The Statesman.
London, England, 1814-11-28 00:00:00

-,

to my command, to prevent a useless waste Of valua-
ble lives, and, at the request of the surviving officers
awl men, I gave the painful orders for the colours
to be

Lieut. flicks, of the Finch, had Hie mortification
le strike on a reef ref rocks, to the eastward of Crab
ahnut the middle of the engagement, which
presented his rendering that assistance to the squa-
dion, that might, from an officer of such ability,
have been expected.

The misfortune which this day betel us by capture
will, Sir, I trust, apologize for the lengthy detail
which, in justice to the secrets, I have deemed ne-
cessary to give of the particolars which led to it ;
lord when it is taken into consideration that the Con-.
Ranee was 16 days before on the atocks,with an uuor-
gatrized crew, composed of several drafts of men
who had recently arrived from different ships
at Quebec, many of %sirens only joined the day be-
fore, and were totally unknown either to the officers
or to each other, with the want of son-locks, as
well as other necessary appointments not to he pro-
cured in this country, I trust you will feel satisfied
of the decided advantage the enemy possessed, exclu-
sive of their great. superiority in point of force, a
comparative statement [the account of the British
force has not been transmitted] of which I have the
honour to annex. It now becomes the most pleasing
'Art of my present duty to notice to you the deter-
mined sisill and bravery of the officers and men in
this unequal contest ; but it grieves me to state, that
'the loss sustained in maintaining it has been so great;
that of Ore enemy, I understand, amounts to some-
thing more Garr the same number.
The fine style In which Capt. Downie conducted
the squadron into action, amidst a tremendous fire,
without returning a shot, until secured, reflects the
greatest credit to his memory, for his judgment and
coolness; as also on Lieuts. M'Ghee and . Ricks for
so strictly attending to his example and instructions :.
their own accounts of the capture of their respective
vessels, as well as that of bent. Robertson, .who
succeor;e4l to the command of the Confiance, will, I
feel assured, do ample justice to the merits of the
011icers and men serving under their immediate com-
mand ; but I cannot omit noticing. the individual
conduct of Leuts. Robertson, Creswick, and Horn-
by, and-Mr. Bryden, Master, for • their particular
exertion in endeavouring to bring the Confiance's
htne!marti side to bear on the enemy, lifter most of
their gnus were dismounted on the other.

It is impossible for toe to express to you my admi-
ration of the ofikers and crew serving under my
persoml orders ; their 'coolness and steadiness, the
effect of which vas proved by their irresistible fire
directed towards the brig opposed to us, claims my
warmest acknowledgments, but more particularly
for preserving the same so long after the whole
strength of the enemy had been directed against the
Linnet alone.. My First Lieutenant, Mr. Wm.
Drew, .4 hose merits I have before had the honour to
report to you, behaved on this occasion in the most
exemplary manner.
By tho death of Mr. Paul, Acting Second Lieu-
tenant, the set s ice has been deprived of a most va-
Intae and brave officer ; he fell early in the action.
Great credit is due to Mr. Giles, purser, for valor).
leering his service:: on deck ; to Mr. Mitchell, sur-
gt,on, for the skill he evinced in performing some am-
putmions required at the moment, as well as his
great attention to the hounded during the action, nt
the close of w Welt the water was nearly a foot above
the lower deck, from the namber of shot which
struck her bet:seen wind and water. I have to re-
gret the loss of the boatswain, Mr. Jackson, who
was killed a few ethnics before the action termi-
nated. The assistance I received from Mr. Muckle,-
the gunner, soil also from Mr. Clark, Master's
Mate, Mossrs. Towke and Sinclair, Midshipmen, the
latter of whom wig wounded in the head, and Mr.
Guy, my clerk, will, I hope, recommend them, ns
well as the whole of my gallant little crew, -to your
notice. I hare much satisfaction in making you ac,
quabited %%Oh the humane treatment the wounded
have received from Commodore M‘Donough ; they
Were immediately realm ed to his own hospital on
Crab island, and were furnished with every requi.
sit 2. Ilis generous nod polite Attention to myself,
the officers, and men, will ever hereafter be grate-
fully remembered. Enclosed 1 beg leave to trans-
mit you the return of killed and wounded, and have
the honour to be, &c.

I) AN. PIZ IN r. Captain,
Lac or his Majesty's sloop Linnet.

stow:or:1;f of Ow enems's eng•ige with his 111ajest3's
kg" 141'11111,1 1,A1,4. Kept. 11.
::,• 7 p solders, 12 32 p.tunder car-
rosuples. !,1% Ite-p+.11:1.1:1* 1,1 V.,.
It rig E:ozlr, iif ti4iit I IS poto tiers, and 12 32-pounder
Cal s• II :04 D.
Sclin otor Tie n krop, of Cour 14,41 18- pounder:, 10 12-
32- potintkr carr..tride:.
Cu wr ',ten long nine-pounders.
sit run-1),I;if s, of title 10-g I-p.onider, one IS•ratulder car-
Pitatir «arts.
Foss; g .is :•..srsti, of wit. long 12-pounder rad,.
ltupomishle :izirrrtai:l the stuns her of men.

A Rehire. nf Cte Merl and NV nonded on heard his Majo4tv's
lair, •11..! ah on in art itlik %ill, the enenty.:istiu,tdc,n3 on Lake
C•.a..1,1.tin, I Hit 1314..
t'•.;4l.:er, ()To—N. A sednufn Awl tn.:tines, killed ; one
0 lice wounded.
I.innet-2 thitrer9, eag;st seamen, ki:letl ; one Offiec_T, 13 sea-
inrii mei ro riee., wotilid.A.
‘71,t0.1- ,ten and mat into, killed ; one Officer, 15 !males,

and 111 so los•
morn nail marinas woun,.!ed.
T
Trout the (7onfianre's having been landed immediately after
the act,ini, no opportunity has offered a muster. The number
rutted is the whole as yet ascertained to have been killed or
wounded.
NAstr,s OF Tan onoter.rts POLLED AND WOVPJDED.
MLLE».
Confiance—George Downie, Captain ; Alex. Anderson, Cap-
tain of Royal Nlarines ; Win. Gunn, Midshipman.
Liuoet-IYilliatn Paul, Acting-Lieutenant; Charles Jackson,
boatswain.

Vinyvnen.
Contiance— Lee, Midshipman.
Linnet—Julin Sinclair, Midshipman.
Chute—Jas. M,tilice, Lieutenant.

AIIIAT.kRY PROMOTIONS.

War-Nike, Nor. 26. 1814.

Ist Reeiment of Foot Guards, T. C. Askew. Gent. to be Ensign,
without purchase, vice Simpson, promoted.
C,oldiitretun Regiment of Foot Guards, William Serjeantson,
Gent. to he Ensign, vice %%when, dead if his wounds.
9th Regiment of Foot, Lieutenant William ftl'Adam to he Cap-
tain of a Company. by pordekie, vice Godwin, promoted In
the sth Wen India Regiinent.
14th Dino. Coptain George llumphry, from half-pay of the late
1056 Reginteot, to be Captain of a Company, repaying the
differe Vice liastinp, who etchanges.
2.lgt Ditto, Second Lieotenant David Rankine to be FirstLkw
tenant, vice Gracie, killed in action.