The National Register.
London, England, 1811-11-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Captain Beaver, of the Nisus, Senior Officer at the Isle
of France, and transmitted by the latter to John Wilson
Croker, Esq.
His Majesty's Ship Astrza, off Foul Point,
Madagascar, May 21,1811.
Sia—l had the honour of communicating to you, from off
Round Island, my determination to quit that station, in order
to follow the three enemy's frigates with troops on board, which
bad appeared off Mauritius on the 7th instant, and also my
reasons for supposing they would push for a near point, perhaps
Tamatave.

I have now the satisfaction to report to you, that the enemy
were discovered on the morning of the 20th instant, far to wind-
ward, and well in with the land, near Foul Point, Madagascar.
The signal to chase was promptly obeyed by his Majesty's ships
Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse sloop. The weather was most
vexatiously variable during the whole of the day, which, com-
bined with the efforts of the enemy to keep to windward, ren-
dered it impossible to close them until nearly four o'clock, when
(the Astrza being about a mile a-head and to windward) they
wore together, kept away, and evinced a disposition to bring us
to action. The enemy then commenced firing ; I regret to say,
at a long range, which soon so effectually produced a calm to
leeward, as to render our squadron unmanageable for three
hours. No exertion was omitted to bring his Majesty's ships
into close action, during this very critical and trying pericid;
but all was ineffectual. The enemy's rear frigate neared the
Astrssa a little, who lay on the water, almoit immoveable; only
occasionally bringing guns to bear, while his van and centre
ship, preserving a light air, succeeded in rounding the quarter
of the Placebe and Galatea, raking them with considerable effect,
for a long time.
At this, his favourite distance, the enemy remained until
nearly dark, when a light air enabled the Phoebe to close the
near frigate, in a good position to bring her to a decisive action.
In half an hour she was beaten. Her night signals drew the
other two frigates to her assistance, the Phcehe was in conse-
quence obliged to folloi.v the Galatea, which ship brought up
the breeze to me. At this time I was hailed by Captain I.osack,
who informed me that the Galatea had suffered very consider-
ably, and as she was passing under my lee, I had the mortifi-
cation to see her mizen, and soon after, her foretop-masts fall.
Having shot a-head, she made a night signal of distress, and
being in want of immediate assistance, I closed to ascertain the
cause, when I was again hailed by Captain Losack, and informed
that the Galatea was so totally disabled as to prevent her head
being put towards the enemy to renew the action, as I before
had directed.

My determination was immediately communicated to Capt.
Hillyar to recommence action, when the Phoebe was in a state
to support me. She was promptly reported ready, although
much disabled. The A-;:r:ca then wore, and led towards the
eherny, followed by the Racehorse and Phoebe; the conduct of
which ship, as a British man of war, did honour to all on bo.:rd.
The enemy was soon discovered a little a-head, and his leading
ship, the Cutnmodore, was brought to close action by the Asti xa.
In 25 minutes she struck, and made the signal to that effect,
having previously attempted to lay us athwart hawse, under a
heavy fire of grape and musketry from all parts of the ship.
Another frigate, on closing, struck, and made the signal also : but
on a shot being fired at her, from her late Commodore, she was
observed trying to escape. Chace was instantly given, and con-
tinued till two o'clock in the morning, with all the sail both ships
were enabled, from their disabled state, to carry; when 1 judg-
ed it advisable, as she gained on us, to wear for the purpose of
covering the captured ship, and forming a junction (if possible)
with the Galatea. At this moment the Phoebe's foretop-masts
fell : sight of the Galatea or captured ship was not regained until
day light, when to the credit of Lieutenants Roger (Second of
the Astrza) and Drury (R. M.) who with five men were all that
could be put en board the latter in a sinking boat, she was ob •
served making an effort to join us, a perfect wreck.

