officer’s official letters, to which we alluded in the note at p. 985 of Vol. II. Part II.–
“H.M.S. Porcupine, off Catero, 23 Nov. 1807.
“Sir,– Having, on the evening of the 7th Oct. last, chased a trabacolo into the harbour of Zupaino, I sent Mr. George Price, first lieutenant of this ship, with a cutter and jolly-boat, to endeavour to bring her out. On their rounding a point, which forms the entrance of that port, I observed a gun-boat, under the Italian flag, open a fire of round and grape upon them; I therefore, for the present, recalled the boats; but as soon as it was dark, detached them to attack her: having taken her guard-boat (sent purposely to look out for them) mounting a 4-pounder swivel, and manned with French soldiers, they boarded and carried the vessel, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry: the enemy expected the attack, and had in consequence moored her to the shore, with four cables, and were in every respect quite prepared for it. She proved to be la Safo, mounting one long brass 24-pounder and several large swivels, commanded by Antonio Ghega, enseigne de vaisseau, and had on board about 50 men, most of whom jumped overboard. She belonged to a division of Venetian gunboats, stationed along this coast, and hud been sent three days before, from Ragusa, to protect the island of Zupaino. Great credit is due to Lieutenant Price, for his gallant conduct in this affair; also to Lieutenant Francis Smith, the petty-ofiicers, seamen, and marines, who were employed under him. I am happy to say we had only oue seaman and one marine wounded.
“His Majesty’s ship under my command has also captured, since the 23d Sept. last, about forty vessels belonging to the enemy; their cargoes chiefly consisting of grain and wine, and either bound to, or coming from, the ports of Ragusa and Catero: as this service has been principally performed by Lieutenant Price, with the boats, and almost always under the fire of the enemy’s batteries and musketry, I should not be doing justice to that officer, was I to omit mentioning how much I feel satisfied with his gallant and judicious conduct on these occasions. Owing to a series of bad weather, I have been obliged to destroy la Safo, and most of the other prizes. I am, &c.
(Signed)“Henry Duncan.”
“To Patrick Campbell, Esq., senior officer in the Adriatic.”
Shortly after the capture of la Safo, Lieutenant Price was sent into Ragusa, with a flag of truce, to negociate an exchange of prisoners; but notwithstanding Captain Duncan had invariably liberated the crews of the merchant vessels taken by the Porcupine, the French commander-in-chief persisted in detaining three or four men belonging to that ship, who, while employed in navigating a small prize, were driven thither by stress of weather. Lieutenant Price had scarcely
