Star. — London, England, 1814-04-04 00:00:00

FILOM SATURDAY IslG4 l''S GAZErfE. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, APRII, 2. Estract of a Letter from Captain Hayes, of his Majesty's ship Majestic, addressed to Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, and a Duplicate transmitted to 1. W. Crain-, Esq. Majestic, at Sea, February 5, 1814 have thehonour to acquaint you, that in my way frona St. Michael's to Madeira, in the execution of your orders, at day-light in the morning of the 3d instant, in lat. 37. and long. '2O. being then in chase . ,of a ship in the N.E. supposed to be one ot the enemy's cruizers, three ships and a brig were discovered about • three leagges off in the S.S.E. ot very suspicious ap peal-4mm, and not answering the private signal, I gee over the pursuit of the ship to the northward ,a eastward, hoisted my colours, and proceeded to aTc:innoitre the southern squadron, when two co the ships immediately gave chase to me ; on closing .within four miles, I discovered them to be two 44- ertm frigates, a ship mounting 20 guns, and a brig, which I coOd not perceive to be armed. I determined on forcing them to shew their col ntrs (which they appeared to wish to avoid), and for that purpose stood directly for the headmost frirrate. when she shortened sail, and brought to, for the other to close. I now made all sail, in the hope of being ahle to get alongside of her before it could be effected, but in this I was foiled, by her wearing, making c il,and joining the other, and taking a station a-head and a-stern, with the (29-glin ship and a brig on their weather h o w; they stood to the S.S.E. with larboard studding and ad the sad that t-'old b^ czr:i the sterumost hoisting French colours, at a quarter of an hour pas: two o'clock, she opened a fire front her aftermost guns upon us ; at three o'clock, being in a good position (going ten knots an hour), I commenced firing with considerable effect, the shot . going either through, or just over the starboard guar ;ter to the forecastle, over the larboard bow ; when at forty-nine minutes past four, she struck her colours to his Majesty's ship MAjestic, under my command. The wind increasing, the price in a state of great confusion, and eight fast approaching, obliged me to stay by her, and to suffer the other frigate, with the ship and brig, to escape ; the sea got up very fast so that only one hundred of the prisoners could be ex xhanged, and even in. effecting that, one boat was lost and two prisoners drowned—this I hope, Sir, will plead my'apology for not bringing you the whole of them. The captured ship is the Terpsichore, of 44 guns, 18 and .24-pounders, and 320 men, Breton Francois de Sire, Capitaine de frigate • the other was the Ata lante, sister ship, exactly Of the same force ; they sailed from the Scheldt on the 20th October, and went to L'Orien!, from whence they sailed again on the Sth January, in: company with la Yade, a simi lar ship, which parted from them in latitude 45. and long. 16. 40. The enemy had only three men killed, siX wounded, and two drowned ; the Majestic none. The officers and men I have the honour to corn ;nand conducted themselves on this occasion as I ex pected they would do. ropy of a Letter from Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, But. to John Wilson Croker, Esq. elated at Portsmouth, the 81st March, 1814. Sits-4 feel peculiar satisfaction in transmitting, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admi ralty, a letter I have received from Captain Sir Mi- OW Seymour, of the Hannibal, enclosing one ad dressed to him by Captain Palmer, of his Majesty's ship the Hebrus, detailing the capture of the French frigate l'Ett)ile, on the morning of the 27th instant, after an arduous chase of 120 miles, and a well fought ction of two hours and a quarter, in eight fathoms water, under Cape La Hogue. I entirely concur with Sir Michael Seymour in the opinion he has expressed, and very hear tily con.:2:7atu late their Lordships on an event which wili st-: irl ;Inonggt the most brilliant of the frigate actions in the records of our country, and does the highest ho sour to Captain Palmer, the officers and ship's com pany of the 1-lebrus.