The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-25 00:00:00

REGISTER.

TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.
APRIL 19, 1808.

Admiralty grim April 19, MI.
Copy of a Letter from Captain Parker, of his Majests's ship
Stately, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated oil Zealands Odde,
March 23, 1803.
Sir—lnclosed I transmit to you, for the information of my
Lenin Commissioners of the Admiralty, a Copy of my Letter SA
Vire-Admiral Russell, acquainting hint es WI the capture and
destruction of the Danish ship of the line Prince Christian Fre- •
derlck, of 74 guns, on the night of the 223 of March.
I have the honour to be, lite.
(Signed) GEORGE PARKER.
His Majesty's ship Stately, off :colonels Odde, March 25.
Sir—lt is with much satisfaction I have the honour to ac-
quaint you with the capture and destruction of the Danish ship
of the line, Prince Christian Frederic, of 74 runs. Proceeding
towards the Great Belt, in company with itis Mnjesty 's ship
Nassau, at two p. m. on the 22d inst. we observed a strange sail ;
end the signal being made to clve, at 4p. Creenall on the
oast of Jutland bearing • N. W. by N. distant ten miles. we
discovered that it was au enemy ; and at five p. m. ascertained
the chase to be a Danish ship of the line. I now says that it
was evidently the intention of the enemy to run his ship on
shore ; and as the night was approaching, he might hope that,
in our pursuit of him in the dark, we would have the sante fate.
j This, 1 have since been assured, was his,design. At 45 minutes
past 7 p. rn. Captain Campbell. in the Nassau, got up with the
enemy, and commenced the action, and in a few minutes after
the Stately closed; a running kilt was now maintained for t
considerable time, the enemy fighting with great obstinacy,
until we succeeded in getting very near, and gave some close
' broadsides, on which she struck at about half past nine p. m.—
At this moment the ships were within two cables lengths of the
shore of Zealand; and before my First Lientenant who took
possession of the Danish ship, could cut assay her are hoc, she
grounded. Fortunately this ship and the Nassau brought op
near to her. During the remaining part of the night we were
employed in taking out the prisoners; and at day-light of the
23d it was found impossible to get the captured ship afloat, itte
wind blowing strong on the shore, and that therefore the only
course I could follow was to destroy her. The necessit tsr do-
ing this, and for placing our own ships out of danger, rnon be-
came apparent, as the Danes were preparing their artillery on
the coast, and as our ships were at anchor only two cahle:4ll.-eLth
from the beach, they would have done us great injury. After
removing the prisoners and wounded, in doing which we expe-
rienced much difficulty from the wind blowing strong, and a
good deal of sea running, the enemy's ship was set on fire in the
evening of the 23d, and in a short time blew op. lam happy to
ray our loss has been small. It is trifling w hen compared with
the enemy, where the slaughter was great, he having ti killed
and eighty-eight wounded. We have, hone er, received con-
siderable damage in our masts and rigging. The Mines. Chris-
tian Frederick was a very flue ship, ea pper-holted, (-unite:ln:NA
by Captain Jayson, with a complcsaeut of six hundred and
twenty men, and had five hundredrund seventy-six On hoard. T
feel much indebted to Captain Campbell for Isis zeal and ability
in the commencement and during the action, and, to the officers,.
ship's company, and royal marines of his ship. My warmest
gratitude and praise is due to the ottker;, and privates of royal
marines, of this ship, 'for their brave nod gallant conduct during
the action, displaying throughout the cool intrepidity of Bri-
tish seamen. The same spirit animated both ships. 1 beg leave
to recommend in the strongest manner to the patromtge of my
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Mr. David Sloan, my
First Lieutenant, to whsAn I 'am greatly indebted, not only fur
his brave and spirited conduct in the action, but also for his mt-
wearied exertion in removing the prisoners and woentled from
the Danish slip, and setting he' on fire. Ile- possesses, in an
eminent degree, every quality requisite to form the ollieer and
seaman.
Herewiil yoawill receive a return of the killed and wounded.
I have the honour to be, ;ke.
(Sfgned) CEO. PARE. LR.
To rice Admiral Russel, '4e.*c.
of the Killed and ITTnenecrk
Stately—SST:tram, 2 Marines, killed ;26 Seamen, Marines,
wounded.—Total 32.
Nassau-1 Seaman, kilted ;11 Seaman, .5 Marines, yowl:kik
1 Seaman, sni%sint.—Tutia 17.