Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1801-10-24

Rear AdmiTal Li,ouche, Commander of the
ligh, hotiiis of the Channel, to the Min.
iacr of Marine.
RouLoCNE, Dig. rs.
HAD the honor to inform you, Ci-
tizsn MiniEer, by my dilpa,ch of the s,h of
Augua, OF The battle of the 18th, 10 which
the advanced guard of the light Aotilla alone
ieadcred abor'iVe all the a:,cmpts of the Eng
lih hsct, KEPT the enemy at iuch difance
from Boulogne as prevented the bom6ardncnt
OF the port, and protected the other diviGons
OF the light fotilla.-Adrniral' Melton feeling
that all hls efforts were in vain, diiappearcd
In the cou,ie OF the Sth, in order, no doubt,
90 60 tor reinforcement and flores. He
made hia appearance again here ye&erday,
with ieyeTai ihips of the line, and great
number of fEigatcs, brigs, gun boats, &c.
HE moored az the diaance of 5000 totes
from cur advanced guard. which itill occu-
pied the lame petition, 900 totes forward
before the entrance Of the port. had en-
created it with icttion, and caIfed il 10 be
iupporled b, fomc bomb ytt.els. 1t was Ca
~ for me to iorclee in the evening that thc
encmy meditated an attack, their ihips being
lurtounded with launches and boats OF ali
izes. Iaccordingiy ordered that iome boats
ihould keep thcmitlves upon the watch, and
look out, in order to be apprifed in tire OF
the proceedings OF TIE enemy. AT three
quarters psh midnight one Of theie boats diff
covered tho enemy. and was inftantly attack
ed. The fire commenced w;,h very great
briikneis upon both 6des--thc bombs, the
cannon. the muAsctry, prefented in the midft
Of the tide-waters a very awful fpeetsclc.
None Of the land batteries could FIRE from
fear Ct firing upon our gun boats. The en-
emy embarked upon great number Of boats
between two aud three thouland men. Six
OF them bosrded the gun boat, the Etna,
which headed the advanced guard, command
ed by Capt. Picrcux, who, with his own
hand, killed two xnglifh iaiiors. hlmoa all
the Gun boats OF the advanced guard were at
the fame tire boarded by the EngIih boats
but every where the latter experienced the
fame reception-evcry where they were driv-
cn back. The bIaveft of the Engli!h who
attempted to board, were thrown into the Tea
or made pEionen. The laf gun boat OF our
right, the Vulcan, was attacked al !everal
intervals, and always repulfed the enemy.
The gun boat the Surpriie, commanded by
Lieut.. Ca'rsn, iank four of the en,ny's
boats, and took feveral. While the line was
foRsiniug this contta in front, divifion OF
the en.my attempted TO force itfelf between
the land and the line. Here, as at AlgsGras,
the Enelilh were the dupe, OF that manoeu-
vre. Our gun boats accompanied the retreat
of the enemy With warm caononade, which
did nos cea.e sill four o'clock in tie morn.
ing, at which time the Engih were entirely
ou, of itsrcach. The ercmy have had eigh,
of their Gun boats funk. and iour Of their
launches were taken. do NOT think ex-
spsera,e in eitimating their lois at from 4 to
eco in killed, wounded aod taken. The
more is every moment covered with dead
bodies. TIE battsiions of the 46ih, S7,h,
and IcS,h ,igh, io5antry, who were on board
the advanced guard. have covered ,hcmielves
with glory. | tiall fend you the names ct
the brave. who will merit particular diaine- |
iions from the FirR Coufol. We have on
cur iid: 10 killed and 80 wounded.
Esnhssr.