Star.
London, England, 1812-03-30 00:00:00

•'

The arrangements mate by General Lacy appeared I
to me well calculated to keep up the mutual support ,
requisite on such an occasion ; and the whole conduct 1
of the Baton d'Eroles particularly animating and ;
exemplary ; nor shall I readily forget the delight he!
expressed upon liberating my brother officers from
the grasp of our mutual enemy. I
• Notwithstanding the fatigue of our troops, the ;
General still expressed his intention of attacking
Tarragona on that night, and we were therefore
escorted to our ships about five o'clock, and weighed
immediately. I stationed the Sparrowhawk off the
Mole to keep up the communication with the army !
on that side, and the Merope to the eastward, for the
same purpose, whilst the Blake was to occupy the at-
tention of the enemy opposite the Melagro. We had
scarcely reached the town, and opened our fire, when I
the wind increased to a gale at N. W. and prevented
all commueication by boats with the shore. • We
persevered, however, under a press of sail, standing
off and on, so as to keep up the bombardment until
daylight ; but the assault teas not made, nor could
we see any of the Spanish troops in the neighbour.
hood in the morning. Anxious to afford every en-
couragement in an enterprize which, besides being of
material service to the general cause, would, if suc-
cessful, have produced me, individually, such parti-
cular satisfaction, we continued to stork up under as
much sail as we could carry the next day, in order to
communicate, if possible, with the army, until at
length, by the mainsail blowing entirely out of the
bolt-rope,•other sails splitting, and the barge sinking
before we could get the carronade and ammunition
cut of her, I was driven to the necessity of anchoring
for shelter just without range of shot to the eastward
of the town. I am still umnformeal of the particular
cause which prevented the attack being made, either
on the 19th or the following night, having had no
direct communication with any of the chiefs, but by
short requests for assistance, circuitoasly conveyed, in
consequence of the arrival of various diVisions of the
enemy in those parts, amounting to 7000 men. .
A few lines from General Lacy, which I received
on the 23d, induced me to push for Mataro, which
I had nearly reached on the 24th, when a very se-
vere gale from the N. E. necessarily reduced me to
storm staysails ; and whilst persevering off Barce-
lona. in an endeavour to hold our own, by keeping
the ship's head to the eastward, she was struck by
a sea, which has started all the timbers and rail of
the head, ledges and earlings, bent the iron rail close
into the bowsprit, drew the chock in the stern which
receives the bolt for the bumpkin shroud, carried
away the round-house and head door, and filled the
main deck with water, so that the officers were up to
their knees in the ward room, although both our
spars and ropes stood this severe trial without injury,
I bore up for shelter at Villa Nueva, where we were
about to anchor at four P. M. on the 25th, in com-
pany with the Sparrowhawk and Merope, which I
bad left to assist the Baron d'Eroles, when the latter,
which had just weighed, made the signal for the ene-
my upon the road to the westward, and shortly after-
wards opened her fire on •them. The gale. being over,
and the wind light, we made all sail, and soon com-
menced firing also. We observed three waggons dis-
abled and abandoned, and considerable discomfiture
amongst the troops, notwithstanding the difficulty
we were under from a heavy swell setting directly on
shore. Arriving opposite . Vendrell we perceived
another party coming from the westward, with ca-
valry, .artillefy, &c. amounting to some thousand
, men, which directed their course in land upon our
approach. We were however, enabled, by giving
the guns the greatest elevation, to discharge two
; or three broadsides before dark, which, I trust,
did them material daniage. Since this they have ne-
ver appeared upon any part of that coast ; and l`know
nothing more of the movements of either army than
from the reports of desperate battles having taken
place, the result of which is so variously stated, that
it is impossible to venture an opinion without more!
authentic intelligence.—l have tae honour to be, &c.
(Signed) E. CODRINOTON.
