he did in the most handsome manner. At 6 A.M., a heavy and well-directed fire was opened at the island, and returned from it. In 15 minutes, the enemy was driven from his guns, when he displayed a flag of truce and offered to capitulate. I insisted on the garrison surrendering at discretion, the whole to be prisoners, and allowed them 5 minutes only before I commenced firing again; to which they submitted, when I took possession of the island, and hoisted English colours. I am happy to say, this strong place has been reduced without any loss on our side.
“It is with the greatest pleasure I have to report the good conduct of every officer and man employed; and if I had been obliged to storm the island, as I intended, I feel confident the result would have been complete success.
“Lieutenant Francis Gostling, of the Bacchante, to whom I gave the command of the gun-boats, brought them up to the attack under a heavy fire from the enemy, in the most cool and determined manner. I have landed the marines, and given him the command of the island until your pleasure is known. It is not in my power to describe the joy and enthusiasm of the inhabitants at seeing the English flag flying. In two hours I had the whole population under my command, and ready to execute any thing I might order. The prize gun-boats I have ordered to blockade the town and castle of Cattaro by sea, and the armed inhabitants by land, which they are doing in the strictest manner.
“To Captain Wm. Hoste, H.M.S. Bacchante.”
The gun-boats taken on this occasion had each a long 24-pounder mounted in the bow: two of them also carried a 12-pounder carronade in the stern: their joint crews amounted to 136 men, of whom 24 were soldiers. The following is an abstract of the prisoners and ordnance stores taken at the island of St. George:–
1 Captain-commandant, 1 captain of engineers, 2 lieutenants, 9 gunners, 2 Serjeants, 4 corporals, 120 privates, 1 brass 24-pounder, 4 brass 18-pounders, 1 iron 18-pounder, 3 guns of smaller calibre, 1 brass 6i-inch mortar, a furnace for heating shot, a large quantity of shot and shells, 66 barrels of gunpowder, 8 cases of musket-balls, 3 ditto of hand grenades, and I case of live shells. In the gun-boats were found 4 brass 24-pounders, intended to be mounted on the fortifications at Cattaro.
“The capture of Isle St. George was represented by Captain Hoste as a point of the utmost importance to his future operations: it commands and fronts the narrow channel to the branch of the river that leads up to Cattaro; and, fortified as it is,” says he, “it would have been with difficulty, if at all, the ships of war could have passed it.”
On the 16th Oct. 1813, Captain Hoste reported to Rear-Admiral Freemantle the surrender by capitulation of Castel
