Mansell, assisted
by the Eling and Carteret, which obliged them to take shelter
in their port.

In the performance of this intricate service, I cannot too
highly applaud the zeal and persevering exertions of all the
officers and men under my orders; and I should not do justice
to the merits of Captain Selby, were I not to acknowledge the
able assistance I have received from him since I had the honour
of being in his ship: the steadiness and good conduct of all
the officers and men in the Cerberus, during the time the ship
was aground, do them infinite credit. The various services in
which Capt. McLeod of the Sulphur, and Hardinge of the Terror,
have been employed this war, are already sufficiently known:
but I will venture to assert, that in no instance can they have
displayed greater zeal and gallantry than on the present
occasion. Great praise is due to Lieutenants Macartney and
Smith, and the parties of artillery embarked on board the
respective bomb-vessels.

It is not possible to ascertain the damages the enemy has
sustained; but, as a very few of the shells missed taking
effect, they must have been very considerable.

JAS. SAUMAREZ.

During the period the Cerberus was aground the tide fell six feet, and
at one time she was in the greatest danger of upsetting; the topmasts
were immediately struck, and the vessel shored up by the lower yards
and spare spars. While heeling over more than forty-five degrees, the
bottom of the ship was exposed to the shot of the enemy, and was
struck in several places. Sir James himself had a very narrow escape
from a shot, which grazed his legs as he was standing on the gangway
with the purser and the secretary, whose dismay and quick retreat from
so dangerous a situation only produced a smile from the Admiral, who
would not listen to proposals subsequently made to him for quitting
the Cerberus while in that situation. The coolness with which he gave
his orders, and his presence of mind on this trying occasion, tended
materially to save the ship, by exciting the officers and men to exert
themselves; while the most perfect order was maintained under
circumstances which often cause disorder and confusion.

The Cerberus received no material damage in the bottom from being
aground: she was soon repaired, and returned with the squadron to
Guernsey on the 17th, when the flag was a