 In April 1806 Minerve was commanded by Capitaine Jaques Collet and formed part of a squadron under Contre @-@ Amiral Zacharie Allemand . This French squadron comprised five ship @-@ of @-@ the @-@ line , five frigates and four smaller vessels , and was anchored under the shore batteries of the Île @-@ d 'Aix On the 25 April , HMS Pallas arrived . Pallas , under the command of Thomas Cochrane , had been sent by Sir Edward Thornbrough to count the enemy ships in the roadstead behind the island , and Minerve and three corvettes , were ordered to weigh anchor and meet the British frigate . As the French approached , Pallas discharged her guns and a small engagement followed in which none of the ships incurred much damage . Collet then spotted the frigate HMS Isis , the 16 @-@ gun Hazard and a cutter , and decided to seek shelter beneath the island 's guns . The British then left . 
