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Naval history of Great Britain
by
William James
1807 Anne and Spanish Gun-boats 345

the Porcupine, then cruising between Ragusa and the island of Curzola, captured two small vessels from the first-named port, under a fire of musketry from the shore, by which one of his men was wounded. On the 29th the same enterprising officer went with the boats into the harbour of Zuliano, and destroyed a number of small vessels, together with the wine that was in the magazines for the use of the French troops. A trabacculo, laden with wood, was the only vessel afloat in the harbour, and she was brought out.

While the boats were returning, another trabacculo was seen coming down. The Porcupine gave chase ; but Lieutenant Price, anticipating the wishes of his captain, pulled to windward and captured the vessel. She proved to be from Ragusa bound to Curzola, having on board stores of every description for guns and mortars, two 62 inch brass mortars, two 51 inch brass howitzers, four new 18-pounder gun-carriages, plank and every material for constructing a battery on the island to which she was bound, and a great quantity of shot and shells. Both this and the former service were performed without a casualty.

On the 25th of October the British 18-gun ship-sloop Herald, Captain George M. Hony, cruising off the fortress of Otranto in the Adriatic, observed an armed trabacculo at an anchor under it. Conceiving it practicable, under cover of night, to cut the vessel out, Captain Hony detached his boats, commanded by Lieutenant Walter Foreman ; who, in the face of a heavy fire of great guns and musketry, both from the vessel and the shore, gallantly boarded and brought out the French privateer César of four 6-pounders. The crew defended her until the boats were alongside, when all except four escaped by a stern hawser. Of Lieutenant Foreman's party, Mr. James Wood, the carpenter, was the only person hurt : he was wounded dangerously. On board the Herald two men were slightly wounded by shot from the fortress, and the ship's hull and rigging slightly damaged.

On the 24th of November, at 9 h. 30 m. A.M., the island of Terriffa in sight bearing north-east by north, and the wind very light from the west-north-west, the British hired armed brig Anne, of ten 12-pounder carronades, Lieutenant James M'Kenzie, having in her company the late Spanish lugger-privateer Vansigo of seven guns (six long 4, and one long brass 12-pounder), with nine of the Anne's 39 men on board as a prize-crew, observed 10 Spanish gun-boats rowing towards her from the shore. At 10 A.M. the headmost vessel fired a shot, and hoisted a red flag. Finding that, owing to the calm state of the weather, it was impossible to escape, Lieutenant M'Kenzie shortened sail to receive his opponents.

At 10 h. 15 m. A.M., the three headmost gun-boats closed, and commenced the action. At 10 h. 30 m., the remaining seven closing, the lugger, after having previously hailed the Anne to

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