being perfectly regardless of their own men, who must have suffered equally with us. It was therefore impossible to remain on board, even to burn them; but allow me to say, who have seen much service this war, that more determined, persevering courage, I never witnessed, and that nothing but the impossibility of being successful, from the causes I have mentioned, could have prevented me from having to congratulate their Lordships. But although, in value, the loss of such gallant and good men is incalculable, yet in point of numbers it has fallen short of my expectations. I must also beg leave to state that greater zeal and ardent desire to distinguish themselves by an attack on the Enemy, was never shown than by all the Captains, Officers, and Crews of all the different descriptions of Vessels under my command. The Commanders of the Hunter and Greyhound, Revenue-Cutters, went in their Boats, in the most handsome and gallant manner, to the attack. Amongst the many gallant men wounded, I have, with the deepest regret, to place the name of my gallant, good friend and able assistant, Captain Edward T. Parker, also my Flag Lieutenant, Frederick Langford, who has served with me many years; they were wounded in attempting to board the French Commodore. 3 To Captain Gore, of the Medusa, I feel the highest obligations; and when their Lordships look at the loss of the Medusa on this occasion, they will agree with me, that the honour of my Flag, and the cause of their King and Country, could never have been placed in more gallant hands. Captain Bedford, of the Leyden, with Captain Gore, very handsomely volunteered their services to serve under a Master and Commander; but I did not think it fair to the latter, and I only mention it to mark the zeal of those officers. From the nature of the attack, only a few prisoners were made; a Lieutenant, eight seamen, and eight soldiers, are all they brought off. Herewith I send the report of the several Commanders of Divisions, and a return of killed and wounded. I have the honour to be, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. Captain Somerville was the Senior Master and Commander employed. 2 Captain Frederick Langford: he was made a Commander in 1801, Posted in November 1806, and died about 1814. 3 Captain Gore, afterwards Vice-Admiral Sir John Gore, K.C.B., G.C.H. AN ACCOUNT OF OFFICERS, SEAMEN, AND MARINES, KILLED AND WOUNDED, IN THE BOATS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS AND VESSELS IN THE ATTACK OF THE FRENCH FLOTILLA MOORED BEFORE BOULOGNE, ON THE NIGHT OF THE 15TH AUGUST, 1801. Belonging to Lieutenant Thomas Oliver Lieutenant Francis Dickenson badly the Leyden. Mr. Francis Burney, Master's Mate Mr. Samuel Spratley, Midshipman Eugenie. Mr. William Bussel, Acting Lieut. (Mr. Alexander Rutherford, Master's Jamaica. JMr. Mate Lieutenant Jeremiah Skelton. Wounded. Wounded. Killed. Wounded. Mr. Richard Wilkinson, Commander of the Greyhound Revenue Cutter, wounded; and one Seaman, belonging to the Greyhound, likewise wounded. TO EVAN NEPEAN, ESQ., ADMIRALTY. [Original, in the Admiralty.] Medusa, Downs, 17th August, 1801. Sir, I beg you will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships that I arrived at this anchorage last night, and that his Majesty's Ship Leyden arrived this morning. The Dart, Otter, and Savage joined me here. I enclose you the defects of the Savage; and, with their Lordships' approbation, I will order her to Sheerness to be repaired, if it is possible to be done. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. 'Now Rear-Admiral the Honourable Sir Anthony Maitland, K.C.M.G. and C.B., who commanded the Glasgow at Algiers, in 1816. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [Autograph in the possession of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B.] Medusa, Downs, August 17th, 1801. My dear Lord, I send you Captain Somerville's account of a young man,' who is wounded, acting in a real vacancy on board the Eugenie (a miserable tool), who behaves exceedingly well, and has passed his examination. He is deserving of a Commission. Also, I send a memorandum of Captain Bedford's for a young man of his. He is willing to take him in the Leyden. Ever yours faithfully, 6 NELSON AND BRONTE. TO ADMIRAL THE EARL OF ST. VINCENT, K.B. [From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 301.] Most Secret. 17th to 19th August, 1801. My dear Lord, I have real thoughts of attacking the Enemy at Flushing, if it be possible to be done, the moment Leyden and Medusa are manned. In that event I must run great risk, and only beg to be supported in case of failure. P.M. I find by Captain Owen's letters off Flushing, three days ago, that all the Dutch Vessels have moved lower down the Doerlog Channel, evidently to defend it: I will go and look at them; but attack I cannot, without Pilots, nor without sanction. I own I shall never bring myself again to allow any attack to go forward, where I am not personally concerned; my mind suffers much more than if I had a leg shot off in this late business. I am writing between poor Parker and Langford; therefore I must beg great indulgences, only believe that I will do my utmost: I am ready to assist the good Cause, and have no other view in my mind. Had our force arrived, as I intended, 'twas not 5 Mr. William Bussel, Acting Lieutenant of the Eugenie: he was promoted on the following day. John Little: he was also promoted on the 18th August. Both these Officers were still Lieutenants in 1814. all the chains in France that could have prevented our folks from bringing off the whole of the Vessels. August 18th.-To-night seven Howitzer-Boats will be at work on them, and if we can get the Commodore's Brig at the Harbour's mouth on fire, many of them will be burnt. Captain Conn, whom you got promoted, has, under Captain Ferrier, the entire direction of this business; and a more zealous, deserving Officer never was brought forward. Captain Ferrier you do not know; therefore it becomes me to tell you, that his Ship is in the very first order, and that he is a man of sense, and as steady as old Time himself: I am much pleased with his regularity and punctuality. Every one speaks of Captain Somerville's coolness and gallant conduct. I would not, for the world, have even my dear Parker promoted at the expense of Captain Somerville, who was an entire stranger to me. Believe me, my dear Lord, I have no interest but for the Public service. I am fixed to look at Flushing, and prepared to attack it, if the Pilots can be persuaded to take Leyden up; if it be within the pale of possibility, it shall be attempted. My dear Parker is, I fear, in a very bad way. August 19th.-I believe Calais could be bombarded, but do you think it is an object? I should not like the Bombs to go without me. Heavy sea, sick to death-this sea-sickness I shall never get over. I am, &c. NELSON AND BRONTE. TO THE SQUADRON. [From the "Naval Chronicle," vol. vi. p. 160.] Medusa, Downs, August 18th, [1801.] Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson has the greatest satisfaction in sending to the Captains, Officers, and men under his command, that were employed in the late attempt on the Enemy's Flotilla off Boulogne, an Extracts of a Letter which he has Captain John Ferrier: he became a Rear Admiral in 1810, and died an Admiral of the Blue between 1834 and 1836. "It is not given to us to command success. Your Lordship, and the gallant Officers and men under your orders, most certainly deserve it; and I cannot sufficiently express my admiration of the zeal and persevering courage with which this |