Star.
London, England, 1813-09-08 00:00:00

AMERICAN PAPERS.

NORFOLK, JULY 27.

TORPEDOES-AGAII4.—Mr. E. Mix, of the Navy,
gentleman of integrity and enterprize, has been for
several weeks past preparing torpedoes, to attempt
the explosion of sonic of the enemy's shipping, in
Lynnhaven Bay. The British 74 ship Plantagenet,
that has for a month past been lying abreast of Cape
Henry Lighthouse, and has rarely had the company
of any other vessel, appeared to Mr. Mix as the most
favourable object for trying his experiment on.
Accordingly, on the night of the 18th of July, ac-
companied by Captain Bowman, of Salem, and Mid-
shipman M,Gowan, of the United States Navy, who
volunteered their assistance during the whole enter-
prize, he left his place of rendezvous, and proceeded
down to the Plantagenet, of 74 guns, in a large open
boat, which he cans the Chesapeake's Revenge, and,
from previous observation, found no difficulty in as-
certaining the position of the ship. When he had got
to v/ithin forty fathoms of her, he dropped the ta-
ped° over. In the very instant of doing which, he
was bailed by one of the enemy's guard-boats. The
machine was speedily taken into the boat again, and
he made his way off in safety.
On the night of the 19th he made another attempt,.
and was again discovered ere he could accomplish
his purpose.--On the night of the 20th, lie succeeded
in getting within fifteen yards of the ship's bow, and
directly under her jib-boom. There he continued
making his preparations for fifteen minutes, when a
sentinel from the forecastle hailed, " boat, ahoy !"
and he had to decamp. The sentinel not being an.'
swered, fired his musket, which was followed by a ra-
pid discharge of small-arms. Blue lights were made'
to find out the boat, but failed. They then threw
rockets in different directions, which illuminated the
water for a considerable width as far as they were
thrown, and succeeded in discovering the position of
the nocturnal visitor, when the ship commenced a
rapid fire of heavy guns, slipped her cables, and made
some sail, while her boats were dispatched in pursuit.
The daring intruders, 11 i.vever, escaped unhurt.—
The visits were repented on the nights of the 21st,
22d, and 23d, without success, as the ship having
taken the alarm, changed her position every night.
On the night of the '24th, however, Mr. Mix suc-
ceeded in finding her out ; and having taken his posi-
tion within one hundred yards distance, in a direction
with her larboard bow, he dropped the fatal machine
into the water, just as the sentinel was crying 6, all's
well !" It was swept along with the tide, and would
have completely effected his errand, but for a cause'
not proper to be named here, but which may easily
be guarded against in future experiments—it explo-
ded a few seconds too soon. The scene was aw:ully
sublime. It was like the concession of an earthquake,
attended with a sound louder and more terrific than
the heaviest peal of thunder.. A pyrarncl.ot water,
fifty feet in circumference, was thrown up to the
height of thirty orforty feet. Its appearance was a
vivid red, tinged at the sides with a beautiful purple.
On ascending to its greatest height, it burst at the
top with a tremendous explosion, and fell in torrents
on the deck of the ship, which rolled into the yaam-
ing chasm below, and had nearly upset: impervious
darkness again prevailed. The light occasioned by
the explosion, though fleeting, enabled Mr. Mix and
his companions to discover that the fore-channel of
the ship was blown off, and a h'oat.which lay along.
side, with several men in her, was thrown up in the
dreadful convulsion of the waters. Terrible, indeed,
.must have been the panic of the ship's crew, from
the noise and confusion which appeared to our adven-
turers to preiatil on board ; and they are certain that
neatly the whole of the ship's crew hastily betook
themselves to the boats.
Though be 'did not succeed on this occasion in de-
stroying one of the enemy's ships, Mr. Mix is rather
encouraged than ' disheartentd. He is resolved to
make another attempt, as soon as time and circum-
stances will admit; and he appears confident, Jim
the experience which practice has given him, that he
will be able to make future trials with a certainty of
success.
Since the torpedo explosion on Saturday night, the
Plantagenet has been guarded by a 74 and two hi-
gates, which, with two or three tenders, comprise all
the shipping-at present in Lynnhaven. - '
TALL PINE, JULY 27.

The large squadron of the enemy,whiCh has been
up the Potomac, and watered, have all returned, and
are now otl Point:Out (one di the points of the Poto-
mac-in the bay). 'fey !use tettcled a strung force
twd or three.milesTfonstho Point, and are procuring
stock,• having abia,t head'•ie Mk. ArnistrOng's
corn-field lifessts. Williams, Ammon; Jones)

