Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-27
Ills naiesty's ship seahorse, oft
Ssyro, July 6, 1903.
MYNLORD,

d I Nave the honor to inform your lordshiP,
that vesterd Nv evening we observed 2 iurk-
i. ,ne,, Of war and galley coming round
The east end Of the island OF ocopolo., To-
wards which we Immediately made SAIL
On coming near enough to make out that
thev were both single-decked ships, de-
termined to bring thcna to action haylns
everv confidence in the officers ard crew OF
Ais shin. The action began at hall past 9,
the Turks going little oil the wlnd' unaer
easy sail, and continually ensieavorlng 70
run as on board indeed carly saw that
tbe;r chief attention was directed to this OBJ
;ect and as the. largest ship appeared OF
ore, Great force and full of men, kept this ship
p J position not to be boarded. * ten
o'clock, observing good opportunity, o.
more particularly attacking the sinall snip
to advantage, we dropped alongside Of aef,
and after q quarter OF an hours hot ire, at
ha3i, pistol shot distance, her FIRE having to-
fallv ceased, we left her in a state OF the
rreatesr distress and confusion, with her
sails mostly down, and just before we s.aa
left her, size had partially blown up iel-
ward. BY this tine the large iragate when !,
{ from having fallen Little 70 coward, N! a..a
not been able TO assist her consort nae again
got pretty close Up, and the action between
| 20 Soon recommended still so Obstinate
was the resistance Of the Turks, that it was
n,+ til a quarter PAST one we rendered her
not;onless wreck. AS they. llow wou'd
| neither answer nor fire, conceived 1t most
| prudent, knowing the character O the pso,
NE. 70 wait ior daylight TO send on board
her. AT daylight Observing her coiors up
on the stump OF the mizen mast, we pour
"a a broatlside into hsr stern, when she
! struck. and had the picasurc 10 take pos
session of the Badgre Z,a8cT, very me
fr;eate of tie largest Dimensions, CARVING
g long brass guns, "a Founders, on the;
main e!sc.l, except two, which arc Il ponnrt--
ers. ard Il FOUNDERS Oh the qaarteT-dectI.
and farecastle. She had q complement q
! 500 men, and was. commanded by Captain
| Scanaisrli s;chuc xii, WHO, an antofsaeti,
/ was only prevented BIZ his own people tom
Having her up. iIer loss II killed anc'
wouoeti ours coa7pFatf55rf fls sf5. s3a ~ ~
| killed and zen wounded. Our ,a;zen-!nast
/ tel soon AFTER ,he action, which is the great
est injury We have sustained. The other
ship was named the Abs Fezan, carrying
% is FOUNDERS and nlortars, commanded
/ BY Captain Daragardi Ali, with a compile
/ Fnert OF go men. understand th@v took
most OF the men out OF the galley, before
| tlie action, and sent her a,yas.
Having now my lord, given YOU the de-
| tsils OF this affair, there Only remains the
| pleasant oaice OF recommending 10 YOU the
! officers and ships company, who, during
a tedious night action, where much de-
pended upon working the sails as vel as the
guns, behaved in a manner 10 command nv
utmost gratitude. The disparity Of force,
with the loss in the enemy's Ships, viii
prove tle greatness Of their c1ersions, to
whish | shall add, THAT thirty men were alb !,
sent from the ship, NJ. Downie, the first
lieutenant, is an officer of merit, ability
and experience, and beg strongly to
recommend him to your lordsllip's pro.
lection for promotion. Mr.. Lester, mas
ter's mate, who has passed, is also We
ry deserving o., promotion. Thomas HUI +
ley, gunner's mate, and an excellent man.
acted as gamer; and from his conduct, is
very deserving Of such a situation.
am now proceeding with the prize for
any port can get first into amongst the ISL
ands, as it is with difficulty we can keep her
above water.
/ have the honor to be, &c.
SisneD
JOHN sTEWART.
! ne right hon. lord Collingwood,
commander III chief &c.