—l am, Sir, &c. (Signed) It. BtcxErrrox. His Majesty's ship Hannibal, Fpithead, March 31. SlR—Enclosed I transmit with the utmost gratifi- ration, the letter of the Captain of the Hebrus, giving a full and clear detail of the capture of l'Etoile French frigate, consort of la &thane ; and I am quite at a loss how to express, in adequate terms, my admiration of Captain Palmer's skill and decision on so interesting an occasion, and his new ship's ctri pany, his officers and his own able and intrepid con ,duct.-4 have the-honour to be, &c. (Signet) MICHAEI, SEYMOUR. Six Richard Bickettou. Bart: Admiral of the Blue, &c. Cununander in Chief at Portsmouth. Hie Majesty's stip Hebrus, Plymouth, March 29,1814. SlR—When the Hannibal and his Majesty's ship =der nay command separated on the morning of the 2Gth, in chase of the two French frigates we had fallen in with, we continned in pursuit of the one you were pleased to detach us after, the whole day, vith all cur canvaS• spread. About midnight be reached the Race of Alderney, and the wind scant ly, we-began to gain upon him fast ; by the time he had ran the length of Point Jobourzr, leading into the Bay of La Hogue, he was obliged to attempt rounding it almost within the wash of the breakers ; and here, after an anxious chase of fifteen hours, and riintiiiis him upwards of one hundred and twenty piles, we were fortunate enough, between one an,i two in the morning, to bring him to battle ; we crossed his stern, our jib-Viom passibt: over his top sail, and shot irrbetvvixt hirii and the shore, in eight Itthoms water, and it falling nearly calm about this time, the ships continued nearly 111 the same spot wi aii t h e conclusion of the Action. At its commence ment we suffered considerably in our rising ; the enemy firing high, he shot away our foretopmast attd f ard, crippled our mainmast and bowsprit, and cut away almost every shroud, stay, and brace we had. Our fire from the first, and -throughout, 7A as directed at our Opponent's hull, and the ships being as close together its they could be without torching, tic suffered most severely, every shot which struck passing through him. About four o'clock his snizertniast fell by Cr! bo ird, and his fire ceased, after an .0b1i.111,)18 contest of two hoots ',owl a quarter, he hailed us, to say that he had struck his F 4 *"*. The moment we could get possession, it detain necessary to put the heads of tv)th ships off shore, a s well f rom the apprelansion af grounding, ab4° S" the m clear tram a battery whit had been ~. I firing at both of ns during the whole action, those on shore not being able from the darkness to distin guish one from the other ; fortunately ttie tide set us round the point, and we anchored soon afterwards in Vauville Bay, in order to secure our masts as well as we were able. The prize proves to be l'Etoile French frigate, mounting 44 guns, 28 18.pouuders on the main deck, and the remainder carronades, with a comple ment of 320 men; she was commanded by Monsieur Henry Pierre Philibert, C.ipitaine de Frigate, who was returning, together with la Sultane (the other frigate), from a four months' cruise to the westward. L'Etoile is a very fine frigate, quite new, and sails well ; she lost in the action forty killed, and had upwards of seventy woundtd ; her masts which re mained are shot through, and her hull extremely shattered, having four feet Auer in her hold at the time she surrendered. We are also a good deal cut up, several of our guns dismounted, and I have to re gret the loss of some brave men, thirteen killed and twenty-five wounded, some of them, I fear, danger ously. Among the former was a most promising young Gentleman, Mr. P. A. Crawley, Midshipman, who fell unhappily early in the action. I cannot, Sir, sufficiently express to you how much I have to admire in the cnduct of every one whom I had tire pleasure to command upon this occasion. I beg most earnestly to recommend Mr. R. M. Jack son, the Senior Lieutenant ; as also to give my best testimony to the exertions of the Junior Lieutenants, Messrs. Addis and Cocks, together with Lieutenants Griffiths and M‘Laughlin, of the marines. To Mr. Ni•Gowen, the Master, I am much indebted for the skill .and care with which he conducted the steerage of the ship during a periel ,f much difficulty and peril. Mr. Maddox, the Purser, very handsomely volunteered his attendance on deck, where he ren dered good set vice. 1 cannot close this letter without observine-„ that I derived the greatest assistance from the professional ability of Captain William