404 LIFE OF COLONEL MA’CERONI.V 1

corvette, one • brig, : one cutter, and ; fourteen /gunboats.Tlie cutter was that‘which had been'captured' by'Cipriani’sprivateer, together with its owner my friend Tom Williams;The government liad * purchased ■ it and converted-it into" a“ man of war r The "Neapolitan 1 squadron • sailed'.in: theform of a crescent, the -frigateat the right extremity,'thenthe corvette, the brig,' the cutter, and r the gunboats on-theextreme left so'-'as-to rake ;tlie enemy while -.engaged ;withthe other ships.- 'King-Joachim: with a: numerous retinuerepaired by land to- the island " of Nisida, .at the’point ofPosilipo . • His barge, went round to'attend him ; I mountedPosilipo -hill-from'whence' I "had, , aided by: a good glass,’ afull view of i tlie - proceedings. ’ ■ The; - Neapolitans ; sailedforwards steadily,—the* Spartan did’ the;like,vtillfrom theshore - it almost Hooked 1 to' those; unacquainted: with .navaloperations that the-latter was" surrounded, and. consequentlyin jeopardy! : In fact, 1 - the king iand his party seeing theSpartan-' in that situation* fired i upon by all.his vessels, andstill advancing "without: returning r a: shot, i .’made "tlieludicrous mistake of supposing that :she despaired of gettingaway and was about ! to surrender! - The king'.rubbed hishands with satisfaction;! ;Short, however, was'this delusion,first, the Spartan bore up along side the Neaopolitan frigate,and, opening a fire that made the sea foam, like: soapsuds,in the course of-ten-minutes, sentdier -‘mizen: mast overboard. She then.passed on'to the corvette,'and favouringher witli about the same period "of attention—over went: herfore top-mast. ' The brig was next • attended ’ to, and inabout five minutes both masts .were over the sides. Thisvessel struck, arid I : could: distinctly see-the : British :boatstake possession of her and tow her off. , " The turn now cameto the" poor .cutter,: which suffered ■ severely "■ from a fewminutes of peppering. - But -the -wind? dropped. The seabreeze had set in that- day later than usual. The gunboats