situation of comparative danger, and this he did by mere force, notwithstanding the protestations of the master, and the remonstrances of the commissariat.
“In the month of February, 1814, he was at St. Jean de Luz with a division of transports, and directed by Rear-Admiral Penrose to procure as many volunteer seamen as he could from among them, for the purpose of entering the Adour, of establishing a bridge across that river, and of co-operating with a division of the army under General Sir John Hope, in commencing the siege of Bayonne[1]. He accordingly procured as great a number of volunteers as he was able, and delivered them to the proper officer, who, in the flotilla under Rear-Admiral Penrose, sailed on the evening of the 22d, leaving your memorialist, the only naval officer at Socoa, or indeed nearer to the enemy than Passages.
“Through the night of the 22d, and during the day of the 23d, owing to calms, and a strong adverse current, the flotilla, instead of advancing any thing towards the Adour, had been drifted to leeward as far as Fontarabia, and as the night of the 23d set in there was no appearance that any part thereof would be able to regain the ground it had lost. It is needful to mention these circumstances, as they explain the nature of an important document herewith respectfully submitted.
“About ten of the same night, as your memoralist was about to lie down, very much fatigued with the duties of the day, a dragoon arrived bringing a letter from Sir John Hope to Rear Admiral Penrose, then at sea, and another from Colonel (now Sir Home) Elphinstone, the commanding officer of engineers to your memorialist, stating that the army had advanced upon the Adour, and had obtained possession of both its banks; but that from the non-arrival of the flotilla, or any naval assistance, the greatest difficulty had been found in crossing over the troops and stores necessary; that from the strength of the tide it was found quite impracticable, without naval aid, to transport horses, artillery, &c.; that such of the troops as had crossed in pontoons were in the greatest danger of being taken, if they could not be timely supported; and requesting your memorialist, as an affair of the greatest consequence, to send every boat and seaman he could possibly spare, to their assistance immediately.
“Your memorialist instantly repaired to Colonel Elphinstone (who had been himself despatched by Sir John Hope, to procure and to hasten the above) through a road the enemy had spoiled, great heaps of stones in some places, in others up to the calves of his legs in mud, noisome with the carcases of cattle which had fallen down and expired under their burthens; the night pitch-dark; the distance a mile; his object to gain information as to the entrance of the Adour; but could obtain none on that subject: he however assured the colonel he would, without fail, be on the spot by day-light, with all the assistance he could possibly bring.
“Returning through the same road, he went from ship to ship to collect men; the transports were small, and their complements few. By their help,
