The National Register.
London, England, 1809-12-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

DEC 24.

The inclosed letter from the Rear-Admiral will inform you
of the particulars of his proceedings : his arrargement for the re-
treat appeared to me to he so excellent, that 1 have giveu my
full approbation to the whole.
It has blown nn exceedingly heavy gale of wind from the
Westward shire my arrival in these roads, which has prevented
my going, as I intended, to the division under Commodore Owen
in the Slough passage, and the same Cause has prevented much
communication,here.
I have not received any reports from the Roompot ; but
send an extract of a letter from Commodore Owen, ad-
dressed to Rear-Admiral Otway, which will. inform you
of the proceediags of that Officer with the force under his
orders. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) J. R. STRACIIAN.

exsar, Randy, Dec. 11 , 1809.

St tt—l have the honour to communicate to you such circum-
stancec as have occurred previous to your arrival, and subse-
quent to my last official communication.
The transports necessary fur the embarkation of the army.
having arrived on the 25th ult. on the follow lug day the mea-
sures that 1 had previously concerted with Lieutenant-General
Don for the destruction of the basin, arsenal, and sea defences of
Pushing, agrecAle to instructions from the Earl of Li-
verpool, dated the 13th, and received on the 17th, were
begun.
On this service 630 seamen and artificers from the fleet were
employed, under the orders of Captain Moore, of his Majesty's
ship Marlborough, assi-ted by Captains Tomlinson and Hen-
derson, of the tire-ship service. The nay's, having completed the
portion of work allotted to them, and Cieutsinant-Colonel Pll-
- commanding the Royal Engineers, having reported to
Lieutenant-General Don that his mines for the destruction of the
gates and piers at the entrance of the basin were ready; the
whole army, with the exception of the rear guards; were ern•
harked on the afternoon of the 9th instant.

The mines were exploded yesterday at low water, and ap-
pear to have fully answered their object; the whole of the east
side of the basin had been previously completely destroyed ;
but as the port of Flushing, west of the basin, lies consi-
derably below the high water mark, any material it Id
the west hank would kayo caused the immediate inundation of
the whole town; therefore our work on that side has been
confined to the demolition of the careening wharf and
pits.
It was at first intended to defer the burning of the storehouse
and other buildings in the arsenal, until our final departure ; but
from the probability that with a strong east wind, the tames
might conumenieate to the town, the whole was set fire to yes-
terday, and is totally destroyed.
Thus Flushing is rendered useless to the enemy as a naval
arsenal; and the basin, A huh tifforded very secure retreat for
several ship of the line during the winter, is for the pre.,ent
etfectnally destroyed, ;nil can only be restored by great labour,
and at an immense ex pence.
I cannot conclude without expressing my great obligations
to Capt. Moore, for the able assistance he has rendered toe in
the performance of a very complicated service; and he speaks
in terms highly satisfactory of the conduct of Captains 'f
linson and Henderson, and the other oilicers who served under
his orders on shore.

I have the honour to he, &e. W. A. ()TWAY, Rear-Adm.
Rear-Adin. Sir It. Stradian, K. B. Cotamaiider Ciaief, 6.7 c.

Clvde, in the Veer Grit, /Jct. 8, ISO 9.

Stn,—Last night the enemy worked very hard at the battc:-T
on Wool versrl.: ke, notwithliding the coot Meted fire kept on it.
At v-light this mornii4, he had opened four embrit,tires in
it. Ciptain Cr.rieret, therefore, poAted two subdivisieriis of
the gun-houts forward a.:-.:tinst it, w hie!' completely succeed.(!
in (kmoli.shlii...; two of the embrasures, and in injurin the otin iis
very nutted:illy.
About noon, three mortars were brought down : and, with a
tic!d-piece, opened against our ve=gels (the h: i;,5 more
ally :) but, after about an hours tiring, in which their b 11C113
were-thrown with some preci6on, hot without effect, they
were completely sileared, and our vessels kept their ground.
About this time the guard-luts entered the Cross Channcl
which unites the two pasl:es 0. ke, to endeavour to
tow a fl tt-boat, which was lost last night from the Pallas's stern,
!icing owautp.d and over:;et; they but her in tow, but she :LS