Gaspar immediately proceeded to the neighbouring town of Motrieo, where, by the united exertions of Captain Christian, the same number of the enemy were obliged to an unconditional surrender. In this service two of the enemy’s launches were taken, and whatever French public property could be found was taken and destroyed.
“In the Iris have also arrived upwards of 300 French prisoners, with a proportion of officers; among which number it is said is an aide-de-camp of Buonaparte, Colonel Cenopieri. They form a part of the remains of the hist, corps, which was so entirely defeated by the indefatigable guerilla,, Mina; 500 of the enemy were killed or wounded, and the remainder, 600, made prisoners. Captain Christian speaks in very favourable terms of the activity and zeal of his first Lieutenant, Mr. Collingwood, on the late service; and I have pleasure in adding my testimony to the same on former occasions.”
In June 1812, the Surveillante formed part of the squadron under Sir Home Popham at the reduction of Lequitio, on which occasion Sir George Collier commanded a battery on Shore: the particulars of that service are thus detailed by the former officer:
“The enemy had possession of a hill-fort commanding the town, calculated to resist any body of infantry, and also 200 men posted in a fortified convent within the town, the walls of which vvere impervious to any thing less than an 18-pounder.
“The convent might have been destroyed by the ships; but as the town would have materially suffered, and as the guns of the Venerable 74 made no visible impression on the fort, it was determined to erect a battery on a hill opposite to the latter, which the enemy considered as quite inaccessible to cannon, and -in that confidence rested his security. A gun was accordingly landed in the forenoon of the 20th, (chiefly by the exertions of Lieutenant Groves, of the Venerable), notwithstanding the sea was breaking with such violence against the rocks at the foot of the hill, that it was doubtful whether a boat could get near enough for that purpose. It was then hove up a short distance by a moveable capstern; but this was found so tedious that men and bullocks were sent for to draw it; and it was at length dragged to the summit of the hill by thirty-six pair of bullocks, 400 guerillas, and 100 seamen, headed by the Hon. Captain Bouverie. It was immediately mounted, and fired its first shot at 4 P.M.
“The gun was so admirably served, that at sunset a practicable breach was made in the wall of the fort, and the guerillas volunteered to storm it. The. first party was repulsed, but the second gained possession without any considerable loss. Several of the enemy escaped on the opposite side, and got into the convent.
“In the course of the evening the sea abated a little, and a landing, upon the island of St. Nicholas was effected, though with some difficulty,
