The expedition for that purpose, when all was ready, consisted of the Diamond's launch, armed with an 18-pounder carronade and muskets, and four other boats, one of which was a two-oared wherry, armed with muskets only. In the boats were embarked nine officers (six of them from 12 to 16 years of age), three servants, and 40 seamen ; total 52. As is rather unusual on such occasions, the captain himself took the command of the boats. Circumstanced as the Diamond then was, there appears to have been no alternative. Her first lieutenant had been sent to England with despatches, the second lieutenant was sick in his cot, and the third so indisposed as to be unequal to any exertion. There was also an acting lieutenant, but, although possessed of all the requisite courage, he was too young to have the entire charge of such an enterprise ; and the services of the master, who was an excellent pilot for the French coast, were wanted on board the frigate.

At 10 p.m. Sir Sidney, having embarked in the two-oared wherry, pushed off from the Diamond at the head of his boats. On arriving within sight of the lugger, the boats lay upon their oars to reconnoitre her position, and to receive from their commanding officer his definitive orders. This done, the boats took a broad sheer between the Vengeur and the shore, in order to assume the appearance of fishing-boats coming out of the harbour, and thereby protract the moment of alarm. The plan appeared to succeed, and the boats, unsuspected if not unobserved, pulled straight towards the object of attack ; intending, to reserve their fire until the lugger herself should open upon them. This the latter did as soon as they arrived within half pistol-shot. The boats instantly returned the fire, and in less than ten minutes, without the slightest casualty, were in possession of the Vengeur.

Now it was that the British discovered the difficulties of their situation. During the short struggle between them and the privateer's men, the latter, very wisely, had cut the cable of their vessel ; which, in consequence, had been, and still was, drifting with the tide towards the shore. Search was in vain made for an anchor heavy enough to hold the vessel against the strength of a rapid tide that rushed into the Seine. All the boats were sent ahead to tow, and every sail was set on the lugger, but all was in vain. After these fruitless efforts, a small kedge was let go, with scarcely a hope of its holding. The vessel dragged it a long way, but at length brought up nearly abreast of Harfleur, on the northern shore of the river.

Sir Sidney now quitted the prize in his boat, to proceed to the Diamond ; but observing, as daylight approached, several vessels coming out of Havre to attempt her recapture, he returned to the lugger, with the determination of defending her till the northeast tide made, or a propitious breeze sprang up, by which his brave companions in arms might be extricated from their perilous

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