Extract of another Letter from the Earl St. Vincent, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Eq dated at Port Mabon, the 2nd June, 1799. YOU will herewith receive, for the information of the Lords Corumissioners of the Admiralty, a letter from Vice Admiral Lord Keith, inclosing one from Captain Markham, of his Majesty's ship Centaur, giving an account of the capture of a squadron of French frigates, which had made their escape from Alexandria. MY LORD, Queen Charlatte, at fea, June 19, 1799. I have the honour to inform your lordship of the capture of five French vessels by the squadron under my command, and to inclose your lordship Captain Markham's letter, whose ship was most advanced, and whose conduct on this occasion, as on all others, has been most exemplary. MY LORD, KEITH. Centaur, June 19, 1799. I have the honour to inform you, that pursuant to your sigual of yesterday for a general chace to the N. E. I came up with and captured three frigates on the evening of this day. The Eellona and Santa Teresa frigate being nearest when the two sternmost struck, I made their signals to take possession of them, whilst I pursued the third, which struck also in an hour afterwards. The Emerald in the mean time took the Salamine brig, and the Captain the Alerte. This squadron was commanded by Rear Admiral Perr, thirty-three days from jaffa, bound to Toulon: for their names and force I beg leave to refer you to the list. J. MARKHAM. La Junen, Rear Admiral Ferré, l'orquerer Captain, 40 guns, eighteen pounders, 50 men La Courageux, Buille Captain, 22 guns, twelve pounders, 300 men. La Falamine brig, Sandry Lieutenant, 18 guns, six pounders, 120 men. I enclose, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter I have received from Captain Gage, of his Majesty's ship the Terpsi chore, giving an account of his having captured a spanish armed brig. MY LORD, Terpsichore. at fea, June 23, 1799. I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that I chased this morning, at day break, a Spanish xebec and an armed brig; the latter (St. Antonio I cap. tured, having carried away her main-top-mast in the chace; she has fourteen brass guns, twelve and six pounders, with seventy men; sailed last evening from Malaga, in company with the xebec. W. G. GAGE. ADMIRALTY OFFICE, JULY. 27. Copy of a Letter from Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knt. Commander in Chief of bir Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Jamaica, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Port Royal barbour, Jamaica, June 1, 1799 Herewith you will receive, for the information of the Right Hon. the I ords Commissioners of the Admiralty, an account of privateers and merchant vessels taken and destroyed by the squadron under my command, since my last reBurns by his Majesty's ship La Renommée, dated the 6th ult. which you will be pleased to lay before their Lordships. H. PARK. R. An account of Privateers, Armed Vessels, and Merchant Vessels, captured and destroyed by the squadron ander my command, since my last return, dated the 6th of May, 1799, by his Majesty's ship La Renommée. Privateers and Armed Vessels. By the Magicienne-The French armed schooner L'Esperance, pierced for 14 guns, only four on board, and plenty of small arms. with a cargo of flour, bams, and butter; was chased on shore, but got off with the loss of her false keel, the crew escaped taken. A French schooner, copper bottomed, pierced for ten guns: chased on shore and buint by the boats. By the Acasta, in company with Aquilon and Squirrel-A Danifh schooner, from Jacquemet to St. Thomas, with a cargo of coffee and dollars; taken. By the Acasta-A Spanish polacre of two guns 13 tons, from St. Juan, Porto Rico, bound to La Vera Cruz, with a cargo of brandy, wine, and dry goods: taken by the boats. The French schooner L'Aimable Eustatie, of one gun, 6 men, and zo tons, and a cargo of 263 bags of coffee, from Francois, bound to St. Thomas: taken. The Spanish ship La Juno, of eight guns (pierced for 16), 22 men, and 130 tons, laden with cocoa and indigo, from la Guira, bound to Cadiz taken. Two French row-boats, schooner rigged: destroyed. Two Spanish doggers, sloop rigged: destroyed. By the Surprise-The French armed schooner i es Amis, of one gun, and a cargo of coffee, from Gonaives, bound to Barracoa: taken. By the Albicore--A Settee Spanish privateer, armed with small arms, &c. and 3 men, cut out of a small bay to the Eastward of St. Jago de Cuba by the boats. By La Legere The national brig L'Eclair letter of marque, with a cargo of dry goods and provisions from St. Thomas, bound to Port-au-Paix, pierced for 16 guns, had eight mounted at the beginning of the chace (six of which were thrown overboard), and 29 men taken. By the Sprightly-The