• Blake, off Mataro, Feb. 2, 1812. '
SlR—Passing Barcelona can the night of the 26th,
Captain Guinn brought me communications from
Captain Tower, respecting the services of the Cura-
Oa, Rainbow, and Papillon, in harassing a division ,
of the enemy which was marching along the coast
from the eastward, and in finally obliging them to
retire, and proceed towards Barcelona by a more cir.
, euitous route. And I beg to assure you, that heir
unremitting exertions on all occasions, in aiding our
ally on the one part, and checking the progress of
the enemy on the other, tul:y entitle, them to your'
approbation.
On the 29tir, whilst watering at Arens, I received!
information that the whole French force, which had
lately traversed this principality, amounting to 7,000
men, (4,000 of which were collected from the'Am-1
purcam, and the other 3,000 from the garrison of
Da) celoi.a), west about to make a movement along
the coasi, I therefore directed Captain Tower, in-
stead
of returning immediately to the Medas, which [
he had lately. supplied with provisions and Water, and
which could nut ell be in any other danger Whilst
the wh •ie of the arnly was in this quar er, to pro.
ceed a ith the Merope to Mama), and concert with
the governor, Colonel O'Ryan, the m9ss advisabie i
means for its defence. On the morning of the 30th,
the C.uracoa m.tkii.g the sig:.al that the enemy were [
advancing, the Rainbow-opened her. fire upon them
near Vilasar, as did the Cui-acoa and Mcrope upon'
)
their approach to Matarc. I. weighed immediately,
and worked up to that place, accompanied by the
Papillon, which just they joined me, having been
driven, in company with the Triton transport, off
the c,:aa in the late gAe,
The French appearing determided to occupy the
town, and the inhatitants having had notice of their
approaCh on the preceding evening, and consequently
sufficient time to remove their most valuable. effects,
I felt myself • called upon so.comply vtrth the desire
of the CaptAin-Gtneral, repeated by Colonel cl'kan,
and opened the tire of the squadron upon such parts
of the town as appeared to be _ most occupied by the
enemy, and which was nil:feting by indiscriminate
plunder. The tops of the mountains were covered
as usual by the irregular Spanish lcrces acting in
Guerrilla ; and I was in hopes that our united etiorts
had inclined the enemy to quit the place. They re-
turned holnemer at night, and have continued to
occupy the town partiAly ever ace, as I judge b%
their movements, giving each part of the army an

opportunity to plunder iu its turn. It be jog ;topsoil•
sible to Continuo the great expence of ammunition,
by persevering according to the ten& •of Colonel
Crßyan's letter, our fire has only been repeated at
intervals, so as to keep the enemy in constant trouble
and alarm,
We have reports tom Arens of their having lost
600 men ; and the evident effects of our shot upon
the houses in the parts to sehich they have been di-
rected, induces me to give credit to that assertion.
I sent the Curacoa and Papillon to Arens, in con-
sequence of a report that another French division wal
about to enter that town, intending the former should
return to the Medas the moment her services could
be dispensed with, and I have sent Captain Tower
11,5(X) cartridges, to supply the demands lately made
on me by the Patriots, and have dirKt.ed him to fur-
nish-them with such proportion of biscuit as they
have required, to enable them to maintain the posi-
' tion they occupy upon the mountains at the back of
this town. Yesterday evening the Curacoa telegraph.
ed " the enemy entering Catilla, St. Paul, and Ca-
r net ;" .11at want of wind has prevented that ship and
the Papillon hill from attacking them, except by
their boats.
This narittiive added to my preceding letter will
afford you the best means I can procure to enable
you to judge of the critical state of affairs in this
principality.
