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authenticated- documents, will shew the manner in which the subject of this memoir was employed:

Sir Richard I. Strachan to the Admiralty, Aug. 4, 1809.

“As soon as the ships were secured [in the Roompot], measures were instantly taken to land the army on the island of Walcheren. I did not wait for the gun-boats coming up, but ordered those who happened to be near the Venerable, together with the mortar-brigs, to push in shore, cover the landing, and force the Derhaak battery.

“Having accomplished this first object, I lost no time in directing the bombs and gun-vessels to proceed up the Veere Gat, off Camvere; and having given Sir Home Popham permission to employ them as the service might require, he the next morning (July 31) began to cannonade Camvere, which had been summoned, but held out. The fire of the gun-boats was exceedingly well-directed, and did much damage to the town. The officers and men engaged in that service had a great claim to my admiration for their conduct. Three of our gun-boats were sunk. In the afternoon it blew fresh, and as the strength of the tide prevented the boats from acting, I directed the flotilla to fall back, preserving a menacing position. “At night, Captain Richardson, of the Caesar, who was in the dyke on shore, threw some rockets at the nearest battery of Camvere, and soon after the commanding officer of the town sent out an offer to surrender. A copy of the terms acceded to by Lieutenant-General Eraser, and Captain Richardson, the senior naval officer on the spot, accompanies this letter^[1].”

Rear-Admiral W. A. Otway to Sir R. I. Strachan, Aug. 16, 1809.

“I have the honor to enclose for your information, a report from Cap_ tain Richardson of H.M.S. Caesar, who commanded the brigade of seamen that landed on the 30th ult. with the division of the army under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, K.B.; and I beg leave to add, that I am authorised by the Lieutenant-General, who commanded the siege of Flushing, and under whose orders the naval brigade more immediately acted; as likewise by Major-General M‘Leod, commanding officer of the royal artillery, to express their high approbation of the bravery and zeal so very conspicuous in the conduct of Captains Richardson and Blarney, and the whole of the officers and men under their command, during the continuance of a long and most arduous service.”

Captain Charles Richardson to Rear-Admiral Otway, Aug. 16, 1809.

“I beg leave to inform you, that in obedience to your general order issued on the 28th ultimo, I landed with the army on the sand-hills, near the signal-post on the island of Walcheren, on the 30th ultimo. The officers and seamen you did me the honor to place under my orders, were composed of three divisions, having charge of nine pieces of ordnance, which were drawn and worked by them. At 8 A.M. on the 31st, the left

1. See Naval Chronicle, vol. 22, p. 146. N.B. Camvere was strong in its defences, and had a garrison of 509 men.