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

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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
occasion., 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. When 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

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