squadron, on the 23d Feb., 1809, chaced three of the enemy’s frigates into the Sable d’Olonne, where they were immediately attacked. Captain Hotham anchored the Defiance within half a mile of them; in which situation, so judiciously chosen, the fire of that ship, and of the Caesar and Donegal, whose great draught of water prevented them approaching quite so near, obliged two of the frigates to cut their cables and run on shore. The ebb-tide making, and the water falling fast, compelled the Defiance to get under sail, and the other ships to stand out; leaving all the frigates on shore, two of them heeling much. The number and strength of the French batteries under which they lay, and the apparent impossibility of their ever again being able to put to sea, weighed with the Rear-Admiral not to renew the attack. In the performance of this service, the Defiance was much cut up in her masts, had 2 men killed, and 25 wounded; the Donegal had 1 killed and 6 wounded; and the Caesar was much disabled in her bowsprit and rigging.
In the following summer, Captain Hotham was employed on the coast of Spain, co-operating with the patriots of that country. After the evacuation of Ferrol and Corunna, by the French Marshal Ney, June 21st and 22d, the proximity of the enemy’s position continuing to hold the authorities established by the French at Corunna in subjection through the fear of his return, no communication being suffered with the British ships but by flag of truce, and the state of defence in which the batteries and lines on the sea side were left, rendering it dangerous for the English to land or approach the coast in the event of the re-appearance of the enemy; Captain Hotham on the 24th ordered a detachment of seamen and marines to land and disable the guns on the different batteries bearing on the anchorage, offering at the same time to the Governor the services of the party in rendering any assistance that might be in its power to the patriotic cause. The cannon and mortars on the sea lines at Corunna, and in the forts commanding the bay, were accordingly all dismounted on the same day, leaving untouched those on the lines towards the land, which had been spiked by the enemy.
On the 26th, our officer sent Captain Parker, of the Amazon, to Ferrol, where he was received by the people with the
