fastened to the shore by hawsers from their mast-heads, immediately volunteered his services, pushed in, and received so heavy a fire of musketry from a party of soldiers posted behind high cliffs, that he had scarcely time to get alongside of the first vessel before his gig filled up to the thwarts; but providentially, neither himself nor any of his boat’s crew received the slightest injury.
Next day (May 3, 1813), the Undaunted chased a ship into the bay of Marseilles; and Captain Ussher having information that she was valuably laden for the Musée Napoléon, took advantage of a fine breeze, pursued her past the batteries which protected the anchorage, and was only prevented from capturing her by a sudden shift of wind which enabled her to reach the harbour. A brig lying at the entrance of the port then hoisted her colours, and the town batteries commenced a furious cannonade, which was instantly answered by Captain Ussher, who kept up an animated fire, both on them and the shipping in the harbour, until the brig was boarded and brought out by a boat’s crew under the command of Lieutenant William Oldrey; when, to the surprise of all on board the frigate, the batteries suddenly ceased firing, and Captain Ussher was suffered to carry off his prize without further molestation[1].
On the 7th May, the boats of the Undaunted were sent to attack a French national schooner of the largest class, with a fleet of coasting vessels under her protection. Two of the merchantmen were taken, and several driven on shore; but unfortunately, a squall of wind arose just as Lieutenant Oldrey (the senior officer) was about to board the schooner, and she was thereby enabled to escape, notwithstanding every effort was made again to close with her, that resolute young man continuing the chase as long as the most distant hope re-
- ↑ When the Undaunted visited Marseilles, after the abdication of Buonaparte, Captain Ussher requested the Governor to inform him why the butteries so suddenly ceased firing; and was told that, as he had dared to carry off a vessel lying under the muzzles of their guns, he was considered deserving of a better reward than being blown out of the water, and was therefore allowed to depart quietly with his well-earned trophy!
