Star. — London, England, 1805-08-02 00:00:00

7" H E 13 4111 E. 'ct farther difpatches had been received from Sir g,. B IRT CALDER when this paper Wall put to prefs.— The accounts from the ports that have been publifh ed are very contradiaory. The following inforina tion from an eye witnefs of the battle will, therefore, be the more acceptable to our Readers : Lieutenant NICHOLSON, the bearer of the Official D i fpatches, was yeßerday at the Jamaica Coffee- Houle, where he replied with the utmoft franknefs and affability to the great number of queltions with 'Which he was affailed from all quarters. The follow ing is the fubßanee of the anfwers he gave : Lieutenant NICHOLSON defctibed the engagement as having been fought on both fides with uncommon • vigour and gallantry for four hours. The enemy at 4rllendeavoured, as much as poffible. to avoid corn ; •; to a(tion, bat when they found themfelves under the inevitable neceffity of giving battle. they condua• ed t hemfelves with determined refolution. liad it not been for a fuccefbful manoeuvre of the Honourable Captain GARDNEM, who led the van in the HERO with c onfunrnate judgment and intrepidity, it would have been i.npoflible to have brought them to dote alien on the 22(1. A (hong Noah Eaft wind prevailed dining the whole of the battle, and the fog was fo thick, that even Come of our vellels could not avoid firing into each other. Our faperiority in tadics was of no avail, for it was not poffibk to perceive a fignal, and every Chip, in a great meaftut, had to rely upon her individual gall Why. It was owing to this unfortunate Rate of the weather that the WINDSOR CASTLE had to &Rain much more than her due proportion of the conteit. There were no means of afcertaining where affiflance was moll wanted ; and that fhip at one time bore nearly the whole brunt of the adion. She had the fire of fix of the enemy direeled againft her at the ftme time, and notwithftanding the maintained her nation with great firmnefs and refolution, not the leaft confufion was dilcoverable among her gallant crew, but they kept firing her broadfides with the utmoll coolnefs and precifion, in that direftion where they fuppofed they would tell molt effedually. Much furprife, we underhand, has been expreffed that the engagement terminated at the period it did, when our (hips foffered compahatively fo and the enemy was Rill fo near. The eau& of this ::ffation has been thus fatisfadorily explained by L::utenant nowt-son : —The two Spanifh !hips ' w:iich had (truck were dropping fah to leeward; and enemy, by a fuccefsful manoeuvre, might eafily have recovered poffellion of them, if our fquadron li“d not brought to for the purpofe of covering them. But this mancauvre would not have been reforted to, if Sir ROBERT CALDER were not convinced that it 'was his power to renew the aims when is timid. — He would have relinquifhed the two (hips of the ene. my fooner than have allowed them to efcape withotit a further conteit ; but he was anxious to preferve, at the fame time, both the advantagei of the potation, and be tatimonies of his triumph. He knew from the relative fituatlon of the two fleets, that when be had lint off his prizes and the WINDSOR Carrzs (crippled in the engagement), he could force the enemy to give battle again. Betides the gallant Ad miral was not without the expettation of teeing Lord NELSON arrive, and he itis aware that the longer be kept the enemy in fight and prevented him from get ting into port, the chances, in favour of that fortu nate circumhance, would be intreafed. Another Rate of the atmofphe re too would allow him to profit of thole advantages of (kill and dexterity of tnaneeuvre, the impoffibility of employing whkh rendered the' pleading anion lefs decifive than it otherwife might have been. Circuit)(lanced, however, as our fleet wat, Sir ROBERT Cs EDER was determined at all events to meet the enemy, and he expreffed the moll perfea confi dence as to its rclult. Notwithflanding, he thought it prudent to employ every degree of juftifiable cau tion in tic face of a fleet fuperior in number to him, and therefore Tic determined to fend off the cap tured 'Lips previous to a renewal of the atlion. Thus