1812	Dictator and consorts with Nayaden and consorts	53

Ville-de-Caen amounted to her captain and 14 men found dead on her deck, and 16 wounded, most of them severely. The gallantry of this little action obtained for the Sealark's commander that reward, the prospect of which is a never-failing stimulant to deeds of valour, promotion. The case of Captain Palmer of the Alacrity may seem to militate against this principle ; but, if we are rightly informed, and we see no reason to doubt our authority, he had his post-captain's appointment in his pocket when he began the action with the Abeille.

On the 6th of July, in the evening, as the British 64-gun ship Dictator, Captain James Patteson Stewart, accompanied by the brig-sloops Calypso, 18, Captain Henry Weir, and Podargus, 14, Captain William Robilliard, and gun-brig Flamer, Lieutenant Thomas England, was off Mardoe on the Norway coast, the mast-heads of several vessels were seen over the rocks, known to be a Danish squadron, consisting of the new 40-gun frigate Nayaden, carrying 24-pounders on the main deck, and 48 guns in all, and the 18-gun brigs Laaland, Samsoe, and Kiel. Having a man on board the Podargus acquainted with the place, Captain Robilliard volunteered to lead in after the enemy ; but the Podargus unfortunately took the ground, just as she had entered the passage. Leaving the Flamer to attend her, Captain Stewart stood on with the 64 and the remaining brig. By 7 h. 30 m. p.m. the two vessels, the Calypso leading, had arrived within a mile of the Danish frigate and her consorts, then running, under a press of sail, inside the rocks. Shortly afterwards the engagement began between the Danish squadron and several gun-boats on one side, and the Dictator and Calypso, which latter, having grounded for a short time, was now astern of her consort, on the other. At 9 h. 30 m. P. M� after having run 12 miles through a passage, in some places scarcely wide enough to admit the Dictator's studding sail booms to be out, Captain Stewart had the satisfaction to run his ship with her bow upon the shore, and her broadside bearing, within hailing distance, upon the Danish frigate and three brigs, all of whom had anchored close together, with springs on their cables, in the small creek of Lyngoe.

The Calypso closely followed the Dictator; and such was the well-directed fire opened from the two British vessels, especially from the 64, that the Nayaden, according to the British official account, was " literally battered to atoms," the three brigs compelled to haul down their colours, and such of the gun-boats, as were not sunk, to seek their safety in flight. Scarcely had the action ended, and the Dictator got afloat, than the gun-boats rallied ; but the latter were so warmly attacked by the Calypso, that they soon ceased their annoyance. Meanwhile the Podargus and Flamer, which latter had also grounded, were warmly

* See vol. v., p. 367.

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