anchor near the Boyart shoal, in readiness for the attack. At twenty minutes past two P.M. Lord Cochrane advanced in the Imperieuse, with his accustomed gallantry and spirit, and opened a well-directed fire upon the Calcutta, which struck her colours to the Imperieuse; the ships and vessels above-mentioned soon after joined in the attack upon the Ville de Varsovie and Aquilon, and obliged them, before five o’clock, after sustaining a heavy cannonade, to strike their colours, when they were taken possession of by the boats of the advanced squadron. As soon as the prisoners were removed, they were set on fire, as was also the Tonnerre a short time after by the enemy.
“I afterwards detached Rear-Admiral the Hon. Robert Stopford in the Caesar, with the Theseus, three additional fire-ships (which were hastily prepared in the course of the day), and all the boats of the fleet, with Mr. Congreve’s rockets, to conduct the further operations of the night against any of the ships which lay exposed to an attack. On the morning of the 13th, the Rear-Admiral reported to me, that as the Caesar and other line-of-battle ships had grounded, and were in a dangerous situation, he thought it advisable to ordor them all out, particularly as the remaining part of the service could be performed by frigates and small vessels only; and I was happy to find that they were extricated from their perilous situation. Captain Bligh has since informed me, that it was found impracticable to destroy the three-decked ship, and the others which were lying near the entrance of the Charente, as the former, being the outer one, was protected by three lines of boats placed in advance from her. This ship, and all the others, except four of the line and a frigate, have now moved up the river Charente. If any further attempt to destroy them is practicable, I shall not fail to use every means in my power to accomplish it.
“I have great satisfaction in stating to their Lordships, how much I feel obliged to the zealous co-operation of Rear-Admiral Stopford, under whose arrangement the boats of the fleet were placed; and I must also express to their Lordships, the high sense I have of the assistance I received from the abilities and unremitted attention of Sir Harry Neale, Bart, the Captain of the fleet, as well as of the animated exertions of the Captains, officers, seamen, and marines under my command, and their forwardness to volunteer upon any service that might be allotted to them, particularly the zeal and activity shewn by the Captains of line-of-battle ships in preparing the fire-vessels. I cannot speak in sufficient terras of admiration and applause of the vigorous and gallant attack made by Lord Cochrane upon the French line-of-battle ships which were on shore, as well as of his judicious manner of approaching them, and placing his ship in the position most advantageous to annoy the enemy, and preserve his own ship, which could not be exceeded by any feat of valour hitherto achieved by the British navy.
“It is due to Rear-Admiral Stopford and Sir Harry Neale, that I should here take the opportunity of acquainting their Lordships of the handsome and earnest manner in which both these meritorious officers had volunteered their services, before the arrival of Lord Cochrane, to undertake an