Star.
London, England, 1805-04-24 00:00:00

Pram ski LONDON GAZETTE, APRIL 23.

ADMIRALTY OrTier, APRIL 23.
Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Sir Marv.. Miteht 11, K. B.
Commander In Chief of his Majelty's Ships and Veda Ha
liras, to William Madden, Ely. dated Bermuda. seth u f March
doe.
Sir—l have the honour to inclofe, for the in forma.
tion of the Lords Commiflioners of the Adeniralty,
three letters relative to the capture of his Majefty's
tulip CLIMPATRA , on the ,7th of February hill, by
the French frigate la Vile de Milan, after a very le-
ttere atEtion. Their Lordllips will with pleafure ()b-
-rave how fortunate the LIANDER has been in fallings
in with both fhip:, taking la Vile de Milan, and re-
taking the CLl•opaTit.t. No language of mine can
d t fufficient juaice to the petfeverance in the chase,
and gallant conduet of Sir ROBERT Lawn's, Bart.
his officers, and yot,:t (Lip's company, in the Attic)
with the enemy, tt Niel' will ever rt.flea the highett
honour on them, v !lea their Lordihips confider the
foperiority of the fbip and men. I cannot omit, at
the fame time, to Kjt e full credit to the zeal (hewn by
the LEANDER'S filir'S company, and with what ala-
crity and anxious with (Captain TALBOT reports to
teie) they (hewed lit rug tee both the frigates, then in
me Haze, and tinder 1.1 inch c.,loors, when the La AN-
Me bore up to place licrfelf between them to bring
them to aftion :—ftom the high opinion I have of
the officers, and the uniform good and Ready eon-
dud and difcipiine of the men, I truft they would
have given a pod account of them. The Cxeorarae
failed for Halifax the tffth intl. under the charge of
Captain Sir ROBERT LAWRIR, for the purpofe of
being valued and refitted as foon as poflible. La
Ville de Milan I than take to Halifax with the fqoa
dron. She ix a very fine frigate, of the largeff chefs,
only one year old the day of the adhon, and com-
pletely fit for his Majefly's fervice in every sefoeft,
except the damage fbe received in her malls, yards,
&c. in the ailion, having alfo a great quantity of (pare
Acres on board. I trterefute mull their Lordlhips
will give the neceffary orders for her being purchafed
into his Majefly's fervice. I !hall take upon me to
dire& Commiflioner INGLEFIR Ln to caufe the proper
officers of his Majefly's Dock Yard to value her hull,
flares, &c. agreeable to their Lordfhipi' ialltudions
on that head. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) A. MITCHELL.
TIMM jelt..iShip Leander, on'St. David's Head,Bermuda,
WeJneiday 6th Marehoitos, at Ten A. M.
Sir—l have the honour to inform you, that I pro-
ceeded to lea, and cruized in his Majefly's (hip under
my command, according to your orders, dated the
13th of Taft month. On Saturday the aid February,
at twelve o'clock at noon, a fail was Peen from the
mall head, bearing South of us ; the weather at this
time was hazy, with (quails of wind and rain from
the Northward. All fail was immediately made in
chace, the, weather becoming Rill more hazy, in a
few moments we loft fight of the chace; at half pall
two o'clock it cleared away a little to the fouthward,
and we again got fight of her. I found we had con-
fidevahly neated the chace, and that it was a large
(hip under jury mans, (landing to the fonth-eall. At
three o'clock we faw anotger (hip a (port diflanee
from the chace, fleeting the fame courfe, alfo under
jury mans, in appearance a much larger veffel. As
