his men, with himself, landed by another turn of the same cutter, and my only reason for not instantly recalling the boats when the fire opened was, that I could not know what these officers were doing inside, and I entertained great hopes that they might be able to find out and blow up the provision stores, and thus effect our principal object. The guides who had landed fled back to the boats at the commencement of the firing, but they are now all on board, and free from any suspicion of treachery. Lieutenant Charlewood, proceeding with his pioneers, broke open several stores, and at length reached one filled with rice, and another with corn, when he immediately ran back to inform Lieutenant Maitland, and get more hands forward. Unfortunately, during his momentary absence, his men had hewn open another door, when, to their surprise, they found it entered upon a place filled with infantry soldiers, and a struggle ensued. Two soldiers were killed by the three pioneers, but having nothing but axes, they were obliged to give way, but Mr. Charlewood’s return checked the enemy’s advance, and they never followed him. “Becoming anxious at the delay, and seeing Lieutenant Maitland still in the breach, I hastened in my gig, and, hailing that officer, I learned from him that there was no longer any prospect of success, his ammunition being expended, and much of that of the marines wet (from the attempt to get out), and I immediately ordered all to retire, and succeeded in getting every man off, Lieutenant Charlewood even bringing his exploding apparatus away. “It is now my duty to allude to a more grateful theme—the merits of the officers and men employed. Where all did their duty, it is a difficult and somewhat delicate task to particularize; but I should be very unjust did I not bear my cordial testimony to the very gallant conduct of Lieutenants Maitland and Charlewood: the latter officer was the first man on shore, and the very last off, and his quiet, determined resolution, was the theme of praise with every person. “I annex a list of the boats employed, with the names of the officers commanding them, together with a return of casualties in each boat. The first cutter, being a light boat, was extremely serviceable, and much and constantly exposed. Mr. J.C. Dalrymple Hay, midshipman, and his crew, deserve every credit for their very spirited conduct. “The jolly-boat of the Carysfort (the only other light boat), commanded by Mr. W.H. Stewart, midshipman, was also very useful, and Lieutenant Maitland speaks in favourable terms of that young officer’s proceedings.