Star.
London, England, 1809-03-29 00:00:00

rt.ln - Cameron, of the Hazard, offered his services
~,,ere the .iction, and had the wind allowed him to
tLr) •
"0 )ner, would have attacked the fort, and
cc:
:i -- •i-,%, prevented many of the troops getting on
... ..

.on toppy, also, in having an opporvinityof
testimony to the gallantry displayed by the
and crew of his Majesty's ship under my col*
; and beg leave to reconnnend my first Liuu-
;6: rat Simpson to their Lordships' notice ; also Lieu-
ea.oits Buckingham and Lambert as good officers,
,rj every way deserving their Lordships' favodr.—
;,.Ive the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) SAMUEL JOHN PECIIELL.
Rear-Minn-1 Sir A. Cochrane, Bart. &c.
r.eurn of killed and wounded on board his Majesty's ship
!,-s.:;ra, in action with the French netiotAl frigate la Topaze,
4.2; ),,nuary 1809.
xi-.lcr Nl'Cloud and John Simms, killed.
wounded.
(Signed) SAMUEL JOIN EZCHELL.
Hi 3 Majesty's Ship Jason, off Baiseterre,
Guadeloupe, Jan. 23.
Firt---T beg leave to acquaint you, that while cruiz-
,...g cif Basseterre in pursuance of your orders to
blockade the French frigate at that anchorage, on the
zorring of the 29. d the Cleopatra made the signal for
stiiiicious sail bearing north, which I immediately
directed her to reconnoitre, and soon after made sail
:„ the .Ta3on in that di'ection ; she was in a short time
di,c:-"vered to be an enemy's frigate, standing in for
:Ie land, where she effected her purpose of anchoring
olcse wider a small battery. As I perceived by the
ceopatra's motions, it was Captain Pechell's intention
tabr'.ng her to action as early as possible, I considered
Linnecessary to make any signals to him ; and he
..,i;1 fully anticipated my wishes, by bringing his
A 4) to anchor on the frigate's starboard baw, and
opened a heavy fire, which was warmly returned and
kept up by the enemy, till the Jason came to on his
quarter, and commenced her fire from the bow guns,
corm after which she struck her colours. After silencing
the battery she was taken possession of, and proved to
be the National frigate la Topaze, of 48 guns (long
eighteens and thirty-two pounder carronades) and
four hundred men, many of whom, with some troops
he had on hoard, had escaped on shore, from Roche-
Frt, lo,ded with flour for the supply of the French
colonies, commanded by Monsieur Lahalle, Capitaine
de Fregate, and Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Captain Pechell speaks in high terms of commen-
dation of the conduct of his officers and ship's com-
pany ; and I have also every reason to be satisfied with
that o those of my own ship, and only regret a fuller
opportunity for their exertions was not afforded them.
In justice to Captain Cameron of the Hazard, I
conceive it my duty to inform you, that, (notwith-
standing the disparity of force, and the uncertainty of
felling in immediately with any of our -cruizers) the
onfmy's ship was chased by him from daylight, and
I%at nothing but the baffling winds prevented his corn-
ing inn action and taking the station assigned. him.
Being anxious to regain my station off Basseterre,
to prevent the escape of the other frigate, which I had
ea the afternoon dispatched the Cherub to watch, I
kft the prize in charge of the Cleopatra and Hazard;
and the service on which I have since been employed
not having permitted me to communicate with them,
I am ignorant of the number killed an.l wounded on
board the French ship. The Cleopatra, lam sorry
assay, had two badly wounded (since dead); this ship
ia a man hurt.-1 have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) WM. MAUDE.
Tr Hugh Pigott, Esq. Captain of his Majesty's
ii.:; Latona, and senior Officer off Guadeloupe.
His Majesty's Acasta, Bay Robert, Jan. 31.
F:n—l have the-honour to inform you, that at day-
ti.nvn of yesterday, the division of transports carrying
tSe army under the command of Lieutenant-General
Beckwith were four leagues to windward of the Car-
ve! Rock.
I immediately bore up with it for Bay Robert, be-
joined in my way thither by the Ethalion,Forrester,
Rirg:Dove, Haughty and.Eclair, the Eurydice having
;c.,-F.ed me the preceding evening.
Tile weather was uncommonly windy and squally,
And there was a very considerable swell as far out a..
Lev.lp Garou, neither of the small frigates (the Cleo-
pan', or Circe) had joined, to go in with the trans-
ports, and, not knowing what opposition might be
made to a landing, I determined to enter the Cul de
Sac with all the men of war, that I might effectually
protect the landing, if occasion required, which I
could nit possibly have done had I anchored as far
t.r.. as Loup Garou.
Having therefore placed boats with flags at a graplin
•ipon the edges of the shoals, I led in with the Acasta,
Illlowed by the Penelope and transports, and anchor-
ed the whole of them about noon.
This decision, I trust, Sir, you will approve, as it
elabled me to land the Ist and 2d brigades, amounting
t., 4300 men, with a certain proportion of artillery and
horses, before sun-set, which I could not otherwise
have done, and this morning by seven o'clock, all the
k:serve were landed.
'l'o Captains Cochrane of the Ethalion, and Brad-
of the Eurydice, I am indebted for arranging
ats for the first landing, and more particularly
• k tin Dick of the Penelope, for superintending
.Ir7angement, and leading in the transports,
he did with great judgment.
Captain Withers, the principal agent for
•,,a,ts, I received all that assistance in the various
:,(•-•-.eats which I had to make, which could be
- •reel fro:n /in officer of great zeal and clear corn-
- ; and Lieutenant Senhouse, whom you did
• t honour to appoint as my Adjutant for this
‘..diticin, rendered me very essential service in car-
nothc detailed duties of the squadron.
::ave the honour to be, /cc.
(Signed) P. BEAVER.
iinnourable Sir Alexander Cochrane, K. B.
• cr-A Itriral of the Red, Commander is Lint f,
lr Fee.

l'" ^f a Letter from Captain Browne, of his Majesty's sloop
l'insPr, to Admir .1 Young, Commander in Chief at Ply-
r.' —,h, acrd tr ar rnitted by the latter to the lion. W. W. Pole, I
at St a, tl.t •ticl inst.
5t g to rep rt to you, that his Majesty's sloop
•-•'ermy command, this day, at 10 P.M. captured,
a pursuit of :36 hours, the French ketch priva-
- l'Arniral Martin, of Bayonne, mounting four 18-
:ncltr guns, with a complement of 101 r ea. •
J ;.otter frnm Captai!lM'Kinlcy, of his Majesty's Ship I
.-'-!y, to the Hot. W. W. Pole, dared Vila Garcia, March A.
I,fy leave to state to you, fur the info' Illation. of
/ I ,f,rtis Commissioners of the Admiralty, that since
la,t letter of the 6th instant (which I had the hti- •
7' ef trar by the atatira) or. the 11,14 inst.