we doled them very fail, we loon clearly faw they
were both frigates ; on their making us out to be a
man of war, they doled to fupport each other, fired
a gun to leeward, and !sniffed french Enfigns from
their main-flays ; at four o'clock we were within
gun (tot of them, they feparated, the frigate neareft
to us put before the wind, the other (leered with it,
on her larboard quarter. By half pall four o'clock
we got within mufket (hot of the fmalleft frigate,
gave her one of the main deck guns; when, •after a
few minutes liefiration, the hauled down her colours,
and hove to. On my bailing this frigate, I am lorry
to tell you, Sir, that I was informed by them, the was
his Majelly's fhtp CLEOPATRA, of thirty.two guns,
lately commanded by Sir _ R _OSERT LAWRIE, Bart—
She was taken on Sunday the t 7th of February, after
having brought to and fullained a moil revere ar.d
gallant adion for the (pace of three hours and a qua, -
ter, by a French frigate nearly double her force, in
fine, complement of men. and weight of metal. Ob
ferving that the part of the crew left on board her
belonging to his Majefly's (hip CLEOPATRA, had conic
on deck, and taken polfeflion of her on the (hip (bik-
ing to us : I hailed, ordered them to make fail, and
fleer after his Moj..fly's (hip LEANDER. Again made
fail in chace, and in about an hour's time got along-
fide the French frigate ; (he hauled down her colours,
and Rruck to ns without a gun being fired on either
fide. On hailing the 'French frigate. you, Sir, may
eatily judge how happy I mull have felt, on hearing
I was anfvieted by my friend Sir ROBERT Laweis,
who told me he was well, and that the (hip was la
Ville de Milan, nineteen days from the Mild of Mar-
tiniqoe, bound to France. La Ville de Milan is a
remarkably fine and handfome frigate, about one year
old, one thouland two hundred tons harebell, mount-
ing fourteen long nine-pounders on her quarter-deck,
Ex long nine-pounders on the forecafile, fifteen ports
of a fide on the main-deck; when (he failed from
France, had twenty-eight eightempounders mounted
on it—now twenty-fix ; two were landed from her at
Martinique.
When the alion commenced between la Ville de
Milan and his Niajeley's (hip CLIOPATRA, the was
commanded by klonfieur REYNAUD, Capitaine de
Vaiffeau, had on board three hundred and tixty men
as her complement., befides a limber of officers and
foldiers of the French army, going piffengers to Eu-
rope. The officers of la Ville de Milan apace in
laying, that having difpatches on board fur France.
with orders not to finale any thing during their pal-
rage, every thing was dove in their power to avoid
being brought to adion by the Ccvorarea. Monf.
REYN•VD was killed by the Lift (hot fired from the
CLEOPATRA; he was etleemed an experienced and
alive officer, and had ferved in the late King of
France's fervice as an auxiliary officer. He failed in
la Ville de Milan from L'Orient, the :ft of !aft Aa.
gull, as Comniodore of fix of their 'argil frigates,
with troops embarked on board them, to be landed
on the Oland of Martinique ; after having perform-
ed this fervice, he was ordered, as the French offi-
cers exprefs it, to make a fluerp through the ;Rands.
Islonfieur Got L LET' frigate,
Capitaine de and fccond
Captain of la Ville de Milan, commanded when fhe
f!ruck to us, and. Monficur CARRON, her Second
Jrieutenant, had the command of the Czaorarae.
It is not potkile for officers to (peak in ltronger

