were stupendous overhanging rocks, which occasionally served as fixed points for the tackle employed in raising the guns. From these 18-pounders, so admirably posted, a cannonade was unremittingly kept up during the whole of the 16th and 17th. On the latter evening, when the fire of the redoubt had become nearly overpowered, it was determined to storm the works ; a service which was executed with vigour, and crowned with success. A part only of the garrison was made prisoners : the remainder retired to another strong hold, which was distant about 400 yards, and separated by a deep ravine, from the former. That post the republicans abandoned about midnight, then crossed over to the town of San-Fiorenzo with their two frigates, and left the British in quiet possession of the tower and batteries of Fornelli. On the next day, the 18th, the squadron anchored in perfect security, in Mortella bay. On the 19th the French, having set fire to one of their frigates, and left the other sunk, and, to all appearance, destroyed by the shot from the British, evacuated the town of San-Fiorenzo, retreating towards Bastia. On the same evening San-Fiorenzo, with its formidable batteries mounting 25 pieces of cannon, including two 12-inch mortars, two 36, and seven 24 pounders, was taken possession of by the British ; and the seamen soon found means to weigh and carry off the Minerve, a fine French 38-gun frigate. The prize was taken into the British service, named (there being already a Minerve) San-Fiorenzo, and established as a first-class 36. The frigate which had been set on fire was the Fortunée, of the same force as the Prudente, and others of her class.

The loss sustained by the combined forces in these several attacks amounted to 17 privates killed, one lieutenant, and 35 non-commissioned officers and privates wounded. General Paoli, at the head of about 1200 Corsicans, was at hand, ready to assist the British, in case his services should be required. The active part taken by the navy, in all the operations on shore, none were more ready to acknowledge, than Major-general Dundas, the commanding officer of the land-forces.

Lord Hood, having failed to convince Major-general Dundas of the practicability of reducing Bastia, the capital of Corsica, with the small force which had already effected so much, sailed from San-Fiorenzo bay on the evening of the 23d, to try what effect the appearance of his fleet alone would produce. After cruising off the port for a fortnight, and gaining every intelligence necessary to facilitate his plans, the British admiral, with a part of his squadron, sailed back to San-Fiorenzo bay ; where he arrived on the 5th of March. The major-general still declining to act; until the arrival of an expected reinforcement of 2000 men from Gibraltar, Lord Hood took on board that proportion of the land-forces which had originally been ordered to serve on board the fleet as marines, and obtained, also, two

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