apd Wavle, and some negmes, have been taken by
diem. Some of the latter -have escaped and returned
tt! their masters. Seven deserters have come in.
FROM &unarm HARBOUR.
A letter from General Lewis to the Secretary
,at
War, dated July 20, says—" Our fleet have gone out
of the inner harbour, and Appearances- are in favour
of going to sea in 48 hours at farthest."
MONTREAL, JULY 10-17.
The army under Generals De Rottenburgh and
Vincent has its head-quarters at Twelve-mile Creek,;
from which the forces extend in a line to Queenstown„
circumscribing the American forces within a knwreirpr
space, extending but a few miles from Fort:George.
Two detachments of the American prisoners, captu-
red the 24th, by Lieutenant Fitzgibbon, consisting of
several officers and 458 non-commissioned officers and
privates have arrived here, and have embarked for
Quebec. In the steam-boat from Quebec came pas-
sengers a number of privates, &c. of the 19th Dra-
goons, the 13th infantry, besides sixty sailors, volun-
teers from the transports bound to the Lakes
ALBANY, AUGUST S.
We learn from a person who left Buffalo on San's./
day, that Commodore Chauncey, with the fleet, had
arrived at Niagara ; that a number of sailors, des-
tined for Erie, had landed, and were to proceed im-
mediately for that place to man the armed vessels
there ; that fears of an immediate attack on Buffalo
had subsided, the British troops which had been col-
lected at Fort Erie having disappeared, and the boats
(about 15) gone up the Lake; and that some troops
which had been sent to Buffalo, to protect that place,
were ordered to return to Fort George.
ALEXANDRIA, JULY at.
A very heavy firing was heard at Washington and
this place, in the direction of Annapolis; it lasted for
nearly two hours. It is apprehended an attack has
been made cn that place.by the British.
WASHINGTON, JULY Si.
COPY OF A LETTER TRANSMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF
WAR BY THE PERSON TO WHOM IT WAS ADDRESSED.
" Upper Sandusky, July 2s.
" DEAR Sin-,..Mr. Oliver has this moment arrived
from Fort Meigs, with a verbal message from General,
Clay to Major-General Harrison, (now at Sandusky
with a considerable force) informing that the British
and Indians have again besieged that place. They
were discovered on the opposite side of the river yes-
terday morning, just atter reveilles. The Indians had
crossed over in the night. •
46 JOHN C. BARTLETT, Q. M. General."
SALEM, AUGUST 7.
The privateer schooner Fox, Captain Handy, has
arrived at Portsmouth from a successfUl cruize, during
which she has captured eleven prizes, three of which`
are burnt, two ransomed, and six manned out, one
of which arrived some time since. One of her prizes
is a ship, formerly the Hope, of Providence, laden
with Government stores.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AVON, IN THE UNITED
STATES, DATED JULY 11, 181$

441 have learned that on Friday morning last, one
of the picket-guards of our army was attacked by the
British and Indians, and after a few minutes' resist-
ance retreated. A Lieutenant, and about 40 men,
.were sent to aid in covering their retreat, but by
mistake took a wrong road, passed our guard, and
soon found themselves in the midst of the enemy.—
The work of death soon commenced, -and a more
horrid scene never was witnessed ; only nine of the
party escaped, the remainder were most barbarously
massacred, or taken prisoners. Nineteen bodies were
found op the field, cut and mangled in the most
shocking manner. On Thursday, atternoon last our
picket-guard at Fort Geerge was attacked by the
British, and driven in ; a part of two regiments
im-
mediately passed our, and, alter a short contest,
routed the enemy. On our part there were 15 to 20
killed, wounded, and taken ; the loss of the British
was somewhat larger. The British 14ve appeared in
some force at Queenstown."

SPANISH PAPERS.
FROM TUE MADRID GAZETTE, AUGUST 26.

We have seen a letter from the camp before Tar-
ragona, dated the 12th instant. By it we know that
on the 3d instant, the third army having been suc-
cessively joined by 16,000 English, Wittingham's
division of 60(X), and Sarsfield's of 5500 men, ap.
peared to form the siege. On the 12th, the fire had
not opened ; but the Lnglish were then erecting bat-
teries. The place resisted, bur could not do so long,
as it had only a garrison of 2000 men, under the Go.
vernor and General of Brigade, Barrtoleti. It is in
want of water and ammunition; and it is probable,
that when the hem y artillery arriveb he will net stand
an assault. Lcrd Bentinck commands the siege.
Suchet, with a force' of 22,000 men, had arrived
at Villa Franca, six leagues from Tarragona ; and it
is supposed that this was the motive for not disem-
barking the heavy artillery on the 12th. The French
front" Tortosa have burned the boats on the Ebro,
and odeasibried some loss to Villa Campa, who was
stationed in observation there,

LETTER FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE DUKE Of CIUDAD
•
RODRIGO AND VITTORIA, DATED AUGUST 10, TO THE
CONDE DE VILLAFUENTE, CONSTITUTIOVAL ALCALDE
OF VITTORIA.

" The S'.trgeon•Majors of the British army have
informed me, that in consequence of the late actions
in the vicinity of Pamplona, it has been necessary to
send to Vittoria a considerable number of wounded :
and that the inhabitants, with yourself, Senor, at their
head, not only offered them every assistance :a hand,
but offered them their houses, in case the edifices set
apart for their reception should not be sufficient. I
request that you will have the goodness to assure the
inhabitants of this city, that feeling, as I always have
felt, the greatest regret at seeing myself under the
necessity or requiring and taking any thing from any
individual, and knowing that their conduct is only
to be attributed to their patriotism, and their wish to
alleviate, as far as possible, the labotrisand sufferings
of the brave men who have fought iu their Cause, I
am penetrated In the most lively Manner with their
affectionate good will, of which I have received such
repeated proofs. ' WELIANOTON,'
`• Htad-quarters, Lezaca, Aug. 10. Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo."
. -

TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL JUNTA OF VITTORIA.
4‘ I transmit this to 'you; in order that assembling
the inhabitants of this place, you may communicate
to diem the satisfaction 'which his Excellency has ex-
pressed for the hospitality' aid' kindness 'which they
hive shewn 'towards the English soldiers whe have
. . .

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