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250 and Fortitude, 74’s, Lowestoffe and Juno frigates, accompanied by several transports, having on board a body of troops, to co-operate with the patriotic General Paoli, who had promised, if the English would make an attack upon the town of St. Fiorenzo from the sea, he would make a simultaneous movement by land. This promise he was unable to perform; and on the 9th Feb. the Fortitude and Juno, after cannonading the tower of Mortella for two hours and a half, without having made any impression on the enemy’s works, were obliged to haul off. The next day, however, some guns, which were brought to bear upon the tower from a commanding height, obliged it to surrender. On the 17th, at night, the heights of Fornelli were carried by assault, and the enemy retired into St. Fiorenzo, with considerable loss. On the 19th they evacuated that town and retreated towards Bastia, the capital of the island, having previously set fire to la Fortunée, a 40 gun frigate, and leaving la Minerve, of the same force, sunk, and to all appearance destroyed by the shot from the British. She was, however, soon after weighed, and added to the navy, by the name of the place at which she was taken.

