The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-08

to execute il with great refoIusiou, and was f,c-
ceihvely followed by all the fhps in the fauad-
ron. AS foon as he arrived near the extreme
Mip, he commenced the engagement with fome
Of the enemy's fl,ips, which had already begun
their movement with the wind ahead. But by
this time the fog became 70 impenetrable, that
1t was impc1ible for me to perceive any thing
more, and each hip had fcarcely any thing more
than her fecond.
The cannonade fuccelIively commenced along
almoft the whole line. We fired by the light
of the enemy's fire, alnot always without fee
ing him. 1t was only towards the end of the
engagement that in fhort moment of clear wea-
Their, was able to perceive to leeward of he
line a hip carrying Spanith colours Handing TO
w,ndward under her lower fails and truck top
fails. Near her were two fhips which per-
eeived To- be of the enemy, one of which with
all he: MATS carried away, and the other
three-decker difinafed of her fore-top-maR and
very much unrigged, both feering with the
wind abaft. The difmatted hip appeared to
be in great confuion and hardly to fufiice to the
working all her pumps.
The thickeit fog at this time covered all the
vanguard of the rear of the fquadron, and de-
prlved me of the faculty Of getting any move
n,ent executed, and as far as perceived, all the
advantage Of the battle was our ide.
There was no clear weather the ref of the e.
vcning. During the night the two fquadrons re-
naned in preience of each other, making their
hguals 70 keep in company. I thought, howe
yer, perceived that the enemy withdrew. As
foon as day appeared, we deferred him great
way to leeward of us. All the reports received
from the French fhps were satisfactory. Thofe
of Admiral Gravina flowed themfelves fully de-
termined to purdue and again attack the enemy,
as, hnce the weather had cleared up, we did not
perceive two Spauilh fhips, the Firm & the San
Raphael.
ordered all the fhips to rally, and having
formed the line of battle on the larboard tack,
bore down upon the enemy.
The wind lackened, the fea was high, the en-
envy toodaway to leeward, and it wasimpofIibIe
for me all day to bring him to an engagement, as
wiihed.
Ioccnpiedmyfelfd during the night to keep the
Meet IN order, 10 rs to be readyto re-commence
the engagement at break of day.
AS foon asst appeared, bore down upon the
enemy, who had attained great diftanc {, and
was crowding fail for the purpofs of avoiding
new engagement.
Finding it irnpof1iblc to force him to battle,
thought it adyifable not to withdraw any far
Their from the place of my deftnation, and to
shape my conrfe to effeet my junction with the
tquadron off Ferroi, couformably to my inftruc-
tions. Experienced contrary winds from N. E.
tori. E. which yeferday blew with the great.
eft violence.
The following are the only tidings have had
ofthe two fhips milling from the Spaniih fquad-
ron.
Captain Cofman, commander of his imperial
maJety ship the Pluto, gave me an account that
from the beginning of the action, the Firm had
LOT her miZen and mainmaft, that he had cover
ed and protected her as long as he perceived her,
by placing himfelf between that iflip and the e
neTy; but that afterwards he loft fight of her in
the log.
With regard to the San Raphael, it appears
certain that fhe was not difmafed; but being
bad failer, making great deal Office way, mutt
have fallen to eeward, as we loft fight of her the
6rft night.
The fog was 70 conftant and thick that was
not able to difinguifh the enemv's force. But
the morning after the engagement, faw IA
fhiPs, of which were three deckers, the grea-
ter number of which appeared to me to have
tuha'ned great damage and if what the Capt.
OF la Didon afiures me be true, that he counted
Is fail Of enemy's fhips before the action, there
is reafon to believe that one of them disappeared
in 1t.
At all events, this CONTEXT has been an honor
able one to the arms of the two powers, and
but for the thick fog which continued to favor
the motions and retreat of the enemy, he would
not have efcaped the efforts nor deciive action.
am as yet ignorant of the number of killed
and wounded, who are, however, believe, but
few. 1 have to regret the lofs of Captain de
Perrone, of His Majefty's fhp Intrepid, who
was killed. Captain ROLAND of the Atlas was
wounded. fhali have the honor to give YOU a
more detailed account of this engagement very
hortly.
intreat Your Excellency to accept my re-
fpca.
VILLENEUVE.
SALEM, September "a.