1808	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	40

alongside. The large cutter, thus impeded, drifted upon the launch; and all three boats then fell foul of a large calking stage moored astern of the brig, which the French crew instantly cut adrift.

Disengaging the cutter as quickly as possible, Lieutenant Haly again directed his course towards the Garotta ; but such was now the rapidity of the tide, that the men, with all their efforts, could not stem it. Having had one seaman killed, and one midshipman (William Moriarty) and a corporal of marines wounded, and seeing no prospect of being supported by the starboard division of the boats under Captain Pigot, which, as well as the yawl belonging to the larboard division, had seemingly been unable to pull up against the tide, Lieutenant Haly abandoned the enterprise, and returned on board the Nymphe. At 4 a.m. the boats of each division reached their ship without any additional loss. The body of Captain Shipley was afterwards washed on shore, with his sword hanging to his hand, and afforded a clear proof that, had he fallen into the boat instead of into the water, he could not have survived his wound. Yet a contemporary represents this gallant young officer to have been " drowned." * Captain Pigot, fortunately for him, was appointed by Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, the commander-in-chief on the coast. of Portugal, to be the late Captain Shipley's successor on board the Nymphe ; and on the 17th of the ensuing September, he was confirmed in his post-rank.

On the 23d of April, in the morning, the Grasshopper, still commanded by Captain Searle, and now accompanied by the 14-gun brig Rapid, Lieutenant Henry Baugh, cruising off Faro, on the south coast of Portugal, fell in with and chased two Spanish vessels, valuably laden from South America, under the protection of four gun-boats. In a short time the chased vessels all anchored among the shoals, and under the cover of a battery close in with Faro. The Grasshopper and Rapid immediately anchored within range of grape-shot ; and, after a very severe action of two hours and a half ; compelled the people on shore to desert their guns, two of the gun-boats to surrender, and the remaining two to run themselves on shore.

The two Spanish vessels, the cargo of each of which was valued at �30,000, sterling, were immediately taken possession of. The service, thus gallantly performed, was not executed wholly without loss, the Grasshopper having one seaman killed, her captain slightly, and three seamen severely wounded, and the Rapid three seamen also wounded severely. Both brigs likewise suffered much in their hulls, masts, sails, and rigging. The loss of the enemy was very great in the two captured gun-boats, amounting to 40 in killed and wounded.

Captain Searle, in his official letter, speaks very highly of his

* Brenton, vol. v., p. 462.

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