de and attempted to board.
That firmness and undaunted bravery, however, which is characteristic
of British seamen, was here displayed in an eminent degree; and the
Brazilians, with their overpowering numbers, were completely beaten off
by Lieutenant D'Aguilar and his little band, with a loss, on the enemy's
side, it is said, of upwards of ten killed and thirty wounded. As may
naturally be supposed, where the contest was one at close quarters, and
where each of the gallant defenders had so many assailants to wait upon,
they did not come out of the _melee_ unscathed. Scarcely one of them
escaped a mark, and several of them were severely wounded. Lieutenant
D'Aguilar received many hurts about the head. It subsequently
transpired that it was the intention of the Brazilians to have silently
got alongside the vessel, and to have secured the prize-crew. They
would then have cut the cables and made sail, to land the cargo of
slaves at another part of the coast. This affair was the theme of
general applause in the squadron on the station.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE RECAPTURE OF THE EMILY SAINT PIERRE BY CAPTAIN WILLIAM WILSON--1862.

The recapture of the _Emily Saint Pierre_ reminds us of the fighting
days of the wars with France and America, when several similar events
took place; but during the whole course of English naval history we find
no deed more gallant or more worthy of record. The _Emily Saint Pierre_
was a large Liverpool East Indian trader, commanded by Captain William
Wilson. She left Calcutta on the 27th of November 1861, with orders to
make the coast of South Carolina, to ascertain whether there was peace
or war. If peace had been declared, Captain Wilson was to take a pilot
and enter the port of Charleston; if there was a blockade, he was to
proceed to Saint John's, New Brunswick.

On the 8th of March 1862, he considered his vessel to be about twelve
miles off the land, when a steamer was made out approaching. When the
steamer, which proved to be a Federal vessel of war, the _James Adger_,
came within hail, the _Emily Saint Pierre_ was ordered to heave to, and
was soon afterwards boarded by two boats, whose officers and crews took
possession of her. Filling on the main-yard, they steered for the
Federal squadron. Captain Wilson was now ordered into the boat, and
carried on board the flagship, when he was informed by flag-officer
Goldboursh that his vessel had saltpetre on board, and that consequ