the men, likewise deserve great praise. I annex for your information a list of the killed and wounded[1].”
“Passing Benidorme, on the coast of Valencia, Sept. 8th, I saw a Spanish polacre ship, and three privateers, of 10, 6, and 4 guns, at anchor before the town. Having pushed in within a hundred yards of the castle, on which are mounted four 18-pounders, commanding the anchorage, I succeeded in carrying the ship, which the crew (assisted by the people of the town) were endeavouring to haul on shore, and had put my helm up to lay the privateers on board, when I found, as the smoke cleared away, they had cut their cables, and were making sail. On looking round, to my great mortification, I saw so much of my standing and running rigging cut that my masts were in danger: the stem was likewise shot through, close inside the bobstays, and the fore-mast and main-top-gallant-mast were wounded; but I pursued them with all the sail I could carry to Jovosa, four miles west of Benidorme, where they ran on shore, apparently in a sinking state[2]: one of them had struck her colours, but rehoisted them on seeing our crippled state.
“Not being able to mann all my guns, 11 of my best men lying wounded, 1 killed, and 14 absent in prizes and at the hospital, I could only fire alternately at the castle and vessels, otherwise I have no doubt the whole of them would have fallen into our hands.
“I have much pleasure in acquainting you, that in this affair I lost but one man; and that Lieutenants Ferguson and Webster, Mr. Davis, and Mr. Horniman, the latter of whom has always volunteered his services on deck, and every other officer, together with the men, deserve my highest praise. I annex in the margin the name of the captured ship[3], and have the honor to be, &c.
About this period, Captain Ussher received a very kind letter from his new commander-in-chief, the contents of which we cannot refrain from laying before our readers:
