flotilla, and the British gun-boats, the latter in two divisions, “under the zealous command of Captain Fellowes and Lieutenant Carroll, successfully drew the attention and fire of Catalina.” On this occasion, “two highly esteemed and respectable young officers, Lieutenants Thomas Worth and John Buckland, of the royal marine artillery, were killed,” by one shot, in a cutter belonging to the Milford; “their loss,” says Sir R. G. Keuts, “was the theme of universal regret. Mr. Samuel Hawkins, midshipman of the Norge, also fell gallantly, which, with four Spanish and four English seamen wounded, constitutes our loss on a service, the execution of which merits my warmest praise.” Captain Fellowes continued in action with Fort Santa-Catalina from 2-30 p.m., until ten o’clock at night. The Mors-aut-Gloria alone fired upwards of seventy rounds, and seemed to attract the particular attention of the French gunners; probably from her superior size, and the conspicuous death-head and crossbones with which her bows were decorated – their ricochet shot were constantly splashing the spray over her, and cut several of her sweeps; yet, strange to say, she sustained no other damage.
In the beginning of December, the Hound’s main-mast was shot away; and a few days afterwards, the AEtna burst her large mortar, being the fourth time that she had done so during the siege: this bomb-vessel, in particular, was often struck by shot and shells. On the 22d, a party of seamen and marines, under Lieutenant Bourne and Captain Fottrell, made a descent between the Guadalete and San-Pedro rivers, carried a small battery by assault, killed five of the guard, and took the remainder prisoners.
The evening of Christmas day was silent in making preparations for the destruction of the French gun-vessels which had been dragged overland from the Rio-San-Pedro, and were then in the Cano-de-Trocadero. Here they expected to remain without annoyance; but Sir Richard Keats was determined to harass them while any thing remained which could float. In the darkness of night, the British flotilla passed silently into the inner harbour, formed a junction with Admiral Valdez, and anchored near Canteras. At day-light on the
