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"Where is she? point to her, was heard from the mellow and sonorous voice of our gallant Second Lieutenant (who at that time had the watch) On the starboard quarter, standing in shore, sir," was the reply. The captain was immediately informed of this, and as quickly came upon deck, when «Turn the hands up, make all sail in chase, was given to the officer, from whom it instantly reached the Boatswain, whose shrill pipe, accompanied by the thundering voices of his mates, forthwith proclaimed to those who were in the most remote parts of the ship that there was something to be done that day of a very different nature from an attendance to the admonitions of our most excellent Chaplain.

In five minutes every preparation for church had vanished; the pulpit, which was rigged under the half-deck, had disappeared, and the materials of which it was composed (chests, shot-lockers &c.,) returned to their wonted places, and we were on the other tack, with every stitch of canvas spread, in órder to prevent, the stranger from getting in-shore, which we all perceived: would be most difficult, if not impossible, as he was standing on with all sail set, and was not many miles from the land. .i 1

Every face on board now beamed with excitement; some of the guns were run aft to trim the ship, and, when all sail was made, the men were sent below, and ordered to keep very still and quiet on the lower-deck, as we always found. this mode of trimming the ship with the living moveable ballast added much to her speed in the meantime the breeze increased, and we were going six or seven knots through the water, and overhauling the chase fast.

Our life at this period was such a continued scene of activity and fighting that scarcely a day passed without our having an affair of some kind or other with the enemy, either with some of their gun-boats or the numerous armed traba culos which were employed in the coasting trade. This being kept constantly on the alert, had almost made us regret the interruption which had taken place in our day of rest; but it was momentary, and the feeling of annoyance of having our Sunday broken in upon had given way to that delightful and soul-stirring excitement which, to the British seaman, is

ever attendant upon the chase of an enemy-for such we now made the strange sail out-and every countenance glowed with delight as she was clearly discerned to be a very large armed brig.

The breeze continued, and every moment brought with it the increasing hope that we should either cut her off, or at least bring her under our guns before she could get far enough in-shore to receive any protection from the numerous batteries with which this part of the coast abounded. The énemy, aware of our intentions, and finding he could not cross us out. of shot, had no chance of escape but by bearing away, and was thus obliged to run from that part where he wouldhave been most effectually protected, could he have reached it. By this manœuvre he succeeded in getting out of the range of our guns; but it obliged him to run in shore at a point where his only protection was a very old tower, moun-. ted with four guns. Our chagrin, on finding he had so far escaped us, was soon dispelled, by hearing the Boatswain pipe, All hands bring ship to anchor; which assured us it was not the intention of our gallant Captain to allow him to remain quiet, although he had run into shoalwater, where the ship could not follow him.

It was manifest, from the determined look and manner of our Commander, to which we were all so well accustomed, that he had resolved at all risks to bring the enemy from his anchorage, and thus to prove to him that no superiority of numbers, or advantage of position, could daunt men who were daily accustomed to face danger, and to despise it.

It ten minutes the boats were hoisted out, manned, and armed, and all those destined for the attack sheered off, amidst the huzzas of those who were necessarily left on board, and who, from the distance, were to witness this desperate boarding match. As the boats neared our opponent, it was evident that no means of resistance had been neglected-boarding-nets) were traced up fore and aft, while a cheval-de-frise composed of boarding-pikes, ran all round the brig, about three feet from the water, which rendered our chance of getting on board almost desperate; and we now perceived the soldiers

in the old tower loading their guns, and preparing to do their part towards our destruction.

The boats were nearly within pistol-shot before the enemy opened upon us, and the silence that prevailed on hoth sides at this time was awful. Just at the moment when his inaction left us in doubt as to his intention, his broadside, by means of a spring on the cable, was brought to bear, and a most murderous discharge of round, grape, and canister gave fearful proof to our gallant fellows that they had an enemy to deal with who was deficient neither in ability nor courage. The effect of this first discharge was apalling, and made sad havoc among us, causing a confusion and a momentary resting on the oars; but it was only momentary-a wild, a fearful burst of defiance immediately succeeded this dreadful check, and one of those soul-thrilling hurrahs, which only those who have heard them can understand, broke from every boat at once, as, with body bent, eye fixed, and every muscle strained to its utmost bearing, the men, now desperate, replied to the cheering voice of our well-tried First Lieutenant, as he repeated in tones of the most determined coolness, «Give 'way, my lads, for the honour of the old ship give way, before the rascals can get another slap at us.

