206 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



the enemy, and by cutting away 

 the running riggingof the two near- 

 est, drove them on board each 

 other, backed the maintopsail, and 

 engaged them within musket shot 

 till they were clear ; then stood on 

 and engaged another, whose main- 

 mast and foretop-mast soon went 

 by the board, when she immedi- 

 ately anchored ; passed her, and 

 drove the next in the line on shore ; 

 two more of their line yet remain- 

 ed to leeward ; bore up and ran 

 the nearest one on board (then not 

 more than three quarters of a mile 

 from the shore). So far the Ro- 

 sario had acted alone, as the Grif- 

 fon had not yet arrived within gun- 

 shot ; bore away with prize be- 

 yond range of the batteries, and 

 hailed the Griffon (then passing 

 under a press of sail), to chase the 

 remaining brig, and which service 

 she performed in a very handsome 

 manner, by running her on shore 

 near St. Aubin, under a very heavy 

 fire from the shore ; seeing no 

 probability of the Griffon being 

 able to destroy the brig, made her 

 signal to attack the enemy in the 

 S.E., then anchoring close in shore. 

 In the mean time we were getting 

 the prisoners on board, and repair- 

 ing the running rigging, which 

 was much damaged. Capt. Trol- 

 lope having closed with the enemy, 

 run the Griffon in shore of one at 

 anchor*nearly in the center, and in 

 the most gallant manner laid her 

 on board, cut her cables, and stood 

 out, under the fire of the batteries, 

 and the whole of the other brigs : 

 upon passing the Griffon, I found 

 her too much disabled to immedi- 

 ately make sail again to the attack, 

 but being determined to have ano- 

 ther (and although we had nearly 

 as many prisoners as our own 

 sloop's company) I run the dismast- 



ed one on board, which we found 

 the enemy had deserted, but this 

 circumstance the darkness of the 

 night prevented our being enabled 

 previously to discover, at which 

 time the remaining seven of the flo- 

 tilla were under weigh, getting 

 into Dieppe harbour. I must beg 

 leave to mention the very able as- 

 sistance I received from the exer- 

 tions of my first lieutenant, Mr. 

 James Shaw, in boarding the ene- 

 my, and during the whole of the 

 day_in the arduous task of working 

 the ship while engaging ; and the 

 conduct of the whole of the other 

 officers and ship's company was such 

 as to merit my warmest approba- 

 tion. We have only one petty officer 

 and four men wounded ; the officer 

 is Mr. Jonathan Widdicome Dyer, 

 midshipman, whose unremitted 

 exertions duringthe action, and ac- 

 tivity in boarding ( when he received 

 the wound), together with his ge- 

 neral good conduct, renders it my 

 duty to recommend him.* 



The flotillais the fourteenth divi- 

 sion, commanded by Monsieur 

 Sarue, capitaiue de vaisseau, and 

 commandant de division ; sailed 

 from Boulogne at ten p. m. the 

 26th instant, and intended going 

 to Cherbourg ; each brig has three 

 long brass twenty-four pounders, 

 and an 8-incli brass howitzer, with 

 a complement of fifty men. When 

 I consider this flotilla, united to 

 batteries keeping up a constant fire 

 of both shot and shells, and the 

 very small force we had, I trust 

 the having taken three, run two 

 on shore, and much damaged the 

 others, will show our zeal for the 

 public service, and meet your ap- 

 probation. I have the honour to 

 be, &c. 



B. Harvey, Commander. 

 Rear-Admiral Foley, &c. 



Londom 



