Star. — London, England, 1809-07-27 00:00:00

2. At what distance from the enemy was the Bri tish squadi?on moored on the evening of the I Ith of April, immediately previous to the ,itrack by the fire ships ; and %%hat was its strength ? Was the situation in your judgment properly chosen; and what was the wind and tide ?—liwTo the best of my jild,Yrnent, the enemy's squadron were 8 or 9 miles off, between the time of my arrival and the morning of the 12th. I believe the British squadron unmoored that night ; but Ido not of my own knowledge know. The po sition chosen by the Commander in Chief was a very goo d position for blockading the enemy, and for ob serving any material movement of their squadron.— Having already mentioned my opinion of the dis tance, it must be obvious that the destruction of the ene my could not be effected while in that position by placed. The wind was not the same the ships there in the evening as it was in the morning. At eight o'clock, P. M. of the 11th, the wild must have been about due north, I believe. The tide, at the same h our began to run towards S. E. The strength of the British squadron was LI sail of the line, besides g frigates, and 1 bomb. Q. Did it appear to your Lordship that the Ad miral made every arrangement for preparing and sending the fire-ships against the enemy Every possible assistance, as well as Admiral Stopford and the Captains of the fleet. Q. Were the frigates and other smaller vessels pro perly placed for affording every assistance, and being ot herwise useful.—A. Very judiciously *co i l. Q. It appearing by the sititatlytVrtEe Ciledonia, t h a t your Lordship had by signal acquainted Lord Gambier that seven of the enemy's dips were on shore, and might be destroyed, was it, your Lord ship's opinion at the time of the first signal, that it wouldhave been expedient fir the coaawander in chief to have sent in half of any number of his ships, Ste. and if so, was there a probability that such ships could have got out again in safety I did make the signal. The Imperiete-e being the nearest ship placed by his Lordship for the guidance tithe fire-ships, and having had the charge of those vessels, X thought pro per to communicate to his Lordship the state in which t hey appeared to me to be, which I, did by the signals mentioned. It is my opinion that a much smaller fnece than half the fleet would have been saffitient. The signal was directed by the Caledonia to be repeated. I ordered the signal to be made, that twb sail of the line were enough ; which I have since understood was not made, but that the officer repeated the pre-' lions signal : the fa -t was, that Le thought it would b e an hist+ to make that signal, .and therefore re peated the former, le wing it to the discretion of the Commander in Chief to send what force be thought proper. From the time that the first signal was made in the morning, until eight o'clock, it was ebb tide ; the tide was going to windward : at eight o'clock it was low water. There is anchorage for at least six sail of the line at any time, clear et shot and shells. The lmperieuse passed, in going in ease to the Buoyant. It CAS then nearly high wateir, at half oast one o'clock in the day ; coming out, it was also high water. In both of these courses there was suf ficient de'pth of water for vessels of any size. The impression upon my mind is,- that there is water enough at any time ; but having been only there at high tide, I cannot swear to that. Provided the tide does not rise and fall more than ,twolve feet; there is ; and this h mentioned in a French chart now in Court. I have no other means of judging.--- I can speak with certainty as to the depth of water, if the rise and fall of the tide is not more than twelve feet ; and I then think there is depth enough at any time of the tide. I think the ships could - have got out as safe as the others did afterwards. Q. Is it meant that there is room for six sail of the line to range at any time clear of shot and shells ? A. There is ; we were there at all times of the tide. it was the height of the spring, and there was five tin:toms and a quartar under our bottom, and from Sve to six fathoms for a distance round about us, suf. :icie:it fco six sail of the line. The bearings of this dace are correctly nc,ted in the log, which I hold in :ay hand, and which I will produce: Q. Are all the circumstances mentioned In this log -crate and true, according to the best of your Lord .irp's knowledge and belief ?