1809	Melpomene and Danish Gun-boats	179

vaisseau. Although the schooner fired as the boats approached, was moored with eight cables inside, almost touched the mole lined with musketry, and was within musket-shot of a castle mounting eight guns, and of two armed feluccas, from under the fire of which the Pugliése was towed without rudder or sails, so judiciously and promptly was the attack made by Lieutenant Pell, that not a man of his party was hurt.

On the 11th of May the British 38-gun frigate Melpomène, Captain Peter Parker, chased a Danish man-of-war cutter, of six guns, on shore at Huilbo, a harbour in Jutland. The Melpomène immediately anchored in 19 fathoms, and despatched her boats, under the orders of Lieutenants James Hanway Plumridge and George Rennie, to destroy the cutter. The boats, covered by the fire of the Melpomène, completely effected their object under a galling fire from the enemy, but not without loss, Lieutenant Rennie, two seamen, and three marines having been severely wounded.

On the 15th of May the British 18-pounder 32-gun. frigate Tartar, Captain Joseph Baker, chased on shore near Felixberg, on the coast of Courland, a Danish sloop-privateer of four guns ; the crew of which, 24 in number, landed with their muskets, and, being joined by some of the country people, posted themselves behind the sand-hills near the beach. Captain Baker immediately sent the Tartar's boats, under the orders of Lieutenants Thomas Sykes and Frederick Augustus Hargood Parker, to board the vessel and bring off or destroy her. The British boarded the privateer without loss, and, by turning her guns upon the beach, soon dislodged the party posted there. But the Danes, before they abandoned their vessel, had most dishonourably placed a lighted candle in a 12-pounder cartridge in the magazine, where lay several hundred weight of powder. Fortunately one of the Tartar's men discovered the light, and, with wonderful presence of mind, grasped the candle in his hand just as it had burnt within half an inch of the powder. Another minute, and all on board and alongside of the vessel would have been blown to destruction. .

On the 23d of May, at 10 h. 30 m. p.m., it being very dark, the British 38-gun frigate Melpomène, now commanded by Captain Frederick Warren, lying at single anchor in the Great Belt off Omoe island, nearly becalmed, discovered several large boats, standing towards her. The frigate immediately cleared for action, and at 11 p,m. commenced an engagement with about 20 sail of Danish gun-boats. Finding it impossible to bring her guns to bear with any effect while at anchor, and a light air of wind just then springing up, the Melpomène cut her cable, and made sail to close her opponents. In this way the action continued until 1 h. 15 m. a.m. on the 30^th ; when the gun-boats began to slacken their fire, and presently pulled away from the frigate with all their strength. The wind still continuing light,

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