ndeed, I may say that
all the officers under my command vied in their exertions for the
honour of the British flag.'

"You see the commander had quarrelled with some of his officers at that
time, and would not mention them. I tried all I could to persuade him,
but he was obstinate.

"`I have the honour to return a list of casualties, and the names of
the vessels taken, and have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient
servant, ALCIBIADES AJAX BOGGS.

"`Report of killed and wounded on board of his Majesty's brig
_Weasel_, in the action of the 23rd of August:--Killed, none; wounds
and contusions, John Potts, William Smith, Thomas Snaggs, William
Walker, and Peter Potter, able seamen; John Hobbs, Timothy Stout, and
Walter Pye, marines.

"`Return of vessels captured in the action of the 23rd of August, by
his Majesty's brig _Weasel_:--Notre Dame de Misericorde, de Rochelle;
La Vengeur, de Bourdeaux; L'Etoile du Matin, de Charent.

"`Signed ALCIBIADES AJAX BOGGS, Commander.'"

"Well, I'm sure, if you had not told me otherwise, I should have thought
it had been a very hard fight."

"That's what they did at the Admiralty, and just what we wanted; but now
I come to my other despatch, which obtained the rank for my captain; and
upon which I plume myself not a little. You must know, that when
cruising in the Channel, in a thick fog, and not keeping a very sharp
look-out, we ran foul of a French privateer. It was about nine o'clock
in the evening, and we had very few hands on deck, and those on deck
were most of them, if not all, asleep. We came bang against one
another, and carried away both spars and yards; and the privateer, who
was by far the most alert after the accident happened, cut away a good
deal of our rigging, and got clear of us before our men could be got up
from below. Had they been on the look out, they might have boarded us
to a certainty, for all was confusion and amazement; but they cleared
themselves and got off before our men could get up and run to their
guns. She was out of sight immediately, from the thickness of the fog;
however, we fired several broadsides in the direction we supposed she
might be; and there was an end to the matter. Altogether, as you
perceive, it was not a very creditable affair."

"Why, no," replied Joey; "I don't see how you could make much out of
that."

"Well, if you can't see, now you shall hear:--

"`TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY.