The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-16 00:00:00

FEB. 16.

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

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EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER OF THE LAUREL,
DATED PLYMOUTH-DOCK, FEB. 8.
We had for the last five weeks been employed blockading four
line-of-battle ships, in the pert of L'Orient. The Maidstene frigate
was dispatched by Sir H. Neale, to order us to Quiberon Bay, where
we arrived on the evening of the 3uth. The fleet was employ,. d all that
night in watering the Laurel, as we had been selected as one of three
frigates ordered to pursue three French frigates that had escaped trom
the Loire. At eight, on the morning of the 31st, we weighed, in
company with the Rota and Rhin frigates, made sail through the passage
faieneese, a difficult and ateneous one at all times; it blowing very
hard, the Rota led through the passage, the Laurel unfortueately fol-
lowed; the Rota's pilot lost the marks and got bewildered, it being
then extremely hazy. The Rota escaped the rocks, we unfortunately
struck on the Govivas, a sunken rock, as did the Rhin, hut was not
damaged to th ex tent the Laurel was, whose false keel and part of the
main immediately floated alongside, and a large hole in her bottom.
The Laurel was backed off and brought to an anchor, sails furled, and
all halide to the pumps. In this disastrous state we continued pumping
far one hour and a half, when it was reported the ship was gaining fast,
and would be down in ten minutes. No time was to be lost to pre-
vent the ship sinking in ten fathoms water—tite cable was cut, and the
ship run on shore on a reef of rocks, about one mile from the French
coast. ill order to save the lives of the men.
"The enem . directly commenced a heavy fire of shot and shell, from
their batteries and field-pieces. In order to save the lives of the crew,
a tiag of truce was hoisted. The enemy continued the fire until we dis-
patched three boats, with about 70 men and four officers, on shore,
when the firing ceased, we imagine, in consequence of our officers
remonstrating against the inhumanity of firing on defenceless men;
but such was their want of feeling, and must fur ever stamp the French
manic with infamy, that they would not suffer our boatsto return for the
renrainder of the officers and ship's company, who must have perished,
it riot been for the brave and indefatigable Capt. Sommerville,
who, in defiance of all danger, and against the remonstrance of his pilot,
worked his ship up among the rocks, brought her to anchor, and took
the remainder, officers and ship's company, off.the wreck, after remain-
ing there several hours, with no prospect of saving our lives, except by
a raft we were then preparing on the Rota's boat ;on our taking the re-
mainder of the men from the Laurel, the enemy commenced firing again
on the boats, until they were out of reach of shot. At the time of my
quitting the ship, she was entirely under water; the men wear hang-
ing on the weather bulwark for several hours before leaving the wreck.
flius was lust one of the finest fast-sailing ships his Majesty ever possess-
ed, from the haziness of the weather, and ignorance of the French
pilots.
"NA MES OF OFFICERS NOT PRISONER S.—First Lieut. O'Shatielinessy;
Mr. Hodge, Master; Mr. Mercer, Purser; Mr. Crofton, R. M.;
Nfeerrs. Crowley, Corneck, Clayton, Lambert, Eaton and Gardner,
Midshipmen; and Mr. Whichcow, Clerk.
" PRISONER S.—Lieutenaliti Brone and Green; Mr. Forbes, Surgeon;.
Mr. Chozner, Lieut. R. M.; Mr. Galway, Midshipman; Messrs.
Digs, Tighe, and M'Cat thy."
Vire following letter gives some interesting particulars of the action
in which the French frigate .Pomona was taken :
" His Majesty's Shill/Verge, Lisea, Dec. 12, 1811.
" We arrived here about ten days ago, with a French frigate and
store-ship, captured by us in company with the Active and tin/V, after
very hard fought action of two hours and fifty-five minutes. The
enemy's squadron consisted of the French frigates Paulin°, of 46,
Paeone, of 44, and Persian°, store-ship, of 52 guns • the latter parted
cleverly before the action. The Unit(' was sent in chase and took her,
After a running fight of three hours. The 'Halle and Actire were then
left to engage the Paulin and Ponione. We were very much cut up
in the commencement of the action; in endeavouring to pass the Po-
mow, within musket-shot, to get alongside the French Commodore,
they shot away our fore-top gallant-mast and our main-mast. The Po-
mune fought till she had not a stick standing. She struck when she
had five teet water in her hold, and not until then.
4. The French Commodore did not behave so well, he kept at a
respectful disc. nee during the whole action. I Was in the first beat that
bearded the prize, and found her in a terrible state. The wounded
were lying about the decks, some under the masts crushed to death
and others drunk. The French Captain is mach of a Gentleman, we
conveyed him on board, where he delivered his sword.
" The Active goes down with the prizes ; she is very much cut rip.
The Alceste had seven men killed and twelve wounded, and one Officer
killed. The Active had ten killed and twenty wounded. Captain;t ;toe-
Dow has lust a leg, and the karst Lieutenant an arm, but are both
eeing well; one Midshipman was The Unit had one man
Wounded.
" Commodore RoWLET has taken, off Corfu, a store-ship laden
with corn.
" Our prizes have got in about 150 guns, to fortify the coast. I expect
We shall in three or four mouths go down to Mai, ~ and from thence
toEngland. We expect to fall in with another squadron, which we
• told a coming up here."