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SWIFT (12) Hired cutter No details.
  • 1800 W. BLAKE, North Sea.
  • 1803 Lieut. Edward HAWKER, 06/1803.
  • 1804 Lieut. William Thomas Martin LEAKE, to the Mediterranean.
  • On 3 April 1804 the SWIFT was off Las Palmas on her way to the fleet with dispatches for Lord NELSON when she was approached by a lateen-rigged vessel with several persons on deck, giving every appearance of a Spanish coaster.
    No notice was taken of her until she suddenly ran alongside SWIFT and upwards of 50 men, who had been concealed below, rushed on deck and boarded the cutter.
    An English sailor killed the first Frenchman to board but the rest of SWIFT's 22 crew, who were below decks were forced to yield to superior numbers.
    Lieut. LEAKE ran below to throw his dispatches overboard but he was cut down by French sabres before he could accomplish his purpose.
  • SWIFT had been captured by the French privateer ESPERANCE of 8 guns and 56 men.


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