French schooner L'Esperance, of six guns and 22 men, with a cargo of sugar and coffee, from Cape Francois to ct Thomas: taken. Merchant vessels taken and destroyed By La Magicienne-1 he Spanish brig Nostra Senora del Carmen, with salt: talen. A spanish schooner (same name as the brig, laden with flour, indigo, cinnamon, &e. : taken. A French schooner, from Aux Cayes to St Thomas, laden with coffee: taken. The French schooner Speculator, from Curracoa to Jacquemel, laden with provisions and dry goods: taken. By the squirrel and Musquito-A Spanish schooner, from Port-au-Plat, with dollars taken. By the Acasta -A Spanish sloop, with plantains, taken by the boats, and broke up The Spanish sloop Rostra Senorr del Carmen, with plantains, taken by the boats, and cut adrift while in chace. The French schooner La Capriccieus. from Jeremie, bound to St. Thomas, with a cargo of 115 bags of coffee, taken off Ocoa Point, by the boats. A Spanish sloop, taken off Ocoa Point, with a cargo of sugar, by the boats. A Danish ship from St. Juan, Porto Rico, bound to St. Thomas, with a cargo of 30 tons of fustick, cut out of a small bay ten leagues to leeward of St. Juan, by the boats. The spanish schooner Polly, of 7 tons in ballast, burnt by the boats. The Spanish sloop La Magicienne,' with plantains, corn, and stock, taken by the boats, and cut adrift while in chace. The schooner Lucas, under Danish colours, from Mayoguave, bound to St. Thomas, with a cargo of 78 bags of coffee, taken by the boats. By the Surprise-The American brig Juno, from Barracoa to Baltimore, laden with sugar and coffee, had been taken by a French privateer: re-taken. By the Pelican-A ship under American colours, from Jeremie, laden with coffee: taken. H. PARKER. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Lord Viscount Duncan, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the North Sea, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated off the Texel, the 22d inst. I transmit, for their Lordships' information, a letter I have just received from Captain Hood, of his Majesty's sloop the Hound, giving an account of his have ing destroyed a lugger privateer, niounting 10 guns, on the coast of Norway; and have hopes, from that Officer's zeal, spirit, and local knowledge, to hear of his falling in with more of the enemy's cruizers who infest that coast. MY LORD, Hound Sloop, June 28, 1799. Since my laft letter to you of the 20th inst. acquainting you of the capture of La Hirondelle French privateer, being off this harbour, i received information from the Consul of a large lugger of 16 guns, cruizing in the bite, or off the Scaw. On the 25th, at two A. M. fell in with her, and, after a chace of 14 hours, having shot away her main-mast, I drove her afhore on the coast of Jutland, between Robsnout and Hartshall. Blowing very hard, with a heavy sea on the beach, she was oon dashed to pieces; and, I fear, many of the lives of the crew were lost. It gives me pleasure in having destroyed her, as she was one of the largest and fastest sailing vessels on the coast, and was following. the rear of the Baltic convoy when I fell in with her. J. WOOD. MONTHLY REGISTER OF Nabal Events. AUGUST SEPTEMBER. ALTHOUGH the resignation of Farl St. Vincent's command in the Medi terranean has been deck red in the public prints, we are fully assured that this event, has not as yet taken place; but that the noble Admiral is merely absent on leave. When the Conquerant. Captain George Clarke, one of Lord Nelson's prizes, was lately surveyed at Plymouth, to discover whether it was safe to send her round to Chatham, she was pronounced to be in too shattered a state, even for so short a distance. During her voyage from Lisbon, she was kept together, by cables being drawn round her, and providentially experienced only favourable weather. A most pleasing view of the prosperity of the commerce and revenue of this country lately presented itself, on a part of the vacant ground belonging to the Crown, upen Tower-bill, which was never before so usefully occupied. An extraordinary overflow of business of import, and export, occurring at this time upon the legal quays, a seasonable indulgence was granted by the Governor of the Tower; whereby the principal officers at the Port of London, using their utmost exertions, together with the several officers employed in their department, under the revenue of excise, have been enabled, in little more than a fortnight, to unlade, land, carry to Tower-hill, and there to ascertain and secure the dutics, and cause to be cleared away and warehoused, near four thousand pipes of Fort wine; the least value whereof may be estimated at 290,001. and the amount of duties at 16,ocol. Without such assistance to the legal quays, these important