1808	Boats of Emerald at Vivero	25

view of attempting her capture or destruction. At 5 h. 30 m. p.m. the first fort on the right, mounting eight 24-pounders, opened upon the ship ; and as soon as the frigate got within range, another fort, situated about a mile further in on the left, and mounting five 24-pounders, also commenced firing. Finding it impossible to place the ship so as to act against both batteries at once, Captain Maitland detached a party of seamen and marines, under first Lieutenant Charles Bertram, assisted by Lieutenants of marines Giles Meech and John Husband, and master's mates Matthew Mildridge and Edward Saurin, to storm the outer fort, while the frigate stood in as near as the depth of water would admit, and opened her fire upon the inner one.

Lieutenant Bertram having, without much difficulty, driven the Spaniards out of the right-hand fort and spiked the guns, Lieutenant William Smith, the third lieutenant, with another party of men, proceeded to do the same to the left-hand fort. On landing about a mile from the fort, Lieutenant Smith was opposed by a party of soldiers, most of whom, with their leader, are represented to have fallen, and the remainder to have retreated. These the British followed ; but, owing to the nature of the ground, the darkness of the night, and a temporary cessation of firing by the battery, missed their way to it and returned. Meanwhile midshipman Daniel Baird had been sent with a party to take possession of the schooner ; which, to avoid being captured, had run herself on shore upon the rocks. This party was joined by that under Lieutenant Bertram, and the united detachment were presently met by the principal part of the schooner's crew. After an exchange of musketry, the pike and bayonet of the British put the French to flight, and occasioned several of them to be left dead on the road.

Lieutenant Bertram now advanced towards the schooner, which was the Apropos of eight 12-pounder carronades and complement of 70 men, from the Isle of France with despatches ; but, as the vessel had gone on shore at high water, no efforts on the part of the British, although persevered in until a party of soldiers opened a galling fire upon them, could get her afloat. Notwithstanding the attack thus made upon them, Lieutenant Bertram and his men managed to set the Apropos on fire ; and at 1 a.m. on the 14th the vessel exploded. This enterprise was attended, unfortunately, with a serious loss to the British. Nine of the Emerald's seamen and marines were killed ; and Lieutenant Bertram (severely), the two lieutenants of marines, one of the master's mates (Mildridge), and 11 seamen and marines were wounded. For the gallantry he had displayed, Lieutenant. Bertram was immediately promoted to the rank of commander.

In the month of March the port of Lorient, in which were three or four ships of the line ready for sea or fitting, and the neighbouring port of Concarneau, in which lay Jérôme Buonaparte's late ship, the Vétéran, were watched by the two 74-gun

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