terms than the French officers Jo in praife of Sir
ROB 14RT Lame] 6'S perfeverance in fo long a chace,

except it is in the praife they bellow on him, his of-
ficers, feamen, and marines, for their gallant con-
duit during fo long and fevere an aition. It is a very
painful part of my duty to be obliged to inform you,
Sir, that your eldeft fon, who was doing duty as an
ailing Lieutenant, is included among the number
badly wounded on board the CLEOPATRA : as foon
as the weather admitted of his being removed, I had
him brought on board this Ihip, and I have great
pleafure in telling you he is much recovered ; and
from the experience, great care and attention of Mr.
Cct F FOP o, furgeon of the LEANDER, I have every rea.
Inn to believe that you will, in a fhort (pace of time, have
_ .

the fatisfaEtion of finding him once more gallantly
exerting himfelf for the honour, and in the defence

of his 'King and Country. Sir ROBERT LAWRIE

fpeAks in the high-t 1 terms of his conduet, and, in-
deed, of that •)t all the officers, teamen, and ma-

tines of his Majedy's fhip CLVOPATRA. Sir ROBERT
has, at my retied, been fo kind as to take charge
of theCCEOPATRA till fhe arrives in port. I have

given Mr. Nam; v, Fa Lieutenant of his %jelly's
flip LEAN DkR, charge of la Vile de Milan ; the
Length of time he has had the honour to ferre under
your flag would make it fuperfluous in me to attempt

to pointout to you, Sir, his meritorious ferviees and
abilities as anodicer; the only comment I can make

on his conduit on this occafion, is, that nothing can
exceed the exertions he has made in putting la Ville
de Klan in a fea•worthy (late. The alacrity of the

officers, feamcn, and marines of his Majefly's (hip
under my command during the chace, and their
fleadineti on going down to attack the two frigates,
who had doled, in appearance with a determination
to make a formidable refinance, convinced me, Sir,
that had they waited to make the refinance they
feemed difpofed to do, the LEANDER would nut have
ft:Med her good name. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) JOHN TALBOT, Poll Captain.
His Majefty's thip Leander, Mueray% Anchorage,
Bermuda March 7, 18os.
_

Sts—l have the honour to fend you inclofed a let-
ter I this day received from Sir ROBERT LAWRIE,
Bart. From the flatement made therein, you will
find, Sir, that the credit of the Britifb flag has fel-
dom been more honourably and g.tilantly Itipported
than on the prefent occafion ; and the French 91.
ficers, whom I have prilune, s on board this lip, can.
not themfelves avoid to acknowledge, that had not

the CLEOPATRA unfortunately fo.iied a.head of
la Ville de Milan, the latter part of. the ajihn, is
Ville de Milan nt:lt have furrendered to the CLEOPA.
TEA. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) I. TALBOT.
His Majelly:s typ Clevatra.atSe,t,yeb. 25.

. . .
Sir—l have to requell that you will be pleafed to
acquaint the Commander in ChLI, that on Saturday
the 16th ina. in lat. 28 deg. N. long. 67 deg. W. al
ten A. M. law a (hip in the S. E. (landing to the ,
E. N. E. the wind at N. W. made fail towards her ;
at eleven perceived the chace to be a large ft igate,
aith fifteen ports of a fide on the main deck ; clear-
ed (hip for aaion, and hoifted American colours to
induce them to bring to fur us ; but, inliead of which,
he made more fail ; the weather fqually ; made and
(hortened fail occafionally ; carried away feveral
Mudding fail yards, and the foretop mall Mudding fail
boom, (hilted over the (larboard one, and let the
reefed lower Mudding fail ; a good deal of fwell :
the chace apparently (leering In as to keep the ftud-
ding fails drawing full ; and that at day light on the
7th, was about four miles a-head ; hell' breezes and
(well as before. At half pall ten he took in his thud-
ding fails, and hauled more up ; when we got within
about three quarters of a mile took in ours alfo. At
half pail eleven he hauled his mainfail up, and kept
more to the wind ; upon our (leering in dole with
him upon his quarter he again let it and (layfails,
trying to gain the swind of us (upon which point of
filling he had the advantage) ; we made all Gail, the
chace having fume time bcfore !milted French co-
lours, and we ours. On his.feeming to draw a-head
from us, at the ditlance of about half gua flit, flied
our bow chacers, which he returned occa(iimally
from his Rem. this Enos appearing fo well directed,
and of heavy metal, and to prevent being raked by
them, I was obliged to deer fa as to keep on his quar-
ter, though prolonging the chace: Latitude, at noon,
29 deg. 24. min. N. long. 64 deg. 23 min. W. At
half path two I'. M. having got within about a cable's
length from the enemy, he lofted dole to the wind,
and gave us two broadfides, which, when at lets than
a halt cable's &fiance, we returned, and a warm ac-
tion commenced, both (hips trimming fails, (leering
fometimes dole to the wind, and at others about

