The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-07-19 00:00:00

DEiTRUCTION: OF DON INIRGUEU S FLEET.

.In addition to what appeared in the STANDARD of
Tuesday, relative to the engagement between the rival
fleets of Portugal, we subjoin further particulars :
The following is a copy of the despatch transmitted by Admi-
ral Napier to the Marquis of Loule, containing his official
report of the victory obtained by him over the fleet of Don
-Miguel :
" Her Most Faithful Majesty's ship Rainha de Por-
tugal, in Lagos Bay, July 6.
"My Lord,—lt has pleased God to grant to the squadron of
her most faithful Majesty a great and glorious victor), over the
enemy, whom 1 fell in with on the morning of the 2d instant,
off Cape St. Vincent, my squadron having left Lagos Bay the
evening before. They consisted of 2 line of battle ships, 2
frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 brigs, and 1 xebecque ; my squadron of
3 frigates, 1 corvette, 1 brig, and 1 small schooner.
" I immediately despatched the Villa Flor to Lagos for the
steamers, which vessels rejoined me in the evening. During
the 3d and 4th there was too much swell to lay the enemy ad
board, the mode of attack on which I had decided. On the
forenoon of the sth it fell calm. I expeoted from the steamers
great and good assistance; but, with the exception of the
William the IV. they showed no disposition to render support,
and the engineers and crews particularly refused to approach
the enemy, the former demanding £2OOO each before they went
to work. I must, however, do justice to Mr. Bell, who did all'
in his power to induce them to act.
During the discussion a breeze sprung. up, ',lacing my"
squadron to windward of the enemy, who were formed in a
combat line under easy sail—the two line-of-battle ships a-head,
the two frigates astern, having the three corvettes and two brigs•
a little to leeward in the open spaces.
" I explained to the captains my intention of attacking the
Rainha with the flag ship and the Don Pedro'; to the Donna
Maria was assigned the Princess Real, and to the Portuense-
and Villa Fier the Martins de Freitas, leaving the Don John,
(bearing a commodore's pendant) and the small craft un-
occupied.
At 2, the squadron being ill close order, edged away to
their respective stations, and as we'came within musket-shot a
most tremendous fire was opened on the ships from the whole
line, with the exception of the. Don John, whose guns would
not bear. We were a good deal cut up, and lost men : but
nevertheless pursued a steady course, returning the fire as we
passed. Raked the Rainha, wko had bore up to two or three
points, ran alongside to windward, and boarded with all hands.'
" The enemy did not resist our bou.ding, which., was, how-
ever, accomplished with difficulty, but !Rey defended the quar-
ter-deck with great spirit, and I am sorry to say we suffered
severely. Captain Reeves, of this ship, the second in command,
and Captain Charles, my aide-de-camp, were, I believe, the,
first on•board, (the former received three wounds, one severe,
the latter five.) They were closely followed by myself and
officers, and a few seamen. Captain Georgq, who was serving
as a volunteer, and ',lieutenant Woolridgeiswere killed ; Lieu-.
,tenant Edmunds and Mr. Winter, my clerks severely wounded-
Lieutenant Listcullis and myself were the only ones that es-
caped: as the men'
.got on board they rushed aft• to support us,
and in about five minutes the Rainha was our own.

"By this time the Don Pedro ranged up to leeward to board,:
but I directed Captain Goblet to follow the Don 'John, who had
made off; and, I am sorry to say, in the act of speaking
.to me
he was mortally wounded by a musket-ball from the Rainha's-
lower deck ports.
" Lieutenant List and a party were left to take charge of the'
pi ize and the flag ship sheered off in pursuit of tbe Don John. '
" iire were much cut up in sails and rigging, but by the-
great.exertions of Captain Phillips, master of the fleet, who
now took the direction of the Rainha, the fore-topsail was'
shifted, the rigging knotted, ropes spliced,'&c., and we were
fast closing on the Don John, the Pedro being a little a head,
when the commodore struck his colours without firing a-shot,
the officers and ship's company refusing to fight. The three
corvettes and two brigs put before the wind, and I assure yen it.
was not in my power to prevent them.
" During the time I was taken up with the Rainlnt, the Donna.
Maria, Captain Henry, carried the Princess Royal by boarding
in gallant style. Captain Henry speaks in high terms of his
officers and crew. lam sorry to say his sailing lieutenant, Mr:
More, was killed.

" The Martins de Freitas was too strong for the Villa Flor
and Portuense, and although they knocked away her foretop-.
mast, and otherwise greatly disabled her, she kept her colours
up, and went before the wind.
I left the Don Pedro to take charge of the Don John, and
chased the-disabled ship, who surrendered ,before stm-set. '
" Such a service could not be performed withoutloss • I am'
now'collecting the returns, and will forward them the flit op-
'portunity.
"No language can express to your Excellency my gratitude
for the support I met with from the officers and men. To Cap-
tains Reeves, Goblet (who is killed), Henry Blackstone
(wounded), Charles, Phillis, and Ruxton, I am Much indebted, •
and 'I be leave to recommend them to the attention of his Ma- ,
jesty the-Emperor. The subordinate officers, and indeed all,
deserve the highest praise.
'" I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Excellency's obe-
dient servant, " CARLOS PONZA, '
Vice Admiral and Major General."
" P.S.—I am happy to say the corvette Princess Real came.
over and joined my flag this morning, at this ancliorage.-
" To his Excellency the Marquis of Louie."