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guished himself by his conduct in the harbour of Herqui, near Cape Frehel, as appears by the following letter from Sir W. Sidney Smith to the Secretary of the Admiralty:
“Diamond, March 18, 1796.
“Sir,– Having received information that the armed vessels detached by the Prince of Bouillon had chased a convoy, consisting of a corvette, three luggers, four brigs, and two sloops, into Herqui, I proceeded off that port to reconnoitre their position, and sound the channel, which I found very narrow and intricate. I succeeded, however, in gaining a knowledge of these points, sufficient to determine roe to attack them in the Diamond without loss of time, and without waiting for the junction of any part of the squadron, lest the enemy should fortify themselves still farther on our appearance. Lieutenant M‘Kinley, of the Liberty brig, and Lieutenant Gossett, of the Aristocrat lugger, joined me off the Cape; and though not under my orders, very handsomely offered their services, which I accepted, as small vessels were essentially necessary in such an operation. The permanent fortifications for the defence of the bay are two batteries on a high rocky promontory. We observed the enemy to be busily employed in mounting a detached gun on a very commanding point of the entrance. At one o’clock yesterday afternoon this gun opened upon us as we passed; the Diamond’s fire, however, silenced it in eleven minutes. The others opened on us as we came round the point; and their commanding situation giving them a decided advantage over a ship in our position, I judged it necessary to adopt another mode of attack, and accordingly detached the marines and boarders to land behind the point, and take the batteries in the rear. As the boats approached the beach, they met with a warm reception, and a temporary check, from a body of troops drawn up to oppose their landing. Their situation was critical: the ship being exposed to a most galling fire, and in intricate pilotage, with a considerable portion of her men thus detached, I pointed out to Lieutenant Pine the apparent practicability of climbing the precipice in front of the batteries, which he readily perceived, and with an alacrity and bravery, of which I have had many proofs in the course of our service together, he undertook and executed this hazardous service; landed immediately under the guns, and rendered himself master of them before the column of troops could regain the heights. The fire from the ship was directed to cover our men in this operation: it checked the enemy in their advancement; and the re-embarkation was effected as soon as the gun& were spiked, without the loss of a man, though we have to regret Lieutenant Carter, of the marines, being dangerously wounded on this occasion. The enemy’s guns, three 24-prs. being silenced, and rendered useless for the time, we proceeded to attack the corvette and the other armed vessels, which had by this time opened their fire on us, to cover the operation of hauling themselves on shore. The Diamond had anchored as close to the corvette as her draught of water would allow. The Liberty was able to approach near; and on this occasion I cannot omit to mention the very gallant and judicious manner in which Lieutenant M‘Kinley brought his vessel into action, profiting by
