that he had reason to suppose the guns and mortars on the mole-heads were spiked, as the enemy was about to quit the place; and that it might be possible to get possession of the vessels in the mole, by a spirited and sudden attack. Immediately on receiving this intelligence, the Buzzard stood in, under Greek colours, to make the attempt; but when within range of grape and canister, a fire was opened on her from the privateers and both mole-heads, on which were mounted several long 24-pounders, and one or two 10-inch mortars. This fire was returned by the Buzzard, and with such effect, that one mole-head was immediately deserted; the Buzzard’s guns were then brought to bear on the other, which in like manner the enemy was obliged to quit (the defence being composed of nothing but sand-casks). They however returned back to the one previously abandoned, from whence a fire was again opened; and this method was continued for some time, when, in consequence of one mole-head commanding the other, it being impossible to bring the Buzzard’s guns to bear on both at the same time, and troops beginning to pour down from Valencia, it was considered imprudent to prosecute the attempt any further ; the Buzzard was then anchored just out of shell-range, and some armed Gibraltar smugglers being on the coast. Captain Smith called them to his assistance, and so completely surrounded the moles, that the enemy, finding it impossible to escape with their booty by sea, landed and conveyed it to the city, where great part of the property was left behind, when the evacuation took place, owing to the want of means to carry it away. After the enemy had quitted Valencia, the Buzzard’s boats landed and took possession of seven vessels, three of which being privateers, were sent to Alicant, and left there in charge of Mr. B. Athy, the British consul; the others remained in the mole of Valencia, and Captain Smith being ordered on a distant service could not attend to them; those sent to Alicant were afterwards claimed by the generous and grateful Spaniards, as national property, in consequence of their having been captured within gun-shot of the coast, although actually at the time under the jurisdiction of a provisional government ap-
