and to give similar orders to the Epervier, on her coming up. We then made sail towards the brig and the other schooner, which were lying well to windward, close to the beach, under cover of four batteries, and an immense number of troops and field-pieces, which they had brought down to protect her. Having placed the barge and two cutters under the command of Lieutenant Crooke, Mr. Collman (purser), Mr. Smith (master), and Mr. Thomas (carpenter), who handsomely volunteered with 68 men to bring the brig out, I then made sail with the Stork and Express towards her, and directed the boats to lie off until the brig’s fire slackened. It getting late, the vessels lying close in with the rocks, and having no pilot on board, I stood in, and was handsomely seconded by Captain Le Geyt, of the Stork. The ships did not commence action until our men were wounded from the beach with musketry. We then bore up under a heavy fire of great guns and small arms. Having passed the batteries and the brig, the Circe’s boats, not waiting for the Stork’s to come up, boarded in the most gallant manner; and it is with extreme concern I have to add, that their gallantry did not meet with its due reward: they were beat back with dreadful slaughter; one boat taken and one sunk, the other entirely disabled. Our loss in the boats killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to 56,” (9 of whom were slain, and 21 wounded). “By this time it was dark. I stood off until day-light, determining to persevere and destroy the brig if possible. In the evening I was joined by the Amaranthe, who watched the brig during the night.
“At 8 A.M. we perceived she had weighed: Captain Brenton, in the most handsome manner, volunteering to bring her out (she was then towing and sweeping close in shore towards St. Pierre’s), the boats of the Circe and Stork, and men from the Express, were sent to tow the Amaranthe up, who was at this time sweeping and using every exertion to close with the enemy. At 10, the French brig grounded near several batteries, to the northward of St. Pierre’s; the Amaranthe tacked, and worked in under a heavy fire from the batteries and brig (from which she suffered considerably, having 1 killed and 5 wounded), followed by the Circe; the rest of the squadron engaging the batteries to leeward. The Amaranthe’s well-directed fire soon obliged them to quit the brig. Lieutenant Hay, of that sloop, on this service distinguished himself very much, and speaks of the gallantry of Messrs. Brooke and Rigmaiden, of the same vessel, in very handsome terms, who, with the boats of the Circe, Amaranthe, and Stork, boarded her under a heavy fire from the batteries and troops on shore. Lieutenant Hay, finding her bilged, and that it was impossible to get her off, effectually destroyed her in the evening. Captain Brenton again volunteered to destroy the schooner then on shore: I ordered Lieutenant George Robinson, second of the Amaranthe, but acting first of the Circe, on this occasion to follow the directions of Captain Brenton. At nine o’clock I had the pleasure to see her on fire, and burnt to the water’s edge. I am sorry to add, that, on this service, Mr. Jones, master of the Ama-