Star.
London, England, 1801-08-28 00:00:00

SECOND ATTACK OFF BOULOGNL

CINCUIEST•NTI•L DETAILS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE
DUIINO THE AFFAIR IN THE ROAD OF BOULOGNE,
IN THE NIONT BETWEEN THE 15711 AND 16TH

oft *novas., ISTWIIIN OUR FLOTILLA AND THR
sosaissiom or LORD NILSON, BY AM RYI.WITNISI.
The Englifb made their attack about one in the
morning. They advanced upon our flotilla with a
number of pinnaces, or email barks, which carried
above women. They were not perceived at night-
fall ; we only defcried the Este& fleet Rill at a
dißance; and, far from knowing the.fpeeies of at-
tack which we were to encounter, it was not even
yet known with certainty that we fhould be at-
tacked. The pinnaces advanced with the greateß
filence, and not a fingk cannon or mufket (hot
preceded this movement. The Englifh fucceeded
in fuddenly furprifing and taking the watch placed
forward in front of our flotilla, without the latter'
having perceived it. It was merely a boat of
fifliermen, with three or four failors, and an egnal
number of foldiers. This facilitated their means
of flipping in between the land and our veffels, of
burning them, and furrnunding them without be-
ing perceived. It was then that the attack coin
menced; ar.J that an engagement very deflruftive
to the enespy took place, is which our heroes co-
vered themeelves with glory, and which the —,

Matto* will ;member time time. A number of
the enemy's pinnaces attached themfelves to each
of our veffels, and attempted to board, whild others,
endeavaared to cut their cables, in order that, dur-
ing the tonteft, they ;night infenftbly drive out
4-the Road, and thus tali into tie audit of the
enemy's fleet. So much ftratagam, fo meeh bold.
nets, and the combination of fo many means, '
joined to the furprife and the darknefs of the night,
were all in rain ; every thing gave way before the
prodigies of valour performed-toy our Frenchmen.
Nets fpread and prepared aboard each of the rec.
fels at night-fall, and to a very great height, pre•A
fented to them an obftacle which they did not ex-
pel. They tangled themfelves in them; they'
embarraffed themfelves in them; they attempted
to cut them ; but all this time a horrible carnage
was made among them, and the decks of our ref-
fels were ftrewed with the fingers, hands, and
wrifts of the affailants, who fell into the tea.
Whilft the boarding was repulfed with a valour
fo deadly to the Englifh, our heroes, with great
pretence of mind, having rightly conjedured the
defign of the pinnaces in attempting to cut their
cables, poured grape-fhot dole in upon them, cut
them to pieces, and funk them with their crews.—
We did not trifle away our time in making prifo-
ners of ib faring the fhipwrecked—we minded no-
thing but to defroy!—Accordingly there are only
two Englifh in the hofpital of Boulogne, and it is
not thought that even they will furvive their
wounds. The engagement lalled until day, when
the enemy's pinnaces retreated, in the midft of
grape-(hot, towards the fleet of NE LION, to whom
they brought their wounded, and were to give an
account of their mifadventures. We had,- poll-
tively, in this affair, only feven brave fellows kil-
led, and about thirty wounded ! It is calculated
that we have funk about twelve of the enemy's pin-
naces, from the pieces of wreck brought by the
tide on the (bore, which was the next day covered
with the mutilated bodies of our enemies ; and as
each of them carried from 3o to 40 men, we may
fafely eftimate the lots at from 400 to Soo men at
leap ; for, though fome of the crews may have'
fared themfelves by fwimming, and being taken
up by the reit, it is certain that there lama have
been a very great number of killed and wounded
in thole reliefs which regained theEnglith fleet.—
We mull wait, however, for the official account
of the Ns Laois with regard to tbefe, who will
leave us nothing to with for with refpe& to the
amount of his lotto in this affair in men and ref-
fels. Eeclufive of the pinnaces funk, we have
taken three or four, which were perceived along-
fide of the vet el commanding the-flotilla. The
Englifh, in the fecond attack, more audacious
than the firft, have been received and treated as

--, and in a manner. to difguft them %%A
playing at the poniard Prodigies of valour were
performed on our fide. A ferjeant is mentioned,
who: with his own hand, killed fix Englifh; and
Marine Officer, who difpaiched five of them.—
We learn from the two Engin prifoners in the
hofpital, that NELSON, at the moment when the
pinnaces fet out from his fleet, diftributed
elofi of nom to every man that embarked, to en-
courage and to animate them. In the morning of
the 17th we buried the (even we loft, with a pomp
well fuited to confole the tell, and honour their
memory. Thefe (even, all placed together upon
a funeral car, preceded, ind followed by the whole
garrifon, the Generals, the Staff, and all the civil
authorities, were laid in the fame grave, amidft
general difcharges of artillery and mniquetry, and
mufic ; and every foldier prefent, witneffimg the
honours paid to their memory and their remains,
railing his thoughts towards his grateful country,
felt hinsfelf moved and difpofed to facrifice, at the
411 moment, his blood and his life for the fupport
and glory of the national flag.
I (hall not undertake to paint to you their fatif-
faftion in having at laft fees the Euglifh near to
them, they had fought the opportumty fo ardent•
ly for fo long a time !! ! Their impatience was
at its height, and they will not be happy until they
mall be led to the coati of England.

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