Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp2.djvu/306

 Dwarf. He there received several deputations from the villages on the left bank of the river, all or which had displayed the white flag, but were still in great dread of Napoleon and the conscription.

From Castillon, Captain Rennie was sent with a summons to the commandant of Blaye, who availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded him of displaying a remnant of revolutionary brutality, by firing a shot at the flag of truce, and obliging it to retire.

On the 31st, Captain Coode was sent up as far as Pouillac, with the Vesuvius, Challenger, Podargus, Reynard, and Nimble, under his orders, to commence the bombardment of the above citadel; and all the armed boats of the squadron, with 200 marines, were likewise despatched with him to make an attempt upon Patd, a small island, in the middle of the river, about six miles nearer to Bourdeaux, defended by a round tower forty feet high, mounting six long 18-pounders, and supposed to contain about 600 men.

On the arrival of this detachment off Pouillac, Captain St. Clair received directions to take the boats and marines under his protection, tow them to the island, and cover their debarkation.

Finding it impracticable to effect a landing, owing to the state of the weather, he reluctantly abandoned the attempt; and was returning towards Pouillac, when a violent storm arose and drove his brig on a sand-bank, within range of the tower, where she was high and dry in less than three hours. Providentially, it was midnight when she took the ground, and the enemy did not discover her until she was again under sail, otherwise nothing could have saved her from destruction. Captain St. Clair’s exertions on this alarming occasion were very great, and deserving of much praise. Notwithstanding the failure of the attempt upon Isle Paté, the seamen and marines of Rear-Admiral Penrose’s squadron very soon had an opportunity of performing a brilliant service, hardly surpassed by any exploit of the same nature that has ever been recorded.

Ever since the occupation of Bourdeaux by the allies, 