The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-20 00:00:00

ANECDOTE OF LORD VISCOUNT DUNCAN.

From the commencement of the late war to the
period Which terminated the honourable life of this
distinguished Officer, the Public have been in pos-
session of the general outlines of those brilliant ser-
vices which, under his Lordship's auspices, in glo-
riously exalted the British Aag. When great men
elevate themselves in the ranks of society, by devot-
ing their abilities to the service of their country, the
collateral circumstances of such splendid aetions be-
corise objeils of curious enquiry. Lord Duncan's
uniform conduCl was meritorious: as a Commander,
he was universally admired for conrage and profits.
sional knowledge, and his humane regard for the
interests of seamen still lives in the memory of the
brave tars who so long weathered rude gales with
him, in the North seas. It is to that service the
following anecdote relates, it will at once shew the
gallant mud and ardent wish of the Noble Admiral
to fight the enemies of his country. Atter remain-
ing at his station off the Texei in :he resieraldr, with
two frig rtes, during the mutiny, and keeping the
Dutch fleet from patting to sea by his excellent ma-
nusuvres, he was at last relieved from the painful
situation which the degrading behaviour of British
seamen had placed him in, by the artiste' of a squa-
dron from tipithead; the tats of which had returned
to a sense of duty, and, desirous of obliterating their
past condua, weir anxious to meet the enemy, that
they might by courage and subordination make
atonement to their country. With tl.is reinforce
meet, composed of the Aimee, Permilablt, Sacs-
Pared, Cater, Triumph, Rived, sod two other ships,
the gallant Admiral was etia'aled to meet the 'dutch
fleet, w:. icn, by the bye, had only been deterred from
coming out, by their ignorance of our real force ;
he consequently felt no uneasiness at the event of
their movenielos, and was only anxious to bring
them to :talon. Slynheer, however, proceeded with
caution, and used evet y stratagem to gain informa-
tion of the state of the British' squadron, and the
disposition of the sea.mn, before he frit med a reso-
lution of getting u ider way. Various were the
means used to accomplish their designs, and among
others, the followieq.
A schooner came out of the Tcxel one morning,
when the squadrtra were standing in for the land,
with a flag of truce at her niast-bead. She had been
sent out as a spy, and her crew were Dutch officers,
disguised in •:ti::•rs' ja. kets and trousers. Haying
approached the advanced ships, she was examined
by the Tr.timph, and by that snip consfueted to the
Admiral on board the Veeeraift. 'I he person who
'appeate i to be •kippos of the .chooser complained
that an Enl-lish had, a few Says previous, struck
on a sand ha ik to the eastward of the l'exel, in con-
sequence of which she made a signal for a pilot,
and was assisted by one, who went on board, and
,'ter having got her off, the Captain of the brig un-
generously refused to send him a -hore again, but
carried him to sea. This was the subjed of their
application, .I;,:futlien was required by having
the plot so at on shore, as the detention of him
might operate against any hunt one assistance which
I 'wild) vessels might in future require when
stranded r driven on the Dotch coast.
The dmiral having aten led to The nature of their
request, very politely co:tdua.il Ise n in to the stern
gallery of the V, „re hie, whole, well ksowing th it
only (shied was to i..spes the .quatimn, be pre-
seine !,is spy--;lass to the Worn, and, by an in.
terpre.er, desired him to exarriine the F:nosi
observing, is She is a three-decker, mounting ninety -
eigtn gum,; she cart ins sev, n hundred men ; and it
your Admiral requires s itisfaaion, she will give it '
hint." He torn dew ibed the art sof the other
heavy shi.ss in the squadron, and having in a face-
tious m inner given a variety of information, or-
dered the Dutchmen into their schooner, giving
them to understand vat the Dutch Admiral might
rely upon receiving sistislaaiou, if he would bring
out his fleet and demand it.
The schooner's crew, however, conceiving they
were at liberty to make what further observations
they pleased, dropped anchor several leagues off the
Texel island, in order to watch the motions of tt e
English squadron they did nor, however, remain
long with impunity in that situation, for the Noble
Admiral sent an officer on board to acquaint their,
that if they did not immediately hoist up their an.
char and return to the :Theft, he wou'd hang them
at their yard-arm as spies ; this threat had the de-
sired diet% the Dutchmen went in, and no doubt
imparted unwelcome inrellieence, namely, that the
nonce Admiral was ready to meet them, his men
were subordinate, that disaffeaion had ceuteJ, and
they had nothing to retied from the squadron but
the courage and intrepidity they had been accuse
tossed to dread, and which in the moments of glory
distinguished British seamen.
Numberless are the instances of the greatness of
his Lordship's mind, the whole of which cannot add
additional lustre to a charaaer established on the
basis of howeir and benevolence.
His memory is revered by all who knew him, and
:he sons of the ocean, who so oft experienced his
humanity, will remember him as long as easy live.

