The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-12-27 00:00:00

dery dill J r .. the lint. when w formed a joilaion ' wills the prises. Considering the wind, and the relative situation of the two heti. dirt's" , the Igkr, coed the Bridal! flees have neared the enemy and renewed the anion?— '['hat is merely a matter of opinion. It is impos.ible for me to say. whether we could have neared the enemy. We did not lay our beads towards them I have ;beady nsontioned my belief. that the Wind was N. W. and by N. on the tad, and that 'the enemy bete from N. W. to W. and by N. con. rqtrently we mold not have (etched them tiny part pt that day. if they had chosen to avoid us. I mean by going on the contrary tack—by laying our head' towards them. , et show anion on appeared keep com and I saw to tritew the ships (lima the the 24th ? from the - the enemy steering to the -4 by E. ?—1 do Beet fol lowing - thought i•oper to do co. Did the Vice-Admiral at any lime on the lath chew any disposition to renew the action that question answered by the scores to the t:4eced ing one. Court.-4.1t is a specific question.-.:We con tinued, as I have said before steering from the enemy; of COW'S, there could bin. movement, on our part, towards a renewal of the contest. I)id the Vice-Admiral. according to your remark and observation. do every thing that might have lawn done, on the is.3d and 24th, to renew the en gagement. and to take and destroy every ship which it was his duty to engage ?—We never attempted t 6 resew the action. or had our heads towards the enemy. I haat said before. it appeard to me, the Admiral's °Nee was to cover the crippled ships. Cuert—Ar the time. the British fleet bore down 10 the crippled ships, in what state was the II inda•r pm& P- - --She appeared to have lost her tore-top and not to able to make sail. t other •'"--• of the British ' unable ships _ __. feet were to keep company with the Vice-Admiral, had be endeavoured to bring the enemy to altion don't knew that any other was disabled. I mean during the whole time, from the 22J to the time you lost sight of the enemy ?—I don't know of any other. Sir Robert Calder—Under what sails, and at what rate did we edge down to the crippled ships, on the morning of the 23d f—l believe the body of the feet was under reefed top-sails. Imenattu know at what rate of sailing f—l do not know; log log will tell. Was there not a heavy swell on the morning ei the .4th, arid yolk*, wind, that I made a signal fair sailing in its rider i—There was a considerable swell, hot I do not secolloh the signal. Was there net danger of the ships running foal of each other ; that is the reason et the question think there was little wind in the early put of the day. Were you acquainted with the returns which had beeomade of the damages which the squares bad *attired ?—No. Were you acquainted with the orders under which I abed i—No. What face bad the enemy at Roclifoct, when yes left it to' put yourself under my command t—Frons report, one t hree-sleeker, two DO- gust ships, two e .' 4's, and stone stnaller sew% whether two Of three frigates, I do net knew. On which slat leak that t—l believe my ciders wire abodt diet nth or kith of Jody% what state did you keys them understood 04 war 'emir for sea. and await ea take the first opluntuisitjr of robing out t and s signal had beat made to me on The Morning I le* Roillifort, that the entmy "at carting. Red their ships been frequently anger sail during ifie those 'you wine of Roctitort ?—1 know no other day but that—Captain Fleming's signal was by Isle gtaph- 1 Made' neater, aced the signal then was, Oat the etterayhad anchored agaia. Cottl4 they have put to sea with the wind with which you roue to me?--Certainly. Have you since learned they did put to see on or &diet the r/th tie at what other time i—l have understood they did put to sea about that time, but the precise day I do not know. Did you receive a letter from me on woke, after the action f—Yes, I had two letters from Sir R. Caller, on service, after the action, of different dams. Did the first give you any reason, and what, for standing to the northward with the Windier Castle And prizes ?