in the rear of the town as an advanced post, from which he has been repeatedly dislodged by the citadel, and the guns and shells of H.M. ships in the bay. On the 8th, at noon, observing a body of miqueleta hard pressed by the enemy, I was induced to make a sortie from the citadel with the seamen and marines, and the officers commanding them; but the very superior force of the enemy, who endeavoured to surround us, obliged us to retire; not, however, till my officers and men had displayed a spirit and courage which gave me the most lively satisfaction. * * * *
“Late on the evening of the 9th, I received from the governor the unpleasant advice, that a large breach was made in the rampart of the citadel, by a part of the bulwark falling down, sufficiently capacious to admit 25 men abreast. I proffered to the governor every assistance that the urgency of the moment required, and directed Captain Collins to immediately weigh and place the Meteor as near the shoal as possible, to flank the breach in the event of an attack. I sent at the same time two boats to enfilade the beach with carronades; but, fortunately, the lateness of the hour precluded the enemy gaining information of the event. The following morning I sent an officer and a party of seamen to assist in repairing the breach, directing the seamen and marines in the citadel to be employed in the same service. By every exertion the rampart was placed in a state of security for the night, the defence of which was entrusted to an officer and 40 seamen, whom I sent on shore for that purpose. On the 3d day I was happy to see the repair completed, and the work as defensible as it was previous to the disaster.
“On the morning of the 15th instant, at 8 o’clock, the enemy made a most resolute assault on Fort Trinity with about 200 men, and a reserve of 2000 to support them. They were bravely repulsed; but in a moment again advanced in greater force, when two of the outer gates were broke open. By a most galling and steady fire of musketry and hand-grenades from the fort, the enemy was a second time obliged to retire with great loss, leaving their leader, a chief of brigade, and many others, dead under its walls; the second in command was carried off desperately wounded. Expecting a third assault would be made, I threw in a reinforcement of 30 marines, with a captain and a subaltern, by means of a rope ladder, which was effected without loss, and with one man but slightly wounded, during an incessant fire of musketry.
“I cannot speak in terms of sufficient praise of the officers and men in their glorious defence of Fort Trinity, on which occasion 5 marines were wounded, and 1 Spaniard. * * * *
“No further attempt was made on this fort till the 20th instant, when the enemy opened a battery of 3 heavy guns, from a height commanding it; but as yet has made no impression on its walls. The Lucifer bomb had been throwing shells the two preceding days, to prevent the enemy making a lodgment on this height; but was compelled to retire after being struck three times by the battery. During the previous night, the enemy threw up an extensive entrenchment 300 yards from the citadel, and at day-