The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1804-08-08 00:00:00

VROM LAST Itrs GAZET EL. ifit.iratt,-Oliee,...leyest 7, !Ftl4. Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sit Cha,les Moen, Ran to William Matiitlon, E..q. dited on board His Majesty's ship the San Jests, ati.r.liant, August, tilos. SIR, Herewith I transmit a letter, for the infmmation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, from Vice. Admiral Sir Robert Calder, with its enclosures, giving-on account of the destruenon of two of the . enemy's corvettes, by His Majesty's ship the Aigle, *Of &ordeal". . I have the honour to be, &c. CH AU LES COTTON. Prince of Wale:, off Rochefort!, SIR, July 19, liO4 I have Ow -pleasure to inform you His Majesty's ship the higle (which I had placed in shore to watch the me nus motions) fell in with two french Na . lioisal corvettes, which Captain Vnlfe drove on doe near Bourdeaux and burnt, having fi rst used every means without ;fled to get them afloat. The Aigle found only twenty-six French Officers and men left on board these corvettes when they took pos , maks of them ; the rest had made their escape on shone. The names of these corvettes are La Charante and La Joie ; the first a ship of twenty guns, and one hundred and four men, and the other a brig, pierced for (teen guns, but had only eight mounted, and e men. They Wad on board the ordnance s complete for a corvette just launched at • . to which place they were carrying them. here enclose Captain Wo/fe's letter to me of his proceedings in the destroying of these vessels, and also a list of the prisoners he has on :card ; these I I t. have direaed to be sent into port by the first oppor tunity. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed Roo. CaLOSR. ' to the Hun. William Cornwallis, die. SIR, lie 'stalest?' Ship the Algle, July 16, 1504. Arley passing the squadron on the 9th instant, when, at the anzhorage No. S, was drove to the S.W. by the gale; on the 10th we lost sight of the 1 Hawk. On the I2th, when standing in for Cor. i douan, in beating up for the 1 endetvous, saw a large brig and ship, it ith ;ill sail set, steering to the southward. I suppose.i them to he part of the l squadron from Rochefort. At five p. m. closed with them (thev never altering their course from our first seeing them), prepared and expelling, from • their manceuvre: and signals, a close anion, they Living shot tened sail (with men at their quarters) erheii within proper di ranee; bin, to our great cur. pi ;se, after firing their starboard broadside at us, they ran the ships on the strand, within a stone's east of each other, and diretly took to the boats, which instantly swamped on touching the beach, about ten leagues to the south of Cordnuan, and ! I same of them were drowned. The wind being at i N. E. and about two pints of the land, I had great .) hopes of getting one or h•,th of thorn afloat again, and anchored the Aigle about a mile from the beach ; but, after a night and part of the nest day, in fruitless efforts, from the very great surf sit in by the late western gale, I was Cliliged to destroy them by fire, which WAS etTeaually done by Mr. Forlonger, master, and Mr. Stei.l, the gunner, as scarcely any part s. as perceptible when the Aigle made sail. The prisoners on board the Aigle are John San l' sot', Lieutenant de Vaissean, the officers, and eight soldiers and sailors of the French national ship the Charante, of four liundr,:d and twenty tour, twenty guns, six-plunders, four swivels, and one hundred and four men. Benjamin Godolitrt, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, his (siker., and nine soldiers And sailors of the French national brig La Joie, t•ve hundred and fifty tone, piercedsfor fourteen, but only eight twelre-pounde-s mounted, two swivels, and seventy-five men. La Joie had sixteen six-pounders, a quantity of arms, powder, shot, and other ordnance stores in the hold. They were (rout Rochefort, hut had sailed in the mot ning from the Giroodc, stealing along shore for Bayonne, and intended to return from thence with stores for the French marine at Rochefort, which I , • am proud in having prevented, and trust in meet tag your approbation. None of the shot struck us, nor did ours materially njure them, as only their 1 masts and sails were a littie torn. Had they come alongside, as expected , the Li ig having shifted her gulls Mr the purpose, I am cer i' tain the crew of the Aigle