* * * *

_Return of Killed and Wounded in the Boats of his Majesty's Ships and
Vessels, on the attack of the French Flotilla, moored before Boulogne,
16th of August 1801_.

KILLED 4 Officers. 33 Seamen. 7 Marines.

WOUNDED 14 84 30
---- ---- ----
TOTAL 18 117 37
---- ---- ----

Total, Killed and Wounded, 172.

The circumstances unfolded in the above letters very sufficiently
account for the failure of success, while they demonstrate how well it
had been merited. Lord Nelson was, doubtless, in some degree
disappointed, for he had hoped to destroy or bring off all their boasted
flotilla. He consoled himself, however, with reflecting that, if little
advantage had been gained, there was, on his part, no loss of honour;
while the enemy owed their security to the disgraceful resource of being
constrained to chain their vaunted vessels for invading our country to
the shores of their own.

His lordship was scarcely returned to the Downs, from this expedition,
when he had the honour of receiving, from the First Lord of the
Admiralty, his old friend the Earl of St. Vincent, a most kind and
affectionate letter, dated the 17th of August 1801, from which the
following is an extract--

"It is not given us, to command success; your lordship, and the
gallant men under your orders, certainly deserve it: and I cannot
sufficiently express my admiration of the zeal and persevering
courage with which this gallant enterprize was followed up;
lamenting, most sincerely, the loss sustained in it. The manner in
which the enemy's flotilla was fastened to the ground, could not
have been foreseen. The highest praise is due to your lordship; and
all, under your command, who were actors in this gallant attempt."

Lord Nelson immediately issued the following general orders to all who
had fought under his command on this occasion.

"Medusa, Downs, 18th Aug. 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 extract of a letter which he has received from the First Lord of
the Admiralty; not only approving of their zeal and persevering
courag