made at midnight, and the Leda and Minden were to have appeared off the harbour at break of day, to further the operations; but alas! to the unspeakable mortification of Lieutenant Lyons, his captain received information that a large reinforcement had been thrown into the fort, and therefore judged it proper to defer the attack. The disappointment of a young man, who, not yet 21 years of age, had been appointed to command 400 brave fellows, on such an occasion, may he more easily conceived than described – however, an opportunity occurred soon after of attacking the same place, under circumstances still more desirable for him, as will be seen by the following official letters:–
“H.M.S. Minden, Straits of Sunda, July 31, 1811.
“Sir,– I beg leave to inform you, that, in compliance with Captain Sayer’s directions, I despatched Lieutenant Lyons, of this ship, on the 25th inst. with her launch and cutter, containing 19 prisoners of war, with directions to land them at Batavia, and whilst there and on his return, to gain all the information possible as to the enemy’s movements on this part of Java.
“On approaching Marrack, Lieutenant Lyons’ extreme zeal for the service induced him, with the force he commanded, to attack that fortress, the success of which so very far surpasses all my ideas of possibility, with so small a force, that any comment from me would be superfluous.
“I have directed Lieutenant Lyons to state his reasons for making the attack, and his mode of doing so, which I enclose for your consideration; and have only to add, that his conduct on every former occasion, since he has been under my command, has merited my warmest approbation and esteem. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“E. W. Hoare.”
“To Commodore Broughton, &c &c. &c”
(enclosure.)
“H.M.S. Minden, July 31, 1811.
“Sir, In obedience to your directions, to state my reasons for attacking Fort Marrack, on Tuesday, the 30th inst. with two boats’ crews of H.M.S. Minden, I beg to refer you to the annexed letter, which I regret miscarried, notwithstanding my earnest endeavours to forward it.
“You likewise desire me to describe the mode of attack, which was as follows:–
“Having made every necessary arrangement during the day, I placed the boats at sunset behind a point which sheltered them from the view of the enemy’s sentinels; at half-past twelve, the moon sinking in the horizon, we proceeded to the attack, and were challenged by the sentinels on open-