rendered to the country but small. It evinces, however, an indomitable purpose of effecting everything within the reach of human power, and is, to our eyes, very valuable on account of the mention of his quartermaster. It is usual, in these chronicles of slaughter, to record the deaths of the petty officers and seamen, in the mass only. The exemption to this rule is very honourable to Sir Sidney Smith-even on so slight an occasion as was afforded to him by this letter of service. Honours, rewards, and distinctions. should be scattered more liberally among the foremast men.

Very shortly after, as the accuracy of the English charts of parts of the coasts of Normandy was much doubted, Captain Sir Sidney Smith made very numerous soundings, and minute observations on the nature of the ground over which the tides of this part of the Channel so impetuously rush. By these laudable exertions, the Admiralty charts were brought very nearly into a state of perfection. He also, about this time, by the means of his boats, took possession of the small islands of St. Marcou, situate about four miles distance from the same coast. Though there was nothing apparently very splendid in this conquest, and the surface of territory added to the British dominions not very extensive, yet

it proved a very useful acquisition, as it afforded a point from whence, a little time afterwards, a regular communication was established with the French royalists.

In this year nothing of moment occurred until the latter end of August, when Captain Sidney Smith fell in with and gave chase to the French corvette La Nationale, of two-and-twenty guns, which, in endeavouring to elude the pursuit of the Diamond amid the labyrinth of rocks before Treguier, found the fate that she endeavoured to avoid. In hugging the reefs too closely, she struck on the Roanna. The breeze was fresh, and the eddying and foaming waters toiled among the crags, and flung its waves completely over the rock-fettered vessel. She was a beautiful craft, and for some time seemed to brave, with impunity, the endless assaults of the angry seas. But her doom had gone forth, and, straining and groaning terribly, gave unequivocal signs of approaching dissolution. It was then that repentance came too late upon the unhappy crew, for having preferred the insidious and treacherous asylum of rocks and crags to the generosity of a brave enemy.

In this situation, and whilst she was getting out her boats, the devoted corvette filled and fell over. Had national law and the usages of war

been strictly adhered to, Sidney Smith would have been justified in leaving the enemy to their fate, who had thus, to avoid capture, all but wantonly destroyed their ship: at least, upon the mildest construction, he had sufficient cause not to risk the lives of his own seamen in a hazardous attempt to save those of his enemies. But these considerations weighed but lightly with his chivalrous feeling of humanity. The boats of the Diamond were soon amidst the boiling surf, and alongside of the separating vessel. Her own boats had already taken on board a considerable part of her crew; and those of Captain Smith's frigate were only able to save nine.

The French captain was washed from the wreck, and perished but a few seconds before the British boats were alongside his vessel. More than twenty of the French experienced a similar fate. The swell was tremendous, and in a very short time not a vestige of the wreck was to be seen. The sea was so much agitated that the Diamond, in waiting for her boats, was forced to come to single anchor in the offing.

On the 17th of March, 1796, (the following year,) this enterprising commander having received intelligence that a small squadron of armed vessels, consisting of one corvette, four brigs, two sloops, and three luggers, had taken

shelter in the small fort of Herqui, near Cape Trehel, he immediately, with his own frigate, the Diamond, the Liberty man-of-war brig, and the Aristocrat cutter, repaired to this place. The channel leading to this small port is narrow and intricate, and strongly defended by all the art of fortification. However, this formidable array of defence was seen only to be despised. The ships under the command of Sir Sidney Smith stood boldly in, and commenced cannonading the batteries, whilst Lieutenant Pine of the Diamond, with a party of seamen, and Lieutenant Carter of the same ship, with a party of marines, under the cover of the fire, stormed and most gallantly carried these defences. In this desperate service Lieutenant Pine was seriously, and Lieutenant Carter mortally, wounded. The French vessels were all burned, with the exception of one of the luggers, which kept up its fire to the last. The corvette was a vessel of some force, mounting sixteen guns, and was named L'Etourdie. The loss of the English in this attack was two sea men killed and five wounded, exclusive of the officers of whom we have before spoken-a loss wonderfully small, considering the arduous nature of the service performed, and the strength of the obstacles to be overcome. We subjoin Sir Sidney's despatch on the occasion.

66

"Diamond, off Cape Trehel, March 18, 1796.

Sir,-Having received information that the armed vessels detached by the Prince of Bouillon had chased a convoy, consisting of a corvette, three luggers, four brigs, and two sloops, into Herqui, I proceeded off that port to reconnoitre their position and sound the channel, which I found very narrow and intricate. I succeeded, however, in gaining a knowledge of these points sufficient to determine me to attack them in the Diamond without loss of time, and without waiting for the junction of any part of the squadron, lest the enemy should fortify themselves still farther on our appearance. Lieutenant M‘Kinley of the Liberty brig, and Lieutenant Gosset of the Aristocrat lugger, joined me off the Cape, and, though not under my orders, very handsomely offered their services, which I accepted, as small vessels were essentially necessary in such an operation. The permanent fortifications for the defence of the bay are two batteries on a high rocky promontory. We observed the enemy to be very busily employed in mounting a detached gun on a very commanding point of the entrance. At one o'clock yesterday afternoon this gun opened upon us as we passed; the Diamond's fire, however, silenced it in eleven minutes. The others opened on us as we came round the point,