The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-11 00:00:00

BLOCKADFI OF TAItItAGONA.

CAPTURE of a BRITISH VESSEL by the FRENCH.
BRITISH VicE-CoN9uLAI E, l'Aitumwx,t, Sept. 14

Sut—l beg leave to inform you, that 011 the 7th
hut. I dispatched tire English brig Merchant's Friend, Capt.
Andrew 111‘Cullock, for Palma, in the Island of Majorca, in
ballast and passengers. To my great surprise, I have this
morning received an expreris from Mr. Miro, Vice. Consul at
Villanueva, informing me that said brig had been detained by
the French squadron, and carried into Sieges as a prize. The
brig sailed from Tarragona at five p. m. on the 7th; at eight
p.m. they fell in with the blockading fleet, a brig, a schooner,
a xebeck, and a felucca. The schooner ordered M'Cullock on
;board, anti about an hour afterwards sent back the boat without
the Captain, and ordered the brig to follow the schooner, which
she did all night.; and the next day, afternoon, they spoke the
squadron which hlockadsayour port, and M'Cullock was passed
over to one of those vessels, and signals made for the schooner
to carry the brig to Sitges, where they anchored, at 10 a. n►. of
the 9th. The passengers were sent on shore, passports exa-
mined, and found in order, which the authorities offered to en.
dorse i►nmediately, for any place in possession of the French
troops, but not to any one under the Spanish Gover►►ment.
The passengers all began to land their effects without the
least hindrance, and the schooner sent on hoard, took away the
brig's rudder, unbent all her sails, and placed her, close under
a battery.

The schooner then sailed towards your port. The French,
it seems, want to make a prize of her, on the plea of her having
sailed from a blockaded port. I am, &c.

(Signed) J. W. SIMONS, ViceXonsul
M. F. Baker, Esq..
In charge of the British Consulate,. Barcelona.

Joseph 'Miro, his 13rhannic Majesty's Vice-Consul for the ports
of Villanueva and Sitges, appointed by, and acting on be.
half of P. C. Tupper, Esq., his Majcity's Consul.Gener3l
for the province of Catalonia,

Do hereby certify to all to whom it may concern, that MI this
fourteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-three, came and appeared, Captain Andrew APCullock,
of the Bride)) brig Ilfeeehaut's Friend, belonging to the, port
of Sunderland, burden one hundred and one tons, who being
duly sworn, did declare and depose to me, to the purport fol-
lowing, viz.
On Sunday, the 7th instant, I sailed from Tarragona, bound
to Palma, In the Wand of Majorca, With passengers, consist-
ing in the English Vice-Consul's filthily, likewise the Ame-
rican Vice-Consul's family, and. several Spanish gentlemen,
with .their luggage. At 7 P.M. I was detained by a French
schooner of war, the comniander whereof ordered me to go on
board. I told him that as my boats were all in, I would thank
hint to send his hiett alongside my brig, as toy going on board
the schooner would eubject me to 'perform quarantine on my
arrival at Palma. Ile repliedehe had no boat; I then got out
mine and Went alongside, in ease he should wish .to look at my
papers, with a light, not beiog prudent to go on board a
strange vessel at that hour of the night ; he utterly refused, so
doing, and ordered hie people in my heat to take me up by
force ; at the same time ordered to fire in my boat when I wait
on board of her. I was led to the cabin, when I presented my
bill of health to the Commander, and toll hint that my Cusp
tont.ilouse clearances being on board, if he thought proper,
I would, bring them for his inspection, hut he told me that
there was no need thereof. Ito made me understand by one
of his people that I ought to go on heard of a French brig of
war, and to speak with the Commodore, there hying no person
on board that could read the hill of health. I was then sent
in the scbsioner's boat on board the brig, the Captain whereof
told me that my vessel was a prize, and that I should bc
sent to France. I then told hitu I would take no further charge
of my vessel. I was then ordered into the boat, and convey.
ed again on board the schooner. On my arrival alongside,
I advised my mate that I hail no further charge of the,vessel.
—As soon as I arrived on board .the schooner, I watt put
both legs in irons ; they then bundled nte'down between decks,
and clapped me, without any thing to lay on except the planks.
At eight A.M., E requested to go on deck, which was complied
with; but shortly afterwards I was slapped down again. I de-
sired the commander of the schooner to send his boat on board
my brig, for a few clean cloths and other stores, but he refused
doing so. At noon, on deck, my brig in company with the
schooner. On Tuesday, the 9the front noon till seven P.M. on
deck ; I was then taken below, and the irons put on again. The
remainder of the night nothing strange occurred. At eight A M.
the commander of the schooner went on board the Gazelle Fredult
brig of war, and shortly afterwards returned, when he ordered
the irons off. I was then sent on board the aforesaid brig, the
Lieutenant whereof told me that I was at liberty to walk upon
deck, and remain on board the Gazelle waiting orders front the
French Admiral oil' Barcelona. On Wednesday, the 10th,
the whole of these '24 hours on board the brig Gazelle, I' in.:
quired of a person on hoard the name of the schooner that de-
tained my vessel, end found her to be the French shooter
.baguet. This morning, at seven, I obtained permitetion front
the Captain of the Gazelle to send one of his boats for some ne-
cessaries that I wanted. 11Iy mate canraalong side, but I was
not slowed to speak with him, and had a note from him inform-
ing me the crew had refused to 4o their duty, considering the
vessel was a prize. On Friday, the 12th, nothing particular
happened—these 24 hours on board the Gazelle. On Saturday,
the 13th, the forepart of these 24 hours nothing partieular oc-
curred. At eight P.M., came to for a French frigate, anti the
Captain of the Gazelle went on board ; about half an hour af-
terwards he returned, and informed me I could take 'charge or.
my vessel, take my pessengere on board, and go where I thought
proper. At nine; am. was Ireton board. The mate informed
the they hail unbent the sails, cut my ropes, all seasons, that
cairne in their way, my able ruined, for want of service; about
.50 fathoms front the end, and they behaved with the utmost
rudeness to my passengers and ship's company.
Wherefore be, the said master, has desired this minute of
protestlo be tinted agaiOist such art inault, and for all damages
sustained, to serve and avail for the purpose required, in time
`and place convenient. - •
(Signed) ANDREW ›PCULLOCK.

Thus swirn, declared, and protested before me, in Villa-
nueva, the day, month, anti year before written, which I here-
by attest under my hand and 3enl of office,

(Signed) JoSidril MIRO, Vice-Consul.

Thursday morning 2 convicts under sentence
of transportation, were token from Nevvgate to
Sheerness, and put on board the Retribution
hulk, preparatory to their going to New South
Wales. Yesterday morning at an early hour 20
mote were rempved for the same destination ;
amongst whom ware 13P1111111t1, warehouseman to
Mr. Ben-ley, printer, in Fleet-street, for steal-
ing several copies of Lingard's qf Eng•
land, and Mr. Cabuac, bookseller, for receiv-
ing the same.