Dispatches were sent, on Fr:day. from ford C sm-
nt.'s OrEce. to Portsmouth, to be forwanled by the
Hsi!, a frigze, to Sir A LESANDER BALL, at Malsta
We learn from the coast, that the severe gale of
Thursday night obliged the greater part of our
squa Iron to return to Dungsness,-trom Boulogne.
The most positive ordct s are is.iied to the several
Officers commanding the ships the River, to use
their utmost eserti •ns in equipping them for sea,
and proceeding to the Nore a '.hoot loss of rime.
Friday night a tendrr full of im pressed seamen was
sent from the Enirrprise. off the Tower, to the
Nore. They have been obtlined from the several
merchant vessels that arrived within the List week in
the River.

A letter from an officer on hoard Ills Majesty's
ship the Scrrire, dated March 15th, says, A few
degrees from Sumatra, we took a French privateer
mounting 20 guns. She was looking after our
Indiamen on the morning we saw her. The AMiros
was with us; she supposing us to be Indiamen bore
down upon us ; but whet she came almost within
gunshot, and found we were two num of war, sit,.
made sail. We gave chace, and in f air hours came
up with her ; she stood eightv.six shot before she
struck ; Wit from the Isle of FIALh.e, which place
abbe left ion the Bth of January."

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSAOUTR, ftua. 17.

Sailed the Liberty stoop of war, on a cruise.
His MAjesty's ship 4lesuene has made a signal for
the N. Westward ;an His .lklz..iesty's ship Duquesne
for the Downs ; and hare received orders to sail to-
morrow. •
Went out of harhour, the 'faint cartel, botind
to the Downs for orders. Wind S.W. blows fresh.

"PLYMOUTH, AUGUST

Arrived the Barde,ar racket of and from Phila-
delphia, for. Bordeaux, detained by the Rosario sloop
of war.
Came in the Tapase frigate. Majestic and Mars,
men of war, from a cruise.
Sailed the Prince George, man of war, on a cruise.
Wind S. W. _

FALMOUTH, •VOLIST 15.

Arrived this day, the Nancy, cutter, Captain
M'l.Mnald, from Portsmouth. to coiled the ships
bound to Lisbon and Gibraltar, the convoy may be
shortly eapeded; also the Ranger, Saunders, for
Cork.
. Put back, last night, by contrary wind, the
Towsibend, Dodd. with mails for Lisbon; and
queen Charlett, Mudge, ditto for America; the
Lbrat•rficld packet, which sailed same day, has kept
at sea. • _ _ _

Sailed the American vessels, Flinn'', Phillips, for
Spain ; and Swam, Bryant, for London ; also L.,k,
laylnr, for Waterford.
Remain in Carrick loads Ili, Majesty's ship
Orphews, and Rang,r sloop of war, w:th the outward
bound vessels fur Quebec and
DCAL, AIeaUST 17.

11th morning came down from the Riv-r, the
Haddart outward-hound East.lndiaaran ; also La
&eat frigate from Sheerness.
Arrived the Ardent man of war, and Zrpb'r sloop
of war, from a cruise; and remain in the Downs
with His Majesty's ships, the armed defence ships,
and transports, as per last, and a large fleet of out-
ward bound vessels.

9AIIYOOTN, AVGIVST 17.
Yesterday afternoon a convoy pas,ed hf•re for the
Baltic. And were joined by the following shipt
4, Fr,,unko, .or 9Antaic ; liammm4, Dingle, for
Elsioeur ; Remota, best, for Riga; Nymph, Warr-n,
for El.ineur ; Maar, Brown; and Memel, Brown,
or Mem:l ; Bit awe, Gardiner, for Christiania.

Y•RMOUTti ItuADI.

Arrived this morning, from the fl:et, the Rege-
Ills and Jamaica frigates; Deft, Rd!, Slnrlrwg, aid
3L,llord brig ; remain with the itlemmouth, the Asses
al frigate; Afi,ts gun-brig ; Stag and Betsy cu.tt,
A large ve''el is now in the obi ig, with the lois
of main mid mizen masts; but caunot yet learn
paticulars.—Wind W.N.W.

'MICE. OF 5T.4:11‘5,
114/T1111,4T•

S per C•rit. Reduced ... 471,1
a per C. 114. Cum S7I 6,

a I,e‘ C.nt Con •.. 7;1

per et..a. Navy.

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- . . .
a pee Cent Loyalty
1 ~‘ A..euitie. ... 17 b iff
__

Sheri Di•t"
_ 11-161

o:1,111.11111.

ji” pn•m.

E .c Lot Tickets. 171 184,

C. 41,44 for 373
T. B.SH, St.ck-Fllnker,
4, Contitill, avid 9. Charing Crew.

Faseay. Atlat'ST 17.

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Napa 3Bl
Le.bon
Op,rt•
Oubl,n l3

priao-u. I. I. it.
Pwitagal 60141 in Coin
;,er OZ
0 0
In 12.1,4 .
1 %evr Dollani
Silver in Karr
1
•.nNew Lnui. wit 0 0 0
Asia the guilt raf Hellann
41 per Cent.
b` 11111;
I) • 5 51
_ _ . ... .

Ii .. . 7 71 61 dais.