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

VROM LAST Itrs GAZET EL.
ifit.iratt,-Oliee,...leyest 7, !Ftl4.
Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sit Cha,les Moen, Ran
to William Matiitlon, E..q. dited on board His Majesty's ship
the San Jests, ati.r.liant, August, tilos.
SIR,
Herewith I transmit a letter, for the infmmation
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, from
Vice. Admiral Sir Robert Calder, with its enclosures,
giving-on account of the destruenon of two of the
. enemy's corvettes, by His Majesty's ship the Aigle,
*Of &ordeal". .
I have the honour to be, &c. CH AU LES COTTON.
Prince of Wale:, off Rochefort!,
SIR, July 19, liO4
I have Ow -pleasure to inform you His Majesty's
ship the higle (which I had placed in shore to watch
the menus motions) fell in with two french Na-
. lioisal corvettes, which Captain Vnlfe drove on
doe near Bourdeaux and burnt, having first used
every means without ;fled to get them afloat. The
Aigle found only twenty-six French Officers and
men left on board these corvettes when they took pos-
, maks of them ; the rest had made their escape on
shone.
The names of these corvettes are La Charante and
La Joie ; the first a ship of twenty guns, and one
hundred and four men, and the other a brig, pierced
for (teen guns, but had only eight mounted, and
e men. They Wad on board the ordnance
s complete for a corvette just launched at
• . to which place they were carrying them.
here enclose Captain Wo/fe's letter to me of his
proceedings in the destroying of these vessels, and
also a list of the prisoners he has on :card ; these I
It.
have direaed to be sent into port by the first oppor-
tunity. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed Roo. CaLOSR.
' to the Hun. William Cornwallis, die.
SIR, lie 'stalest?' Ship the Algle, July 16, 1504.
Arley passing the squadron on the 9th instant,
when, at the anzhorage No. S, was drove to the
S.W. by the gale; on the 10th we lost sight of the
1 Hawk. On the I2th, when standing in for Cor.
i douan, in beating up for the 1 endetvous, saw a
large brig and ship, it ith ;ill sail set, steering to the
southward. I suppose.i them to he part of the
l squadron from Rochefort. At five p. m. closed
with them (thev never altering their course from
our first seeing them), prepared and expelling, from
• their manceuvre: and signals, a close anion, they
Living shot tened sail (with men at their quarters)
erheii within proper di ranee; bin, to our great cur.
pi ;se, after firing their starboard broadside at us,
they ran the ships on the strand, within a stone's
east of each other, and diretly took to the boats,
which instantly swamped on touching the beach,
about ten leagues to the south of Cordnuan, and
!I same of them were drowned. The wind being at
i N. E. and about two pints of the land, I had great
.) hopes of getting one or h•,th of thorn afloat again,
and anchored the Aigle about a mile from the
beach ; but, after a night and part of the nest day,
in fruitless efforts, from the very great surf sit in
by the late western gale, I was Cliliged to destroy
them by fire, which WAS etTeaually done by Mr.
Forlonger, master, and Mr. Stei.l, the gunner, as
scarcely any part s. as perceptible when the Aigle
made sail.
The prisoners on board the Aigle are John San-
l' sot', Lieutenant de Vaissean, the officers, and eight
soldiers and sailors of the French national ship the
Charante, of four liundr,:d and twenty tour, twenty
guns, six-plunders, four swivels, and one hundred
and four men.
Benjamin Godolitrt, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, his
(siker., and nine soldiers And sailors of the French
national brig La Joie, t•ve hundred and fifty tone,
piercedsfor fourteen, but only eight twelre-pounde-s
mounted, two swivels, and seventy-five men. La
Joie had sixteen six-pounders, a quantity of arms,
powder, shot, and other ordnance stores in the hold.
They were (rout Rochefort, hut had sailed in the
mot ning from the Giroodc, stealing along shore for
Bayonne, and intended to return from thence with
stores for the French marine at Rochefort, which I
,
• am proud in having prevented, and trust in meet-
tag your approbation. None of the shot struck us,
nor did ours materially njure them, as only their
1 masts and sails were a littie torn.
Had they come alongside, as expected, the Li ig
having shifted her gulls Mr the purpose, I am cer-
i' tain the crew of the Aigle would have acquitted
' . themselves as Englishmen do on thine occasions.
I have the honour to be, &c. Geo. WOLFE.
Sir R.gheisi Calgler, Wirt. V ess•klmoral .t
the Wee, he. off Rochefort.
Copy of a Letter fmm Camas° !toner% Dudley (river, Coro-
foamier of Ilis Majesty'. Shop the Meli,omeoe, to William
Week°, E q. dated off I lava., the 2d igistAtot
3 SIR,
, i beg leave to enclose to you, for the information
• of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a
.1 copy of :ay letter to Toed 7<eith, of this date.
I have the honour to be, &c. R. I). (Riese.
MY 1 9RI). Malpoincle on Havre, Aug 2, 1,04
The N%ind having changed yesterday to the N.
F. I dear mined to make another attack on the nu-
, merou vessels in Havre Pier, as well as those
which were moored outside, amounting to twenty
eight brigs, otof as many tuggers, and stood in
with the squadron, as per snarg.n •. At half past
seven, p. ix. the bombs wen well placed off the
Pier-heads, when they began a well dialed tire,
which was kept up with great spirit for about an
Pour and a half. The t >yen was very soon observed
to be on fire in two p's .c... 5; and seven brigs, which
were on the outside e i the Pier, foetid it necessary
to move ; ono low her mainmast. As the wind
earn- more off the land, and a strong ebb tide set-
' tiny, out, I ordered the bombs to di econtinue firini;.
At half past rape ire anchored ivi•r, the squadron
about five miles firms thy light houses. As the Ex-
plosion h id fired assay all her shells, and the Zebra
most of her powder, I had them supplied from the
141e.eor ; and at half past five this morning, got tin-
der weigh, and stood in with the squadron again.
Before eight the bombs took up their position near
the Pier-heads, and kept up a constant fare foe near
three hours wish shells and carcases ; so many
shells burst on and about the pint., that the enemy s
fire was observed latterly to slacken considerably,
and it was evident they were in the greatest confu-
I lion ; some brigs and loggers, however, got under
1

