mained of doing so, although his boat had already suffered a severe loss, and he himself was dangerously wounded.
Early in Aug. following, Captain Ussher discovered a number of vessels lying in the mole at Cassis, a place situated midway between Toulon and Marseilles, where they were protected by five heavy batteries, one of which had a wall 25 feet high. The Espoir brig was then in company with the Undaunted, and her commander, the Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer, having suggested the possibility of carrying the enemy’s works by a coup-de-main, Captain Ussher left him to blockade the vessels, whilst he proceeded off Cape Sicie, to communicate with Sir Edward Pellew, by whom the Redwing (Captain Sir John Gordon Sinclair), 200 marines, and a detachment of boats, belonging to the Caledonia, Hibernia, Barfleur, and Prince of Wales, were immediately placed at his disposal; the marines to be commanded by Captain Jeremiah Coghlan, R.N. and the boats by Lieutenants Wilson and Gramshaw, of the Caledonia and Hibernia.
Owing to a most unfavorable wind, the attack upon Cassis was unavoidably deferred for several days after Captain Ussher’s return from the fleet, and the enemy were thereby afforded sufficient time to strengthen their means of defence. The result of the attack will be seen by the following extracts of Captain Ussher’s official report:
“Sir,– I have the honor to inform you, that the batteries of Cassis have been destroyed, and the vessels, as per margin, brought out of the mole, or burnt[1]. Injustice to the brave officers and men employed on this service, I beg leave to state a few particulars relative to their very meritorious conduct.
“Owing to light winds, the Undaunted could not take up the anchorage that I intended (abreast of the town); therefore, to Captain Coghlan, Sir John Sinclair, and the Hon. Captain Spencer, I am entirely indebted for the success that attended an enterprise, which for gallantry has seldom been surpassed. Four batteries defended the entrance of the bay, and two gun-boats were moored across the entrance of the mole. The citadel battery could only be carried by escalade; but nothing could withstand the- ↑ Two heavy gun-boats, and twenty-four settees and tartans, taken; one gun-boat, and one tartan, destroyed.
