tantly to abandon her. The general result of the affair was thus officially stated by Lord Nelson, August 16th, 1801:–
“Having judged it proper to attempt bringing off the enemy’s flotilla, moored in the front of Boulogne, I directed the attack to he made by four divisions of boats, for boarding, under the command of Captains (Philip) Somerville, (Isaac) Cotgrave, (Robert) Jones, and (Edward Thornbrough) Parker; and a division of howitzer boats under Captain John Conn. the boats put off from the Medusa[1] at half-past eleven o’clock last night in the best possible order, and before one o’clock this morning the firing began, and I had, from the judgment of the officers, and the zeal and gallantry of every man, the most perfect confidence of complete success; but the darkness of the night, with the tide and half-tide, separated the divisions, and from all not arriving at the same happy moment with Captain Parker, is to be attributed the failure of success; but I beg to be perfectly understood, that not the smallest blame attaches itself to any person; for although the divisions did not arrive together, yet each (except the fourth, which could not be got up before day) made a successful attack on that part of the enemy they fell in with, and actually took possession of many brigs and flats, and cut their cables; but many of them being aground, the moment of the battle ceasing on board them, the vessels were filled with vollies upon vollies of musketry, the enemy being perfectly regardless of their own men, who must have suffered equally with us, it was therefore impossible to remain on board, even to burn them; but allow me to say, who have seen much service this war, that more determined persevering courage I never witnessed, and that nothing but the impossibility of being successful, from the causes I have mentioned, could have prevented me from having to congratulate their Lordships; but although in value the loss of such gallant and good men is incalculable, yet, in point of numbers, it has fallen short of my expectations[2]. * * * * From the nature of the attack only a few prisoners were made; a lieutenant, eight seamen, and eight soldiers, are all they brought off.”
Mr. Little’s commission as lieutenant bears date Aug. 18th, 1801. He afterwards served for a short time, during the suspension of hostilities, on board the Zealand 64, Captain William Mitchell, stationed as a guard-ship at the Nore; and subsequently commanded a Nova Scotia merchantman. On the 26th June, 1803, being then a homeward bound pas-
