Star.
London, England, 1807-08-22 00:00:00

AUOUiT u.

Arrives, hit M.jefty's Ihips R.nvaLi tr. &tacit,
and BUST Lea, from a cruise, and remain in the
Downs with the Nl)* as per la R.—Wind S. W.

YARMOUTH, AUGUST 21.

Yelterday, P. M. arrived a gun brig, with dif.
patches from Admiral GIP4BIRR, but we have not
heard what news.—Wind S. E.

BRITISH HEROISM.

We have received from a Correfpnndent the fol
lowing account of a fpirited naval a&inn which took
place at the hour of the memorable battle of Maida,
in July, 1806. As it records fAne aes
of intrepidity and heroifm on the part of our brave
Seamen and Marines, we trug that no apology is re•
quilite for laying it before our Readers, although fu
long after the anion :
•' The b sa•s of his Majefly's (hip Melpomene, Pe-
ter Packer, Efq. Captain, were detached on the
evening of the 3d July, 1806, under the command of
Lieutenant W. Thompfon, to cruize infhare, on the
coati near Leghorn ; Mr. Witwell Bn lee, Mallet's
Mate, and Lieutenant Gafcuigne, of the Royal Ma-
rines, being in the barge with Lieutenant Thompfon,
" Several refills appeared on the m'irning of the
4th, and the boats feparated in chace. After a
long pull, the barge came up with a large French
Itttee, armed with four 6 pounders, twelve mounted
mtaketoons, and fmalf arms. They were obliged to
pull up in the face of the enemy's fire, and fa able
was the defence, that in the approach, Lieutenant
Thompfon and five men were killed, fix delpelately
wounded, and feveral others difabled. At this time
the chip and ocher boats were out ..1 fight, but the
furvivors rerfevered,and hooked on.

" Mr. *Butler, 'lieutenant Gatioigne, Serjcant
Thomas Milligan, and three feamen, were thc only
perfnns able in hoard--by ish lm three of the enemy
were killed, and fifteen Bout fellryt, rzx le pritonera.
le Captain Parker wrote a very handsome official
letter to Sir Sidney Smith, who then commanded in
Sicily, giving a corren account of the affair, ftrongly
recommending Mr. Kotler for promotion, and every
one concerned, to the honourable notice of their
country. _ _

4, The above letter was (hewn to the officers of the
Melpomene, and is believed to have been tranfmitted
to Englaud ; but by ionic omidion has never been
publiihed. By this accident the relatives of the de-
ceafed are deprived of the fatista,Flion of knowing
how honourably they 101 l their lives ; and thole who
executed this indance of &kith perfeverance are de.
prived of thnfe honorary tokens which ate the cuf-
tomary rewards of luccelful merit, and which
would certainly have been prefented to them, if Cap
lain Parket's letter had been publifhed.

44 Bic the goad of the fervice, it is to be hoped
that loch omdlions do not often occur ; as they can-
not fail to depref% that fpirit of determination which
at prefent fo highly didinguifhes the Britith Navy."
Our Correfpndent feems to be incorreEt in the lat-
ter part of his fiatement—a communication moil
have been made of the gallantry of the individuals
above mentioned, as forty pounds were voted by the
Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's to Setjeant Milligan (a
native of Scotland), who particularly dillinguifhed
himfeif on the ab,bae occafion.

The following fads refpeeling this brave fellow
may be relied on, as they are certified by his Com-
manding Officer, who was an eye wittier' of his in-
trepidity
IS on the 4th of July, 1806, the barge belonging
to his Majefi y's (hip Melpomene chac:d a large French
levee off Genoa, until the flip and other boats were
out of light. The fettee being armed with four 6-
pounders, twelve mounted mulquetoons and twenty
makes, tired on the barge as it approached, and
killed Lieutenant Thompfon. the Commanding Offi-
cer, and five feamen—five others were alfo fevercly
wounded, and fevtral more !lightly. Serjeant Milli•
gan, being in the bow of the barge, was the firlL man
that boarded the time, and on his leaping on the
deck, fix mufkets were prefented in his face, the fa-
tal dials of which he avoided, by throwing himfelf
at once into the midn of the enemy's crew. Owing
to the number killed and wounded in the barge, and
the fettee continuing tinder fail, only five men were
able to follow the Serjeanr„and, after fume refinance,
the enemy were obliged to retreat and difperfe and
fix of them leaped into their own boat, cart ying their
arms and ammunition with them. Se,jeant Milligan
purfned, and fearing that they might do conlidera-
ble mifchief, if they pulled away from alongfide,
with their mufkets with them, and knowing that the
barge could not follow, be jumped down into the
middle of them. He was inflantly feized and thrown
overboard, but in the fttoggle, grappled and carried
one of the enemy with him, whom he killed iu the
water with his ender.

.4 When oppofitiots no longer appeared, every ex
ertion was made from the boats of the Melpomene
to fare Sedum Milligan, who was leen fwimasing

ACM Of the feltee, apParentif iery faint, iiaetng
ceived feectal wounds docile the affirm. One of the
Lieutenants of (hip. teeing an oar clofe behind
him; called to Milligan io get hold of it. in order to
receive fosse affiflance :lathe boat could get op to
hilts, whisk ate, w.irds picked him up. On his being
abed when fate heard, ihe had vAittod the affil.
lance of the oar. he replief. " Nv, Sit ; I did not
know ir the enemy lad all furreideted ; and I could
not bear the idea of :timing my back on an enemy's
weird."