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nineteen round shot having passed through her hull, near the water-line, and her main-mast being supported by only two shrouds and a backstay. The loss she sustained, although severe, was not so great as might have been expected, from the nature of the conflict. Of 76 persons, the total number on board, at the commencement of the action, only two, including Mr. Thomas Thomas, the purser, were killed outright; and thirteen, including Captain James (slightly) wounded: – most of the latter, however, either died, or underwent amputation^[1]. During the whole affair the Minx was so little attended to by the Danes that only two shot struck her, neither of which injured any one on board.

Whilst refitting at Gottenburgh, the commander, officers, and crew of the Kite received the thanks of the Admiralty, conveyed to them through Sir Richard G. Keats, “for their bravery and great perseverance in saving his Majesty’s sloop;” and on his return to the Nore, after being frozen up in the Belt and Cattegat, for the greater part of the winter. Captain James obtained the following handsome testimonial from the respectable officer under whose orders he was serving at the time of the action:

“H.M.S. Dictator, Chatham, 13th Feb. 1809.

“My Dear Sir,– I am favoured with your letter of yesterday’s date, requesting that I would give you my opinion of the defence you made, on the night of the 3rd of Sept. last, when attacked off the island of Sproe, in the Great Belt, by a number of the enemy’s gun-boats – the Kite and Minx being then under my orders. In answer thereto, I have to acquaint you, that considering the superiority of the enemy’s force, the whole of which appears to have been directed against the Kite, with every advantage which they could look for, it being nearly calm, the flotilla fresh out of Nyborg, and yourself and consort at anchor, I have no hesitation in saying that the judgment and gallantry of yourself, officers, and crew, have not been exceeded in any of the glorious actions that have graced the annals of the British navy for so many years back. From the shattered state I found the Kite in, on the morning of the 4th Sept., I cannot help, even at this distant time, expressing my astonishment how she could be saved

1. The Master of the Kite, and 9 men, were taken prisoners, while in a boat on detached service, three days before the action: her second Lieutenant and 6 men were absent in charge of prizes.