554 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



taining the most effeftual mode for 

 annoying the enemy's ilotillas at 

 their anchorages in front of their 

 ports, under protection of their 

 land batteries. Having, on the af- 

 ternoon of the 1st inst. arrived at 

 this anchorage, and finding the wea- 

 ther promising to be favourable, and 

 about 150 of the flotilla on the out- 

 side of the pier, I resolved to make 

 an experiment, on a limited scale, 

 of the means of attack Avhich had 

 been provided. The final arrange- 

 ments for this purpose were made 

 on the morning of yesterday. The 

 ollicers named below* were put in 

 charge of the principal vessels which 

 at this time were to be used. The 

 armed launches, and other boats of 

 the squadron, were ajipointed to ac- 

 company and protect them. The 

 Castor, Greyhound, and some small- 

 er vessels, were directed to take up 

 an advanced and convenient ancho- 

 rage for covering the retreat, giving 

 protection to men who might be 

 •wounded, and boats that might be 

 crippled, and for towing olf the 

 boats in general, in the event of the 

 wind freshening and blowing upon 

 the coast. The operation commenc- 

 ed at a quarter past nine o'clock 

 last evening, and forminated at a 

 quarter past four this morning ; dur- 

 ing which time, several'vessels, pre- 

 pared for the purpose, were explod- 

 ed amongst, or very close to, the 

 flotilla ; but, on account of the very 

 great distance at which they lay 

 from each other, no very extensive 



injury seems to have been sustained, 

 although it is evident that there has 

 been very considerable confusion 

 among them, and that two of the 

 brigs and several of the smaller ves- 

 sels appear to be missing since 

 yesterday at the close of day. I 

 have great satisfaction in reporting, 

 that, notwithstanding a very heavy 

 discharge of shells, shot, and mus- 

 ketry, was kept up by the enemy 

 throughout the night, no casualty 

 whatever, on our part, has been sus- 

 tained. The enemy made no at- 

 tempt to oppose their rowing-boats 

 to ours. Their lordships will not 

 cxpefcl, that, at the present moment, 

 I am to enter much into detail ; but 

 I think it my duty to state to tlieiu 

 my convi6tion, that, in the event of 

 any great accumulation of the ene- 

 my's force in their roadsteads, an 

 extensive and combined operation of 

 a similar nature will hold forth u 

 reasonable prospect of a successful 

 result. The condut-t of the othcers 

 and men, who have been employed 

 on this occasion deserves my highest 

 commendation: I cannot more for- 

 cibly impress their merits upon their 

 lordships' attention, than by re- 

 marking that the service was under- 

 taken, not only in the face of, but 

 immediately under, the whole line 

 of the enemy's land batteries, and 

 their lieid artillery and musquetry 

 upon the coast, but also under that 

 of upwards of 150 armed vessels, 

 ranged round the inner side of the 

 bay ; and that the officers and men, 



♦ Officers in charge of the explosion vessels above referred to : — Captains— 

 Macleod, of the Sulphur ; Jackson, of t!ic AlUiutih ; Edwards, of the Fury ; Col- 

 lard, of the Railleur; Searle, of the lleldcr Defence ship. — Lieutenants — 'Stewart, 

 of the Monarch ; Lowiy, of the Leopard ; Payne, of the Tmmortalite; Terapler, of 

 the Sulphur. — Midshipman — iMr. Bartholomew, of the Inflexible. — Captains Win- 

 throp, of the Ardent, and Owen, of the Immortalite, most zealously and usefully 

 superintended the operations from the southward, and the hon. capt. Blackwood, 

 ef the Euryalus, from the northward. / 



