such superior force, fighting their way until within three miles of the ship. Mr. Dalyell displayed the most marked coolness and intrepidity during this action.
“October 24th. – Lieutenant Hanchctt went in shore at night, with the pinnace and cutter; the latter commanded by Mr. Dalyell. They drove sixteen vessels on shore under Sandfort; and, after driving away the troops who came to protect them, burnt three, and did as much damage to the rest as possible: the tide having left them dry, one only could be brought away.
“October 28th. – Five of our boats drove sixty-five schuyts ashore under the Scheveling battery, set fire to many, and brought off two. On this occasion Mr. Dalyell again distinguished himself.
“October 30th. – About p.m., Lieutenant Hanchett and Mr. Dalyell, In the Antelope’s barge, set fire to and destroyed three schuyts, lying a-ground within a mile of five guard-vessels in the Vlie passage.
“Nov. 2d. – Mr. Hanchett volunteered with twenty-five men, and took the island of Rottum. The French troops, with an exiled general destined for the Seychelle islands, would not wait for them to close: they were pursued across the island, and escaped from the opposite side on board of three schuyts. Messrs. Dalyell and Bourne were engaged in this expedition.
“Nov. 17th. – Lieutenant Hanchett, acting Lieutenant Dalyell, and Mr. Bourne, midshipman, sailed in the Experiment schuyt, from Yarmouth roads for the coast of Zealand. She had on board eleven men, and was armed with three 18-pounder carronades. A heavy gale of wind, from the N.W., came on that night, and the next afternoon she was in shoal water. Lieutenant Hanchett waited till the top of high-water, and then ran her ashore upon an extensive bank, out of gun-shot of the sand-hills on the S.W. end of Goree; for, being in hopes of getting her off when the weather moderated, he determined to defend her to the last. At low water, she was a full mile from the above island. The enemy was not slow in preparing to take possession of her. The second night, the dragoons reached the bank, but did not succeed in their attempt. On the third night, five of our men deserted, probably from the effects of fear; and the remainder of the party finding nothing could be done, set the schuyt on fire, leaving her colours flying, and put to sea in the boat – a very small one. She springing a leak, when about three miles from the shore, they then pulled in to board a vessel lying at anchor under Schouwen; but as there was a heavy battery which commanded her, they were obliged to surrender as prisoners of war. Messrs. Hanchett, Dalyell, and Bourne , being directly recognised by some seamen, formerly belonging to vessels which they had captured and destroyed, were conducted to Zierick-Zee, and put in close confinement as incendiaries. Buonaparte was then at Flushing, and having heard they belonged to Sir Sidney Smith, ordered them to be trictly guarded. On the seventeenth evening of their confine-