Sargent, of the Navy, who was serving on board.with me as volunteer. Herewith, Sir, you have lists of the killed and wounded ; and I notice with great pleasure the care and attention of Mr. Boyter, Surgeon, not only to wards our own men, but try those of the enemy also, I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) EDMUND' PA LM I'3, Captain of his Majesty's ship Hebrus. Captain Sir Michael Seymour, Bart. LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. r.ILLEe. P. A. Crawley, midshipman ; Andrew Feoalson, yeoman of sheets: James Crew, captain of the matt ; Thomas Rickerby, ditto; William Boyd, ship's corporal ; William Shooley, cap tain of the forecastle ; Samuel Crawley, and Patrick M'Cuen, ordinary seamen ; Thomas Douglas, John Simpson, Charles Duttan, Wm. Foster, and John Belton, landmen. DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED. Charles Still, ordinary seaman; John Stone, and James Lawson, landmen ; Samuel Ormes, boy. SEVERELY WOVNDED. John Cray, second captain of the forecastle ; Richard Powell, piloi; Daniel Maiden, captain of the foretop; Wm. Rosslus, sail•maker's crew; Daniel M'Cuen, able seaman; John Moor croft, private marine. SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. Mark Sharman, boatswain's mate ; Gilbert Duncan, captain of the maintop ; John Hazard, captain of the after-guard ; J. Collins, ditto; Frederick Maas, able seaman ; Michael Har nett, Balem Cossang, William Stevens, Andrew Blackwood, and John Jackson, ordinary seamen; James Wilson, Landman; George Niles, boy ; Robert Crown, boy ; Thomas Evrrngtoti, landman ; lames Crosby, corporal of marines. Total—is killed-25 wounded. (Signed) DAVID BOrTER, Surgeon. EDMUND PALMIER, Captain. Killed en board l'Etolle French frigate, 40—Wounded 71. Copy of a letter from Captain Rowley, of his Majesty's ship Eagle, addressed to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. and transmitted by the latter to John Wilson Croker, Esq. The Eagle, at Malta, February G. Sllt—lmagining it will be satisfactory to you, I take the liberty or mentioning, that on the night of the 3d inst. I ! . .);Ind his Majesty's ships Apollo and Li at anchor off Brindisi, and a Fr: - :11 fri gate (the Uranie) on fire inside of the pop. Captain Taylor acquainted me, that the Uranie had escaped . from Ancona on the liith of January, and had been turned into BrinS.si by the Cerberus ; and that on his arrival there he sent in a message to know in what situation he was to consider the port of Brindisi, as he haJ understood the Neapolitan Government had joined the Allies and decland war against France; he therefore could not comprehend their giving succour to an enemy's frigate. After much conversation, it appears that on the Apollo making a shew as if intending to go into the port of Brindisi, the Frenchman landed his powder and set fire to the frigate; as it, blew fresh and the tide was running strong, Captain Taylor had not time to write the particulars by me. I have, &c. C. ROWLEY, Captain. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, APRIL 2. Rear-Admiral Griffith has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Wales, of his Majesty's sloop Epeivier, dated the 23d Fe bruary last, giving an account of his having cap tured the Allred American brig privateer, mounting fourteen long six pounders, and two eighteen pound• ers carronades, with a complement of one hundred and ten men, returning to Salem, after a twelve weeks cruize, in which period she had only made three small captures. And also a letter from Captain Robinson, of his Majesty's sloop Pr,m(theris, dated the Bth March, reporting the capture of the American privateer schooner Lizard, of two long guns and thirty-four man, out of ;ialem to elve days without taking aMy prize. ADMIRATY-OFFICE, APRIL 2. Copy of a letter from Vice-;clrniral Sir Edward Pellew. Bart. to John Wihon Croker, Esq. dated on board his Majeaty's ship CaleJorna, off Minorca, February 24. rtt—l presume Rear-Admiral Freerpantle has already conveyed to their Lordships the statements berev. , ith transmitted, regarding the surrender of Cattaro and Zara.