—1 morn produce the letter itself. Court—That wilt be most satisfactory. Admiral Stirling accordingly produced the let ter, which is of the following tenor : " Prince of Wales, at Sea, the "tth Joie, 114^5. " My dear So...fermis ere to resin. ,eta my roost heacklt taw** for year unrcniittiag a.rentsonr„ mid (or the very gal ivant •epport you rend7red the during the whole of the at crun ‘..0 the gYil WM. tied the weather been favourable, and we could have wen 5, have made the necessary signal*, •,. Date availed ourselves of verse of the mistakes of the coat y, lam fatly evonrineed we should base made the victivy much More complete t I was üb:iged to stand to the northward thug far, in order to Crier the Windsor Cattle and the two captured ships. t think they are new safe from the combined, as well a, the Rechthet siguatirea; and I ant going hack to Cape Emisterre, it homy of teeing Lord Nelson, Ido ... I shall p: cowl of Ferrol, to tee If any raiattraals (11 , 1 ..rio a ity g i mo ld wl•e, whee I may her so attack the sheeny to trlnasitagc W.shotig lig all pourbiosuccesa. i are, my dear sniti i ,g, ever year's must truly audtuncerely- (iipsed) "IltsreLßT CALDER." By Sir ft.ibeet Calder—ls this the answer?—(ee ¢,btrnr • letter)—lt is not the answer. It is a letter written in reply to it. I sent, by the same convey< adue, a letter to the Vice-Admiral, on service. You will observe, they Are of different slates. One is the 1 24th, the ether the 25th ?—I had no or pnitunity of se•iding the letter of the MAI, till 1 in e<cised it in the other. l should not have written ruck a letter to my ecmmasuling efEcer, on *trice. 11)• lett* Pektllli b Sir 11.. Calder Wm tied read. sad is as u levy, Out Jute. teal. "' KyDear Str.awl thank you Innen for year letter of yes. harder, and an assure you. wits great trurdl, 1 Wa n t, sad do mean. to give you all the support in my ' mou e. {hope you made a good tale to please Jelin Bull, for you had a goad sub feet to write on; and I thiuk you have coiwineed Monsieur Bonaparte, that he always get to sea l , and limns again, WA impunity. Emote haste, arid believe sire, Mast truly, yours, (Sighed) a CHAILASS STIRLING." (On His Majesty's service.) Sir R. Calder, B.rt Question by Sir A. Cahler.—Do you wish the other letter read'-.-I can here no objenion. It will be perfeetly agreeable to •me. The letter which has been read, I did not wet' e on service. The Conn then ordered 'the other letter to be read, whiCh is as follows : Glory, 24th July, 1803 My Dear 54...1 conr;ratulate yea on the capture of the Spaniard:, from a fume ro very superior to that *pissed to it, and I think, if the Mears ships, which at one time showed a dispe d ition tre mippoit t h em , had followed the intention, die consequence might/ furs been ileci.ire. The greet übjeCt I had in view ores r es, rear orgies, by keeping in a erimpact line, whilst the signal for that purpose remained in force, and. therefore, as 1/ Raisenable ...heed with you, my Captain took good care 0.40 nothing ciruld pass between his and this ship. tit, surrender of the Spaniard.. I directed the War oiwr end and assist in taking toemewiton, and afterwards sent tirade: orders to the Thunderer, as there was nu know ing,. (ruin the thickness of the weather, what might other vie be the consequence, if your attention was confined to the •a,,. I likewise ord , red the Egypticitoe, when I got sight of her, to get the prize.' on the Mule tack wan us, and to tow them to leotard ut . sue ships, which "Tiers will, I hope, meet with your approbarion. I know not why there was a se paration in the night. Captain Litisee went, in porosities of his lufstruetions, and reio.ned me Wine the morning. We had only one man kilted and four wounded ; the lorry:aid was grazed, which we have fished; and what was otherwiie was net of ;i a I have g, ple.stire in bearing trartimeny tu the seal of Captain Wrrcu a 41 and feel lunch confidence, from the plod ermitict of the -row .elong.iag to the where my flag i- dying, if our good fortune shuuld -again lead u p /ga ins( 'he rot 01 our ecunty a Relieve me, with great .theme, Dear Sir, year obedient humble arosaar, (Slued) " CHARLES STIRLING." Sit R. Calder, Wart. Admiral Stirling then added--I believe that let ter was sent to the Admiral on the 25th; and I hail the honour to wait on him in the afternoon. by