towards the merchant brig ; but the latter, covered by the Speedy's fire, bore up to the eastward and effected her escape. At 5 p.m., finding themselves foiled in their attempts upon the brig, the gun-boats bore up to capture the ship. The Speedy bore up also ; and, passing through the midst of the gun-boats, near enough to carry away a part of their oars, poured in from both sides so well directed a fire of cannon and musketry, that the Spaniards fled in confusion. At 6 p.m. the Unity, who, notwithstanding that she had been exposed to a galling fire, had manœuvred with skill and steadiness, was out of danger; and at 6 h. 30 m. p.m. the gun-boats ran for shelter under the guns of Fort Barbary.

In this very gallant exploit on the part of Captain Brenton, who in his official letter bestows much praise upon Lieutenant Parker, Mr. Marshall the master, and the remainder of his officers and brig's company, the Speedy had most of her running rigging shot away, her maintopsail yard shot through, and her fore rigging much cut : she had also received so many shot in her hull below the water-line, that the water was up to her lower deck. With this serious damage, the loss on board the Speedy amounted to no more than two seamen killed and one wounded.

Being, on account of the shot-holes in her larboard side, and the direction of the wind, which blew strong from the westward, unable to enter Gibraltar, the Speedy ran for Tetuan bay ; where on the 7th, at 2 a.m.. she came to an anchor, and commenced stopping her numerous leaks. The Spanish gun-boats are represented to have lost 11 men killed, besides several wounded ; and four of the gun-boats, it appears, were seen from the rock of Gibraltar to strike to the Speedy.

Having rendered herself seaworthy, the Speedy stood across the Strait, and anchored at Gibraltar. The following account of what followed we extract from a contemporary work, but must preface it by stating, that the account of the Speedy's action with the gun-boats is the most confused and imperfect of any that has been published. Indeed, according to Captain Brenton, his brother sustained two separate attacks, on different days ; but, upon the authority of the Speedy's log, one only occurred. "The captain and crew," says our contemporary, "were much out of humour with General O'Hara, the governor ; but when Captain Brenton waited on him, his excellency thus addressed him: "I conclude, sir, you think I have treated you very ill in not affording you assistance, but I have made arrangements with the governor of Algesiras, to prevent this town being kept in a constant alarm and annoyance by the Spanish gun-boats, which in consequence are never to be fired on from the rock. There is the copy of a letter which I have written to the admiralty, and I most sincerely wish you may obtain your promotion.' The letter was so handsomely worded,

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