The National Register.
London, England, 1808-07-17 00:00:00

JULY 17.

The Majesty's Ship Cossack, off Saint
Andero, June 25, 1808.
MY LoaD,—The last opportunity I had of writing to your
Lordship. I acquainted you of my intention to go to fit. Ander()
immediately and afford every assistance in my power to the
loyal inoanitants, and brink of any British subjects that might
wish to come °W ay, in the present uncertain state of the coun-
try; and I tad intelligence that the French frigate in Passage.
accompanied by several gun-boats, was expected to make a de- '
scent on that part of the coast ; owing to the strong easterly
"witub, and long calms, I did not get there till the 21st. The
Siroalsposi displayed 'a flag of truce, which Was amwered by
bout Ships. The Captain of the Port, Don Vincepto Camino,
Came on hoard; he !old us the French army was soon expecte.:
to make an attack on the pass of the mountains that guarded
the a:pproach to the town ; he invited us to anchor in Sardenero
Bay, which we did at live V. M. ; until he had made his re-
port to the Bishop. who was Cie present (inventor, he wisheu
us not to laud. No boa: returning by- one o'clock the ne
dal, I concluded some sudden attack, or tines pccted event into
have taken ;place. In the afternoou a brig came out of the har-
bour full of people of all descriptions, who had left the town on
the report taut the French were advancing. I immediately got
Under weigh, laud sent Captain Daly, of the Comet, up the
harbour, to gain some confirthed. intelligence, and should the
report provetrue, to reconnoitre the fort, and find out where
the pnueitail magazine was, and, if it was possible, to destroy
It. between eight and nine, P. 4. Captain Daly reterne:i
With ccr:ain information, that the French army had gained the
pass. tnd nad halted only a few miles from the town, and were
expected to enter that night or next-day.
Captain Daly also made every Possible observation, and had
himse:f spiked the guns in list; forts near the town, and he re-
ques tr go and destroy the magazine, and the guns in the
forts thE:. guart the entrance of the harbour. I should cer-
ilave sent the boats that night, but the great chance of
their oeing taken by surprise, should the enemy advance, anti
the nigat being dark and squally. with every appearance of bad
%chiller, mile me defer it till next morning; at day-light we
flood into the hay, and manned and armed two boats from each
ship, under the orders of Captaiu Daily ; he was accompanied by
Lieutenant H. Ni. Herbert, of the Cossack, and Lieutenant
Read, of the Re Marines, and several of the younger offi-
cers, who all volunteered their services ; they left this ship
soon after six o'clock, ant landed about eight. spiked all the
guns io Fort St. Salvader de floe, and Fort Sedra, and wedged
shot in tile chambers of them, which renders them quite useles,;
the magazine was at some little distance, and had five hundred
whole barrels of powder in it, besides quantities of other stores;
all which was completely destroyed, great part by throwing it
over the cliffs into the sea, leaving sufficient to blow up the ma-
gazine; the train was laid for a considerable distance, and it
was le; off about ten o'clock, which instantly levelled the whole
building to the ground ; finding some more powder in Fort Se-
dra, a train was laid toit, which took etfeet.and blew part of the
house and storehouse in it up ;. the to to other forts on the west
Fide of the hay they could not attempt, as the surf was so high
it was impossible to land, and to walk round was too far fruit:
the boats, as they had not a moment to spare; having heard
Lefore they set fire to the first train, that the French had entered
the town, and they expected a strong guard at the forts; the
boats left the shore by eleven o'clock, and had just got round
the Puha of De Ano, when a considerable body of French dra-
goons appeared on the hill, and took post near the smocking
ruins of the magazine. lam sorry to say, t'aptain Daly, and
Lieutenant Read of the Marines, are much scorched, particu-
larly Lieutenant read, in setting tire to the last train, but am
happy to find his eyes are safe, mid he is doing well. Captain
Daly speaks in high commendation of the zeal and exertion of
every officer and man employed with him.
I have the honour to be, &c.
• (Signed) Gaonar Drcne.
Copy of a Letter from the /lon. Captain Dundas, 4 his Majesty's
ship Euryalus, to Captain Graves, of the Brunsatiek, and trans-
mitted by iiiec-ddmiral Sir James Saumares to the lion IV.
W. Pole.

His Majesty's ship &writers in the
Great Belt, June 12, liloB.
SlR—After having seen the convoy clear, I proceeded in
toinpany with his Majesty's sloop Cruizer, and late yesterday
evening discovered several vessels at anchor near the entrance of
eke Naskun, very close to the shore. We anchored at dark,
*id I sent Lieutenant Bead, with the butte of this ship and

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