The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-04 00:00:00

crived opiukw they could have b su attacked by
bombs. tire-ships, and gun-vessels, again without
risk ; and had we had a reserve of ire-ships, I
think tome of theni would have been destroyed
in the llood-tide of the 12th. There were fire.
ships prepared with all espiditiool but they were
too late.
Q. Do you remember at what time of the
day on the 12th, tlioships were sent in to the at-
tack ? A. I cannot speak as td the time) being
out of my 'ship.
Q. Upon the whole are you of opinion that of
an the French ships which get on short on the
night of the Ilth of April) any more could have
been destroyed than *ere destroyed, hail the Bri-
tish ships been earlier sent in on the 12th of April
to attack them T . A. Had they been attacked
by the British ships, in my opinion, they could
Not have been warped off the shoal, as it was ne-
cessary so to do to lay out anchors. Those that
were not a-ground had always the option of run.
ning farther up the Charente. It will be under.
stood, that if our ships had been sent in) it would
have been at considerable risk.

Q. It appears that .the two ships of the enemy
which remained afloat made sail towards the Cha-
t...tote considerable before two o'clock in the af-
ternoon ; and that the three.decker and the other
shies aground upon the Palais got off about the
same time; at what time then previous to con-
siderably before two would you, had you com-
manded the British fleet, have sent ships in to
attack the enemy's ships on shore ? A. The mo-
ment that the two ships quitted their defensive
position ; the risque was then small ; they moved
between ono and two o'clock, nearly about that
time; the bombs and brigs were sent iu soon after
that time.

Q. Was there in your judgment every practica.
ble effort made to destroy the ships of the euemy
that gut iutn the entrance of the Charatite? A. I
wis not in the Road of Aix, but I am certain that
the Commander in Chief sent every vessel its) that
could tend to sheet that purpose.
After some further questions of no material iin.
port, this witness withdrew, Lord Gambier hav-
ing no questions to propose.
Captain Bnlkhill, Captain 13.111, of the Gibral-
tar, Captain Newman, of the Hero, and Captain
Broughton, of the Amelia, were successively es-
aafined. The questions put and answers given
Awe similar to the preceding, wins the excep-
tion of an opinion delivered by Captain Brough.
ton, that it would have been more advantageous,,
had the line-of-battle ships gone in to make the.
attack about half.flood, between eleven and twelve
u'eb)ck.

-
Ciptaill KERR was then called in by desire of
Lunt Ga ',bill., to be questioned as to the probe.
lilt effect of the batteries of the Isle d'Ais.

Examined by LordGAmerzit.
Q. You have stated the injury your ship the
Revenge, received in passing out of Aix Roads,
from tho batteries on Isle d'Aix; what do you
think would have been the fate of the Revenge,
and any other 74-gun ship, if they had remained
to attack the batteries of Isle d'Aix, within two
cablos's length, until you had silenced them
I should certainly, have expected, from the
heave 6re they kept up both in going in and com-
ing out, that ships anchored there must have been
tlivvuuted, and suffered a severe logs of men.

Q.. What would have been the probable fate of
those ships so disabled, with the wind blowing
from Ow:northward, as it did on the 12th ? A.
If dismistied they must have been lost.
Q. Op the Co ye r.) If ships so sent in to at.
tack the Itatteriev in the Isle d'Aie did not, from
the strength of the enemy's work., and the rest).
IpsiOn of those who defended them, succeed in
spencnig the batteries, sod fuund.it indispensibly
necessary to retire frosa before them, could they,
In a crippled state, with the wind blowing fresh
to tin. 14. N. W. here gone to the anchorage lately
taken up by the Imperieuse and other ships under
these circumstances ? A. If a vessel so situated
had lost her foremast, sho certainly could not
have got before the wind; and without having
that and good way, so as to hare a perfect corn.
mand of hi r, she must have drifted to the S. and
E. which would have taken her up the Charente
and upon the Palais.
Q. Was the battery on the south part of the
Isle d'Aix low enough to admit of its being de.
strovtd by ships ? A. On the south side, I
thinl; nut; 'on the S. W. side, the guns mighthave
borne on them.
Q. Did on see any other batteries on the Isle
of Aix that would have borne on ships sent in
to the attack of the enemy ? A. None but those
cc:int:act! with the works altogether ; it was one
continued ettain of works from the Southward
ratite! to the Westward; the guns never ceased
acting on the Revenge, from the time she sent in
until She ca;uc out.
Captiriu Itt.ttin was then called in, but nothing
material transpired in his answers.
'rite PaestozsT here informed Lord Gambier
that it was not the intention of the Court to call
any further evidence, and wished his Lordship to
inform the Court, whether it was his intention to
cal any further evidence, in consequence of the
testimony given this day.

. Lord GAMBIER said he should be obliged to the
Court to allow him a quarter of an hour, to consi.
tier of what step he should next take.
The Pacst DENT.-ig In all probability we shall
not be able to arrange matters this day, so as to
r•,,nt►s tow final conclusion on the subject matter
for onr consideration. If therefore your Lordship
wishes, the Court shall be happy to indulge you
until to-morrow imorning, to make any further
preparations you may diens expedient."
Lord et ra.—" I shall be happy of such
an itidoleeuer; and with the permission of the
Couit, OWL to-morrow morning, at ten o'clorks
take such furth,•r steps ac in the interim, and on
a consideration of the es idence that hai this day
been submitted to the Court, I may think ueces.
sary to urge, in addition to whatl hare already
submitted to this Honourable 'Court iu my lie.
foicc."
The Court then adjourned till to-morrow morn.
jot at w o'clock.