The National Register. — London, England, 1812-05-31 00:00:00

213 'On Friday the eilci instant, at a quarter after ten A. M. the N. w. point of 00 . he: :or et, bearing front the Northumberland north by corn inset, ten milee distant, and the wits(' very lieht from W, by N. they were discoveeed in the N. W. crow dirg all possible sail before it for L'Orient. My first enteavour was to cut them off to windward of the Island, and a signal was made to the Growler (seven miles off in the S. W. to chase, bet finding I . could rot effect it, the Notthuoilierland vat pushed by every 'exertion round the S. E. end of Groa, and, by is to the wind as close as I could to leeward of it, 1 had the satis faction of fetehitor to windv, - ard of the harbour's mouth, before the ene my's shire lee. lied it. Their Commander seeing himself thus silt off, made a sii;nal tti bil consorts; and hauled to the wind on the larboard uck to windward ef l'oint Taleet, and they appeared to speak each o:her. I continued beating to windward between Groa and the Continent to close with them, exposed to the batteries on both sides, when I stood within their reach, which was unavoidable. The wind had by this time freshened considerably, and }vas about W. N. W.: at forty-nine minutes after two P. M. the enemy (in force as above described) bore up in close line ahead, and under every sail that could be set, favoured by the fresh wind, t made a bold and determined attempt to run between me and the shore, under cover of the numerous batteries with which it is lined in that part. I placed the Northumberlatid to meet them as close as I could to the Point de Pierre I,a , e, with tier head to the shore, and the main-topodl shivering, and made d . opositions for laying one of them alongside; but they hauled so very clase 'round the point, fei'owing the direction of the coast to the eastward of it, the.t e in my igeeranceof the depth of water so near the shore, I did not think it practicable, consister.t with the safety of his Majesty's ship (drawing near 25 feet) to prosecute that plan : I there frire bore up and steered parallel to them at the-distance of ..bout two ca bles' length, and opened the broadside on them, which was returned by a very animated and well 'directed fire of round, grape, and other de scriptiontof :het, supported by three batteries, for the space of el mi nutes, and was very destructive to our sails and rigging. My object eloringthat time was to prevent their hauling outside the dry rock named Le Gr.**, but in steering sufficiently close to it to leave them no room to pees between me and it, and at the same' time to avoid running en it myself, the utmost difficulty and anxiety s'as produced FT the churl of smoke which drifted ahead of the ship and totally ob veered it. However, by - the care and attention of Mr. I ingh Stewart, the Master, the ship was carried within the distance of her own length on the south- west side, in quarter less seven fathoms, anelthe enemy were in cousequence obliged, as their only alternative,to attempt passing within it, where there was not water enough, and they all grounded, under every sail, 'on the rocks between it and the shore. The sells and rigging of the Northumberland were so much damaged, that I was obliged tai leave the enemy to the effects of the falling tide, it being only quarter ebb, while I repaired the rigging and shifted the foretop which was rendered entirely useless ; wol king to wind ward during that time under what sail I could set, to prevent falling to 1 ,:ward, in which interval, at five o'clock, the Growler joined, and fired on the enemy occasionally. At twenty-eight minutes after five, 1 an cho.ed the Northumberland in six and an half fathoms water, 'Point de Pierre I .aye bearing N. W. half N. the citadel of Port Louis E. three qteatiers and the rock named Le Graul N. half E. two cables length distant, tot's her broadside bearing on the enemy's two frigates and brig, at Feint blank. range, -all of them having fallen over on their sides next the !thole as the tide left them, and exposed their copper to us, and the main.-roasts of GliC frigete and the brig were gone; dud from thirty-four miout- s aftec five till forty-nine minutes past six (which was near the time of low water), a . deliberate and cereful fire was kept up on them, at whicis time, believing I had luny effected the object of my endea ours, the crews having quitted their veiaels, • ell their bottoms being fterctdlly.very niney of our shat, so low down r to enotre their filling en the rising tide, and the leading frigate being cempletily ih flames. • .ommutticafed to the hull from a fire which broke rut in her foretop, I rot under sail: Three batteries fired at the ship (bring the whole time she was at anchor, and although the position was so far well'chOsen that s he was cot of the range of two ef them, -else otiser (to which the enemy's vessels w:re nearer) reached here:it:l did as much execution in I !e hull as all the fire she had be‘n exposed to before. I directed "the Commander of the Growler to stand in and ire, to preen; the t nein)! from returning to their vessels after I had ceased, . At hve minutes before eight, the frigate on fire blew up With an awful explo s WP, loviag no yematiu a he; visible. A: tae cic., of day I an. THE NATIONAL 'REGISTER. IVIAY 3T me bored for the night, out of reach of the. batteries on both sides, Point Talett bearing N. N. W. half W., S.E. point of Groa S. V'. 