626 
for this service, under the orders of Captain 
Hallowell, to bring them out if the wind was 
favourable, or otherwise to destroy them. 
The state of the wind and sea would not per- 
mit this operation until last night, when, 
after dark, the ships bore up for the bay, and 
anchored about five miles from the castle of 
Rosas ; under the protection of which castle, 
of Trinity Fort, and of seve ral other newly- 
erected batteries, the convoy, consisting of 
eleven vessels, five of then: armed, were 
~ moored. 
The boats being arranged in separate divi- 
sions, the whole were put under the orders of 
Lieutenant Tailour, first licwtenant of the 
Tigre, and proceeded to the attack of the 
enemy, whe, although he could have had no 
previous intimation of such an enterprize 
against him, was found vigilant, amd com- 
pletely on his guard. The ship, which was 
a smaller sort of frigate, was enclused in 
boarding nettings, and a gun-boat advanced 
a-head of her for the look-out; on being 
haifed, and the alarm gun fired, our boats 
stretcli€d out, the crews at the highest pitch 
of animation, filling the air with their cheers 
each division took the part previously allotted 
fo it, the armed ship was boarded at all points, 
aud carried in a few minutes, notwithstanding 
a spirited and sturdy resistance which the 
enemy made; all their armed vefiels were 
well defended, but the British seamen and 
marines, determined to subdue them,. were 
mot to Le repelled, even by a force found to 
be double that which was expected ; and, be- 
sides the opposition made by the vessels, the 
guns from the castle, the forts in the bay, the 
gun boats and musketry fromthe beach, kept 
d constant fire on them. On the opening of 
day, every ship or vessel was either burnt, or 
brought off, aided by the light winds which 
then came from the land 5 and the whole of 
the convoy that came from Toulon fer the 
supply of the French army in Spain, has been 
destroyed, with the excepticn of the frigate, 
which escaped to Marseilles, and one store- 
ship, not since heard of- 
~ kcannot conclude this narrative without an 
expression of the sentiment whtich the execu- 
tion of this bold enterprize has inspired me 
with, and the respect and admiration I feel 
for those who performed it. 
In the first place, success greatly depended 
upen the previous arrangement which was 
made by Captain Halloweil, with a judgment 
‘nd foresight that uictingaiehes that oilicer in 
every service he is employed on; the division 
ef the boats, the prepzration of fire materials, 
and providing them with everyi mplement 
that contingency could require, established 
confidence throughout the whole; and in this 
he was ably assisted by the experience and zeal 
of Captains Wodehouse, Bulien, Taylor, and 
Hope. The brigs were under sail, as near the 
vessels attacked as the light winds wouid al- 
low, and Captain Hallowell. speaks in high" 
farms of praise of the eenduct of theis conte 
State of Public Affairs in December. 
jan. 1, 
manders Crawley, Raitt, and Wilson. The 
First Lieutenant Tailour led to the assault im 
a most gallant manner, and was followed by 
the other officers, as if each was ameter of 
his place, and: desired: to be first ;. the whole 
party bravely maintained the alee which 
British seamen have established for them- 
selves. 
E ary sorry E liave to add, that. the loss has. 
been considerable, of which I enclose a list. 
—Lieutenant Tait, of the Volontaire, an ex- 
cellent and brave young officer, and Mr. Cald- 
well, master’s mate of the Tigre, a youth of 
great promise, were the only officers slain. | 
Many. officers in the ficet were desirous of 
being volunteers im this service. Icould not 
resist tle earnest request of Lieutenants Lord 
Viscount Balgonie, the Hon. J. A. Maudes 
and the Hon. W. Waldegrave of the Ville de. 
Paris, to have the command of boats, in 
which they displayed that spirit which 1s ins 
herent in them. 
I transmit also Captain Halloweli’s letter 
relating his proceedings, with lists of the of= 
ficers who commanded beats, and: had appoint- 
ments in this service, and of the vessels burnt 
and captured. 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) CoLLINGweoDe 
P. S. Lhave charged Lieutenant Waldegrave 
of the Ville de Paris, with the delivery of my 
dispatches 3 an officer. of great merit, and who 
commanded one of the boats employed on this 
Service. woe 
His Majesty's ship Tigre, sff Cape. 
St. Sebastian, Nov. 1, 1609. 
My Lor>,—In obedience to your Lord~ 
ship’s order of the 30th ultimo, I proceeded to 
the Bay of Rosas with the ships and sloops, 
(see note, p.625, c. 2,) WHERE, finding it im- 
practicable to attack the enemy’s convoy while 
under weigh, (the wind being ‘S.E. and a 
heavy swell) Lanchored the ships of the squa- 
dron. yesterday evening after dark, about five 
miles off the towneot Rosas, and detached all 
the boats, under the command of Lieutenant 
Tailour, first of the Vigre,. to destroy them : 
the spirited manner in which he led them on 
to the attack, commanded. the admiration of 
every one present ; and the gallant manner in 
which he was supported. refects the highest 
honour on every person employed on this ser- 
vice. 
I have the honour to- inclose-a list of —— 
captured and.dest:oyed on this ogcasion; and 
when: your Lordship i is informed that shies ene- 
RY was uware of our intension to attack him, 
and had taken the precaution of fixing board- 
ig nettings, and placing a launch witha gun 
in itin advance, to give him a notice of eur 
approach, aad that the. vessels were also de- 
fended by the very strong batteries on shore, ¥ 
trust vour Lordship will consider it equal in 
gzilantry and judzment. to any exploit that 
has occurred under Pies: Lordship’s command, 
‘Ourloss has been severe ; and among the l: 3 
of killed I have t to i aglenaie the loss of Lieute- 
WARE 