—A. They are. Q. Did the Commander in Chief, in consequence t!qe signals afterwards, weigh with the large ships, zad at what time come to anchor off the Isle of Aix? --A. He weighed I think at l I o'clock, and anchored abort half an hour afterwards, having both wind and 'dc in his favour. The position taken up by his Lord itip was nearly that which I offer to show to the Court upon the chart No. 2, in which is shewn tl:e sitaation, of the enemy from day-light in the morning of the 12th, until the two French ships remained atanchor cut or slipped upon his Lrrdship's com'ng towit:d; them. Q. Was tr.e posirian then taken the most advanta geous for carryin g into effect the object of the signals made by his Lordship; and might that position have taken at an earlier per:od with advantage to the !tr/ice ?—A. It was a good position to observe the Lnerny; but it was not a position for attack. Certainly " 'tc - as a good position for observing the transactions :f the enniy ; and, being near, assistance might have tTen sent to any vessels ; had an attack been made -Ton the e..emy, that pisi:.ion might have been taken day-light, when an attack might have been made -ith advantage to the service. Q. It appeariag.ky the log-book of the Ympericuse it 4 t you having previt asly seat in a man to take '^ , unciings, you weighed at half-past eleven A. M. on '-he 12th April, and run into the harbour, in company lith the Etna bomb and a gun-brig, the enemy making sail up the Charaute, and at 2 P. M. an chored, and shortly afti:r came to close action with the Ville de Varsovie, did you weigh and advance to the enemy by signal from the Commander-in-Chief, Cr did you do so without orders, by signal or other. 'Rise ?—A. I think it necessary, if I am permitted by the Court, to read, as an answer to this question, re marks, which I threw together in consequence of a -ttter I received from the Secretary to the Admiralty, F!ating to me that a Court Martial was to take place. These remarks contain all the transactions which !nok place in Basque Roads, and arc expressly in an !ver :o the above question. IThis Lord COCIMANE wa, not permitted to do, ad the question was repeated. ] A. I did so, in compliance with what I considered ,' spirit of the orders I received ; the doing of it was cw:. act. The ertry in the leg of the Imperieuse, that I weighed at half-past eleven, A. M. on the 12th of April, is not correct ; as will probably appear by the lo* -books of the fleet. I weighed at one o'clock. The Ltna bomb rather preceded me. Q. It appears also by the logs before the Court, that you made signals of distress. `ghat was the na ture of the distress of your ship, and did any and what • ships come to your relief by signal front theComman. der in Chief, and was there any unnecessary delay in that respect ?—A. I enquired by hailing, what attack ' was intended to be made on the enemy ? The Com mander replied he was ordered to bombard them.— I directed him to go close and that we should protect him ; it was then one o'clock ; the French three-decker swung upon her hawsers, and the last of their ships' began to move. I had the charge of the fire-ships ; they had sailed in their expected purpose. I knew what the tongue of scandal was capableof, and though I admit that the feelings of my Lord Gambier, for the. honourand interest ofhiscountry were, and are,as strong : as myown, yet personal considerations were not The expectations of my country, the hopes of the A miralty, and my own prospects were about to vanish. I weighed anchor and run in, and went beyond the Possibility of returning. I ordered sail tabe made after the sternmost ships of the enemy, and standing in, J made the signal that the Chace was superior to the chacing ship, because the Ville de Varsovie and Calcutta were both afloat, and immediately after wards made signal that we wanted assistance, which signal was absurdly coupled with the words " being in distress." When we got up to the Bunyan, we opened our fire upon the Calcutta, and the Ville de Varsovie. The Calcutta was broadside on, the Ville de Varsovie lay stern towards us, she being under sail, and the Aquilon was in the same I.osizion ; the latter did not fire for a long time ; they were em ployed clearing away their stern to get guns out.