The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1809-08-03 00:00:00

it w~. w-~- Cie Ei not renew the Iminliardinsit, her tering all expeuded, and her 19-inch mortar hating burst, Q. lid pea perceive the throwing of shells pm- ' ducted the eifect that was hoped from ?—A. For *rectal Joys the wind affected the flight (Attie shells so snitch, that the expectation of their dothg Mischief was much disappointed. Q. From the situation of the enemy's ships on the IS, 14th, or any subsequent date, was it at the time your opinion, that they might be destrnyed by frigates and smaller vessels ?—A. It was lily hope that bombarding them at high water wonlil have prevented their getting off. I have before stated, that I did not think the going in of frigates would hove been attended with any good effect. Q. What are your reasons for believing that the going in of the frigates would hive heen aft oided with no good effect?—A. My reason for first sale posing, was the Erma grounding as she went in ; and that ftigatrs could not approach sidli,lently Nem., or remain long enough, to do any good. Q. rioutt the mitotic on the Ocean, out the i.t h, • windier of vessels went in ?—A. I tin uk the Genet, with three Run-hrigfi, and Elsie bomb. Q. Were the bomb, and several vessels that went in upon the several attacks you have ilescrili,d, obliged, on going in and relit 11l ill g, to we., under the lire of the batteries of the Isle D'Aix ? --A. Each vessel, in passing, was at a urea er or smaller distance, uecoraloi4 Is) herd aft of water, the deep water lying ;war the Isle D'Alx. Q. It happenittg, front your situation on these occasio n ., that you could not fail to have observed the conduct of all the vessels, of every description, etnploved agenist the enemy, did it appear to you that the whole of the vessels so employed were conducted with becoming real and judgment, for the hesient of the public service?—A. It slid : the whole of the commanding officers appeared to have been actuated with the same spirit ; nor die I sae any thin 4 whatever like a failure in their duty. Q. Can visit state soy instance of neglect, mis conduct, or tniittentiim to the public service, in the proceedings of the Commender-iii-Chief, front the time of his having anchored in Basque Roads, to the time of his leaving it ?-e.A. I feel myself so very incompetent to judge of the Commauder-in- Chief's conduct, I know en mimosee iii which any of those terinerAn tippled ; from the knowledge I have sulasequemly gained from the proceeding. of the ships, I think that line-of-battle ships could have floated in the last half of flood-tide. Q. What dine would that have been ?—A. About eleven. Q. What time dill the line of battle ships go in ? —*A. A short time after two o'clock. Q. Is the Court to understood that you. have formed this opinion from inthrtnation you have ob tained lattice the 12th of April, or that it was your opinion on that day ?—A. From the depth of wa ter I found upon going ill, and from seeing the Revenge go nut at the corresponding time of tide 00 the billowing day. Q. From the time of the first attack upon the ships of the enemy, until your departure from Basque Roads, was there, to the belt of your ju Ig mem, every thing done that was practicable to be done, to effect the destruction or the eueiny's ships ? —.A. Every thing. Q. When vou say the ships of the line would leave floated in at eleven o'eltick• do You limo to say, it was proper for the Commander-in-Chief to have sent theta iii at that tone ?—A. Two ships of the enemy's line were authored iu a position to an noy ships of the hue, at the time. I possess no in formation of the strength of Isle &Ail, or the depth of water. Q. If I understand the intention of that observa tion, it was advanced as all instance of either neg lect, misconduct, or inattention, iii the conduct of the Commander-in-Chief; how, then, is it you say you are not qualified to form an opinion ?—A. I particularly said, that I did not consider it neglect, misconduct, or inattention ; i mention it us a point upon which a difference of opinion might be enter timed. I myself have my doubts whether line-of battle ships would hare succeeded in doing good. Q. Do you mean by your answer to 14V, that there was water sufficient for the line-of-batt:e ships to hare gone in at eleven o'clock ; butt of the gspecheney of such a measure you do not form any jpiulgltarnt?