* I h.tve only to express my great satisfaction at the manner in which these services have been performed. The merits of those employed will not fail to receive their Lordships' approbation. (Signed) EDWARD PELL EW. Milford, Trieste, January 17. Sin—Herewith I have the honour to tr3nsnnt. a letter, from Captain Haste, of his Majesty's c . j4i,p I.l*- chante, wish the term , . of capiplation for the surren dtr of the fort of Cattaro. The exertions of Captains Haste and Harper, and •An account of the euerceder of ;ars a lready been in *pled lti tfte cafFttp. the officers and men employed under them, need no comment on my part, and j am aware will be duly appreciated by you.—l have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) roam F. FREMANTLE. Sir Edward Peilew, Bart. • His Majesty's ship Eacchante, before Cattaro, January 5, 1814. SIR-I have mach satisfaction in acquainting you, that, afier ten days cannonade, the fortress of Cat taro surrendered by capitulation this morning to his Majesty's ships named in the margin 'e. The terms I granted to the garrison are, to lay down their arms on the Marine, to be transported to some port in Italy, to be considered prisoners of war, and not to serve against England or her Allies till regularly ex changed. It is unnecessary I should enter further into detail,- than to say, that by the exertions of the officers and crews of both ships. our batteries were enabled to open from four different points on the castle and works at day light on Christmas morning ; that on the lst January, two additional batteries of IS and 32-pounders, were opened and played against the castle, and that on the 3d I had arranged every thing with the Chief of the Montenegrins, for a general assault, when the Commandant, General Gauthier, sent out, expressing his wish to capitulate. This morning a capitulation was signed, a copy of which I enclose, with the state of the garrison t. Our loss, I am happy to say, has been trifling— one seaman killed, and Lieutenant Haig, of the royal marines, slightly wounded. The mouths of the Cattaro are now freed of the enemy, Sir ; and in bringing this business to a suc , cesstal issue, the officers and men have exerted them selves to the utmost. We have received no assistance but from a few Montenegrins : we have had to trust to our own re sources alone, and we have found them in the zeal and perseverance which has actuated all parties.—, From the exertions of Captain Harper, of the Saracen,) and Lieutenant Milbourne, of the Bacchante, two' eighteen-pounders and two mortars were got up the' range of mountains before Cattaro, to the astonish ment of friends and foes ; and what was deemed im practicable by the French General, was completed in ten days. The zeal and activity of Captain Harper are well known to you, Sir, and I assure you, in no instance have they been more conspiclioui than on the present occasion—ha it a most invaluable officer. It is my duly to mention the meritorious conduct of Lieutenants Milbourne and Rees (acting), of the Bacchante ; Lieutenant Haacock, of the Saracen ; Mr. Vale, Master of ditto; Lieutenant Haig, royal marines of Bacchants ; Mr. Charles Bruce, Midship ' man of Bacchante ; and the whole of the officers and men of both ships have tried to excel each other NI this occasion. The torrents of rain, and the fatigues and privations attending an attack ol a fortress like Cattaro, this season of the year, have been borne with ct cheeriul. ness that entitled them to every praise. t cannot con clude this without acknowlAgiii i 4, in the warmest terms, the active assistance I leave received trom Captain Angelo, of Lieutenant-General Campbell's Staff, who was waiting in the Bacchante for a passage to join the Lieutenant-General at Zante ; his zeal and ability have supplied many detieiencivs on ,ur part, and have considerably tended to the speedy re duction of the place.-1 have, Ace. _ . (Signed) W. Hons, Captain. Rear-Admiral Freemantle, &c. &c. &e. • Bacchante and Saracen. f The Articles of Capitulation will be given in a future Gazette. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE WAR DE PA RTMENT. DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 2. A Lispatch has been received by Earl Bathurst from Viscount Castlereagh, wherein his Lordship states, that the Negociations which have been held at Chatillon between the Plenipotentiaries of the Allied Powers and the Plenipotentiary of the French Go vernment, were broken off on the 18th ult. FOREIGN-OFFICE, APRIL 2. Dispatches, of which the following are copies and extracts, have been this day received at this Office : Bar-sur-Aube, Nlalch 22. MY LORD—I have the honour to enclose, for your Lordship's information, an additional report I last night received from Colonel Lowe, dated Laon, the 16th instant. Also a letter from my Aide-de-Camp (Captain Harris), giving an accountof General St. Priest's afiair at Rheims, on the 13th inst. I have the honour to he, &c. (Signed) CHARLES STEWART, Lieut.