— Wben we anchored, it Was about two o'clock. Some bi igs had anchored as marked in the chart, No. 2, for the protection of the bomb, and were firing, but too far off to be of any use. I made the signal for these to close ; but as there is no flag to express brigs only without frigates or larger vessels; most of which were commanded by my seniors, J explained so far as lay within my means that this signal was intended for them, by firing upon them from the main-deck ; for the quarter-deck shot, which I elevated myself, did not reach them. This signal, I was afterwards in formed, gave considerable offence, and so soon as I learnt this from 'Sir Harry Neale, I declared to my Lord Gambier that it was not my intention in the >liglitest degree to hurt his Lordship's feelings, I had then no time to express, by a tedious telegraphic com munication, whit I meant to convey. We were all busily employed, whtn it was reported to me that se veral sail of the line and frigates were coming to our assistance. I don't remember the first ships that came down, but the Revenge, I believe, was the first line of battle ship. About three several ships came within hail ;—:. hailed them to anchor, or they would ground, we having taken our birth on the edge of the shore. It was then falling tide ; several that had anchored, opened their ire upon all the ships that were within their reach, viz. the Vile de Varsovie, Aquilon, and Calcutta. I made the signal that the Calcutta had struck, and sent a boat to inform those that were firing at her, that our boat was then on beanie - her r upon vihkh the Indefatigable and one other turned their fire upon the Ville de Varsovie and Aquilon. I ordered our people to cease firing ; there were then ships enough to destroy the enemy without the Imperieuse. Our people were much fa tigued, and therefore rested themselves, with the ex ception of those stationed to repair the 'rigging. • The other ships continued to fire on theVilledeVarsovie and Aquilon, until they struck,which was I think about six. The Calcutta was set on fire, and the Aquilon* and Ville de Varsoviewere employed shifting the prisoners. The French were deserting several of their ships, with every boat that be o r e ped to them, and pulling and sailing for the R ort river. An attempt was in tended to have been made. to burn the Ocean. Capt Bligh volunteered his services. Captain Maitland re gretted that on account of Captain Bligh's previously having undertaken it, he was denied that opportunity to distinguish himself. I was too much fatigued to undertake it myself; I could scarcely stand from ex cessive fatigue. They were not so much fatigued.— The reason why it was done, I only learnt since see ing the public dispatch in the papers. All the French had taken to their boats to land their people, they , were all ashore that night, and the next morning there were two or three chasse-marees in their !mad light ening the enemy's ships by receiving various articles on board. There was no delay whatever to the best of my belief after the signal for assistance was made' upsn the part of my Lord Gambier, in ordering ves sels to our assistance ; but had the attack been made in the morning, when the tide was falling, until past 6 o'clock, and the emy's ships were all, with the e, ception of two, fast aground, the three-decker and two others, as shewn in chart No. 2, lying doss toge ther to the windward, with their masts and- yards apparently locked, it is my opinion, that seven sail cf the enemy, including the three-decker, might have been destroyed with great facility by two sail of the line, assisted by the frigates and smaller vessels ; and. it i 3 my opinion, that after the hour of half past eleven, when the enemy's two ships had re mained at anchor until the British fleet weighed ; that the frigates alone, assisted by the smaller vessels, might have destroyed the whole of the above-men tioned ships, the rear of which afterwards were at tacked. It being then four o'clock, the Court ad"aurned till the next day at nine. NAVAL INTELLICSNCE. HARWICH, JULY 26. Arrived this day the Prince of Wales Packct, Cap tain P. C. MASON, and the King George. Captain tumults, both with Mails and passengers from Got tenburgh. On the '2-ttli instant the Prince of Wales spoke the ship Henrietta, •of Baltimore, which left the Weser the clay before. PORTSMOUTH, JULY 26. Sailed his Majesty's sloop GAMOTT to the eastward —Wind S. W. PLYMOUTH AND PLYMOUTH-DOCK, JULY 2S. An enemy's privateer is now hovering off the Li zard ; a signal to announce, this fact having been made by telegraph, the CADMUS has put to sea in quest of her.