Star. — London, England, 1808-09-19 00:00:00

OVAL OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC. The arrival of two Gottenburgh Mails in the course o f last night has also enabl e d us to give some farther detaffs respecting the war between Sweden and Russia. But the most important articles received by these mails r elate to the late glorioes naval achievement in the Baltic. They are here subjoined. Our Readers will be at a loss whether to admire most the libelled eulogium bestowzd on Advniril HOOD and his brave com panions, by the Swedish Admiral—or the noble eon dna of the British Admiral towards the former in the share he attributes to him of the glory that has been ac quired over a vaunting foe. These heroes vie with each other in putting from themselves the whole merit o f the victory—How generous ! How noble I What ma y we not expect from men who have obtained well a triumph over the common propensities of the human mind ! rTER THOM REAR-ADMIRAL SIR SAMUEL HOOD TO THE SItEDISH REAR-ADMIRAL N.AUCKHOFT. 4, Centaur, August 27. It is with the utmost satisfaction I congratulate you on the complete success of our endeavours to frustrate the object of the sailing of the enemy's fleet; - , nd it gives me peculiar pleasure, that I have it in my power to inform you, that at the attack made yester day on the enemy's fleet, when a Russian ship of 74 guns was taken, our success is to be attributed entirely to the skill, bravery, and zeal displayed by his Swe dish Majesty's fleet under your command, which in spired with confidence both the officers and men under my orders. The onemy having perceived this, found it necessary to retreat into port, in order to avoid a ge neral action, the only circumstance which we have to lament. " I assure you, Sir, that the cordial assistance I received from your fleet was of the most satisfactory nature ; and nothing would give me greater satisfac tion, than to know that my services could be of any use to the attainment of his Majesty's views, whereby I should be sure to obtain the approbation of my King.—l have the honour to be, Ecc. (Signed) " SAM. HOOD." " Centaur, Aug. 27. Account of the ships and vessels which com posed his Imperial Russian Majesty's fleet on the 25th of August, 1808, when it was descried by his Swe dish Majesty's fleet under the command of Rear. Admiral Nauckhoff, and his Britannic Majesty's ships Centaur' and Implacable, under the orders of Rear. Admiral Hood, Knight of the Jdath : " Blagodath, 120 guns; Gabriel 118, Nordstjcrnan 74, Am /wen 74, St. Anna 74, Boreas 74, Omen 74, W. Sewolod 14, (taken and burnt) Michael 74, Hero 50, Rapid .50, Argus 50, %Theodore 44, Schattiwoy 44, Castor 24, Pollux 24, Her melee 20, Melpomene 20, Wottoff 18, Lisette 18, two corvettes and two cutters. In the whole 24. (Signed) '" S. 1100 D." TO =JAMES SAVMARFZ, X. B. VICE-ADMIRAL OF TILE BLUE, &C. " Centaur, before Rogerwieb, August 27, 1808. gi I have the honour to inform you, with peculiar satisfaction, that the Russian fleet, commanded by Admiral Naukhot after a chase of thirty-four hours, was compelled to seek shelter in Rogerwick harbour, with the loss of a 74 gun ship. It gives me particular pleasure to bear testimony to the steady and gallant cfnduct of the officers, seamen, and marines under my orders, and to add, that I never saw on any occasion more zeal and activity displayed, than were evinced by his Swedish Majesty'llfleet, for although the ships of which it was composed on account of their inferi ority in point of sailing prevented them from taking share in the action, yet the exertion made by Rear_ Admiral Ilauckhoff and the Officers under his com mand to come up with the enemy, gave security to his Britannic Majesty's ships, and had we been able to bring the enemy to a general action, his squadron must have ceded the palm to the superior valour and exertions of their Majesties combined forces in a cause so just and honourable. 4 , The ship taken proved to be the Sewolad, of 74 guns, commanded by Captain Roodneff. She was ao leaky and had struck so hard aground, that I was induced, after the prisoners and wounded had been taken out, to order her to be burnt, which order was tarried into effect at seven o'clock in the morning, by Lieutenant Bidulph of my ship. I cannot forbear to pass due praise on the gallant conduct of Capt. Webley, and all the officers, and men under my command, and I feel obliged to make particular mention of the distinguished zeal and va lour displayed on the above occasion by Lieutenant Lawless, who was severely wounded, and Lieutenant William Cave. " I inclosed a list of the killed and wounded, on board this Ship and the Implacable, and also, as far as I have been able to obtain it, an account of the loss sustained on board the enemy's ship: which was taken. I have the honour, &a. (Signed) «SAMUEL Hoon. _ _ _ " On board the Centaur three killed and 97 wounded, and in dm implacable six kMed and 26 wounded ; among the latter are one Aker and two petty officers. " TO HIS ROYAL SWEDISH MAJZSTT. 