his permission ; and, to the best of my recellenion, that was my reason for not returning an official an. ewer. Ido not remember any other communication with the Admiral, from about midnight of the 22J. By Sir R. Calder—Did I not always place our fleet between the Windsor Castle and the captured ships, while in tow of our ships 1-I'he British fleet was always between them. Was not the English squadron always placed by me between that of the enemy and the port of Fer rol, so long as the enemy con issued us inght I—The British fleet was nearer to Ferrel than the enemy, till they crossed our stern on the 24th. When they crossed our stern, could they have fetched h errol do not think they could, as we had the wind. Court—What distance was Ow British fleet from Rochlort the morning after the anion do not know. The chart will tell can tell the latitude and longitude. On the ionise/ink day, at noon, by the. Master's reckoning, Cape Finistarre, bore S.k. by E. 40 leagues. Henry (paddock, Master of the Gimp examined, What was the distance between the fleet, en the 24th of July 1414, from the Ports of Ferrol 1 and lochfaeltlwwCape Finisterre was then the place ' Croat which we reckoned. It was distant about 99 or 40 Wpm sad the difference between it and Ferrol is triers, see above three leagues. As to 1 Rochfort. I ono *eat widow the chart. Do you know the Thrt of Ferrol /--.Yes, by look- iog into the .meth of the harbour, and having a plan of the harbour. Can an .newsy'. fleet Come out of that port with the wind at North, or with *ay wind you had be tween the time of the anion and 8 p..e. of the 24th --I am not positive how the wind blew during the whole of that time. They could not, however, corn* out with a wind at N.N.W. end I can hardly suppose they could with a wind at North. Sir R. Calder being asked. whether he had any questions to put to this witness ? aoswered, " I can. nut ask any question of that Gentleman." He was, however. called back. and desired to examine his lug-book, when he stated, that it appeared from the log, that, on the' 4th, from eight a. M. to eight p. w. nuclei tan*. the wind was titan N.N.C. to N.E. Could an enemy's ship have come out of Ferrol with the wind at N.N.E. or at N.E. ?—At N.L. it eornq out ; hut, to the best of my judgment. it would be atteialed with considerable difficulty to come out with the wind at N N.E. Rear-Admiral George Martin, late Captain of the Befifter, being required, as admiral Stirling had been, to state ;he relative situation' of the two fleets, and the occurrences v hick took.place after the battle of the 22d, an:: to the time that they lost sight of the enemy's Reet ; &aid, that not having made any minute relative to the lawiness, and not expedieg to be called before a Court Martial, he did not teel hirnsch prepared to enter into a narra tive of the faits, or to answer question. He left tile Bac/leis, in a bad state of health, and not having since seen his log-book, he did not feel his mind equal, considering the regard which he must natu rally at the time have bestowed on his own s hip, at :his distance of time, to state the occurrences of twenty-ft t.r hours. He should, however, he ready, according to the best of Lis recolleftiJn and judg ment, to answer ar.y specific questions which might be put to him. lie was then asked. Was a signal made f:crn the Vice-Admiral's ship, en the morning of the 23d, and at what hour, to know what ships had occasion to lie-to to refit 1-• A signal was made generally. early in the morning; bet I cannot say what the returns were. %Vhat answer was made from your ship ?—I answered in the negative. We did nut require to lie-to. What was the relative situation of the two fleets on Tuesday the 23d, at day-break?--Theli t/our, Hero, riamph, and. I think, the Agamemnon, were al,out live miles to-the leeward, and nearly as much. or between four and tile miles to the windward or ourou-o fleet, neatly midway between the two. How was ;he wini at that time ? I he wind was from W. to W.N.W. What course were the fleets that steering ?—The .on fleets wLie then steering on larlogard tack ; .uur &Olin somewhat dispel-41J. rht 17.iinderte and ,• • • Made ar 444474 with thC out of and were not seen by us till eight o'clock in the morning. Did the British fleet alter their courk by sailing with the wind, more to leeward, and thereby in crease their distance from the enemy ?