—Arrived the Nisznon hired cutter from off Cherbourg. Sailed the WHITING schooner with the ATALANTA sloop under convoy, the latter haviiig 109 barrels of gun-powder on board for the garrison :at Berryhead. LAW INTELLIGENCE. LONDON SPECIAL SESSIONS', GUILDHALL. INSOLVENT DEBTORS. morning, at ten o'clock, the Curt met. - Ik(Avon presided assisted try the Recor an SMITH, ATKINS, &C. _ -- A great *umber of prisoners were discharged from the Poultry and Giltspur-street Compters, and also from the prison of Ludgate. The Court having come to a resolution of discharg ing in the first instance all who were not opposed, there were, by that means, one hundred and ten per sons restored to liberty, and to their families. Amoy those opposed and remanded was the well-known Baron De Minkwitz. Some others of lesser note, from the Fleet prison, were also remanded, upon va rious grounds of Opposition, the hearing of whose several cases is postponed by the Court till the whole of the unopposed shall be discharged, which will be on Friday next. Among some of the reasons or grotmds for opposing, was that a person in the rules of the Fleet, ing seen amusing himself in. Vauxhall Gardens. YI Tuesday night the SKYLARK sloop arrived at Deal with a small Dutch pleasure-boat, which she took up about 6 leagues off Goree, having on board a Serjeant. a Corporal, and eight privates belonging to the 6th Prussian dent) , brigade, having made their escape with their watch-coats, knapsacks, ammunition, and all accoutrements, being a serjeant's guard. The poor fellows state, that they were determined not to light against their countrymen, and therefore were on their passage to England when the SKYLARK fell in with them. The Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Bulletins were picked up in a small boat on Tuesday evening, at no great distance from Boulogne, by the'Peruvian sloop of war, Captain F. DOUGLAS. They were im mediately landed at Dover, and sent off by capress to the Admiralty. It was reported in some of the daily papers a few days ago, that the GROWLER gun-brig, Lieutenant Casseessou f and IsvielEviglish schooners, had been cap tured and sent into Flushing—But there can be no truth in the statement, for the GROWLER was at Ports mouth on Saturday last. MILITARY MovEMENTS.—The 2d battalion of the 53th regiment cf the line is ordered from Reading street to Ramsgate, 'to arrive there on Thursday.— The Cardigan militia moves this day from Ospringe also for Ramsgate, and the 3d battalion of the 95th (Rifle Corps) also this day from Brabourn Lees to -bliorncliffe. Tuesday se'nnight, the Ist Regiment of Aberdeen Local Militia, under Colonel FINLASON, had a grand field day, and went through their various evolutions with an accuracy which did them the greatest credit,' and proved the advanced state of discipline they had attained, during the time they have been on perma nent duty ; while the military appearance of this fine corps was highly gratifying to several Officers, and principal inhabitants of the place, who, with a great concourse of people, were present on the occasion. A duel was fought on Crawley Common on Tues day, between Major S. of Nottingham• Street, and Mr. SNEATII. On the second fire the Major received a wound in the left side, which it is feared will prove mortal, although the ball did not lodge. The com batants met in consequence of a dispute on Brighton Race-course on Monday, respecting a trifling bet.— The Major was removed in a post-chaise to a house two miles from the Common, where every assistance is rendered him. SALE. OF HIS MAJEST`,'S SPANISH SHEEP.