—A. I mean, it is a point upon ache the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief might be fairly used. It is impossible for me to foretel the event of such an attack, it depending so much on fortuitous circumstance'. Q. Being tipiin the spot, and a spectator of the operations carrying on, and considering all the cir cumstances of the COSY, did you at the time think that the two hue-of-battle ships should have been rent in at cheviot o'cleck ?—A. There was an ideu a fitting out a fire-vessel ; my atteiption was en tirely occupied with her. I have already stated, that i form my opinion, that the two vessels could go in, from two circumstances which hanpened sulowtriently ; at that time, I did not, nt the ino strut, form any judgment, not having :any means fur so doiw , . Q. Whe n von say the ships of the line would have floated in at eleven o'clock, do you mean to speak to the depth of the water alone, without taking into cousidsration any other circumstances which would have prevented or impeded their get ting in I—A. I confine myself merely to the word awning ; that is all I mean to say : the opposition they were likely to meet with is before the Court; the two line-of-battle ships uc.,ler the fort of Aix. Q. You have stated it simile!, on the 14th, was made by the Imperatore, u. If permitted to remain, can destroy the enemy ;" did it appear to you that the sigual was pointed to tiny particular operation, which you observed at that moment ?—A. No ; more to their general annoyance. Captors; Nawcotrag, of Me Beagle, calk(' is and morn. By Lord Gambier. Q. Were you sent in with the Beak, to the at tack of the enemy, on the 12th April, in Aix Roads? --A. Being under weigh on the 12th of April, sod it being reported to toe that the signal was made by the Comm n ler-in-Chief for frigates to go to the assistauce of those ships in distress, in such quar ter, I felt it my duty to proceed on, after the letet riewse, to Aix Roads, the "ligk and other frigates, besidet the Revenge, follow ; and seeing the in tent of the Commander-in-Chief meant I should so - -- :....soiediecovercti the Erma lamb . and other gun-hrige mike a mil for the sue/borne, preceding the fraperieure, and winch I judged was from the di , ections they received from the Com- Mander-in-Chief; I thought it prndeut to reserve iu prederetiou, my bower &anchor cod cable for any of ' the ships that might require it; cont;inding t het cloy that there was a great probability that it might be required for either the line of Linde Oliva or fri gates, I caused my own stream ancliur to be ready with a 'Ong to It, to make use of a, a bower, to bring up the sloop Laufer my command ; the wind being then moderate enough to ride her by; and to facilitate my movements wherever my judgment might require; I brought up in Aix Roads with my stream-enchor, wader the Larboard-quarter of the foyer/rest, mad without her, merely that I might not interrupt the anclikkrne of the line-of battle ships and frigates that were close to me. The Iminh and the gua-brigs were laid a little fur ther to the vvestis aril of me ; the re were some shot tired in their direction, awl towards env, from the haperieuse; nn signal whatever having been made for the &rectify., of any of the vessels, I sent Lieu transit Prier with a inessege to Lnrd Cochrane, to know if those shot tired were at the Isle of Oleron, or by mist ike, or intentional ? if the latter, I felt very intligiaant at rt, and 'nought up there, be c lose I should not he in the way of the frigates and lane-of-battle slips; and I should hose thought it a must injudicious step, hail I placed nay ship in such a satiation, as to have prevented the services of a larger force ; neither was there room betweea the hiperiens • amid the Pallas Shoal for may more than one, sylie7h situation the bed,:fatigable butt up; moreover I explain, that I hod neither clia:t, nor was there any perma oil board that was ever • there before, the tide then falling ; nod if I hail touched upon the Pallas, the Beagle roust inevi tably be.m lust; I sent the officer away with One m.-ssage ; I was prepared to weigh my anchor its toe event of any eminent Iwitag pouted oaf; the ',sal of the. Imperieuee was maile ler me to close; the anchor wits at my bows; in &about two or three minutes, I shifted me vessel in betweeis the Inde fatigable and the wreck of the Jean Hart, that was previously cast away on the Pallas shoal, and !weight an with my sterain-anchor the seemed lime. I commenced finiag upon the enemy, the Ville de Vart,vie more particularly ; this continued about a quarter of all hour or twenty minutes; five in- mites after, my rudder coming almost in contact With the wreck of the Jean Hart, and being too near the Indefatigable, so much aa, that my mast mil rigging were in danger by her are, I got a; art coml time under weigh, and kept au *aid eight o'clock that night, with my top-sail, jib and span ker, to annoy tine enemy iii such situations as I thou4ht I could act best in. My 211 Lieut. was sway from the tint.