1 • Me:pon]en••. Ariadar, Trim?, Magnaniine, and
Favourite ; tic 4; Mot..', tx pins on, anti bom'is ;Kin .7
Ciwige, klupe, Nana!, Cu.attese of [Agin, sad L.auia

TILE BRITISH PRESS•

LON DON,
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST B.

We have the pleasure to announce the safe arrival
off Portsmouth, of the long expeaed China Fleet.
A Telegraphic Express was, yesterday morning,
received at the Admiralty, and immediately com-
municated to the Secretary of the East India Com-
pany—" 'that an East India Fleet were off :he Isle
of Wight," and at half-past three the Purser of the
Earl Camden arrived at the India House, with the
welcome intelligence, that Lc had left the China
Fleet, consisting of the following ships, all safe off
Weymouth, viz.

F-a=i C mdeu (.a' pt. Kathan,el Dance.
eland. W. W. Farrar.
W.trky Henry Wilson.
Al're I
R,,yal Geor6e
Robert
Wexford ..-- W. S. Clarke.
Ganges M.,tratt.
Elmer Henri Menton.
Earl a Abergavenny John Word worth.
11..nry .01,1,1,ngtua -- John Kirkpatrick
Bombay Castle Ate.. Hamilton.
Hope - J. Pendergrass.
Doriev,hire R. H. Brown.
Warren Hastings T. Larkins.
Ocean L•ick.iyer.
together with the CirinerMen, from Ben'oolen, an .l
Several whalers, last from St. Helena, maLing about
twenty-five sail in the whole.
In the course of the afternoon the put sers of the
Eider, Coraltc, Cumberland, Do, sehArre, Heltrl
dingloa. and Royal George, arrived At the India-
House.