would have acquitted ' . themselves as Englishmen do on thine occasions. I have the honour to be, &c. Geo. WOLFE. Sir R.gheisi Calgler, Wirt. V ess•klmoral .t the Wee, he. off Rochefort. Copy of a Letter fmm Camas° !toner% Dudley (river, Coro foamier of Ilis Majesty'. Shop the Meli,omeoe, to William Week°, E q. dated off I lava., the 2d igistAtot 3 SIR, , i beg leave to enclose to you, for the information • of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a .1 copy of :ay letter to Toed 7<eith, of this date. I have the honour to be, &c. R. I). (Riese. MY 1 9RI). Malpoincle on Havre, Aug 2, 1,04 The N%ind having changed yesterday to the N. F. I dear mined to make another attack on the nu , merou vessels in Havre Pier, as well as those which were moored outside, amounting to twenty eight brigs, otof as many tuggers, and stood in with the squadron, as per snarg.n •. At half past seven, p. ix. the bombs wen well placed off the Pier-heads, when they began a well dialed tire, which was kept up with great spirit for about an Pour and a half. The t >yen was very soon observed to be on fire in two p's .c... 5; and seven brigs, which were on the outside e i the Pier, foetid it necessary to move ; ono low her mainmast. As the wind earn- more off the land, and a strong ebb tide set ' tiny, out, I ordered the bombs to di econtinue firini;. At half past rape ire anchored ivi•r, the squadron about five miles firms thy light houses. As the Ex plosion h id fired assay all her shells, and the Zebra most of her powder, I had them supplied from the 141e.eor ; and at half past five this morning, got tin der weigh, and stood in with the squadron again. Before eight the bombs took up their position near the Pier-heads, and kept up a constant fare foe near three hours wish shells and carcases ; so many shells burst on and about the pint., that the enemy s fire was observed latterly to slacken considerably, and it was evident they were in the greatest confu- I lion ; some brigs and loggers, however, got under 1 1 • Me:pon]en••. Ariadar, Trim?, Magnaniine, an d Favourite ; tic 4; Mot..', tx pins on, anti bom'is ;Kin .7 Ciwige, klupe, Nana!, Cu.attese of [Agin, sad L.auia TILE BRITISH PRESS• LON DON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST B. We have the pleasure to announce the safe arrival off Portsmouth, of the long expeaed China Fleet. A Telegraphic Express was, yesterday morning, received at the Admiralty, and immediately com municated to the Secretary of the East India Com pany—" 'that an East India Fleet were off :he Isle of Wight," and at half-past three the Purser of the Earl Camden arrived at the India House, with the welcome intelligence, that Lc had left the China Fleet, consisting of the following ships, all safe off Weymouth, viz. F-a=i C mdeu (.a' pt. Kathan,el Dance. eland. W. W. Farrar. W.trky Henry Wilson. Al're I R ,, yal Geor6e Robert Wexford ..-- W. S. Clarke. Ganges M.,tratt. Elmer Henri Menton. Earl a Abergavenny John Word worth. 11..nry .01,1 , 1,ngtua -- John Kirkpatrick Bombay Castle Ate.. Hamilton. Hope - J. Pendergrass. Doriev , hire R. H. Brown. Warren Hastings T. Larkins. Ocean L•ick.iyer. together with the CirinerMen, from Ben'oolen, an .l Several whalers, last from St. Helena, maLing about twenty-five sail in the whole. In the course of the afternoon the put sers of the Eider, Coraltc, Cumberland, Do, sehArre, Heltrl dingloa. and Royal George, arrived At the India- House. The above ships ale the whole expected from China in this season, except Vie IV;ori ford, which ship was left at Canton, in consegnence of her havin g arrived too late to sail with the fleet. They sailed from Cowin without convoy on the ith February, and on the 15th of that month, fell :n with the squadron under Admiral I.lsois off Pub Auro, consisting of the Varrago of 80 guns, two frigates, and tsso sloops of war. The China ships continued their cours..., after coming in sight of 1..; ems ; but the R t yai r, being the van <hip, was sharply attacked ; the .V.,re,ige came along site, and a severe aftion continued for about tv . enty minutes, when the Frenchman, not being able to bring his frigates to hear, was obli:;ed to sheer off, and steered for Batavia. The loss on board the Rif* Georgt was only one man killed and another wounded; the damage done to her bull, we fear, was considerable, as the shot from the Afarzsgo were generally 42 pounders ; the loss on the part of the enemy was not