The Preneuse was a 44-gun frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

 of the French Navy

French Navy

The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...

, lead ship of her class

Preneuse class frigate

The Preneuse class was a type of two 42-gun frigates.* PreneuseThe Preneuse class was a type of two 42-gun frigates.* PreneuseThe Preneuse class was a type of two 42-gun frigates.* Preneuse:Builder::Ordered:...

. She served as a commerce raider at Île de France

Mauritius

Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...

.

In March 1798, under Lhermitte, she ferried ambassadors from Mysore

Kingdom of Mysore

The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire...

 sent by Tippu Sultan to île de France to request help against the British. Near Thalassery

Thalassery

Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...

, Preneuse encountered two 36-gun East Indiamen anchored under the protection of coastal batteries; she attacked and captured the ships after a one-hour battle. She left the diplomatic mission at Mangalore

Mangalore

Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...

, and sailed to Batavia.

She was soon joined by the 22-gun corvette Brûle-Gueule, which ferried Admiral de Sercey

Pierre César Charles de Sercey

Pierre César Charles de Sercey was a French admiral, most notable for commanding French naval forces in the Indian Ocean from 1796 to 1800. His name is engraved on the Arc de triomphe.-Early life:...

. The squadron sailed to Surabaya

Surabaya

Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...

, where a settlement was established. A small mutiny broke out when Preneuse crew refused to let go of the British flags captured at Thalassery; Lhermitte had to personally challenge the mutineers with his sabre to re-establish discipline, having five of the rebels executed by firing squad.

After a short stay at Surabaya, Preneuse and Brûle-Gueule sailed for a three-month cruise, capturing 40 British merchantmen. After returning to Subaraya, Sercey set his flag on Preneuse and the squadron sailed for île de France.

They arrived in May 1799, encountering the British blockade composed of three ships of the line, one frigate and one brig. The French ships reached Black River

Black River (district)

Black River is a district of Mauritius on the western side of the island. Famous areas include Tamarin Falls and the Chamarel coloured earth. The district capital is Bambous. Previously it was Tamarin. It is the third largest District of Mauritius in area, but the smallest in terms of population...

, where they were joined by a number of coastal ships offering assistance. Preneuse and Brûle-Gueule anchored in the bay. Seven 18-pounders were sent ashore and an improvised fort was built as to guard the entrance of the bay; it sustained a 3-week siege before the British retreated.

In August 1799, Preneuse departed for a patrol near Cape of Good Hope

Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...

 and Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

. On 4 September, she fought against five British ships. In September, she fought against a 64-gun ship of the line. Preneuse also attempted to supply arms to the Graaff Reinet Republic of Adriaan van Jaarsveld; on the 20th, she sailed into Algoa Bay

Algoa Bay

Algoa Bay is a wide inlet along the South African east coast, some 425 miles east of the Cape of Good Hope. It is bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone. The bay is up to 436 m deep...

 under Danish colours, when she was recognised by the 16-gun ship-sloop HMS Rattlesnake; she exchanged artillery fire with Rattlesnake and the armed store ship Camel, before retreating.

On 9 October 1799, as she neared Good Hope, Preneuse was chased by the 54-gun HMS Jupiter

HMS Jupiter (1778)

HMS Jupiter was a 50-gun Portland-class fourth rate ship of the Royal Navy. She served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars in a career that spanned thirty years....

. After a 22-hour chase, Jupiter gained on Preneuse, and artillery exchanges broke out. Preneuse managed to out-manoeuver Jupiter and rake her; the British then retreated to avoid being boarded, and managed to escape.
On 11 December 1799, as she returned to Île de France, Preneuse was chased by the 74-gun HMS Tremendous

HMS Tremendous

HMS Tremendous was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 30 October 1784 at Deptford.Throughout May 1794 Tremendous, whilst under the command of Captain James Pigott, participated in the campaign which culminated in the Battle of the Glorious First of June...

, under Captain John Osborn. As she closed to the land, the 50-gun HMS Adamant

HMS Adamant (1780)

HMS Adamant was a 50-gun Portland-class fourth rate warship of the British Royal Navy. She served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars in a career that spanned thirty years....

, under Captain William Hotham

William Hotham (1772–1848)

Sir William Hotham GCB was an officer of the Royal Navy who saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....

, cut her escape route; attempting to sail under the protection of the coastal forts at Baie du Tombeau

Baie du Tombeau

Baie du Tombeau is a bay in northwestern Mauritius, formed at the mouth of the Rivière du Tombeau. The bay is located six kilometres to the north of the nation's capital, Port Louis....

, Preneuse was washed ashore by erratic winds. The British closed in and battered Preneuse, which Lhermitte then deemed lost; he had the crew abandon ship, while he stayed behind with the officers, struck the colours and scuttled the frigate. British boats attempted to capture Preneuse, but she came under fire from the coastal batteries and had to be abandoned.

The officers of Preneuse were taken to HMS Adamant, where they were treated with courtesy by Commodore Botham. Lhermitte was released on parole the next day.

Sources and references

• Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
• « L'Hermitte (Marthe-Adrien, baron) » in Charles Mullié, Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850, Poignavant, Paris, 1852