The National Register. — London, England, 1811-05-19 00:00:00

sion on the Cerberus and Volage ; in this attempt he failed (though almost aboard of us) by the well directed fire and com pact order of our line. He then endeavoured to round the van ship, to engage to leeward, and thereby place us between two fires; but was so warmly received in the attempt, and rendered so totally unmanageable, that in the act of wearing he went on shore on the rocks of Lissa in the greatest possible confuilon. The lire was then wore to revew the action, the Amphion not half a cable-length from the shore; the rema nder of the enemy's stathoard division passing under our stern and engaging us at leeward, whilst the larboard divi,ioo ached and remained to windward, engaging the Cerberus, Volage, and Active. In this situation the action commenced with great fury, his Ma jesty's ships frequently in positions which unavoidably exposed them to a raking fire of the enemy, who with his superiority of numbers had ability to take advantage of it ; hut nothing. Sir, could withstand the brave squadron I had the honour to com mand. At twenty minutes past eleven A. M. the Flora struck her colours, and at twelve the Beliona followed her example. The enemy to windward now endeavoured to make off, but were followed ep as close as the disabled state of his Nlajjsty's ships would athoit of, and the Active and Cerberus were ena bled at three P. M. to compel the sternmost of them to sur render, when the action ceased, leaving us in possession of the Corona of forty-four guns, and the Beliona of thirty-two guns (the French 'omaiodore), the Fav urit of forty-four guns on shore, who shot tly after blew u; with a dreadful explosion, the 'Cdrrvette - of the enemy niakieg ail pos,iole ,o the north-west, and two frigates crowding sail for the port of I.essina, the brig Snaking off to the south-east, and the small craft flying in every direction; nor was it in my power to prevent them, having no ship in a state to follow them. !must now ccount for the Flora's getting away after having struck her colours. At the time 1 was engaged with that ship, the &Ilona was raking us; and when she struck, I had no boat that could possibly take possession of her. I therefore preferred closing with the Bellona and taking her, to losing time alongside the Flora, which I already considered belonging to us. I call vn the Officers of my squadron as well as those of the enemy to witness my assertion. 'l'he correspondence I have had on this subject with the French Captain of the Danae (now their Com modore,) and which I enclose herewith, is convincing, and even their own Officers (prisoners here) acknowledge the fact. In deed I might have sunk her, and so night the Active; but as the colours were down, and all firing from her had long ceased, both Capt. Gordon and myself considered her as our own : the delay of getting a boat on hoard the I3ellona, and the anxious pursuit of Capt. Gordon after the beaten enemy enabled him to steal off, till too late for our shattered ships to come up with him, his rig slug and sails a, patently not much injured; but by the laws of war I shall ever maintain he belongs to us. The enemy's squa dron, as per inclo-ed return, was commanded by Monsieur Dubourdieu, a Captain de Vaisseau, and a member of the legion of honour, who is killed. In justice to a brave man I must say, he set a noble exa.nple of intrepidity to those under him. They Bailed from Anccear the 11th inst. with 1:00 troops on board, and every thing necessary f fortifying and garrisoning the Wand of Lissa. Thanks to Providence we have Elite time prevented them. I have to lament the loss of many valuable Officers and men, but in a contest of this kind it was to be expected It is now my duty to endeavour to do justice to the brave Officers and men I had the honour to command. I feel myself unequal to the task ; nothing from my pen can add to their merit. From your own knowledge of Captains Gordon, Whitby, and Hornby, and the disclpline of their ships, every thing you know, Sir, might be expected ; and if an Officer so near in the same rank as them selves may be permitted to give an opinion, I shou d say they - eiceedsd molt gingului especaticof audit is si duty I owe express the mes: public manner mygra, brave and gallant conduct of every Captain, Officer, -erimas. and