The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-08-01 00:00:00

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directedon them, they had no place to retreat. to,
and their only safety remained in the destruction
`Otf the enemy's ships, and in silencing the batteries
from the Isle d'Aix, which 11111 sure it would have
been iippossibte for them to accompliah.
Q. Did you know guy thing of the Caketta
striking ?—A. Yea; she had not struck when I
was on board the Insperieuse; and the Aisle, Unicorn.
and Emerald, had anchored and fired on her; one of
her shot struck a boat usteru of the Inoperiesse af-
ter they had anchored and fired ; the Indefiitegatik
had not anchored when I left the Inoperiease.
Q. Were the ships mud vessels sent in to attack
the enemy as soon as it could have been done with
propriety, considering the state of the wind and
tide?—A. They were, w my opinion.
Q. From the first attack made on the enemy's
ships, to the final cessation of hostilities against
them, was every thing done that could be done to
effect their destruction ?—A. Every thing was done
that could be (tone to effect the destruction of the
enemy's ships.
Captain BLUM called in and sworn.
Q. Do you recollect the situation of the enemy's
fleet, on the inorniug of the teth of April, at day-
light ?—A. I do ; I think it was represented in
tYadehart of Mr. Stokes, now before the Court.
Q. Do you recollect the telegraph signal being
bade from the Inoperiesse, on the morning of
that day ?—A. I do.
Q. Whit was.that signal P....A. I think that half
the fleet cared destroy the enema's ships.
Q. At what dalliance was the Imperieuse from the
enemy. and from the Caledonia, wiles) they made
that signal ?—A. The Caledonia wits about six
miler, from Isle d'Aix, and the Imperiensc about
half way, shout three miles.
Q. Had I sent in line of battle ships that day to
Aix Roads, early in the morning, or soon after,
Were any of the enemy's ships in a situation to have
caudated them to rake or annoy our ships as they
advanced Two of them were lying with their
broadsides towards the entrance, and would have
considerably annoyed any ships sent against them.
Q. Were any of the enemy's ships that were.
aground capable of annoying our ships ?—A. Early •
in the morning they lay with their broadsides to-
wards the entrance, and I think they were capable
of annoying the ships.
Q. What number of gains were there on the bat-
teries of Aix \Viten at anchor iii Aix
Roads. I counted fifty; there might have been more;
but lam certain there were not IcSi.
Q. Did the enemy throw shells from the Island ?
A: They Did.
Q. Can you speak at on of the number of mor-
tars they hail ?—.I. No, I cannot.
Q. If any of mar line of battle ships, advancing
under the circumstances just stated, had become
crippled, could they have returned that day before
night; or what would Inure bean the consequences?
—A. I do not think, under all the eireunietailers,
that if the liiir-ofebattle ships had been sent in,
they ever, would have returued ; I think it would
huve been sending them to irretrievable destruc-
tion.
Q. When I sent you into Six Road', what were
the orders, iu the afternoon of the t2th, I gave
you ? were they *discretionary or tint ?—A. To use
lay iitinnst endeavours to destroy the enemy's ships;
I considered them discretionary, in the same mea-
sure, as the sole responsibility rested eat the Cap-
tain ; the Pilot leaving refused to take the ship in.
Q. Do you recollect what time I gave you the
orders?—A. Tile first order I received from the
Commander-in-Chin, was at eight o'clock in the
morning, to anchor near the Boyart Shoal, and with-
in the range of shell of the Isle d'Aix. The second
order I received was at two o'clock iu thaafternoon,
to proceed in.
Relate to the Court your proceeding in Aix
Roads, instil your return to Basque Rowds.-•••
Ahout half-past two I weighed anchor; I went
in, sat company with the Revenge. to the attack of
the enemy's ships ; our frigates were lying in
close line, about N. and by W. to S. and by E.
rather a tooted line; I anchored to the southward
of them. close to the Indefatigable. and a little
after three we commenced our fire on the Cakatta,
when shortly after I observed her crew abandosaing
her, leaving her colours flying. We than directed
our fire to the "salon, Vilk de Vareovie, and
Thonere, as we emild get our broadside to bear on
them. The Ville de Varsock's crew partly left her.
and I think she was taken possession of by the
Unkera's boat. The ,igsri/oullives the only ship
that struck her colours, and the Tosonere, at five
o'clock, was left by her crew, who set her
on lire. As the title fell, the Revenge grounded ;
but by the exertions of Captain Kerr she was soon
got off, and went between the Boyart and Pallas;
the frigates all followed her, except the loperiewsr,
which din) grounded ; at six that evening, m moor-
ing the Vs/idiot, she grounded oil a shoat, and re-
mained until 11 o'cloCk that night ; the tide rase
red she gut uff. Atlow water, there were 17 It. water
alongside her.Tbere were four fire-ships prepared by
order of the Commander-in-Chief, and sent an arter-
wa rd. ; two to have gone against the Foadroyant, un-
r tioe orders of t7aid. Seymour, nod two against the
Ocean, a three-decked ship; it was half past eleven
o'eloek before they were completely ready, wh:oi
the wind being laQliug, and at times blowing di-
rectly out, I applied to Admiral Stoptord, for some
gun-brigs to cover the retreat of our boats, the cue-
nay's boats heilig moored in twolioes across the stern
alio; Mears, with boats in advance. As the oho(
emit dto blow directly out until four o'cloik
sat the morning, I judged the attempt to be sin-
praeti• able, and therefore ordered the fire-ships to
move to where the looperieuse was lyine, and
hillow the threetimis of Lord Cochrane. At half
post three o'cicek, the prisoners being arrived
teen the AptiAnt end Ville de l'arsneie, and the
touter out that time sip to their orlop decks, I or-
al, reit them to be set on fire, and at day-light I
weighed, in obedieme to a signal from Admiral
Stophird, and pruee(deil to Basque Roads.
Q. Was not the Vasfrant, and were not some of
I lir mkt r ships that were aground, in a very perilous
sit iiation ?—A. The Valiant was in a very perilous
eitustion ; and nothing hut the wind shifting. and
blowing directly mit, saved her from lacing wrecked.
State the Enemy's ships that were destroy-
ed, as well as those rendered iiiifit for service.—
There wet, four of the French ships destroyed. I
think the others must have been considerably da-
m aged, excepting two, from being on shore.

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