The National Register.
London, England, 1811-11-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER,

CAPI URE OF TWO FRENCH FRIGATES.

Government has received, by the Emerald, the
.Official Repo t of the capture of two .French fri-
gates, the Renommee and the Nereide, off Mada-
gascar. The narrative is addressed by the senior
Captain, SCHOMBERG) to Admira) STOPFOIW.

The following interesting particulars have been
communicated to us, of what occurred on board the
Galatea, Captain LOSACK ; by which we may judge.
that the action in question was equal to any recprded
in the annals of our navy. We must likewise allow,
that the enemy never on any occasion displayed
greater gallantry at sea :

EXTRACT OF A LETTF R FROM ON BOARD MIS MAJESTY'S
SHIP GALATEA, CAPT. LOSACK, • DATED ISLE OF
PRANCE, BTH OF JULY.

"t You have heard, no doubt, of the terrible action, off Mada-
gascar, with three French frigates, two of which we captured ;
for the particulars of which, see the official report, which will
reach England at the same time.with this. The little time I
have to write you, wil! only admit of a few observations relative
to this ship, which I know will most interest you.
" We separated from cur squadron the moment the dreadful
conflict ceased; but this concerned us little, as there was no
fighting afterwards. We had four feet water in the hold, and
the leak was fast increasing. Our masts were frequently in
great danger. Sixtrone of our complement were either killed
or wounded. Seventy-eight shots we found in our hull and
masts; fifty-five of which were in the hull, twenty-nine on the
btarboard, and twenty-six on the larboard, besides several in the
stern. Our First Lieutenants Mr. Bevis,was severely wounded
in the face; the First Lieutenant of Marines was killed early in
the action; having half of his head carried off; Second Lieu-
tenant of IVlarines wounded, with the loss of his thigh ; Quar-
master at the wheel was cut in two by a shot, just as Captain
LOSACK was observing to him, Sharp work, Mr. BLACK ;"
the Captain himself had a narrow escape—a splinter struck his
leg, another his breast, and the seat of his trow-ers was com-
pletely carried away, leaving his shirt covered with blood. He
was, in every part of the ship, animating the crew in an unequal
contest; and-so you will say, when I infurm you, that three
French frigates were upon us for two hours and an half, in con •
sequence of its failing a dead calm just after the commencement
of the action, which prevented the rest of the squadron front
coming up, notwithstanding they used every effort to make way
pe Racehorse arrived first in port; and, not finding us, it was
feared we had gone down. The French people appeared not
sorry for it, although they did justice to the humanity of the
Captain% brotker, Admiral Losack, when cruising in the J
who suffered their Grabs to trade to Madagascar for bullocks, or
they must have been starved.
g‘ We have saved Mocambique, which the enemy's frigates
meant to attack it is capable of being made strong, but at pre-
sent It has no garrison."

NORTHERN POWERS.

Notwithstanding the account of the accornmoda-
lion of all differences between BUONAPItaTE and
certain Northern Powers,' it appears that nine sail
of transports with ordnance stores, sailed from the
Nore last week, on a secret service, under convoy'
of the Bruiser and Intelligent gun-brigs ; their course
yas t the northward. This may excite some sur-
prise after the late reported statement of the ani-

munition ships having rs turned unloaded firm the
Baltic, but on this head, we are in possession of
some facts, which our proximity to the enemy's
coasts renders it prudent should, for the present, be
suppressed.—(Kentish Paper.)

CATHOLIC DELEGATES.

On last Wednesday, the 6th, in the Court of
King's Bench, in Ireland, as the proper officer was
beginning to read the pannel of the Grand Jury of
the City of Duulin, Mr. GOOLD, as Counsel for
Mr. KIRWAN, (one of the arrested Catholic Dele.
gates), moved the Court for a copy of the informa.
tion sworn against his Client. He (Mr. GOOLD)
stated, that he had carefully read the warrant, .un.
der which Mr. KIRWAN had been arrested, and that
:be charge alleged against the Gentleman amount.
ed only to a misdemeanor. According, therefor%
to the usual practice in the Circuits in Ireland (for
an appeal could not be made to the usage of the
King's Bench in such a case, as a misdemeanor
had not been tried in that Court within the memory
of any of its Officers) Lc ( Mr. GooLD) contended,
that his Client was entitled vo crpy, as a matter of
right. He wished to deal candidly with the Court,
and to state the ulterior object of his motion. His
Client intended to object to certain per mns on the
pannel. His objection would go "to the, favour,"
but until it were first ascertained who the prosecutor
was, it would be impossible to make the objection.
It would, for instance, be absurd to urge that Al-
derman NATIIANIEL Hoag (one of the pannel, a
Police Magistrate, holding a situation under the
Crown and removeable at pleasure), was under the
influence of favour towards the prosecutor, till the
prosecutor should be first known to the arrested
person.

The Court asked Mr. GooLD to cite an authority,
alleging that, if the practice were so general, it
would not be difficult to specify a case.
Mr. Gool.y said the right had never been con-
tended. A reference was then made to the Regis-
trar, but he stated, that no instance had occurred,
in the Court of King's Bench, for the last forty-
four years. The SOLICITOR•GENERAL was then sent
for, and when he refused to consent to the motion,
the Judges, after a short conference, over-ruled the
objection.
Mr. GooLn then said, he would object to " Me
polls," as each man on the pannel should be called
to be sworn. He said that a great number of the
pannel held places of emolument under the Crown,
and that they were removeable at pleasure : that
they might th'refore be supposed to labour wider
an undue influence. He intended to move that
44 triors" should be appointed to try and determine,