It appears to me, however, that the Spanish army
has increased its exertions in proportion to the diffi-
culties it has had to contend against ; and T therefore
supplicate that you will be pleased to send me all the
means you can spare for clearing the coast of the
enemy, and furnishing it with such supplies as may
be necessary for keeping up the energy and resolution
by which it is at present characterised. General
Sarstield I am told was actually taken prisoner, a
few days ago, but was rescued by a Swiss grenadier
of the regiment of Bosa, who killed the Frenchman
that had got possession of him, and recovered even
the sash, which he had just stripped from him ; and
amongst the losses which they have suffered in the
late battles, I am sorry to find the names of some of
those rising young men, most distinguished for their
gallantry ; besides Colonel Reding severely wounded
on the 19th, Colonels Villamil, and De Creuft, also
of the division of Eroles, were wounded in the hard
fought battle of the 24. th, in which the French are
said to have left 600 dead on the field ; and Colonel
Jalon, who has so often distinguished himself with
the Cuirassiers, and was left at Mataro to recover
from an accidental wound he received at Belpuig,
was killed at the head of a Guerilla party on the 31st.
I have now to inform you that the enemy broke
up from Mataro this morning before day-light, and
seeing this ship weigh for the purpose of watching
their movements, they took a line through the vine-
yards, out of gun-shot, which made their march so
very tedious and fatiguing, that they did not reach
Arens de Mar until three o'clock, and after being
somewhat, harrassed upon their approach to that
place by tke Spanish irregular troops upon the moun-
tains. Seeing them halt upon the hills, I anchored
here, and jointly with the Curacoa, Papillon, and
boats, threw a few shot over this town to deter them
from entering it. But as we observed a few of them
approach the place just before dark, I have ordered
the boats to scour the street which runs down to the
sea, to check their plundering the houses, during the
night, as much as possible. I have the honour to
be, &c. (Signed) E. CODRINGtON.

• ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, MARCH 2s.
Copy of a Letter from Captain Rowley of his Makty's ship the
Eagle, addressed to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellcw, Bart.
and tradsmitted by the Admiral to JOhn Wilson Croker, Esq.
The Eagle, off Fano, December 18, 1811.
SIR—I have the honour herewith to transmit you
a duplicate of a letter I this day forwarded to Rear-
Admiral Fremantle at Palermo, for your informa-
tfoa, with copies of its inclosures from Captain Max-
well
of the Alceste, on the capture of the Pomone
French frigate, and the- Persannet• store ship by the
squadron under his orders.—l have the honour to be,
(Signed) C. ROWLEY, Captain.
The Eagle, off Fano, Dee. 18.
Stß—l have the honour. of transmitting you for the
information of the Commander-in-Chief, the inclo-
sures from Captain Maxwell, stating his having (in
company with his Majesty's ships Active and Unite)
captured the French frigate Pomone, and Persanne
store-ship, which sailed the 16th ult. fom Corfu with
the Pauline ;the latter effected her escape and reached
Ancona, as I am informed, very much disabled.
The high state of discipline of his Majesty's three
frigates, and the well known characters of their gal-
lant Captains, Officers, and crews, leave not a doubt
in my mind that the Pauline would have shared the
fate of the others, had not the Alceste lost her main-
top-mast at the beginning of the action, and I can.
not but admire the delicacy of Captain Maxwell in
not claiming any credit for himself and those with
him, from his Majesty's ships having one fourth of
their crews on shore at Lissa for the defence of that
Island,
It is with infinite sorrow I read in Captain Max-
well's letter the less the country will sustain in the
temporary secession of Captain Gordon from active
service, thr3ogh the wound he received, and whose
seal, activity, and abilitbrs, have been so eminently
I conspicuous, particularly in these seas. I have the
honour to be, (Signed) C. Rowimr, Captain.

His Majesty's ship Alceste, off Lissa, Dec. 1, MI.
Sin—His Majesty's ships under my orders having
been drawn from their anchorage before Lagina, by
strong gales, had taken shelter in Lissa ; when the
telegraph on Whitby Hill, signalized three suspicious
sail south; Alceste, Active, and Unite, were warped
out of port St. George the moment a-strong E.N.E.
wind would permit ; and on the evening Of the With
dltimn, off the south end of Lissa, I met with Lieu-
tenant M'Dougall, of his Majesty's ship Unite, who,
' with A judgment and zeal which does him infinite
credit, had put back, when on his voyage to Malta
in a neutral, to acquaint me he had seen three French
frigates, 40 miles to the southward ; every sail was
carried on in chace, and at nine in the morning of
the 29th the enemy were seen ofF the island of Au-
gusta ; he formed in line upon the larboard tack, and
so od towards us for a short time ; but finding his
Majesty's siips bearing upon him under all sail in
close line abreast, he bore up to the N.W. and set
steering sails.
