were chiefly Greeks, that, as France had neglected to take possession of the province within the time limited, Austria was released from the obligation of maintaining it. This reasoning, although it convinced the inhabitants, produced no effect upon the Austrian officer, who had 1500 men under his command. Just, however, as the Austrian commissary arrived, who was to deliver up the province to the French, a band of Montenegrins from the mountains entered the town, and a Russian ship of the line from Corfu anchored in the harbour. Intimidated by this, or, as is thought, bribed by the Russian agent, General Ghisilieri consented to evacuate the place, which was immediately occupied by the natives, and by them transferred to the Russians.

Disappointed in gaining possession of Cattaro, the French seized upon Ragusa, under the pretence of securing it against the incursion of the Montenegrins, who had not even threatened to violate its territory ; but the occupation of the place by the French produced the very evil which they had pretended to avert. At length, after several skirmishes, the barbarians were driven to the mountains, and the French, who had been greatly reinforced, remained, at the close of the year, in quiet possession of Ragusa ; as did the Russians of Cattaro and the adjacent town of Castel-Nuovo.

On the 2d of January, early in the morning, while the British 54-gun ship Malabar, Captain Robert Hall, and 18-gun ship-sloop Wolf, Captain George Charles Mackenzie, were cruising off the south coast of the island of Cuba, two large schooner privateers were descried by the Wolf running into Azeraderos, a small harbour the entrance to which was protected by a double reef of rocks. On arriving off the port, Captain Hall sent the master of the Malabar, Mr. Thomas Fotheringham, to sound for anchorage and, in a little while, the latter found a passage over the reef through which the Wolf might be conducted.

The Wolf, accordingly, under the able pilotage of Mr. Fotheringham, and assisted by the boats of the Malabar, stood into the harbour in six fathoms, and came to an anchor within a quarter of a mile of the two privateers, who had moored themselves in an advantageous position and confidently awaited the attack. The Wolf then opened her fire, and continued it for one hour and three quarters ; when, perceiving that the privateersmen were abandoning their vessels, Captain Mackenzie despatched the boats to take possession.

This was quickly done ; and the vessels were found to be, the R�gulateur, mounting one long 18-pounder on a traversing carriage, and four long 6-pounders, all brass, with a complement of 80 men, and the Napol�on, mounting one long 9-pounder, two

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