—On a signal being made by one of the ships, for the Metre, Than direr, and prizes to leeward. the British fleet bore up to close with them. Considering the wind, and the relative situation of the two dens, during the 23d of Jnly, could the British fleet have neared the enemy, and renewed the engagement?--The enemy being rather abaft the beam, the British fleet naturally would have neared them, had they tacked ; but whether they could have renewed the engagement, must have depended in a great measure on the enemy, they being to windward. Did the Vice-Admiral shew any disposition to re new the a&ion on the 2Jd ?—No. Were the lights of the enemy's fleets seen at any time during the night between Tuesday, the 2id, end the morning of the 24th t—ln the early part of the evening they were seen ; but, before I went to bed, I cannot say : they were not reported to MC as such. Sir R. Calder said, he should save the Court a great deal of trouble. on the head of his having, or not having, evinced a disposition to renew the engage ment on the 23d. He accordingly gave in an ad mission to the following effed :—" I admit that I did not shew any such disposition, except by haul ing my wind, when the enemy bore down, as by do ing so, I must have separated myself from the crip pled ships and prizes." Question to Admiral Martin—At day-light, on Wednesday the ''24th, what were the relative situa tions of the two fleets, and how was the wiud wind was very moderate, nearly a calm. At seven or eight o'clock, a breeze sprang up from N. by E. which bronght the enemy neatly tight a-stern. At that time there was a considerable distance, the whole of the fleet not kiting in sight from the deck. Did the enemy at any time of tie morning of the 24th, and at what time, hear away to the southward and eastward ?—1 cannot say at what hour they bore away. Their head WAS to the S. E., and thy did not appear close to the wind. • Could the British fleet have punned them on that day with the prospect of advantage ?—Every ship but the Windsor Castle appeared to me to be in a condition to pursue the enemy. I speak, however, only from appearances, not having an opportunity of knowing what they suffered. DA the Vice-Admiral, any time on the day of the 'pith, spew a disposition to renew the action ? Sir Hebert Calder—My wish being, as I have al ready said, 10 save the Court every possible trouble, I bete also admit that I did not show any such dis position, and for reasons which I shall hereafter state. Question to the witness—Did the Vice-Admiral, front your remarks and ohs', vations, do every thing in his power, and that he might have done, from the morning of the 23d, till you lost sight of the enemy, to renew the engagement, and to take and destroy every ship, which it was his duty to engage ? I consider that I have already ebswered this, in my answers to the two former questions, when I say, that the Vice-Admiral never did endeavour to renew the engagement, or to stand towards the ene my, either on the 23:1 or 24th of July. Sir Robert Calder.—And I have admitted that I never did. The Court said, they had some questions to put to the Witness ; but the admissions of the Prisoner rendered their doing so unnecessary. Examined by Sir Robert Calder.—Did the ene my ever chase, or make any attempt to force me to attion, either on the 23J or 21. th ?—The enemy bore up in the afternoon of the23d, as I then thought, for the purpose of renewing the action; but, by their hauling their wind again, as soon as they closed a ith the laewardmost ships, 1 believe, it was only intend ed for that purpose. Did I keep my wind when the enemy bore down? —Yes; I observed you hauled to the Wiwi when the earmy was coming down. Was there not a heavy sea, and so little wind, on the morning of the '24th, that I made a signal to keep the ships in open order ?—1 have already said them was little wind, and I do recoiled of the sig nal to keep open order being made. Could I have pursued the enemy on the 24th, without separating the rest of the sqliadrun from the Windsor Cattle and prizes, and front the frigates which had them in tow ?