ing off Majorca, he captured the Medusa Spanish letter of marque, of 12 guns and 80 men. This was, we believe, the last armed vessel ever taken from that power by any of our cruisers. The Cyane and her boats had previously captured eight merchantmen of different descriptions.
On the 3d June, 1808, Captain Staines received a letter from the Captain-General of the Balearic Islands, stating that the inhabitants of Majorca had declared in favor of Ferdinand VII., and requesting that he would repair to Palma bay for the purpose of treating with the Supreme Junta on subjects which might be advantageous to their respective nations. The Cyane accordingly proceeded thither, exchanged salutes with the Spanish garrison, and communicated with a deputation from the capital; after which Captain Staines hastened with the gratifying intelligence to his senior officer, Rear-Admiral Thornbrough, who immediately despatched Sir Francis Laforey, in the Apollo frigate, to negociate with the Junta. For ten months from this period, the Cyane was almost constantly employed on the south coast of Spain, assisting the patriots, and annoying their oppressors. Whilst on this service she was repeatedly engaged with the enemy’s batteries, and her boats made several captures.
On the 8th May, 1809, Captain Staines captured a bombard, and drove another vessel on shore near Naples. Two days afterwards, in company with the Alceste frigate, he engaged a French convoy at Terracina, on which occasion two gun-boats were destroyed by shells thrown from the Cyane. On the 14th and 15th of the same month, those two ships brought off as much timber as they could stow, from a depot near Monte Circello; and on the 17th Captain Staines obtained possession of two martello towers in the following easy manner.
A detachment of seamen and marines under his orders having landed in the evening unobserved by the enemy. Captain Staines directed the respective officers to remain with their men at a good distance from the nearest tower, whilst he advanced with only a single attendant to reconnoitre it. Meeting with no interruption, and finding a ladder placed against
