The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-27 00:00:00

a We have at last had a most severe action with our
adversary's squadron on the 11th, which lasted nearly four
hours and a half, the particulars of which I will give from
our starting from Lisbon. The enemy came out of the
Tagus on the 11th of September, composed of the fel-
! lowing vessels : --the Doss John Vl., mounting St guns,
with 860 men ; the Princess Real, frigate, mounting
51 32-pounders, cerronades, and 560 men ; the Cvbele
' corvette, 2S 32-pounders and 250 men ;
Maria corvette, 26 32-pounders and 250 men ; the Audaz
brie, 20 guns and 180 men ; the Tejo brig, 16 guns and
160 men, besides two or three battalioes of troops on
board, and a steamer laden with artillery and 120 soldiers,
destined to be landed north of Oporto for the besieging
army, with which the fleet were to co-operate. Oar
allies, the small fry belonging to the squadron, had not
joined us, consequently our force only amoented to our
two frigates, the brig Twenty-third of July, 18 bad
guns, and 90 men (Portuguese), the Eugenie schooner,
one swivel 12-pounder, with a few small suns, and 50
men, together with two steamers. As usual, we took our
stations, on their gaining an offing, on the enemy's
weather bean), within about two gun—hots, and dm- f
lowed to watch their motions, until we cool i receive an
accession of strength to attack them. Towards the evening
one of their brigs, carrying whole top-sails and top-
gallant-sails, with a stiff breeze, lost both her top-masts,
when we immediately closed, in the hopes of being
able to disperse or cut off either her or some of the
other vessels ; but old Don Felix established so compact
a cordon round their object of distress, that we found it
impossible to gain any advantage, and taey kept edging
sway to the southward, as we itnaained, to prevent our rea
inforcement finding us The following snorting at 7
o'clock the signal man repotted the enemy's steamer to be
in a sinking state, at that time about one mile astern of
their fleet, and in about five minutee after we observed
her founder; the frigate having then only just tacked to
mist her, consequently leads us to infer the total loss of
life as well as vessel. Two days elapsed before the brig
replaced her top-toasts, dining which period we got down
as far as Cape St. Vincent, where we despatched one of
the steamers to give intelligence of our movements, bud
instructions to our small craft, and three days after the
other. The enemy then stood to the north west under
easy sail, hovering about without any app trent plan or
intentions until the 20th, when we che-ed a- d ceptnred
almost under their guns a fine Government Indtam in bound
to Lisboa, pierced for 36 guns, !nit only 10 on belief, with
200 men, a rich cargo, and 20 000 dollars in cash ; after
taking possession of and despatching her,we lost sieht of our
twig and schooner in the night, and three days aft,rveards
found the Donna Maria had parted company, le tying us
the solitary guardian of the Miguelite squadron. Notwith-
standing, however, this critical posiim, the Admiral was
emlved not to abandon our post without diisco%eting the
i etentions of the enemy, and if possible to allure them in
tie direction of our resources; consequently we kept almost
within gun-shot of them, without an attempt on their
part to chase or bring us to action, until the 28th, when
within a sew hours' sail of Oporto we ran in, witnessed
the tremendous action ashore of the 29. h, and the same ti-iy
Nere fortunately joined by the frigate, the brig, the
schooner, and all the small craft that had been cobbled up
for us at Oporto, composed of the following force, indepen-
dent of those already described, namely,—The Portu-
guese , a splendid corvette of 20 24-pounders, carionades,
with 130 men, English, but shamefully equipped, as
badly armed, and not having ten rounds of shot belong-
ing to her; the Constitution, one of our prize barks
(without bulwarks) armed sad found much in the same
style, with one swivel 18-pounder and 10 12-pounders,
and sixty Englishmen ; the Mtndello btig, one
swivel 18 pounder and twelve small guns. with sixty
Portuguese, commanded by an English Lieutenant;
the Regencia, a clumsy merchant corvette, mounting
sixteen guns (good) with one bundred men, commanded
sty a Portuguese Post-captain ; the Villa Flor, beautiful
man-of-war brig, mounting 16 guns, commanded and
manned by Portuguese. On the scorning of the 30th we
made sail to the northward along the coast, where we
neard the enemy had been seen by the Britton frigate, and
the next day took in pilots off Vigo, who inf,rmed us that
they had gone into the bay, but on finding we were in pur-
suit, ran up and anchored under the batteries of Vigo. On
the 2d we consequently followed in, and anchored inside
the Bayonna islands, having received peremptory orders
from the authorities not to anchor near the town, our
flag never having been recognized by Spain. This the
Admiral said he could not consent to, unless he was sup-
plied with water and fresh provisions, which they
readily assented to, putting us however in quarantine;
at all events we had a run on the deserted islands of
Bayonna, shot rabbits, and watched the motions of our
adversaries whilst they were sharing the favours and
hospitality of their friends and allies in despotism.
