Paris, 27 July. According to the semi official newspaper Gazette de France was France in the Mediterranean building up a naval force, considerable larger than usual. She consisted mainly of the squadron of the Levant, which blockaded the ports of Algeria and the cruisers which were patrolling for the privateers die despite the blockade escape to open sea. The Levant squadron was to be consisting of 23 ships, including 4 ships of the line le Scipion (1), le Breslau (2), le Trident (3) en la Provence (4) , each of 74 guns, the frigate la Syrène (5) of 52 guns, 3 frigates l’Armide (6), la Junon (7) and la Magicienne (8), each of 44 guns, 4 corvettes and 11 smaller vessels. This squadron commanded by rear admiral De Rigny was mid August ready for service. To blockade the Algerian ports were 7 ships available, to be increased to 12, including the 58-gun frigates l’Amphitry (9) and la Vestale (10), 3-44 gun frigates la Constance (11), la Cybèle (12) and la Galathée (13), 1 corvette and 6 smaller vessels. Six ships were ordered to cruise in the Mediterranean like at Cape Bon, off the Italian coasts, which included the 58-gun frigate la Marie-Therese (13a) and the 44-gun frigate l’Aurore (14). Four brigs and some goelettes were used as escorts on the lines Marseille-Cadiz and Marseille-Archipelago. There were also more as other 60 ships in service at the Ocean, including 9 frigates, at Cadiz, African West Coast and Spanish coasts. Of the 80 ships and vessels had only 4 or 5 brigs to leave the harbours, which presumably was before the 10th day of next month. A telegraphic tiding reported the departure 23rd out of Brest of 2 ships of the line, 2 frigates and 2 corvettes, the first 4 for the Mediterranean.
Two French war brigs departed from Rochefort to search for the Colombian privateer which captured the French brig le Casimir. Letters coming from Spain mentioned the appearance of another Colombian privateer in the Gulf of Biscaye. The l’Alerte was commanded by Cotaro from Biscaye, armed with 24 guns and a large crew. This sailor was a well experienced pirate. It was believed that he also had a Algerian permission as a privateer for French ships. It’s the same privateer which in begin 1824 captured the ship Telegraph, underway from Bordeaux towards Lima. Cotaro escaped to South America when he wasn’t able to harass the French trade while flying the Spanish colours and so he became a Colombian privateer. He was a bold man with one of the finest ships.
Source
J. Vichot. Repertoire des navires de guerre français. Paris, 1967.
Notes
1. Laid down at Genes 1812, launched 1813, last mentioned 1846.
2. Laid down at Genes 1805 as le Superbe, launched as le Breslaw 1808, last mentioned 1836.
3. Laid down at Toulon 1809, launched 1811 and last mentioned 1874.
4. Laid down at Toulon 1812, ex-le Kremlin renamed 1814, launched 1815, ex-la Provence renamed 1815, ex-l’Hercule renamed 1815, renamed l’Alger 1830, pontoon at Rochefort 1858.
5. Laid down at Toulon 1820, launched 1823 and last mentioned 1871.
6. Laid down at Lorient 1821, launched 1821, renamed l’Entrepôt 1866 and last mentioned 1888.
7. Laid down 1807, launched 1808, ex-l’Amélie renamed 1814 and last mentioned 1842.
8. Laid down at Rochefort 1813, launched 1823, lost at the Philippines 28 November 1840.
9. L’Amphitrite, laid down Rochefort 1809, launched 1812, the rerazeed ship of the line l’Agamemnon 1823, last mentioned 1836.
10. Laid down at Rochefort 1820, launched 1822, last mentioned 1834.
11. Laid down at Brest 1812, launched 1818 and last mentioned 1836.
12. Launched at Le Havre 1815, rerazeed as corvette 1833, renamed la Remise, last mentioned 1850.
13. Laid down at Genes 181, launched 1812 and last mentioned 1838. (13a) Laid down at Toulon 1820, launched 1823, ex-La Ceres renamed 1823. renamed la Calypso 1830, last mentioned 1856.
14. Laid down at Toulon 1807, launched 1809, ex-l’Adrienne renamed 1814, renamed la Dauphine 5 September 1829, renamed l’Aurore 1830, last mentioned 1847.
Two French war brigs departed from Rochefort to search for the Colombian privateer which captured the French brig le Casimir. Letters coming from Spain mentioned the appearance of another Colombian privateer in the Gulf of Biscaye. The l’Alerte was commanded by Cotaro from Biscaye, armed with 24 guns and a large crew. This sailor was a well experienced pirate. It was believed that he also had a Algerian permission as a privateer for French ships. It’s the same privateer which in begin 1824 captured the ship Telegraph, underway from Bordeaux towards Lima. Cotaro escaped to South America when he wasn’t able to harass the French trade while flying the Spanish colours and so he became a Colombian privateer. He was a bold man with one of the finest ships.
Source
J. Vichot. Repertoire des navires de guerre français. Paris, 1967.
Notes
1. Laid down at Genes 1812, launched 1813, last mentioned 1846.
2. Laid down at Genes 1805 as le Superbe, launched as le Breslaw 1808, last mentioned 1836.
3. Laid down at Toulon 1809, launched 1811 and last mentioned 1874.
4. Laid down at Toulon 1812, ex-le Kremlin renamed 1814, launched 1815, ex-la Provence renamed 1815, ex-l’Hercule renamed 1815, renamed l’Alger 1830, pontoon at Rochefort 1858.
5. Laid down at Toulon 1820, launched 1823 and last mentioned 1871.
6. Laid down at Lorient 1821, launched 1821, renamed l’Entrepôt 1866 and last mentioned 1888.
7. Laid down 1807, launched 1808, ex-l’Amélie renamed 1814 and last mentioned 1842.
8. Laid down at Rochefort 1813, launched 1823, lost at the Philippines 28 November 1840.
9. L’Amphitrite, laid down Rochefort 1809, launched 1812, the rerazeed ship of the line l’Agamemnon 1823, last mentioned 1836.
10. Laid down at Rochefort 1820, launched 1822, last mentioned 1834.
11. Laid down at Brest 1812, launched 1818 and last mentioned 1836.
12. Launched at Le Havre 1815, rerazeed as corvette 1833, renamed la Remise, last mentioned 1850.
13. Laid down at Genes 181, launched 1812 and last mentioned 1838. (13a) Laid down at Toulon 1820, launched 1823, ex-La Ceres renamed 1823. renamed la Calypso 1830, last mentioned 1856.
14. Laid down at Toulon 1807, launched 1809, ex-l’Adrienne renamed 1814, renamed la Dauphine 5 September 1829, renamed l’Aurore 1830, last mentioned 1847.
