The National Register.
London, England, 1808-05-01 00:00:00

TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.
APRIL 26, 1503.

admiraky-Ojfice, April 26.
[Transmitted by Lord Collingwood.)
Stn, Grasshopper, off Carthagena, Der. 12.
I have to acquaintyou,' that yesterday, when looking out
off Cape Palos, agreeably to your directions, discovered a
number of the enemy's vessels at anchor under the Cape : his Ca-
tholic Majesty's brig of war St. Joseph. of 12 2-1-pounders,
manned with 99 men, and commanded by Don Antonio de Tor-
res Teniento de Naviro, got under weigh, and came out to at-
tack his Majesty's sloop Grasshopper, under my command, ac-
companied by the two vessels of war, belonging to hi Catholic
Majesty, named in the margin*. The St. Joseph I brought to
close action, when, after fifteen minutes resistance, site struck
hOr colours, and ran on shore ; upon which I anchored, and with
the greatest exertions of the officers and ships company, suc-
ceeded in getting her oil. The other two vessels bore up, and
made all sail from us the moment the brig struck, or I have no
doubt we should have captured the whole of them.
I beg leave to observe, that I received every assistance from
Lieutenant Cornelius Wellis, whose good conduct on this and
every other occasion, merits my warmest thanks; the coutlact
of all the officers and men gave me great satisfaction.
In this affair we had two men_severely wounded. The loss of
the enemy I could not ascertain, as a number of them jumped
overboard, and I fear a great number of them were drowned.
The St. Joseph is only six years old, is copper-fastened, and
well found in every respect, sails remarkably fast, is pierced
for 16 guns, is 115 tons hurthen, and in my opinion well calcu-
lated fur his Majesty's service. I have the honour to he, Itze.
(Signed) T. SEARLE. Captain.
* St. Medusa Mestrio, ten 24-pounders, and 77 men; St.
Argle Mestrio, eight Y4-pounders, and 50 men.
[Transmitted by Admiral Purvis.]
gra, I ((este, in shore, oil (wiz, April 4.
I have the honour to inform you. that when at anchor to-day
with his Majesty's ships Mercury, and Grasshopper brig, St. Se-
bastian's lighthouse S. L. distance 9 miles. n hid W .S. W. a large
convoy of the enemy was discovered coining. close along shore
from the northward, uoder the protection of about twenty gun-
boats, and a numerous train of flying artillery on the beach. At
three P.ll. I made the signal to weigh and attack the convoy.
'end stood directly in for the body of them, then oft' the town of
Rosa ; at four, the shot and shells from the gun-boats and hatte-
ri', going hr over us, his Majesty's ships opened their tire,
sv !deli was kept with great vivacity until half-past six, when
we had taken seven of the convoy, and drove a great many more
no shore on the surf; compelled the gun-boats to retreat, which
they did very reluctantly, and not until two of them were de-
stroyed; and actually silenced the batteries at Rota, which bit-
ter service wits performed by the extraordivary gallantry and
good conduct of Captain Searle, of the Grasshopper, who kept
in upon the shoal to the southward of the town, so near as to
drive the enemy front their guns with grape from his 3`3-pound
carronades, and at the same time kept in check a division of
gun-boats that had come out from Cadiz to assist the others en-
gaged by the Aleeste and Mercury. It was a general cry in
both ships, " Only look how 'toll. the brig behaves!" The
situation of our little squadron was rather a critical one, tacking
escey fifteen minutes close on the edge of the shoal, with the
wand in, and frequently engaged both sides; in the heat '1
04-the action, the First Lieutenant, Allen Stewart, volunteered
to board the convoy, if 1 would gibe him the boats. I was so

