The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-04-24 00:00:00

Aduthetir ()jrut, April V 3, 1401.

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Copy of a Letter fr-ses Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mathell,
K R. Commander Chian, His Majesty'. shins and Ves-
sels at Halifax, to Witham Mandell, Esq. dated a:intuits,

84th of March, 140).
SIK-1 have the honnier to enclose, for the information of
thee Lange Conimiseion.rt of the Admiralty, three I.dters rtla-
ties to the eaptote of Ili. Matesty's ship Cleopatra, on the 17th
of Febtnary last, be the trench frigate IA Vile de Milan,
after a very severe action.
Then Lordinti;el will with pleasure observe how fortunate the
Leander h. s been in falling in with ,hips. taking La Ville
de Milan, aid smoking the Cleopatra.
No language of mine can do ;elk-tent justice to the perm-
veraace in the clime, end gallnit condors of Sir Robert Lorre,
Haat. his officers and young ship's company, the action with
the enemy, which will ever rufiert the highest honour on
them, when their Loidthipa cenesder the superiority ail the
Ships and nem
I cannot omit, at the same time, to give 101 l credit to the
seal Shelia by the Leander's shills com:rany, and with what
alacrity and anxious wish (Captain Talbot reports to me they
chewed to engage both the frigatet, then in the Haze, and under
French colours, when the Leander bore it to ptice he,self be-
tween them to bring them to action : from the high opinion I
have of the officers' sail the uniform good and steady condoet
and discipline of the mein, I trust they would have given a good
account of them.
The Cle pane tided Hades the 11th instsnt, under the
charge of Caoistn Sir Robert Lawrie, for the purpose of being
vale-t 1 and refittoil as soon as prewar le
La Vilte de Milan I shall take to Hobbit with the melodeon
She ts a very fine frigate, of the large* class, oily one year old
the slain( the WWII, and mmtpietelv fit for His Ntietty'a ser-
vice in every respect, except the damage she rezeited vs her

Leander. Ag sail chace, and in about an hour's
tine cot alongside the French frigate; she hauled down her
enhours, and struck to us without a gun being bred on either
side.
haling the French frigate, you, Sir, may easily judge
how loapry I most hare felt, on hearing I was answered by my
(Fiend Sir Rote rt Lawrie, who told me he was well, and that
the shin was La Ville de Milan, nineteen days from the island
of Mar.olique, bound tot lame.
La Ville de :Selnaii in a remarkable fine and handsaw frigate,
about one year old, one thousand two hundred tons burtilen,
mounting 14 long nincepouin'sra on her quarter deck, six long
ninemonsidera on the inovisetle, fifteen mots of a side on the
ciain deck; when she sailed Rom France, had 28 lt.prounders
mount,d sea i.—itow 4g ; two were Landed Gum her at Mar-
tinique.
When the aline commenced between La Ville de Milan
and 111. Majesty's ship • •, she was commaialed by
Morisieur Reynaud, C.apitainede Vaoseau, had cm board 3411
inc-i as lief coiuple besides a number of Officers and oil
die,s of the French area., going passengers to Ronnie.
Tha Officers of I.a Ville de Milan agree in saving, that
having disaatches no booed fir France. tooth orders not to
',teak any thing during dui, peso!, every thing was done in
their power to avcol hair's brooglit to action by me Cleopatra
Monsieur Res:to:out was sidled to toe tension fired Goon the
Co -.pasta ; ha was mtemeed au eis terrier:eel and atone Officer,
mad -cad s •ived in the I .ielKiar tto Fraoce's service, as an sear
is y ()Meat% lie sailed in La Ville de Milan Grim L'Oroent,
the Ist of last Augu.ti a. Cosimoolore of si-c of their largest
frigates, w.th troops embarked on board them, to be landed
sal the Maud of Martiniqut ; after having pe..rtormal this icr
wee, he WO altered, as the Franck Oaromr, express k, to make
a iwiem through the islarida.
klonaienr Caintaii • de Fregate, and Second Captain
of La Ville de. Milan, coromand-ei wh-n she struck to us, and
Mini, car C orron, Ler Second Lieute..ant, had the command
of the Cleopatra.
It is not possible for Office,, In speak in stringer terms than
the French Officer. do in ',mine of Sir Robert Lawrie's perse-
veranze in so Irma a chace, except it is in the praise they be.
stow on him, his Officers. seamen, and marines, for their gal-
, lant conduct during m long mot -eulogy an action.
