While Lieutenant Day was in command of the _Recruit_ he performed
several very gallant acts, but none surpassed the following:--
It was important to ascertain the practicability of reaching the enemy's
gun-vessels which lay within the Straits of Genitchi, close to the town.
With this object in view, Mr Day, having provided himself with a
pocket-compass, went on shore one dark but fine night, and proceeded
through the enemy's lines, traversing a distance of four or five miles,
occasionally up to his knees in water, till he got within 200 yards of
the vessels. From the perfect silence which reigned on board them, he
was persuaded that they were without crews; and when he returned, it was
with the conviction that the expedition was a feasible one. The
correctness of this opinion he was induced to doubt on the following
day, in consequence of the increased activity apparent in the direction
of the vessels. Notwithstanding the danger he must have been aware he
was running,--for it was in attempting a reconnaissance on the same
ground that Captain L'Allenand, of the French steam-vessel _Monette_,
lost his life,--he resolved to pay another visit to the spot. The night
was squally, and he thought it wiser to take a larger circuit than
before. He persevered, and gained the spot, when he ascertained that
the vessels were manned, and that their crews were apparently on the
alert. He decided, consequently, that it would be out of the question
to make any attempt to surprise them.