In two minutes more we were alongside; and our tars, infuriated by the slaughter of their comrades, became like enraged tigers, demolished the cheval-de-frise, cut through the boarding netting, and carried everything before them. The enemy disputed every inch of the deck, but were ultimately cut down, or driven overboard: and a small ensign, belonging to one of the boats (which a Midshipman had wrapped round him, in the full persuasion and determination that he should have an opportunity of hoisting it) displayed at the peak, was a signal to those who had unwillingly remained on board the frigate, that British valour had, as usual, been crowned with complete success, and that their comrades were masters of the brig.

The vessel thus fairly in our possession, the tower began to blaze away at us, which being seen from the ship, the signal was made to land and storm battery. » To effect this, all the seaman who could be spared were placed under the

command of the Second Lieutenant, who was ordered to land to the right, while the marines were sent to disembark about a mile to the left, and the two parties were to effect a junction in rear of the tower, and endeavour to storm it from that point. This manoeuvre had the desired effect. The officer commanding, seeing he was likely to be hemmed in, both right and left, while the ship was in the mean time warping in to take him in front, bethought him that discretion was the better part of valour, and beat his retreat so very opportunely, that neither the blue jackets nor the marines could bring him to the charge; and, upon meeting, the two parties proceeded to the fort, which they found completely deserted, and its late occupiers were seen, and saluted from their own guns, before they got clear of the olive groves to the right. Upon entering the old tower, we found it was furnished with four 12 pounders, and, besides other arms and ammunition, contained twelve barrels of powder, so that it might have made a much better defence than it did.

We were just beginning to take measures to spike the guns, and carry off the powder, when a signal from the ship informed us the enemy were approaching in great force, and ordered us to blow up the fort and embark as quickly as possible. To effect this, all the powder was placed in the lower part of the building, the guns dismounted, which, to-gether, with their carriages, stores, and every heavy material we could get, were placed upon it in order to create a greater resistance, and do the work, more effectually. These preparations being made, and completed as quickly, as possible; the seamen were sent down from the hill on which the fort stood to the boats which had been brought to the foot of it. The Second Lieutenant and the writer of this alone remained for the purpose of giving the coup de grace to the fort. For this purpose we had a sausage or canvas hose, about eight yards long, filled with powder, and a port-fire at the end of it, calculated to burn half a minute, which would have given us ample time to have got clear of the crown of the hill before the explosion should take place.

My companion, who was also my commanding officer, de

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termined on firing the train himself. When every thing, therefore, was in perfect readiness, I moved off towards the brow. of the hill, expecting the Second Lieutenant would immediately follow me, as he had nothing to do but apply the match which he had already lighted in his hand. Just before be ginning to descend, I turned to see if he was near me, and at that instant a-most awful explosion took place, by which I was knocked down, and rendered completely senseless. On partially recovering from the stupor occasioned by this dreadful fall, I found myself covered with blood, and most severely bruised and lacerated. With regaining my senses came a confused recollection of my companion, tower, blowing up, &c.; and, on looking towards where the old fort had stood, not a vestige of it was remaining, so completely had the work of demolition been accomplished. I crawled towards the spot with a fearful apprehension for the fate of my comrade, which was too truly verified, for I found him lying on his face, bathed in blood, as I was myself, but, alas! without any power of moving. He was dead every vestige of life had fled. The concussion had been so violent, that every bloodvessel in his body appeared to have burst. I managed to get again to the brow of the hill, within hail of the boats, and having got some of the men up, the body of my late gallant companion was carried to the beach, and we had just time to shove off, and get clear out of reach of musketry, when the enemy made his appearance, in overwhelming force, on the heights we had just quitted. In sorrow and sadness we pulled off to the ship, which had in the mean time stood out with our hard-earned and dearly-bought prize in tow. She had cost us some gallant spirits, and had made sad havoc among one of the finest and bravest crews our Navy ever

boasted.

Among the numerous instances of gallantry on that day was one of heroic courage and coolness, on the part of a foretopman, that deserves to be noticed While pulling up to the attack, and when the murderous fire, to which I have before alluded, assailed us, he was struck by grape, which smashed and shattered his left arm so dreadfully, that it was left dang

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