break opened a fire upon the ships in the bay from three large mortars, which obliged us to retire out of their reach: the bomb-vessels, from having a longer range of shells than the enemy, were enabled to throw them with effect.
“Fort Trinity, from its insulated situation and strength, I am of opinion, may stand a long siege; but I am not so sanguine with respect to the citadel, the garrison of which is very inadequate to its defence. * * * *
“I beg leave to express how highly satisfied I have been with the conduct of the officers and company of this ship, as likewise those of the Meteor and Lucifer bombs, commanded by Captains Collins and Hall, whose great exertions, during the arduous and most fatiguing service they have imperiously been called upon to perform, reflect the greatest credit upon them.
“I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“John West.”
During these operations, the Excellent had 19 men wounded, one of whom died before she left the bay. The subsequent capitulation of the citadel of Rosas, and the evacuation of Fort Trinity, will be noticed in our memoir of Captain Frederick Marryatt, C.B.
On the 29th July, 1809, Captain West reported to the senior officer in the Adriatic, the capture of 6 heavy gunboats belonging to the Italian marine, and 10 trabacolas laden with brandy, flour, rice, and wheat; lying under the guns of a castle, and protected by a pier lined with musketry. We shall here give an extract of his public letter:–
“An enemy’s convoy was observed yesterday morning standing along the northern shore towards Trieste; and being of opinion, that by anchoring the Excellent as near that shore as her safety would admit, might enable me to cut off the enemy from his destined port, I immediately weighed and took up a position accordingly. This movement had the desired effect, obliging the enemy to take shelter in Douin, a port 4 leagues to the N.W. of Trieste, in the afternoon, a coaster was brought on board by the Excellent’s boat, which informed me the enemy’s convoy was composed of 6 gun-boats, and several vessels laden with grain.
“Conceiving it very practicable to capture or destroy them in their present situation, at 10 p.m. I detached H.M. sloops Acorn and Bustard, with all the boats of the Excellent, under the direction of Mr. John Harper, the first lieutenant, to perform this service. At midnight, a very heavy cannonade was seen in that direction, which in a short hour ceased, when I had the satisfaction of seeing a rocket go up, which announced to me a favorable issue to the enterprise. At noon this day, H.M. sloops and boats returned, having with them the whole of the enemy’s convoy. Enclosed I have the honor to transmit you a letter from Captain Clephane, of H.M. sloop Acorn, the senior officer in the command of this expedition.
