1202.) 
ven o'clock at night, .and rowed towards 
the harbour; but, it being farther off 
than we imagined, and the tide againft us, 
day broke before we had effected a land- 
ing. 
Tnow fentthefmalleft of the boats towards 
fhe northern fide of the harbour to fet fire to 
the veflels, while I myfclf advanced with 
the other to the fouth, to take poffeflion 
of the fort and battery, the firft of which 
was taken by aflault, I my‘elf being the 
firft to enter it through one of the embra- 
fures. We then nailed up the thirty-fx 
cannon mounted on ‘the batteries, and 
advanced towards the fouth, with a view 
of burning all the veffels, when, to my in- 
finite aftonifhment, I beheld the other 
boat returning, without having done any 
thing. 
On this, I deemed it beft to unite my, 
forces, with a view of effecting, at.leaft, 
fome part of our enterprife. In fhort, we 
fet fire to fome of the vellels, and it foon 
burned with great fiercenefs, and began 
to communicate ; but, as it was now eight 
o’clock in the morning, and the inhabitants 
began to approach near us in crowds, I 
could no longer defer my retreat, which 
was made in good order. On my return 
on board the Ranger, the wind being fa- 
vourable,I fet fail for the coaft of Scotland. 
It was my intention to take the Earl of 
Selkirk prifoner, and detain his: Lordfbip 
as a hoftage, in conformity to the pro- 
je&t already mentioned. It was. with this 
view, that about noon of the fame day I 
landed on that nobleman’s eflate, with two 
officers anda few men. In the courfe of 
our progres, I fell in with fome of the 
inhabitants, who, taking me for an-Eng- 
lifhman, oblerved, that Lord Selkirk was 
then in London, but that her ladyflup and 
feveral laiies were at the Caftle. © 
On this, I determined to return: but 
fuch moderate conduct wasnot conformable 
to the wiihes of my people, who were dif- 
pofed to pillage, burn, and deftroy every 
thing, in imitation of the conduét of the 
Englith towards the Americans. - Al- 
though I was not difpo'ed to copy ‘fuch 
horrid proceedings, more efpecially when 
alady was in quettion ;-it was yet necef- 
fury to recur to fuch means as fhould {a- 
tisfy their cupidity, and, at the fame time, 
provide for Lady Selkirk’s fafety. . It im- 
mediately appeared to me, to be the moft 
proper mode to give orders to the two of- 
ficers to repair to the Cafile with the men, 
who were to remain on the outfide under 
arms, while they themfelves entered alone. 
They, were then initruéted to enter, and 
demand the family plate, in a polite man- 
4 y 2 
Account of Paul Foness 14s. 
ner, accepting. whatever was offered to. 
them, and then to return, without making 
any farther inquiries, or attempting to 
fearch for more. 
I was punctually obeyed; the plate 
was delivered ; Lady Selkirk herfelf ob- 
ferved to the officers, thatthe was exceed- 
ingly fenfible of my moderation ; fhe even 
inumated a wifh to repair to the fhore, 
although a mile diftant trom her refidencey 
In order to invite me to dinner; but the 
officers would not allow her ladythip to 
take fo much trouble. 
Next day, April 24, 17785 I prepared 
to return to Carrickfergus, to attack the - 
Drake in open day; but the lieutenants 
were averfe to the project, and the crew 
of the Ranger became fo mutinous, that I 
ran no fmall rifk of being either killed or 
thrown into the fea; and but two days 
before, I was on the point of being aban- 
doned, and left a-fhore at: Whitehaven. 
In the mean time, the captain of the 
Drake floop of war, having been in-. 
formed of our defcent at Whitehaven, 
prepared to attack us; and, while every 
thing was getting ready, he difpatched an 
officer on board his boat, with a foy-glafs, 
in order to reconngitre the Ranger. On 
this, I immediately mafked my guns, kept 
my men out of fight, and difguifed the 
velfel in fuch a manner as to refemble a’ 
merchantman; in confequence of this 
the crew of the boat were deceived and 
taken. This trifling fuccefs produced the 
effects of enchantment on my failors, 
who were no longer averfe from giving her 
battle. 
The Drake, having fired fome cannon 
to recal her boat, hoifted her anchor, and 
came out, attended by a number of yachts 
and pleafure-boats, with ladies and gen- 
tlemen on board: but, when the engage- 
ment became ferious, they thought proper 
to withdraw to a relpectiul diftance. = | 
No fooner did the enemy make his ap- 
pearance, thar I Jay to, determined not to 
engage until fhe came within piftol-fhot. 
The engagement was accordingly fuftain- 
ed with great vivacity.on hoth fides, 
during an hour and five minutes, when, the 
captain and lieutenant being beth mortal- 
ly wounded, the Engtith flag was lowered, 
and I toox poffeffion of her. I regretted 
greatly the death of thefe brave men, and 
committed t)iem to the ocean with all the 
honours due to their valour. J, at the fame 
time, difmiiled the fix fifhermen, whom [ 
have before mentioned, whofe lofsI repair- 
ed, and whofe fervices I recompenfed out 
of my ewn purfe. 
The Drake was greatly damaged in her 
ER BA a weet ‘ NARS v.28) 4 
