The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-05-24 00:00:00

•
their being the enemy. At ten n'elocli I chimed up
with the sieniniost ship, and endeavoured to stop
her, by the discharge of two broadsides; Inn being
under a press uf sail, z.ntl a strong breeze, steering
away W.S.W. she suirevalleil iu crowing es, with-
out retunitng our tire, At this moment, tire Nep-
tune sv.is seen in the S.W. staading totwards us
with all sail ; and as you hailed incsooti after. and
joined in the 'pursuit, it is unnecessary for meta
touch no any of the oceorttnees on board this ship,
from that period, until live ON lock, wit,. of the
15th instant, at which hour we elitiiely lost sight
of the Neptune from the toast-head ; the I,istona
and Castor then iu roiscoany, and one of the ene-
my's ships about (Attie wiles a-head, steering away
N.W. half N.
Our exertions to close her continued unreinitted.
Just before sunset, the high land of Porto Rica
was seen bearing N.N.E. about nine leagues.—
The night shut to extremely dark, and as we drew
in with the land, we were frifiled with light and va-
riable winds front the northward awl. westward,
but fortunately never for a moment lost sight el the
enemy. At half-past three ext. the Castor suc-
ceeded in getting within shot of him,' and soon
after began a smart cannon:loe, whieli was imine..
iliately returned by the enemy, who, in yawing to
bring his gulls in bear, gave me an opportunity of
ranging up :threa,t of hint. At four o'clock I
brought him to close action, and continued hotly
engaged with, and constantly nearitig him, until a
quarter past fit e, %%hen both ships being complete
wrecks in their iigging anti sails, and within their
own lengths of each other, the Pompee nearly un•
mnriageable, and the enemy entirely so, she our-.
renderuti.

I must here, Sir, exprvia my obligations to Cap-
taitia Pigot and Roberts, of His Majesty's ships
Latona mid Castor, for their attention during the
chase, will their spirited efforts to afford me their
support in the battle. The hitter, us I have al-
ready stated, had a partial opportunity of doing so;
iv and 1 am n-ured that the want of oppol ty
alone prevepttil my receiving it equally from the
former.

Aad it may sot be improper here, Sir, to go beck •
to the.occurrenees of the 15th instant, in order to
express my admiration of the gallant conduct of
Capt. Napier, of His Majest)'s brig the Reci nit,
in keeping within the tire of the stern chasers of
three sail of the line throughout that day, and con-
stantly removing them with his.
To the Onteerei end crew of His Majesty's ship
under my command, my warmest thanks ere due,
for their unuletted end cheerful exertions through-
out so long and anxious a elms*, and for their
steady and gallant conduct during the action ; to
Mr. William Bone, the First Lieutenant, I mart
wirticularly offer them.
The captured ship is the D'llautpnult, of 74
guns, commended by Captain Armand Le Due,
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, with a crew of
six hundred and eighty men ; between eighty and
ninety of whom were killed mid wounded, includ-
ing several *Slicers. She is n perfectly new ship,
never at sea until she quitted L'Urient in February
Inclo,erl is a Return of the Killed and Wounded
on board His Majesty's ship under my command,
together with that of the dauges sustained in her
masts, yards, sails, rigging, &v.
I flare, ice. (Signed) W. C. FAillgo
To itrar-Aiimiral the Hon. Sir Alex.

Cochrane, &c. ire. i.e.
A lit of the killed and wounded of His Majesty's ship Porn- .
pee, in the action with the French national ship D'Haut-
poult, on the morning of the 17th of April, sang.
Killed—Mr..FAlward Casey, boatswain; Richard
seaman; Joseph Pool, ditto; John Mika, ditto; Joseph
Lee, ditto; John Falconer, ditto; Christopher Finisher,
ditto ; Edward Rowe, ditto , Thomas Charles, marine.
Wounded—Win. Charles rabic, Esq. captain; William
Bone, hest lieutenant; Charles Edward Atkins, lieutenant
royal marines; John Eason, sail maker; John Craig, cap-
tain of the fut twist le ; John Harris, seaman ; Thomas Nor-
ton, ditto ; Edward Ellis, ditto; W ahem Rayner, ditto;
It'illiam May, ditto; James lan, &wit ; John Carey, ditto ;
John Miller, ditto; Johu Sheerman. ditto; Julio Gorman,
ditto; Boston Gaw, ditto; William Short, goober's mate;
Daniel 11411, seaman ; John Bryan, ditto: brojamn Booth,
private marine ; henry Wagg, 6.1 d regnui tat ; Alexander
Allots, boatswain's ante; David Nielehib, Penman; John
Bustin, dam; John Davis, ditto; Jeremiah Alabony, ditto;
Christopher Cain, ditto; Jobe Nogist, private marine;
llioma.Pease,ti:rd regiment; Thomas Mortimer, ditto.
Total—q killed, :to *moiled.
Retort of killed and wounded no hoard the undermentioned
• ships.
Neptene.—Willism Rosier, able seaman, killed; Michael
Sands, ditto, wounded; IVillb,nt Callow, ditto; Andrew
Saunders, quarter gunner, ditto; John Williams (a) able
seaman, ditto.—Tutal I killed, 4 wounded.
Castor —Mr. Samuel Cross mate, killed ; John Russel,
seaman,mandril ; Cross,
ditto ; Thomas Ma.
see, marine, ditto ; Beak Blopha, seaman, ditto ; John
Lana, ditto; Peter Murphy, ditto —Total, t killed, 6
wounded.
Recruit.—Serj,ant of marines, wounded.