The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-10-14 00:00:00

ACTION IN THE Diane.

The fullowin; is the Re:sine Aceniii.l of the late Naval Ac-
tion iu the Balite, betoceu the Russian squalons of Eng-
laoJ anti Sweden.

ST. ITTEMIIII/11611, IMPT. 7.
(From the Court Gazette.)
On the 9th of August, (O. S.) Admiral Cita-
nykow sailed from flusiguthl, with his squadron,
consisting of • sail of the fine and nine frigates,
and steered fur Jougevrove Sound, to reconnoitre
the strength and position of the enemy, mid to net
according to circumstance*. He discovered the
enemy's tleet, consisting of In ships and frigates,
iu Joagevrove, at anchor in the Scheeren. Ad-
miral Ctianylow cruised there with his squadron
until the 131i1, when he learned from his advanced
friAut,”: that the enemy were weighing anchor. The
Admiral immediately detached a sloop of war to
observe the motions of the enemy, placed himself
in order of bottle, made sail to the east to prevent
his beiut cut off from his ports, where it was his isi-
tention to cumu►euce a general engagement.—
In the afternoon sit the same day they were perceiv-
ed from the mast head the enemy's sqnstlron, rein-
forced by two English ships, in chase of our fleet.
The neat morning Admiral Chunykow deteruviued
to attack the enemy, and kept tacking during this
night to gain the wind of the enemy. At day-
break the enemy's tleet, consisting or 13 sail of the
line, and five large frigates, were went* leewsvd.—
Among them were two English ships, one a three-
sleeker, carrying a Hear-Admiral's flag. and the
other a two-decker of the largest vise. 'fht re was
also a three-decker among the Swedish ships. Tile
van of the enemy, led by the English ships, was
then close sip with our rear, and at five o'clock in
the nion.ing the Stun English ships attacked suc-
cessively the Wsetru/sd, the last ship of our rear,
%%Inch had fallen to leeward.

" Admiral Chauykow ineneiliately bore down
with the whole of his squadron. The English,
afraid of being cut oil, instantly tucked, and the
Swedes did the ohne. Captain Itudnea, of the
iUseasolird, was the tired to open his tire u;sin the
enemy, and vigorously repulsed their ittrek io the
view of the two fleets, but suffered iniiiih iu his rig-
giurg. His main and top gallant-musts, and the
greinest peat of his rational; rigging, were shot to
pieces ; and he was no longer rife to keep his place
in the line, which he cornakurticated by sigual.—
Admiral Clinaykow, who was an eye-witness to all
this, allowed him to go into Baltic Port, and or-
dered a frigate to take him in tow. In conseqnence
of this, our fleet was a ship less in number than be-
fore the battle began. Besides, the Sercerhaja
Sicestla could not set all her sails, on account of
some sudden damage she had sustained.
" From these causes the enemy was stronger
than we; and Admiral Chanykow made sail for Bud-
tic Port, to prevent the enemy from availhig
hiur-
a:•lf of his superiority. The enemy also knat:e sail
to windward, and the English vessels inaie use of
kill their dexterity to cut off the INerrulotf, which
could not be put in condition, or kept op with our
fleet. To prermt this, Molina ClianyLow threw
out u rigout to the rear to cover this Klap, and to
giS4, her every possible ussistusu e, but having fallen
too fur to leeward, the Wsericaod. pouvithstamistsg
all rase efforts of her Coruknauder, I of the other
Captains of the Divisioa, could not get round the
outdo:fru extremity of the e.lainl or. Hop, and
enter Baltic Port with the rest of the fleet. She
Was, therefore, obliged to come to anchor to the
northward of the :Island, at a short distance Com
• the shore.
to the ikkeiiii-time the Conimander-in-Chief
catered with ull his squudren, untie to anchor, arid
made every preparation necessary for repolsikug the
eueuky; but the latter stood ott with all his Beet.
The first care of the Admiral was to eaideavour to
bring iii the Wsereaoil; aid far this purpose he
collected all the boats, and appointed to ti•la deity
the t!..ecoarl Captains Alinizkos and Tulubjew,
ricers of talents and experierier. At three in the
afternosa they proceeded, u.sit us there was but
little %Md, began to take the vessel is two. The
English. ships 1111 l uedi:oely iu sight of the Svvedisli
bled set all their sails. and ass it was hi-spondee to.
get up our anehor, oil necon..t of the wind, which'
blew iomtly from the north-east, they bore dawn
Oa the Wvermlutt, which Was attacked y one of the
English ships when she was Jost its' the act of
rounding the neck of lamb: and iu the eseniug
she Wai attacked in the aalaa inatmer by the other.•
All the boats wereilispersed by the enemy's broad-
sides, but Captain Minizhoi c!!!;:t:tcui them and re-
turned to the %gumboil.
" There soon cot ttttt rowed a fresh action between
the WseteAvi and the two Eagiirli ships. Captain
Rioulnew ciwouraged his crew, who, for the greater
'Dart, were composed of men taken ftwu the Mi-
litia. His bravery inspired them with courage, and
he receivial the enemy general). kind
The tire of the heavy goals was lireallfUl Oil both
sides; that of the moult arms, which began shortly
after, encreased the horror of the fl. ht ; at every
howl-We, the slaughter bocione greater. The
Cosistatio of the 11'..ereolud, who haul so warmly re-
el ivesl both 11:s intrepid enemies, dial not I.ac his
presence of mind, lint did there very great da-
mage,. supported by the most exemplary efforts of
minor and skill Irma Cipmin Tutit** and the
other Officer% The Waetoofod diskeliargerl her
whole broadside into the atria or one toe cite-
nii's vessels which got alma 'a sand-hack, and
killed a number of her crew ; but having many
shots through her hull, and making a gnat dial
of sister, she began Si.sink.
_ .

" In this stateof distress the Irserrolud hoisted
the few tatters of sails which were left. and renewed
the engagement. She was the.. boarded by ono of
the enemy's ships, and a dreasiful carnage rustled.
The enemy were frequently teiliged to retreat, lint
returned to the charge with increased fury. All
the officers awl crew of the Frreepded rhil their
daty, nud did not spare even to the last drop of their
.blood. 'Elie blau,:liter lasted upwards of an hour,
awl mould have only ceased with the death of the
feu of the combatants, had not the other English
ship approached the iVsezcloce. llnviug come us
dose to her as she could, she gave our rew.cl her
whole broadside, nod completely de:graed her.—
The English then took possession of u vessel shot
through and through, tend filled a tilt Lead. Such
of our people as survived, brio; no Linger in a con-
dition to mist the enemy, ju:nped erbo-rd. to
at sad being takes prisoners, and .;ii of theta by these