44 Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Hood has the honour to present to his Royal Swedish Majesty, the colours which were hoisted on board the Russian 74 gun ship Sewolod, when she was taken the 26th inst. and re quests that his Majesty will be pleased to accept the same— " Centaur, before Rogensick, Aug. 28. " The above colours his Swedish Majesty transmits so his Britannic Majesty, because they were taken by his ships of war ; and al/ an additional proof of the pe-I culiar satisfaction which his Swedish Majesty feels ott account of the distinguished gallantry displayed by Rear• Admiral Hood, and the officers and men under his orders, which his Majesty considers as the most unquestionable proof of the close connection which unites the two nations." LETTER FROM AN OFFIRER WITII SIR S. HOOD. " Centaur, off Little Roge, August 26. " The Russian Admiral, having obtained information at Sweaborg, that the British and Swedish ships in the Gulph, amounted to only six sail of the line, put to sea with twelve ships of else line, in the expectation of being able to carry us to Cronstadt. He found us, however, moored to such advantage, that he thought it inexpedient to hazard an attack, and he con tinued cruizing off the Bay till the 23d, when four More Swedish ships of the line joined us, and we put to sea to give battle to the enemy, although still two ships short of their numb. " Sir S. HOOD, in the Centaur, followed by the Implacable, led the van of the combined squadron, and these vessels, greatly outsailing the Swedish ships, brought the rear division of the enemy's to action, when, after about twenty minutes fighting, the Scavolax struck to the Implacable. At this time the Swedes were more than four miles astern, and the Russian Admiral hoping to profit by the circumstance for the recovery of the Scavolax, hole down to her rescue—seeing this, the prize rehoisted her colours, and renewed her fire, but Sir SAMUEL HOOD, nothing in timidated by the approach of so superior an enemy, immedi ately ran alongside of her, and boarded her in the most gallant manner. The Russians, encouraged by the prospect of succour, made a most determined resistance, and upwards of four hun dred of them were killed or wounded, when the Imperial coloes were again lowered. During this contest, the Scavolax grounded, and Sir SAmort. HOOD, despairing of bringing her off, set her on fire, having previously removed the prisoners. The Swedish fleet had by this time joined us, and the enemy not daring to renew the action, made sail in evident confusion, anfl from the dull sail ing of the Swedish ships, escaped. They are sow lying between the light-house and the fort in Rogerwick Bay, and we are off the former, in the hope that they will again venture out." Sir J. SAUMAREZ was off Gothland on the 28th ult. with the Vic-TonY, Gould', MARS, and AFRICA ; and it is added, had joined Sir S. HooD, off the coast of Esthonia, previous to the date of his last dispatches. ➢ROM TUE GOTTENBURGII MAILS. Head-Quarters, Gralsby, Sept. S. On the Ist instant, at night, his Royal Majesty received the following report from Rear-Admiral Nauckhoff, brought by Captain Rundsquist of the Royal Navy, relative to the blocking of the Russian Fleet in Port Baltic or Rogerwick. It was settled between myself and Admiral Hood, that the fleet was to sail on the 25th in the morning. The plan of attack was formed, and in order that I might be able to communicate with the English Ad miral, in the most convenient manner, Admiral Hood sent on board my ship Lieutenant Thompson (a dis tinguished officer who lest his right arm in the same battle with his Admiral) with the signal book, and the telegraphic mode of communication used by the English navy, and I sent Lieutenant Count Iwson with the Swedish signal book on board the English flag ship Centaur. The 25th, at five o'clock in the morning, the Eng lish sail of the line and this ship, set sail from Oro, the rest of the fleet also got under weigh successively, and at seven o'clock the whole fleet had cleared the rocks. The wind was N. E. and N. E. by N. blow ing a fresh reefed top-gallant sail gale. About nine o'clock the Russian fleet hove in sight, and a signal for a general chase was hoisted; at ten o'clock the fleet formed in line ; but as it soon was found that this impeded the chase, at ten o'clock the signal was hoisted to crowd all sail, without waiting for those ships which were not able to keep up with the rest. The