Star.
London, England, 1808-04-04 00:00:00

(CIRCULAR.)

" A letter front the Comtnauder of one of our ships of To,
cruising a the Taps, dated the 13th March, states, that a boa
bad come out Irons Lisbon, with intelligence that an action FA
taked place In the Mediterranean, in which the British obtknei
a decided victory. The particulars 'etre not known at Lisbor,
but the result bad occasioned an extraordinary sensation there.
To the above was shortly afterwards added the
lowing more detailed communication :

" Treasury Chambers, Apil 2, ISO,.

tt Covernment have received no official intelligence the fa'.
lowing is all that is known with respect to the rumo4reslbseituy
the Mediterranean

" The Confiance, Captain YE°, on the 13th ultimo, Oohed el
a boat at the mouth of the Tagus, in which an English Gentlenst,
who had found shelter on board the Russian squadron, and two
other refugees, were making their escape to our feet : they stated,
that atcounts had reached Lisbon from Valencia and Allow,
with advice of a severe action in the Mediterranean, in which the
English were victoitotts.

" The substance of the various accounts received by Gown.
went, through Holland, Portugal, &c. is, that Sir It Sr:Amite
having, about the 27th February, been joined by the Wiadtor
Castle, of 98 guns, the Leonidas and Nymphe frigates, Redwing
and Minorca sloops, proceeded to Palmos Bay, in the islandd Ma.
jorca, where the Spanish fleet was at anchor, under meet of a

small fort and a chain of batteries, which the enemy, apprised of
the approach of our squadron, had hastily constructed, and massed
with a few soldiers from Majorca, and the peasants of the comp
try. Sir RicitlAßD immediately led the attack in the Cssar,
lowed by the Renown, and was so gallantly seconded by the other
ships of the squadron, that the whole of the enemy were either
taken or destroyed.
" As to the fusee of the enemy, and the number of our prizes,
the accounts are contradictory, and some of them are irremoaly
able to the advices previously received. The nature of our loss is
similarly circumstanced, lout it appears to have been este:sive, and
it is feared embraces some justly valued officers."

Captafh Dcscx,r, who for some time past has had a
command in the Portuguese naval service, had the
good fortune, about the end of February, to escape
on board the Russian squadron in the Tagus, from
whence he further succeeded in getting on board a
vessel of our blockading fleet, and is now arrived in
England. This Officer remained on board the Ras.
skin squadron till the 13th ult. He of course 1-
ample means of ascertaining the state of
and disposition of the Russian Officers there.
fain DumcAN states, that they are anxious to
that uncomfortable station, could they do it
safety.
The Russians had suffered greatly from'
of necessaries of all kinds. JUNOT had _
supplies being sent to them; nor had they been
bled, for some time, to procure from the stores
Portugal an ounce of fresh provisions of any kind.
the mean while the inhabitants of Lisbon
to the necessity of making bread of pease, beans,
all the inferior sorts of grain, which, when mixed
gether, west scarcely eatable; and even of this '
the supply was scanty.
Several Councils had been held on board the 1
sian ssamindblo consider of the measures to be
sued at such an emergency. At one time it
posed, that the Russian fleet should put to sea,
sisting of nine sail of the line and a frigate, and
an engagement with the English; but on
that every one of their ships were damaged in
masts, the plan was abandoned as impracticable.
sides this, the crews, for want of _
were in a very sickly state.
The plan that had met the sense of
as the less evil of the two, was that of 1a.,--
ships in the Tagus,and of marching their
overland to St. Petersburgh. This project had
been carried into execution on the departure of
fain DUNCAN: but he is of opinion that it
take place, from necessity.
It was a prevailing notion among the crews,
the withholding of relief from the Russians was,
measure of poNcy on the part of the French, hi obi
to induce them to abandon their ships, and preo.
to St. Petersburgh; but whes the real scarc4

is of course hal,
state of opinies,
lacers there. Cs,
.e anxious to lea
l they do it • •
qtly from the lent
had forbidden axt
had they been eiu.
from the stores
ons of any kind. It
..isbon were reduced
if pease, beans, and
ch, when mixed
d even of this ki,
on board the Rat
measures to be P
one time it was P
uld put to sea,
a frigate, and n'
h; but on reflect''
re damaged in thy-
,s impracticable. fe
proper nourishm
rise of the =Pi!
aat of laying q '
;arching, their
Chis project had
he departure of
ion that it must