best ships the French had in their possession. This joyful event, therefore, laying this empire under an obligation, and the service rendered by our much-esteemed friend adm. Nelson on this occasion being of a nature to call for public acknowledgement, his imperial majesty, the powerful, formidable, and most magnificent grand signor has destined as a present in his imperial name to the said admiral, a diamond aigrette (chelengk) and a sable fur with broad sleeves; besides two thousand zequins to be distributed among the wounded of his crew. And as the English minister is constantly zealous to contribute, by his endeavours, to the increase of friendship between the two courts, it is hoped he will not fail to make known this circumstance to his court, and to solicit the permission of the powerful and most august king of England, for the said admiral to put on and wear the said aigrette and pelice. Sept. 8, 1798. Constantinople, Sept. 19, 1798. Vice-admiral Ouschakoff's squadron is now actually under weigh for the Dardanelles, &c. By letters just received from Smyrna, it appears, that the gene ral measures of police adopted against the French have been pursued there with a more exemplary rigour than elsewhere. The individuals of the French nation have been thrown into the common prisons, and the whole French mission, including Jean Bon St. André, and his papers, laden on half-a-dozen mules, are upon their way hither under an escort, Three French vessels have been captured in the harbour, and the whole French property on shore confiscated. I have great pleasure in informing you, that, at half after one this morning, the boats of his majesty's ship Goliath, under the direction of lieutenant William Debusk, attacked and carried, after an obstinate action of fifteen minutes, the French national armed ketch Torride, 70 men, commanded by Mr. Martin Bedar, lieut. de vaisseau, mounting three long eighteen-pounders, four swivels, and well appointed in small arms: the castle of Berquier, under the guns of which the Torride was moored, also fired for her support; but the skill and courage of lieut. Debusk, and those under his command, was such as to baffle every attempt to save her. The French captain is badly wounded; I have therefore sent him on shore with a flag of truce. Lieutenant Debusk is slightly wounded, and one of his people likely to suffer amputation of his left arm: the prize had three killed and ten wounded; several of the prisoners escaped to the shore by swimming. I have, &c. &c. SIR, Aug. 22, 1798. I beg leave to inform you that La Legere French gun-boat, mounting two six-pounders, some swivels, and 61 men, was captured this day by his majesty's ship under my command. Alemene, off Alexandria, the nearest in an hour, going ten knots. After hailing and ordering her to bring to without effect, she trying to get away athwart our stern, we opened such a fire upon her, as completely unrigged her in about twenty-five minutes, and forced her to bring to, and surrender; she proved to be La Resolue French frigate, commanded by Jean Pierre Barqueau, mounting 40 guns, and 300 seamen and troops on board: the other frigate was L'Immortalité, of 44 guns, twenty-four pounders, on the main deck, and 600 seamen and soldiers: she made several signals whilst we were occupied with her consort, but gave us no disturbance. Though every preparation was made for running along-side and boarding her, to save any dispatches she might have for Buonaparte, we could not prevent their being thrown overboard, which was how ever perceived by John Taylor and James Harding, belonging to the Alcmene, who, at the risk of their lives (the ship then going between five and six knots), dashed 'overboard, and saved the whole of them. Both men were most fortunately picked up by the boat that was sent after them; and I conceive it my duty to make known the very spirited conduct they showed on this occasion, for the good of the service. I am, &c. GEORGE HOPE. To Samuel Hood, Esq. Capt. of his majesty's ship Zealous. La Legere is 40 days from Toulon, bound to Alexandria with dispatches for general Buonaparte. Admiralty Office, Oct. 23, 1798. Copy of a Letter from Capt. Graham Moore, Commander of his Majesty's Ship Melampus, to Sir John Borlase Warren, dated at Sea off Lough Swilly, the 16th instant. SIR, I have the honour to inform you, that on the 13th instant, at midnight, being well up towards St. John's Point, we discovered two large ships close to us on our weather-beam: on seeing us, they hauled up on the opposite tack; as I bad not the least doubt of their being two of the enemy's frigates, we tacked and closed with Both on this occasion, and during the action of the 12th, the officers, seamen, and marines, of his majesty's ship under my command displayed the utmost degree of zeaf, alacrity, and gallant spirit; Mr. Martin (the first lieutenant, an old and good officer), with lieutenants Price, Ellison, and Hole, of the marines, conducted themselves much to my satisfaction; and I