It is a grey painful put of inv door to be obliged to inform
you, Sir, that your eldest son, who was rt.iint duty as an act
ing Limiteuaid, is Ancludett among the number badly woun led
om bard the C eupatra: as soon as the weather admitted of his
being removed, I had him brooght nii board ibis ship, an-I I
have great pleasure in telling you he is much recovered • and
from the experience, great can, and attention, of Mr. Clifford.
Surgeon of the bearoder, I have every reason to believe that
you will, in a short space or time, have the satialution of find-
ing him onoc mote gallantly exerting himself for the honour,
and in the defeace of his Kole and country. Sir Rob,•rt Law-
rie speaks in the highest terms of his conduct. and, indeeal, of
that of all the Officers, seamen, and marines, of His Majera!'s
ship Cleopatra.
Sir Robert has, at my request, b.,en so kind as to take
charge of the Cleopatra till she arrives in pot. I hare given
Mr Melrose, Fir.t Lieutenant of Ho Majestr's ship Leander,
charge of La Ville de MPan ; the length of time he 1144 had
the honour to serve under your flag, would make it superfLous
in me to attempt to point nut to ynu, S;r, his meritoriomi see
vices and abilities as an (Man; the only comment I can make
on his conduct on the occasion is, that nothing use exceed
the exertion,, ha has made an putting La Ville de Milan in a
semwoutliy state.
The alacrity of the Office's, seamen, and marines, of His
Majesty's ahip under my command during the cli.ce, and thee
steadiness en smog down to attack the two frigates, who had
closed, in appearaiice with a deormination to make a for
writable resistance, coovinced me, Sir, that, had they wailed
is make me resistance they seemed disposed to aloe, this Lean-
der would not have saltiest her good name.
l have the honour to be, Sc.
JOHN TALIA)f, Post Captain.
To Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, L.S. Jrc.
His Majesty's Ship Leander, Murray's Anchorage,
SIR, Bermuda, Marah IRON.
I lo ive the honour to mod you maned a letter I this day re-
ceived from Sir Robert Lawrie, Bart. From the statement
mule theron, you will find, Sir, that the credit of the Britian
hag has seldom been more honourably and gallantly supported
than on the prevent occrion; and the French Officers, whons
I have prisoners on board this ship. caninit Memo:lves avoid to
ackiinwledge, that had nut the Cleopatra witortunately forge I
a-head of La Ville de Milan the latter part of the action, La
Ville de Milan Nest have surrendered to the Cleopatra.
I have the humour to be, ac.
TALSOT.
Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell, K.R. arc.
His Majesty's Ship Cleopatra, at Sea,
SIR, February 2a, 1805.
I have to request that you will be pleased to acquaint the
Commander on Chief, that on Saturday the 16th instant,
tat 24 deg N lime 67 des. W. at ten a. ay. saw a ship in the
S.E. standing to the E.N.E. the woad at N.W.; made sail to-
wards her ; at cloven perceived the cliace to be a large frigate,
with fifteen marmot a side on the main deck ; cleared shop for
ACCRA, and heisted American colours to induce him to bring
to (or us ; but, no red of r lii. h, he made more sad; the wea-
ther squally; made and shorter/el sail occasionally; carried
away several atudoliog sad yard., and the foretop-mast mudding
sail boom, shifted wet the starbnard one, and set the reefed
lower studding ; a good deal of sward; the share apparently
Steering so as to keep the stiokliiig-sails drawing full ; sad that
bi daylight ten the l',"th, alma four lades • .ical fresh

brae da and wee as Wen. AS ball pest ten he took in his
studding sails, and hauled mote sop; when we g .t with it about
three quarters of a mile took in our. also. At half-pest eleven
lie heeled hi. mainsail up, and kept mote to toe wand; upset
our s-erntig so acne with him upon his quarter, he weak' set
it and staysails, trying to ram the winituf us :epos% which point
of solnig lie the advantage, ;we made all sad, else
having some tins- before hoisted French colour', • id we ours
O. his seeming to draw a head from us, at the distance sad
about half gun shot, tool our bow cliAce.s, which ha vaunted
occasionally from his stern.
Ha guns appearing so well directed, and of heavy metal,
and to prevent being raked by them, 1 Wit obliged to deer at
as to keel on his quarter, though prolonging the ' • Les
titude, at noon, /9 deg 24 min. N [nog. 64 dee. SO. man W.