duce points free, during which we had confiderably
the advantage. About five, having that away his
main top fait yard, we forged a-head, although the
mizen topfail was fiptared, and b )th jib, fay, and
hatilyards gone, finding neither fire nt r main tine
garnets left to haul the courfes up, our running rig
ging cut to pieces, fo as to render it import-tine to ei-
ther ihorten or back a fail, and both main and fpring
(lays were (hot away, the mainmatt only fupported
by the form Ilayfail flay, I was induced to trots his
bow, and, by hauling up, to have raked him, in pre-
ference to capoting our Ran to the fire of twenty-
five pieces of cannon from his broadfide ; but in the
aä of which an unfortunate (hot (truck the wheel,

the broken (*pokes were jammed againft the deck, fo
as to render it immoveable, as well as the rudder,
which, at the fame time, was cloaked in the end by
fplinters, piltols, &c. placed near it. Oar opponent
availing himfelf of our ungovernable fituation, with
the wind upon his quarter, gave us the ftern, running
his head and bowfprit over our quarter deck, jult
abaft the main rigging, and, under the cover of a
very heavy fire from mulcts and mufketoons, at-
tempted to board us, but was drove back ; we ex-
changotit a few mufketry with them ; but their great
advattage in height and fuperiority of number, as
well as by their mulketoans from their tops, cleared
our decks, and in at our ports. The only two guns
we could bring to bear, being fired from within
board, did them little injury, the flint paffing through
their lower deck. Moll of our fails laying a-(*liver,
or partly a-back, and bor• down by fo heavy a (*hip,
(having been intended fur a feventy.four) going al-
molt before the wind, and much lea running, appear-
ing to cut us afunder at every fe-d. I law no pro-
(peas of laving this Chip, or the lives oahe numerous
wounded that were then below, on the fuggeftica of
the Firlt Lieutenant we attempted to hoilt the fore-
topmaft Ita)fail ; and I d'u'eled the fptitfail topfail

to be let alto ; but, in the execution of which orders,'
every man was knocked down by their miiiketry and
other (mall flint as they made their appearance. At
a quarter pall five they fucceeded in boarding. and
I was compelled to furrender to the French frigate
la Ville de Milan, of forty-fix gum, French eighteen-
pounders, on the main deck, and eights on the quar-
ter deck and forecattle ; three hundred and fifty
men, betides feveral officers and paffengers : com-
mandedbyMonfieur Rs vasty 0, Capitain sleVaitleaux,
and Monfteur GILLET, Capiiain de Fregate ; the for-
mer was killed, and the latter badly wounded in the
anion, and immediately afterwards the CLEOPATRA
became a perfen wreck, not a fpar (landing but the
mizen mak the bowfprit and other mans gone by
the board, and I fully expened the would have foun-
dered before both (hips could get clear of each other.
I truft it will he found that every exertian was
'Wade to bring a (hip of Lb foperinr force into aElion,
and in maintaining of it. 1.4 Ville de Milan i, nearly
double our fine and force, being a new (hip of about
twelve hundred tons burthen,and having almna twice
our number of men on board, as we only mullered at
quarters one hundred and ninety-nine, being ten fhort
of compliment, and that from the Itrength of the
(hip's company in able feamen, and there were feve-
ral in the fick lift. From Lieutenant BALFOUR I re-
ceived every affittance, as from a g ood and zealous Offi
cer, as alto from Lieutenants litmsra as and Casmit o,
and Lieutenant BOWEN of the Bermuda, who kept
up a well-direaed fire from the main deck, and Mr.
MITCHELL, Midfhipman and Aaing Lieutenant,from
the quarter-deck, at which Lieutenant A p LLTON of
the Marines affilled, having no men to fpare for fmall
arms, but was wounded early. The (leady and cool
conduit of Mr. BETT (the Mallet) confirmed what
I had always expated from him : to go further in
particularizing individuals would be too tedious ; but
I think it my duty to mention Mr. *CAE r y's (the
Boatfwain) conduit, who is badly wounded, was
highly fpirited and aklive ; and more gallantry and
bravery could not have been di played than by both
officers and men of fo young a (hip's company, many
being under twenty years of age, and only three ma,
tines, who had j:ined that corps more than two weeks
before they were embarked. I have no hefiration in
faying, that had not the above unlucky accident oc
curred, (he must have (truck to us, as the next morn-
ing her foremalt and bowfprit were the only malls
[landing, much cut in the hull, and I counted eleven
(hot in the wrack of her main-malt ; that our twelve
pounders could not do that jullice too from its fine,
nor the thicknefs of her fides, that was to well in•
tended.

