of things, and took up a secure position on

the heights.

The situation of the fleet was almost as embarrassing as that of the army; for the ships were anchored on the open coast, being prevented from entering the bay by the Martello tower. Lord Hood conceiving that this might soon be silenced, ordered a line-ofbattle ship and a frigate to attack it. These ships anchored within point blank shot, and cannonaded the tower; but the stone walls being circular and of great thickness, threw off the balls; while the two guns of the tower (there were no more) swept the decks of the men-of-war, and made fearful havoc. At last red-hot shot set fire to the line-of-battle ship, on which both sheered off, to escape conflagration. As nothing could be done against this tower by sea, a land battery was erected; but the guns, being six-pounders, had no effect. An eighteen-pounder was then procured from the Victory, which battered the walls, and the infantry firing continually into the embrasure, the garrison, consisting of only

one midshipman and thirty-six men, surrendered. These few defied for a week the whole British fleet. This Martello tower was the first of that species of fortification, and the model of many erected since.

When General Dundas had inspected the French fortifications, and found that they were much too strong to be carried by assault with the handful of British troops under his command, he was exceedingly at a loss how to act; for the Corsicans, who had joined, could be of no use in attacking works. Moore, however, with Koehler, examined every place, and especially a steep, rocky hill, about seven hundred yards from the Convention redoubt. This height had not been occupied by the French, who deemed it impracticable to drag cannon up so precipitous a crag. They knew not the energies of British seamen, and Moore recommended to the General to make that attempt, which Sir David said he would try. After two days hard labour, by the help of blocks and ship-tackle, two eighteen-pounders were hauled up, and mounted upon the top of

the rock, from whence the shot plunged into the redoubt. Another battery of smaller guns was also established upon a neighbouring eminence. In a couple of days some of the French cannon were dismounted, and the rampart shattered. The General then gave Moore orders to storm the redoubt. The troops were divided into three columns; a central one to advance in front, another to move on the right flank, and the Corsicans on the left, and to get into the rear to cut off the retreat of the French, in case of success.

Moore, placing himself at the head of the grenadiers of the centre column, advanced quickly and silently through the thick brushwood by moonlight. When within fifty yards of the redoubt, he noticed that he was screened from the fire by the brow of the hill. He halted there for a few minutes, to give the men time to recover breath, and to restore their order, somewhat broken by hurrying over rough ground. Then, by his command, whose spirit was transfused to the soldiers, they rushed up the height and leaped into

the entrenchment.

The first traverse was

carried; then he made for the second, and sprang to the embrasure, where a French gunner, who had a match in his hand, from some lucky chance, neglected to apply it to the cannon. A few soldiers followed Moore, but the enemy fired briskly, and charged with bayonets. The British, for the first time, began also to fire, and were fairly checked by the firmness of the enemy. They stepped back, yet without attempting to turn, and the bayonets of both crossed each other. While Moore was encouraging his men to break through, which he had no doubt they would have done, he heard voices in the rear crying out that there was another passage to the right; he immediately made for it and got in. He was encountered by a French soldier, and, evading his bayonet, made a thrust at him with his sword, which bent; but a second thrust instantaneously followed, which passed through his enemy's body. The British continued to pour in; some of the French fought bravely, and were bayonetted;

others threw down their arms, surrendering

themselves prisoners. A captain presented his sword to Colonel Moore, and asked for quarter. This was given, and he was directed to go into the rear; when, finding himself in safety, he exclaimed, Quel malheur pour un gallant · homme qui voudroit se distinguer et s'élever, 'd'etre flanqué dans une fichue batterie com'me celle-ci!'

6

The column on the right, which had been impeded by the difficulties of the ground, now crowded also into the redoubt, strewed with the wounded and the dying, and where the victors and vanquished were mingled confusedly. Hardly were the British masters of the place, when grape-shot were fired upon them from the tower of Fornelli; on which Moore drew back the soldiers, entrenching tools were employed, and abundance of sandbags being found in the redoubt, these were arranged to cover the men. Before this was effected, the firing ceased, as Fornelli was evacuated.

The loss of the French in this storm was