—YES4OT day morning, at 12 o'clock, a very numerous com pany of Agriculturists assembled in the Paddock opposite the Pagoda, in Kew Gardens, to attend the sale of 100 sheep, selected from his Majesty's Spanish flock of Merino Sheep. At half past twelve the lots f Rams and Ewes were put up to auction by Mr. DANIEL SMITH. The sale closed about a quarter before five o'clock, when the purchasers retired to the Blue Boar, with Mr. SMITH, to dinner, and to settle their accounts. Among the company present were the Duke of KENT,' Lord ANCIE, Sir C. TALBOT, Sir JOSHUA BANKS, and a great number of Gentlemen and Agri culturists. Two races took place yesterday on the New-Cross road, between Captain Amor and Mr. SULLIVAN, the former haying undertaken to go a mile in five mi nutes, last, Colonel OSBORNE (of the militia) 'lutes, and run Mr. SULLIVAN a mile, with the inter of Sir Gamma OSBORNE, received Miss DAVIES, val of one minute only between the starts. The Cap sontain did his mile in two seconds under the given time, at the altar, with a fortune of 60,0001. and after resting the minute, he did the other-mile The Inquest of the Coroner, held on Thursday, on in five minutes and 4 25 seconds, and beat his adver the body of a young man who was killed at Ospringe, sary by about 100 yards . The wa g ers were '2O gui by the breaking down of the coach, found a verdict neas each. of afej‘knial loth I—and a fine of twenty Pounds was Saturd iy evening last, near te e'.ve o'clock, as Mr. ordered to be levied on the coach Prop r i etors . Tuesday last, a person of • the name of Taylor, a and a friend were _going printer, in Chester, undertook for a wager o f a across c7s f s C th h e i s t C I e u h s t t i smt Custom -h ou se, and from the Tiger's Head, guinea, where they had dined, to an adjoining Inn, they were to pick up 100 stones, and return individual...3r with I attacked by three ill-looking fellows (one was observ. them to a basket placed at the commencement cf the el to be in a drab great coat), and Mr. B. was rob distance, each stone being one yard asunder, in the; be c rof a parcel, containing his wearing apparel, and space of 47 minutes—he accomplished the arduous sundry other valuable articles ; his friend was se pia is 44i nal:lutes, and a few seconds, to the full sa- verely beaten. in endeavouring to rescue Mr. B. who tisfaction of thk.spectators present. The distauce is is( with the assistance of the Bow - street officers) nearly five Miles- mid carte-quartets . -quartets . m a quartets. ing every possible search arta the offenders. • COITEATRUAGN MAIL. _ li .:.:,. SfironcifOLNl, JULY 11.—We have received c stunts of a convoy from Riga to Revel having been niet 1);• two English frigates, and that IS sail, laden with pro. visions, arc captured. The young Baron Armfelcit, ,on to the General of _ that name, is going to England by this day's packet. We have a report to-day, that the Russians have re newed their demand to have the ports shut.against England, which has again been 1-efused. JULY 14.—We have received accounts from the •fil neighbourhood of Torneo, that an engagement has taken place between the Swedes and Russians, and that the Swedes have been obliged to fall back, ftcr la trifling loss. GOTTENBURGIr, JULY 18.—Mr. Stewart, formerly Secretary of Legation at St. Petersburgh, arrived 'here this afternoon, on his way to England, from the ArChduke's Army, and will sail with the next packet. • 1 • HOLLANnERISYS, RIMS 2g.—The turnerons fleet which has so long been lying ofl - Malmoe set sail last :londay for the Baltic, with a favourable wind, find .it noon it was perfectly out of sight. This day, be - weep 10 and 12 o'clock at noon, a heavy cannon•ade ,vrns heard to the southward,-the cause and result of ..which are not yet known. Rion, JULY 7.—Of the ships which hare lately arrived hove, three, laden with salt and piece-goods, have obtitied leave to unload ; but three ships, one with salt, and two with piece-goods, the papers of which were not found iu due order, particularly . for wan: of cert ficates of the Russian Consul, are deti:in 'ed and attached, until the misters shall procure the necessary documents ; for doing which, a term of two months has been granted them. In Petersburgh, Archangel, attd Odessa, Boards of Commissioners have been appointed for the examina tion of all documents and ships papers found on board neutral vessels. CAR LscnoNA, JULY 13.