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and so daring, as to run up within musket-shot; raked him, and carried away his main and mizen topmasts and main-yard. At daylight the Lion, and the rest of the squadron were well up; Captain Dixon ran close alongside, poured in his fire with great effect, then luffed across his bows, and locked the Frenchman's jib-boom in the Lion's main rigging, still continuing to rake him. The ships were soon disengaged from this position, and in fifty minutes the Foudroyant came up. Sir Edward Berry passed within hail of the enemy, and ordered him to surrender; but Decrees, not yet satisfied with the resistance he had made, renewed the action with fury, contending at once against the three ships, which in succession had brought him to action. After as gallant a defence as was ever shewn, the Guillaume Tell surrendered; she was the last ship of the line of the Nile fleet, every one of which had now been taken or destroyed by the victorious Nelson and his associates.

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The Guillaume Tell, now called the Malta, mounted eighty-six guns, and had on board one thousand men: the loss of the enemy must have been very considerable. Decrees gave a long and correct letter on the subject, stating that he was dismasted and overpowered. He was much esteemed for his conduct on this occasion, and the chief

consul made him minister of the marine. He had many enemies, and was cruelly murdered by his own servant at Paris a few years after.*

In the month of August, while Captain George Martin, in the Northumberland, of seventy-four guns, commanded the blockade of Malta, two French frigates, La Diane and La Justice, slipped out in the night; but were immediately perceived and chased, and the Diane captured by Captain Peard, in the Success: she mounted forty-two guns, eighteen and nine pounders, but had only one hundred and fourteen men on board.

The boats of our cruisers were particularly active and successful, on the Mediterranean station, at this period. Those of the Mermaid frigate, Captain Robert D. Oliver, cut out six vessels, loaded with supplies for the relief of Genoa, which had run under a fort near Cape Corsette. Those of El Corso, sloop of war, were sent by Captain W. Ricketts, who had the Pigmy, cutter, under his orders, to attack the port of Cesenatico. The boats were placed under the command of Lieutenant James Lucas Yeo, who executed his orders with great spirit and gallantry, destroying thirteen vessels, and the pier-heads. This affair was con

*The wretch concealed some gunpowder in his master's bed, which was contrived to explode with a slow match at the moment of his retiring to rest; the blow was not immediately fatal. The servant on hearing the report threw himself from the window, and lived only long enough to confess his crime; the unfortunate Admiral expired on the third or fourth day after the explosion.

ducted with unusual severity, in consequence of the municipality having arrested a British officer charged with despatches.

Captain Louis, of the Minotaur, had the blockade of Barcelona, having under his orders the Niger, of thirty-two guns, commanded by Captain Hillyar. Two Spanish corvettes, of twenty-two guns each, were lying in the harbour.

Captain Hillyar, with the Lieutenants Schomberg, Warrand, and Lowry of the Minotaur, Healy of the Niger, Jewel of the marines, and Mr. Reid the master, volunteered to cut these vessels out.

This daring act was nobly accomplished, but has been greatly misrepresented; it having been stated, that Captain Hillyar availed himself of the neutrality of a Swedish galliot, to get into the harbour unperceived or unsuspected. The Niger was at that time, armed en flute, with the guns and complement of a sloop of war, and in that condition had been often attacked by the gun-boats from Barcelona. In the course of his in-shore service, Hillyar had well observed the situation of the enemy; who lay as usual under very strong batteries, guarded by ten gun-boats, and two schooners. Sir Thomas Louis ordered eight boats, manned with volunteers, to accompany Hillyar in the attack; one of them was at that time (late in the evening), boarding a Swedish galliot bound into the port. To join this boat, and give directions to the officer, Captain Hillyar went alongside, and continued there with all his boats, while the ves

sel stood in towards the mole: this act, which could have had no effect in protecting him from hostility, was magnified by the Swedes and Spaniards into a serious breach of neutrality. As they approached to the distance of three-quarters of a mile, or long gunshot, Hillyar and his party quitted the vessel: two shots were at this moment fired, which passed over the galliot; and two or three minutes after, the enemy's outer ship in Barcelona discharged her broadside at them: the shot all fell short. The boats pulled in, and with such alacrity and resolution, that the enemy had neither time nor inclination to reload their guns. The outer ship was immediately boarded and carried with great opposition. cheers of the victors announced the conquest, upon which the other ship (one of her cables being cut) opened her fire. Her fore-topsail

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had been loosed in order to cast her towards the mole-head, where the Spaniards intended to seek safety: the sail took the wrong way, and as fortune often favours the brave, she was carried with complete success. The other cable cut, and both vessels came out together towed by the British boats, and pursued for a short time by the Spanish gun-boats. Such was the result of this little enterprise, which the Spaniards, ashamed of their defeat, attempted to prove was done under the disguise of a neutral flag, forgetting that the affair was achieved after dark, when no flag could be distinguished; and even if the case was as they

represent, it did not prevent their firing upon a defenceless neutral. It was, however, unfortunate that the Swedish vessel was in company for, although her presence neither contributed to the success of the enterprise, nor the safety of the men, it was thought in England, that the representation of the Swedish and the Spanish ministers had made an impression to the disadvantage of Hillyar and his gallant companions. The Admiralty and Lord Nelson, after much explanation, saw it in its true light, and the latter was ever after the friend of Captain Hillyar. The vessels mounted twenty-two brass guns, and had cargoes bound to Batavia. One was called La Paz, the other the Esmeralda: they were about four hundred tons burden. Our loss was two killed and five wounded. The capture led to the promotion of Captain Hillyar and Lieutenant Schomberg.

The fortress of Valette, and the island of Malta, surrendered on the 20th of September, to our army under General Pigott, and the blockading squadron under the command of Captain George Martin, in the Northumberland, of seventy-four guns. Captain Alexander John Ball, of the Alexander, had commanded the blockade of the island, until his services were deemed of much more importance on shore, to conduct the siege of Valette, and unite the Maltese against the enemy. He had over the minds of these people a wonderful influence, and employed it so much for the benefit of his country, that to his exertions we chiefly owe the

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