ship Prince Fredericus Adolphus was ordered, by signal, to proceed to Carlscrona. The two English ships, which are copper sheathed, and besides considered some of the best sailers of the English navy, soon shot a-head, and gained consi derable headway ; but your Royal Majesty's fleet followed with every sail set, and gained considerably upon the enemy. On the 26th, at break of day, the English ship Implacable came up with the sternmost ship of the enemy's fleet, followed at a short distance by Admiral Hood in the Centaur. Major Fischer strom was next to him, with the ship Tapperheten, yet at least mile from the English. But the gal lant Admiral Hood, notwithstanding, immediately engaged the enemy. At five o'clock in the morning Captain Martin passed to the leeward of the Russian leewardmost ship, which gave him a broadside. The Implacable pursued her course until she gained a sufficient distance ; she tacked, crossed the bow of the enemy's ship, gave her a broadside, then crossed her stern, and gave her another. The Russian ship appeared to be very roughly handled, and would then already have been taken, had not the enemy's ships, which were to windward, bore down to her assistance. Your Majesty's fleet was in the mean time working up under a heavy press of sail. And the ship Tapperheten and the frigates nearest the English Admiral's ship within half a mile distance. Admiral Hood continued the chace with every sail set, in order to bring the enemy to a general action, the probable consequence of which would have been the lor.s of his whole fleet. Nor would the enemy have been able to avoid a general engagement, had not the wind shifted to N. E. which enabled him to take shelter in Baltic port. The whole fleet entered that port at 12 o'clock at noon, with the exception of the ship engaged by the Implacable, which came to an anchor close in with the cliffs of Rogon, and was there attacked and captured by Admiral Hood, and burnt the next morning. The gallantry displayed on this occasion by Admi- . ral Hood, his otE,.crs and, Wen, who with two ships attacked a tleercessisting of nine sail of the line and 12 frigates, without being supported by any other ships ond took one, is beyond description. The ship captured and burnt was called the Sew;lod, com mande,l by Captain Roodnoff. She had about SOO men killed and wounded. Nine ships of your Ma_ jesty are now at anchor close in with Baltic Port, and the ship Tarperbeten and the frigates.cruizing round those which are at anchor. Oa board the ship Gu.tavus Adolphus Fourth, at anchor before Baltic Port, the 20th August, 1808. H. 1. NAIMOTP, Rear-Admiral.. SPANISH TROOPS IN THE BALTIC. The Lord Nelson Packet, Captain STEWART, is ar rived at Harwich from Gottenburgh. On Wednes. day last, when off the Winger, Captain STEWART spoke his Majesty's ship NASSAU, and several gun brigs, having under their convoy about 40 sail of transports, with the Spanish troops from Denmark on board. From the circumstance of a Northern port being appointed for their rendezvous, it is supposed by some that they are to proceed direct for Spain by what is called the North-about passage, namely, by the Northern Coast of Scotland ; but we are rather inclined to think that Falmouth is fixed as the point of rendezvous, from which they are to start for Spain, in conjunction with a strong reinforcement of British troops. Dispatches from Sir n . Hoot) were this day received at the Admiralty, and also from Lord Cot- LINOWOOD. Captain DALRYMPLE left town on Saturday night, with Dispatches for Sir Hkw DALRYMPLE. Yesterday Mails were received at the Post Office from Guernsey of the 14th, and from Jersey of the 12th instant. They bring intelligence, that a row boat had arrived at Guernsey from St. slaloe's, with four American seamen, who state, that BONAPARTE had arrested all the Americans in France ; also, that several American Citizens had arrived at Jersey, in order to avoid a threatened arrest of their persons.— An account, to the same effect with the former of these statements, was received in the City on Satur day, and read at BATSON'S Coffee house ; and, the Captain of one of the Quebec fleet arrived at Milford, states, that one of that convoy (the Mary Ann) spoke a fishing vessel on the Bank of Newfound land, from New York, which had a New York Paper on board, in which it was stated that America had declared war against France. A letter from Guernsey, dated September 13, says This morning an American Captain landed with four of his crew, who made their escape from St. Maloe's in their long boat, in consequence of an order having arrived at that port from the French Govern ment to imprison all Americans. The Captain (For,- Gut) avers, that they were obliged to fight their way, in