unircumbered with the confequences of his vieory, his rp:rations would be left free and unfettered, and he was left at liberty to follow up the advantages he Lad already acquired. As long as day-light continued, after the conclu• lion of the aslion, the repeating frigates announced that the enemy were formed in line of battle a few miles off, and in appearance lying -to, in expeltation being. attacked. The wind (Lill continued at North Eafl, which pi evented them from attempting a Spa milli port ; and it would have been in vain for them have endeavoured to turn to windward without snaking a facritice of all their &It failing veffels,which muff have bean captured by cur fall failing Mips.— The cr.emy, therefore, having no alternative,feerned difpi fed to another affirm rather than abandon a corificierable part of their force to our fquadron. Sir ROBEO.I CALDER WAS ALL THE TIME BETWEEN IHE ANd) TILL LAND, ar.d had the wind (which was North E.ta, and agaiV their getting into Perrol) come round to the WeAward or South Weft, Gill it would be in his power to intercept them. While he pre ferred the pontion the refpative fleets were in when Lieutenant Nienot.sou came away, there would be •Jo pollibility of the Combined Squadron getting into Ferrol without opening itkif a rage through the 2 titith fleet. • On the morning after the battle, (the •23d) ,Sri Rozsßr CaLost wrote his difpatches, and gave them to the WINDSOR CasrLs to bring home. The fog continued with little intermit on till he zsth, and the wind continuing in the fame quarter, N. E. the WINDSOR CASTLE and the Prizes could not be fent off—and this is the reafon why the battle was not renewed at that period. The Admiral was convinced be could compel them to aelion when he thought pro per, but he thought it his duty to put his captures and the ditabled !hip out of the reach of all danger, before he engaged a fecond time. On the evening of the 25th, Sir ROSERT CALDER) not witting to wait any longer for a fair wind for the Wransoa CASTLE to take home his difpatches, or dered off Lieutenant NicHOLsow, in the FRISK cutter, with duplicates to Admiral CORNwALLts, off I.llbant. When he failed, he left the WINDSOR CASTLE and the prizes at the head of the fleet, and the FRISK was obliged to turn to windward for the fiat thirty & hours. Previous to his leaving the PRANCE OF WALE,, the fog bad cleared away a little, and the re peating frigates reported the enemy to be abontfive &ague: of. Sir Roataz was till perfuaded that he could force them to anion when he thought proper ; for his fart failing !hips could loon fetch the enemy's heavy failors, and the reft of their fleet would la either obliged to flay and protect them, or determine upon finally abandoning them. The laft words the Admiral addreffed to Lieut. NicuoLsom, on delivering him the dill:latches, were thefe :—" 1 haix ;written to the Lord: ComMirsoners the Admiralty, that / flail bring the enemy to atfion agiki; tut you may allure them 44, that I have it in ttr:(poever to do fo, and that I am determined upon it ; this yos way alto fay to Admiral CORNMALLIS." So far we give on the authority of Lieut. Nicrtor. 7 sox ; and rejoiced we ire to find he was convinced of She impoffiblity of the enemy's efcape. None but the WINDSOR Cavite has received any fuch material damage as to unfit them for taking their Ration in the line. The French to all appearance were determined to abide the event of another battle, rather than rific the lofs of feveral of their !hips in endeavouring to get into a friendly port by dint of running. From the countenance they put on, not the kali doubt, we un. derftand, was entertained but that they would fight both gallantly and perfeveringly. Bravely as the ac_ tion may be contefted, we feel tranquil as to its ulti mate refult. Sir Roatii Cecelia has aceoMpliffi ed a great deal under heavy difadvantages. Whit May not be expeeed from his &ill and refclution, and the undaunted bravery of thofe he commands, fhould the fog have desired away and the weather caned more favourable ? It Teems now afcertained that the wind was at N. E. but it got to the S. W. while the Wiansoa Cas-rt s was on her voyage home. We have heen