The National Register. — London, England, 1811-11-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Captain Beaver, of the Nisus, Senior Officer at the Isle of France, and transmitted by the latter to John Wilson Croker, Esq. His Majesty's Ship Astrza, off Foul Point, Madagascar, May 21,1811. Sia—l had the honour of communicating to you, from off Round Island, my determination to quit that station, in order to follow the three enemy's frigates with troops on board, which bad appeared off Mauritius on the 7th instant, and also my reasons for supposing they would push for a near point, perhaps Tamatave. I have now the satisfaction to report to you, that the enemy were discovered on the morning of the 20th instant, far to wind ward, and well in with the land, near Foul Point, Madagascar. The signal to chase was promptly obeyed by his Majesty's ships Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse sloop. The weather was most vexatiously variable during the whole of the day, which, com bined with the efforts of the enemy to keep to windward, ren dered it impossible to close them until nearly four o'clock, when (the Astrza being about a mile a-head and to windward) they wore together, kept away, and evinced a disposition to bring us to action. The enemy then commenced firing ; I regret to say, at a long range, which soon so effectually produced a calm to leeward, as to render our squadron unmanageable for three hours. No exertion was omitted to bring his Majesty's ships into close action, during this very critical and trying pericid; but all was ineffectual. The enemy's rear frigate neared the Astrssa a little, who lay on the water, almoit immoveable; only occasionally bringing guns to bear, while his van and centre ship, preserving a light air, succeeded in rounding the quarter of the Placebe and Galatea, raking them with considerable effect, for a long time. At this, his favourite distance, the enemy remained until nearly dark, when a light air enabled the Phoebe to close the near frigate, in a good position to bring her to a decisive action. In half an hour she was beaten. Her night signals drew the other two frigates to her assistance, the Phcehe was in conse quence obliged to folloi.v the Galatea, which ship brought up the breeze to me. At this time I was hailed by Captain I.osack, who informed me that the Galatea had suffered very consider ably, and as she was passing under my lee, I had the mortifi cation to see her mizen, and soon after, her foretop-masts fall. Having shot a-head, she made a night signal of distress, and being in want of immediate assistance, I closed to ascertain the cause, when I was again hailed by Captain Losack, and informed that the Galatea was so totally disabled as to prevent her head being put towards the enemy to renew the action, as I before had directed. My determination was immediately communicated to Capt. Hillyar to recommence action, when the Phoebe was in a state to support me. She was promptly reported ready, although much disabled. The A-;:r:ca then wore, and led towards the eherny, followed by the Racehorse and Phoebe; the conduct of which ship, as a British man of war, did honour to all on bo.:rd. The enemy was soon discovered a little a-head, and his leading ship, the Cutnmodore, was brought to close action by the Asti xa. In 25 minutes she struck, and made the signal to that effect, having previously attempted to lay us athwart hawse, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry from all parts of the ship. Another frigate, on closing, struck, and made the signal also : but on a shot being fired at her, from her late Commodore, she was observed trying to escape. Chace was instantly given, and con tinued till two o'clock in the morning, with all the sail both ships were enabled, from their disabled state, to carry; when 1 judg ed it advisable, as she gained on us, to wear for the purpose of covering the captured ship, and forming a junction (if possible) with the Galatea. At this moment the Phoebe's foretop-masts fell : sight of the Galatea or captured ship was not regained until day light, when to the credit of Lieutenants Roger (Second of the Astrza) and Drury (R. M.) who with five men were all that could be put en board the latter in a sinking boat, she was ob • served making an effort to join us, a perfect wreck. The captured fi igate proves to be La Renommee, of the tlrst class (as are the other two) of 44 guns, and 470 men (20D of whom were picked troops) commanded by Capitaine de Vaisseau (with Commodore's rank) Roquebert, Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, who fell when gallantly fighting his ship. The Se nior Officer of the troops, Col. Barrois, Membre de la Legion d'Honneur, is dangerously wounded. The ship that struck and escaped, was La Clorinde ; the one disabled by the Phsebe, La Nereide, having each 200 troops on board, besides their crews. This squadron escaped from Brest on the night of the 2d Fe- bruary, and was destined to reinforce Mauritius, having arms and various other warlike stores on board. I beg to apologize for so lengthened a detail; but few actions have been fought under such a variety of peculiarly trying and vexatious difficulties. I am, however, called upon by my fee!. ings and a sense of my duty, to bear testimony to the merito rious conduct of the Officers and ships' companies of his Ma jesty's ships Plicebe and Astra. To the discipline of the for mer I attribute much ; but as Capt. Hillyar's merit as an Officer is so generally, and, by you, so particularly appreciated, it is needless for me to comment on it, further than to observe, that the separation of the Galatea was amply compensated by the exertion manifested in the conduct of the ship be had the ho nour to command. To the Officers, seamen, and marines of the Astrsea, I ant for ever indebted; their cool and steady conduct when in close ac tion with the enemy, and on fire in several places from his wad ding, merits my admiration (particularly having been so recently formed). A difference in the personal exertion of each Officer, was nue distinguishable; but I cannot allow the efforts and judg ment of Lieut. John Baldwin, first of this ship, to pass without particular encomium ; I received the greatest assistance from him, and also from Mr. Neilsen, the master. 'lhe moment the Phoebe and Astrza are in a state to get to windward, the prisoners exchanged, and La Renomrnee render ed sea-worthy, I shall proceed off Tamatave, for further infor mation, as I have reason to think it in possession of the enemy. I have the honour to transmit returns of the killed and wound ed on board his Majesty's ships. The loss on board La Renom mee is excessive—one hundred and forty-five killed and wound ed. Galatea having parted company, no return. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) C. M. SCHOM BERG, Captain. Captain Beaver, his Majesty's ship Nisus, Senior Officer at the Isle of France. List of Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship Astrza, in Action with the Enemy on the 20th bay of May, 1811, off Madagascar. KILLEn.—John Williams (1 . ), and Richard Wharton. WOUNDE ' D.—LOUiS Callte 'T homas Henley, Michael Dunn, George 1 .ee, George Snook , George Cuthbert, Stephen Brown, John 'Wright, Thomas Reit, William Wilcox, Garret Burnt', Thomas Curdall, Jacob Debar, William Allen, Joseph Trotter, and John Baldwin.—Total killed and wounded-18. (Signed) C. M. SC HOMBI. it ; , Captair. List of Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship Phoebe, in Action with the Enemy on the 20th Day of May, 1811, off Madagascar. KlLLx.n.—James M‘Mullen, John Wright, Thomas Guest, James Weir, Peter Lockwood, and Thomas smith. SYVERELY WOUNDILH.—Mr. John Wilkey, George Scargill, John Lee, John Dixon, John Roberts, Henry *Quintenburne, Alexis Bernette, John Gillen, William James, Peter Swift, and William Knight (since dead). SLIGHTLY Wourinzo.—John Earl, John Thomas, Jahn Smith, David M'Lachlan, John Hodskins Matthew Scott, Henry Carnel, James Mellbone, Richard Hughes (2), Duncan Davidson, William Rybourne, John Roberts, Edward Owens, and Charles Lamps.— Total killed and wounded-31. (Signed) JAMES HILLY.' R, Captain. List of Killed and Wounded on board his Majesty's Galatea, Woodley Losaek, Esq. Captain, in Action with the French Squadron off the Isle of Madagascar, on the 20th Day of May, 1811. KILLED.—John Carroll, John Roberts, John M'Carthy , James Varley, John Hendrickson, William Smith (8), James t `--m . 4, guw....... ---- ~..