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On the 9th of July [1808], at day-break, the 22-gun ship Porcupine, captain the hon. Henry Duncan, was lying becalmed off Monte Circello, on the coast of Romania, when two french gun-boats with a merchant vessel were seen passing along shore to the westward. The boats of the frigate, under the orders of lieutenant G. Price, assisted by several officers, and among them lieutenant James Renwick of the marines, were immediately sent in pursuit. After a pull of eight hours, the merchant vessel was driven ashore, and the gun-boats compelled to take shelter under the batteries of Port Dango. On the morning of the 10th a large polacre ship was observed lying at the entrance of the harbour; and as soon as it grew dark, the boats, commanded as before, were despatched to cut her out.
Although the polacre mounted 6 long six-pounders, with a crew of 25 men, expecting to be attacked was moored close to the beach lined with soldiers, and lay within pistol-shot of two batteries, and a tower and three gun-boats, she was gallantly boarded and carried. Owing to the light and baffling winds, it was an hour and twenty minutes before the prize was got beyond the range of grape; but she was at length safely brought out, with no greater loss than eight wounded, including lieutenant Price, severely.
On the 8th of August the Porcupine chased another polacre ship into a harbour in the island of Planosa, near Elba, which was defended by a tower and a battery. In the evening the boats under lieutenant Francis Smith, accompanied by lieutenant James Renwick of the marines, rowed into the harbour with muffled oars, and boarded the vessels without sustaining any loss. Notwithstanding the ship was moored within thirty yards of a battery mounting eight guns, which immediately opened on the boats a heavy fire of round and grape, and that they were also exposed to the musketry of several french soldiers on the beach, and one of the polacre's guns which had been landed for her defence, the vessel was safely brought out. She proved to be the Conception, mounting four guns, bound to the island of Cyprus from Genoa. This daring exploit was attended with the loss of that promising and gallant officer, lieutenant James Renwick of the marines, 1 seaman killed, and 7 men wounded.
Historical Record of the Royal Marine Forces, by Paul Harris Nicolas - 1845
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