informed that an Officer on board thi Rafael gives a very Mind account of what the object of the CoMbined Fleets wai. He pofitivelk Rates, that with the Rochefort Squadron, and 1 greater force, which they exPeeed to join them from Spain, among which was the Carthagena fquadroit s they Calculated upon collating a force of iipwatds of thirty fail of the line, betides frigates. With this it was their intention to proceed, as they did, to the Weft Indies, in,order to alarm us for our Weft India poffellions, and to induce us to fend an equal force after them, whilft they fhould return home and con voy a number of troops to Ireland. This Officer lays, that they only took out with them ,sOOO troops from Toulon, Soo of which they left at Martinique, and Soo at Guadaloupe ; the remainder they brought home. Before they left Martinique they began to be fhort of provifions, and are now greatly in want of them. This laft is the only part of his intelligence we are difpofed to credit, for is to the ftherne of invading Ireland through the Weft Indies, we believe it never was included in any of the naval projects of the ene my, even wild, extravagant, and ill-concerted, as they feem to have been. The lill of the fleets which we gave yellerday, was we find, inaccurate.—The following is a correct Rate ment of the force of both : st.ANtsa. lIRITIII/L Terrible - 74 Hero Argonauts • • 7 4 Aj ax Efpano 64 Triumph - America 64 Barfieur San Rafael (taken) 8.1 Agamemnon Firm (taken) 74 Wl n df or C a ttl e Magdalena and Torchc frigates. Defiance - r at uc u. Prince of Wales Repulfe Raifonnable Dragon - Glory • Warrior - Thundercr • Malta Pluton - Neptune Mond)lane Atalanta Berwick Bucentsur Fermidsbk Intrepide - Swiftrure - Indomptabl• Seipion Aguila Acqu Iles Alguerons Herntione 'Fermiers Sirene }Midis Rhine Furche Horteufe Cornelia Argus - • 74 - 74 74 9 8 64 9 8 - 74 ' 98 . . • 74 - • 6.4 • 74 - 8o ' .74 9 8 * 74 - 9 8 74 ' 74 - 7 0 - 74 74 74 74 E gYPtiatfle 1 Frigates. Sirius Nile Lugger, Fri& Cutter. foripta. Brigs. " PLYMOUTH, JAY 3!. " We have received no further accounts of the re mainder of the Combined Squadrons : when the WINDSOR CAVILS parted from Sir ROBEP.T CALDIR'S fquisdrwai the enemy were then in fight about eight kerns W windward, under a prcfs of fail." . . . EXTRACT OF LETTAR hr.:4 AD OFFICER ON 30ARD ONE OF TI FRIGATES IN SIR ROBERT CALDER'S FLEET. . On the lad July r abotlt I r A. M. the Dr FIANCE, ntie.of the look-out. Mips, made a fignal for a fleet N. W. direalt to windward of our fleet ; &only af ter the fignal for their being the enemy's fleet, and that they conlifted of Mips of the line, and frigates, to the nuthber of 30. At this time we were to wind ward of the DO taacs, and four or five leagues to windward of our fleet. About half pal la P. M. we could plainly count from our deck from 25 to 30 fail, apparently lying to. The DEFIANCE getting nearly within gun.fhot, returned to our fleet, who were then forming in line of battle. About two we were cor.- fiderably within gun.fhot of the enemy's advanced fquadron, which then tacked and flood to wi n d war d of their fleet, then formed in line. We bore up to leeward of their advanced (hip, and pallid within half gun-[hot of their whole , line, which was formed in a mafterly (Lyle, and scon fled of 17 fail of the line, and three line.of battle Ships to windward. for the protation of their rear. They had likewife !even large frigates, two brigs, and A : very valuable gal leon, which one of their frigates hid it tow; the fri gates were likewife to windward (with the three !hips of the line) of their fternmoll Ship. Our fleet was at this time about fix miles to leeward, on the (larboard tack, under a prefs of fail, the enemy at the fame time under eafy fails thick fog intervening, pre vented the two fleets from teeing each other. Seeing the galleon in tow by the frigate, and obferving they were the fternmoll (hip of the enemy's line, we tacked with the intent of attempting to cut her off. This fudden manoeuvre threw the enemy's fri gate . into alarm, and the immediately commenced fi ring fignal gnus in quick fucce(on, which canted the three line of battle [hips, Qationed to cover their