The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1804-05-02 00:00:00

1 • TIM LONDON GAZETTE, TUUDAY, MAT t Admiralty (like., May I, Int. The following are Copies of Letters which have been received at this Office from Commodore Hood, Commander in Chief of His Majesty's ships and •essels at the Leeward Islands: Centiur, Dig aon i Rm.k, SIR, 1 . 1•'/TIIATY ri , 1 4 05. I have the satisfaftion to acquaint you, for the in formation of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad m;ralty, of the capture of the Curieux French cor s•ette, early in the morning of the 4th instant, or sixteen long French six-pounders, and had on board upwards of one hundred men when attacked by tour boats of the Centaur, containing sixty seamen and twelve marines, under the command of Lieut. Ro- bat Carthew Reynolds ; she was laying close under Fort Edward at the entrance of the Careenage, ion Royal Harbour, Martinique ; he boarded on the quarters in a most gallant manner, and was well aided by Lieut. Bettesworth, and Mr. Tracey, my Secretary, with the other officers and men ; the ene my male a warm resistance, at the first onset; but the spirited and superior valour of this brave offi cer, and his supporters, drove them forward, where a second stand was made, which was carried with equal gallantry : her Captain, Cordier, leaped over board, after receiving two sabre wounds, and saved himself, with some of the men, in a boat that lay under her bows, and got on shore ; only one French officer escaped being either killed or wounded, and he was below ; fortunately this brilliant service was performed with only the enclosed list of wound ed in the boats. I em sorry to add, Lieutenant Reynolds is of the number, severely, with five wounds; also Lieutenant Bettesworth and Mr Tracey, though not badly. I have the honour to be, Scc. SAM. HOOD. Sir Evan Nepesii, Bart. LIST OT WOUNDED IN THE cat/rat:es BOATS. Three Officers and Six Seamen, one of which is since daail. IN THE CURIEUX. Forty Riled and wounded. Cent.sur, Diamond, off Martinique, SIR, Feb. 21, 1804 I have the honour to enclose yoa,_ for the informa tion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, two letters from Captain Nourse, and two from Captain Shipley, of His Majesty's sloops Cyane and St. Lucia, stating the capture of four of the enemy's privateers. I cannot too much commend the adi vky of those officers in their exertions in the protec tion of the trade. I have the honour to be, fke. S.s M. Hoop. Se Essn Nepcan, Bait. His Majear's stoop C‘ane, at Sea, SIR, etli Jan. 1804. I beg leave to inform you His Majesty's sloop, under my command, in the lat. 15 deg 25 min. North, long. 60 deg. 30 mm. West, captured L'Har monie, French privateer schooner, of 12 guns, and $2 men on board ; out 34 days from Guadaloupe, and had taken the Mercury, a Scotch ship, last from New York, laden with lumber, provisions, &c. bound to Demerara. I am, Sir. Sec. Josseu Nonage. N. B. The Mercury is recaptured by the Hippo- manes. To Commodore Hood, arc. His Maisseess/oop St. Lucia, Ra.badoes, SIR, Sikh January. 11104. I beg leave to inform jou, that on the 25th, being off the Granadines, I captured Le Furet. a fast sailing privateer, of four gun.. and fortyftve men, belonging to Giradaloupe. After landing the prisoners 1 shall prosecute your orders. 1 have the honour to be, &c. CnNwav SHIPLEY. Tn Samoel Hood, Faq Comma , -* and Com mander in &c. tc His Majcatl l / 2 s'f.op St 1..;:c SIR, taisary IS, 1404. I have the pleasure to inform you, that on the 16th inst. His Majesty's sloop under my eomrnkrid captured, off Grenada, Le Big,ou French privateer, of six guns, and sixty men, twenty of which she had put in prizes as per margin. I have the honour to be, &e. CONWAY SHIP LLY. Good Intent br4, from Barbadoes to Demerara, since retaken the Guarlia;i:ri Fanny schooner ' from Demerara to Barbadoes. To Cuaussedore Hood, arc. &c. Hu Map..Ws sloop Cyane, at Sea, SIR, February 14, 15c4. I beg leave to inform you His Majesty's sloop under my command fell in with, and, after a chace of eight hours. captured Le Recompence French schooner privateer, of ten six-pounders, and seventy men, out fifty-five days, and had captured the Ma riana', from Glasgow, bound to liarbadoes. The • Retaken by Heureux. Recompence was taken about thirty leagues to wind ward of Barbadoes; her guns thrown urciioard during the chace. I am Sir, &c. JOILIPM NOGIUt. Too Commodoot Hoed, ite. Centaur, Diamond. off Martinique, SIR, F.Sruary 27, 1104 I beg leave to enclose you copy of a letter I have received from Lient. Carr, commanding His Ma jesty's schooner L'liclair, giving an