towards the S W. bastion, which your lordship knows was blown down last war by the explosion of a magazine, and tumbled into the ditch; a few thin planks and dry stones had been put up by the Spanish engineers, perhaps to hide the defect: all things were in the most deplorable state, both without and within; even measures for their powder, and saws for their fusees, were not to be had – hats and axes supplied their place. The castle of Trinidad, situated on an eminence, but commanded by heights, was also invested; three 24-pounders battered in breach, to which a fourth was afterwards added, and a passage through the wall to the lower bomb-proof being nearly effected, on the 23d the marines of the Fame were withdrawn. I went to examine the state of the castle, and, as the senior officer in the bay had not officially altered the orders I received from your lordship, to give every possible assistance to the Spaniards, I thought this a good opportunity, by occupying a post on which the acknowledged safety of the citadel depended, to render them an effectual service. The garrison then consisted of about eighty Spaniards, and they were on the point of surrendering; accordingly I threw myself into it, with fifty seamen and thirty marines of the Imperieuse. The arrangement made I need not detail to your lordship; suffice it to say, that about 1000 bags, besides barrels and palisadoes, supplied the place of walls and ditches; and that the enemy, who assaulted the castle on the 30th, with 1000 picked men, were repulsed with the loss of their commanding officer, storming equipage, and all who had attempted to mount the breach. The Spanish garrison gave good assistance s and Lieutenant Bourman, of the regiment of Ultonia, who succeeded to the command of the Spanish soldiers in the castle, on Captain Fitzgerald being wounded in the hand, deserves every thing his country can do for an active and gallant officer. Inocenti Maranger, cadet of the same regiment, particularly distinguished himself by his zeal ond vigilance. As to the officers, seamen, and marines of this ship, the fatigues they underwent, and the gallant manner in which they behaved, deserve every praise. I must, however, particularly mention Lieutenant Urry Johnson of the navy, Lieutenant Hoare of the marines, Mr. Burney the gunner, Mr. Lodwick, carpenter, and Messrs. Stewart, Stovin, and Marryat, midshipmen.
“Captain Hall, of the Lucifer, at all times, and in every way, gave his zealous assistance. I feel also indebted to Captain Collins, of the Meteor, for his aid.
“The citadel of Rosas capitulated at 12 o’clock this day. Seeing, my Lord, further resistance in the castle of Trinidad useless and impracticable against the whole army, the attention of which had naturally turned to its reduction, after firing the trains for exploding the magazines, we embarked in the boats of the Magnificent, Imperieuse, and Fame. I have the honor to be, &c.
During the above operations, the Imperieuse had three
