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Lieutenant Hawkins detached one of the cutters, 1812. under master's mate James Crisp, to disperse some July. small-arm men collected on the shore, and, with the remaining three boats, proceeded for the creek in which the danish cutter lay.

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On the 2d, at 8 A. M., lieutenant Hawkins dis- Lieut. covered the vessel, which was the danish cutter kins No. 97, of four 6-pounders and 22 men, lying at boards anchor in company with the danish schooner No. 114, carries of six 6-pounders and 30 men, commanded by lieu-a tenant Buderhorf of the danish navy, the commodore, cutter and an american ship of 400 tons their prize. On schoothe approach of the british boats, the danish vessels ner. presented their broadsides with springs on their cables, and were moored in a capital defensive position. The British, nevertheless, advanced to the attack, and at 9 A. M. received the fire of the Danes; whom, however, lieutenant Hawkins and his party, assisted towards the end by Mr. Crisp's boat, completely subdued, after a most sanguinary combat.

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The British lost in this affair lieutenant Syder, seven Loss on seamen, and one marine killed, lieutenants Hawkins each and Masters, assistant surgeon James Larans, (mortally,) the boatswain, (William Hughes,) one midshipman (Thomas Fowler, severely,) nine seamen, (one mortally,) and two marines wounded; total, nine killed and 16 wounded. The loss on the danish side was also very severe; amounting to 10 killed and 13 wounded, including the commanders of the schooner and the cutter severely, and some other officers. Both the British and the Danes fought in the bravest manner, and between them sustained a loss, for which the prizes were a poor compensation. As a reward for his gallantry, lieutenant Hawkins was made a commander in the ensuing December.

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On the 4th of July, at 6 P. M., Calais cliff bearing Lieut. south by east distant four miles, the british gun-brig mods Attack, lieutenant Richard William Simmonds, detachobserved a transport-galliot, a sloop, and a privateer gig of come out of Calais harbour and endeavour to run the

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1812. alongshore. Knowing that the least manifestation July. of a pursuit would induce the vessels to put back Attack or run themselves on shore, lieutenant Simmonds after a made sail to-windward, in the hope to decoy the vessels far enough from the french coast to enable him to cut them off. Having proceeded to a sufficient distance, the Attack detached the gig, with six men, commanded by Mr. Couney, the second

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At midnight, when within half gun-shot of the boards french shore, the gig discovered the galliot in tow gal of the privateer. Undaunted by the inequality of tow of force, and regardless of a galling fire of musketry, priva- Mr. Couney boarded the transport on one side, as a and detachment from the privateer did on the other; her off. but, as soon as Mr. Couney had killed one of their men, the Frenchmen retreated to their vessel and sheered off, leaving the seven British in possession of the prize. The situation of Mr. Couney and his six men was extremely critical even after he had recaptured the galliot; for, independent of the fire of the privateer's musketry, the vessel was exposed to a continued fire of round and grape from the french batteries; nor could the Attack, on account of the calm state of the weather, approach to cooperate with her gig's crew in this very gallant little exploit. Fortunately neither Mr. Couney, nor one of his six men, was hurt on the occasion.

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On the 16th of August, at 11 P. M., Foreness in tacked the Cattegat bearing west-north-west distant six by or seven miles, the Attack observed two vessels gun- approaching supposed to be gun-vessels. The brig boats. immediately cleared for action, and in about 20

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minutes, when nearly becalmed, was attacked by a division of danish gun-boats, supposed, in the darkness that prevailed, to be 10 or 12 in number. The engagement continued until 1 h. 40 m. A. M. on the 19th, when the gun-boats ceased firing. A light breeze springing up, the Attack set all sail and got out her sweeps, in the hope to be able to join

the Wrangler gun-brig, lieutenant John Campbell 1812. Crawford, whom another division of gun-boats had June. also been attacking. But, owing to a strong southeast current and a total cessation of the breeze, lieutenant Simmonds could not succeed. Shortly afterwards the Wrangler entirely disappeared.

