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tide making strong, and the town having taken fire badly in one place, and slightly in two others, I caused the bombs to weigh, and proceeded with them off St. Valery en Caux, where they are constructing six vessels; and at 3 P.M. opened our fire on that place for an hour. The enemy was for the most part driven from their batteries, the inhabitants flying to the country, and judging from the direction in which many of the shells burst, they must have suffered much.

“On a service of this nature, we cannot expect to escape unhurt: I have, however, pleasure in reporting, that, although the enemy’s fire, especially from Dieppe, which is very strong in batteries, was heavy and well-directed, and many of their shot took effect, our loss has been but small. The Perseus has one man missing, and the serjeant of artillery is wounded. The boatswain of this ship and three seamen were bruised by splinters, but did not leave their quarters: the other damage, but that not material, is confined chiefly to the rigging.

“The manner of executing my instructions, and the judgment shewn in placing and managing the bomb-vessels, entitle Captains Methuist and Paul to my best and warmest thanks; their conduct has been every thing I could wish: and they speak highly of the officers and detachments of the royal artillery embarked with them, as well as of the officers and men of their respective crews. My opinion of the first Lieutenant of this ship, C. F. Payne, is already known to your Lordship; and his conduct this day, as well as that of the other Lieutenants, officers, and men, without exception, has fully justified the reports I have made to your Lordship concerning them on former occasions.”

From this period, Captain Owen kept the French coast in a continual state of alarm; and l’Immortalité was well known to the inhabitants for the daring manner in which, in spite of banks and batteries, she approached their shores. The next official report we find of his proceedings, was made to Rear-Admiral Louis, July 20, 1804, and couched in the following terms:

“The wind yesterday set in strong from the N.E. by N., and made so much sea that the enemy’s vessels in the road of Boulogne became very uneasy; and about 8 P.M. the leewardmost brigs began to get under weigh, and work to windward; whilst some of the luggers ran down apparently for Staples: their force was then forty-five brigs and forty-three luggers. I made a signal to look out on these vessels, which was immediately obeyed by the Harpy, Bloodhound, and Archer, who closed with them, giving their fire to such as attempted to stand off from the land. The Autumn was at this time getting under weigh, and lost no time in giving her support to the vessels already on this service, and continued with them during the whole weather tide, firing from time to time on such of the enemy’s vessels as gave them opportunity. At day-light this morning, there were nineteen brigs and eight luggers only remaining in the bay; and about six o’clock these began to slip single, and run to the southward for