services would most probably not have been wholly accomplished there in less than three months; such is the flourishing state of our trade and commerce. Extract from a Letter relative to the Expedition to Helland. "After the gale ceased, which had blown chiefly from S. to S. W. we found ourselves sixteen leagues from the land. A calm succeeded it, and during the remainder of Tuesday, the 13th, and the whole of that night, the troop and cavalry ships had scarcely steerage way. "It is impossible to do too much juice to the manner in which our fleet has been conducted by Admiral Mitchell. He has brought us all safe through a very heavy tempest, which, when the number is considered, reflects great praise on his judgment and attention. Our fleet consists of one hundred and sixty-six sail, with troops; eleven luggers, and fifty flat-bottomed boots for the purpose of disembarking the troops. To these are to be added the Cynthia's convoy of twenty four ships with Cavalry, with the cutters, making in all tra bundred sail; and yet I write it with as much pleasure as i am sure you will read it-t ere is not one missing, nor out of her station, in the whole feet! "On Wednesday we again approached the land, and we could observe the outer ships of the enemy shifting their station, and apparently moving farther up. "Thursday was intended to be the great and important day. Every ne cessary arrangement was made for a landing, and for a sea-attack at the same time. The following LINE OF BATTLE was given out by Admiral Lord Ducan : Ardent, Captain Bertie. Mistislaw, (Russian) Captain Moller. America, Captain Smith. Monmouth, Captain Hart. Overyssel, Captain Bazely. The Dutch Fleet surrendered in the afternoon of Friday the 30th of August, after various flags of truce had passed during the day between Admirals Mitchell and tory. Our ships had pursued the Dutch Flect through the Mars Diep to the Vlieter Channel, which lies eighteen miles beyond it. dmiral Story had requested Admiral Mitchell not to approach within a mile and a half of his fleet, which request was complied with on condition of his surrender. But such was the manifest obstinacy and reluctance of the Dutch Admiral to capitulate that Admiral Mitchell found himself obliged to send Captain Rennie, of the Victor, with a letter to Admiral Story, importing that his ships would be fired into, if they did not hoist the Orange colours within the space of one hour. This happened late in the evening of that day. All the ships immediately hoisted the Orange flag, and cheered, except the Admiral's ship; on which Admiral Mitchell sent an Officer on board it, who hoisted the flag himself The Dutch Admiral complained of the hasty conduct of our Admiral, saying, he proposed to have done it himself at day-break the next day. He also expressed great displeasure at our ships having approached so near. The Dutch Officers have Surrendered themselves prisoners of war to the British Fleet, but refuse to acknowvledge obedience to the Stadtbolder. The whole Fleet is however taken possession of in his Serene Highness's name, and the Orange flag now flies over every ship in the Texcl. To shew the danger and difficulty of the passage into the Texel, we have only to observe, that in following the Dutch Fleet, the America, of 64 guns, and Latona frigate ran aground; and so did the Ratvizan Russian man of war. The former got off with the loss of her rudder, but has again grounded: the Ratvizan, it is supposed, will be lost. The Latona rejoined the line. The surf in landing our troops was so great, that we are sorry to learn that several of our boats were swamped. The wounds of our Officers are in general by no means dangerous, being simple gun-shot wounds. The Dutch had a corps of riflemen in their entrenchments, which may account for the very large proportion of Officers that have been wounded. Admiral Mitchell, when he entered the Texel, had on board his squadron upwards of tcco Dutch Seamen, wearing Orange cockades. Admiral Mitchell, in the late war, commanded the Coventry frigate, of 28 guns, nine and six pounders; and in this small ship he fought one of the most gallant adions ever recorded. The Bellona rench frigate, of 44 guns, eighteen and twelve pounders commanded by the nephew of Admiral Suffrein, manned with 500 seamen, selected from his fleet in ndia, was fitted for the express purpose of fighting the Coventry, which she did, until she lost upwards of 250 of her people, her first and second Captains, and nearly all her Officers; and when her own firing had almost ceased, an unlucky shot carrying away the Coventry's wheel, she took advantage and made from her, and our gallant Admiral followed her for three days into the body of her own fleet. Admiral Mitchell was the only person left on his own quarter-deck, and he appears to have been preserved to render his country services, which will be remembered with pride and gratitude. YARMOUTH, August 22.