account of a most spirited anion he fongist in the said vessel, of ten guns and sixty men, against the Grande Decide French ship privateer. of twenty-two guns and two hundred and twenty men, nut of Guadalnupe. I cannot sufficiently extol the brilliant and gallant condu4l of this officer and crew. I have the honour to be, &c. SAM. loon. To Sir Fosn Neyean, Mart. Ile rehe.ner Tortols. Sik. hr,, .7, lb. 4 I have the hnnour to arquai: t you. that on my return f r om conviiying tile packet to Cie northward in Ills Majesty's schooner under my command, on the nth inst. at three P. M., the island of Tortoh bearing south, distant about sixty leagues. saw a strange sail to tit southward, suspeding her to be an enemy, made all sail in duce; at half past three, observing her to be a ship star.ding towards us ; at tun made the signal. No. V 5, to her, which not beiiig Answereu, sii.artenerl sail and cleared for aaicria ; At half past four. being within musquet shot on OUT eatiler-bow, si.e hauled up tier courses, hove to, and hoisted French national colours, wheu I discovered her to be a ship apparently just can of port, inuaiita.ig twenty.two gum and Aunclude, trona the numLe: of men seen as her decks. as also her tops, there cm be lees than two hundred. % ben we came withiii pistoldh.:, she commenced the astion by Cling het harhiraid arcadsidc sod a heavy fire of musquetry, which we returned with the weather broadside and musquetry ; wore round, hove to, and fired the starboard broadside ' the fire bothwas kept up without intermission on sides until a quarter past five, when the enemy began to slacken her fire, tilled, bore up, and endeavoured to rake us, bet upon observing our preparations to board her, by manning the rigging, she ceased firing, and made all sail to the northward, on which we filled and made sail after her, keeping up a fire of musquetry ; at seven found her getting fast away ; at half past eight lost sight of her ; seeing there was no possibility of coming up, at ten gave over the chace, tound great part of the standing and running rigging shot away, the bulwark, masts, yards, &c. much damaged, one marine killed, and four seamen wounded, though the loss on the part of the enemy, I believe, from their apparent confu sion, must be greater. And, Sir, when I refle& on the superiority of the enemy in point of force, I cannot say enough its praise of those brave officers and men I have the honour to command, and from whose gallant con duet and zeal on the occasion, particularly when ordered to prepare to board, I felt perfeCtly con fidela of carrying the French ship in a few minutes, on the second attack, had not her superior sailing frustrated onr intentions. I should feel unmindful of my duty, was I to omit representing to you the great assistance I re ceived from Mr. Salmm the master, on this, as well as on every other occasion. I have the honour to be, am: W. CAEa. Commodore Hood, Comniziider in Chief, d:e. I'. S. Upon my arrival at Tortola, I had infor mation of the exact particulars of the French ship from the President, which he assured me was well ascertained at S. Thomas's, from which place she sailed on the 1:h instant, about twenty-eight hours before we fell in ulth her. She proves to be the Grande Decide, Captain Guay. from Guadaloupe, carrying twenty-two nine-pounders, and two hun dred and thirty men, eighty of which were soldiers. Centaur, Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, SIR, R 1 irch 7, 1804. The eaclosed is a copy of a letter I have received from Captain Bland, of His Majesty's ship Heureux, giving an account of the capture of a French priva teer to the windward of Barbadoes, with which I beg you to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have the honour to be, &c. Sam. Hoop. Sir Fsan Nepean, Bart. His Majesty's ship L'Heur.ua, at sea, SIR, 2 0 1 th February, 1804. I beg to inform you, that this day, in the latitude of Barbadoes, and forty leagues to windward, His Nlajestv's ship under my command fell in with, after a long chase, took possession of the French armed schooner Flebustier, pierced for four teen guns, had six French sixes, and sixty-eight men on board ; she is new, sails remarkably fast, and was stored fur a long cruise, from Guadaloupe ; out fifteen days, and I could net learn she had made a capture. I am, Sir, &c. LOFTUS °TWAT BLAND. Commodore Hood, Commander in Chief, .6c. Centaur, Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, SIR, 22d March, 1604. I beg leave to enclose you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, an ac . . _ count from Captain O'Bryen, of His Majesty's ship Enicral.l, and