- I sent the message to sound about the Panes, end the entrance to the Charente, and oh servin4 that the Calertta was Om:Aimed, weal on board of her; at the ramp time another boat, which I understood to be the larprrieu.re's, came to take pistessimi of her. Seeing an uppOrtUility to annoy the Aymilon, I in ode sail for her stern; within pistol shot, commenced tiring on her, she returning it, carrying away many of my ropes, and all my main topmast rigging ; leaving tired upon her for about ten minutes, its near as I can recollect, with my star board broadside, she struck her colours ; I lowered a boat down to send au officer to take possession of her; she (Nana opened has limy and I wireohliged to return it also ; I kept my multi topsail spilling, to preserve my situation close toiler; perceiving all her boats famine-I, and the ship's company ahem don her, I conclude s ! th a t h er lying, after she had struck, was froin accident, not by &sip. I then • t 'nil o t a id hack again, as occasion might require; being then in 17 (kr 14 feet water, the ode fast lathing, and no more annoyance could he given to aniy or the enemy's slip*. namely, those upon the Pallas Shaul, which I afterwards learnt to lie the Cakeito, Arpoilaa, title de Var sooie, mid Tonlere; I then recolleet, seeing nothing inure to be done, ill my Gondola, to have recom mended some of the frigates to slip their enco'ir roil shoot a little further out, to prevent their grouudiug at low water, telling them that I found a little more water to the W.S.W., or S.W. About six or half-past, I brought up my ship with my bower, and widened, then a b out five fathoms; walling brio;; required of the Beagle, I causes! the slaiii'r compauy to get their (limier. Q. Were you taut subject to aimoyauce rrotn the shot of the E n glish ships, while you lay so close to the Alqui/on, as you have before described ?—A. My situation was such, that I emild stand in and an on). the Ayuilon, with the English ships giving its may annoyance. The Varrovie had presiously yielded, and was directly in al line, or rather in the wake of the Arprilan, so as to prevent most of our ships from acting against tbeflirdlost, without firing at the Formic Q. Was the Beagle on the Pallas Shoal, at high water ?—.l. I was mot there at high water, about an hour and a half afterwards. Q. At the time you were there, were any of the ships whit!) afterwards escaped up the Charente within reach of being destroyed by your shot ?—A. No. Q. Could you, as far as your information of the depth of water enabled yon to judge, have at near enough to those ships to destioy them F—A. No. Q. Were the gun-brigs as fair advanced towards the enemy's ships as the Beagle—A. No. Q. Do you know of ally reason which prevented them ?—A. No. a Q. What • iter does the Beagle draw ?—A Near ly 15 feet abaft, and about 141 forward. Q. Do yon know what water the gun-brigs draw? —A. To the best of my recollection, frnan the re ports I have been accustomed to receive from them, about 10 or 11 feet. Q. Could they have advanced towards the ene my's ships nearer than you were, without being reformed to the tire of the British squadron ? A. Ihd they so done, they would have rebelled the service, and subjected themselves to the tire of our own Alps. Q. By what means would they have retarded the service?—A. Being subject to receive the tire of our Aim, instead of that of the enemy., Q. How long did the Beagle remain in Aix Roads F—A. From the 14th of April to the day of recall, ou the 15th or 160. Q. Was Mete airy time after the 14th, in which frigates and smaller vessels might have destroyed ~-~~ the eoetny's ships, which were not destroyed on the 12th?