The reef off your harbour would infallibly wreck any ship that tried to approach within the range of your battery (270 point-blank, I believe); and my experience with a picnic party last summer convinced me that to discharge the complement of even half a dozen boats by daylight on your quay requires a degree of method which in a night attack would almost certainly be lacking.
Our boats would not be flat bottomed, but only partially so: enough for practical purposes.
"I do not apprehend any casualties.

With a little forethought we may surely avoid the confusion incident to a night surprise, while carrying it out in all essentials.

But I may mention that we have a well-found hospital in Troy, that we should bring our own stretcher-party, and that our honorary surgeon, Mr.Hansombody, is a licentiate of the Apothecaries' Hall, in London .-- I am, my dear Pond, yours truly," "Sol.

Hymen (_Major_)." "Confound this fire-eater!" sighed Captain Pond.

"I knew, when they told me he had founded a hospital, he wouldn't be satisfied till he'd filled it." Yet he could scarcely decline the challenge.
"My dear Major,--In these critical times, when Great Britain calls upon her sons to consolidate their ranks in face of the Invader, I should have thought it wiser to keep as many as possible in health and fighting condition than to incur the uncertain risks of such a nocturnal adventure as you propose.
I think it due to myself to make this clear, and you will credit me that I have, or had, no other reason for demurring.