ascertained. The conduit of the commanders and crews on this occasion merits the highest praise, whilst it adds an additional ;woof of our na al superiority—that an 80 gun ..top, attended with frigates, dec. should commence as aftion, and afterwards fly from a :navy laden merchantman, is an instance, we be lieve, unprecedented in the naval atillals of ary country. The China ships continued thk.ir passage. and Fell in• with the Albion and &entre men of war, in the Straiti of Malacca, the beginning of March. The above ships had been sent as a convoy to the fleet, and came with them to St. Helena, where they ar rived on the I‘2th June ; at which place they found the Carmarthen from Bencoolen. 'the fleet left St. Helena, on the 18th June, under convoy of His MA. , ES 1 Y'S ship Pla,,tagen,e, and ar rived off Weymouth, as above aated ; and, we have no doubt, are now safe at anchor in the Downs. No ships were at St. Helena from India; but a fleet was &illy expeEled there from Bei.gal and Ma dras. Ili, MAJESTY'S ships yllbiois and Sceptre in tended to return to India. We understand, that Messrs. LANCE, WILLI %St Bmtinn, and AloLonv, of the China establish ment, came passengers in the above fleet. The Rolla. Botany Bay ship, sailed from Canton with the above fleet, but parted from them in the China Seas; since which, no account has been re ceived of her. The Commanders of the above ships are all well, with the exception of Captain PA T row, who died in China, and was succeeded in the command of the Oren", by the chief officer, Mr. LOCKN V ER. The same telegraphic dispatch which mentioned the arrival of the China fleet, also communica•ed the arrival of the West India fleet off Portsmouth, to the number of 200 sail. The names of several of the latter will be fliund in the extraft froi.i LLoYD's List in our Naval News. The China fleet is the largest that ever sailed, and, combined with the West India fleet, constitutes the riche ,t and greatest arrival in the history of the commercial world.—This pleasing intelligence soon circulated through the town, and made the City a scene of universal joy and congratulation. Hut it was not the only grateful news of the day—Advice was also received in the morning, at the Admiralty, that GA N T EA M E'S squadron had not ventured far ther than Cameret Bay, about eight miles south of the channel into Brest, where it was at an chor on Friday last. It appear, th. t :te took ad vantage of a fog to attempt his escape, but was soon perceived by the For cuuees which apprised our fleet of the event—in .con,zquence of which, :iir CHA RIES COTTON dispatched a squadron of eight sail of the line, in pursuit of the enemy . It i, pro bablethatGANTHLAcxe,findingb the firing of tit Fru that he was discovered, changed his purpose, and discontinued his voyage. The Gazette of last night contains an account c: thir bombardment of Havre, and the destruelion of two of the enemy's armed vessels. Yesterday Princess ANI Et.i completed her 21st year. The Day was observed by the ROY• L FA May going to Curoberi.and Lodge, where Their M All S.. T les received the compliments of a number of the Nobility, and entertained a selea patty there. Yesterday the Russia?. Au aassAcourt and Lord CA M DEN had an audience of Lord I4 AIRow6Y from one till three. • The merchants of I lamburgh have experienced much advantage from the arrangement by which the English Government has allowed small vessels to pass from Tonningen to that city by Wa Wen, or along the coast. The merchandise, which is brought to Tonningen in large vessels, is conveyed to I lam- Isqrgh in those smaller imps, and a great saving of ht has consequently bete produced. Extraft of a letter from l3ourdeaux: " Capt. Brett, of the Minerva, has returned to port, after convoying a rich English prize, the Ataluntr, from Jamaica " It is with deep regret, that we have to announce the death of the gallant and truly worthy Admiral Lord M.:SCAN, who expired suddenly, on his way to Edinburgh, of an attack, as is supposed, of the gout in his stomach. A eonvoy for the West-Indies is expetled to sail from Portsmouth on the I sth instr.nt. The lathing and the Serer , frigates are ordered to be prepared for aZitive vice immediately at Deptford. The Rinen and Sararrn sloops are ordered to be prep r ited for service at Woolv•icia. . . The Itehle4 , tv, from Manilla, is arrived at Co penliagLn. On the 10th or 12th of February, she fell in with the French