-Arrived his Majesty's sloop L'Espiegle, from a nine weeks cruize off the coast of Holland She has brought with her as a prize, the Crash, formerly a gun-brig in the English service, captured after an obstinate resistance, on Sunday, the 11th inst. near twenty miles up the enemy's country, mounting eight eighteen pounders, and four two-and-thirties, together , with several other prizes. It is to the vigilant conduct of Captain Boorder we are indebted for the first obstruction of the very great inland trade carried on by the enemy, and to his early communication that others of his Majesty's cruizers have benefited by his discovery, so much so, that there has been no vessel even attempted to make a voyage within land since the 11th of uly. On the above occasion, Captain Boorder, after beating the enemy from their station, sent a letter, of which the following is a copy, to the utch Captain at Delfzil: "His Britannic Majesty's Sloop L'Espiegle, July 15, 1799 in the Western Emes. "In consequence of the two Dutch gun-boats breaking the neutrality of this River on the 1st inst. in firing at three English boats, and detaining another « SIR, with five men, which was sent as a Flag of Truce, and which, by the Laws of Nations, ought instantly to have been returned. I thought proper to act in the manner we did on Friday last, and will have you and all the world to know that English seamen are not to be trifled with. "I remain, Sir, your humble Servant, "JAMES BOORDER." P. S.. I shall still expect that the officer and four men be delivered up to Admiral Lord Viscount Duncan, now blockading the Texel." YARMOUTH, Sept. 3-This afternoon his Majesty's ship Kent, Admiral Lord Duncan, and the Russian Admiral, came to an anchor in our roads. The beach was lined with spectators to congratulate the Noble Admiral on his landing; but his Lordship being confined by illness, the spectators were prevented from testifying their loyalty as they wished. SEPT. 14. Lieutenant Short arrived at the Admiralty from the Coast of Holland. We are sorry to learn, that the Contest gun-vessel, mounting 10 carronades, commanded by the above Officer, is lost, having been driven on a shoal bank during the late tempestuous weather. Two of her crew, eager to leave the wreck, in hopes of swimming to shore, threw themselves overboard, and were drowned in the surf. The Republican colours taken with the Dutch prizes were sent from the Admiralty to Hampton Court, to his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange. Lieutenant Gibbon, who brought them to England, had the honour of presenting them. SHEERNESS, Sept. 15.-Five Dutch line of battle ships, with three Dutch frigates and one sloop, escorted by the Glatton, Veteran, Monmouth, Ardent and Belliqueux, and two Russian ships, arrived last night at the Nore, with the Dutch Republican flags flying under the English. SEPT. 13-The Lord Mayor held a Court of Common Council. for the purpose of agreeing to address his Majesty on the Surrender of the Dutch Fleet : there were present, besides his Lordship and the Sheriffs, nine Aldermen, and many of the Commoners. Mr. Deputy Bullock, after a short introductory speech, moved and carried"That an humble and dutiful Address be presented to his Majesty, on the success of his Majesty's arms in Holland; the surrender of the Dutch fleet, and on the success of his Majesty's Allies on the Continent, Mr. Powell seconded the Motion. The Sheriffs, attended by the Remembrancer, were ordered to wait upon his Majesty on his return to town, to know his pleasure when the Court may attend him with the Address. Mr. Deputy Bullock moved and carried "That the Thanks of this Court be given to Andrew Mitchell, Efq. Vice Admiral of the Blue, and to the Captains, Officers, Seamen, and Marines under his command, for their zealous and able conduct, in compelling the Dutch fleet in the Texel to surrender to the squadron of British ships under his command; and that the Admiral, as a token of their sense of the important services he thereby rendered his Country, be presented by this Court with the Freedom of this City, and a Sword of the value of One Hundred Guineas." PLYMOUTH REPORT, FROM AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 21. 24. Wind N. Cloudy. Arrived from Torbay, the Ethalion, 38 guns, Captain Countess. That veteran, Lieutenant John Newton, regulating officer at this Port, since the commencement of the war, who has raised near 2000 Volunteers for the Navy at this Port, since February 1793-at the last musters of the Plymouth Sea Fencibles, in the Citadel, where they were training to |
