"It is certainly as awkward a looking place to attack in boats as I ever saw.
Of course were it not for the chains my vessel could get in, and I dare say she has been in there many a time before we captured her, but it would be a very risky thing to take the frigate in without knowing anything of the depth of water either in the channel or inside." Both returned to the frigate.

"Mr.Pearson's report is fully borne out, Captain Wilson.

It would be a most desperate enterprise to attack with our boats.

Half of them would be sunk before they got to the chains; and even if they got past them, which I doubt, there is no saying what difficulties and obstacles may be inside." "And now about the frigate, Captain Chambers." "Well, sir, that is for you to decide.

I am quite ready to take the schooner in; though with the plunging power of that battery raking her fore and aft I say fairly that it would be a desperate enterprise, and if she had not sufficient way upon her to carry away the chains nothing could save her.