royal marine employed on this occasion. From my First Lieutenant, Sir David Dunn, I received every assistance Out might be expected from a zealous, brave, and intelligent Oilier. and his exertions (thaigli wounded) in r- pairiiw our damage, is as praise-worthy as his conduct iii the action, particularly as I have been unable to assist him from a wound in my right arm. and several severe contusi Captain Moore, of the royal marines, received a wound, but returned to his quarters 11111110• diattly it was dressed. The Captains of the squadron speak la the warmest terms of their 011icers and men, p IrticulArly their First Lieutenants Dickenson, Henderson, and Wolritige ; and the behaviour of my own Officers and ship's company, who have been with me so long, was every thing I expected from their tried worth ; but I must not particularize where ail were equally meritorious. lam now on my way to Lissa, with the squadron and prizes. The damage the naps have sustained is very consi derable, and I fear will render us totally incapable of keeping the sea. I enclose a statement of the entniy's force, together with a rcturn of killed and wotrrided in the squadron, and deeply lament they are so great. I have the honour to be, Ike. (Signet!) WIL I M HOSTS. To Geo. Eyre, Esq. Senior Ofliccr of his Maj,:sty's ships and vessai in the Ada Laic, e4c. &c. Crdrr of Battle of the Inzlislt and combined Frncli and !Wins quat/roux, on the 13th of .Misr, h, 1811, in the Action off the Island of Lissa, in the Adriatic. Engli‘', Squadron. Amphion, Williirn Hirsce, L.y. C,Ttahi; of 3'2 guns and 234 men. Active, J A. Gordon, Eqq. Captain, °int? guns and r;00 men. P.l I ornhy, ES+ Captain, 0122 1 zutui :o.tl 175 nien. Cerlierus, 'len: y W hitby, Esq. Captain, of 82 guns ai.d e. 254 - men. Total • • .. - . Deduct ships saort of complument . Total Curls. Men. 124 983 104 1:.:4 879 Freneh Squndron. La Favorite Monsieur Dtibutu diet', Commandant &Division, Captain Dellatualliere, 4444 guns and 350 men ; burl t. Flora, M. Perider, Captain, of 44 guns and :.1.1:0 men ; struck, but escaped. 1 /ana ~1 $1 runs and 3.5.1 men ; escaped. Corona, Al. Pasquilago, Captain, of 44 twenty-founders and 3LO men ; taken. iielluna, M. Dation, Captain, ot 34trtins and 224 men; taken. Caroline, M.l.l.liatavic, C4tuiti, of "28 guns and 224. men; eseaped. Principe de Augusta brig, Eologne, Captain, of 16 guns and 105 own; escaped. Sch , ,oner, of 10 guns and 60 men ; ceraped. Schooner, 012 gnus ard :.7 men ; escaped. Xebec, of 6 pills and 70 men ; escaped. G boat, of 2 guns a..d 3.7; men ; escaped. Troop., c niba. ked 560 Total 272 guns, 'ALI:I men. \VILLTAM rosTr, Captaiet. The Number of O f ficers, Se , men, and Poor! Illor!nes, or tudwided ‘ , ll burl his M. sty's ship Amphiva, Wistton Hosic c apt ,,i, i , in an e, , g,g,•aten with the eigraft . tis squadron lit the island if Lass:. ire t 4. Adr.vtic the 13th qt March 1811. J. kliluts •t 7 w , ,und4. d. On board his 21Lkk , i's Cieferits, 1 - 11;nry Whitby, Ea+ Captain. 13 kiltd, 14 wounded. Onboard his .21P:.rsty's Ship Active, James A. Gordon, Cuptaits. 9 kinco wow:ut.d. The r!ext letters given a :t: those which p:9sed between Capt. Haste, of the Ampition, and the Commandant or second in com. mand of the French frigate Flora, with re,p4..ct to the surrender of the tat:cr.—Theo follows a letter from Capt. Haste. gluing an account of the surrender of 200 of the enemy who had retired to Lksa, and complaining of the conduct of a Sicilian priva teer brig of fourteen pins, named the Vineitare, and com manded bi C. pt. Citir.ma P.,m a, %A N; was lying in this port, ard previ . ..pus to tat CUlrLliencemcat of the action haultd down lotp•t•-•": -T ., . • _ .. .. •. : 3. . . A •• ''‘ ::. .. 4 ' „' , -, , , 4 - ki...10- v 40 4 **. ''' . k "*. V.; . ' . .. - .. .. , ~• . , . , ,-:. ' . 7ste, .."';', ' P , .* . ' -.. , i t.,•te W. , cf.t, . , , , , wo- ...• .. • . k :,.. . ' '' - •: k *, .." '; ' .• • - • , ' •‘. ' . :.--r Itt.;_,. , a '.4:4" " "4(11*'-. "g lit # 71rV Nat. iv L REGISTER. ' • 814 4 ~, ... ..,s.t bearing upon the Amphion and Active, and the larboaid clivi- I all to express in the mos: public manner mygrut.-tul benst• o sion on the Cerberus and Volare ! in this atti•mnt 1 .1P faiterl I hrttl.-.. .Iriel fy,11....• ...,...a..,.. —C ..... -- f•___. .t_ 'N.I2 ___ ___— I