The Sun.
London, England, 1808-11-25 00:00:00

NAVAL OPERATIONS AN 'THE MEDITE.42.

RAN LAN.

•
• His Majesry's Ship Spartan, Sept, 213, iBOB.
We sailed from the Bty otitosa, crate the...4'h In-
=taut, in consequence of order:;' from Capiain
LEN-, of his: Majesty's :Ships Eagle, to prevent .as
unuch as po4sibl' the enemy from colleeting vess.el
on the'coast between Cape Creux and Cape Cou-.
ronne (high land near Marseille) on .the 6th we
Eitribcf- close into Cette,.and observed .a tintrak,r of
vessels in the harbour, which oar Captain (13:tr,N-
ToN)' thought might be burnt by means of.rookets;
ank whilst arrangenients were making for this pur-
pose, the Spartpn pruceededto reconnoitre the coast
to. the Eastward. •,

On the 7th, being off Cape Cauronne, perceiving
his Majesty's Ship Impericuse firing at some vessels
'in 'a small -bay near Cape Mejeau; in- the Bay .of
Marseilles, we joined in the attack ; and the boats,
under 'cover of the tire from the Ships; succeeded in
burning one felucca, and bringing off twO..-uore ; as
they were of little value, they were ordered to; be
destroyed. The Imperieuse had on this occasion one
rnan killed, aud the Spartan bad Lieutenant-Far,
TERELL, ROyal Marines, wounded slightly; Mr.
YurrnousEr, Master's Mate, and two seamen, all
•wounded severely, and one seaman killed. On the
Bth, a party from the Ships landed and blew up a
signal house and telegraph, in the Bay of Les
Saintes-Maries From this place we proceeded to
.the
three batteries of two24=pounders each, upon
the Isthmus of Lenore, Under the proieaion of
which a number of vessels were lying hauled up on
'the bead); Lord CoCIIRANE had reconnoitred them
some crayS befOre; landed and spiked one of the guns
upon the sauthernmast battery, near the village of
Cannet, but had riot force sufficient to destroy the
whole. On the I ill); the boats (at day;-ITv,ht).land-
ed and completed the destruCtion of that battery,
while the Ships prote6ted them by their tire from
the troops which were assembled. At one P. M.
the boats were fot'ined in two olivisiOns.; -the• first.
made a feint of landing near the village of Cemet,
by which weans the troops were all drawn to that
point ; the Ships immediately ran to attack the Cen7.,
tie battery, near the village bf St. Laurance, and the
second division having 'proceeded thus far, under
cover of the imperiedse, pushed forward, and carried
the northernmost battery, of which they spiked the

guns.
A large body of cavalry erideavoured• to cut off
the 'retreat of our people to the bOats, but tvere
soon turned by' the guns of the. imperieuse; which
his Lordship had anchored in the, most judicious
manner to proted them ; the centre battery was
most completely silenced by the fire from the
Ships, about five o'clock, when Lord COCHRANE
endeavoured to effect a landing, in order to burn the
villages, driVing the cavalry before hint with rockets.
The enemy had now colletied in great numbers,
with field-pieces, which rendered it necessary - tor
the boats to retreat, but not till a landing had taken-
place, one vessel blown up, and another set fire to;
the remainder were so, much damaged by the shot
frotn the ships as to render them unserviceable.
The Spartan had two 'wounded this day, and the,
lin.peritiufe one :, the damage done to the Ships was
very inconsidergble.
On the 14th; in the evening, we 'arrived off
Cette, and anchored just out of gun-shot of the bat-

teries. At tnidnigidall our boats were sent in, un-

der the direaion.ot Lieutenant WILLIS, first of the
Spartan, to to burn the shipping, for
which purpose he took station within three quar-
ters of a milt of the:Mole.. Such of the.rockets,..as
were in good order tell either into the harbour or
over the town; severa} of them continued burning a
considerable time, but Meeting with nothing cont
bustible, produced no eifei.c.t, -by far the grater part
being damaged, either burnt in the boats, or went
very little distance : the batteries kept up a constant,
fire, but providentially no person was hurt.
On the 12th, running along the coast near Mont-
pellier, another party Was landed, which blew up
two custom-houses,• brought. off their books and a
number of small arms,
.burnt two pontoons of the
canals, and some guard-houses.
On the I 3th, at ten p. m. nine Sail were seen com-
ing round the Point de Figue, to which we gave
Chace,. and at four p. in. captured six of them near
the Vigie ou Boudinie, viz.—One Ship, three Brigs,
a Xebec or Bombard, -and a Tartan as they had run
on shore, we anchored near them, and a gale from
the N. W. Obliged. us • to continue in that situation
until this day: The: intperieuse has gone to .gesas
with' three. of the prizes, and two ,are gone to
,;Gi-
braltar.

,
• .I.OTu LOCIIIfANeS conduct, daring this service,
deserves every praise. It was, throughout, .a• most
animating example of intrepidity, zeal, prolessi6nal
skill and resources, which will he :treasured up in
the memory of all who witnessed it. .
Captain BEPWION'S unremiited exertions and.un-
wearied zeal, have, if possible, endeared him more
than ever ,to every, Officer and'seaman in the Ship,
and deserve a more able panegyrist. •
Lieutenant WILLts has gained great credit for the
Manner in which he condi-I:Jed the attack upon Cette.
Had' the rockets Leen good, we should have had
complete success.' • •
„
•Leutenants- MAPLETON and JOHNSON, of the Ini
perieuse, and Lieutenant BAumGARDT, of the Spar-
tan, each superintended a rocket-boat, and evineed
the greatest coolness and judgment ; these .Officers
were also employed in all the landing parties. in
short,' the exertions of all the Officers and _men of
both Ships were highly meritorious. •

An-Arnerican Captain-gravely informs the Editor
of a New York Paper, that he spoke a British Expe-
dition under the command of General MIRANDA, do
its way for South 'America, to assist the VatriOts
there'! General MIRANDA- is at this 010illellt in
London, where he has been for a twelvemonth past.

•
Wednesday a Council was held to receise the RE-
CORDER'§ report'of the felons capitally convicted at
the last Sessions in the Old Bailey,. when we under-
stand His MAJESTY was graciously pleased to respite
them all timing his (Royal pleasure, except a man'of,
the name of Neighbour, found guilty vt a most de-
testable eritne, who was ordered for execution next
Wedpesday, • —• • • •••' •