'half W. the enemy's vessels N by F.. At ten, the other frigate appeared to be on fire also (some smoke having been seen on board her from the eiree the firing ceased), and at half past eleven, the flames burst forth from her ports and every part with unextinguishable fury,which unlooked-for event leaving me nothing more to attempt in the morning, the brie be ing quite on her beam-ends, and very much damaged by our shot in every part of her bottom, even near her keel, I weighed anchor at midnight, with a very light air from the e ortle,vard, with the Growler in company, profiting by the brightness of the moon to get to sea ; but it was so near, calm that i made very little progress, and therefore saw the frigate burn. ing from Bead to stern all night, and explode at thirty-five minutes after two in the morning of yester,lay, leaving a portion of her after-part stilt burring till it wa , entirely consumed ; and in the course of the day, I had the satisfaction to see, from off the N. W. point of Groa, a third fire and explosion in the same spot, which could have been no other than the brig. During the time of firing on the enemy's vessels, a seaman, who states himself to be a native of Portugal, captured in the ship Harmony, of Lisbon, by the frigates, on the 22d of February, swam from one of them to the Northumberland, by whom I am linformed their names were I.'Arianne and (.'Andromache, of fortyefour guns and 450 men each, and the Mameluke brig, of eighteen guns and 150 men ; that they sailed from the Loire in the month of January, had been cruizing in various parts of the Atlantic, and had destroyed thirty-six vessels of different nations (Atnericans, Spaniards, Portuguese, and English,) taking the most valuable parts of their cargoes on board the frigates (and they appeared very deep for sh , ps to long at sea), and one vessel they sent as a cartel to T;ighnd, with a'vnit 200 prisoners. [Here follows an encomium on the officers and men employed in this gallant affair, concluding, by observing that Lieutenant Fletcher, who was wounded, will soon he recovered.] A line of battle ship, with sa ils bent and top-gallant-yards across, lay in the harbour of L'Orient, spectator of the operations of the day, at the entrance of it; but the wind did not serve till night fcr her coming to the support of her friends ; every assistance, however, was afforded them of boats, men, &c. from the port, directed, as Lapprehend, by the Admiral in person. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) H. HO niA.ll/I, Captain. Rear-Admiral Sir Harry Neale, Bart. &c. &e. &c. Ait A List of Killed and Wounded on board his Mijes , y's Ship Northunthcr -land, on the 22d of .1110 y,1812. Kim-rm.-4 seamen and 1 private marine. WOUNDED .---1 officer, 3 petty officers, 19 seamen, and 5 private ma. rines ; of whom 4 are dangerously, 10 severely, and 14 slightly. NAMES or MEN KILLED.—John Howe, able seaman; William Syms, ditto • Thomas Hudson, ordinary seamen ; Patrick Flinn, land man ; and Andrew , Ansevan, royal ign mar ied) ne. (S li. HOTHAM. BANKRUPTS. , ,T4.!,n Hughes, of George-street, Adelpbi, woollen -draper, to surra der June 2, 9, at one, and July 11, at ten, at Guildhall Attorney', Mr. Hughes, Clifford's-Inn. John Ives, jun. Newport-market, butcher, June 2, 16, at eleven, and July 11, at twelve, at Guildhall. Att o r ne y , Mr. Martindale, Ne. 24, Edward-street, Cavendish-square. James Butcher, of Golden-lane l jeastman , June 2, 16 , and Jul y ll, at twelve, at Guildhall. Attorney, Alr. Hughes, Clifford's-1 11 r. Joseph Dicken, 'of Woollerton, Salop. wooistapkr, June 24, at lour , 25, at ten, and July ti, at eleven, it the Phoenix lon, in Drayton-in Hales, Salop. Attornie , , I\ 7.cssrs. Baxter and Martin, Furnivafs-inr, London ; and Mr. Stanley, 1 - .rayton- in Halts. J. B. Cabanyes, of Chiswell Ereet,ll-,shurv-squ:•re, merceaut, Junetl, 13, and July 11, at ten, at C.: uildliali. Attorney, .Mr. Hackett, 31, 011 Dethlern, New Droadi-streer.. . William Ward, of Reading,. Berkl, barge-builder, June 2, at ore, i 16, :IA July 11, at 'en, at Guildhall, 1..0..d0n. Attornies, Messrk Ku* vas and Sons, Nlancliester-buileings, Wcs!minster. i aichard Wright, of Woolwich, victualler; June 2, at ttr eleven t , 16!a.5t j twelve, and . July 1 1, at eleven , a t Guildhall, London. Ato, 1 Messrs. Cross and Child, King-street, Southwark. \ Edward Evans, of High Holborn, savior, June 2, 1:.'.. and July I ten, at Guildhall. Attorney, Mr. Weale, No. 8, Dyers'•l3ulldi n g' , Holborn. Edward Hicklin and Thomas Hicklin, of Providence -rosy, Finsbull. square, chemists, June 6, 13 , and ay 11,„ at eleveti, at Guildbiall. 1 Attorney, Mr. Pultan, 1 7 ,.re-street, Cripplepte. Mat ■ °Priv :dm