The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-16


in il their prosperous condition. I demand
oi my people no new sacrifice, though cir
cumstances have obliged me to double my
military means"
FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE EXTRA
ORDINARY.
.:i. ADMIRALTY OFFICE,
November 90, 1909.
The honorable lieutenant William Walle
grove. of the Vile dc Paris, arrived here
this morning with dispatches from vice adj.
s miral lord Collingwood, the commander in
chief OF his majesty's ships and vessels III
the Mediterranean, addressed To the homo
lowing are copies:
y ViLe de Paris, off Sc. Se6astians,
SIR,
BY my letter of the 10th of September,
their lordships would be informed of the in
telligence had received relative to the in
tended movements of the French squadron,
and of my reasons for changing my station to
St. Sebastian.
While on this station ON the night Of the
22d inst. the Pomona joined. and capt. Bar
RE (who with interchangeable perseverance
had, with the. Alceste, watched the port of
loulon) informed me, that the day before
several OF .he enemy's squadron had put to
sea, thas' others were coming out when he
lett their, and that there was every appear
ance of the whole fleet being OIL the move
from the harbor. They had a numerous
convoy with them, and as this movement
was made with the first of an easterly wind,
there was little doubt of their being bound
to the westward i immediately made the
necessary signals for the squadron to be
prepared for their reception, and placed the
three frigates and sloop (Fomone, Hydra,
Noluntaire and Minstre) to windward to
give notice of the enemy's approach.
On the following morning. (the 25dl soon
after eight O'Clock, the Voluntaire made the
signal for fleet TO the eastward; while they
continued to come down before the wind, no
alteration was M de in the squadron, except
by advancing two fast sailing ships, the Ii
gre and Buiwark. AT ten the Pomone made
the signal that the enemy had hauled to the
wind, and the convoy separating from the
ships Of war, (Which were now discovered
to consist of three ships of the line only,
two frigates, two smaller frigates or store
ships. and a convoy of about twenty sail of
vessels,) ordered rear admiral Martin to
chase them, and eight of the best sailing
ships, which standing on contrary tacks,
might take advantage of the changes of the
wind which was then variable.
At two +. M the Pomone having got far
to the windward, was directed by signal to
destroy such OF the convoy as could be come
up with /; and in the evening she burnt two
briggs, two bombs, and ketch. The enemy
before dark was out of sight, and the ships
chacing not much advanced, were standing
to the northward; while the squadron with
me stretched to the southwark. The next
morning neither the French nor our own
chacing ships were in sight.
Inns morning rear admiral Martin joined
with his division, as named in the margin, y
having again fallen in with the enemy Oh the
Gath OFT the entrance of the Rhone, and on
25th they chased them on shore the Robust
OF 81 guns. bearing the flag of rear admiral
Boudin, and the Leon of ~, off Frontagnan
where the day following themselves set fire
to shem. The Boree of "a guns and fri
gate ran on shore at the entrance of the port
OF Cette. where there is little probability of
either of them being saved
cannot sufficiently express the high sa-
tisfaction felt at the intrepid perseverance
OF ar-ad,niral Martin, and of the captains
OF the ships who were with him in the pur.
suit. Nothing less ardent, or less skillful
would have produced result SO fortunate.
where the coast near the Rhone was exceed
ingy shoal and dangerous, SO that some Of
the ships were in five and six fathoms water,
the weather thick, and the southeast wind
blowing strong.
enclose you, sir, rear admiral Martins
letter, and beg to congratulate their lord
ships on three great ships OF the enemy be-
ing destroyed, without the smallest resis
lance onitheir part, shot being fired by
the British ships, except a few by the III.
gre at the Boree, when she was pushing a.
shore ataCette; of their two frigates, the
Pomone and Pauline one hauled her wind
sometime in the night, and fetched into Mar
settles road.
The otner part of Of the French squadron
are found to remain in Touon by the ships
which have since examined that port.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Sjgned)
COLLINGWOOD.