order to get off. The vessel he commanded is called the Acorn, and sailed from hence to - St. Maloe's a short time ago." The dispatches of Sir CHARLES Corrow and Sir HEW DALRYMPLE were brought to England by the BLOSSOM, of 18 guns, Capt. Draicit. The lhossom left the Tagus on the sth inst. at which time Sir CHARLES COTTON was going into that river, with the following ships : Hibernia,llo guns, Admiral Sir C.Cotton, Ist Captain L. W. Halsted, 2d Captain R.I. Neve ; Barfleur, 98, RearhAdmiral Ty. ler, Captain D. M'Leod ; Donegal, 74, P. Malcolm; Conqueror, 74, E. Fellowes ; Elizabeth, 74, Hon. Capt. Curzon ; Hercule, 74, Hon. Capt. Colville ; Ganges, 74, Capt. P. Halkett ; Auda cious, 74, J. M. Gosselin ; Plantagenet, 74, W. Bradley; Alfred, 74, J. Bligh ; Resolution, 74, G. Burlton ; Ruby, 64, J. Draper, Mediator, 44, T. Blarney; Africaine, 38, R.Raggett ; Undaunted, 38, T. J. Maling ; Lively, 38, G. M'Kinley ; La Nymphe, 36, Hon. Capt. Percy ; Phcebe, 56, Capt. Oswald ; L'Aimable, 32, Lord G. Stuart ; Crocodile, 24, Hon. Capt. Cadogan ; Comus, 24, Capt. M. Smith ; Fylla, 28, Hon. Capt. Rodney ; Nautilus, 18, Capt.T.Deneh ; Minstrel, 18, Hollingworth ; Primrose, 18, J. Mom; Rebra, T,Toker. JUNOT sailed from Lisbon for France, in I'AIMABLE frigate, Lord GEORGE STUART, immediately after the Convention was signed. We have received a letter from a British Officer with the army in Portugal, which mentions a ru mour not noticed in any other letter which we have seen. The writer says—P It is whispered that bad' "news has been this day received from Spain—That I BESSTERES has beaten the Spaniards, and is in full ' 4 , march to Oporto."—We hope our correspondenthas been misinformed in this statement. We think were there any truth in it it would have been mentioned in justification of the reprobated Convention—and we add, that, if true, it will justify the measure, as the best that could be adopted after the loss of so much time : but the blame of the delay will not be thereby I lessened but heightened. Had the victory of the 21st been followed up as it ought to have been, the fate of JUNOT'B army would have been decided before the 28th, the date of the letter in question. The Portuguese very justly complain, that after having been pillaged and oppressed for 12 months, by JUNOT, our Commanders have given him impunity for guilt, and security for his plunder. Admiral TYLER is coming home with a part of Sir CHARLES COTTON'S fleet, in charge of the Russian fleet. A vessel has arrived from Cadiz, and brings letters from thence to the 29th ult. These state that ad vices had reached that place of the fourteenth defeat of the French by General PALAFOX, probably mean ing the affair which is said to have taken place near Tudela, on the 19th ult. It had been publicly notified at Cadiz, that the Council of Castile had lost the con. fidence of the Spanish Nation, in consequence of the imbecily of its proceedings, during the dccupation of Madrid by the French, and that it was not to be con sidered in future as the organ of the public voice. In 'consequence of the almost total evacuation of the coun tryby the French troops, the attention of the Juntas and the nation at large was directed to the formation of the new Government. The people and the military were so closely united in sentiment, that there was not the most distant apprehension of the proceedings of the Juntas being interrupted by party spirit. Since the arrival of a quantity of dollars from England, the people were more lavish than ever of their praises on British liberality. EMBARKATION. Tht fleet of Transports, with troops on board, still remains wind-bound at Harwich. Sir DAVID BAIILD's Expedition had not sailed-from Cork on the 12th. Seven regiments, which, with a proportionate number of artillery and engineers, com pose the embarkation, are divided into two brigades. The first consists of the 14th, 20th, and 3,st, un,:er Major-General MANNINGHAM ; the second, of the Royals, 23d, 27th, and 81st, under Brigadier-Ge neral Steam. .Falmouth is said to be the first point of destination, where the force will be augmented by several other regiments. Tuesday the 61st Regiment, Colonel MAD:WARING. 700 strong, sailed from Spithead for Falmouth, when it is understood the troops, which have embarked at Ramsgate, will be assembled, preparatory to their sailing for Spain. " DEAL, SEPT.I7. 61 Sailed the ADAMANT, of 50 guns for the Nore ; ST. ALBANS, of 64, for Yarmouth ; ARGUER gun brig, off flushing ; TRUSTY, of 50 guns, for Fal- mouth, with the transports under convoy, having on board the Ist and 3d battalions of the Ist Regiment of Guards.—Wind E. with a fresh breeze." NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH, SEPT. 17. Came in the HUMBER, of 18 guns, from Chatham POMONA, Captain MERIDA, from London. for Cadiz, put in for water, and sailed again immediately, the wind being fair.