squadron, under the com mand of Admiral Limoi.. off Polo Sapata, in the China Seas, consisting of une ship of the line, three frigates, and a corvette. Letters from the Kent'sh coast state, that in con- sequence of the wind having shifted to the S.W. blowing ye, y strong, Admiral Las, tes squadron, consisting oft returned to pcm genness Road on Sunday, la, left some light vessels to watt., the enemy's ni(,,mients at Boulogl ^. The of Yonn is expeard at Shorn Cliffe camp in a day or two, to review General Moosx's Brigade. It is said that orders have been received to get ready a proportion of camp equipage fur 5.000 men, to be drafted, if the public exigencies should require it, tiom the diff.etent corps of the metropolis and its environs. -.. ----- The South nloucester Militia, in barracks at Nails- ham, last week sent theit heavy baggage to Harshen'. The men are kept in the most aetive state of prepa ration, and are allowed to retain only a watch -Coat, and three shirts each. BttFSD. —Yesterday the Loeb Ma volt, after ex amining the reportg of the Mealweighers, ordered the Bread to be rai,ed half an Assize, or one penny :he Peck Las; to take place to-mortuw. The Quartern Loaf. w:tearen, will then be sold for 10d. and household bid. THE RIRDES: - - On Tuesday, the 10th tritefl e d bat new ()per t, entitled, " The Haeth , ‘," was pelformed for the firs: time at the Imperial Academy of Mu. sic at Pitis. It is known that LLSEUR composed tint music of this grand piece. The author of the dialogue. it is said, died before the reception of hi. work. A beautiful dive, :iscrnent is introduced into it, of winds the Ballets are ciesig-ed by M. CAL net. All the bores and seats had been engaged several weeks before the representation, and all the men and women of fashion vied with each otlxr in making preparations for it. The joYrnel de Pam, socaking of this celebrated piece, says, " Since the Balls of the Carnival, we have not seen such bril liant assemblages, as at the two first representations of The Reeder. The diamond dresses were numer ous, but the nudities were carried to an extreme. Li a wtrrzl, it Is impossible to conceive any thing snore rich and less decent. ROSMAL A, Roma, t+ ; At., OSAI AS, Lcs Bordet, LESSOR, are the only words that you lie.ir in the conversation of our Briles aod Beam,. of all ages. The youth, who has Et seen the Baulev, is excluded from elegant company ; and the Kme. who has hitherto' had the misfortuo t not to obtain a seat. is inconsolable, and goes no where but to church, the usual refuge for fem.:: disappointment. The Rardes, and nothing but the Berja, is the order of the day." weigh, and cants oat to endeavour to annoy the boo to ; but Ail the other ships and vessels of the squadron were so well placed as to give chace to them immediately ; and it was only by cutting away tlseir buts, which were a-stern, and retreat ing very speedily into shoal water, that they escap ed, but not before they had run the gauntlet of all the ships and cutters, and were very closely en gaged for a considerable time by the Merlin, Fa vourite, Locust gun-brig, aid Hope cutter ; and on this occasion I teel particularly indebted to the ex ertions of Captains Brenton and Foote, and Lieuten ants Lake and Dubbin, whose vessels were very often during the :Rion in very shoal water, with a falling tide ; indeed nothing but the bad sailing of the Merlin prevented Captains Brenton from cutting off the sternmost brig. The Locust lost her main-topmast, but I have not heard of any other loss. The conduct of the Cap tains Sykes, James, Paul, and Beauchamp, com manding the bcmbs on both these occasions, was highly meritorious ; and although their ships were frequently struck, it gives me great pleasure to add that no lives have been lost. What damage may be done to the enemy by near fire hundred shells and carcases• thrown into the town and hason last evening, and this morning, it is impossible to calcu late; but I may without vanity say, that if the ex ertions of the enemy's flotilla he not much greater on our shore, than on their own, we have little to dread from them. I cannot conclude without expressing my obli gations to every officer and man employed in this squadron. I am, &c. (Signed) R. DUDLEY Chives. Right lion. Lord Keith, K. B. NOTICE Tot RRRUR Paull it uniformly }subtilise! at a very catty flour, ai.cl may be sent off by the Mooting Coaches We give thu Notice s merely for the inforniattoa n( persons in the Counter, sotto:um to procure the earl le;t and best Intelligence at this Int , ortant Crisis. It is n+•t moot in the slightest de. roe as a reproach, or a hint to the respectable body of men who deal in New.paperi, with whose conduct the Proprietors of Trt Su its. Pat>c are perfects satisfied, and who,e fairness tni pun taality are never suapert,d nor arraigned, except by falling and sliaappointed Pants. Tin Polut.cal State of Austria shall appear to•naarrow. MRS. COWELL'S DFJEUNE. fascinating Lady entertained a urge circle of friew!s on Saturday last, at her val.