At halt past two u. a hiring got within, about a table's ,eurta
from the enemy, he hatred close to the wind, and gave es twa
broadsides, which, when at leas then a halt c sides distance, we
returned, and a warm action commenced, be':. ships truntrimg
5..:1., steering sometimes clime to the wind, and at others about
three points free, duties which we hail e.rnsoilenbly the ad-
vantage. Attract five, having shot away has m • moor crude
us forged a head, although the misen-tilioail Iris squared, a d
both j.b, stay, and haulyards tele, firichog neitner 1. we nor
main clue-garnets left to Mau the castors ep, our rionneig rim
giug cut to ,rieces, so as to render it i npossabie to Avow *vow'
or back a sad, and bath 011101 and spring day* Were shat awe. ,
the mainmast only suppswted by the at ".11staysal, stay, I wc.
induced to crews bit bow, and, by hauling up, la have rake;
Mut, ih preferrece to exposing our stern to the fire of twenty-
! bee pieces iif ea .n horn b-h.idside but, in Use Mt
which, an ulifortunate dint struck the wheel, the brirkeu spokes
were jammed against the sleek, so as to rziaiLr it iii 11110,0044,,
as well as the rudder, which, at the some trine, *Ay Alueked
the curl by splinters, Pistils, dec placed near it Our trap..-
neat, av diug l,ttwself tat tsar ungovernable saw:mil, with the
wind upon his intoner, gave et the stem, run ..11.4 Inca lies•! ofd
bowsprit over our quarter sleek, just abaft the main tiggiag,
and, under the cover of a very heavy fire from medic, atel
miisketooos, Attenuated to board iv, but was driven back : we
exchanged a few musketry with them ; bin then great
ulvan-
tags ii. height and sit ierimity of number , a. well is by thin
muskettions from the., tops, cleared out decks, and us at our
ports. The only two guns we could bri gto Keil
from within hoard, did thorn little input., the .'net isassiis/
through their lower ile.k Most of our 1411. Inyieg &-
shiver, or pertly a-back, and bore down by i he.,, •'
snip (having been antendol few a seven's-tour), itaii-g al.
m• st berm,' the wind, arid roach mu rrioniog, aor ening so
e.t us esiinli at evert send, I ow no prre.sesiis of saving this
ship, er the Lae of the no:twr woueded that then were
below, 011 the VI, First Lieuteualit we atte.nrted
to host the fore to;imast staysail ; aol I directed the spritsail
topsail to be set also; but, its the execution of wh rh orsiess,
every man was knocked down by their isiusketiy and other
small shot as they made their aryearaiie s. At a quaff for
past five they succeeded in boarding. and I nit. compel et to
surrender to the Frown frigate l.a V.U.de Won, of fort'-sic
guns. French eighteen-,,ound-irs,ou the man, deck and eight. -
an the quarter deck and forecastle ; three hundred and hay
nevi, besides .ev-rat o±Ceil and uavengers; 'onset inded by
Moneeur eve:, ed, Capitaine de Vain •aux, tn 4 MOlllifUf Gil-
let, Capitaine F•egate; the former was killed, and he lat..,
badly wouode+lio the eerie. and intoioliately aim warts the
Clessions became a perfect wreck, not a spar ',eliding but the
nitwit roast, the bowsprit and other [DANA lb we by the board,
anal I folly expected she would have foundered before bout
ships eivnlii get clear of cacti Other.
I Oust it will be found that !Well excitants WAS made t• bring
a aide of sosoperior fo en inaction, and in manna iiiiii of it.
La Villa de Ndan i. nearly double out ..as and fore. 6.
new gist,, of about tern/ tons bunlien, and honing almost taste
our number of 01,11 on heard, as we out, mu tercel at qu•iters
i lift being to short of compse cent, and shay from the strength
of thcs s'aiisClllllpAlly 11/ able seamen, Slid there weieseveral in
the sick list

Finln Lieutenant Kalfaur I reds..ve ' every assorsoos, as ynnn
a pod and zealous Offsc a. sr. •ons Kinsman and
Crook . arid I.ieut Bowen, of the 13-er••ala, Mb. keirt up a
well 4:re:ted fire from the ton, deck. ~.d Mr. flCtehrell. Oa .
Shipman and `ictiiny Lieutenant, troin the quarter 4.-es, at *latch
Lieutenant A orleton of the Marines assirttel, having nu tow
to spare for small arms, brut was wounded curly.