—Vessels are daily arriving from Russian ports, the masters of which agree in saying, that the difficulties attending the unloading . and reloading of ships in, the said ports are much greater in. appearance _thzti in reality. Xt is, how ever, understood tvthf best . informed peopla,, that much less Russian produce is likely to be expected this summer than last year. The Emperor Alexnnder is *shortly expected at Cronsiacli,*vihere the effect of red-hot balls is to be tried upon some &A ships, which have, for that pint? pose, been moore.l at a certain distance front ale bat teries of that fortress. RURAL' FETE AT CORK. One of the most pleasing and gratifying 'Sights which perhaps ever was • wit nessed in that part - of the country took place on Satur day last; at Dripsey Coik.—Mr. J. B. O'Sinasivast gave a rural entertainment there, according to annual custom, to the numerous men, women, and children employed in his extensive manufactories at Cork, Blarney, and Dripsey. At an early hour on Satur day, all the women engaged in the Cork concerns left that city decently attired, in couples, and in their way through Blarney were joi ned by the wen and cti women employed in the manufactories of that place, and also by those who work in their own cottages, the whole of whom were dressed out in the best manner for the occasion. They then proceeded to Dripsey, where • every thing was prepared in the extensive mills at that place for their accommodation and amusement which the liberality and .attention of that gentleman dictated. After their arrival, this nistnerom body partook of a beautiful and comfort able dinner, which was provided on the spacious lofts of the concern, conveniently fitted out, &c. at which Mr. J. B. O'SULLtVAY, a select number of friends, and all clerks attended, to make the whole as agreeable and gratifying as a liberal disposition could suggest. As soon as the dinner terminated, the com pany, consisting of about 500 couple, resorted to dancing, in which they were engaged until the 'mor ning's dawn ushered in the signal for departure.— They then peaceably re it •d, pouring blessings on their benefactor, and looking with joyful anticipation to an annual repetition of the same mirth, kindness, and hospitality. The lightning yesterday morning entered a bed chamber in a small house at Clapham, and set the curtains in a blaze. Before a boy who slept in the bed could escape, he was badly scorched. The fur niture and other articles in the apartment were de stroyed, and the house would have been consumed, had not the greatest exertion been made to extinguish the flames. The lightning flashed in the most awe-. ful manner, and much injury has been done west of London, to barns and haystacks. On Tuesday night a shocking accident happened to Miss S. BEVILLE, at her mother's house, at Win fred-green, near Colnbrook. Mrs. B. had entertained a party of friends in the evening ; and after they had retired, a violent shriek was heard on the second /bor. On one of the servants going up Missßeville was found senseless, and burnt so dreadfully that she sur. vived only mahouts. The deceased was 25 years of age, and on 'the point of marriage to a gentleman in Sloane-street. GUILDHALL. —Yesterday— Pelham, proprietor of the Jacob's Well public hotise e in Barbican, charged his maid servant with stealing his pocket book, .con taining . 819 in bank notesoind - several bills. Re stated that one evening lately. in throwing off his t coat, the pocket, hook might have dropped out for the girl deified the stealing, but said she found it). When it was lost, the house was searched, and the servant was asked if, 'she knew any thiw,; of it ? which she denied however, the book, with only the bills in it, was .found in the privy. Suspicion now falling on the servant, she was refused permission to go out with the beer, on which she decamped, but was brought back, and an officer being sent for, he found the notes under the lining of her shoes. She still per. sitting she had found them, and her master not being able to swear to th e contrary, the Alderman ordered her tp the House of Correction for a month, for conceal ing the property. -UstoN BALL. Smith, aliasToothag, was fully committed, charged with passing two forged checques upon tke house of Drummond, at Charing-cross, one for 51. and the other for WA. • HATTON' GARDEN.--Yesterday J. Clark was filly committed for trial, being charged with stealing poultry, the property of Mr. G. Adams. A • 1 i;1 ~4