550 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



lordship, that not a miin has been 

 hurt. A shell passed through the 

 mizen stay-sail of the Zebra, another 

 carried away tlie spare topsail-ya/d 

 of the Merlin, and two chain plates, 

 and grazed her side ; and a 42-pound 

 shot cut the spare topmast and some 

 other spars, and lodged in the booms 

 of the Hecla ; this is all the damage 

 done. It is impossible for me to 

 find words to express my admi- 

 ration of the conduct of captains 

 Sykes, James, Paul, and Beau- 

 champ, and the other o.licers and 

 crews of the bombs, for the able 

 manner in which tliey placed and 

 managed their vessels; and also to 

 the officers and men of the Royal 

 Artillery embarked on board of 

 them, for the judicious manner in 

 which they fired the shells. Some 

 luggers came out of the pier during 

 the bombardment and fired their 

 guns ; but they were made to keep 

 at a respectful distance by the vici- 

 nity of the Merlin, Pluto, Locust, 

 and cutters, which were always 

 ready to give assistance where want- 

 ed, as were the other ships in the 

 squadron in the situations assigned 

 to them. 



R. D. Oliver. 



A Letter from Capt. Robert Dudley 

 Oliver, Commander of tlic Mel- 

 pomene, to IVilliam Marsden, Esq. 

 dated off Havre, the 2d Instant, 

 incloses the folloi!:ms; : 



Melpomene, off Havre, Aug. 2. 

 TVIy Lord, 



The wind having changed yester- 

 day to the N. E. I determined to 

 make another attack on the nume- 

 rous vessels in Havre pier, as well 



as those which were moored outside, 

 amounting to 28 brig.':, and as many 

 luggers, and stood in witli the squad- 

 ron, as per margin*. At half-past se- 

 venP. JNI. the bombs were well placed 

 off the Pier Heads, when they be- 

 gan a Avell-directcd fire, which was 

 kept up with great spirit for about 

 an hour and a half. The town Mas 

 very soon observed to be on fire in 

 two places ; and seven brigs, which 

 were on the outside of the Pier, 

 found it necessary to move; one lost 

 her main-mast. As the wind came 

 more off the land, and a strong ebb 

 tide setting out, I ordered the bombs 

 to discontinue firing. At half-past 

 nine we anchored with the squadron 

 about five miles from the Light- 

 houses. As the Explosion had fired 

 away all her shells, and the Zebra 

 most of her powder, I had them 

 supplied from the Meteor ; and at 

 half-past five this morning got under 

 weigh, and stood in with the squad- 

 ron again. Before eight the bombi 

 took up their position near the Pier 

 Heads, and kept up a constant fire 

 for near three hours with shells and 

 carca'^ses ; so many shells burst on 

 and about the Piers, that the ene- 

 my's fire was ol)sarvcd latterly to 

 slacken consideral)Iy, and it was 

 evident they were in the greatest 

 confusion ; some brigs and luggers, 

 however, got under weigh, and 

 came out to endeavour to annoy tha 

 bombs, but all the other ships 

 and vessels of the squadron were 

 so well placed as to give chase to 

 them immediately ; and it was only 

 by cutting away their boats, which 

 were a-stern, and retreating very 

 speedily into shoal water, that they 



* Melpomene, Ariadne, Trusty, Mngnanime, Merlin, and Favourite ; Hecla, 

 Meteor, Explosion, and Zebra bombs; King George, Hope, Naucy, Countess 

 •f filxin, and Locust cutters. ' 



escaped, 