--Certainly tun, without separating from the prizes ; and not, under a press of sail, without separating from the Inadsor Castle. Did I not always place our squadron between the enemy, and the Windsor Castle and captured ships, when in tow of our ships?.--It appeared to me to be the intention of Sir Robert Calder, from the time of the action, to keep company with them till they separated by signal. Was not the British Squadron always placed by me between the enemy and the port of Ferrol, so long as the enemy remained in sight ?---We certainly were between them, whether the particular position was taken for that purpose or not. Mr. Bicknell, who assisted Mr. Greatham, the Deputy Judge Advocate, in the cnnduding of the prosecution, here remarked, that Sir R. Calder har ing admitted, that all the ships but the litindsor Castle were in a condition to renew the it he had thought fit, he (Mr. Bickneli) thought his task was at an end. Sir Robert Calder said, he had made no such admission. He did indeed admit that the Wiadsor Caine was the only ship that did make a return to that effed. Mr. Bicknell said, be thought that admission pretty equivalent. Captain William Charles Durham, of the De fence, was then called. Were you ordered to reconnoitre the enemy's fleet on the 24th of July, and at what chile ? About six or seven in the morning. Did you, at any time that day, make a signal to the Vice-Admiral, to know if you should %till keep the enemy in sight, and at what sure ? —I did, after four, or between five and six o'clock that evening. Were you to windward of the enemy at that time ?--Yes. Court—When you last saw the enemy's nett, • under what sail were they standing, and what course mete they *Reefing ?---They were under their top• Did the Vice-Admiral make any signal. *my disposition to endeavner to renew the ; that day ?—I have berme stated. that it ; to me that the Admiral's objet was is ht pang with the crippled ships on that day, a; no other signal indicative if an intention the contest, after he stilted 'lathes' gay of wanted to ? Did the Vice-Admiral_ *le any step to British fleet to bear up aft* the enemy on tl —The British Beet conti n ued standing , f ettensy, front the time haye befere.nsenuoi Could the British ha; have pursued th with advantase nn the Roth. they stearin S. and by S. and the wind Wing N. and b do not *sow any *idioms the British lowing the enemy, if the Admiral had ..... i i Nils, top-gallant, aced fate-saas, in g s ee.iag 8. K and ►y S. How did the British fleet then bear from the ene my ?—The enemy bore !shout S. S. W, of me, and the Admiral, I believe, nearly N. or N. E. and by E. t I or 12 miles. At the time you returned to the British fleet, un-. der what sails were they standing, and what course I were they steering?—They were steering by the) wind on the larbcrard tack, I should think about S., E. and by E. close by the wind, under top-sails alicli fore-sails, What distance were you, at that time, from Fer-i rol, by your reckoning ?—When I made the signal,, .. Shall I keep sight of the enemy ?" we were l 2 miles from Ferrol, as near as we could reckon. Do yon recoiled the bearing rr►Ferrol at that time? —lt I recolleet well, about S.C. by the compass, When you returned to the fleet, do you roe what ships of the British fleet appeared to you to n a disabled state ?—The IViiei4er Cagle had no fore-top-mast up. Nu other ships appeared to me to want any thing. What ships were towing the prizes at that time! —1 think the 142,pti,ime r and Sirirl frigates Sir It. Calder being asked whether he hs.l am questions to ptit to the Wit Less ? said, I beg inform the Court, that I can have no que.sti..n.s ask of Capt. Durl.•am it is impossible. - Captain Henry Inman, of the Trimaak—\V. lc you, at any time, on the 2U or ttitb of ordi est by the Vice-Admiral to chase a frigate of enorny, which appeared to he reconnoitering the Bri tish fleet ?—l'es. Vu the morning of the be tween nine and ten o'clock, a signal was made to me to tack and chase a French frigate, then rival noitei ing about three or tour miles distant, on our weather-quarter. What motions did you observe of the enemy's fleet ?—They were about three or four miles limber oit i.or weather-beam, apparently repair t►eir State to the Court *hat their damage was.