squadron under the orders of Rear-Admiral Hallowell, and selected to conduct the boats to the coast, cover the landing of the marines intended for that service, and then attack the sea defences. The boats reached the point of debarkation by day-break on the 1st June; but the wind unfortunately failed before the whole of the squadron could enter the bay, and the enemy being alarmed, the enterprise was necessarily abandoned. A party of seamen and marines, however, sent from the Kent, 74, and other ships of the detachment, after some skirmishing with a body of French troops, succeeded in destroying a fortification on the island of Veske. The Kent, in the mean time, being engaged with the enemy’s batteries, had 2 men killed and 8 wounded. One of the former, Lieutenant Robert Watson, a young officer of great professional merit, fell when in the act of pointing a gun, to which he had affixed a sight of his own contrivance, and died regretted by all who had the honor of his acquaintance.
On the 2d May, 1813, Captain Moubray being off the port of Morjean, in company with the Volontaire and Undaunted frigates, and Redwing sloop of war, observed the enemy actively employed in preparation for remounting cannon on two batteries which had some time previous thereto been taken and dismantled by a detachment landed from the latter vessels[1]. Viewing the importance of this situation as a place of protection to the coasting trade, he caused 100 marines of the Repulse, under the command of Captain Innis, to proceed, in conjunction with those of the frigates, for the purpose of destroying the works, whilst the boats should bring out some vessels that were in the harbour. The whole, under the direction of Lieutenant Isaac Shaw, of the Volontaire, whose local knowledge rendered him peculiarly qualified to conduct the enterprise, covered by the fire of the Redwing, and launches with carronades, were landed, and drove the enemy to the heights in the rear, where he was kept in check until the vessels were secured, and the batteries, on which were found nine gun carriages, and a 13-inch mortar, blown up, and completely destroyed. This service was performed with the loss of 2 men killed, and 4, including Lieutenant
- ↑ See Hon. George G. Waldegrave, in our next volume.