-Gen. Viscount Castlereagh, &c. &c. COLONEL LOWE TO THE 110 N. SIR C. STEWART, DATED HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMBINED ARMY UNDER FIELD-MARSHAL BLUCHER, LAON, MARCH 16. SlK—Nothing of material importance has occurred in this army since the battles of the 9th and 10th, except the affairs that have occurred at Rheims.— Ti, reports of your Aid-de-Camp, Captain Harris, who was with General Count St. Priest, at the cap ture and loss of the town, render it unnecessary for me to enter into any details regarding them. The loss of the town has been productive of some incon venience, in suspending our communication with the grand army, of whose present situation or move. ments we are without any accurate information ; but I suppose, from the main body of the enemy's army, and Bonaparte himself being in this vicinity, it is continuing its advance towards the capital. The army here has for some days past been bco copying au extended line from Chauny to Corbeny and Craone, with advances posted forward towards Soissons, principally with the view of collecting pro visions and forage from the rear and right flank. It is now again concentrating. Bonaparte, by the reports of deserters and other information, is at Rheims, and has his guards with him. Field-Marshal Blucher's heae.quarters still remain here. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) H. LowE, Colonel. REPORT FROM CAPTAIN HARRIS, DATED LAON, MARCH 14, SlR—The corps of Lieutenant-General Count St. Priest remained during the night of the 12th in the town of Rheims. Between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning n$ yesterday, it was reported that the advanced posts on the road to Soissons were attacked and obliged to retire, and that the enemy were ad vancing in force from that direction ! The troops were immediate., moved front the town into position on die high ground on each side of the Chanssee leading to Soissons, and Awn quarter of a mile from Rheims, in ficnt of whi, were posted strong parties of cavalry, iartry, al artillery. The enemy were seep advancing ii: heat , masses of cavalry . and a numerous artillery, %ilk, they formed into two lines, when within about a tri , and a half of the position of the Allies ; the atlvan:. of both armies were immediately engaged, and It several hours cannonading and skirmishing in tl plain between the two positions was constant; clurirr thi s time the enemy made no other movement thm that of extending their line to both ilanks ; thy ; seemed to be waiting the arrival of the ;r.:intr.. which had not yet appeared. About four o'cloc . the columns of cavalry with artillery were advance(' a heavy cannonade opened, and a very vigorous 21 tack was made on two Russian battalions who wer , placed in advance ; the steadiness of these troops de leafed this attempt; the enemy were repulsed, am suffered very considerably from the fire (f the in fantry, who retired to the position without loss. _.. The enemy moved forward a line of artillery. covered by their columns of cavalry ; a tremendon cannonade was opened en both sides. The Ailiee troops were for a long time exposed to the galling fire of a very superior artillery, but they renuinett firm on their ground. The enemy were seen to move a large column cf cavalry to their right. At this moment, Count S:, Priest (who had been constantly in the most ezprsed situations, setting a bril li ant example to his t ro o ps ), was struck from his horse by a cannon-1)41 f and ob. liged to be carried from the field. Such a loss at so critical a moment, was particularly unfoitenate; during the short interval that occurred belt:re he was replaced in his command, the enemy were makirl their greatest efforts. General Entanuel's brigade of Russian ca7alry, supporting the infantry on the left, was attacked bf a large mass of tie enemy's cavalry ; nuthirg could be more gallant than the resistance made by these troops, but they were overpowered by a [OKs four times their number, and suffered very severely. The enemy were at the same time pressing