At eleven the rear ship separated and stood to the
N.E. I immediately detached the Unite alter her,
(and Captain► Chamberlayne's report to me of the re.,

suit I have the honour to enclose.) At twenty mi- k ,Quirter,.,U_Nur:_s Mat% 411"; la° asaistsse,Aese
M
nutes'after one P.M. the Alciste comerrencecraction l'a"11; '''"us "I've Vat. Able wince,
Landman, ditto; Samuel °manes, Loa. lasitt m• t. tbt
with the other two, by engaging the rear in passing Cteeter, Captain of tha Mae; dim ; eimiss---• Coo
to to get at the Commodore, but an untlicky shot soon Seaman, ditto; H. H. Mamas Able . AL.7O Mb
afterwards bringing down her maintop mast, we 'barb 9rdinart Selman, alsto; Mardi,. p' ; Jala
Seaman, ditto ;. Job Hum, Prime mask,. ha,,. Ore.
unavoidably dropped a little astern—cheers of al.kry
'I Matas, Boatswain•a Mate, I.llo*, •••t ; Co,
6 vive l'Empereari resounded from both ships, they MOSSAT Mozwait. caulk._
thought the day their own, not aware of what a se- Taoleas Pumas. 0,,,,,..-
h Squadronoisn the Adna tic, on the 29th Noveruber,-....
cond I had in my gallant friend Captain Gordon, Report of Killed and Wounded on board his :,--- .
who pushed the Active up under every sail, and rive, James Alex. Gordon, Esq. Capttin, in as ~a." -"*F.,"••
brought the sternmost to action, within pistol-shot ;tong
ter
MD
aste'r
;rg
Janes
eibokrnice, Midshipman;. winner Hitt
tact.
the headmost then shortened sail, tacked and steed KIFLLI
for the Alceste, (which though disabled in her masts Turner Ordinary Sr...man ; WilliamtosmAbe Crew ; Ames
WpOuUNl:l:lll—lames
Wes A:B.eDianderubw Gordon
u, Faq Captain, bully. an 3.
I trust he experienced, was by no means so at her ' John dawn, Landman; Robert Hill, Seej lea Seal"' I
guns), and after a warm conflict of two hours and _John Conway, Private Marina. auto;
twenty minutes, it ended by the French Commodore
cite Fero
making all sail to the westward ; which from my arm; George Hay; Lieutenant,'sligehrtienranAt'AZ.w, amPaunot
crippled state I was unable to prevent, and the other nary Seaman, ditto ; Joseph Rippon, Landman, dk-Tisiumaird6
surrendering, after being totally dismasted and five Hall, Yeoman of the "sheets, severely : John Walter
feet water in her hold ; she proved to be the Pomone rtirtimillthtlilrye ; Henry Haze,
ordinary s 11, Ordinary Seaman. ditto:
of 44 guns and 322 men, commanded by Captain Selman, ditto; John Row, Able ditto; 111110(1 it" Able
;severely Nell Paterson, Captain
dictb; cllth,,erntrith4reartire ---Zsyr_77l‘Hverr.
