The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-18

As great, the OetenderS OF Whatever Is Just
and ambitious of military glory.
elf new exertions should be necessary TO
; insure the success of your arms, they will be
made before they shall be asked for The
devotion of the nation will equal its love and
admiration of its august sovereign.
(Signed) "CHAMPAGNY,
minister of foreign
"affairs.
"Paris, April IL, 1902"
FRENCH ACCOUNT
OF rHr ENGAGEMENT IN BASQUE RoADss
PARIS, April %.
REPORT,
To his Excellency the Minister of Marine
and Colonies.
On board the Ocean, in the Road of the
Isle Of .dr, A1trR 10, 1909.
-, [" SIR had the honor to inform you in
my letter of the 9Th inst. that the enemy's
fleet, which anchored in Basque Roads con-
sisted OF IL ships of the line, frigates, II
corvettes, and 80 transport vessels
Con the 10th there arrived 10 vessels,
which appeared to be transports or fire. ships
directed the top masts to be lowered, and
took in the topsails On the It'll, wind be-
ing fresh at n. T.. the cneiny's frigates ap-
preached the island by tacking
The forces of his majesty were in two
indented lines of battle, very close N. N. +.
and >. 5. T.. IN order to present the less front
4. to the fire ships. They were Ranked by
stoccade 400 toises in breadth, and 500 teises
long. The north end was a cables length
and an half from the rocks of the Island
AT sun down the wind still blew fresh
permitted each captain to maneuvre as he
might think best for the safety of his ship
% made signal for the 4th and 5th di-
visions ct the fiOtila to go and maintain a
look -out for two hours at the stoccade; but
the wind was SO violent, that few of the YES
sells could make any way, and the greater
part returned.
g sent an officer to inform general Brou-
ward, who commanded on the Isle of AK,
cluded to take advantage of the high wind
and sea to attempt Coup de main he an
swered that he would await it FIRMLY and
answer for the operations on land
At half past eight, four English vessels
were anchored in the current, the chief
point of the wind heading their line. The
Ocean keeping to the North west They
had signals and appeared to be fixing marks
Tor the direction of their fire ships.
1t blew so hard. that found it imposi-
Bile to interrupt them, and therefore gave no
About 9 o'clock; loud explosion took
place at the stoccade two others succeeded
It. "A brig in flames struck against the stoc-
cade, and then successfully presented them
selves, several brigs and three masted vcs-
sells under all sail, having fire in their bo
dies and rigging-they were for while .top
ped but at last freed themselves, and sue
cessively arrivedupon my lines.
The first fell upon the Regulus and fas
tened on the starboard side at the same
time the second also on fire, fell upon tile o.
cean.
~ had been giving orders to be ready to
veer the cables, or to cut them if necessary
as the only means left to avoid total destruc
tion.
AS this freship came almost across nv
bowsprit, Igave orders to veer the cable
but as it carise faster than the Ocean made
stern away (aithough lad ordered the mizen
topsail to be backed to the mast) / determin-
ed to cut the north west cable, to the south
east. this step succeeded.
The fire ships succeeded each other,
coming with sails filed with fair wind in
TO our squadron, and directed particularly
against the Ocean. which was in the centre
OF the line, one of them fastened upon til e
starboard quarter, notwithstanding all we
did to avoid it:
"Such was the true situation of the YES. !
sells of his majesty, the flames CARRYING flakes
of fire along its batteries. Happily this FIRE |
ship Had great area it warted off, but |
only to fasten to the ropes near the chains. |
We yet tried to disengagc ourselves from it |
when its 6owsprit entered the fore cathead |
we could, not cut IL, and the heat was SO |
excessive that it was impossible 10 approach |
it. Some brave MEN then devoted them
selves. jumped upon the spirit sail and then /
tn the ships head, and saved the vessel. but |
five OF them lost their lives.
With difficulty we were thus delivered !
from danger so imminent, three times re. |
peated. when other fire ships fell along side
of me, but these also had til. good forttne
TO disengage myself from.
"The enemy directed against rs three In
fernal machines and SO FIRE ships, as well
brigs, as vessels Of three masts, trahsports.
and two vessels of the line.
"His Majesty's ships and frigates were
saved from destruction only by veering their
cables.
"The captain of frigate, Lissiom, com
mandiug the Ocean in the absence of Capt.
ROLAND, and my adjutants Perron ard Gas
pard, behaved with singular sang froid-Sthe
officers and cadets behaved in tie best n,ap-