a flag of truce hoisted at the fore, and the Bourbon standard at the main – his own frigate fully prepared for battle, and the Euryalus ready to come to her assistance, in case she should be roughly handled.
On coming within short range, the Undaunted received a shot from the nearest battery, which struck the main-deck, but did no injury to any of her crew. Considering himself to have been mistaken in his conjectures as to the cause of the illumination. Captain Ussher wore round, hauled down the flag of truce and the Bourbon standard, and was in the act of making sail to rejoin his consort, when a second gun was fired. This insulting conduct he felt himself justified in punishing. The Undaunted accordingly tacked, stood in within point-blank range, discharged her broadside, and soon obliged the Frenchmen to desert their guns. Captain Ussher then proceeded towards the next battery, and was about to open his fire when he observed a flag of truce coming out of the harbour. On the boat arriving alongside, he found that the mayor and civil authorities of Marseilles had come off to inform him of the abdication of Napoleon Buonaparte, and the formation of a provisional government in the absence of the Bourbons: they also expressed their indignation at the conduct of the soldiers in the battery, and apologized for it; but this he assured them was unnecessary – for, although nothing could justify an outrage so contrary to the usages of war, he considered them sufficiently punished by the chastisement they had received. Captain Ussher then congratulated the deputation on the happy change that had taken place, and told them that he would anchor H.M. ships under the walls of the town, as a proof of his confidence in the loyalty of the inhabitants. The Euryalus was instantly recalled, and both frigates soon afterwards brought up at the entrance of the harbour.
On landing at Marseilles, Captains Ussher and Napier were received in the most enthusiastic manner by the populace, the air resounding with cries of “Vivent les Anglois!” a circumstance which so provoked Marshal Massena, the commander-in-chief at Toulon, that he sent the governor a severe
