1809	Boats of Amphion at Cortelazzo	177

of the marines, landed with a small party to dislodge the enemy from the rugged precipices round the port, Lieutenant Harper and his detachment gallantly boarded and carried six Italian gun-boats, three of three long 24, and the remainder of three long 18 pounders ; and which gun-boats, along with 10 laden trabaccolos, or coasters, were brought off with no greater loss to the British than the Bustard's master, Mr. Katly Robinson, and seven seamen and marines wounded, one of them mortally.

On the 24th of August the British 18-pounder 32-gun frigate Amphion, Captain William Hoste, reconnoitred the port of Cortelazzo, situated between Venice and Triest, and discovered lying there six Franco-Italian gun-boats, and convoy of merchant trabaccolos, moored in a strong position, under a battery of four 24-pounders, at the mouth of the river Piavie. Finding it impracticable on account of the shallowness of the water, to enter the port with the frigate, Captain Hoste, having received from a fisherman a very correct account of the force and situation of the vessels and battery, resolved to send in his boats. To prevent any suspicion of design, he kept out of sight of land until the evening of the 26th ; when, crowding all sail the Amphion stood in shore, and at 1 a.m. on the 27th anchored off the entrance of the Piavie.

At 3 a.m. a detachment of 70 seamen and marines, commanded by Lieutenant Phillott, assisted by Lieutenant George Matthew Jones, and Lieutenant of marines Thomas Moore, landed about a mile to the southward of the battery ; leaving Lieutenant William Slaughter, with the boats, to push for the river the instant the fort was carried. At 3 h. 15 m. a.m. the alarm was given ; and at the same instant Lieutenant Phillott and his party attacked the fort. So vigorous was the assault, that, in 10 minutes, although surrounded by a ditch and a chevaux de frize ; the fort was carried, and the concerted signal made for the boats to advance. The four 24-pounders on the battery were instantly turned upon the gun-boats, which were also attacked by a fire of musketry from Lieutenant Moore and his marines. Thus assailed, the gun boats were boarded and carried, after a slight opposition, by the Amphion's boats under Lieutenant Slaughter.

Four of the gun-boats mounted one long 24-pounder each, and two of them, of a larger description mounted each one long 24-pounder in the bow and one long 12-pounder in the stern, with four swivels along the gunwale, and a crew of 36 men. Two trabaccolos with cargoes were taken, and five burnt. Having spiked the guns at the battery, and totally destroyed it, together with an adjacent barrack, Lieutenant Phillott and his detachment re-embarked at 1 p.m., with so slight a loss as one marine accidently wounded by an explosion, and that not badly, after the battery and vessels had been captured.

In addition to the officers already named, there were present in this very gallant and important exploit, master's mates John

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