—A. On the morning 01 the 13 4 1 lay. Lord Cochrane made arrangemeuta to that effect, be *ending the Beagle on t4l%' larboard-quarter of the Orton, the Etna bomb, with the gessishrle's, three or four, near the wrecks of Oar enemy's ships, the Aquilins and Varsveie. About ten o'clock proeesohri in timini s the enemy ; -the Vice-Adati. rat's 4181 p. another 73, and a French frigate. situ ated in the th of the Charatite ; I brought up, when oia the (kegs'* gunner, up lit feet enter, and engaged her hoot the hour of eleven, or father be fore, tiutil four o'cleck ; she returned the 'lie from her stern mid quarter, us well as the other line-of. battle ship, as also the frigate, with shells occo 'tonally front isle d'Aix, auJ many of the splinter* fell upon deck ; during these tire hours, the *wild ing and ranting riggilig were very much cut, my tower yard was shut through, mid insin-top-mast. Lord Cochrane, Lelia... I came to anchor, sob-served, he WV:lla totaling in his frigate ; but this, howevei, I recominciaded him wit to do, judging there was not snfficient water, and the wind blamiarg directly into the misuth of the Charmite,, with tha tide, I dare say, ruining at lemon two and a half knots, or thereabouts; I gave this &titter, because I was theta furnished with a good chart, of a large scale, Junior the time I was In 11C11011, slid tinting the ene my bringitc4 their guns to bra t upon all the vessels, I caused the signal to lie u n cle to the droperieure, first at the mein-yard, mad *another signial that the erten) . s ships were superior to those in dentin ; when at three fathom :to I a half water I in ode the telegraph sigma' t the Imperieuse, tbat the frigate might then attack with advnimage ; I was ie. ductal to make this signal, bring at the mire time folly convinced that in soaking, they could not have remained in that rituatioa more than two hours, without entlatigeriog theweelves; this, however, ini A lit be thought too hazardous to attempt. I sent a messenger by the Second Lieu tenant to Lord Cischratie, to .signify that I should want powder, 54 I then had only two ballets kit ; and also to ob,vrse, that 1 Jerold take the ground at low water, was 1 not so come out until 4 o'clock ; the answer was, to entue not at my own About half-past three the enemy's 3-decker, as well as the 3-Decker, prepared to push further up the Charente, it thou being high water, end 1 weighed at four o'clock, the title falling, and tarried op to my former anchorage, under a heavy fire (roan the batteries nil the Isle d'Ais ; at about am o'clock. I brought up with my bower at toe anchorage I left. Q. By the damage you observed the enemy's ships to have unearned ft, in the attack you have now detailed, was it your opinion that a repetition of such attack would have destroyed them, or pre. vented their getting up the Cnarante ?—A. By no means; because the cease!' of the description that • made the attack I have now detailed, could not, with propriety, advance further; but had there been ' a few hoinb-vessels, with some gun-boats, it is very prof:Sallie that the enemy miAtit have levis more RIP. noyed isti the day ;titer ; u.i. via,* of ve.eila was not ' with the British fleet. Q. What time did yoti arrive in Basque Roads ? —A. On the I nth, rind left it on the rite. Q. Can you state any iastance of neglect, mis conduct. or inattention, in the proceedings of the Commander-in-Chief during that pettoti?-4. None; save and except had the Corgrameacer-iu-Cltief till - meld it proper, from his siteation,.6lllave sent vessels in either that) they went ; although there might he a great risk in in 'Hog, there was a possi bility of annoying the enemy more than they acre annoyed ; but our ships nines hare been subjected, nevertheless, nut only to the fire of the enc.ny that reinaitie.l at incisor, hut also to that f ors the bat teries of the Isle D'Aix. I cannot presume to place my ju Igineiii in competiti• ni w i t h th it of the Coin inaiiiler-in-Chief, h o w ler it was proper to send in ships earlier than they were temt. Q. Under the circumstances of the annoyance which the ships earlier sent in would have been subjea to, Irons the two French ships remaining at auchor, aii.l Irons tile betterier of the Isle of Aix, and consideraug the state of the tide and of the wind at the tune. would you, had you been the Conimander-iii-Chief, have sent the ships ear lier in, to attack those of the alueiny oil shore ? A. With the circumstance of the wind alai tide, as they were, I think at rather log great a hozare ; cud a want of a perfect knowledge of depth of wa ter, rather in the southward, betwseu the Polies mei the Isle of Aix. Q. If the British...hips had been sent earler in, would they have been subject to animynnee frrim the Frecich ship the OCCIM, as well as the two Freiseli ships remaining at macho,. an d the batteries of the Isle of Aiit I titbit: they would. Q. Suppose the English ships had been sent in at eleven o'clock of tile forenoon of the 13th, or at noon of that day, and heal received untemil da mage from those eneoyancea you have described, hose liner must they have remained under the tire of the French ships Acid batteries, before they could have again • -me out of the Road of Aix ?