To do so with the least possible risk of a disastrous incident was now the great object. A second boat being despatched to the _Mæander_, with directions that the signal should be made “Boats to land immediately,” I went on board the _Canton_ steamer, which was moored off the town, and took my place as umpire at the regatta, which was about to commence. We started the sailing-boats, and, shortly afterwards observing some of the boats on their way to the shore in obedience to signal, I excused myself for a few minutes and again landed. The first boat to arrive was the _Mæander’s_ barge, commanded by Mr. Burnaby, with a crew of twelve blue-jackets and six marines. I asked Staveley whether he thought he could, by a _coup-de-main_, release Mr. Summers with that one boat’s crew? To this he gallantly replied that he had no objection to try, stipulating only, like a good general, that I should secure his retreat. Upon this I requested Burnaby, who had charge of the barge’s crew, to attend to his wishes. Passing quickly through a house which had a back entrance to the Senate Square, and so to the street in which the prison stood, Staveley and his party immediately proceeded. The cutter from the _Mæander_ arriving next, I directed its crew to take charge of the house through which Captain Staveley had passed, placing sentries at each door. The third boat had just arrived, when my attention was attracted towards Senate Square by the report of musketry. Leaving orders with the officer in charge of the landing-place to pay _every attention_ to His Excellency should he land before my return (which was not improbable, since he must have seen all that was going on from on board the _Plymouth_), I was hastening to the scene of action, when I met Captain Staveley walking down, arm-in-arm, with Mr. Summers, the rear brought up by the barge’s crew. I immediately sent to stop the disembarkation of any more men. The whole business from the landing of the barge’s crew until their return to the boat with Mr. Summers did not occupy a quarter of an hour. The arms from the launch and barge were transferred to the pinnace, and the boats, with the exception of those which were to pull for the prizes, were ordered back to their respective ships. I returned to the _Canton_, and had the pleasure of seeing the two best prizes won by the launch and barge of the _Mæander_. I learned from Staveley that his party had to cross the Square to get to the street in which the prison was situated. On the left side of the Square was the entrance to the arsenal, near which was a battery of four field-pieces with a guard. When abreast of this battery, Staveley directed Burnaby, with the blue-jackets, to possess themselves of the guns and remain there until his return, he proceeding with the marines to the prison.