310 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1810. 



crossed saltier-wise) or of the 

 transport-office (one anchor and 

 one cannon crossed saltier-wise) 

 as the case may be, respectively 

 surrounded with laurel. — And 

 also, that those post captains 

 who may be commissioners of the 

 navy, victualling, or transport 

 service, but from their seniority 

 have not been passed over, shall 

 continue to wear the uniform of 

 their rank, without any deviation 

 whatever. 



25. Dispatches from admiral 

 Drury, communicating intelli- 

 gence of the capture of Amboyna, 

 by captains Tucker, Montague, 

 and Spencer, of the navy, Fe- 

 bruary 17. 



Since the English restored this 

 island, in 1803, there have been 

 numerous batteries erected, which 

 command the fort and anchorage 

 of Victoria, and Portuguese Bay. 



These anchorages are also fur- 

 ther protected by the fort of Vic- 

 toria, the sea-face of which is ex- 

 tremely strong, a battery close 

 on the beach, well to the right of 

 the port, mounting four twelve- 

 pounders, one eight-pounder, two 

 six-pounders, and one brass thirty- 

 two-pounder, and a heavy battery 

 built upon piles far out in the 

 sea, mounting nine twelve-pound- 

 ers (iron) and one brass thirty- 

 two-pounder. 



The arrangements for the attack 

 were, that four hundred men, 

 troops and seamen, including offi- 

 cers, under the command of cap- 

 tain Court, should be landed a 

 little to the right of Portuguese 

 Bay, and advance immediately to 

 the attack of the batteries on the 

 heights commanding that anchor- 

 age, as well as tlie town and fort 

 of Victoria, and that at the same 

 time the ships could commence 

 their attack on the fort and such 



batteries as they could be brought 

 to bear upon. About two p. m, 

 the boats being all out, and every 

 thing in readiness for landing the 

 party selected for that purpose, 

 the ships were got under weigh, 

 and stood across the bay, with the 

 apparent intention of working out 

 to sea ; but by keeping the sails 

 lifting, and other manoeuvres, we 

 contrived t6 drift in towards the 

 spot fixed upon for a landing, at 

 the same time keeping the boats 

 on the opposite side of the ship, 

 so as not to be perceived by the 

 enemy. 



Up,on a nearer approach, the 

 preparative signal was made to 

 bear up and sail large : the ships 

 bore up together with a fine breeze, 

 and passing within cable's length 

 of the landing-place, slipped al! 

 the boats at the same moment, 

 per signal. The troops, seamen, 

 and marines were instantly landed, 

 and formed. 



The ships immediately commen- 

 ced an attack upon the fort and 

 surrounding batteries, which was 

 continued without intermission for 

 two hoiTs and a half, by which 

 time, having drifted very close in, 

 exposed to an extremely heavy 

 fire, particularly from the heights 

 on the left of the town, with red- 

 hot shot, and the object of the 

 attack being accomplished by the 

 unexampled intrepidity of the 

 troops, seamen, and marines, in 

 storming and gaining possession of 

 the heights commanding Portu- 

 guese Bay, I took advantage of a 

 spirt of wind off the land, and or- 

 dered the ships to anchor there. 



Duringthe night fortymen were 

 landed from the Samarang, and 

 two fieldpieces from the Dover, 

 under the direction of captain 

 Spencer, who volunteered on this 

 occasion, and succeeded ingcttiug 



