Sir,

I  beg  leave  to  tranfmit  the  extrad  of  a  letter  from
captain  Portlock,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of
a  fliip  and  brig  of  fuperior  force.  The  gallantry  and
good  condutSl  difplayed  on  the  occafion  by  Captains
Fortlock  and  Bolton,  their  Officers  and  ibips  companies,
merit  my  higheft  praife  and  thanks^

1  have  the  honour  to  ft  ate  to  you,  that,  in  obedience
to  your  order  of  the  9th  inftant,  I  immediately  got
under  weigb^  accompanied  by  the  Wolverene,  and
proceeded  on  the  fervice  you  did  me  the  particular  ho^^
nour  to  entruft  to*  my  care.  On  the  evening  of  that
day,  the  tide  of  flood  being  done,  we  anchored  a^breaft
off  the  Texel^  and,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  following
day,  we  anchored  on  the  edge  of  the  Flack  or  Flat,  a«
breaft  off  Wieringen.  At  tliis  anchorage  I  found  it  ne-
ceilary  to  lighten  the  fliip,  and  fo  we  turned  over  th«
Flack  the  following  day.  Ofi  the  morning  of  the  latli
we  weighed  againi  and  proceeded 00  f^^r  the  Fly  Ifland,

Vol  U.  4  E  on


i-


388  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.
