Feb.

1812. killed and 99 wounded. The Weasel had the good fortune not to have a man hurt, either in her 40 minutes' engagement with the Mercure, or her very spirited, and, in all probability, not ineffective cannonade of the Rivoli.

Same

on

board

According to the letter of captain Talbot, the Rivoli had on board 862 men; but the french Rivoli. officers have deposed to only 810, including 59 men late belonging to the french frigate Flore wrecked near Venice. Out of her (taking the smallest amount) 810 in crew and supernumeraries, the Rivoli lost 400 men in killed and wounded, including her second captain and the greater part of her officers. Not only had her mizenmast been shot away, but her fore and main masts were so badly wounded, that they fell over the side in a few days after the action. In her hull the Rivoli was dreadfully shattered; as, indeed, the severity of her loss would indicate.

Force of each ship.

The Victorious was a 74 of the 18-pounder class, and was consequently armed on her first and second decks in the manner represented at N or O in the first Annual Abstract. On her quarterdeck and forecastle, the Victorious appears to have mounted 18 carronades, 32-pounders, and two long 18-pounders, and on her poop six 18-pounder carronades; total 82 guns. The Rivoli, on her first and second decks, was armed exactly the same as the french 74 in the little table at p. 78 of the first volume, and appears to have mounted on her quarterdeck and forecastle 12 long 8-pounders and eight iron carronades, 36-pounders; total 80 guns, all of french caliber.

COMPARATIVE FORCE OF THE COMBATANTS.

Remarks on the

action.

This may be considered as at least an equal match ;

for the slight overplus that appears in the right

hand set of figures is amply compensated by the 1812. ineffective state of the Rivoli's crew. These had April. but just quitted port for the first time since they had assembled; and yet they fought their ship most bravely, as the length of the action, coupled with their severe loss, testifies, and far from unskilfully, as the loss sustained by their antagonist clearly demonstrates. The Rivoli's commander had the good fortune to be captured by an officer, who could fully appreciate merit in an enemy; and accordingly captain Talbot, in his official letter, expresses himself thus: "I feel great satisfaction in saying, that the conduct of commodore Barré, during the whole of the action, convinced me I had to deal with a most gallant and brave man, and in the manoeuvring of his ship a most experienced and skilful officer. He did not surrender his ship until nearly two hours after she was rendered unmanageable, and had 400 killed or wounded, &c."

Cap

Placed under the charge of lieutenants Edward Whyte and John Townshend Coffin, the Rivoli was conducted by the Victorious to Port St.-George, island of Lissa; where both ships arrived on the 1st of March. The Rivoli was afterwards added to the british navy, and captain Talbot, at a subsequent tain day, was knighted for his gallantry in capturing Talbot her. Lieutenant Peake also received the promotion, ed. which was due to him upon the occasion; and, in the month of September, captain Andrew, of the Weasel, obtained his reward in a post-captain's commission.

knights

brings

from

On the 16th of April the british 18-gun brig-sloop Pilot Pilot, captain John Toup Nicolas, observing nine off coasting vessels hauled up on the beach under the vessels town of Policastro near Cape Palinuro, anchored close Polito the shore, and opened her fire, in order to drive castro. away any armed force collected for their protection. Captain Nicolas then detached the boats, with a party of seamen and the marines, under the orders of lieutenant Alexander Campbell, assisted by

1812. acting master Roger Langlands. Through the April. gallantry of these officers and their men in keeping in check a body of about 80 of the enemy, the whole of the nine vessels were launched and brought off without a casualty, and that in the short space of four hours. On the 28th the Pilot fell in with and harassed a large convoy laden with timber protected by 14 gun-boats and several scampavies; but, from its being perfectly calm, they effected their

and

attack

&c.

escape.

