Star.
London, England, 1801-08-08 00:00:00

DEAL, AUGUST 6.

One of the hired armed cutters arrived in the
Downs this morning from Lord Ns sor's fleet off
Boulogne ; and by this veffel a letter has been re-
ceived from an Officer on board one of the (loops
of war, who was an eye witnefs of the bombard-
ment on the 4th; particulars of which he Rates as
follows:
You still no doubt have heard of our oper-
ations here before this reaches you, hut as the par-
ticulars of the action may not have tranfpired, you
will receive it herein, which I am happy to for-
ward, as it clearly fhews how perfeftly fecure from
a French Invafion happy Britons are, when de-
fended by their invincible Navy, under the direc-
tion of the brave and gallant NELSON.
" Our Admiral deemed it proper on Tuefdav
lan at four o'clock in the morning, to fend for tl.e
five bombs which were under his command, to
attack the enemy's gun-veffels then lying in Bou-
logne Roads, which confined of five brigs, two
fchooners, and nineteen lugfail boats, manned
with 30 men, and three guns in each veffel. The
attack began with a warm fire on both fides, and
at eight A. M. I had the pleafure to fee two of the
enemy's gun-boats fink from the fire of our bombs,
and a brig obliged to cut from her cables, and
run for the More, which fhe had fome difficulty to
reach, being completely water-logged. We could
perceive feveral men landed from this veffel, and
put under a fail on the beacl.4fuppofed to be killed.
I can affure you that ten of the French gun-veffels
11 were deftroyed, and the (laughter of the enemy
mull have been great, as we did not ceafe bom-
barding until nine this evening, when the whole
of the French force was completely filenced.
u Our bombs have confiderably damaged the
Pier-head; they far exceed the Admiral's expeEta-
tion : and I am happy to add, that only one filen
from, the Chore had effed, which fell on board a
bomb-veffel, and damaged her rigging. A then
from one of our own veffels built in the mortar,
and thereby killed a man, wounded another clan-
geroufly, and three nightly.
" There are now lying in the Road 25 fail of
the enemy's veffels, and thofe funk have the pre-
fumption to keep their colours flying juft above the
furface of the water,"

The following was given ont in General Orders
by Lard NaLaos after the attack on Boulogne:—
Meffisfa, Off Boulogne, Awn! s.

4, Lord NELSOU has reafon to be ;cry Mnclifa-
tisfied with the Captains of the bombs, for their
placing of the veffels yefierday ; it was impoffible
that they could have been better fitnated, and the
artillery officers have ffievrn great skill in entirely
difabling ten of the armed veffels out of twenty-
four oppofed to them, and many others, Lord
Nsi.son believes, are much damaged. The Com-
mander in Chief cannot avoid noting the greet
zeal and defire to attack the enemy in a alofer and
different combat, which manifeiled itfelf in all
ranks of perfons, and which Lord Nst.son wotdd
gladly hare given full fcope to, had the attempt
at this moment been proper; but the Officers and
others may rely, that an early opportunity all be

7,iven'them for fhewing their judgment, zea? and
bravery. The hired and revenue cutters kci t un-
der ftil, and performcd the duty intruded to hem
tvith a great deal of Ikill. (Signed)
" NELSON AND BRON r:."