BULLETIN FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE or MARCH 31, 1798. Admiralty-Office, March 31, 1798. Copy of a Letter from Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief of His Majefly's Ships and Veffels on the Coast of Portugal, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Ville de Paris, at Sea, the 21st of February 1798. SIR, OU will herewith receive Letters from Captain Lord Henry Powlett, of His Majefty's Ship the Thalia, and Captain Downman, of the Speedy Sloop, the first giving an Account of the Capture of a French Privateer, and the latter detailing an Action between the Speedy and another of the Enemy's Privateers, which does great Honor to her Captain, Officers, and Company. SIR, I am, Sir, &c. &c. &c. ST. VINCENT. Thalia, at Sea, February 6, 1798. ΟΝ N the 5th Inftant, at Four A. M. Cape Finifterre being S. W. Seventy Leagues, I came up with and captured the Antoine French Privateer Brig, mounting Sixteen Guns, and having Seventy Men : Men: She was returning from a Cruize to Rochelle, having captured Five Neutral Veffels. I remain, Sir, &c. &c. &c. Geo. Hope, Efq. His Majefy's MY LORD, H. POWLETT, Speedy, Tagus, Feb. 16, 1798. I HAVE the Honor to acquaint you, that on the 3d Inflant, at Daylight, being Seventeen Leagues Weft of Vigo, we difcovered a Brig bearing down on us with all Sail fet. At Three P. M. being within Half a Mile of us, fhe hauled her Wind, and opened her Fire; on which we made all Sail to clofe, engaging her until half paft Five, when the tacked, and made Sail from us. I immediately tacked, continuing to engage till half-paft Seven, when, from her Advantage of Sailing, and little Wind, fhe got out of Gun-fhot. Owing to the great Swell we received little Damage, having only our Fore-topmalt fhot through, with fome of the Running Rigging cut. It falling calm, and the Yeffels feparating againft all our Efforts with the Sweeps, I had the Mortification, about Twelve o'Clock, to fee her fire feveral Guns at our Prize that we had taken the Day before. Owing to the good Conduct of the Malter, who, with Twelve Men, were on board the Prize, battened down Twenty-fix Spaniards, and made their Efcape in a fmall Boat. At Daylight a Breeze of Wind fprung up, which enabled us to fetch her. At Eight o'Clock, the being within Gun-flot, tacked, and made all Sail from us, rowing with her Sweeps at the fame Time. We chafed her until Noon, when they finding fhe had the Heels of us, fhortened Sail, wore, and flood towards us, with a Red Flag flying at the Main-top-gallantmaft-Head. At halfpaft Twelve, being within Piftol-shot, we began to engage her, with the Wind upon the Larboard Quarter. Quarter. At Two, obferving her Fire to flacken, I thought it a good Opportunity to lay her on Board, but at that Inftant fhe wore, and came to the Wind on the Starboard Tack; but finding us clofe upon her Starboard Quarter, and from our Braces and Bow-Lines being fhot away, our Yard coming fquare, fhe took the Opportunity to put before the Wind, and made all Sail from us. We immediately wore after her, firing Mufketry at each other for Twenty Minutes; and fo foon as the Lower Maft was fecured, fet our Studding Sails, and continued the Chafe until Seven P. M. when we loft Sight of her from her fuperior Sailing. I then hauled our Wind, and made fhort Tacks all Night, to fall in with our Prize; at Daylight faw her to Windward; at Ten P. M. retook her, with Ten Frenchmen on board. I learn from the PrizeMafter the Brig is called the Pappilon, Three Hundred and Sixty Tons Burthen, pierced for Eighteen Guns, mounting Fourteen, Four Twelve and Ten Nine-Pounders, manned with One Hundred and Sixty Men. We had Five Men killed and Four badly wounded. I have to regret the Lofs of Lieutenant Dutton and Mr. Johnfton, Boatfwain, amongst the Killed. I beg Leave to recommend to your Lordship's Notice Mr. Marshall, Mafter, for his good Conduct during the Action. Every Praife is due to the Ship's Company for their good Behaviour. As all our lower Mafts, Bowlprit, Main-Boom, both Topmafts, and most of the Yards fhot through, with all the Standing and Running Rigging cut, I thought proper to put into Lisbon to repair our Damage. I have the Honor to be, &c. &c. &c. Earl of St. Vincent, Sc. &c. &c. BULLETIN FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE •» APRIL 3d, 1798. A Admiralty Office, April 2, 1798. LETTER, of which the following is a Copy, from Captain Sir J. B. Warren, of His Ma jefty's Ship Canada, to Admiral Lord Bridport, K. B. Commander in Chief, &c. &c. has been received at this Office: MY LORD, Canada, Plymouth-Sound, I BEG Leave to inform your Lordship, that, on the 22d Inftant, at Seven A. M. the Anfon having discovered a Sail in the Eaft Quarter, which appeared a large Frigate, I made the Signal for a general Chafe, and continued the Purfuit, with variable Winds, until half-paft Twelve at Midnight, when Captain Stopford, in the Phaeton, brought her to Action. The Enemy endeavoured to escape into the River Garonne, but ftruck upon the Olive Rocks near the Cordovan Light-Houfe; the was left by most of her Crew, who had previously thrown her Guns overboard. The Ship being bilged, and having otherwife fuffered much, it is probable, from the Situation fhe remained in, it will not be eafy to get her off. I have the Honor to be, &c. JOHN WARREN Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knt Commander in Chief of His Majefly's Ships and Veffels at Jamaica, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Queen, in Port Royal Harbour, the 6th of January 1798. SIR, HAVING Yesterday received a Letter from Captain Ricketts, of His Majefty's Ship Magi. cienne, giving an Account of his having, with the Ships under his Command, attacked and captured the Veffels therein-mentioned in Guadilla-Bay, in the Island of Porto Rico, and under the Protection of the Enemy's Forts, I tranfmit herewith a Copy of the faid Letter for the Information of the Right Honorable the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, who, I am confident, will with me highly approve of his gallant Couduct, as well as that of the Captains, Officers, Seamen, and Marines under his Command, La Magicienne, off the Ife of Zachu, SIR, HAVING received Information that feveral Brigs and Schooners belonging to the Enemy were in Guadilla Ba, in the land of Porto Rico, I proceeded there with the King's Ships named in the Margin. On the 27th, at Noon, we anchored clofe abreaft of the Forts; and after an Hour and Half Cannonading, captured every Veffel under their Protection. To Captain Carthew I am indebted for the gallant and able Support that I on this Occafion met with (as well as upon many others fince the Regulus has been under my Orders). Captain Mends, who commanded the Boats that took Poffeffion of the Veffels, executed that Service much to his own Honor, and highly to my Approbation, Indeed • La Magicienne, Regulus, and Diligence. |