The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-07-25 00:00:00

MINISTRY OF THE SI.IRIVt.

IMPORT 01 CAPtAIN POTET TO TUE 3III11fM! 07
MARI:qt.

" St o—Oo the sth April, at half past eleven in
the fawning, the weather thick, awl a fresh breeze
fr,.ut . W. his Majesty's frigate Nieman, un-
der any commood, I discovered an eeemyes frt.'
gate, about two league ate a half to leeward.—
I immediately larked to starboard; but I scarcely
made sail, when I perceited another frigate W
leeward of the former, which obliged toe to eh=
my course, cad stand el with all the sail I

carry.
" At fire in the evening the wind changed to
11. Z. with squalls, at which time the frigate in
my wake appeared to have somewhat the admit.
tage of sailing. At half past seven, I lost sight
of the frigate to leeward, and the other was dis.
tent about two leagues N.W. quarter N. At
eight o'clock she was no longer In sight ; and I
immediately changed my coarse, still carrying a
press of sail.
66 At three quartets past nine, a frigate appear.
ed to the windward, and soon approached within
half-cannon shot. She made some siguals, which
were answered by the vessel to the 1et...1-did, and
which I still ri to be pne thus,• that chased
me in the course of the ilAy. The fire instantly
commenced with the bow and :sere chasers of both
ships. At half past eleven my rigging was much
cut ; and not wishing to expose myself to further
damage, I decided on engaging.
64 A quarter of an hour afterwards, the actiod
began at pistul-shot, under easy sail. Both ships
made use of various manoeuvres until two o'clock,
when I discovered that the enemy was endeavour.
ing to lay me athwart hawse, by bearing down
upon me. I adopted the same manceuvre, and
then tacking to windward, I passed under his
stern, in which situation I gave him a broadside.
My intention was to boa .d ; but the enemy avoid-
ed it by dropping to leeward, which gave me the
advantage of the wind. At half.past two, I lost
my mixen.mast ; the larboard netting caught fire.
The enemy, who was much crippled, availed him-
self of this accident, and dropping astern, at.
tacked on the quarter. Ten aduutes after, the
wreck of the mast was cleared, the fire extin-
guished, and I brought my broadside to bear.
66 Within a quarter of three, I bad the satis-
faction to see the enemy lose bis main and wizen
masts, and immediately make sail before the wind,
drawing along the two masts, which retarded his
sailing. tic could only sail on his foremast, which
was shattered with grape.

" Iss about 15 minutes wry first Lientersant,
Palls, kproned are that the enemy had :truck,
and that they hailed ws to stop firing. I ordered
M. Kerangoue to take possession of her, but we
soon saw another frigate bear dowu to her assist.
twee. She made signals to her, and bred some
musket-shot at am. I then renewed the action
with four guns only, my crew being employed
in repairing damages, with the intention of fight.
ing the fresh frigate, which was only a shot dis.
twice from us.

gi The action soon began with her, with re-
peated cries of Long live the Emperor!' She
by alongside me only a short time. My rigging
was in too bad a state to enable me to prevent her
from ranging ou my starboard quarter, from
which I could not bring my guns to bear on her.
At half.past four my maintop caught fire so via.
lently, that it was impossible to extingnish it, par-
ticularly as the fire-engine had been rendered un.l
serviceable by a shot. Shortly after, the main.l
mast fell by the board, and encumbered the guns,
which could not be brought to bear on the irst
frigate. This vessel took part in the action by
firing into my bows, and this was my position
when, at three-quarters past four I struck to the
Arealaza, of 48 guns; 28 eighteens, °l nines, and
18 thirty-two pound carronades.
" The Ainethit, which I engaged fu►r six hours
and a half, was of the same force.
" Your Excellency will be pleased to take no.
tiee, that before the Arethusa came up, ‘lhich
hod been cruising on the coast of *pain (fur it