mated in every danger and every fatigue by the continual presence of General Oswald, rose in proportion as the obstacles presented themselves. Captains Brisbane and Griffiths, with the masters of their ships, took great pains to sound about the citadel; but it was found impracticable to carry the ships nearer than a mile. On the 5th, the Kingsfisher joined us from Malta; and information having been received that the enemy had made great preparations at Corfu and Parga, to throw supplies into St. Maura, I directed Captain Tritton to keep under way at a short distance in the offing, and Captain Stephens to anchor in the Imogene, just out of gun-shot of the enemy’s works. The vigilant attention paid by these officers to that important piece of duty, is highly creditable to them; and, I believe, not a boat made its way. The citadel kept up a spirited fire till the night of the 15th, when a detachment of troops, under the command of Colonel Moore, drove the enemy from an advanced entrenchment, and lodged itself in their place. A very heavy fire of grape and musketry continued for many hours; but the enemy finding that the British troops were immoveable, and that his own men were picked off in the embrasures, he sent a flag of truce to propose terms of capitulation. Captain Moubray and Colonel Lowe were authorized by the General and myself to treat with the Governor. In a short time terms were agreed upon, and that night the gates put into our possession.
“It is a great pleasure to me, Sir, to represent to you the flattering terms in which the General speaks of the uninterrupted good conduct of the seamen and marines employed on shore during this siege, and which is so creditable to the officers who were with them; and though the part which the ships could take, from the peculiar situation of the place, was very limited, yet I am sure you would readily believe, from the known character of the Captains I had the honor to have under my command, that the greatest zeal and anxiety were shewn by them to do every thing that was possible. The assistance I received from Captain Moubray, and his unremitting attention to every piece of duty that was going forward, demand my warmest acknowledgments. To Lieutenant Elphick, the first Lieutenant of the Magnificent, a very gallant and zealous officer, I am much indebted, for his attention and assiduity, at a time when I was unable to exert myself as usual; and it would be injustice if I omitted to mention the readiness and alacrity shewn by Lieutenant Bussel, agent of transports, in attending any duty which was required of him, when the Lieutenants of the Magnificent were employed on shore.”
On the 11th Dec. in the same year, Captain Brisbane captured the Carlotta, Italian brig of war, pierced for 14 guns, but only 10 mounted, with a complement of 100 men, from Venice bound to Corfu. About the same period he assisted at the capture of a French national schooner on the coast of Dalmatia.
At 10 A.M. on the 4th May 1811, la Belle Poule, being on a cruise off the coast of Istria, in company with the Alceste
