to distinguish themselves in the same manner, and render Captain Farmer's fate rather to be envied than pitied, as it would give them reason to hope, that if they should lose their lives with the same degree of stubborn gallantry, it would appear to posterity that their services had met with the approbation of their Sovereign." The mark of royal favour thus solicited was granted, for on reference to the Gazettes of that date we find that the honour of a baronetage was conferred on the eldest son of the late commander of the Quebec. Mr. Roberts, the first lieutenant, was also promoted; and Mr. William Moore, above mentioned, whose devotion and gallantry displayed towards his captain is specially mentioned in the same memorial to the Council, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, although he had not served the time prescribed by the regulations of the service.

It happened, by a curious coincidence, that, on the day after the above was written, I was attracted by a painting in a shop window, representing two dismasted vessels, English and French, each with their colours flying from the stumps of their masts. The vessel with the English colours was in flames fore and aft, and a conspicuous figure was standing on the anchor. On inquiring of the proprietor if he was aware of the subject, the answer was in the negative, and that he only knew it was a famous ship action that was fought about the time that papier maché

had been introduced, in 1780, and that it had been painted for the purposes of their trade. Perchance, in country parts, tea-trays still preserve the record of Captain Farmer's heroism.

DEFENCE OF ANHOLT.

The services of Rear Admiral Maurice, then a commander, are noticed in the account of the defence of the Diamond Rock, and the same officer now appears as captain on a similar arena, which, by his brilliant defeat of a Danish flotilla and army, he has made for ever famous. The island of Anholt, of which Captain Maurice had been appointed governor in July, 1810, is a small island in the Cattegat, and situated within a short distance of the main land; and, though entirely valueless in itself, was found very useful as a depôt, and point of communication with the Continent during the operation of Buonaparte's rigorous edicts against British commerce. The Danes, irritated by the presence of an enemy upon their own soil, and prompted by the desire of recovering its possession, began their preparations for the attack, shortly after its occupation, in the summer of 1810; but so long as the navigation remained open to British cruisers, they were unable to make the at

tempt.

When spring, however, came, hoping to anticipate the return of the English ships to their cruising ground, the Danish flotilla, taking advantage of the first melting of the ice, pushed across the bay, and, on the morning of the 27th March, effected their landing unseen and unopposed, in the midst of darkness and heavy fog, to the number of nearly 4000 men, according to Captain Maurice's estimate, although other calculations have reduced that number by one-half. The landing had been scarcely effected, when the out-pickets on the south side of the island made the signal for the enemy being in sight. The garrison was immediately put under arms, and Captain Maurice lost not a moment in proceeding with the brigade of howitzers, and 200 infantry, accompanied by Captain Robert Torrens, R. M. (who had hitherto acted as major commandant to the battalion), in order to oppose their landing. On ascending an elevation for the purpose of reconnoitring, these officers discovered that the landing had already been effected under the cover of darkness and fog; and also, that the enemy were advancing rapidly, and in great numbers. On both wings the enemy now far outflanked them, and Captain Maurice saw that, if they continued to advance, the Danes would get between them and their works. He instantly ordered a retreat, which was effected in good order and without loss, although the enemy were within pistol-shot of their rear, and seemed

determined to enter their works by storm; but Fort Yorke and the Massareene battery opened such a well-directed fire of grape and musketry, that the assailants were obliged to fall back and shelter themselves behind the sand-hills. As the day lightened, the English garrison perceived that the enemy's flotilla, consisting of eighteen gun-boats, had taken up a position on the south side of the island, at point blank range, upon which Captain Maurice ordered the signal to be made to the Tartar and the Sheldrake*, then on the other side of the island, that the enemy had landed, and these vessels immediately weighed, and, under a heavy press of sail, used every endeavour to beat up to the south side; but the extent of the shoals threw them out so many miles, that it was some hours before their intention could be accomplished. The enemy's gun-boats meantime opened a very heavy fire on the British works, while a column of about 600 men, crossing the island to the westward, took up a position on the northern shore, covered by hillocks of sand, breaks, and inequalities in the ground. Another column made many attempts to carry the Massareene battery by storm, but were as often repulsed and compelled to cover themselves in a similar manner under the sand-hills, which on this island are thrown up by every gale. The attacking column

* These ships had only just arrived from Yarmouth Roads.

on the south side had now succeeded in bringing up a field-piece against the works, and at this critical period Captain William Holtaway, R. M., who commanded at the advanced post, and who had been cut off by the enemy's advance, joined the main body by water. The governor had been under great apprehensions that this officer had fallen into the hands of the enemy; but he, finding, after several gallant attempts, that he was unable to reach head-quarters by land, with the coolest judgment, launched a boat, and landed his party under Fort Yorke, amidst the acclamations of the garrison, and immediately afterwards Lieutenant Henry Loraine Baker, R. N., who (with Lieutenant Richard Turnbull, of the Marines, and some brave volunteers) had, in the Anholt schooner, gone on the daring enterprise of destroying the enemy's flotilla in his own ports, bore down along the island.

north side of the

Things were in this position when the column on the northern side, covered by the sandhills, approached within fifty paces of the lines, and made another desperate effort to carry the Massareene battery by storm. The column to the south-east also pushed on, and the reserve appeared on the hills ready to support them; but while the Danish commanding officer was leading on his men with great gallantry, a musket-ball put a period to his life. Panic-struck at the