Fever and famine were making terrible ravages, and the survivors moved about the streets like living skeletons, so feeble and weak, now, that they could scarce bear the weight of their arms.
On the 30th of July, three ships were seen approaching the mouth of the river.

They were part of Kirk's squadron, which had all this time been lying idle, almost within sight of the town.

The news of his conduct had excited such anger and indignation in England that, at last, in obedience to peremptory orders from London, he prepared to make the attempt; although, by sending only two store ships and one frigate, it would almost seem as if he had determined that it should be a failure.
The besiegers as well as the besieged saw the three ships advancing, and the former moved down to the shore, to repel the attempt.

The batteries on either side of the boom were manned, and from them, and from the infantry gathered on the banks, a heavy fire was opened as the ships approached.
So innocuous was the fire of the artillery, that it has been supposed that Kirk had previously bribed the officers commanding the forts.

At any rate, the ships suffered no material damage, and, returning the fire, advanced against the boom.