The Sun.
London, England, 1814-03-07 00:00:00

From TWE LONDON GAZgTTE, MARCH 5.

timiralty-Gyiec, .11f arch 6, 1814:

'Copy of a. Letter from Admiral Lord KEITH, K. B. to J earl
Wit.soN.Cicolmn.,- Dig. dated on board leis Majesty's ship
York, in Camsand Bay, the 2d inst.

SIR—I have the honour to inclose, for the
iir-
forutation of .the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, a copy of a letter from Capt. Philli-
more, reporting the capture of La Clurinde
French frigate, after a most severe conflict, on
the evening of the, 25th tilt. between her and the
Eurotas an action which reflects tint highest
honour upon the, bravery and professional skill
of. Capt. Philliinore and his officers, and upon
the valour and good conduct of his crew. Capt.
has been severely wounded on the oc-
casion, but I entertain a flattering hope that his
Pilliesty's service, and the country at large, will
tint lotiebe deri-ved of the services of NO valuable
an officer. have' the honour to he, &c. -

KEITH, Admiral.

Ilis ;Majesty's ship Eurotas, Plymouth Sonnet, March t•

MY Loab,-1 have. the honour to. inform your,
Lordship,' that his Atijety's ship under my pun-
.
tumid, parted contpany from the Rippon on Mon:'
'Flay night, the 21st nit, in chase of a vessel which
proved to
.be a Swedish merchant ship, and on
Friday the 25th, in 'endeavouring to rejoin the
ippon, being then lute.. 47.40. north, and long.
9. 30. west, we perceived a sail upon the lee-beam,
to which we gave chase. We soon.discovered her
to be ati enemy's frigate, and tbat'she was enilea-
;:rvouring-.to out manceuvre us in
.bringing her to
action ; but having much the advantage in sailing„
(although the wind had unfortunately died away)
vive were, enabled at ,about' five o'Clock tq pass
under het stern, hail her, and commence close
IVhen receiving her broadside, and pass-
im; to her bow, our wizen-mast was shot away.
I then ordered the helm to be put down to lay her
,aboard, but the wreck of our wizen-mast lying on
our quarter, prevented this desirable object from
being accomplished. •

s.ctien:

The eaemy just passed clear of us, and both
officers'and men of the Enrotas renewed the ac-
tion with the most determined bravery and reso-
lution, while the enemy re: tuned our tire in a
warm and gallant 'manner. • We snceeeded in rak-
ing her ag;lin, and then lay broadside to broadside ;
at 6, 20. our main-mast fell by the board, the ene-
my's mizen, mast falling at the same time ; at 6,-
50. our fore-mast fell, and the enemy's main-mast
almost -immediately afterwards. At ten minutes
after 7, she slackened her tire, but having her fore-
mast standing, she succeeded
.withlier, foresail in'
getting out of range. ,During the whole of the
action we kept up a heavy and well-directed fire ;
rot do I know. which most to admire, the seamen
at the great guns, 'hr the marines with their small
arkps, they vying with each other, who should
most annoy the enemy.
I was at this time so much exhausted by toss
of blood, from the wounds I had received in the
early part of the action from a grape shot, that I
found it impossible for me to remain anylonger
upon deck. I was therefore under the painful ne7
cessity 'of desiring Lieut. Stnith‘ (First Lieutenant)
to take the command of the quarter-deck, and
to clear the wreck of the foremast and mainmast,
which then lay nearly fore and aft the deck, and
to make sail after thc enemy; but, at -the same
time, I had the satisfaction of reflecting that, I
bad left the command in the hands of an active
and zealous, officer.

tire kept sight of the enemy during the night,
by means of boats, sails, and a.jigger on the en-
sign St.,afT ; and before twelve o'clock the next
day; Lieutenant Smith reported to me, that by the
great -exertion of every 'officer and man, jury
courses, top-sails, s:ay-sails, and spanker, were
set in chase of the enemy, who had not even
cleared away bisiwreck, and that we were com-
ing np.with her very fast, going at the rate of
six and a halt knots thatthe decks were perfectly
clear, and that-the officers and men were as eager
to renew the. action as they were to commence it ;
hut to the great mortification of every one on
board, we perceived two, sail on -the lee bqw,
which proved to be the Driad , and 4ch.ates, and
'they-having crossed the enemy (we otily, four miles
distant) before we could get sip to her, deprived
its of the gratification of having her colours hauled.
down to us-.

, T,he enemy's frigate proved to be the Clorinde,
Captain Dennis Legard, mounting 44 guns, with
four brass swivels on each top,_ and a complement
of 360 picked men.
kis with sincere regret I have to state that
our loss is considtrable, baying 20 killed' and 40
wounded ; and I most• sincerely lament the loss
Of three tine young midshipmen,; two of whom
bad served the whole of their time with me, and.
‘v*ho all yrotnised to be ornaments to the service.
Among the wounded is Lieutenant Foord, of the
Royal Marines, who received a grape-shot in his
gallanth' heading- his party.
1 learn from. Monsieur Gerrard, one of Ae
Trench oftieeTrs,' that they calctilate their loss on
board the Clorinde at 120 men! It is therefore
_unnecessary for nie to particularise the exertions_
or every individual on hoard this ship, on the
promptness with •Nyl4l) every order was put into
ekeedtion by so young a ship's company ; but 1
must beg leave so mention the able assistance
whieb receiveii from Liewenants Smith, Graves,
'Randolph, and lleckhani, Mr. Beaduell, the Mas-
ter, and Lieutenant Foord and Council, of, the
Royal Marir.es ; the vory great skill and' attention
shewu by Mr. Thomas Cooke Jones, Surgeon, in
the discharge of ins important ; the active
serti'ices of Mr. J. Brya'n, the Purser, and - the
xvliole of-the Warrant Officers, v-ith all the Mates
and Midshipmed, whom I-beg leave most strongly