The captured fi igate proves to be La Renommee, of the tlrst
class (as are the other two) of 44 guns, and 470 men (20D of
whom were picked troops) commanded by Capitaine de Vaisseau
(with Commodore's rank) Roquebert, Officier de la Legion
d'Honneur, who fell when gallantly fighting his ship. The Se-
nior Officer of the troops, Col. Barrois, Membre de la Legion
d'Honneur, is dangerously wounded. The ship that struck and
escaped, was La Clorinde ; the one disabled by the Phsebe, La
Nereide, having each 200 troops on board, besides their crews.
This squadron escaped from Brest on the night of the 2d Fe-

bruary, and was destined to reinforce Mauritius, having arms
and various other warlike stores on board.

I beg to apologize for so lengthened a detail; but few actions
have been fought under such a variety of peculiarly trying and
vexatious difficulties. I am, however, called upon by my fee!.
ings and a sense of my duty, to bear testimony to the merito-
rious conduct of the Officers and ships' companies of his Ma-
jesty's ships Plicebe and Astra. To the discipline of the for-
mer I attribute much ; but as Capt. Hillyar's merit as an Officer
is so generally, and, by you, so particularly appreciated, it is
needless for me to comment on it, further than to observe, that
the separation of the Galatea was amply compensated by the
exertion manifested in the conduct of the ship be had the ho-
nour to command.

To the Officers, seamen, and marines of the Astrsea, I ant for
ever indebted; their cool and steady conduct when in close ac-
tion with the enemy, and on fire in several places from his wad-
ding, merits my admiration (particularly having been so recently
formed). A difference in the personal exertion of each Officer,
was nue distinguishable; but I cannot allow the efforts and judg-
ment of Lieut. John Baldwin, first of this ship, to pass without
particular encomium ; I received the greatest assistance from
him, and also from Mr. Neilsen, the master.
'lhe moment the Phoebe and Astrza are in a state to get to
windward, the prisoners exchanged, and La Renomrnee render-
ed sea-worthy, I shall proceed off Tamatave, for further infor-
mation, as I have reason to think it in possession of the enemy.
I have the honour to transmit returns of the killed and wound-
ed on board his Majesty's ships. The loss on board La Renom-
mee is excessive—one hundred and forty-five killed and wound-
ed. Galatea having parted company, no return.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) C. M. SCHOM BERG, Captain.
Captain Beaver, his Majesty's ship Nisus,
Senior Officer at the Isle of France.
List of Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship
Astrza, in Action with the Enemy on the 20th bay of May,
1811, off Madagascar.
KILLEn.—John Williams (1.), and Richard Wharton.
WOUNDE '
D.—LOUiS Callte 'Thomas Henley, Michael Dunn,
George 1 .ee, George Snook, George Cuthbert, Stephen Brown,
John 'Wright, Thomas Reit, William Wilcox, Garret Burnt',
Thomas Curdall, Jacob Debar, William Allen, Joseph Trotter,
and John Baldwin.—Total killed and wounded-18.
(Signed) C. M. SC HOMBI. it ; , Captair.
List of Killed and Wounded on board His Majesty's Ship
Phoebe, in Action with the Enemy on the 20th Day of May,
1811, off Madagascar.
KlLLx.n.—James M‘Mullen, John Wright, Thomas Guest,
James Weir, Peter Lockwood, and Thomas smith.
SYVERELY WOUNDILH.—Mr. John Wilkey, George Scargill,
John Lee, John Dixon, John Roberts, Henry *Quintenburne,
Alexis Bernette, John Gillen, William James, Peter Swift, and
William Knight (since dead).
SLIGHTLY Wourinzo.—John Earl, John Thomas, Jahn
Smith, David M'Lachlan, John Hodskins Matthew Scott,
Henry Carnel, James Mellbone, Richard Hughes (2), Duncan
Davidson, William Rybourne, John Roberts, Edward Owens,
and Charles Lamps.— Total killed and wounded-31.
(Signed) JAMES HILLY.' R, Captain.
List of Killed and Wounded on board his Majesty's Galatea,
Woodley Losaek, Esq. Captain, in Action with the French
Squadron off the Isle of Madagascar, on the 20th Day of May,
1811.
KILLED.—John Carroll, John Roberts, John M'Carthy,
James Varley, John Hendrickson, William Smith (8), James