The National Register.
London, England, 1813-05-16 00:00:00

MAY 16.

LOSS ♦)F 7WE PEACOCK.

AMERICAN ACCOUNT.
Fitom THE BOSTON CENTINEL, MARCH 24.
'fltefollowi.ig are the Hornet's Log book Minute. s of the victory
off Surinam, 23ti February
Tanrsday, Feb. 25, 1813; at half past three p.m. discovered a
strange sail hearing down fin- us : at 20 minutes atter four, she
hoisted English colours : at half past few,- beat to (palters and
cleared ship fur action, awl hauled close by the wind in order to get
the weather gamic of her : at ten minutes after tire, in passing
each other, exchanged broadsides within pistol shot. The enemy
then wore, and gave us their starboard broadside. I bore lip close
on ber starboard quarter, and kept up such a heavy and well direct-
ed tire, that in less than t 5 minntes she made the signal of swains-
lion, being cut to pieces ; in live minutes after, her main mast
went by the board ; sent our First Lieutenant who reported her to
be his Britanic Majesty's brig Peacock, mounting 19 guns, and 131
men ; that her Commander, C ptain PEAKE, was killed in the ac-
tion, and she was sinking fast; dispatched tax boats immediately
to take out the wounded and the rest of the prisoners and brought
both vessels to anchor, but notwithstanding oar exevtions to save
them, she unfortunately slink, carrying down 17 of her crew and
three of my brave felinws. Lieutenant CoNNER, Midshipman
Coopen, and the remainder of our men employed in getting out
the prisoners with difficulty saved themselves, by jumping into one
of her boats stowed in the booms. Four men were taking from the
tnretop by our boats. We had ones man killed and two slightly
wounded : the enemy had eight kilted and 27 wounded. 'The Hor-
net arrived off the Kneyard on Friday last, and sailed on Satur-
day. She had on board 90,000 dollars in specie at the time of the
action with the Peacock."

Mr. BROUGHAM is returned to PatDement for a Borough
in the West.
EAST INDIA FLEET.—We have the satisfaction to an-
nounce the safe arrival of the East India fleet in the Downs.
The arrivals are, the Dover Castle, Lady Castlereagh, and
Earl St. Vincent, from Madras; the Surrey, Walthamstow,
Bengal, Asia, Astell, Prince Regent, Tigris, and Sir W. Bens-
ley, from Bengal ; as also the Regent and Sir W. Burroughs,
country ships, and the Guildford transport; the General
Graham, and Admiral Gambier, from China; several
whalers, and a rich American prize. The Java, a valuable
ship from Batavia and China, patted from the fleet on the
30th March, in !at 2 30. long. 36 10. and is the only miss-
ing ship. The Captain of the General Graham died on the
p issage.
Mr. W. Fi rzoEit ALD brought forward the Irish Budget
on Ft iday night in the House of Commons.—The Loan, it
will be seen, has been obtained on very favourable terms.
The new taxes are to consist of an inciease of the Customs
Dritics to the amount of 25 per cent. an advance of the
duties on Windows, Male-servants, Carriages, Horses, and
French Wines. •
A long Debate took place in the House of Lords on Fri-
day night, on a motion submitted by Lord DARNLEY, for
emptily into the conduct of our naval force in the contest
with Arnetica.—All the topics which have been urged in the
public prints on this subject were insisted upon. and the
charges against the Admiralty repeated with extreme confi-
dence. To these accusations clear and satisfactory answers
were given by Lord MEt.vit.t.v, Lord BA [HURST. Lord
LIVERPOOL, and other Noble Pees; and in conclipion,
the House divided, and the motion was negatived by a majo-
rity of 66 —the numbers, with proxies on. both sides, being
125 for, and 59 against it.
On Wednesday the PR,NCE REGENT gave a grand ball
and supper, to about 350 of the nobi,ity and persons of dis-
tinction, At t. arlton-house. The arrangements were similar
to those at the ball and supper given by the P iiscp on the
sth of February, in honour of her MAJES CY's l,irth day.
The QUEEN And PRINCESSES arrived at 21 quarter past nine
o'clock in their chats.

L REGISTER.