fear, to edge dawn for her proteaion. Our attempt being thus fruf trated, we were compelled to edge down to our fleet. The fog at this time cleared a little, and we perceiv ed that our fleet had tacked for the enemy, and the Admiral had gilfen the fignal to attack their centre. As we were edging away, we hbferved the van of the cncmy had wore for the proteaion of the galleon like- Wife, and when we obferved their leading Ship (three quarters paft four), were in a eery critical fituation. On paftng, they !Jollied Spanish colours, and we received the whole fire of their three leading 'hips, upwards of 120 pieces of heavy artillery; difcharged in one moment on our frigate, whilft we could only return 20. Thus the aaion commenced : our lead ing Ship, the Haim, of 74 guns, tacked immediately the enemy opened their fire on us, and commenced a heavy cannonading on them in return. It continued with unremitting limy for three bouts and a half, when we faw (on the clearing of the fog at intervals) the French line to windward, and two Ships dif abled, although we could not at the time ditlinguith whether they belonged to the enemy or us. At half pall eight the firing ceafed on both fides ; the Ad miral twitted his diftinguifhing lights; as did the Tett 9f the fquidron, when we could plainly obferve our fleet to be in tolerable order, confidering the extreme fogginefs of the weather, and had apparently fuller. ed hut little, although the firing on both fides was extremely heavy. We being kill to leeward of the AdMiral, were ordered into rear to take poffef lion of the two prizes, attending on which duty has teen our conaant employment ever fince. About nine, the Admiral made fignal to bring to on the Starboard tack, which was complied with by the whole line. The two Spanifh Ships that have furrendered had boo men killed and wounded ; their lower malls [hot away by the board, fo that they were rendered totally unmanageable, and gave us immenfe trouble in towing them. Had the weather been clear, I have no hefitation in faking, they would have been com pletely defcated—lbut the fog prevented our [hips get ting near enough (they not being difcernible, but at intervals), and the French being to windward, were too wife to come nearer to us. On the 24th, the wind Shifted to the Eaftward, which brohght our fleet to windward of the enemy. At this time, we were fo far to leetvard with our prizes, that we could not fee the enemy, though our fleet could. Sir Rosaar CALDER attacked 20 fail of the line, with 14 only— one being fent in Chace in the morning, and did not retain till the firing teafed." RXTRACT OF ♦ LITTER FROM ♦N OFFICAR ON BOARD THE WINDSOR CASTLE. " Plymouth, July 30, dos. '4 We received the fire of (even (hips before we came up with our opponent, then engaged two Ftench and two Spanifh (hips of the line for two hours and a half, betides a frigate and a brig. We drove the two Frenchmen out of their line. One of the Spaniards dropped aflern, the other (hock her co lours to ns, and was taken poffeffion of by the !hips gftern. We being the weathermorl fhip, fuffered Very much in our rigging and mafis—we think our felves very fortunate in having only t t killed, and 45 wounded, haring fo many (hips upon us. Two more French line of battle (hips coming up on our quar ter tb rake us. The Prince of Wales toeing fo many on us, made fail up, engaging two of them, took the fire of them from us, and prevented them from rak ing us. The confequence would have etherwife been very ferions. We either Should have been funk, or moll of us killed. The Captain of the Egyptienne had his boat lowered down with a rope, ready to tow us fatther from them, as he faw five more line of bat tle (hips coming down. What pleafure do I feel in telling you that there is not a braver (hip's company in his Maje Sty's fervice. I will only give you one in glance of a feaman who was wounded—his right thigh (hot off—and who, I fear, will lore the other. As foon as he heard that the Spaniard had Struck to us, he was then coffering amputation, he took off his hat, and gave three elects, and exclaimed, " I Shall die happy." I am happy to fay the brave fellow is yet living, and have fome hope