prompt manner in which this service was accomplished; for scarce twenty minutes elapsed from their reaching the beach until the batteries were taken, and a fire opened from them on the retreating enemy. The French national xebec la Fortune, carrying 10 long 9-pounders and 4 swivels, with a crew of 95 men, tried to effect her escape; hut the Euryalus pushing close in, cut her off, and the enemy abandoned her, leaving her at anchor with a spring on the cable, under the fire of the frigate, forts, and a division of the boats, umler Lieutenant” (Mark) “White, who boarded her in time to preserve her from blowing up or sinking, as the crew had fired a shot through her bottom, and left a train to the magazine. We found in the harbour twenty-two vessels of different descriptions” (chiefly laden with oil, corn, lemons, &c.), “which were either taken or destroyed; those scuttled by the enemy were cleared by the Euryalus, which ship took an anchorage to protect the working party; and through the great exertions of Captain Napier, the officers and men employed on that service, every thing was brought away worthy of notice.
“Having related my proceeding, permit me to call your attention to the officers and men who conducted this affair; and if, in your judgment, any merit is attached to the transaction, I entreat you to bestow it on Captain Napier, the officers, seamen, and marines of both ships, whose united exertions so fully accomplished my wishes, that I have only to regret the loss of one man killed, and one missing. I shall only particularise Lieutenant Sweedland and Captain Matthews; Lieutenant” (Alexander) “Sandilands, first of the Euryalus; together with two young men, Mr. John Monk, of the Berwick, and Mr, Crawfurd, of the frigate.
During the winter of 1813, the Euryalus was employed watching Toulon, under the orders of Captain Thomas Ussher, whose heroic services we have recently described. Being blown to the eastward of the Hieres islands, in company with the Undaunted, Captain Napier discovered two ships and a schooner, standing towards Corsica, whereupon he made the signal for an enemy, and instantly crowded sail in pursuit. At sun-set the high land over Calvi was seen, and no doubt remained that the strangers were endeavouring to gain that port; Captain Ussher, however, not feeling justified in continuing the chase any longer, made the signal of recall; but the haziness of the weather preventing Captain Napier from seeing it, the latter kept on, drove one of the fugitives ashore, and compelled the others to seek refuge under the land batteries: the former bilged on the rocks, and was afterwards ascertained to be the Balaine, French store ship, of
