1809	Boats of Scout at Carri	171

were detached ahead and on each bow, to lead in, with directions to make a signal when in three fathoms.

In this manner the two frigates, by noon, were enabled to anchor in a quarter three fathoms within grape-range of the battery. The latter was very soon silenced ; and the boats under the orders of Lieutenant Willes, pushed in and took possession of it, turning the guns upon the castle and town, which were very soon deserted. The British captured on this occasion 12 vessels, some laden with corn for Venice, and others in ballast. The latter were filled with hemp and iron out of the magazines for those articles on the quay, and a vessel which had been scuttled was burnt. The castle and magazine were then blown up, the battery destroyed, and the guns spiked ; and the British returned to their ships without having a single man wounded, although much exposed to the fire of the battery and of musketry. Nor was any damage done to the ships, although, in consequence of the zeal of Captain Duncan to get close to the enemy, the Mercury was for a short time aground.

On the 14th of June, in the morning, the British 18-gun brig-sloop Scout, Captain William Raitt, discovering a convoy of 14 or 15 sail of vessels, under the protection of two gun-boats, coming round Cape Croisette, made all sail in chase ; but, about 1 p.m., it falling calm, and the convoy being a good deal dispersed, Captain Raitt despatched his boats under the orders of Lieutenant Henry Robert Battersby. On seeing this, seven sail pushed for a harbour about three leagues to the eastward of the cape, into which the boats proceeded under a heavy and well-directed fire of grape and musketry.

Lieutenant Battersby, with apart of his men, landed, and attacked the enemy, who were numerous among the rocks : he then stormed and carried the battery, mounting two 6-pounders in embrasures. These were spiked ; and, the boats with Lieutenant John Farrant, Mr. John Batten, the master, and master's mate Granville Thompson, having in the mean time pulled up the harbour, the seven vessels were brought out ; although, for their better security, they had been made fast with ropes from the shore to their mast-heads and keels. In the execution of this service, the British sustained a loss of one man killed and five wounded.

On the 14th of July Lieutenant Battersby, at the head of a detachment of the Scout's seamen and marines, attacked a strong battery which commanded the port of Carri, between Marseille and the Rhone ; carried the fort without any loss, spiked the guns, killed five of the enemy, and made seven prisoners. For his gallantry on this and other occasions, Lieutenant Battersby, in the succeeding September, was promoted to the rank of commander.

On the 12th of March, at 6 h. 30 m. a.m., the island of Anti-Paxo in the Adriatic bearing about north distant six or seven

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