The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-14 00:00:00

HEROIC EXPLOIT OF LORD COCIIRANE.
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Extract of a letter from an officer on board the
United States' frigate Macedonian, dated Callao,
Nov. 11, 1810:
" A few days since, General San Martin arrived of this place
with 5000 troops, convoyed by tour frigates and some smaller
vessels of war, under Admiral Cochrane, having previously made
an ineffectual attempt to penetrate into the interior act Ptsco.
owing to the natural defences which the mountains and defiles
afforded to the Spaniards, who in open grotinfs would be by no
means formidable to their more vigorous enemy. After showing
this force off this port, the Patriotic General of acted a landing
at the small town of Ancon, about ten leagues to the northward
of Lima, where, I understand, he is carrying on the war with
vigour. As gallant and well executed a feat of valour was a few
days performed by Lord Cochrane, as was ever witnessed. It
was the cuuing out of a Spanish frigate, manned by 150 sailors,
and ago artillerymen, front under several batteries, mounting iu
all in not less than too brass pieces of cannon, averaging eighteen
pounders, besides four vessels of war, mounting each twenty
long guns. It was performed by eight boats, containing each
twenty men, in the following manner :—About half-past twelve
o'clock, on the night of the tith instant, his lordship pulled into
the harbour at the head of his party, (having previously obtained
the watch word by surprising the guard-boat) to board the Es-
meralda, of forty guns; himself, with his little son by his side,
being the first man on the deck. Alter a bloody conflict of about
half an hour, (for the Spaniards fought with desperation) they
succeeded in obtaining possession of the spar-deck, and immedi-
ately made sail upon toe ship; the people that were driven from
off the forecastle into the water having cut her cables, in hopes
that she would drive on shore. The gun and birth decks, how
ever, as we have since heard, were kept possession of by the
Spaniards for as much as half an hour, upwards of 100 men
being killed and as many wounded. As soon as we perceived
that the Esmeralda was likely to fall foul of us, we slipt our
moorings and made sail ; the captured frigate keeping wi.hin
about 100 yards of us, and hoisting the same lights that we bad
previously put up, in order to make it dubious to the soldiers on
shcre which of the two vessels to fire at. This well adapted ruse
de guerr e had the desired effect; for the shot flew about our
heads, and cut away our cross jack-yard, and a great deal (dour
running rigging. After sustaining their tire about a quarter of
an hour, we got out of the reach of their shot."

Private accounts from Constantinople, dated April
Y, state, that the Turkish Government were making
extraordinary exertions to frustrate the views of the
insurgents. The prejudices of the populace of Con-
stantinople, and their hatred to the Greeks, had
been successfully worked upon ; and great numbers
of them were induced to take up arms in defence of
the menaced Crescent. The arming of them led to
much disorder, and as they were indulged in con-
siderable licence us the reward of their seal, they
regaled themselves plentifully in the punch shops,
deterring payment however, till more peaceable times.
Many persons were stopped and robbed by them in
the street, and they even entered the shops to exact
contributions. These excesses, however, were in a
great degree suppressed; and our informant says—
" After all, things are better than could have been
expected ; and unless the insurgents obtain some
decided success, the worst is, in my opinion, over."
He afterwards adds, " that there is no doubt here
that unless the Greeks succeed in this enterprise,
they will be thrown back forty years at least."
By late accounts from Vienna, we learn that her
Excellency Lady Vane Stewart, the British ambas-
sadruss, was safely delivered, on the 21th of April,
of a fine boy, who is heir to the large estates in the
county of Durham. We are happy to tide, that her
excellency and the infant are doing well.
A tbrgei y to the amount, it is said, of 10,0001. on
the Bank, has been discovered, attended with some
very curious circumstances. A pee on suspected of
being the principal iii the business has been in con-
finement; but in endeavouring to escape he fell
anti broke one of his arms, and otherwise injured
himself so much, that doubts are entertained of his
recovery.