The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-01 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

VORTINIOUTII, AVM 29.
Sailed the Nerwrii frigate, on a cruise ; and Fal-
rips revenue cutter, with convoy for Guernsey and
Jersey. A ship of war is in the offiag ; but at too
great a distance to be made.
Arrived, the Raver cutter, from a cruise.
Put back, the Brun mark, Drysdale, from London,
for Jamaica, with the loss of her main-mast and
other damage. She sailed from Falmouth, on the
19th inst. under convoy of the Boo!, brig of war,
and parted from her and the Beet on Wednesday
I last, in lat. 46. long. 10.—Wind S. E.

IPLTMOUTti, APRIL 27•
Letters just arrived here, of as late a date as the
23d inst. from the in-shore squadron, off the Black
Rocks, brought by the Conqurrer, of 74 guns, Capt.
now Rear. Admiral, Louis, state that Rear-Admiral Sir
Thomas Graves had shifted his flag from the Aurora,
of 36 guns, to the VelumLir, of 74, Capt. Ihcres, as
Commander of the in-shore squadron, via. /ream/tie,
of 74 guns, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Graves; Impe-
tutu:, of Fit, Capt. T. B. Martin; iotarite, of 74,
Captain Otway ; Colotest., of 74, Captain M. Sey-
mour; loft fatignAle, Amato, and L' A igle, of 44 guns
each, and three cutters. They keep a sharp look
out, and stand close in, during the continuance of
the N. F.. winds lately ; thi frigates and cutters
stand so near in as to be within range of shells and
shot every hour; they counted seventeen sail of the
line, four frigates, of 44 guns, two ship corvettes, of
20 guns, and two armed gun-brigs, of 14 guns.
They have never been more numerous at any time,
and the above account may be depended on, as it
came from an Officer who went into the Outer
Road on purpose to reconnoitre, lit est was never
so closely blockaded before. The enemy are paint-
ing all their ships very gaudily ; if they mean to try
a summer's cruise, our tars, with the British can-
non's fire and smoke, will tarnish their gingerbread
work.
The wreck of the 31 agnif r, it has fallen from the
rock, on which there are but eleven feet water, and
has drifted into seven feet water near the Black
Rocks, and is fist gang to pieces, as the coast is
every where covered with different parts of the
wreck.

TALMOVTC, APRIL Q.
By the Wehirgiram packet, Captain Roberts,
which arrived here on Wednesday last, we have re-
ceived the melancholy intelligence of the loss of the
Apolle frigate, Captain Dixon. together with a
very great number of her convoy, in Mondego
Bay, about thirty leagues north of I.isbon. A
seaman belonging to the Ark, of Bristol, one of
the vessels lost, came home in the Walrirtgkam, as
did one seaman belonging to the .4pplift, who has sur-
rendered himself up to the Regulating Capt. at Fal-
mouth, and whose deposition has been forwarded to
the Admiralty. From these men we learn, that the
leading division of the convoy, to the number of 35
or 43 of the best sailing vessels, accompanied by the
dkiao frigate, early on the morning .of the 2d of
April, ran on shore in Mondego Bay. The reasons
they assign for this extraordinary circutastawe, we
d:: not chuse to repeat. The Caryifart frigate,
with about forty of the heavier sailing vessels,
which formed the rear division, happily es:aped,
and are suppo,el to have proceeded on their
vc•nr. 11e have not been able to ascertain
the staft number of the vessels that went on shore,
nor how many of them may have been aftually lost.
- The lowest number given by these seamen is 35. A
letter from-Lisbon to a Gentleman in Falmouth.
says, I have seen a list of 34 vessels totally log."
The whole number of lives lost is supposed to fall
little short of 400 among these is Capt. Dixon, of
the Apollo, his third • - Surgesn and
Mate, Gunner, and from 80 to LOU roan. The
seamen describe the it, re as thick strewn with dead
bodies ; among which wet.- several females, who
were passengers. This c....v0y sailed from Cork on
the :.6th ult.

INDIA.

s.
The Marquis Of Wectiii.ev's Report to the
reaors of the East India Company, of which we
gave, eieliai:ely, an extraa. on Saturday, contains
the following interesting incidents, which happened
in the battle of the Ist November, at Casowly :-
14 On this day two horses were killed under the
Commander in Chief, his Excellency Gen.. LAKE.
The shot showered around him in every direnion ;
in the midst of the-danger and slaughter which sur-
rounded him, he displayed not only the most reso-
lute fortitude and ardent valour, but the utmost de-
gree of professional ability and knowledge, availing
himself, with admirable promptitude, of every ad-
vantage presented by the enemy, and frustrating
every effort of the enemy's obstinacy and boldness.
His masterly plans of attack during the anion were
carried into instantaneous execution by his unrivalled
personal aaivity, and he appeared with matchless
courage and alacrity in front of every principal
charge, which he had planned with eminent judg-
ment and skill.
“ The staff of the army distinguished themselves
greatly, and merit the highest commendation.
Among these, one of the most distinguished was
Major G. A .F. LAKE, of His Majesty's 94th Regi-
ment, son of the Commander in Chief, who had at-
tended his father in the capacity of Aid-de-Camp
and Military Secretary, throughout the whole cam-
paign, and whose gallantry and aCtivity in execut-
ing his father's orders had been conspicuous in every
service of difficulty and danger.
" This promising young Officer constantly at-
tended his father's person, and possessed the highest
place in the Commander in Chief's confidence and
esteem. In the heat of the anion the Commander
in Chief's horse, pierced by several shot, fell dead
under him. Major LAKE.' who was on horseback
close to his father, dismounted, and offered his horse
to the Commander in Chief. The Commander in
Chief refused, but Major LAIC is earnest solicita-
tions prevailed. The Commander in Chief mount-
ed his son's horse, and Major LAKE mounted a
horse from one of the troops of cavalry. In a mo-
ment a shot struck Major La e, and wounded him
severely, in the presence of his affedionate father.
'4 At ;his instant the Commander in Chief found
it necessary to lead the troops against the enemy,
and to leave his wounded son upon the field. A
more affeaing scene never was presented to the
imagination, nor has Providence ever exposed hu-
man fortitude to a more severe trial. General LAKE,
in this dreadful and distracting moment, prosecuted
his victory with unabated ardour.
14 At the close of the battle the Commander in
Chief had the satisfaction to learn that his son's
wound, although extremely severe, was not likely
to prove dangerous. A confident hope is now en-
tertained that this gallant and promising young
Officer will be preserved to enhance the joy of his
father's triumph, and to serve his Kano and country
with hereditary honour."