Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-15

From the London Gazette Extraordinary.
!, admiralty Office, April Fl, 1909.
Sir Harry Neale, bart. first captain to- adj
miral lord Gambler, commander in chief OF
his maiesty's ships and vessels employed IN
che Channel .Soundings, &c. arrived here
this morning with dispatch from his lord
ship to the hon. VIM. Wellesley Pole, OF
which the following is copy:
Caledonia, at aachor an Basqne Rodas,
Aprli II, 1909.
SIR,
The Almighty's favor to his majesty
and the nation has been strongly marked in
the success he has been pleased to give to
the operations of majesty's feet under
nv command and have the satisfaction
10 acquaint you, for the information OF the
lords commissioners of the admiralty, that
The four ships of the enemy, named in the
margin have been destroyed at their aa-
chorage: and several others, from getting
son shore, if not rendered altogether unser-
yiceable, are at least disabled tor consl-
derable time.
The arrangement of the fire vessels, paae-
ed under the direction of captain the right
hon. lord Coch1ane, were made as fully as
the state of the weather would permit, ac-
cording to his lordship's plan on the evening
of the nth inst. and at O'Clock ON the same
night they proceeded to the attack, under
favorable strong wind from the northward,
and food tide preceded by some vessels
filed with powder and shells, as proposed
by his lordship, with view to explosion)
led ON in the most undaunted and deter
mined manner by captain Woodbridge, in
the Mediator fre-ship, the others following
in succession but owing to the darkness OF
the night, several mistook their course, and
failed.
On their approach to the enemv's ships,
4 was discovered in front Of their defence.
This, however, the weight of the Mediator
soon broke, and the usual intrepidity and
bravery of British seamen oyereame all dit.
fculties. Advancing under heavy fire
from the forts of the Isle of Aix,as well as
from the enemy's ships, most of which cut
or slipped their cables, and from the con-
fined anchorage, got On shore, and thus a
yoided taking FIRE.
At day light the following morning, lord
that seven Of the enemy's ships were on
shore, and might be destroyed. imme-
diately made the signal for the feet to un-
moor and weigh, intending TO proceed with
II 70 effect their destruction. The wind,
however, being fresh from the northward,
and che flood tide running, renderedit too
hazardous to run into AK Roads (from its
shallow waser) i therefore anchored again
at the. distance of about three miles from
the forts on the island.
AS the tide suited the enemy evinced
great activity in endeavoring to warp their
ships (Which had grounded) into deep wa
ter, and succeed IT getting all but FIVE of the
tine towards the entrance of the Charente
before it became practicable to attack them.
gave orders to Captain Bligh, of the
Valiant, to proceed with that ship the Re-
venge, frigates, bombs and small vessels,
named in the margins to anchor near the
Boyart Shoal, in READINGS for the attack.
AT 90 minutes past 2, P. NJ. Lord Coch-
rane advanced in the Imperieuse with his
accustomed gallantry and spirit, and opened
well directed fire upon the Calcutta, which
struck her colors to the Imperieuse; the
ships and vessels above mentioned soon af-
ter Joined in the attack upon the Vile de
Varsovie and Aquion, and obliged them,
before O'Clock, after sustaining heavy
cannonade, to strike their colors, when they
were taken possession of by the boats of the
advanced squadron. AS soon as the pri-
soners were removed they were set on FIRE,
IS was also the Tenne-e, a short time after,
By the enemy.
Vile de yarsovie, of 80 guns; Tom