—Ono of their ships in the tear appeared to have the head of bet bowsprit gone off, and was apparently in tow of another. A second had her Inre-yard downs and her top fore-gallant-mast. A third, cue cf her sail-yards dawn, and three or four ships Were shifting their top-sails timing the time I lay there. WAS the situation you have described, reported to the Vice-Admiral ? It was not required ; and was not stated to him rill two or three, or, probably, four or five days afterwards. Was any signal made by the Vice-Admiral to know the situation of the enemy's fleet ?—No. Sir It. Calder being asked whether he had any quetions to put to this Witness? said, if it were not from his desire not to detain the Court, he bad a good many questions to put to him. The Court replied, that both their inclination end duty called on them to hear every question which Sir It. Calder thought could at all operate in Isis defence. Sir R. Calder then asked the Witness—Was your ship in danger of carrying away her masts, ou the 301. when I made you a signal to chase the frigate, then reconnoitering ?—Yes ; and I very meth WOW der the main-mast did not go. The bowsprit, also. was very badly wrn. ; and the Lore-mast had sprung, though it ha,. ..sen Did you report this to me when you came on board the Prince v . ; 1 ',Ad yo:, con s . few days Ater. Were you not obliged to leave Aikisital Stirling afterwards, and go into port ?-,..:hree carpenters reported the main-mast to he mo bad to catty a top mast, on which Admiral li*.;rling ordered me isto port, wliere the forfeluast, asain•nsast, and bow sprit, were shiltc., Was not Itritish Fleet kept between the enemy and Vert fai, so long as the enemy rethained in sight? —N es. Court--Did you make the signal of inability, when you were ordered to chase the frigate ?—No ; 1 did not consider it a time to make a signal of dis tress, or inability. Here the evidence for the prosecution was de clared to be finished, and Sir It. Calder was ordered is enter on his defence on the next day (Tuesday ), if he should feel himself sufficiently prepared. On the Tuesday morning, however, when the Court met, Sir K. Calder informed them, that, not having been aware that the use, on the part of the Prosecution, would have terminated so speedily, be had not had time to prepare his defence, in sucks manner as he could wish. lle, therefore, requited their indulgence till next day. The President observed. that the Court was die• posed to grant every indulgence in their power. They would, consequently, adjourn till Wednesday, at ten. Admiral Calder asked whether it were the inten tion of the Court to proceed on Christmas Dly ? Admiral Mont...Tue.—Yes, Ide cettainl) . I sln not feel thAt the service will admit of any delny. . - At the meeting of the Court on Wednesday, Sir ft Calder, addressing the Court, said, '• Mr. President, and Gentlenten of the Court, I twit lea , er to give itt this paper, as my defttnce, and to request, that a friend of mine, conversant in the hand, may be permitted to read it." this the Court very readily attenteri. Mr. Gaselee. as Sir R. Calder's friend, II el read his deience; but, in so rapid a manner, ta viable us to give merely an imperlia sketch ci; its cua tents. The defence stated that he appeared in a sin gular, almost in an unprecedented, situatimi. lie had served his country, not only without reproach. but with honour. and the apptobation °this Sove reign, for 4G years. Sir R. Calder— For 47 years. After having been employed pn an arductus, dif ficult, and important service duti. g the last ten months ; having, at the end of that perioi, cos penes' into action a greatly superior fleet of the ene my, who had, at the same time, the advantage of the wind; and having, under there difficulti:s, gains ed over this enemy, w hat he conceived, in the ctr cumstances of the case, a great and important vie , Wry, he found himself compelled to rcque.t a trial. in consequence of hit not having renewed the en gagement during two days after, in which t ene my remained in sight. Surmises and inimemmansta lions of his condo d on this occasion had gone enisad. to allow which to pass over in silence, would have been constlued into a colas:Wu/mess of guilt. He