“This determined me to make an attempt either to take the town, or at least to destroy the stores, and the following plan of operations was decided upon:—The boats to rendezvous on board the Carysfort, and she and the Zebra to cannonade the walls, and especially a large built-up archway in the centre, until sufficiently opened for entrance. Lieutenant Charlewood being prepared with the necessary means for blowing up stores, buildings, &c., and accompanied by Mr. Turner, gunner of this ship, with eight steady men as pioneers, to land in the cutter, and be immediately followed by the portion of marines at present on board the Benbow, together with those of the Zebra; and 20 seamen of the Benbow, under Lieutenants Maitland, R.N., and Harrison, R.M.; and that all the boats (after the disembarkation) under the command of Lieutenant Stevens, of the Carysfort, should lie off, prepared to cover the landing party with their guns and small arms, and to re-embark them. “The space from the margin of the sea to the breach does not exceed sixteen yards. We could perceive only a few loopholes commanding that spot, and I concluded, that even should a fire be opened from them, the advance from the boats would be too rapid to admit of its being effective, and that, being once within the breach, our men would easily make good their way. “Accordingly, yesterday, at 15 minutes past 1, P.M., the Carysfort and Zebra commenced an admirably well-directed fire, and very soon opened the archway, and showed us a large clear space within, and the boats shoved off. The beach under the town appeared so smooth and deep, and so similar to all the other parts where we had landed, that a doubt of the heavy boats being able to reach it never presented itself until they went in, when a ledge of rocks or ancient building was found to extend itself across at some distance from the shore, with such deep water inside that no man could land and keep his ammunition dry; only the light boats, of which there were but two, could pass over it. Thus the marines (in the launch, barge, and two pinnaces) were unable to land; had they done so, I feel confident that we should have completely succeeded in destroying the magazines of provisions, and have driven the enemy out of the vaults, and even from the town, although not without loss, as subsequent intelligence has reached me that 200 infantry (from the northward), and 100 dismounted cavalry, had entered the town the same morning, three hours before daylight. Lieutenant Charlewood being in the cutter with the pioneers’ powder, and the three deserters as guides, landed at once, and proceeded towards the breach, and had nearly reached it before a shot was fired; but the moment the large boats touched the rocks, they became exposed to a destructive fire from every minute loop and crevice, and even from the holes which our cannon-shot had just made. Lieutenant Maitland had succeeded in getting about 14 of