he
immediately clambered up the side again, in which act his left hand was
nearly severed at the wrist with the blow of a cutlass. Another cut was
made at his head, which he parried, cutting the man down. The bowman of
the gig was shot through the heart while laying his oar in, and the
bowman of the cutter in getting up the side. After a resistance of
twenty minutes, the vessel was captured, most of the crew running below,
firing their muskets as they retreated.

Mr Rees had previously proved himself a most zealous and active
officer, particularly in the destruction of the slave factories at
Corisco, by the boats of the _Wolverine_, Captain Tucker.

VOYAGE OF A PRIZE FROM ACCRA TO SIERRA LEONE.

FROM 12TH AUGUST 1840 TO 5TH JANUARY 1841.

The _Dores_, a schooner of about sixty feet in length and fifteen in
breadth, had been taken at Quettah in June, and sent in charge of the
_Dolphin's_ gunner to Sierra Leone. Six weeks afterwards she was found
about twenty miles below Accra, having performed scarcely thirty miles
of her passage, and lost almost all her prize-crew, including the
gunner, from fever. Mr Murray, who had but just recovered from wounds
received in the action with the _Firme_, was then put in command of her,
with a crew of two men, two boys, and a prisoner boy, the only one who
had survived the fever.

His orders were to proceed to Sierra Leone; and the indomitable
perseverance with which he adhered to them, through formidable dangers
and difficulties, together with his care for the men under his command
during a voyage of 146 days, are well worthy of being recorded.

The only cabin which was at all habitable was eight feet in length, five
in height at the centre, and three at the sides, the breadth decreasing
from eleven to two and a half. It was entirely destitute of furniture,
swarming with vermin, and, before the end of the voyage, the fumes of
the rotting tobacco, with which the vessel was laden, clinging to the
beams, formed a coat nearly an inch in thickness. This, with an awning
of monkey skins, manufactured by themselves, was the only refuge for the
young officer and his men. The fourth night of the voyage was ushered
in by the most fearful squalls, which gradually freshened till about two
in the morning, when a tremendous storm came on, and obliged them to
bear up under bare poles; the seas washing over the little vessel, and
the wind blowing in the most terrific manner until about sev