and their commanding situation giving them a decided advantage over a ship in our position, I judged it necessary to adopt another mode of attack, and accordingly detached the marines and boarders to land behind the point, and take the batteries in the rear. As the boats approached the beach, they met with a warm reception, and a temporary check, from a body of troops drawn up to oppose their landing; the situation was critical. The ship being exposed to a most galling fire, and in intricate pilotage, with a considerable portion of her men thus detached, I pointed out to Lieutenant Pine the apparent practicability of climbing the precipice in front of the batteries, which he readily perceived, and with an alacrity and bravery of which I have had many proofs in the course of our service together, he undertook and executed this hazardous service, landed immediately under the guns, and rendered himself master of them before the column of troops could regain the heights. The fire from the ship was directed to cover our men in this operation; it checked the enemy in their advancement, and the re-embarkation was effected, as soon as the guns were spiked, without the loss of a man, though we have to regret Lieutenant Carter, of the marines, being dangerously wounded on this occasion. The enemy's guns, three twenty-four

pounders, being silenced and rendered useless for the time, we proceeded to attack the corvette and the other armed vessels, which had, by this time, opened their fire on us to cover the operation of hauling themselves on shore. The Diamond had anchored as close to the corvette as her draught of water would allow. The Liberty brig was able to approach near, and on this occasion I cannot omit to mention the very gallant and judicious manner in which Lieutenant McKinley, her commander, brought this vessel into action, profiting by her light draught of water to follow the corvette close. The enemy's fire soon slackened, and the crew being observed to be making for the shore on the English colours being hoisted on the hill, I made the signal for the boats, manned and armed, to board, directing Lieutenant Gosset in the lugger to cover them. This service was executed by the party from the shore, under the direction of Lieutenant Pine, in a manner that does them infinite credit, and him every honour as a brave man and an able officer. The enemy's troops occupied the high projecting rocks all round the vessels, whence they kept up an incessant fire of musketry, and the utmost that could be effected at the moment was to set fire to the corvette (named L'Etourdie, of sixteen guns, twelve-pounders, on

the main-deck), and one of the merchant brigs, since, as the tide fell, the enemy pressed down on the sands close to the vessels; Lieutenant Pine therefore returned on board, having received a severe contusion on the breast from a musketball. As the tide rose again, it became practicable to make a second attempt to burn the remaining vessels; Lieutenant Pearson was accordingly detached for that purpose with the boats, and I am happy to add, his gallant exertions succeeded to the utmost of my hopes, notwithstanding the renewed and heavy fire of musketry from the shore. This fire was returned with great spirit and evident good effect; and I was much pleased with the conduct of Lieutenant Gosset in the hired lugger, and Mr. Knight in the Diamond's launch, who covered the approach and retreat of the boats. The vessels were all burnt, except an armed lugger which kept up her fire to the last. The wind and tide suiting at ten at night to come out of the harbour again, we weighed and repassed the Point of Herqui, from which we received a few shot, the enemy having found means to restore one of the guns to activity. Our loss, as appears by the enclosed return, is trifling, considering the nature of the enterprise, and the length of time we were exposed to the enemy's fire. Theirs, I am per

suaded, must have been very great, from the numbers within the range of the shot and shells. The conduct of every officer and man under my command meets with my warmest approbation. It would be superfluous to particularise any others than those I have named: suffice it to say, the characteristic bravery and activity of British seamen never were more conspicuous. Lieutenant Pine will have the honour to present their Lordships with the colours which he struck on the battery, and I beg leave to recommend him particularly to their Lordships, as a most meritorious officer.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"W. SIDNEY SMITH. “Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty.”

A return of the killed and wounded belonging to his Majesty's Ship Diamond, in the three Attacks of the Enemy's Batteries and Shipping in Herqui, the 7th of March, 1796.

"Killed-two seamen. Wounded-First Lieutenant Horace Pine, Lieutenant Carter of the Marines, and five seamen.

"W. S. SMITH.”

This feat is one of those acts of daring, almost peculiar to the British navy, that success only

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seems to justify. The actual gain to the English cause, and the positive detriment to the enemy, seem almost trifling when compared with the risk. As glory is generally great as to the magnitude of the act, and a defeat in this case would have been inglorious in the extreme, we must examine more deeply into the question before we can properly appreciate small but heroical acts like the above. It is in their moral effect on the enemy on the one hand, and on our national character on the other, that we must look for their excellence. If a nation supposes that its foe will dare everything, that foe will prove little short of what it has the credit for. As far as regards the nation in whose favour is the presentiment, that nation will be in general victorious, although the force opposed to it be reckoned superior; and should this over-confidence produce a rashness of action that entails defeat, the victory will be so dearly sold, that victors will be cautious not again to reap such another victory.

This line of argument more forcibly applies to the naval than to the military service. The latter depends more upon combination, strategy, and previous arrangement, and the calculation of chances enters much less into the plan of operations. But, in a naval engagement, how much depends upon accident! A flaw of wind,