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The Attack had already had her main boom shot Her away, her foremast and bowsprit badly wounded, damatwo guns dismounted, a great number of shot-ges. holes between wind and water, and her sails and rigging cut to pieces. At 2 h. 10 m. A. M., while Is atthe british gun-brig, with only 49 men on board, by 14 was employed in refitting herself, 14 danish gun- gunvessels, each armed with two long 24-pounders and and two howitzers, and with from 65 to 70 men, besides comfour large row-boats carrying swivels and howitzers, to surformed in a crescent, within pistol-shot, upon her render.] larboard beam, bow, and quarter, and commenced a heavy fire of round, grape, and grenades. The Attack immediately returned the fire, and continued defending herself until 3 h. 20 m. A. M.; when, being a complete wreck and in a sinking state, the british brig hauled down her colours, with two seamen killed, and 12 wounded. The Danes were honourable enough to pay a high compliment to lieutenant Simmonds for his gallant defence of the Attack; and, at the court-martial subsequently held upon him and his officers for the loss of their brig, the most honourable acquittal was pronounced.

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On the 4th of June, in the night, captain the Medusa honourable Duncombe Pleydell Bouverie, of the es her 18-pounder 32-gun frigate Medusa, sent the boats boats of the frigate, under the orders of lieutenant Josiah out a Thompson, to cut out the french store-ship Dorade, ship in of 14 guns and 86 men, commanded by a lieutenant son. de vaisseau, lying at an anchor in the harbour of Arcasson. In spite of the rapidity of the tide and the intricacy of the navigation, and although discovered and hailed before they arrived within musket-shot, the boats succeeded in getting along

1812. side the ship. The Frenchmen were found at their June. quarters, and perfectly prepared to defend their Lieut. vessel; but nothing could resist the impetuosity of Thomp lieutenant Thompson and his men, who rushed on lantly board and carried the Dorade after a desperate boards struggle in which the whole of her crew, except carries 23 men, were either killed or compelled to jump the overboard: among the latter was the french commander, severely wounded.

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The ship had on board a full cargo of ship-timber, and had been since April, 1811, watching an opportunity to escape. At daylight on the 5th the prize. ground was got under way; but, after proceeding about a in com- league down the harbour, the ship grounded on a and is Sandbank. As the tide was then running out with great violence, lieutenant Thompson was obliged, after taking out the wounded of her crew, to set the Dorade on fire; and the ship soon afterwards blew up. This done, the boats returned to the Medusa, having sustained, in performing their gallant exploit, no greater loss than five men wounded. Here is another of the abstracted cases. How on this justly proud might every lieutenant, master's mate, and midshipman have been who assisted in capturing the Dorade; and yet not one is named except the officer who commanded the party. "Captain Bouverie," says the abstract, "highly commends the conduct of lieutenant Thompson and the other officers and men employed on this occasion." To "the other officers," this recommendation could be of no avail, as they were not named; not at least in the Gazette, the only record preserved. And, even had they been named, what could they expect, when their commanding officer, he who so gallantly led them up the side of the enemy's ship, bears still the same rank he bore then?

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The manner in which the british 74-gun ship Magnificent, captain John Hayes, on the night of the 16th of December in the present year, was saved in a gale of wind on the coast of France is so extra

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ordinary, and at the same time so creditable to the 1812. nautical skill and presence of mind of her captain, and to the expertness, alacrity, and good discipline of british seamen, that we shall be doing, not merely an act of justice to the officers and crew of the Magnificent, but a service to the whole profession, Magniby giving all the publicity in our power to an account saved of the circumstance, which has already appeared in from a popular periodical work devoted to naval subjects. wreck"The ship was anchored in the evening between captain the reef of Chasseron, and the reef of Isle de Ré, Hayes. nearly mid-channel, in 16 fathoms' water, in the entrance to Basque road; the courses reefed, topsails close reefed, and top-gallant-yards got down. At 8 o'clock, the weather appearing suspicious, and the wind beginning to blow, the top-gallant-masts were got down on deck: at half-past, it came on squally, and the cable was veered to a cable and a half. At 9, the ship was found to be driving, and in only 11 fathoms' water; the small bower was instantly let go, which brought her up in 10 fathoms. Yards and topmasts were immediately struck, as close down as they could be got. The moon was not to be seen, yet it was not a dark night: it just gave sufficient light to show us our dangerous situation; the sea breaking on the reef, with great violence, about a quarter of a mile astern, and on the starboard quarter. As soon as the topmasts were down, orders were given to heave in upon the best bower, which appeared to be slack, as though the anchor had broken. Three quarters of a cable were got in, when the stock appearing to catch a rock, it held fast service of course was put in the wake of the hawse, and the cable secured. The inner cable of the best bower was unspliced, and bent to the spare anchor; and a lead-man was kept in the chains to heave the lead, the same as though the ship had been under way, in addition to the deep-sea lead, attended at the gangway by a quarter master, when it was discovered by the man in the chains, that

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