engineers, and manage the batteries as well, I had almost said better, than any of our artillery officers. They fire their batteries by broadsides, and the reports of the individual pieces are seldom distinguishable. They always play, moreover, against a certain point till they have demolished it. * * * *. Their 6-gun battery invariably went off as if only one gun.”
Early in 1810, Captain Richardson was ordered to Lisbon, where he exchanged into the Semiramis frigate, about the month of April in the same year. On the 24th Aug. 1811, he undertook a very daring and hazardous enterprise, in company with Captain William Ferris, of the Diana, the particulars of which are contained in the subjoined letters on service:
“Captain Ferris to Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Williams.
“I have the honor to inform you, that, while standing towards the Cordovan light-house, in company with H.M.S. Semiramis, in the afternoon of the 24th instant, I discerned four sail inside of the shoals at the mouth of the Gironde, under escort of a national brig of war. I meditated either their capture or destruction, which could only be accomplished by artifice and promptitude, without the sacrifice of many lives. Stratagem was used, which had the desired effect, as they sent a vessel, with pilots, to our assistance, and I anchored, after dark, the two ships midway between the Cordovan and Royan, under whose guns the brig had taken refuge, and close to the brig stationed for the protection of the several convoys passing either way. I despatched three boats, under the orders of Lieutenant Sparrow, Lieutenant Roper, and Mr. Holmes, Master’s-mate, from this ship, seconded by four boats, under the orders of Lieutenants Gardner, Grace, and Nicholson, and Mr. Reneau, Master’s-mate, from the Semiramis, to capture or destroy the convoy then anchored up the river, about four miles distant; but the tide prevented their accomplishing it until late in the night; and at day-light, finding the captured vessels with the boats far up the river beyond the two brigs, I determined to attack the latter with the ships, but not without using the same artifice as before to prevent suspicion[1]; and so convinced were they of our being friends, that the Captain of the port, Monsieur Dubourg, Capitaine de fregate, and commanding the in-shore brig, came on board to offer his services, and was not undeceived until he had ascended the quarter-deck. The Diana laid the outer brig on board, and Lieutenant Robert White Parsons (first Lieutenant), Lieutenant Madden R.M., and Mr. George M. Noble (Boatswain), headed about 30 seamen and marines, as many as could be spared by the absence of the boats, and succeeded in getting possession of H.M. late gun-brig Teazer, mounting 12 18-pounder carronades, and 2 long eighteens, commanded
↑The two frigates hoisted French colours, and the Diana a Commodore’s broad pendant.