upon the centne and right, and the unavoidable event was the retreat of the whole corps through the town of Rheims._ Such a retreat b: fore an enemy so superior in cavalry, could not be effected without loss, hut it has been much less than might be expected. The columns re, tired by the road of Berri au Bac. The entranc: into Rheims was defended by a small party of infan• try for two hours, and the enemy did not get pos. session of the town till ten o'clock ; they had how 'ever crossed their cavalry round to the right of the town, and pushed on the road to Berri au Bac : this movement cut off the retreat of a small column by th rt road, knd obliged them to retire by the min e o f Neufchatel. The whole of the corps have this more. ing joined the army of Field-Marshal Blucher it: the neighbourhood of Laon. I am not able to state the exact loss of the Allies i s the affair of yesterday, but I understand it does not exceed 2,000 men. Seven Prussian and tine Rus. sian gun were left in the possession of the e temy.— The cannon taken on the 12th inst. at Icheims, were removed to Chalons, before the town was re-occupied by the French troops. The loss the enemy in killed and wounded ran. not but have been very considerable. It is said that Bonaparte was himself present during the whole cf the day.-4 have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) IMO& NOEL HARM% A ide-de.Catsip. _ _ _ Ares, March IR, ISM MY LORD—In consequence of successes obtained by Marshal Blucher's army near Laon, Pr;rice Schwartzenberg carried his head-quarters on thelsth to Pont.sur-Seine, and, with the view of assuming the offensive, directed the 4th, sth. and 6th corps :o pars the Seine, and endeavour to establish themselves at Villeneuve, Provins, and Bray, white the Jd corps established itself at Sens. Before these movements / however, were carried into complete execution, Ll , e news of the defeat of a part of General St. Priest's turps on the 14th, and the occupation of Rheims by threnemy, arrived. Prince Schwartzenberg determined to suspend the movement he had comn - nnced, he brought his head quarters on the 16th to this place, and coLecttd his army within reach of it. The sth corps occupied the town of Arcis ;—its advanced guard was placed at Mailly a.nd sons. The 6th corps was is pr”;iii.in between S. Ferrail and Mont le Potsir. The 4ta cial,s WAS •It Nogent, parties detached fr..m it occupying Marri , ': and Sordun, on the road to Provins And B!;iy. The td corps was between Villeneuve and Troyes. The details of the affair ut General St. have not yet been received; I fear that Officer w.i, severely wounded, he retired in the di,ectinn ut au Bac, and is supposed to have farmed Ins junctiuu with General D'Vorck. By the direction of this retreat, Rheims was lett open to the French, who immediately occupied it.— From thence they moved upon Chalons and EpernAy. which they took possession of on the 16th, the smut garrisons which occupied them having retired upca their approach. The enemy yesterday made no movement in ad vance frnm those places. It has however to•clay been reported from General Keiseroff, that Bonaparte was last night at Epernay, and that he is advancing non Fcre Chetrnpenoise. In the contemplation of such a movement, am' in the determination in any case to march up .11 C:t• lons, to support the Invvementz of General Bludar, Prince Schwartzenberg had yesterd dir,ct.4l the different corps of his army to move into a positioN the guards and reserves between Donncn Dommartir: ; the sth corps be:ween R•imei ICi d Arcis ; the 6th corps between Arcis act Cl•amaY the 4th to form the left at Mery ; the J.l to aii , em.a between.Nogent and Pont sur General thar;chi was attack,l on the Hilt tear Macon, by two divisions of Marshal Augereau's •: 1 * my. The affair rast.:d till (Lae, the enemy retired, leaving a cot slier:bit number of kided . ar ,l woundeed on the field of battle; five lium;ie , ' prl'or• ers, and two carmen, remained in the hai:ck t the Allies. Gcre al Bianchi Fusin(' his advanced gum,' the next day .o St. George. • _. By reports trom that army of the I l•th, r• 11,1 of Hesse Homburg had joined the corps of Bianchi at Bage le Chatel ; he me nic to vacs s" ' greater part of his forces to the rigi.: of the S ••ne, and move upon theenemy then Assembled at Ville franche on the 17th. (.t •et al General llybna waked the arrival of a riorr