68     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

On the 29th of April Captain Patrick Campbell, of the 74-gun ship Leviathan, detached the boats of that ship and of the 38, gun frigate Undaunted, Captain Richard Thomas, under Lieutenant Alexander Dobbs, to attack a French privateer and several merchant vessels in the port of Agay. Lieutenant Dobbs, without any loss, boarded and carried the privateer, a brig of 14 guns and 80 men, lying aground, but could not get her afloat. Four of the merchant vessels were brought off ; but, during the endeavours to get off the privateer, two men were killed and four wounded by the fire of the enemy on the shore ; who also succeeded in extinguishing the fire which had been put to the brig.

On the same day the boats of the Undaunted, with those of the 38-gun frigate Volontaire, Captain Charles Bullen, and 18-gun ship-sloop Blossom, Captain William Stewart, placed under the orders of Lieutenant John Eagar of the Undaunted, attacked a French convoy of 26 vessels at anchor near the mouth of the Rhone, brought out seven, burnt 12, including a national schooner of four guns and 74 men, and left two stranded on the beach. This spirited and important service was performed without any loss, the boats having been ably covered and protected by the fire of the Blossom.

On the 9th of May the British 74-gun ships America and Leviathan, Captains Josias Rowley and Patrick Campbell, and 18-gun brig-sloop Eclair, Captain John Bellamy, fell in with a French convoy of 18 deeply laden vessels, which took shelter under the town and batteries of Languelia. The two captains concurring in opinion as to the practicability of bringing out or destroying the vessels by getting possession of the batteries, the marines of both ships, about 250 in number, were, at daybreak on the 10th, landed to execute the service, under the orders of Captains Henry Rea of the America, and John Owen of the Leviathan, assisted by Lieutenants John Nearne, William Beddeck Cock, Paul Kyffin Carden, and John George Hill. Unfortunately the landing was not effected without an accident of a very serious nature. The yawl of the America was sunk by a chance shot from the only gun that could bear on the boats ; and, before assistance could be afforded, 10 marines and one seaman were drowned.

A party, under Captain Owen, was detached to carry a battery of five 24 and 18 pounders to the eastward ; which he performed in a very spirited and judicious manner, the French officer who commanded falling in the attack. The main body of the marines, in the mean time, rapidly advancing through a severe fire of grape, carried the battery adjoining the town of Languelia, con consisting of four 24 and 18 pounders and one mortar, although protected by a strong body of the enemy posted in the wood and in several contiguous buildings ; upon the latter of which the guns of the battery were immediately turned with much effect.

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