1809	Boats of Thetis &c.	185

Robertson and Edward Flinn, first of each sloop, assisted by midshipmen John S. Brisbane and Hugh Hunter, and William Fergusson boatswain, of the Hazard, and Eleazer Scott, midshipman of the Pelorus, to capture or destroy the privateer ; and the ship and brig stood in to cover them.

Although opposed, as they approached the shore, by a heavy fire of grape from the battery until it was silenced by the ships, and of grape and musketry from the privateer until they were nearly alongside, the boats pushed on, and gallantly boarded the vessel ; the officers and crew of which, a minute or two before, had abandoned her and joined the long line of musketry on the beach. As the privateer, which mounted one long 18-pounder on a traversing carriage and two swivels, was moored to the shore with a chain from the mast-head and from each quarter, Lieutenant Robinson found it impracticable to get the vessel off. He and his party then proceeded to burn her; and, although opposed within 10 yards by musketry on the beach and two field-pieces, the British succeeded in blowing up the French privateer. This very gallant enterprise was not performed without a serious loss ; six seamen and marines having been killed, and Lieutenant Flinn and Mr. Fergusson the Hazard's boatswain, much burnt at the explosion of the vessel, and seven seamen and marines wounded severely and slightly by the enemy's grape and musketry.

On the 12th of December, whilst the British 38-gun frigate Thetis, Captain George Miller, in company with the 16-gun brig-sloop, Pultusk, Captain William Elliott, 10-gun brig-sloop Achates, Captain Thomas Pinto, gun-brig Attentive, Lieutenant Robert Carr, and armed schooner Bacchus, Lieutenant Charles Deyman Jermy, was cruising off the north-west part of Guadaloupe, the French 16-gun brig-corvette Nisus, Capitaine de frégate Jacques-Gabriel La Netrel, was observed lying at an anchor in the harbour of Hayes, under the protection of a fort. Captain Miller resolved to attempt cutting out this vessel, and for that purpose sent the boats of the Thetis, two sloops, and Bacchus, with the whole of their marines and a detachment of their seamen, under the order of Captain Elliott, assisted by Lieutenant Nathaniel Belchier, and by lieutenants of marines John Godfrey Ruell and Jervis Cooke.

The British landed in the evening without opposition, and proceeded, with considerable difficulty, through a thick wood and over a high hill, without any path or guide, till they reached the rear of the fort; which Captain Elliott and his party attacked and carried in the most gallant manner, forcing the garrison, represented to have amounted to 300 men, to retreat. Leaving Lieutenant Belchier to dismantle and destroy the battery, a service he effectually performed, Captain Elliott, supported by the squadron, but particularly by the Attentive, who entered a narrow harbour and maintained for upwards of six

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