that his remaining leg will be raved. I have the pleafure to fay our prizes are in company. We are the only fhip dif abled. The reSt are gone in purfuit of the French and Spanifh fleets. We mutt have killed a great many of the enemy, if I may judge by the Slate of one of the (hips that Struck to us. She had t5O kil led and iso wounded—of the latter, nine have Since died of their wounds. I mean the St. Raphael, of So guns. She had goo men when (he firil came into anion. I make no doubt but that the French !hips which Sheered off from us had a great many killed. It is not known how many men are killed on board the Firm. The (hips which we engaged ire the St. Raphael 80, Firm 74, Plato 7+, Neptune 98, a fri . , . • 5- ! ;,. .; " gate and a brig. You will be furprifed to think how we could have flood fo many of them. Only the van of our fleet came into -alion. The fog prevent ed the relt from coming up with the enemy. I do not believe that a fltot was fired in vain out of this (hip. The French tired very high with intent to cut up our rigging. I.muft conclude, as I intend to fend -my letters on thore the inflant the anchor is gone." MINUTES OE THE ACTION BETWEEN THE COMBINED FLEET OF FRANCE AND SPAIN, AND THE EROTISM . , SQZIADE.OII, UNDER THE COMMAND OF TICE ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT CALDER. His Ms.;Aty's Blip Windfor Cattle, Tat. 44 deg. ten minutes. long. t i. deg. as minutes—Cape Fulifterre S. E. Hz mile% • One hundred leagues N.E. of Obtain. P. M.—Moderate breezes, and thick foggy weather. At two o'clock, Admiral Caller made the fignal for an enemy being in . fight, and to prepare for battle; at three ditto, beet the Roe of battle in open order; 4 S !oblates after four...the van OnN having tacked ; fignal made to engage the enemy's eentre in dole order; SS after four, the cannonading commenced by 'flips a-bead; the fog being fo thick, could not decover what Mips were engaged; to minutes paft five—being on the larboard tack, obferved the Barfieur on the ftarboard tack; tacked (hip. on her wake; the having cleared away a little, difeovered two/reach line of battle lip,, a frigate, and a brig oppoled to us, when ate opened our fire, with an alined incdfaut cannonading; at 43 minutes after fix, a Spanifh thip of the line drbpped down to fupport the above Mips; after hauling their fore and malls halyards on board, made [into windward from us, at the fame time kept up a heavy fire; two other (hips of their line took their ftatiaos ; the Prince of Wale,' coming up, partially engaging two Mips of the fine, their feretr.ort fire being diredted at us, and their aftermoft at the Prints of Wales. At (even, our fore.top-tnaft and main top-gallant-malt Blot away. .At 43 minutes alter (even, obferved the Ihit "pored to as, before the beam, with her main and wizen tuft gone, which (hip itruck her colours and dropped alters ; fent a boat with Lieu. tenant Mohnen:, to take poffeffioc, who was prevented by the heavy fire from the Prince of Wales, not obfcrving the had !truck. her colours to us. The fog again coming on, the boat returned on board. The headrooft of the two Blips, whole fire was divided between us and the Prince of Wales, appeared to betnuch difabled a bore up and dropped down upon our line, under a very heavy fire from lb vs after°, her lower malts then ftandirg. About 3o minutes after eight the enemy ceded fling at us, but continued engaging slam till three cuarters pall eight, when they made fail to wind ward. Our difabled fituation, the handing and running rigging Mot away ; our malts and yards Snuck wounded, rendered it int praCticable to purfue them ; at eleven, the Dragon informed us the was ordered to remain Inp, and affift us, if neeeffary, td take us in tow. A. M. Moderate and fine; at go minutes paft four, obferved the Malta man of war, Sirius and Egyptienne frigates, coming up from the leeward, with two of the enemy's line of bat tle [hips in tow; the remainder of the enemy's Ups, 3o in num ber, being hull down to windward. Britt* fquadron, confining of 53 (hips of the line, two 6g gin (hips, and two friptes, a lug ger and cutter Enemy's fleet, confining of as (hips of the line. lix frigates, and