Rosamel, who fought his ship with a skill and hr..- (s), Carpenter's Crilv, ditto • James Kl:bytt i'..,;,"dr....1:11hart
very that has obtained fur him the respect and esteem
of his opponents—the other was the Pauline, of simi- William
n
Acasde4aide,l)b;deacuiltAolattohnoadam,
.n:
JMJ:ehtifalAgh:lizattbKtitwynrw:baalyn,botn:LyQa:aniii.,turrAdieorti:Gioolobu•nnarßteraitt;anfL_iihitr.
lar force, commanded, by Monsieur Montford, Capi-
taine du Vaisseau, with a broad pendant; they were
from Coefu going to join the squadron at Trieste.
his, Prima
The 41ceste had 20 killed and wounded, Active 141‘lalirine; Dennis,teiPniitnrY *lrma' Privat'e Mame, 'shod,
32, and Pomone 50 ; and it is with poignant regret a erne,
ditton.sluziteedarine, ditto ; Jolla HAwke.hivi,;
I inform you, that Captain Gordon has lost a leg, Johnson, Ordinary seaman, Fitzgerald,o Able Seaman,
~ ditto: Jets
i
but thank Goo he is doing well ; his merits as an lathe A. Gallons, C
officer I need not dwell upon, they are known to his b. I. Swarse, Juritop.
country ; and he lives in the hearts of all who have ADMIRALTY OFFICE, MARCH tll.
the happiness to know him. Copy of a Let ter from the Honourable Captain waidegrave of
thhiseMlnaviineaccobb..leshi,
uanp.idV:otroaal°4itsaimilei'tcdaddrlayeste-WAL"aidnurallbtrilloarel
His first Lieutenant, Dashwood, lost his arm soon
after he was wounded, and the ship was fought by 1 yellow to n Croker, EN.
Lieutenant Haye in a manner that reflects the highest , His Majesty's ship Volootaire, off Paw
honour upon him ; his services before had frequeetly : U6th December, 1011. •
merited and obtained the hign approbation and strong ! Sin—While off the Medas this morning, a boat in.
recominendation of his Captain, who also speaks in formed me that an enemy's schooner bad arrived et
this port the eight before last. I immediately stow
the warmest praise of Acting L'eutenant Moriarty, '
Mr. Lothian, master ; Lieutenant Meers, Royal Ma- • in and anchored off the Mole, where site line lyice
rifles ; and every officer, seaman, and marine, under :Lieutenant Shaw, with Mr. Banantyne, Maire;;;,
his command. ! Mate, in the boats, went to bring her out, while the
_
And though our success was not so complete as I Merines, under Lieutenants Burton and Campbell,
trust it would have been, could the Alceste have
of that corps, admirably maintained a ci-eerinA poi,
taken up her intended position alongside Pauline, in- lion on the Mole Head against a party of kneel
stead of that ship, from the fall of our topmast, beini troops who disputed the past wi,h them. As Jorge
enabled to manoeuvre and choose her distance, rive reinforcements wore pouting in from the adjacee
it my duty to state, that every officer and man here garrisons, and the vessel was grounded, Lieutteine
behaved most gallantly. I was most ably assisted on * Shaw set ire to her, but floating afterwards, it- tow.
the quarter-deck by my First Lieutenant A. Wilson, ed her out to us, when the fire WAS extinguished, but
and Mr. H:Moore, Master; and the main-deck guns not before it had done great damage.
were admirably directed by Lieutenant James Mon- She proves the Decide, a new privateer, mounting
tague and Mr. James Adair, acting in the place of two long six-pounders, pierced for six, carrying a
Lieutenant Hickman, at Lissa with the gun-boats. cargo of probisions from Cette to Barcelona.
In justice to two very deserving officers (Lieutenant 'lbis service, so laudably performed by all employ.
Miller, Royal Marines, Active, and Lieutenant Lloyd, ' ed, has fortunately been attended with no other ace.
Royal Marines, Alceste), it is necessary to mention alent than one marine wounded.—l have the honte.r
they were ashore with most of'their respec'ive parties to be, &c. (Signed) o. G. wALDeuRAVE.
at Camesa Castle and Hoste's Islands for the defence ' tier the Bankrms, Dividends, &e. see the last page.)
of Lissa, hourly threatened with an attack from the
enemy, assembled in great force at Scieina. -
The Kingsfisher hove in sight and joined soon after
the action, and Captain Tritton rendered essential
service by taking the prize in tow.
