ured a ship at anchor under the guns of a battery, and
also a fast-sailing lugger, and then joined the squadron at Plymouth, and
sailed thence on the 24th of March, 1806. We captured some fishing-boats,
but let them go, and from information gained from the men brought off two
prizes laden with wine, and during the week captured several other ships,
and then rejoined the squadron, which we supplied with wine sufficient to
last them for some considerable time.

"Leaving the fleet again, we heard that some French corvettes were lying
up the Garonne; and after dark we came to an anchor, and the boats, manned
by the whole crew--except about forty men--under the command of the first
lieutenant rowed up the river to capture one of them, which was lying a
few miles up under the protection of two batteries. About four o'clock in
the morning we heard heavy firing. The boats had, after a smart fight,
captured a corvette which mounted fourteen guns. No sooner had they taken
possession than two other corvettes came up. The guns of the prize were
turned upon them and they were beaten off, and the prize was brought
safely down the river. In the meantime our position had not been a
pleasant one. Soon after daylight three strange craft were seen making for
the mouth of the river. They were clearly enemies, and as we had only
forty hands on board, things looked very blue.

"'We must make them think that we are strong-handed,' Cochrane said to me;
and he ordered the men aloft to fasten up the furled sails with rope-yarn
and to cast off the gaskets and other ropes. Then he waited until the
enemy approached, while the men remained on the yards knife in hand. When
he gave the word they cut the rope-yarns, and the sails all fell together.
This naturally produced the impression upon the Frenchmen that we had a
very strong crew, and directly the cloud of canvas fell they hauled their
wind and made off along the shore. Every hand on board, officers and men,
hauled at the sheets, and we were soon in chase. We gained rapidly upon
them, divided the crew among the bow-guns, and opened fire. Scarcely had
we fired half a dozen shots when the captain of the foremost vessel ran
his ship ashore.

"The shock brought down her masts, and the crew landed in her boats. We
ran as close as we dared, and fired several broadsides into her to prevent
her floating with the rising tide. The other two corvettes came back to
assist their comrade, but when we sailed b