Thu steady and cool condo or Mr. Bert k the Master) con.
riti.cl what I had always expeOed from huts: t‘r go farther *ll
pirtirularisiog individuate wou d tan too tedious; bull thick it
my duty to mention Mr. M,C.,rtfiy'• (111.• Bees ea h) COO,l, ••
who is had'y wounded, wig Mehly spirited and &dive ; nil
more eallodn and tower, could not Stye b .e., dry, hayed t, an
be both officers and men os ,o souse a strip's company,
tieing under tircnty years of age, and trail three marines, who
hart joined that Cows 11110 C lila!, tar, weeks before they were
einb,rkeJ
I have no hesitation In laving, that had not the above
lucky accident occurred, she must have d•rilcb to us, as the
next mouth.; her forem ea and boirspct were the only masts
stdading, much cur in the hall, and J counted eleven art“t to
the wreck of her main-malt that our illusive la-models cou'id
out do that justice toe from its size, nor the thickness of het
sides, that era so wed intended.
I bee must earnestly to ssAi...:it Sir Andrew Mitchell's pat•on-
age in favour of Messrs. Howes and Ridgeway ( Master's-mates),
as two very meritorious and prienoine young men fumy
minielerdoly more than served their tire, ar d peered for
Lieutenants ; their ccerfeet on this occasi• n, as well as tor
....era, yeses before, with toe, has been ,ouch to my I.Th/-
faction, and, et my lovable opinion, to entitle them to promo-
tion, a. well as for Mr. Balfour, the Pint Lieutenant; a• son,
Sir, mu,t be the hest judge of salt:shoo we have reduce(
the to, so as to render her chance of escape trout
our numerous cruisers almost an absolute inipo.stblity.
I have the honour to &c.
( RUH W RIB.
To Captain John Talbot, His Majesty's ship Leandtr.
A Return of Killed and Wounded onboard Is hile:ests's ship
Cleopatra, in Aaiun with the French Frigate La tole de
Milan.
Kdleil—George Trepan, Wiatssrainis Mate; William Lewis
and Matthew sheer, tlaavt,r Masters; James fLouniond.
Caulker; Dararey (let), Will am !llanne• rg.i'..
dimes Pierce J..aeph Ilyains, Radiant King, Homy Fealty-
son, Henry galena, Briars Hiothal, Jeremiah Mordhy, Jirha
Canon, Willis,', Fade., and Sabday, Seamen ; J.,hn
Pearce, a troy ; Fordettek Miller, tiro ea. t of Marines; Janice
girlie, Ana John Smith, Privates of Martinet.
Since de.d of wounds—William Hull,Cotporal of Mario. a ;
Edwatd Wiley, Private of Marines
Dangerously wounded—M:. Mitchel (Midi! ipman), Asti, g
Lieutenant Mr. Bea, Monet; Mr. M'Ca..by. Beatiwai ;
I Quarter Master i I Cantata's Ciattiltsini 8 *amen I C4'
of Staines ; 4 Pusateri of Martha.
Slightly witund,,l—.Mr Balfour and Mr. Crooke, Li .ute.
pants; Mr Bowen, Lieutenant of Ilia M iie•tc's ship B.f.
muds ; Mr. Appleton, Lieutenant of Marine. ; Mr. Stai.diy,
; 1 Wietswain's Mate; It Seamen.
Taal—:q killed, S since dead of wounds, 18 dangerously
wounded, and II *lightly wounded.
(Signed) ROB. LAWRIE.
Corm of a Letter from Caplan Lanford. Commander of Hie
Majesty', sloop Lark, to William Marsden, Esq. dated Putt
Praya, Islind of St. J go, Febrnary 8, Isos.
SIR—I have the hosioor to inform you, that in conmqvience
of i.dorma• ran of a S, •111141 rne,cliant *charmer beat; at an-
chor off the Bay of Seaelt al, I piurerded immediately on quest
of her, and ha.; the go et fortune to meet with leer at that
anchorage She ',rove. the Spanish schienier the Cann tare,
;ie'reed fur sixteen guns, having fully two no los,rd, laden
ieth wiue, formerly iii pocessom of the French. employed as
• by Victor 110011,1 at thiyerrite, ha. done entsiderable
in: chef to the Worth trade on rind ca.a.t., wad now altendert to
hare been preventtd by the Governor of Seri-gal to tic csr
Metre.. as a farther annoyances° our trade CM this part of the
:out I have the honour Ito
FA for, &r.
LDi.RICK LANGFORD.
•