The National Register.
London, England, 1809-08-06 00:00:00

VIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

. . . .
Ipressed one syllablq from which • 1 could foim the most faint
dea that he Exit aisappoioted Li any thing resting with me.
TI is Lord.4ll ip *8 ailasioo had reference only to the senior officers
who acted with him in Aix Roads, upon whom he generally
east hiame without giving the smallest intimation, either by
word or manner, that In his expressions of dissatisfaction he
included his Commander ut Chief.—After some remarks upon
the errors of Lord Cochrane's- narrative log, Lord Gambier
said—" And it is very fair here to remark the fact acknow-
ledged by Lord Cochrane in his evidence, that heerred in no less
than four paints of the compass in the report he made to me
before the attack of the direction-in which the Trench fleet
was moored, in two lines from the Port of Isle WALL." Lord
Gauthier next made some observations on the statement of Lord
Cochrane in respect to the state o f the enemy's three grounded
ships, which his Lordship assured the Court had since been
ascertained to be erroneous.—llis Lordship then proceeded
thus :

66 It now only remains fur me to request the attention of the
Court to some .conclusion tt hica I think may he draw n from the
whole of the statement I have submitted to the consideration of
you, Sir, and the rest of the Members of this Honourable Court,
and by which, with the additional evidence I have to
it will, I Ratter myself, distinctly appear, ht, That during the
time of this service, the most unwearied attention was applied
by me to.its main object—the destruction of the enemy's fleet,
2d, That in no part of the service was more zeal and exertion
shown than during the whole of the 12th of April, e. lien I had
necessarily in view two objects, the destruction of the enemy's
fl-et, and also the preservation of that under my command ; for
the extreme difficulties in approaching an enemy closely sue,.
mottled by shoals, and strongly defer led by batteries, rendered
caution in my proceedings peculiarly necessary. Sd, That ti!ree
out of the ►seven of the enemy's ships aground on the Paiials,
were from their first being ►►n shore totally out of the reach of
the guns of any ships of the fleet that might have been sent in;
and that at n• time whatever, either sooner or later, could they
have been attacked. 4th, That the other' font of the eleven
ships, of which the enemy's fleet coruisted, Were never in a situ-
ation to he assailed after the fire ships had failed in their object.
These are the points o►n which I rest my justification, trusting,
that it will appear to the Court, upon their review of my whole
ease, that I did take the most effectual measures for destroying►
the enemy's fleet; that neither neglect nor unnecessary delay did
take place in the execution of this service; ►and, on the contrary,
that it was owing to the time chosen by me for sending a force in
to make the attack, that the service ruts accomplished with so
very inconsiderable a loss. Had I pursued any of the measures
deemed practicable and proper, in the judgment of Lord Coch-
rane., I am firmly persuaded the success attending this achieve-
ment would have proved more dearly bought than any yet re-
corded in our naval annals, and, far from accomplishing the
hopes of my country, or the expectations of the Adininalty,
must have disappointed both. If such, too, were the founda-
tion of his Lordship's prospects, it is just they should vanish be-
fore the superior considerations attending a service involving the
naval character, and most important interests of the nation.
I conclude by ohserving, that the service actually performed
has been of great importance, as well in its immediate effects, as
in its ultimate consequences, fur the Brest fleet is so reduced as
to be no longer effective. It was upon this fleet the enemy re-
lied for the succour and protection of their %Vest India colonies;
and the destruction of their ships was effected in their owo
harbour, in sight of t housands of the French; and I congratulate
myself and my country, that this important service has been
effected, under Providence, with the loss only of 10 men killed.
3 wounded, and one missing, and not even one of the smallest of
our vessels employed has been disabled from proceeding on any
service that might have become necessary.—The extent of diffi-
culties and prospect of danger ill this enterpri.se were extreme,
and the gallantry and determined spirit of those engaged most
conspicuous. These merits, and those difficulties, ,ought not to
be depreciated on account of the inconsiderable loss sustained on
the occasion. I
by no means seek to arrogate to myself any
merit by these observations; but I make them as a tribute of
praise due to the zealous services of the brave officers and men
under my command, and with a view of pointing out how justly
they are entitled to the gratitude of their country."

Mr. Stoke* called.

Q. Could any of the enemy's ships, on April 12, before they
ran up the Charente, have annoyed, and reached the ship' that
might have been sent in to attack them ? A. The FoutiroTemit
and Cassatd both lay abut i the Catourd about a thirst of a wile