shot and shells, two seamen of the Saracen only were wounded, and part of her rudder shot away is the only damage sustained. From Captain Black, of the Weazle, I received every assistance. To the conduct of Captain Moresby is to be attributed our success without loss: the order in which the boats advanced, his judgment in landing, and his determined manner of leading the men up to the batteries, so intimidated the enemy, that they did not wait for the charge, but hastily fired and fled. He speaks in the highest terms of Lieutenants Quin and Hancock, and every man employed under him. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Rear-Admiral Freemantle, &c. &c. &c.”
The Weazle and Wizard were now required for other service, and the Saracen alone was left to blockade the enemy’s ports. Captain Harper, however, manned several small prizes as tenders, and, with them and his boats, he managed to keep the whole coast in a constant state of alarm; often landing at various places to the westward of Ragusa during the night, and returning to his anchorage between that town and Cattaro before day-break. On these occasions, he generally withdrew his marines from Mezzo after dark, leaving only a lame man in the castle, who was ordered always to fire the morning and evening gun, to make plenty of smoke in the cooking-room, and to keep the telegraph constantly at work. This so completely deceived the enemy, 100 of whom were encamped directly opposite, looking out for an opportunity to attack the island, that they never bad the least suspicion of the defenceless state of the castle, the man left in charge of which was ever afterwards facetiously styled “his excellency the governor”.
One night in Sept. 1813, Captain Harper received information that 50 oxen were about to leave Ragusa under a very weak escort, the French general thinking they would go perfectly safe, as the Saracen, when last seen at the close of the day, was lying about 4 leagues to the westward. At daylight, Captain Harper landed three miles to the eastward, with the master, boatswain, and 20 men (all he had on board), gained the military road, and intercepted the convoy, taking prisoner the commissary in charge of the cattle, on whom was found a letter from the commandant at Ragusa to Baron Gauthier, at Cattaro, informing him that these were the last