I aeutenarit Forrest, of the capture of the Musambique French schooner privateer, of ten cigliteen pounder carronadcs. from under th e batteries, near the Pearl, which Was executed in a most spirited and steady manner, be Lieutenant Forrest, and those that accompanied him in the Fort-I:iamond, on this service. I also send copy of a letter from Captain Ferris, ailing in His Majesty's ship Blenheim, giving an account of two boats of that ship, under Lieu tenant Furber, attacking the Curieuse French na tional schooner, moored, and, I have since learned, chained to the beach, under a battery at St. Pierre's. I likewise subjoin the cop;- of a letter trom Lieu tenant Kin;;, lust of this ship, now ailing in His Majesty's sloop Drake, Captain Nash, com manding the blockade of the north part of the Island id Martinique, giving an account of his carry lug, with thirty nice ouly, the Fort at Trinite, when opposed to much superior force. I have the honour to be, &c. Sass. Hours. Wl!limn Marsden, b.l. Hu Majesty% Sleep Drake, off Thuile. SIR, 2):h February, Ito 4. 1 have the honour to acquaint you, that on the night of the 19th inst. Lieut. Compsion sad Mr. Rob son, master, voluntarily offered to bring out of the harbour of Trinit;e, three American vessels. that were taking in cargoes in defiance of the blnckade, which they attempted in a very gallant manr.er, Living possession of two brigs and a schooner, under the fire of the fort, for a considerable time, but from having no wind, could succeed only in bringing out the schooner. The Anchorage being within pistol-shot of the fort, I SAW nn probability of success if another eff..rt was made, unless the fort was reduced ; for which purpose T, last night, landed with 30 men, includ ing nine marines, and succeeded in spiking the guts, three 32-pounders, and two field-pieces, which com manded the entrance into the fort, I am sorry to add, one seaman expired from his wound this morning, and that Lieut. Compston and one seaman arc each wounded in the arm, hut are doing very well, which are all that were hurt on the occasloll. I have the honour to be, &c. SAM. W. Kiss. Capt. Nash, &e. Wenheim, March S, 1804. I beg leave to acquaint you, two boats (the barge and pinnace) of His Majesty's ship under my com mand, with 30 ()dicers and men, under the nrdcrs of Lieut. Furber, on the night or the 4th, made a most pliant, but unsuccessful attempt, to cut out a Frtnca national schooner. laying close under a fort at the tawn of St. Pierre. She had made formi dable preparations t her boarding settings being traced sip to the lower mast-heads, and so fastened, that it was almost impossible to get in, and her sweeps rigged out on each side : notwithstanding all this, and the beach lined with soldiers, the forts, an Armed sloop, and .cveral other small vessels near, keeping up a heavy tire of guns And musquetry, those brave slicers and men in the two boats, per severed and cut her cedes; being perfesftly calm, she moo' atslgrvaaJed on the beach, when all hopes Cbc tAritisb pros LONDON, WEDNESDAY. MAY 2. Oat renders must have foreseen, for some time past. the probability of some change in our domestic r. AIM of politics. The coalition of the PIT TS, Gaitsv mt.'s, and Foxes, which originally promised nothing but discord and confusion, has, within die last ten days, assumed the most cordial union and consistency. They have taken the Milliner, as it were, by surprise, and alarmed bun by a minority formidable from its number ; but still more so from its talent, property, and influence. The ground being thus prepared for speculation, the converse. two is the House of Lords on Monday was only wanting to put it into anion. Of the various ru mours hence engendered, that of a Regency and of a change of Ministry are the most predominant. We do not, however, consider them as distinct; on the contrary, they appear to be necessarily connetted with each other. In the event of a Regency, there cau be no question as to the individual. The Prince of WALZS mast be the person to fill that station ; and from his known at tachment to Mr. Fos, we must presume that the latter will come in along with him. In the deli. cate and arduous part which his ROYAL 1 licfristss has had to aft for some months past.. we believe be has more than ever consulted Mr. Fox. The pro priety of his cooduS is a proof that he has been well advised ; aise, we have reason to believe, that, if 1w were Regent, he would wish still to avail him self of so good a Counsellor. All admit that some great event is upon the tapis ; but some insist it is a Regency, as if that was a c‘mplete an swer to those who