During this interlude some little irregularity on board the
Donna Maria obliged the Admiral to hoist his flag there,
whither 1, as chief of the staff, of necessity followed,
though we despaired of seeing the squadron conic out, and
made up our minds to blockade and prevent their carrying
assistance to the army. The Admiral made every arrange-
ment and preparation to assist at any moment they might
make the attempt, giving to each vessel a station which was
to be assumed without the necessity of further signalizing,
immediately the flag ship began the contest, and his plan of
action was as follows : —The two frigates on the Don John:,
the Portuense, Constitution, Villa -Nor, and Regencia,
on the frigate; whilst the Mendello and Twenty third of
July attacked and drew the attention of the smaller ves-
sels (the schooner having been despatched to Oporto).
Notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy and the
miserable condition of our small vessels, with this admi-
rable and well-judged arrangement we felt confident of the
most decided success if the c easels did their duty, and felt
delighted on seeing the enemy, at day-break on the 10th,
standing down from their anchorage, which we nu soonee
observed than we were all under weigh, following theta
out by the South Channel with light winds, which became
so baffling, with intermediate calms, that we did not gain
an offing before the middle of the day, and were then
obliged to employ the steamers at two cifferent periatis tors
tow up our small craft, particularly the Regcncia arid Villa
Flur, that appeared to hang back considerably. It was
midnight before we got anything like a breeze, when the
Admiral resolved on bearing down and commencing the
action; for although the smell craft were a gored deal
astern, we calculated on their coming up shortly and as-
sutning their assigned poste with the same light breeze that
enabled the two frigates to close ; and at a quarter past
one, after throwing a few Cungreve rockets, we opened
tire on the Don John (being then within gripe range on
her beam), which was smartly returned by her, as well as
the frigate, which, not being attacked, according to the
Arbil iral's instructions, came up to the Don John's as-
sistance, and really, with the rest of their squadron, keep.
ing up as warm and well-directed a fire as ever I before
witnessed on our two frigates, but principally on our flag
ship, for the space of four hours, during which period none
of the small craft took up their pusitiene ; the Regencio
kept close hauled on our weather quarter, and the rif/a.
Flor went on the other tack. The Twenty-third 0.1,14,4 y,
Captain Nlorgall, alone coming into action, placing her-
self most gallantly on our lee quarter, although little
could be expected from the assistance of her small
The result of all this was, that we were crippled, riddled
in the hull, and so dreadfully cut to pieces in tee eaile an.l
rigging, that we could with diffieulty work the whip; bow-.
ever, having several of the larls.seril guilt diemoenteds we
put about to attack on the starboard side, when we were
riot, I assure you, sorry to see the enemy heat up end in -Ice
soil to the S.W., fur our masts and yarn, were so miserably
wounded, and our cartridges nearly expended, having shoe
sway 1,500, that we should have been quits un•tble iA
five minutes more to have continued the action, H.,w wa
escaped ae we did, under the clew tire ,-f thinso heavy veesela
so lung, is quite a miracle, our killed anti esmundwi being
as follows :—Our three ships—the Donna Maria, 36
killed and wounded ; the Rein/in de Poritiyal, three
killed ; the little Twenty-third of J sly, one killed at:d
seven wounded ; and the Portuense, which ots pea.ing
the Don John, towards the close of the action, received
the last effusions of her wrath, had one killed, but
none wounded. I assure you it was as hot work as I
leer wish to see. We received 100 shot in the Donna
.)?aria's hull, were twice set on fire by the enemy's fire-
, balls, besides the damage of mast and rigging, the
splinters from which, coupled with the shot that were
showering about our ears the whole tittle, renders it really
Officult to account how so meny of ue are still alive. The
men positively fought with the moat intrepid gallantry, and
of the same time with as much collected coolness es can be
imagined under such circumstanced. Poor fellows, if the
rest of our squadron had fulfilled the Admiral's express ine
structions, they would must inevitably have becrt !tide to
call every vessel of the enemy's squadron e
prate uelare
the sun rose that morning. However, we are all ready
for them again now, having_ patched up every tiling as
well as possibl-, and taken in a supply ~f
&c. ; and it 14 the intention of the A itniral to dieehargo
everyone of the small vessels in:mu:Ai aely our new lrigete
joins us, which we are every moment expi_esing. For the
world in general, and particularly the mane unskilled
iu the knowledge of such affairs, judee by tick numb-r of
our vessels? and thus discredit is thru vn upon the Admiral