such strenuous exertions were made by her officers and crew, assisted by those of two or three store-ships, that twenty-three sail of English merchantmen and fourteen Tuscan vessels were loaded with valuable effects, and removed out of the mole; every person who wished to quit the city was safely embarked, and a large supply of bullocks for the fleet brought off, in less than 48 hours from the commencement of their arduous undertaking. Scarcely was this important service accomplished, when General Buonaparte entered Leghorn, manned the batteries, and opened a heavy fire on the Inconstant; but fortunately she escaped without sustaining any loss or damage, as did also the only merchant vessel that was then remaining with her in the roads. The property thus rescued from the enemy’s grasp, was safely escorted to St. Fiorenzo bay, by a small squadron under the orders of Captain Lord Garlies, now Earl of Galloway.
A few days after the flight of our merchants from Leghorn, Lieutenant Boger assisted in taking possession of Porto Ferrajo, which measure was adopted in consequence of Buonaparte’s unjustifiable occupation of Tuscany, and the probability that our forces would soon find it necessary to withdraw from that General’s native island[1].
We subsequently find Lieutenant Boger commanding a detachment of men landed to assist at the siege of Castiglione; the manner in which he conducted himself whilst employed on that service will be seen by the following extract from Captain Freemantle’s official letter to Admiral Sir John Jervis:
- ↑ See Vol. I, p. 264.
- ↑ Now a full General, and Governor of Tynmouth.
