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of which, in July, 1795, sir Sidney Smith, with the 1798. Diamond frigate, had taken unobstructed possession, and which were considered to give to the English great facility in intercepting the communication between the ports of Hâvre and Cherbourg. The islands of St.-Marcouf are two in number, lying close together; one named east and the other west, and each not more than 200 yards in length by about 120 in breadth, exclusive of two large banks, which, at low-water, are seen stretching to a considerable extent from the shore. The islands are situated off the river Isigny on the coast of Normandy, and about four miles distant from the french shore. After being garrisoned with about 500 seamen and marines, including a great proportion of invalids, these small islands were placed under the command of lieutenant Charles Papps Price, of the Badger, a cruiser-converted dutch hoy, mounting four, or at most six guns.* To be prepared for an attempt at recapture, several pieces of cannon were also mounted, both on the principal or western, and on the eastern island; and, as an additional security, some small vessels of war were appointed to cruise near the spot.

Thirty-three flat-bottomed boats upon Chapman's construction having been launched at Hâvre, a body of troops, under general Point, was embarked on board of them, and captain Muskein was ordered, with them and a few gun-brigs, to make a combined attack upon the isles of Saint-Marcouf. On the night of the 7th this little expedition set sail from Havre; but, the next afternoon, when near the entrance of Caen river, captain Muskein found his progress obstructed by two british frigates, the Diamond, captain sir Richard John Strachan, and the Hydra, captain sir Francis Laforey. At 4 P. M. the gun-brigs and flats anchored in a line close to the shore; and at 5 h. 30 m. the Diamond and Hydra, having worked

* See note w*, to Annual Abstract, No. 3.

1798.

up to them, opened their broadsides, receiving in return a pretty smart fire from the heavy long guns of the flotilla. Before the Diamond had discharged above two or three broadsides, she grounded in wearing, and lay fast: still, however, the frigate kept up a fire from such of her guns as would bear. At 8 h. 30 m. the flotilla ceased firing, not being able, owing to the darkness, to see the position of their opponents. The latter did the same; and the Hydra, to assist in getting her consort afloat, anchored close to her. Soon after midnight, by the united exertions of the two ships, the Diamond again got afloat, without any material damage, either from grounding or from several shells, which the enemy on shore, to interrupt their operations, had continued to throw at both frigates, but which, fortunately for the latter, fell short. The Diamond, however, had previously received some slight injury in her sails and rigging from the fire of the gun-boats. At 6 A. M. on the 9th the flotilla weighed, and, standing alongshore to the westward, reanchored, at 9 A. M., under the town of Bernie. While the Diamond and Hydra were standing off and on to watch the motions of the enemy, the 50-gun ship Adamant, captain William Hotham, hove in sight in the offing. On observing this, captain Muskein again got under way, and ran back to the eastward, pursued by the two frigates; who exchanged several broadsides with the flotilla, as well as with some batteries on shore. At 3 P. M., the french vessels having stood into Caen river, the Diamond and Hydra ceased firing and hauled off from the shore.

While captain Muskein lay at anchor in the small port of Sallenelle, repairing the damages done to his vessels, seven heavy gun-brigs, and about 40 flat-boats and armed fishing-vessels, joined him from Cherbourg, the head-quarters of rear-admiral La Crosse. These vessels also brought an additional body of troops. After a three weeks' blockade in Caen river, captain Muskein found an opportunity to

put to sea with his now doubly-formidable flotilla, 1798. and was, this time, so fortunate as to reach unobserved the road of La Hougue, situated about half way between Cape Barfleur and the isles that were to be attacked. Here it was necessary to await the concurrence of two circumstances; a stark calm, in order to prevent the british cruisers from approaching the scene of action, and neap-tides, when the currents, being at their minimum of violence, would offer less opposition to the progress of the flotilla.

Owing to the absence of these indispensable contingencies, matters remained quiet at the isles of Saint-Marcouf until the 6th of May, when lieutenant May. Price received information that an attack was meditated in the course of that night. A boat was instantly despatched to reconnoitre the enemy, and every preparation made to receive him. By 10 P. M., owing to the prevailing calm, the small naval force on the station, consisting of the 50-gun ship Adamant, captain William Hotham, 24-gun ship Eurydice, captain John Talbot, and 18-gun brig-sloop Orestes, captain William Haggitt, had not been able to approach nearer to the islands than six miles: consequently, the defence of the post was likely to rest upon the sole exertions of the garrison; precisely what the assailants wanted, in order to ensure success to their plan of attack.