I beg molt eornealy to folicit Sir Aunt rw MIT-
CHELL'S patronage in favour cf Meas. llowf s and
RIDGEWAY, (Miller's Mates), as two very merito-
rious and prornifing young men, having confiderably
more than fervid their time, and palled frr Lieute-
nants ; tbeic conduft on this occafion, as well as for
feveral years before, with me, has been much to my
fatisfoetion, and in my humble opinion, to entitle them
to promotion, as well as for Mr. BALFOUR Ole Firlt
Lieutenant ; as you, Sir, mutt be the b:tl judge of
the fituati,:n we have reduced the Fier.cli ILit. to, f,
as to render her chance of efcape from our numerous
cruizers alma:l an abfolive impalibility. I have the
honour to be, Bcc... ( Signed) AW AI E.

To Captain John Talbot, his Majeffi's fblp Leander.
A return of Killed and Wounded on board hi.; (hip Cleo-
patra. in aelion with the French frigate la Ville de Miian.
Killed.—George Trepafs, Boatfwain's Mate.
William Lewis and Mathew Shawe, Quarter-Mafters.
James Hammond, Caulker.
William Danney (tlt), William Danney (ad), James Pierce, Jo.
It ph. lyarns, Richard King, Henry Fenlayfou, I ienry Herron,
Utia Hudfual, Jeremian Murphy, John Cargell, William Far-
ley. and Sabday, Seamen.
Lshn Pearce, a boy.
Frederick Miller, Serjeant of Marines.
James Ridley and Joint Smith, privates of Marines.
Since dead of wounds.—William Hull, Corporal of Marines.
F.dward Witley, private of Marines.
Dangeraufly wounded.—Mr. Mitchell, (Midfhipman),
Lieutenant.—Mr. Belt, Maser—Mr. M•Carthy, iloatiwaiii.
Quarter-Mafter—t Captain's Colfwain-8 Seam( n—t
Cerpor.d of Marines-4 Private Marines.
Slightlrwounded.—Mr.Ballour and Mr. Crooke, Lirmenants—
M-. Bowen, I..entemt-t of his Mjefty's (hi,) B.roida-7\ir
Appleton, Lie.lt.-nant of Marines—Mr. Staidly, Midfliipman
BOVIW:1;11.4 !Il:ae—tz Seamen.
Toml —ze killed, a !ince dead of their wounds, t 8 dange•
roufly svoundstl, and .8 fl ;fitly wounded.
(Rined) ans. LAWRIE.
Copy of a letter from Captain Langrord, Commander of his Ma.
j-Ity's Coop Lark, to IVilibtai MarLien,Ef;. dated Port Praya,
Iflal.d of St. lap, February 8, Vic's.
Sir—l have the honnor to inform you, that in con

fequence of information of a t•lpaniih merchant
Ichooner being at anchor off the Bay of Senegal, I
proceeded immediately in queft of her, and had the
good fortune to meet with her at that anchorage.—
She proves the Spann fchooncr the Carmerara,
pierced for fisteen guns, having only two on board,
laden with wine, formerly in polleflion of the French,
employed .IS a privateer by VICTOR HUGH i;5, at Cay-
enne, has done conliderable mifchief to the Britifli
trade on this coati, was now intended to have been
!relented by the Governor of Senegal to Vicroit,
HUGHES as a further annoyance to our trade on this
part of the coati. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) FREDL RICK LANGFORD.