Star.
London, England, 1812-08-11 00:00:00

SIR HOME POPHAM'S SQUADRON.

The following letter contains some additional par-
ticulars
with regard to the late unsuccessful attempt
on Santander

His Majesty's ship Rhin,
off the Tower of Santander, July SO.
er We arrived here on the 2'2d instant, and com-
p:lewd operations on the 24th, byThounting some
guns on a c
ourtshipsrock of a tour-gun battery, under
of which
Cover
the bAttery• BY the 27th, two of the enemy's guns
were disabled,
but not without some loss to us. Ge-
neral POts ER. having sent forward his advanced
ard, 80 marines joined it from the MEDUSA and
VsuuttAnt, in order to co.operate with the General
in an attack on the rear of the town, while we occu-
pied theemy's attention in the front•
At four
accomenp anied by two other frigates. and three
brip, we passed the battery, keeping up at the same
time such a fire from the ships and rock that the ene-
my was rendered unable to do us any injury. On
getting into the rear of the fort, the mat ines were
raided, when the French garrison instantly took to'
the heels. Sir GEORGE COLLIER, who headed the
marines, relying on the co-operation of General POR.
LISA at the back of the town, pushed on towards its
front, as had been agreed on : but the enemy having
received reinforcements (which made their force
5000 men, instead of 500 as we expected), in the
Tann time not only kept PORLIER in check at the
very moment he had allotted for the assault, but re-
pulsed the British, when every thing ensured success,
indeed, when nothing but the reinforcements sent to
the enemy could have saved the town from capture.
In this affair Captain LAXE, of the MAGNIFICENT,
received two wounds ; Sir GEORGE COLLIE% was
wooded in the knee, but not dangerously ; Captain
Iklcau.z, of the Marines, was, I fear, mortally woun-
ded and taken prisoner, besides 24 Marines killed
and wounded, and four taken prisoners, while em-
ployed in carrying off Captain NOBLE. Ido not
know our loss in seamen, but I do not believe it to be
considerable. We know that MARMONT has written
to the north coast for reinforcements, but none could
be spared to his solicitations, on account of our flou-
rishing up and down here : indeed, the enemy's force
in this direction has accumulated instead of lessening.
The blam:iriceNT is going home, with Sir Grantors
Cola= in her. Our Purser has just returned with
a (lag of truce. Captain None tis exchanged, and
hopes are entertained of his recovery. There are only
two Marines prisoners, so that the other two must
have been killed. The number of the enemy in San-
under is 4000, but they will be obliged to quit
soon for want of provisions. The Ruts has had
four a.arines killed, and the same number wounded;
a braver set of men cannot belong to any ship. A
Serjeant of the VENERABLE was shot through the arm
by a French soldier, but having strength enough left
to return the salute, be shot the soldier dead."

The following is an extract from a letter dated the
16th of June, off Frejus, from an Officer on board
the Swallow ;
" This afternoon we have had a very severe engagement wi. h
two enemy's vessels, nearly double our own force ; it was pi e-
equated by they for several days, and they stood pledged to
tlibuitiabinsots to take us into Frejus that evening, or both go
dew of us. We engaged, guns nearly touchiug, and
later an a;:tion the most sanguinary (in width they four times at-
stmpttd to board, being full cl troops) they niade all sail. and
took refuge under the batteries of the town. We have been de.-
perattly cut up, and, l am sorry to add, lost sever.il brave fellows.'
It is now ten o'clock—the bell dein. issilicg, atter burying the
dead, and I have just left the deck after pertot [raiz the last and
melancholy rites due to Christians. 'Hsi; task was the more
paniful, as In r-ading the funeral service over the dead, it also
fell to my lot o p tform that office for t: e clerk, whit, was killed
in the act of :peaking to me; a person who l was exceedingly
partial to, and one of the hunt young men I ever knew. Ibe
Captain did mt.the honour to place the marines and boarders
under my direction ; my hat was knocked off by a double-headed
abut ; I was twi e knoek,d down ; but, thank GOD, have all my
Jegi and arms barging about me; nor did t Suffer any injury, but
a contusion, of little corstqui.nce, In my side. These are cir •
camstancer I would not Acep.a.int you with, but as all my loess-
mates ate wntiog to their friends, I do not see why I should not
do the same, particularly as you will see the business in the
laptrt."
We learn with pleasure that the Lords Commis-
sioners of his Majesty's Treasury, having had under
'consideration the gallant and seaman-like conduct of
the Master (ALex. GORDON), and crew of the Eco.
homy transport, of 231 tons, in en action with a pri-
vateer of superior force, on the Bth of January, 1811,
on her passage from Gibraltar to England, have or.
dered Rewards to be paid to the Captain and ship's
company for their gallant defence of the Ship, and
as an inducement to the crews of all transports to
preserve their ships from capture, in the following
proportion, viz.—The Captain £lOO ; First Mate
£4O; Second Mate £25 ; Carpenter £l5 ; seven
Seamen, each RIO ; three Apprentices, each
The last cartel which left Morlaix was surrounded
hyguard•boats the moment she arrived, which con-
tinued to watch her until she put to sea. It is con-
jetbured, from the unusual severity of this treatment,
.that some very unfavourable news was afloat in
France, which the Commandant there bad orders to
prevent reaching this country.

Sunday s'ennight, five prisoners broke out of the
Crown prison-ship, at Portsmouth, but an alarm
;being given they were all retaken.
On the night of the 31st ult. fonr prisoners con-
fined on bond the Suffolk, effected their escape by
hauling in the grating of the alter prison and slipping
overboard. The night was dark and favourable;
they took a boat from the magazine, and were shot tly
alter re-taken, (one excepted) by the Gambier cut-
ter; the one missing is the man that some years ago
look away the buoy boat, and from the account of
his comrade, it is almost certain he is drowned; he
had a club leg, and they waited for him to join them
Upwards of une hour.

An older, it is understood, has been received at
Ponsmonth for the removal of 7000 French. priso-
BIS from tho depots there to the New Prison near
Edinburgh. The instructions expresses, that none
but soldiers are to be sent.

Another of tire French prisoners, who escaped from
the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, has been apprehended it
Dublin, and committed to Kihrainham goal.
Thursday,' about 400 French prisoners, who had
been landed at Dundee from a transport vessel, ar.
zived at the depot at Perth.
A few days ago, a young man of the name of
RonsoN, a resident of Chester, for a wager of or.e
hundred guineas, went the amazing distance of 84
lards at ‘i() hops, on Kersal Moor, near Marecitester.