gun-vessels and other craft within the pier, and the different
batteries by which they were protected, I anchored the Cerberus
as near the shore as the tide would admit, having only sixteen
feet at low-water. At eleven, the Terror came up, but, having
grounded, it was not until two o'clock that Captain Hardinge
was able to place his ship in the position assigned; this he
now did in a most judicious manner, and opened a brisk fire
from his two mortars; which was returned from the mortar and
gun-batteries on the heights near the town, and also from some
guns on the pier, and the gun-vessels placed in the entrance.

From the number of well-directed shells thrown from the Terror
into the pier and parts of the town, I am persuaded they must
have done very considerable damage. The fire was kept up till
after five o'clock, when I thought it advisable to recall the
Terror, and anchored with this ship and the Charwell a short
distance from the town. The Sulphur bomb, whose bad sailing
prevented her from beating up, joined shortly after, and also
anchored. The loss on this occasion was two men wounded by
splinters on board the Terror.

A few shells were thrown in the evening, but the tide prevented
the ship getting sufficiently near to be attended with much
effect.

This morning the squadron was under sail before dawn of day,
and all circumstances concurred to enable them to take their
respective stations with the utmost precision. The two
mortar-vessels opened a brisk and well-directed fire soon after
five o'clock; which was unremittingly kept up till half-past
ten, when the falling tide rendered it necessary to withdraw
from the attack. Twenty-two gun-vessels, that had hauled out of
the pier, drew up a regular line, and kept up a heavy fire,
jointly with the batteries around the port, without doing much
execution.

The Cerberus, after getting under sail, grounded on one of the
sand-banks, and remained about three hours, before she floated:
nine of the gun-boats, perceiving her situation, endeavoured to
annoy her, and kept up a heavy fire upon her for some time; but
were silenced by the Charwell and Kite, and also by the fire of
the Sulphur and Terror bombs, and by the carronade launch of
the Cerberus, under the orders of Lieutenant