The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-29 00:00:00

ACTION

BETWEEN ENGLISH MERCHANT VESSELS AND
THE SPANISH FLOTILLA AT CADIZ.

CADIZ, JUNE B.—M. F. Serapin, the Com-
mander of the Flotilla of Guarda Costa, has ad-
pressed to M. Michel Boltri, the Intendant of the
Navy of the Province of Cadiz, the following official
Report :
During the night of the 29th of May, one of the
vessels under my command sunk, off Rota, a smug-
gling ship, under English colours, commanded by
Mr. John Rafael, and armed with two great guns.
After this first success, I sailed in the night of the
30th with three vessels, towards the bar of Terrors,
where I arrived the following day. There I found
the English brig Packet, Captain Charles Velasco,
armed with two twelve-pounders, and eight car-
ronades, besides muskets, and a crew of 41 men,
The ship Invincible, belonging to the same nation,
Captain Anthony Romero, armed with four car-
ronades, two large guns, and other fire arms,
and a crew of 20 men; and lastly; the Minerva,
likewise an English ship, armed as the former.
These three vessels, laden with tobacco and En-
glish goods, were on the starboard side of the flo-
tilla, and stood towards it for the purpose of attack-
ing us, which compelled me to stand in for the bar
of Huelva, where I joined the Guarda Costa, No. 3.
I then stood out again for the enemy, who changed
his course, and made for the same place from whence
he came. In the evening of the same day I cast
anchor near the shoal of Huelva, where I remained
until the Ist instant, when the three boats which I
had detached in different directions, to reconnoitre
the said English ships, rejoined 'me. I had requested
the Colonel commanding the movable column of the
province to attract the enemy's attention towards
the shore, whom I intended to exterminate on the
shoal of Terron ; I had likewise begged him to send
me thirty men of his column to reinforce my crews,
in case I should have to effect a landing on some
point of the bar.
• The enemy, after being reinforced by another
English ship, expected us ; his measures were al-
ready taken. He stationed his ships in the midst
of the shoal, after erecting a battery of live pieces of
heavy artillery on both sides. These batteries were
perfectly covered by all his well-armed boats. These
preparations assured me that an obstinate engagement
would take place. None of the English ships hoisted
their colours.

After receiving the reinforcements of thirty sol-
diers and some officers of the movable column on
board my vessels, I commenced the action on the
3d, at nine o'clock in the morning. It lasted with
great obstinacy till half-past twelve, when the Eng-
lish ships the Packet and the Invincible were forced
to strike, having had eight men killed, and received
considerable damage in their rigging and masts.—
Fortunately the ships under my command had no
losses to deplore on this occasion, but having received
some damage, the two English ships seized the fa-
vourable opportunity and fled, by making all sail to
the southward.

All the officers, soldiers, and sailors, who, On this
glorious occasion, fought under my orders, deserve
the greatest praise.
May God have you in his holy keeping, &c.
(Signed) FRANCISCO SERAPIN.
Cadiz, June 5, 1827.