to prevent their reaching the battery of St. Lucido, which we fortunately effected, by causing the armed vessels to anchor, and the rest to run on shore about eight miles to the northward of that place. At 5 P.M. having closed them, I immediately anchored alongside the gun-boats, which had been firing at us as we swept in; but on the discharge of a few broadsides, all their people jumped overboard, and the most of them got to the shore. Our fire was then directed towards the merchant vessels, in order to destroy them, and was continued within grape-shot distance for two hours; for as they were well protected by two or three companies of soldiers, and a numerous armed peasantry amongst the rocks, I did not think it prudent to attempt to bring those off that had taken the ground; but I had the satisfaction of seeing their cargoes all washed out of them from the effect of our shot, and I judged their destruction to be as advantageous to the service as their capture, the latter of which we could not expect to accomplish, without the loss of many lives.
“I should be wanting in justice to Lieutenants Penruddocke and Annesley, were I to omit mentioning the handsome manner in which they volunteered to bring the gun-boats out from the secure position they had taken behind a small island. This service those officers were fortunate enough to effect, although they were well fastened to the shore, and all the soldiers and people with musketry kept up a very heavy fire on them whilst bringing the vessels out.
“I think it necessary to add, how highly satisfied I am with the conduct of all the officers and ship’s company under my command; and they particularly merit my best praise for the cool and steady manner in which they performed their duty when the enemy’s shot were flying fast about us, and to it alone I attribute the preservation of many lives. The convoy, I find by the prisoners who remained on board of the gun-boats, was under the direction of Captain Gorafalo, commanding a division of gun-boats, having the rank of a capitaine-de-fregate. I herewith enclose you a list of the killed and wounded[1].
“P.S. Since I have written this letter, I have stood in-shore, and observed that the swell has washed the cargoes out of all the vessels about the beach, and they are lying under water.”
For this service, Captain Nicolas received the following letter, from Rear-Admiral Martin:–
- ↑ One boy killed, and two men wounded.