two brigs, one 'tore Ship, and a captured Englills South Seaman, under a heavy pads of WI, to windward. A copy of a letter fAid to have been written to the refpedive Captains in Lord Netson's fleet, ort their arrival in the Weft Indies, was yellerday hand.. ed about in the city, in the following laconic ftyle : —" Break the French line as Coon as pollible ; never—never—never." Seven French prifonen efcaped from the Stash prifon (hip at Portfmouth, on Tuefday night, and cunuingly concealed themfelves during the day, with intent to make their efcape in a boat in the night, but by the activity of the officers of the Sultan, their fe cret retreat was difcovered. Yeflerday morning feveral regiments of Volun teers had a grand (ham fight, Under the orders of the Earl of HARRINGTON. The aft Battalion of Surrey Volunteers, the Lambeth, Streatham, Camberwell, and the Dulwich Volunteers, formed the enemy to be attacked, under the command of the Earl of BAN. suer, and took their pofition as follows : The main body at Dulwich. Soo Men detached on the croft road oh Denmark HILL too Men at the Green Man. So Men on the Green in Half-moon-lane. go Men on the more find, at the Half-moan public &sure. The attacking party altembled at Montpelier Gar dens, under the command of General WHITMAN •-•••• they confilled of the London Light H ot f e , the Ro yal Artillery, and the Clerkensvell Volunteers. Each party had field pieces, the Royal Artillery having fonr attached to their corps, lent the detachment un der the Earl of BANBURY two of them. The detach ment on Denmark Hill was attacked by the main bo dy of General WHITMAN'S Corps, whilft his cavalry, with one gun, and a corps of (harp Ihooters, made a &took by Grove-lane, Dog-kennel-lane, Lnrdlhip. lane, and by the Green Man, to cut off the re t reat o f Lord BAN atrar's party at Denmark Hill, and after wards his main body at Dulwich Common. The detachment on Denmark Hill was forced to retire by the Corps which threatened its right, and the heavy cannonading of General Wu trKAPI'S guns in front. They retired by the right to a second poll tion on Denmark Hill, in front of a row of houfes.— Here they were only able to make a Ikon gland, be. ing annoyed by General WHITMAN'S Cavalry and Shalt) Shooters, who were originally detached from Camberwell, up Grove-lane, to attack the enemy's right, whila the right and centre columns took the great road over Champion Hill to threaten their left. Lord Bamatrey's picquet was now forced down Green-lane towards Dulwich. The attacking party having thus drove their adverfary from their wrong holds, they took refuge in the village of Dulwich, and for a long time kept poffefflon, but were at last attacked in two quarters, and fearing they should be flanked by the detachment of horfe and the gun that had gone round by Green-lane, they quitted the town, formed on the Heath in a line, and tent out a fieldpiece, with a flrong picquet and fkirmilhes, to annoy the enemy in forming, on leaving the town of Dulwich, which they now poireffed. Lord BAN- Boer's picket, field-piece, and fkirmifbers, having been drove in by the out detachments of the enemy, their hurts fcoured the front, and thereby safely brought in a field-piece to annoy, whilft the troops under General WH !THAN advanced in two columns, and formed a line oppofite to that of their enemy's. A general engagement now took place, and for near ly an huur the Corps were expofed to each other's fire at a very fhort diaance : they did not fire either by companies or battalions, but every man as fait as he could load his piece. The party which had hi therto been attacking and advancing at IA gave way, and retired, when the others were declared victors. The whole of the Corps then puffed the Earl of Hartarmorow in open column, and fainted, after which they took a repaft on the ground, each regi ment having provided for themfelves. At the entrance of the Common a large marquee was pitched, in which the Earl and Countefs of Ham- RINGTON, Lady ANNS MARIA STANHOPE, Lord BASSI/SY, Gen. WHITMAN, Col. Jammu sou, Col. Goarporr, and feveral other perfons of dittinaion, partook of a cold collation. Great numbers of fpec-, Caters were prefent.