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 the tarpauling that covered it, pieces of which were observed descending into the magazine passage, when Captain Ussher promptly jumped down and hailed the gunner instantly to shut the door of the magazine, which was of necessity kept closed for a considerable time, as the only means of saving the brig from destruction.

About two hours after the above affair. Captains Buller and Ussher rode out on the neutral ground between Gibraltar and St. Roque, and were invited by General O’Reilly, commanding at the Spanish lines, to take some refreshments. Whilst doing so, the General proposed to drink to the health of the gallant officer who had so distinguished himself that morning; and on being told that it was Captain Ussher whom he thus designed to honor, he seized the latter by the hand, said he was delighted to make his acquaintance, that he felt ashamed of the disgraceful conduct of his countrymen in the gun-boats, and regretted that the batteries had rendered them any assistance.

From this period until Aug. 19th, 1807, the Redwing was almost constantly in pursuit of and engaged with the enemy’s flotilla and batteries. At the latter date we find Captain Ussher proceeding with despatches to the Balearic islands; and on his return from thence reporting the destruction of a Spanish convoy at Calassel, and the result of an attack made by him upon three privateers lying at Benidorme; the particulars of which services are detailed in two letters addressed to Rear-Admiral Purvis, of which the following are extracts:

“Standing along the coast of Catalonia (Sept. 7. 1807), I saw a ship, a polacre, and several smaller vessels at anchor before the town of Calassel, and having a light breeze I stood into the bay; but before I could get within gun-shot, the inhabitants came down in great numbers, and hauled them on shore. Having anchored within three cables’ length of the town, I sent the boats, under cover of my fire, to bring them off or burn them; but a most violent thunder-storm, that lasted near four hours, obliged me to weigh; and I have no doubt that before it abated the vessels went to pieces on the beach. Lieutenant Ferguson, who commanded the boats, behaved with his usual gallantry, under a most galling fire from the town: the cool and good conduct of Lieutenant Webster, the other officers, and