*t68 



Slate of Public Ajfairs in September 



■who had been eai;er to land his corps of 

 miners, pressed me most anxiously fur per- 

 jnission to accompany Lieutenant Kich- 

 *rds in tliis ship's bar^e. The (Vi'iate was 

 instantly boarded, and in ten nuiiiites in a 

 perfect blaze; a gallant yonng Midship- 

 tiian, in Rocket Boat No. 8, altiionnh for- 

 T)idden, was led l)y his ardent si)irit to fol- 

 low in support of the barpe, in which he 

 ■was desperately vvonnded. Ins brother offi- 

 trer killed, and nine of his crew. The 

 barge, by rowing more rapidly, liad suffered 

 less, and lost but two. 



The enemy's batteries around my divi« 

 'Sion were about ten o'clock silenced, and in 

 « state of perfect ruin and dda[)idation, 

 •«nd the fire of the ships was reserved as 

 ■mucli as possible, to save powder, and re- 

 ply to a few guns now and then bearing up- 

 on us, althongli a fort on the upper angle 

 of the city, on which our fruns conkl not 

 T>e brought to bear, continued lo annoy the 

 •hips by shot aud shells during the whole 

 time. 



Providence at this interval gave to my 

 *nxious wishes, the usual land Avind, com- 

 mon in this bay, and my expeetations were 

 completed. We were all hands employe<l 

 warping and towiug off, and by the help of 

 the light air, the whole viere under sail, 

 and came to anchor out of lencli of shells, 

 about two in tlie morning, after twelve 

 "hours' incessant labour. 



The flotilla of mortar, gun, and rocket 

 "boats, under the direction of their respec- 

 tive artillery officers, shared, to the full 

 extent of their power, in the honours of 

 this day, and performed good service ; it 

 ■was by their fire all the shijis in the port 

 (with the exception of the outer fiigate) 

 were in flames, which extended rapidly 

 over the whole arsenal, slore-houses, and 

 gun-boats, exhibiting a fpectacle of awfid 

 grandeur and interest, no pen can de- 

 scribe. 



The sloops of war which had been appro- 

 priated to aid and assist the ships of the 

 line and prepaie for their retreat, per- 

 formed not only that duty well, but eni- 

 "braced every opportnnity of firing through 

 the intervals, and were constanliy in mo- 

 tion. 



The shells from the bombs were admira- 

 T)ly well thrown by the royal marine artil- 

 lery ; and, although thrown directly across 

 and over us, not an accident, that I know 

 of, occurred to any ship. 



The whole was conducted in perfect si- 

 lence, and such a thing as a clu'cr I never 

 Tieard i|i any part of the line; and that the 

 guns were will worked and directed, will 

 be seen for many years to come, and re- 

 membered by tlie^e Kaibarians forever. 



The conducting this ship to her station 

 by the Wasters of the fleet, and ship, ex- 

 cited the praise of all. The former has 

 been my compauion in arms for more thau 

 'go years. 



[Oct. 1, 



Having thus detailed, although but im- 

 perfectly, the progress of this short ser- 

 vice, I venture to hope, that the humble 

 and devpted services of myself and the 

 officers and men of every description I 

 have the honour to command, will be re- 

 ceived by his Royal Highness the Prince 

 Regent with his accustomed grace. 'J'hus 

 approbation of our services by oin- .Sove* 

 leign, and the eood opinion of our conn- 

 try, will, I venture to affirm, be received 

 by us all with the highest satisfaction. 



If I attempted to name to their Lord- 

 ships the numerous officers who, in snch a 

 conflict, have been at different periods 

 more conspicuous than theii' companions, I 

 should do injustice to many ; and I tiust 

 there is no officer ni the fleet I have the 

 honour lo command, who will doid)t the 

 grateful feeliiiiis I shall ever cheiish for 

 their unbounded and unlimited support. 

 Not an officer nor man confined his exer- 

 tions wiihi!i the precise limits of tlicir owa 

 duty; all were eager to attempt services 

 whicli I found more difficult to restrain 

 than excite; and no where was this feeling 

 more conspicuous thau in my own cap- 

 tain, and those officers immediately about 

 my person. My gratitude and thanks arc 

 due to all under my command, as well aa 

 to A'ice-Adniiral Cappellen, and the Offi- 

 cers of the squadron of his Majesty the 

 King of the Netheilands ; and I trust (hey 

 will believe that the recollection of their 

 services will never cease but with my life. 

 In no instance have I ever seen more en- 

 ergy and zeal ; from the yonngest Midship- 

 man to the highest rank, all seemed ani- 

 mated by one soul, and of which I shall 

 with delight bear testimony to their lord- 

 ships, whenever that testimony can beiiseful. 



1 have confided this Dispatch to Rear. 

 Admiral Milne, my second in command, 

 from whoui I have received, during the 

 whole service intrusted to me, the most 

 cordial and honourable support. He i.i 

 perfectly informed of every transaction of 

 the fleet, from the earliest period of my 

 command, aud is fully competent to give 

 their lordships satisfaction on any points 

 which 1 may have overlooked, or have not 

 time to slate. I trust I have obtained 

 from him his esteem and regard, and I 

 regret I had not sooner been known to him. 



'i'he nrcessai-y papers, together with the 

 defects of the ships aud the return of kiU 

 led and wounded, accompany this dispatch, 

 and I am happy to say Captains Ek ins and 

 Coode are doing well, as also the v\hole of 

 the wounded. By accounts from the 

 shore, I understand, the enemy's loss in 

 kdled and wounded is between six and 

 seven thousand men. 



In recommending my officers and fjeet 

 to their lordships' protection and favour, 

 1 have the honour to be, &c. 



ExMOl'TB. 

 Jo J. W, Crolcer, esq., ^c. ^c. 