The above ships ale the whole expected from
China in this season, except Vie IV;ori ford, which
ship was left at Canton, in consegnence of her having
arrived too late to sail with the fleet.

They sailed from Cowin without convoy on the
ith February, and on the 15th of that month, fell
:n with the squadron under Admiral I.lsois off
Pub Auro, consisting of the Varrago of 80 guns,
two frigates, and tsso sloops of war. The China
ships continued their cours..., after coming in sight
of 1..; ems ; but the Rtyai r, being the van <hip,
was sharply attacked ; the .V.,re,ige came along site,
and a severe aftion continued for about tv.enty
minutes, when the Frenchman, not being able to
bring his frigates to hear, was obli:;ed to sheer off,
and steered for Batavia. The loss on board the
Rif* Georgt was only one man killed and another
wounded; the damage done to her bull, we fear, was
considerable, as the shot from the Afarzsgo were
generally 42 pounders ; the loss on the part of the
enemy was not ascertained.
The conduit of the commanders and crews on this
occasion merits the highest praise, whilst it adds
an additional ;woof of our na al superiority—that
an 80 gun ..top, attended with frigates, dec. should
commence as aftion, and afterwards fly from a
:navy laden merchantman, is an instance, we be-

lieve, unprecedented in the naval atillals of ary
country.
The China ships continued thk.ir passage. and Fell
in• with the Albion and &entre men of war, in the
Straiti of Malacca, the beginning of March. The
above ships had been sent as a convoy to the fleet,
and came with them to St. Helena, where they ar-
rived on the I‘2th June ; at which place they found
the Carmarthen from Bencoolen.

'the fleet left St. Helena, on the 18th June, under
convoy of His MA., ES 1 Y'S ship Pla,,tagen,e, and ar-
rived off Weymouth, as above aated ; and, we have
no doubt, are now safe at anchor in the Downs.

No ships were at St. Helena from India; but a
fleet was &illy expeEled there from Bei.gal and Ma-
dras. Ili, MAJESTY'S ships yllbiois and Sceptre in-
tended to return to India.

We understand, that Messrs. LANCE, WILLI %St
Bmtinn, and AloLonv, of the China establish-
ment, came passengers in the above fleet.
The Rolla. Botany Bay ship, sailed from Canton
with the above fleet, but parted from them in the
China Seas; since which, no account has been re-
ceived of her.

The Commanders of the above ships are all well,
with the exception of Captain PA T row, who died in
China, and was succeeded in the command of the
Oren", by the chief officer, Mr. LOCKN V ER.
The same telegraphic dispatch which mentioned
the arrival of the China fleet, also communica•ed
the arrival of the West India fleet off Portsmouth,
to the number of 200 sail. The names of several
of the latter will be fliund in the extraft froi.i
LLoYD's List in our Naval News. The China
fleet is the largest that ever sailed, and, combined
with the West India fleet, constitutes the riche ,t and
greatest arrival in the history of the commercial
world.—This pleasing intelligence soon circulated
through the town, and made the City a scene of
universal joy and congratulation. Hut it was
not the only grateful news of the day—Advice was
also received in the morning, at the Admiralty, that
GA N T EA M E'S squadron had not ventured far-
ther than Cameret Bay, about eight miles
south of the channel into Brest, where it was at an-
chor on Friday last. It appear, th. t :te took ad-
vantage of a fog to attempt his escape, but was soon
perceived by the For cuuees which apprised our
fleet of the event—in .con,zquence of which, :iir
CHA RIES COTTON dispatched a squadron of eight
sail of the line, in pursuit of the enemy . It i, pro-
bablethatGANTHLAcxe,findingb the firing of tit
Fru that he was discovered, changed his purpose,
and discontinued his voyage.

The Gazette of last night contains an account c:
thir bombardment of Havre, and the destruelion of

two of the enemy's armed vessels.