experienced very great assistance from the steady good conduct of Mr. Emory, the master. As a very heavy gale of wind came on immediately after our boarding La Resolue, the second lieutenant, Mr. John Price, with twenty-one men, were all that could be thrown on board of her, with the loss of our two cutters. That officer deserves very great credit for his active exertion in clearing her of the wreck of her masts and rigging, and in keeping company in so violent a storm; as our object was to disable our antagonist before her consort could assist her. La Resolue had only ten men killed, and a great number wounded; but I am inexpressibly happy to add, that, in the action of the 12th, we had only one man wounded; and the affair of the 13th did not deprive their country of the services of a single man of the brave crew of the Melampus. I have the honour to be, &c. This gazette also contains an account of the capture of La Velos Aragonesa, Spanish-built frigate (letter de marque), of 30 guns and 90 men, Jasé Eloy Sanchez commander, with a cargo from La Guayra, after throwing many of her guns overboard in the chase, by his majesty's ship Aurora, capt. Digby; also, De Esle Audeneming Dutch privateer schooner, of 8 guns and 38 men, by his majesty's armed sloop Charlotte, commanded by lieutenant John Williams; and also, by his majesty's ships Concorde and Lapwing, La Buonaparte, of S guns and 72 men; L'Amazone, of 10 guns and 80 men; Le Sauveur, of 4 guns and 20 men; La Fortune, of 2 guns and 22 men; and the Invariable schooner letter of marque, of 4 guns and 20 men. St. James's, Oct. 24. Ilis majesty in council was pleased to order, that the parliament should be prorogued from November 6 to November 20, then to meet for the dispatch of business. His majesty also ordered that the embargo laid on ships and vessels by the privy council, on July 27, 1798, should be taken off, as far as relates to ships bound to any of the ports in the territories of the grand duke of Tuscany. This gazette also contains an order in council extending the observance of fourteen days' quarantine to vessels coming from Boston and New York, a malignant and infectious disorder, of the nature of the plague, having appeared in both those places; and also an order to continue the bounties to seamen till Dec. 31, 1798. Admiralty Office, Oct. 27. Copy of a Letter from the Right Hou. Lord Bridport, K. B. to Evan Nepean, esq. dated at Spithead, the 24th Instant. SIR, The inclosed copy of a letter which I received this morning will manifest to their lordships the courage, skill, and intrepidity, of capt. Martin, his officers, and ship's company, in the capture of the French frigate L'Immortalité, after a persevering and brilliant action against a ship of such superior force. BRIDPORT. Fishguard, Plymouth Sound, Oct. 22. My Lord, In compliance with your orders of the 17th inst. I proceeded with all possible dispatch to the southward, and on the 20th inst. having arrived in latitude 48 deg. 23 min. north, long. 7 deg. west, I had the satisfaction to fall in with a large French frigate, and after an hour's running fit, came to close action with her, which lasted for 25 minutes, when the Fishguard became perfectly ungovernable; the bowlines, braces, topsail-ties, backstays, and the whole of the running rigging, being cut to pieces. At this critical moment she endeavoured to make off; but the activity of the officers and ship's company, in repairing the damages and making sail, soon enabled us to close with her again, and the fight was renewed and continued with great spirit and resolution for an hour and fifty minutes, when she surrendered to his majesty's ship, and proved to be L'Immortalité, a new frigate, mounting 42 guns, twenty-four pounders, on the main deck, and nine-pounders, with (14) forty 1 forty-two-pound carrocades, on the quarter-deck and forecastle, commanded by citizen Le Grand, who was killed in the action. She was one of the squadron that composed the expedition to Ireland; and at, the commencement of the expedition had on board 580 men, including general Menage, second in command of the troops (who was also killed in the action), adjutant-general Crazey, and some soldiers. I should wish to recommend the steady good conduct of Mr. Carden, first-lieutenant of the Fishguard, on this occasion, but not to the prejudice of any other person, as every officer and man on board behaved with that courage and intrepidity which at all times distinguish his majesty's subjects in the presence of the enemy. Annexed is a list of killed and wounded. I am sorry to say thirteen of our wounded men have suffered so much as to preclude all hope of their recovery. J. B. MARTIN, List of killed and wounded on board his Majesty's Ship Fishguard. Killed-William Bennett, Richard Wallis, John Caird, Edward Paine, Thomas Sketton, George Snalum, George Morton, Solomon M'Cormick, John Maxworthy, John Williams. Wounded, lieut. Gerrard, marines; seamen 23, marines 2. Total killed and wounded 36. Killed and wounded