—A. A coasiderable tune; for it was fly °pumas, from the short kiiowledge I had of the plaice, that large ships., as the wind then wits, must hare tacked and filled out with a strong ebb ode; and even then, they were still subject to the tire frorn Isle as well as the shells from the island of Olerott; had any unfortunate eh once shot crippled their masts and yards, there was every probability of their tieing destroyed altogether. Q. From the first attack "Iron the ships of the enemy, to the time of your leasing Basque Roads, was there lei your judgment every thing dour that was practicable to be done to destroy the enemy's ships f—A. Considering all the circumstances I have stated, I think there was. Lisa/mom tincetNos celled is egad*. Q. At what tune did the two French *hive slip th. ir cables ?—A. The Canard shot her cable at ten minutes put one, and the Nadi-opal. at about twenty Initiates past one. I am positive to this feet. The three-decker hauled off at two o'clock, the other het *reit mfr and twit o'clock. Captain Kitten caned in again. Q Did you, on the evening of the liSth of April, or ally day after, receive from Lord Caschraue him self, any intimation of theoliore aucluarage, or dial you receive such eominuineatmi i from any of the Captain, of the Pleat The only cons' ttttt cone I had with Laird Cochraur, was through the Master of the iferenge, who was seat to :sound im seedietely oe that ship's anchoring; ou his mum :~~ • .. , _.:4 he said that Lord Cochrane had informed l believer' there was water to the -north Ward, was under ilieliaairjea. Q. From every opportunity you bud of the bonals,•the brig, sloops Of star asi.l g, upon at" the services nn *loth they were nisi agaiiilie pie enemy, did ybu see army imam** of conduct, of ariy,..knd wh4eVer, iu any vf them Ids t'—A. Nona Shaiever. • Q. From the state you, left the enemy's to the. morning of the ISth,.iwtiren you cause nut Rood nf,A" x. atui 'cup., plaeeriation tretereis the afternoop of the.ietin do,rou consider' any exertions more than writ used be inunder-in-(avief s snore of the enemy'. ~eiti, could have bees destroyed ?—A. No; most certaine ly not. . Admiral SToPanno called ia moist. Q. What information did you receive before yea left Basque Roads, respecting the enemy's ships that escaped op the Charante, after the attack on the 12th of April ?—A. The information is con. tained in this paper, a tech paper I transmitted I. the Cominander-iii-Chief :it the time: Rerun's and Patriot so much dam ijged an to be mat for sea, repieted to be cat dawn fur eaurter-vessels the Ocean had hove all her gene overboard except an an 30; provirio a and stores, hove ovrelesard 4 auction and cables cut away; l'ustdrsm ant, of so vacs, only 26 guns saved; provnions inns alOte4 hove overboard, and her asehure sad CAI4IIIII cot away ; the Coward of so gain, damaged, but to be rapeseed." I received it from a seaman, who called himself an American, Imlcinzin;: to the French ship lest droyarit, deserted trim i lie squadron 111 Basque Roads on the -27th of April. Captain Wotec called is ci: , ain. Q. When you joined the Laperieuse an the I. of April, for the purpose of relieving that shy, for courineting the further operations of the vessels *Kismet the enemy, what communicatiou hail y with the Captain of that stip ?—A. Sliortty after we anchored, Lord Cochrinie Caine on board, land, after saying I l i ed come to relieve him, I asked lien what he *timid recommend with the vewsels I tinder any orders, far the destruction of the enemy'. ' *hips; lie told me that the large mortar on board the Etna was burst, and the only thing we lead to deo was to fire as lonic as the shells of the silver 'worts? lasted ; that, if ass opportunity offered pf "betiding the tire-vessels, it should be done by day; ,lighteirs mazer of -the ncer) or the fir e vess e l's hail made such a laid buseress of et the alight the fire vessels acted ; as he %84 departing, I asked him if there robs ally thing eht hr could stinest for the eliern)'s destruction 1 I thiul he said is... thing more, thin to Weger/I them while the shell.* lasted, - and- I think they were all expended that nigift. • Q. Had you fireasltipe srlth yeti ?—A. There wee four. Q. Was any attempt emulate employ those ship against those of the eiriay N.