Captain Bligh, of the Acorn, to whom I have en-
trusted the defence of Lissa in our absence, has had
an arduous duty to perform ; but no difficulties arise,'
when all are actuated by zeal for his Majesty's ser-
vice ; and the little squadron you have dune me the
hollow to entrust me with, possess it in an eminent
degree.
IJnite has just joined, after seeing the Persanne
into Lissa; and Captain Chamberiayne, with his
usual alacrity, has repaired his damages, and made
the signal of being fit for service ; and, I am happy
to say, this ship will in a few hours more be perfectly
so also.

I intend sending the Active .with prizes and pri-
soners to Malta as soon as possible, which, from the
state of her wounded officers and men, I am sure will •
meet your approbation. Enclosed are lists of the
killed and wounded, and I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) MURRAY SIAXWaLL.
His Majesty's ship Unite, Lissa N. E. five leagues,
Friday, November 29,1811.
SIR—I am to acquaint you, that, in obedience to
your signal to chace this morning, I was enabled by
the superior sailing of his Majesty's ship under my
command, to so far close immediately in the wake of
the enemy's frigate at noon, as to exchange bow and
stern-chasers, but the very variable state of the wea-
ther front that time, the wind veering from the south
to the east, and our opponent keeping ps directly
astern, prevented my setting closer until near four
o'clock, when part of our broadside being fired at
him, he returned his, and struck his colcurs. You
will judge my astonishment at her proving to be la .
Persanne, of 860 tons, 29 nine-pounders, and a corn-1
plement of one hundred and twenty-five men and 65
troops, having on board 120 iron, and a few brass
ordnance : she was commanded by Monsieur Joseph
Emile Satie, Capitaine de frigate, whose masterly ma.
nccuvres and persevering resistance for near four hours,
reflect &teat credit on him—our"masts, yards, sails and
ring, bear ample testimony to his galling fire.
We have only one man wounded ; the enemy two
killed and four wounded. The coolness and steady
attention to my orders on the part of my First Lieu-
tenant, Mr. J. W. Crabb ; Lieut. M'Dougall, Lieut.
W. Hotham, Mr. Gibson, lately promoted for his
gallantry on board the Active, and the whole of the
other officers and ship's company, could only be
equalled by their extreme disappointment at disco-
vering, at the enemy's surrender, we had been op-
posed
to a vessel of inferior force. I inclose a list of
our defects, and the name of thewounded man, Thos.
Tate, ordinary; severely.—l remain, &c.
(Signed) E. H. CHAMOERLAYV, Captain.
M. Maxwell, Esq. Captain of his Majesty's ship Alceste.
List of the Enemy's Squadron engaged by his Majesty's ships Al-
ceste, Active, and Unite, off Lissa, op the 29th Nov. intl.
La Pauline, M. Monfort, Captain, of 44 guns, 332 men, and
110 u tons ; escaped.
la Pomone, C. Rosemel Captain, of 44 guns, 322 men, and
1100 tons ; taken.—Has In her hold 42 iron and 9 brass guns,
and 220 iron wheels for gun-carriages..
La Perbanne, Mr. Satie, of 26 guns, 190 men, and 460 tons;
taken.—ls store-ship of 26 nine. pound guns, new, has about
130 iron, and some brass guns in her hold.
(Signed) MUSCAT MA 'MILL, Captain.
Return nf Killed and Wounded on board his Mijesty's ship Al-
cede, Murray Maxwell, Esc, Captain, in *aloe with the
French squadron, off Lissa, November 29, 1811.
Kitt's—Charles Amuse, Midshipman; Charles Reeves, guar.
ter Master ; Isaac Brown, z•ail-maker's Mate ; James Bicker-
ton, Abraham Saunders, Thomas Cos, and Peter Williams,
Ordinary Seamen.
Woo tuna —Asdrew Wilma, Lieutenant, slightly ; Oeeilte LTen,

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