Yesterday Princess ANI Et.i completed her 21st
year.
The Day was observed by the ROY• L FA May
going to Curoberi.and Lodge, where Their M All S..
T les received the compliments of a number of the
Nobility, and entertained a selea patty there.
Yesterday the Russia?. Au aassAcourt and Lord
CA M DEN had an audience of Lord I4AIRow6Y from
one till three. •

The merchants of I lamburgh have experienced
much advantage from the arrangement by which
the English Government has allowed small vessels
to pass from Tonningen to that city by Wa Wen, or
along the coast. The merchandise, which is brought
to Tonningen in large vessels, is conveyed to I lam-
Isqrgh in those smaller imps, and a great saving of
ht has consequently bete produced.
Extraft of a letter from l3ourdeaux: " Capt. Brett,
of the Minerva, has returned to port, after convoying
a rich English prize, the Ataluntr, from Jamaica "
It is with deep regret, that we have to announce
the death of the gallant and truly worthy Admiral
Lord M.:SCAN, who expired suddenly, on his way
to Edinburgh, of an attack, as is supposed, of the
gout in his stomach.
A eonvoy for the West-Indies is expetled to sail
from Portsmouth on the I sth instr.nt.

The lathing and the Serer, frigates are ordered
to be prepared for aZitive vice immediately at
Deptford.
The Rinen and Sararrn sloops are ordered to be
preprited for service at Woolv•icia.

. .
The Itehle4,tv, from Manilla, is arrived at Co-
penliagLn. On the 10th or 12th of February, she
fell in with the French squadron, under the com-
mand of Admiral Limoi.. off Polo Sapata, in the
China Seas, consisting of une ship of the line, three
frigates, and a corvette.
Letters from the Kent'sh coast state, that in con-
sequence of the wind having shifted to the S.W.
blowing ye, y strong, Admiral Las, tes squadron,
consisting oft returned to pcmgenness Road
on Sunday, la, left some light vessels to watt.,
the enemy's ni(,,mients at Boulogl ^. The
of Yonn is expeard at Shorn Cliffe camp in a day
or two, to review General Moosx's Brigade.
It is said that orders have been received to get
ready a proportion of camp equipage fur 5.000 men,
to be drafted, if the public exigencies should require
it, tiom the diff.etent corps of the metropolis and its
environs.

-.. -----
The South nloucester Militia, in barracks at Nails-
ham, last week sent theit heavy baggage to Harshen'.
The men are kept in the most aetive state of prepa-
ration, and are allowed to retain only a watch-Coat,
and three shirts each.

BttFSD. —Yesterday the Loeb Ma volt, after ex-
amining the reportg of the Mealweighers, ordered
the Bread to be rai,ed half an Assize, or one penny
:he Peck Las; to take place to-mortuw. The
Quartern Loaf. w:tearen, will then be sold for 10d.
and household bid.

THE RIRDES:
- -

On Tuesday, the 10th tritefled bat
new ()per t, entitled, "The Haeth,‘," was pelformed
for the firs: time at the Imperial Academy of Mu.
sic at Pitis. It is known that LLSEUR composed
tint music of this grand piece. The author of the
dialogue. it is said, died before the reception of hi.
work. A beautiful dive, :iscrnent is introduced into
it, of winds the Ballets are ciesig-ed by M. CAL-
net. All the bores and seats had been engaged
several weeks before the representation, and all the
men and women of fashion vied with each otlxr in
making preparations for it. The joYrnel de Pam,
socaking of this celebrated piece, says, " Since the
Balls of the Carnival, we have not seen such bril-
liant assemblages, as at the two first representations
of The Reeder. The diamond dresses were numer-
ous, but the nudities were carried to an extreme.
Li a wtrrzl, it Is impossible to conceive any thing
snore rich and less decent. ROSMAL A, Roma,
t+ ; At., OSAI AS, Lcs Bordet, LESSOR, are the only
words that you lie.ir in the conversation of our Briles
aod Beam,. of all ages. The youth, who has Et
seen the Baulev, is excluded from elegant company ;
and the Kme. who has hitherto' had the misfortuot
not to obtain a seat. is inconsolable, and goes no
where but to church, the usual refuge for fem.::
disappointment. The Rardes, and nothing but the
Berja, is the order of the day."