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“the Harmonie was commanded by Citizen Noyer, had eight carriage guns, and sixty-six men at the attack, forty-four only of whom were found at the time of surrender. The boats and privateer repassed the fort on the larboard side of the harbour within musket-shot, but happily escaped from a heavy fire unhurt.

“The spirited manner in which Captain Ferris led the boats to the attack, and the gallant conduct of Lieutenants Cole and Furber, the petty officers and men, on the occasion, merit my warmest praise; nor can I do too much justice to the conduct of Lieutenant Beatty, commanding the detachment of royal marines. Lieutenant Boyd, the non-commissioned officers and privates, who in the most soldier-like manner, after being challenged and fired upon by two sentinels, and perfectly ignorant of the nature and number of the troops they had to contend with, pushed directly into the fort with fixed bayonets, when the enemy cried for quarter. By the silence with which the battery was carried, one hundred militia of the fort of St. Ann were cut off from the point of rendezvous, and thus the place, to answer all our purposes, secured without the loss of a man. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)“Thomas Graves.”

On the 5th March, 1804, Captain William Ferris, then commanding the Blenheim, addressed Commodore Hood as follows:–

“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that the barge and pinnace of H.M. ship under my command, with fifty officers and men, under the orders of Lieutenant Furber, on the night of the 4th inst., made a most gallant, but unsuccessful, attempt to cut out a French national schooner, lying close under a fort, at the town of St. Pierre. She had made formidable preparations, her boarding nettings being triced up to the lower mast-heads, and so fastened that it was almost impossible to get in; and her sweeps rigged out on each side; notwithstanding all this, and the beach lined with soldiers, the forts, an armed sloop, and several other small vessels near, keeping up a heavy fire of guns and musketry, those brave officers and men in the two boats persevered, and cut her cables, but it being perfectly calm, she swung and grounded on the beach, when all hopes of bringing her out were given up, and from the number killed and wounded, as per enclosed list, the commanding officer very properly ordered a retreat. I lament sincerely our loss^[1]; but I trust you. Sir, will think the character of British seaman was well supported on this

1. One seaman and two marines killed; Lieutenants Furber and Mayne, Mr. Hill, midshipman, and sixteen other persons, wounded; three seamen missing.