1813	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	172

morning of the 15th. As the port of Karlebago offered excellent shelter for enemy's vessels, Captain Hoste resolved to destroy the works that defended it. The governor refusing to accede to the terms offered, the Bacchante anchored within pistol-shot of the battery, which mounted eight guns; and, after a good deal of firing, a truce was hung out, and the place surrendered at discretion. The marines, and a detachment of seamen under Lieutenant Hood, landed and took possession. The guns of the place were embarked, the public works destroyed, and the castle blown up ; and the Bacchante retired with the loss of four seamen severely wounded, two of them with their arms shot off.

On the 12th of June, at daylight, the Bacchante discovered an enemy's convoy under the town of Gela-Nova, on the coast of Abruzza. As the frigate was six or seven miles to leeward of them, with a light breeze and a strong current against her, Captain Hoste detached the boats under Lieutenant Hood, with discretionary orders, either to attack the convoy or to wait till the Bacchante arrived. Lieutenant Hood took with him Lieutenant Frank Gostling, acting Lieutenant Edward Webb, Lieutenants of marines Charles Holmes and William Haig, master's mate William Lee Rees, and midshipmen James Rowe, Thomas Edward Hoste, Francis George Farewell, the Honourable William Waldegrave, Thomas William Langton, James M'Kean, and Samuel Richardson.

Lieutenant Hood found the enemy much stronger than had been expected, consisting of seven large gun-boats, mounting each one long 18-pounder in the bow, three smaller gun-vessels, with a 4-pounder in the bow, and 14 sail of merchant vessels, four of which also had guns in the bow : and the shore astern of the vessels was lined with troops intrenched on the beach, having with them two field-pieces. This, " says Captain Hoste," was the force opposed to a frigate's boats ; but no disparity of numbers could check the spirit of the brave officers and men employed on this service. The attack was determined on instantly, and executed with all the gallantry and spirit which men accustomed to danger and to despise it have so frequently shown ; and never was there a finer display of it than on this occasion." The boats, as they advanced, were exposed to a heavy fire of grape and musketry ; and it was not until they were fairly alongside the gun-boats, that the crews of the latter slackened their fire : they were then driven from their vessels with great loss. The troops on the beach, stated by the prisoners to amount to 100 men, fled on the first fire, and their two field :pieces were destroyed by the British marines. In performing this very brilliant exploit, the boats of the Bacchante sustained a loss of two seamen and one marine killed, and five seamen and one marine wounded.

On the 22d of April, at daybreak, the brig-sloop Weasel,

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