Star.
London, England, 1819-07-28 00:00:00

GRAND NAVAL•AFFRAV.

It is with extreme regret we state, that on Mon: ,
day morning last, a most outrageous and despe-
rate attack was made on three boats belonging to
the Dublin Fishery Company—an attack which, had
it succeeded, must have incurred the loss of several
lives ; but we are happy to add, that it failed in the
.principal object, and partial injury sustained by a few,
was the only result of it. About half-past seven
o'clock, on the moi fling stated, three smacks belong-
ing to the above Company sailed from the Pi von-
house Dock, to proceed to fish in the Channel, as
usual; in their progress they saw a number of wher-
ries, that are also psually employed in fishing, but
not employed by the Company. The three smacks
perceived, when about five miles to the East of
Ilowth, that they were chaced by the other vessels,
which were divided into three squadrons of six each;
one wherry carried a ted flag, and *seared to have
a person on board who commanded the entire,, as
orders were issued from it, and promptly obeyed.--
One of the squadrons pursued each of the smacks,
which were about one mile asunder; when the crews
of the three vessels found their pursuers intent on
continuing the chace, they all agreed not to continue
their course, but return, in doing which, they had to
pass their enemies ; they, however, made the attempt,
and came so closely in contact, that they were nearly
grappled and severely pelted with large stones, of
rather pieces of rock, with which the assailarts were
plentifully supplied. The crews of the smacks con-
sisted of only four persons each, viz. a Captain,
a Mate, a man, and a boy ; while, on the other hand,
the wherries had from eight to eleven men each ; the
latter told the former, in the most abusive terms,
that they would cut their throats, and throw them
overboard, and shewed the hatchets with which they
intended to cut away their masts and rigging ; not-
withstanding the vast disparity of numbers, and the
want of means to defend'themselves, the crews of the
vessels behaved with a determination truly character-
istic of good seamen, and when one of the' Captains
was insolently ordered to haul down his flag, he re,'
plied he would forfeit 1-.4s life first. (The.flags car-
ried by the Company's vccsols are green, with the
Union in the corner, and the words, "Dublin Fishery
Company" on thezround.) The superior sailing •of
the CompanY's smacks alone saved them front the
destructitm, and when all hope of grappling them was
given, over, the Admirtd issued his orders to a parti-
cular vessel to run down a smack, 'which he pointed
out ;" this mandate was promptly attempted to be.
carried into effect, but the consequences were inju-
rious to these acting on the offensive alone, as,
in the attempt, they lost their bowsprit, and were
otherwise very materially injured, when they struck
. violently against the other vessel, which escaped
without damage, owing to- her superior strength."--,
'The last of the three vessels that reached the air,
was so malty overtaken by one of her pursuers, that
they were in. that act of throwing a shower of- stones
sufficient to destroy every one cti hoard, when the
'Captain prevailed on theM to desist, by promising
not to come nut again for the purpose of fishing ;
they then warned him that if he did the" would in-
tercept and sink him •, the Captains of the three
'smacks were very much hurt by the stones thiown at
them, as also others of the people on board. lidOr-
• mations of thin outrage have been sworn' at the
Police 011 ice. •

The Inductry, Ciptain RA swim which sailed
from N.tv..ry on tin-21st of A pril last, with passengers,
arrived sale at St. John7s, New Brunswick, °wale
10th of June, and landed tlkcpi all in good heAth.--
The Industry, two days_before she reached St. John's,
spoke the Nancy, of Dumfries, from Belfast, out eight
weeks and four days, with 170 passengers, all in good
health.