-et. None, as I d.d •ribt think it prudent so to do, from the impractic... Witt , of my getted at the Freileit Mops for w a nt of ;•, . eurrr, as the tide s would reeve only at day light , next day, they were well protected by the bat. (tries, uunierous arined-vessels, boats, and men, thut were detiqg,all that ley in their power to • them.. soriseinove these when the tele served. Q. Lord .Cochrane having remarked to you that some of the fise.sliwe upon the first attack of the «item, he +win its etanie!et, do you know of any partieular tireweliip or fire-ships (het were properly etinebsexed oat the evening of the 11th ~.. April .:— . .. 1 1... i cameo partienlanse those that wen badly masaged, the ship that passed between e arid the Island of ilerou, was the only one I particularly noticed. Q. .Do 'sow knot !rev verse?—A. Ido not. , tented five that ellnle, very near us. (?err own ship was rent nestle set tire, to ; I omit' only learn the mune of the officers of re o of them, who behoved well. Captain Newottitie, who desired me to re member he had passed us. Lieut. Costley, of the Gibraltar, was another, who Legged I would keep my ey* sue him, is he should net fire his vessel till he vele amongst them. I did, and saw hint run ow I board the two-decked ship of the enemy, from the fresh breeze of ',Md. I could not hear the suitors .ot the officers comniandiii ; ; the otle e., who did • not tire their ships until they had passed me. Q. Dad you see the explosion-item! blow lip 1— A. Yes. Q. How was she situated with respect to the "Aligle ? —A. We lay about two cables leorth front the Itaperirtisr, the explosion verse' I thins went Irvin the hirperiewse tomards the enemy 'i anchorage ; when she exploded, I think she mug have been a. breast of the. Isle D'Aie. Q. Were any of the tire-ships stt fire to, before the explosion vesseVilers ue I—A. Noise. , Q. From every olitportuinty you haul of (amercing the proceedings of the bomb, the sloops of war e and the gnu-brigs, dill it appear toy oe that auy of these vessels were in any instance .whatever napes. perly conducted ?—A. I made no sileh observe. two; I think if there had I should Isere see.n them; I saw nn misconduct hi any of these vowel*. t'aptain MAt.coui called. am! geom. 9. Wee you in Bisque Roads frum the 11th of April to the 39th I—A. I was. Q. From the first attack up3o the ships of the enemy, on the evening of the 11th of April, to the time of your leaving Basque Roads. was every thing, according to the best of your judgment, done that could be done to effect their destruction?—A. On the morning of the lith of April the tide was ebb ing, it was low water about eight; in my opinion, it would havelst en highly imprudent to have ordered in any of the large ships to attack the enemy till at least half flood, and because I had always undei atonal that the anchorage in deep water was very confined in Aix Roads ; it would also have been im. prudent to have attacked them with frigates, as two of the enemy's ships of the line were at anchor in a situation to have brought their broadeides upon them, and those ships that had quitted their station ; there then was no obstacle to prevent a small ship from tyoing iii, or even 74 gun-ships. lied they here light, bat the fire from Isle D'Aix, a hich they could nearly avoidslry keeping near the Loyart -. shout a little after one i lehes the two Alp. quitted their anchorage, the initnb went in ; our ships of the line wer e very deep, each having silt months' provisions, and hewing cleared the trans. ports, that were prepared for lire-guy" of their water. The Court adjourned till to-moan v, at Niue .'Clock. god him he 1 ercl, which .‘ . f noticing ' ini-lbrir„. i t employed ' tr lee of anry t there r. ▪ ships iss, 40 mot of the /. •en that of • r tLrt, by • t 4 the Cons- • t y'r sin! at certain.. + W. wrote you sy's ships ' . attack on inn to eon. 1 omitted I. 1 1 be oat for the Oonas prowirio • cut away; # mmieeis alma ; I Ent away ; ed." iiiinqelf ,hip "tad." I Basque t the 14th ship, and br tercels had you /ray liter and. amt. I a s ked ie vemtel• e eueiny's on board • we had to the silver offered pf e by dal,- wrens hate the fire- bked hint stinent said 111/. i the shell* t tded that here woe r. hose shit s , ti.d nibtattlemo N. I.r went of Jay light ; the bat. and meo, • to save teed. . , o you that • 11 ck of the k know of Were 1:0- 1 Ith of that were tweet) us vas that el oat. I ono ship learn the ; I r Ix:hawed me to tic- •r_ of tha •A