might have been effected long before the government could have
received information of it.
The French frigate La Preneufe was the only enemy’s fhip
that ventured to look into this or any of the bays during the
whole war; at which time the Rattlefnake floop of war, and
the Camel ftore Ihip, happened to be at anchor there. The
French fhip came in under Danifh colours, and brought up in
the dufk of the evening between two and three cables’ length
from the Rattlefnake, whofe captain was on ihore with a detachment
of the crew, unable to get on board on account of the
high furf running upon the beach ; but Lieutenant (now Captain)
Fothergill difplayed, on this occafion, great judgment
and bravery. Sufpe&ing her to be an enemy, he fired a ihot
a-head, of which fhe took no notice; he then poured in a
broadfide, which was returned by the frigate. About midnight,
the fire from the Camel being filenced, the frigate
changed her pofition, bringing her broadfide to bear diredtiy
upon the Rattlefnake. In this manner they engaged till three
in the morning, when the frigate thought fit to flip her cable,
and