insist it is a change of Mi nistry. This view of things, however, reconciles these two reports, and is fully warranted by cir cumstances. It is well known that the - Earl of Monts left his command in Scotland some time ago, and came to town for the purpose of assisting in such change as the delicate state of His Mun ro v's health might rendes necessary or expedient. His Lordship's visit to town certainly never had any other ostensible objea ; and, therefore, sse are justified in presuming it ta be the real one. It is also certain, that his Lordship left town with out having in any degree contributed . to this purpose; and we have heard it assigned, as the reason of this disappointment, that the Mi ni,ter had cautiously abstained from making any overtures to that effeel. Since that period, the coa lition has assumed a more formidable shape, and its increasing strength must necessarily make a prudent Minister think it time to provide for his own safety. The hirelings of government, however, will not listen to the Minister's resignation. They say, that is all nonsense ; the idle clamour of faflion. Indeed. Lord HAWILISIICRT, a first rate member of the Aliaisuy, does not hesitate to use this language when speaking of the present Oppoistion. If then the Minister expetts to continue in place, his hopes can only be founded upon the influ ence which his situation gives him in forming a Regency, and the claims which his assist ance, in bringing about that measure, may give biri, upon Ole person whe is to be Regent.— We do not, however, believe that any thing decisive has taken place, although it is expetted that the matter will be brought to issue before Friday. The idea of a Regency is said to have been suggested by Ilis MaJi.syy, who is represented as having ex pressed a desire to free himself from the fatigues of business. It is also said that the influence of a cer tain Great Personage has been exercised to form a coalition between Mr. Pirr and Mr. ADDINGTON; but we do not believe that it is likely to he attended with success. A partial change of this kind would. no dou'lt, ensure Mr. Atnatmorntes continuance in power ; but a Regency, we conceive, must bring with it an entirely new Administration. The following is handed about as the new A dmi. nibtration, by the Cabiliet fanciers : Mr. PITT, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Fox, Home Department. Lord Gits•ILLE, Foreign ditto. Lord MrtviLLE, Colonial. Mr. Wlttottax, Secretary at War. Earl Srattcza, First Lord of the Admiralty. Earl Rosst.rw, Lord Chancellor. Marquis Sr arros n, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Three of the Hamburgh Mails due, arrived yes terday, and brought us letters and papers to the 21st last. Thozir contents are only interesting so far az they shevr the systematic plan of Bon AAAAA to ex clude us from all direct political connexions with the petty Courts on the Continent ; and we should not be surprised, if Mr. TA v Loa, our Minister at Cassel, were soon forced to follow the etaroples of Messrs. DUET and SPENCER SMITH. who are bath said to have left their respeCtive courts. Private letter, both from Vienna and Berlin, speak of the lively indignation which the wanton murder of the Doke of Es cat en has excited. Our Correspon dent at Vienna, in a letter of the 10th ult. says that the representation of the S reclaim A m sasses:ma has made a great impression, and that the Arch Duke CHARLES has declared in unequivocal terms that this unnecessary crime has entirely changed the opinion he had of Bon A PART t's huminity, and that His Royal Highness refused to listen to the es planation which Citizen CMAMPIONY gave on this ce,asion. Letters front Manheisn say, that the SueJish Minister at Paris is expelled at Carlsrul.e. and that the Adjutant General, whom Ills Swcouss MAJESTY dispatched with a letter for the Foust. Consul., has returned, the Duke of Estanizsi haring been murdered before he arrived at Paris. This shew; at least that one Continental Prince not only disapproves, but has courage and generosity to publish ',his sentiments upon this foul transaltion.