16th; and although the fire from them on the bombs was as great as, I will venture to say, was ever experienced, they being considerably within range, yet it is with the most inexpressible pleasure I acquaint your’ Lordship, that not a man has been hurt. A shell passed through the mizen stay-sail of the Zebra, another carried away the spare top-sail-yard and two chain-plates of the Merlin, and grazed her side; and a 42-pound shot cut the spare top-mast and some other spars, and lodged in the booms of the Hecla; this is all the damage done. It is impossible for me to find words to express my admiration of the conduct of Captains Sykes, (Joseph) James, (Robert) Paul, and (William) Beauchamp[1], and the other officers and crews of the bombs, for the able manner in which they placed and managed their vessels; and also of the officers and men of the royal artillery embarked on board of them, for the judicious manner in which they fired the shells.”
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2
POST-CAPTAINS OF 1806.
“Melpomene, off Havre, Aug. 2, 1804.
“The wind having changed yesterday to the N.E. I determined to make another attack on the numerous vessels in Havre pier, as well as those which were moored outside, amounting to twenty-eight brigs and as many luggers; and stood in with the squadron as per margin[2]. At 7h 30' P.M., the bombs were well placed off the pier-heads, when they began a well-directed fire, which was kept up with great spirit for an hour and a half. The town was very soon observed to be on fire in two places; and seven brigs, which were on the outside of the pier, found it necessary to move; one lost her main-mast. As the wind came more off the land, and a strong ebb-tide setting out, I ordered the bombs to discontinue firing. At 9h 30', we anchored with the squadron about five miles from the light-houses. As the Explosion had fired away all her shells, and the Zebra most of her powder, I had them supplied from the Meteor; and at 5h 30' this morning got under weigh, and stood in with the squadron again: before 8, the bombs took up their position near the pier-heads, and kept up a constant fire for near three hours with shells and carcasses: so many shells burst on and about the piers, that the enemy’s fire was observed latterly to slacken considerably, and it was evident they were in the greatest confusion; some brigs and luggers, however, got under weigh, and came out to endeavour to annoy the bombs, but all the other ships and vessels of the squadron were so well placed as to give chase to them immediately; and it was only by cutting away their boats, which were astern, and retreating very speedily into shoal water, that they escaped, but not before they had run the gauntlet of all the ships and cutters, and were very closely engaged for a considerable time by the Merlin, Favorite, Locust, and Hope; and on this occasion I feel parti-