—Sailed the Sr. GEoaox, of 98 guns, Rear-Admiral HARVEY, to join the Channel fleet; NIMROD of 18 guns, eastward ; Loan Mums.' arm ed ship, CRANE schooner, and PEACOCK, of 18 guns, on a cruise.—The Europa and Ventura Felix, Por tuguese ships, are about to sail this evening for Opor to, with about 200 Portuguese emigrants. PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 17. This morning sailed, with a fine wind, the Ra. VENGE, of 74 guns, Hon. Capt. Peas?, with the fol lowing ships, which she will convoy as far as the line ; —Asia, Walthamstow, General Stuart, Tottenham, Union, and Fort William, for Madras and Bengal Ocean and Sir Stephen Lushington, for Madeira, Madras, and Bengal; Devaynes, for Bombay; Cyrus and Charlton, for the South-Seas ' Prospect and Simon Taylor , for the Cape ; and the Esther, for Madeira. The Itnownto, Captain Dow:, sailed on Thursday for Cadiz, with £150,000 on board, for the assistance of the Spanish Patriots. It was brought here from Gottenburgh in the MOSQUITO, and is un derstood to have been a part of the last Subsidy which was sent to the King of Sweden. DOVER, SEPT. 17. Arrived off here yesterday the ship Mervin, of Bristol, Captain JAMES, from Demerara, bound to London, with the loss of an anchor and cable ; sbe has been however supplied with others, and proceed ed on her voyage. Passed by this evening a fleet of transports with troops on board, under convoy of his Majesty's ship TRUSTY. DEAL, SEPTEMBER IL Sailed the PHOSPHORUS fire vessel on a cruize. HARWICH, SEPT. 18. This morning arrived the Lord Nelson packet, Cap• tain STEWART ; and the Auckland packet, Captain DEAN, with mails from Gottenburgh. Capt. Slaw. ART sailed from Gottenburgh on Tuesday last. The Lord Nelson packet picked up, off the Whiting Sand, an open lugger, bottom upwards, called the Dick, of Deal, RICHARD BAILEY. Yesterday evening arrived an open Dutch boat with five of the crew of the Flora frigate, wrecked last winter off the coast of Holland they speak of being well treated by the Dutch ; how they effected their escape from prison is not known.— The wind blowing fresh at S. E. the transports with troops on board have returned into the harbour. The Lord Duncan, Captain HAMILTON, for Gottenburgh; and the Lady Francis, Captain FLYNN, for Heligo. land, are detained by contrary winds. YARMOUTH, SEPT. 18. Satutday arrived the THUNDEItER I of 74 guns, to join Admiral Russiii.; and the CLAUDIA cutter.. Sunday arrived the CENSOR gun-brig, from Gdtten 'burgh, with dispatches. Sailed the HAVOC gun-brig with a convoy. Remain the Roebuck, Skylark, Rosamond, Calypso, and Find. zer.--Wind E.S.E. fresh breeze. DRURY-LANE.—This splendid theatre opened for the season on Saturday night, and presented almost I as fresh and magnificent an appearance as when it was first submitted to public inspection. The pillars I that support the branches have been new gilt, and the house is most brilliantly lighted. Four new private boxes only are added to those on a level seith the first gallery, and the new draperies to them have a very good effect. The grand saloon, it is expected, will be finished in a week, and the grand entrance again , opened to the public. The play was the Honey Moo* i—the principal characters sustained as heretofore. In the scene in which the servant of the Duke solilo. , guises on his assumption of high character, and where he says—" Have we not Generals who will not march to the attack of a bull-rush, till they know whether. the wind blows in their favour ?" little PENLEY was greeted with a roar of applause, which strongly marked the application given to the passage. Again, I when Miss MELLON exclaimed to Rolando—" Well, I you Officer, but no roldirr, like many other: of your cloth!" I the audience again caught fire, and the shout was prolonged for several seconds. Oh shame, that the I conduct of " honourable men should be deservedly sub ject to such rude comment !"—Rorina was the After. , piece, and more harmony prevailed through the re mainder of the evening. iThe favourites of the public, both in the Play and in the Afterpiece, were received with a warmth which proved that their popularity had suffered no diminu. 1 lion; among those who obtained the loudest greet. jugs, were Mr. ELLISTON, Mr. MATHEWS, Miss Dux. CAN and Miss LYON. Among the company were— The Duchesses of St. Alban's and De Castries; Marquis and Marchioness of Tavistuck ; Countesses of Harrington , Barry. morekaßitecwkoodinyham; Hon. s hireN'lrs. Clare, and Guildford ; Ladies Burdett and Robinson; Viscount Valencia; Sir 1 Charles Dillon; Major Aubrey, and several other persons o f I &sanction.