— We have hid before oar readers a letter from cur Correspondent at Berlin, in which Bosar *a T C prc poses to His PRUSSIAN MAJESTY to assume with him the imperial dignity. This insolent plan has lung been in the Usurper's meditation. The French Se nate may proclaim Boss r Aare an Emperor, and the French slaves may hail him as such ; but other powers are r.ot bound to acknowledge him. The of twinging her out were given up, and from the r. , :nibirr killed and wounded, as per enclosed list, the Commanding 011icer very properly ordered the boats off. I lament sincerely our loss, but I trust you, Sir, will think the character of British seamen was wel! supported on this occasion, for surely never was greaser spirit displayed. I have the honour to be, &c. W. Ffr.RRIS. Comosudoro Had, Commander in Chief, &c. A LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEM KILLLD AND WOUND ED IN THE BLENHEIM'S BOATS. I Suain.n and 2 Ahiriurt, killed; 5 Officers II SC1111:11 (three of which severely ), and 3 Mariam, wou nded; 3 Seamen, OR St. Pierre's, Martinique, Eniened, SIR, March 13, 1804. I have the honour to enclose you a letter I have received from Lieutenant Forrest, First Lieutenant of His Majesty's ship under my command, whom I this morning sent, accompanied by 30 volunteers, on hoard the Fort-Diamond armed sloop, with di. reaions to work to windward seas, to enable the sloop to weather the Pearl Rock, and to bear down on an armed schooner, which had, finding it im possible t. get into St. Pierre's, this ship being to leeward, anchored close in shore, under the cover of the battery at Seron. I at the same time sent the boats of this ship in a different direail;a, io order to take off the attention of the battery flow the Pll3- nosurre in contemplation, to be perfurrned by Lieut. Forrest. It affords me particular satisfaCtion to bear tes timony to the handsome and gallant manner in which this service was performed, Lieutenant For rest having laid the national schooner on board under a heavy fire from her and the battery. In the performance of this service great judg ment was exhibited, as, by the mode of doing It, a chain, by which she was fastened to the shore, was broke, twenty feet of which are now hanging to the schooner's bow. The crew of this vessel, finding it impossible to withstand British intrepidity, jump ed overboard and swam ashore, which they were enabled to do from her being moored close to it. It affords me particular pleasure to inform you, Sir, that this gallant service was performed without any loss on our part, two men only being slightly wounded. I have been rather more circumstantial in this detail, than perhaps the mere capture of a privateer justifies ; but I feel I should rot do justice to the gallant conduit of Lieut. Forrest, the judg ment he exhibited, the brave and cool conduit of the petty officer, and men under his coinrnand. which he speaks of in high terms, had I ncgleded relating every circumstance that took place, which has excited admiration and emulation in the breasts of the spedators, and, Sir, I must beg to add, that the general coastal of tkis officer, ever since he been under my command, has been such as to enti tle him to my approbation. This captured schooner, whose name I can only guess at from a letter found on board, the only paper left, is the Mosambique, commanded by Citizen Vallentes, pierced for four teen guns, ten carronades, 18-pounders, only mount ed ; she is from Guad.tioupe, and is fitted for a three months' cruise, to all appearan:e pettedly new, copper-bottomed and fastened, sails appa rently well, and seems calculated for the King's service. His Majesty's ship the Pandour hove in sight, and closed in sufficient time to send two boats to join in the diversion intended to be made by tho:e from the ships. I have the honour to be, &c. JAMLS 0' Ha VA'S • S. Hood, Iraq C , n.tnodor , and Corn:am:der in Chia, Re• SIR, Fon Matnond. M.lrch 16, 1604. I have the honour to inform you, that, ailing ac cording to your dire, ions, in His Majesty's armed sloop - Fort Diamond, I had the good fortune to sueceed in bringing out the enemy's private*.r schooner Mosambique, from under the batteries con tiguous to the Pearl; she is pierced for fourteen guns, and mounted with tea eighteen-pounders : on seeing us determined to board, her crew deserted her, af ter discharging her broadside and muiquetry ; and I observed about sixty whites and blacks in the water after I had gained possession ; but as yon were an eye-witness to the service, I can do no more than recommend the officers and men you did me the honour to place under my command to your most particular notice, for their gallant and intrepid con duff, while standing through the enemy's fire, and their aaivity and orderly behaviour after possession. I found her secured with two cables and a chain to the shore ; the former we cut, and the latter she fortunately broke:/ e le shock in boarding. I have the happiness to you. that we have suffered no loss. I have the honour to be, &c. tHu. FORMFSF. Mr. Ilan, Mate; Mr. Eisen, Seaman, wauerled. • To J. O'Bryen. Esq. Captain of Flis Majesty's ship Emerald. I