on board L'Immortalité. I beg leave to inclose you a copy of a letter sent by this post to the right hon. admiral lord Bridport. Anson, Plymouth Sound, Oct. 27. From the disabled state of his majesty's ship under my command in the action of the 13th instant, and the wind remaining to the S.W. I was unavoidably separated from the squadron under the command of sir John Borlase Warren, bart. K. B. and drove considerably to the N. W. of Ireland. I have great satisfaction in informing your lordship, that on the 18th, at day-light in the morning, I discovered a large ship to leeward, fortunately for me, with the loss of her fore and main-top masts (the Anson being by no means in a situation to chase), her mizen-mast gone, mainyard and main-cross-trees; the bowsprit and fore-yard shot through in several places. I immediately bore up, and got alongside of her. After an action of one hour and quarter, most gallantly disputed, which does the highest honour to citizen Joseph Andrien Segone, her commander, she struck; proved to be La Loire, one of the largest and finest frigates belonging to the republic, presented by the city of Nantes, quite new, and never before at sea, pierced for 50 guns, mounting forty-six 18pounders, having on board 664 men (troops included), among whom are a number of artillery, état-major for three regiments. La Loire had 48 men killed, and 78 wounded, was one of the four fri Killed-Officers 10, men 44.- gates which the Anson engaged the Wounded 61. Total killed and wounded 115. Admiralty Office, Oct. 30. Copy of a Letter from Captain Durham, Commander of his Majesty's Ship Anson, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated in Plymouth Sound. 13th, and was making her escape from the coast. I beg leave particularly to acknowledge the steady and good behaviour of my officers and petty officers; cannot avoid recommending to your lordship's notice my first lieutenant, Mr. John Hinton, whose conduct, not only upon upon this occasion but many others, has met with my fullest approbation; not derogating from the behaviour of lieutenants Meager, Manderson, and Mr. William Chrishop, the master. I have also to acknowledge the services of lieutenants Bell and Derring, of the marines, who commanded the car ronades: as to my ship's company, they have been faithful companions during four years in pretty active service, and their conduct upon all occasions merits my warm approbation. Having fallen in, the night before the action, with his majesty's brig Kangaroo, I ordered cap. tain Brace, from the Auson's disa. bled state, to continue in company, and am much indebted to him for the services he has rendered me in taking possession of La Loire. Herewith I send a list of the killed and wounded. Killed; Alex. Duncan, quartermaster, Matthew Birch, seaman. Wounded; Mr. W. A. Bell, first lieutenant of marines; Mr. William Robilliard, Mr. Francis R. Payler, midshipmen; Henry Wilson, James Davis, John Adams, John Houston, William Shaw, Peter Wilman, William Thomas (second), Patrick Kelly, seamen; James Cummings, Robert Dillon, marines. Inclosed is a list of the stores, &c. found on board La Loire republican frigate. Clothing complete for 3000 men, 1020 muskets in cases, 200 sabres, 360 pouches, 25 cases of musket ball-cartridges, 1 brass field-piece, with a great quantity of ammunition of different kinds, intrenching tools, &c. H. DURHAM. Copy of a Letter from the Commander of his Majesty's Sloop Racoon, to Admiral Peyton. SIR, Racoon, Downs, Oct. 20. I beg leave to acquaint you, that, at six A. M. on this morning, Blackness bearing S. E. by E. distance 3 leagues, I discovered 3 large luggers a-head; immediately made all sail, and gave chase; after a running fire of two hours, had the pleasure to come up with and capture one of them, Le Vigilant lugger, mounting 12 four-pounders and 2 long sixes, carrying 55 men (six or seven of whom were left on shore at Boulogne), commanded by citizen Muirbasse. On sending my boats on board, I found, that in consequence of being hulled in several places, she was sinking very fast, which detained me a conside rable time (in endeavouring to stop the leak), otherwise I must have inevitably taken another before they could possibly have reached the coast of France. I have the pleasure to say, that all the prisoners got safe on board except those killed by my firing; and every exertion was used to save the vessel, but to no effect; at 9 A. M. she sunk she was entirely new, had been out two cruises only, and taken nothing. One of the luggers in company had captured a brig, which I observed his majesty's sloop the Plover to take possession of, off Folkstone, at 11 A. M.. ROB. LLOYD. This gazette also contains an account of the capture of the French schooner privateer Le Corsaire L' Erin-go-brah, of 10 carriage guns and 8 swivels, part of which she threw overboard, and between 40 and 50 men, by his majesty's sloop Plover, capt. Cheshyre. NOVEMBER. 3. This gazette contains an account of the destruction of a lug ger |