+, Ilamptce. wick, to celebrate the birth-day of her husband, and pretty daughter, At vs rA, At four o'clock, mo t of the company hid assembled. Among others were the LORD Mavoa and Larry alevottss, Alderman and Mrs. J. 8:417.11, Mr. and Mrs. LAM. 111EaT, &c. &c. Mr. BAILLY. in a rich Turkish habit, &c. Sec. was (tout (mumble) no small entertain. ment to the party. BARKER, of Bond -street, die. played his usual taste in ornamenting the festive board. A turtle was dressed, and every delicacy of the season appeared in tho utmost profusion. large temporary room was ereetcd, decorated will orange and lemon trees, full of fruit, encircling :;:e same. The Kiwn's health being given, with three times three—Mrs. CowLL I. gave, " Our worthy Prime Minister, Mr. Pitt," which was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm. At eight o'clock the merry dance was led off I,y the Lortn MA VON and the amiable liosry,s, continued to a late hour, and the company departed highly delighted. The Lord Mayor's Chaplain composed and road the following Verses upon the occasion . - Ifs $ perfeft a fete can .xente So imperfect awl a t/epi a lay; This triSute accept from tar mum. Her mite on to festive a et,!. Miny tbanka to ozir hone:w so kind, For produet,oh ,, so nice and to chaste; Tit a ray (riot tiig l for 1 hat bezini with igichfian Long life to our german dint, Replete with contentinAt net Wwl So live—V. a a day by not I.nd Wah si: he; devoid Gainey. Bet hiitre alma • The montiag of I,,trit‘l34 i*o4uDd• Slnce hea:thi to L.^.•_dquk art beNo. Cut .1,o: Good tirt . th ;NO ! She% the bud or • • , A y, To-morrow 4)e blo.,nts; I:writhe a But mar she for ever d..y!ay Au Am.traoth's bloom in the akki. lay the live. of them all glide along, Amidst ro•et devoid of a thorn; A% thou, silver Thames, d..st among Tho flown whie:: • ,y banks do a torn. q .,, let • . A Hereford races commence this day, and Keith. ton Races on Saturday. Lord G. 11. C%v ENDOW, 11:s on Mr. W. CAVES. DISH, and a large party. set off yesterday from Ls. Limon fur IJerby races, which commeixe ch:s Among the arrivals at SwAnsea are, sur W. Mitnell, Col. P:ice and faintly, Rev. Mr. and Ma Sory, Mr And Mr.. SLiialvy, Mr. Paten, RAv. Mr Meb,r Mrs it nbilas.m. Mr. Selwyn, Mn. Sourstrer, and Colo.iel Mr 11. Gregory. Yesterday, Mr. Mrs. and Miss Moatos Pig. left town, on a visit, for a few days, to Sir CH ':tits MCJULLTON, at his beautiful Sillt in Kent. Lord and Lady StiDLIiY and family left town yestesday for Brighton. The Duchess of BOT.TOM leaves her beautiful villa at Richmond this day, for Windsor Nos Forest. The Duchess of Sr. AL.+ s's and her sister, *l i ar MANNLltl4eSterday canvassed the west end of the town for Sir FA ASCII{ BUNIETT, with whose fr yours her horses awl servants s' re Adorned. The Earl and Countess of Daenricv retain to town on Monday evening, from Cobh:awhile t. l be present at the marriage of Lady C. Duos. !us Lordship's sister, to the lin. Mr. Srewsa r, idea will take place this day. Wednesday sen'night, the Lord Bishop of Wog' cesrea held an ordination in his chapel at Node' bury Castle, aad ordained three deacons ad 1 0 priests. The Newcastle Theatre closed on Saturday even' ing, with Speed the Plough and The ettrtesik Sour°. ssr. H. SIODONI and Mr. Roca were the princiPil Performers. The Newcastle and Pattery Theatre, at Staid , was to open on Monday night, with Gorge Bete well and The Midnight Hour. Four Hundred Pounds have been presented to ate Infirmary at Swansea, by an unknown km:fat:W. The Newcastle Loyal Volunteers la't Tuttribl presented their late Major. lcsstr DAV !.1 with a very hand -OrDe silver waiter, u a ! liar. gratitude to him as ar ufficer, and el their esn'e° for him as a man. Mr. I)Avin4os returned tbro hi; il-ainks in a handsome speech. which was rev; ed with three cheers. Earl PERCY honoured ceremony with his presence.