very heavy mainmast,
and could not be convinced that he thus increased the danger. The
distinguished officer who supplied these particulars went on board the
_Blenheim_ the day she sailed, to take leave of the Captain, and found
that he had just written a last farewell to his wife, from a conviction
that the ship must inevitably founder. On the 12th of January, 1807, she
sailed from Madras, in company with the _Java_ frigate, and the
_Harrier_ sloop of war. On the 5th of February, the _Harrier_ parted
company off the island of Rodrigues, in a very heavy gale, in which the
unfortunate _Blenheim_ and _Java_ were seen to make repeated signals of
distress. They were never again heard of!

The possibility that the ships might have run on shore induced Sir
Edward to send the Admiral's son with the _Greyhound_ frigate in search
of his lamented parent. Captain Troubridge explored the coasts with all
the anxiety that filial affection could inspire, receiving every
assistance from the French authorities at the isles of France and
Bourbon; but he could discover no certain traces of the ships, and no
doubt remained that they had both foundered.

Sir Edward had been in India but a very short time, when his friend and
former opponent, Bergeret, was brought to him a prisoner. This gallant
officer had employed himself through the peace in the merchant service,
with the _Psyche_, formerly a small national frigate. When hostilities
were renewed, he armed her with thirty-six guns, and sent her out in
charge of another officer, Captain Trogoff, not choosing to command a
privateer. In her first cruise, on the 11th of April, 1804, she
attacked, and was beaten off by the _Wilhelmina_ store-ship, Captain
Henry Lambert, and returning to the Isle of France, disabled, General
Decaen, the governor, bought her into the national marine, and appointed
Bergeret to command her. He cruised in the Bay of Bengal for a short
time with much success, while his very liberal conduct obtained for him
the highest respect of the British residents. Fortune was again unjust
to him. On the 14th of February, 1805, the _San Fiorenzo_, commanded by
Captain Lambert, late of the _Wilhelmina_, and which had been sent
expressly in pursuit of him, fell in with the _Psyche_ off Vizagapatam,
and after a chase of two days brought her to action. Bergeret defended
his ship against a very superior force for three hours and a half, when
the _San Fiorenzo_ hauled off to repair her