At midnight the reconnoitring boat signalled the approach of the enemy, and the garrison, at the same time, heard the french officers giving orders to the men; but the darkness was so great that none of the boats were visible. The attacking force consisted of 52 gun-brigs and flat-bottomed boats, having on board, as was reported, about 6000 men, (a number, we think, somewhat overrated,) composed chiefly of a detachment from the Boulogne marine-battalion. At daybreak on the 7th the flotilla was seen drawn up in line opposite to the south-west front of the western redoubt; and instantly was opened, upon the brigs and flats composing it, a fire from 17 pieces

1798. of cannon, consisting of four 4, two 6, and six 24 May. pounder long guns, and three 24, and two 32 pounder carronades, being all the guns that would bear. The brigs remained at a distance of from 300 to 400 yards, in order to batter the redoubt with their heavy long guns; while the boats, with great resolution, rowed up until within musket-shot of the battery. But the guns of the latter, loaded with round, grape, and canister, soon poured destruction amongst these, cutting several of the boats "into chips," and compelling all that could keep afloat to seek their safety in flight. Six or seven boats were seen to go down, and one small flat, No. 13, was afterwards towed in, bottom upwards. She appeared, by some pieces of paper found in her, to have had 144 persons on board, including 129 of the second company of the Boulogne battalion.

The loss sustained by the british garrison in this highly creditable affair amounted to one privatemarine killed, and two private-marines and two seamen wounded; a loss much less in amount than was to be expected from upwards of 80 bow-guns, many of which were long 36, and none of them, it is believed, below long 18 pounders. Lieutenant Richard Bourne, of the Sandfly gun-vessel, who commanded the fort on the eastern island, was unable, at the commencement of the attack, to effect much; but when, towards the close of it, several of the french boats got within shell-range, two 68-pounder carronades, which were part of his guns, must, from their heavy and destructive discharges, have been of great service in repelling the assailants. Fortunately, no one of lieutenant Bourne's party was hurt. According to one french account, the invaders lost about 900 in killed or drowned, and between 300 and 400 wounded. According to another, their loss was very trifling. The three british ships got up just as the remnant of the flotilla was retreating; but, owing to the calm state of the weather, were unable to intercept any of the boats in their way back to La Hougue. As a

reward for their conduct on this occasion, lieutenants 1798. Price and Bourne were each promoted to the rank May.

of commander.

Shortly after this unsuccessful début of the famous flotilla, rear-admiral Bruix, succeeding M. Pléville as minister of marine, directed rear-admiral La Crosse to take the command, and to make a second attack upon the islands which had been the scene of their defeat. The french government, however, having good reason, from experience, to doubt the success of the measure, renounced the attempt; and rear-admiral La Crosse, selecting an opportunity, conveyed back the principal part of his flotilla to Cherbourg, between which port, Granville, and Saint-Malo, the vessels were divided; while captain Muskein, with his division, was ordered to Havre.

Intelligence having reached the british government, that a great number of transport-schuyts were fitting at Flushing, or Flessingue, preparatory to their being convoyed by the Bruges canal to Dunkerque and Ostende, in order to be employed in the long-threatened invasion of England, a squadron, consisting of one 44-gun ship flûte, (mounting 26 guns,) two 28-gun frigates, two 20-gun ships, three frigate-flûtes, (mounting about 14 guns each,) and 17 sloops, bombs, and gun-vessels, under the orders of captain Home Riggs Popham, in the Expedition flûte-44, assembled at Margate, and there received on board a body of troops, commanded by major-general Eyre Coote.

On the 14th of May the squadron set sail for the opposite coast, but, owing to an unfavourable change in the weather, did not, until the 19th, at 1 A. M., reach their intended anchorage in front of the town of Ostende. Soon afterwards the wind, shifting to west and blowing hard, raised a heavy surf on the shore. Still, as information had just been received, by a captured vessel, that the force in Ostende, Nieuport, and Bruges, was very small, it was resolved to land the troops immediately, and trust to the weather's moderating for their safe reembarkation.

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