Thames On the 14th of May the 12-pounder 32-gun frigate Pilot Thames, accompanied by the Pilot, attacked the Sapri, port of Sapri, defended by a strong battery and take tower, mounting two 32-pounders, and garrisoned vessels, by an officer and 38 men. After being battered for two hours within pistol-shot, the garrison surrendered at discretion; 66 but," says captain Napier, "in consequence of their gallant defence, Ì allowed them to march out with the honours of war, but not to serve against us in this expedition.' The British found 28 vessels laden with oil, some of them nearly a quarter of a mile in the country; all of which were launched and the battery blown up before sunset. Captain Napier speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Langlands, who, by his able disposition of the Pilot's marines placed under his command, (no officer of that corps being on board the brig,) kept upwards of 200 armed peasantry in check, and had only one man wounded. In a month or two afterwards, Mr. Langlands was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Lieut.
Dobbs

brings

out

vessels

On the 29th of April captain Patrick Campbell, of attacks the 74-gun ship Leviathan, detached the boats of and that ship and of the 38-gun frigate Undaunted, captain Richard Thomas, under lieutenant Alexander in Dobbs, to attack a french privateer and several Agay. merchant vessels in the port of Agay. Lieutenant Dobbs, without any loss, boarded and carried the privateer, a brig of 14 guns and 80 men, lying aground, but could not get her afloat. Four of the

merchant vessels were brought off; but, during the 1812. endeavours to get off the privateer, two men were April, killed and four wounded by the fire of the enemy on the shore; who also succeeded in extinguishing the fire which had been put to the brig.

Edgar

and de

of the

On the same day the boats of the Undaunted, Lieut. along with those of the 38-gun frigate Volontaire, takes Captain Charles Bullen, and 18-gun ship-sloop stroys Blossom, captain William Stewart, placed under a conthe orders of lieutenant John Eagar of the Un- the daunted, attacked a french convoy of 26 vessels mouth at anchor near the mouth of the Rhone, brought out Rhone. seven, burnt 12, including a national schooner of four guns and 74 men, and left two stranded on the beach. This spirited and important service was performed without any loss, the boats having been ably covered and protected by the fire of the Blossom.

rica

dron

into

Rowley

rines to

On the 9th of May the british 74-gun ships AmeAmerica and Leviathan, captains Josias Rowley and and Patrick Campbell, and 18-gun brig-sloop Eclair, squa captain John Bellamy, fell in with a french convoy chase a of 18 deeply laden vessels, which took shelter under convoy the town and batteries of Languelia. The two Lancaptains concurring in opinion as to the practicability guelia. of bringing out or destroying the vessels by getting Capt. possession of the batteries, the marines of both ships, lands about 250 in number, were, at daybreak on the 10th, ma landed to execute the service, under the orders of take captains Henry Rea of the America, and John batteOwen of the Leviathan, assisted by lieutenants John Nearne, William Beddeck Cock, Paul Kyffin Carden, and John George Hill. Unfortunately the landing was not effected without an accident of a very Serious serious nature. The yawl of the America was sunk acci by a chance shot from the only gun that could bear to one on the boats; and, before assistance could be afforded, boats. 10 marines and one seaman were drowned.

ries.

dent

of the

Owen

A party, under captain Owen, was detached to Capt. carry a battery of five 24 and 18 pounders to the takes

one

and

Rea an

1812. eastward; which he performed in a very spirited May. and judicious manner, the french officer who commanded falling in the attack. The main body of battery the marines, in the mean time, rapidly advancing captain through a severe fire of grape, carried the battery other adjoining the town of Languelia, consisting of four 24 and 18 pounders and one mortar, although protected by a strong body of the enemy posted in the wood and in several contiguous buildings; upon the latter of which the guns of the battery were immediately turned with much effect.

Boats under

The french troops were now driven from the lieut. houses lining the beach by the fire of the Eclair, Rich- who had swept in for the purpose. The boats of the bring squadron, under lieutenant William Richardson, as

ardson

out

sisted by lieutenants Bouchier Molesworth and Robert vessels. Moodie of the America, and Alexander Dobbs and Richard Hambly of the Leviathan, also by master's mate John Harvey, and several other young officers not named in the despatch, then proceeded to bring out the vessels. These were secured by various contrivances to the houses and beach, and the sails and rudders of most of them removed on shore. After considerable exertions, 16 laden settees were towed off, another was burnt in the harbour by the boats, and a second, making the 18th, was too much damaged by shot to be got afloat. The marines of the squadron were reembarked in the most perfect order, under cover of the fire of the Eclair, the only vessel enabled by the light and baffling winds to get close enough to act. This was accomplished without molestation from the french troops on the spot, although a strong party was advancing from the town of Allassio to reinforce them.

Loss

on the

side.

Exclusive of the heavy loss sustained at the onset british of this dashing enterprise, one sergeant of marines, three privates, and one seaman were killed, and 18 marines and two seamen wounded; total killed and drowned 16, wounded 20.

Another french convoy, of 18 square and lateen