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struck with the gallantry of the offer, that I could not refrain
from granting them, although attended with great ri,k. Ile
event, accompanied with !..ieutenant Pipon and Lir utenatt
Ilan ky of the Royal Marines, n Ito Most handsomely volun-
teered I o go, as their party were chiefly employed in working the
ship. Mr. Arscott and Mr. Day , Masters Mates, Messrs. Par-
ker, Adair, Croaker, M•Caul, and 111`Lean. Midshiptuen ;
they were soon followed by the Mercury's [mats. under the
catinvand of the rirst Lieutenant, W. 0. Pell, accompanied by
Lieutenant Gordon, and I.44llmi:it Why lock, Mr. Ducain and
111.. R. Cummings, Master' Mates. The boats, led by Lieute-
nant Stewart, pushed on in the most gallant manner, hoarded
and brought out seven tartans from under the very muzzles of
the enemy's guns, and from under the protection of the harzes
and pinnaces of the Combined fleet, which had by that time
joined the gun-boats. I was greatly indebted to 'Lieutenants
ickman and dervois (w ho both wished to go in the boats), for
the spirited and well directed tire they kept up from the maio-
deck ; also to Mr. Westlake, the Master, for his great attention
in steering and working the ship ; and I have much pleasure in
adding, that the other officers, seamen, and marines, beliawd
with the utmost bra % ery and coolness.. Caws. Gordon and Searle
(whose gallantry and excellent conduct it might bepresusnptionio
an officer of my standing in the service to cornmeal upon) also re-
port upon the great bravery and coolness of their respeciive offi-
cers, seamen, and marines. It is w jilt pleasure I. base to add,
that the frigates have received no material damage; the Mereurv,
an anchor shot away, her sails and rigging- cut, though not mucb ;
our sails and rigging in the same way ; but the Grasshopper, I
am sorry to say, is a great deal damaked in the hull, the main-
top-mast shut through, shrouds, sails, and running-riggiag cat
almost to pieces: she had one wan mortally %sounded, the gun-
ner a tid two others wounded, hut not severely.
The captured vessels are all loaded .n Government account
for the arsenal at Cadiz; and, lam happy to sa,% , cis a very
considerable quantity of Valuable ship timber.
The zest of this little service was greatly :wt:lt:cited by being
perfortned in the mouth of Cadiz harbour, and in tree teeth of
ales en sail of the line. I am, &c.
(Signed) m. Mixtrau.
(The following were transmitted by Vire-Admiral Darre,).
D.-couverte, Si. Domingo, Feb. S.

I beg leave to acquaint you, that at one P. M. yesterday the
7th instant, when running down between Altavella and the Main.
I discovered three sail in this hay, which I• soon found to be Iwo
schooners, (enemy's eruizers,) anti an English ship, their prize-;
one of the former made her escape to w ind ward ; after a run-
ning fire for a considerable lime, I drove the other and the chip
tia shore ; the hopes of recovering the ship indnee.l me to an-
chor all night, and soand the bay, for the purpose ofgetting near
her in the morning, which I accomplished %%kith, inusket-slant,
when I found her in possession of the enemy, covered by small
arm Well from the shore ; after considerable firing front the De-
couverte, we drove the enemy out of the chip, and 1)N a !lag of
truce I demanded her And whatever prisonet 4 might he on board
the schooner, but was refused. Finding, from eiretan•titnees, it
impossible to get her ow, I directed Nit-. WI Aire, master of
the Decouverte, with a detachment of small-arm 'ilea, to set her,
if possible, on fire, a service width he performed in a most hand-
some manner, under a very heavy fire from the ehenty ; the pri-
vateer should have shared the same fate had we water to get
near her, but she is perfectly. lost, having bilged OH the reeks;
the ship was the 111atilda, of Halifax, bound to .lamaic.t.

Sin,

I base i 1 honour to be, &e.
(Signeil) CtitlY ei.wrßrrn.
Diteouverle, off St. Denthago, 1.!,. R.

I have the honour to inform You, that I this morning. at tit, v-
ight discovered a schooner in Bottomless Cove, and, after a
chase, came up with- her at three P. M. when I loomd her to ho
an enemy's cruiser : at half past three we commenced act i..n•
.v it h her, which continued at half pistol-;!tot from her, for forty-.
live minutes, when she totruck to his Niajesty's .4-homier under
my command. 1 tiud her to be La Dorado from St. Domingo,
commanded by Monsieur Netly, mounting a louweighteeti pound-.
er, two nines, and beVellh -two men. Tilt! Clielel.)'s loss has
been considerable; •they left us the distressing duty of commit-
ting seven of them to the deep after the action, nod about t;ic
same number, I find, were thrown over during it : their loss ap-,
pears to have been about fourteen killed, and three wounded.
am sorry to be under the necessity of anne .jog a list of wound..
ed belonging to the Decouverte, most of them, I fear, dauAer-
ous ; hut when I consider the obstinate resi,Voler of the enem.,
I think we are, on the whole, fortunate. Three of our guns

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