1813	Snap and Five French Luggers	165

Thunder's larboard quarter, the French captain hailed the supposed merchantman to bring to, and strike.

With her numerous crew all ready, the Neptune then put up her helm, to lay her anticipated prize on board. The Thunder at the same moment put her helm down, and had barely time to fire her four cannonades and a volley of musketry, when the lugger fell on board. A portion of the British crew were on her decks in a trice ; and, after a severe conflict, in which four Frenchmen were killed and 10 wounded, including one mortally and five very severely, the Thunder made a prize of the Neptune, and that with so slight a loss as two men wounded.

On the 1st of November, in the morning, St.-Vallery on the coast of France bearing south-south-east distant five miles, the 16-gun brig-sloop Snap, Captain William Bateman Dashwood, discovered five French armed luggers, three in the north-west close to windward, and two considerably to leeward. The Snap immediately wore and stood for the three weathermost luggers, but Captain Dashwood had very soon the mortification to observe their separation, and then their escape by superior sailing. At 9 a.m. the Snap bore up in pursuit of the two leewardmost vessels, and, after using various deceptions, enticed one alongside. The British brig immediately opened her fire, and, at the end of a 10 minutes' cannonade, captured, without the loss of a man, the French privateer Lion, of Boulogne, mounting 16 guns, with 69 men ; of whom the captain and four men were killed, and six severely wounded.

The British squadron, stationed off the north coast of Spain to assist the patriots, was under the command of Captain Sir George Ralph Collier, of the 38-gun frigate Surveillante In the early part of May the force detached off the port of Castro de Urdeales consisted of the brig-sloops Lyra, Captain Robert Bloye, and Royalist and Sparrow, Captains James John Gordon Bremen and Joseph Needham Tayler. Although every thing was done by the three commanders and their respective officers and crews, in landing guns and bringing them into operation, the French force in the neighbourhood was too powerful to be resisted. By great exertions the garrison, consisting of about 1150 men, was embarked on board the brigs and conveyed to Bermeo. The loss sustained by the little squadron, in the service it had performed, amounted to 10 wounded, including Lieutenant Samuel Kentish and midshipman Charles Thomas Sutton (leg amputated) of the Royalist.

The principal object now was to blockade the port, and prevent the French garrison from getting any supplies. This was so effectually done, that on the 22d of June, after committing upon the inhabitants enormities of the most revolting description, the French evacuated the town and retired to Santona. The Sparrow having just at this moment arrived off the port, Captain Tayler very properly garrisoned the castle ; and such

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