46     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

again hauled to the wind, and at 40 minutes past noon recommenced harassing the rear of the flotilla, then endeavouring, under all sail, to get into Dieppe. The Rosario tacked and wore occasionally, in order to close, receiving each time the fire of the whole line. At 1 h. 30 m. p.m., being far enough to windward, the Rosario most gallantly ran into the body of the French flotilla, and, by cutting away the running rigging of the two nearest brigs, drove them on board of each other : she then, backing her main topsail, engaged them within musket-shot, until they were clear, and afterwards stood on and engaged a third brig ; who, losing her mainmast and fore topmast by the board, dropped her anchor. Passing her, the Rosario drove the next brig in line on shore. Two more brigs of the flotilla yet remained to leeward. Bearing up for these, the Rosario, at that time not more than three quarters of a mile from the shore, ran the nearest brig on board, and quickly carried her.

So far the Rosario had acted alone, the Griffon, with all her exertions, not having yet arrived within gun-shot. While, however, the Rosario was bearing away with her prize, clear of the batteries, Captain Harvey passed and hailed his friend, directing him to chase the remaining brig of the two which the Rosario had last attacked with so much success. The Griffon immediately proceeded on the service, and drove the French brig on shore near St.-Aubin, under a very heavy fire from the batteries. Seeing no probability of the Griffon's being able to destroy the brig, Captain Harvey, who was occupied in removing his prisoners and repairing the running rigging of the Rosario, signalled the Griffon to attack the remaining nine brigs of the flotilla in the south-east, then anchoring close in-shore. In obedience to this signal, the Griffon ran in-shore of one of the brigs at anchor near the centre, and, in the most gallant manner boarded and carried her. Captain Trollope then cut the cables of his prize, and stood out with her, in the face of a heavy fire from the batteries, and from the remaining eight French brigs.

Finding as the Griffon passed him, that she was too much disabled in her rigging immediately to renew the attack, yet determined, although his prisoners already equalled his sloop's company, to have another of the brigs, Captain Harvey ran on board the brig which the Rosario, by her fire, had previously dismasted ; and which, unknown to him at the time, an account of the darkness of the evening, had just been abandoned by her crew. While, with their three prizes, the Rosario and Griffon stood out to the offing, leaving two other brigs on shore, the French commodore, with the seven remaining brigs of his flotilla, got under way and entered Dieppe. In this truly gallant exploit, no other loss appears to have been sustained on the British side, than one midshipman, Jonathan Widdicomb Dyer, who conducted himself most nobly, and four men wounded, on

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