mander Glascock, “I cannot persuade myself, notwithstanding the assurance of the master of that vessel, that in breaking the blockade distress was his only motive. The master complained that he was riding heavily at his anchor, pitching bows under, and the brig making water, but when he did slip he made no effort to stand to sea on the starboard tack, the wind being about N.W.b.N., to gain that offing which two other vessels at the same time had obtained. So soon as the British flag became within shot, the batteries opened upon the Avon, and hulled her several times. She had the wind right aft, and had her crew conducted themselves with any degree of coolness the vessel might have escaped comparatively unhurt: but, so soon as she arrived in the vicinity of the Foz, the master and crew abandoned her. She soon drifted over to the south side, and grounded immediately abreast of the Sampaio battery, on the top of high water. The Miguelito troops took possession of her before sunset, and burned her about 9 p.m. A small Portuguese vessel was also destroyed the same day in attempting to run over the bar.”
On the. 24th March, the Miguelites made an attack upon three of the Pedroite posts, and were repulsed with considerable loss. Two hundred and forty-seven constitutionalists were killed and wounded, including among the latter Major Sadler and Captain Wright, mortally, and several other British officers, severely. On the 25th, H.M. steamer Confiance had two men killed by accident, whilst weighing her anchor outside the bar. On the 26th, about 260 French troops, and supplies for the army at Oporto, were disembarked in the vicinity of the Foz. On the 27th, the boats of the Nautilus, returning from the Druid frigate, then outside of the bar, were fired upon from the Carsto and other batteries.
On the 4th April, the British Consul received a communication from General Lemos, requesting no time might be lost in separating the British merchantmen from the shipping of Donna Maria, only one of which then remained afloat, four vessels having been scuttled and sunk alongside the jetty, to save them from the fate of the “Twenty-third of July.” At this time there was a “fresh” in the river; and if the squadron
