Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-09

of dispatching boat, under
cover OF The Severn, with flag of truce,
and thedemands had to make in the
name of his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent on the Dey of Algiers, (of which
the accompanying are copies directing
the officer to wait two or three hours for
the Dey's answer, at which time, if no re-
ply was sent, he was 10 return to the flag
ship: he was met near the Mole b. the
Captain OF the Port-who, on being told
that the answer WAS expected in one hour,
replied, that twas impossible. The Off
Ger then said he would waltz or hours:
he then observed two hours was quite
sufficient.
The feet at this time, by the springing
mp of the sca-breeze, had reached the bay,
and were preparing the boats and f!otil!a
for Service, until near , O'Clock, when, OBJ
serving my officer was returning with the
signal flying, that no answer had been re-
ceived, after delay of upwards of three
hours, l instantly made the signal to
know if the ships were all ready, which
being answered in the affirmative, the
Queen Charlotte bore up, followed up by
the fleet for their appointed stations the
flag, leading in the prescribed order, was
anchored In the entrance of the Mole, at
about fifty yards distance. AT this mo-
ment, not gun had been fired, and
began to suspect a full compliance with
heterms which had been so many hours
in their bands; at this period of profound
silence, shot was fired at us from the
Mole; and two at the ships to the north
ward, then following; this was promptly
returned by the Queen Charlotte, who
was then flashing to the main mast of
brig fast to the shore in the mouth of the
Mole, and which we had steered for, as
the guide TO our position.
Thus commenced fire, as animated
and we'll supported as, Ibelieve, was ever
witnessed, from quarter before 3 until
8, without intermission, q which did not
ccasealtogether until half past IL.
The ships immediately following me,
were admirably and cody taking their
stations, with "a precision even beyond my
most sanSuine hope; and never did the
British flag receive, on any occasion,
more Jealous and honorable support
TO look further on the line than immedi-
ately around me, was perfectly impossible
but so well grounded was my confidence
in the gallant officers had the honor to
command, that my mind was left perfectly
free 10 attend to other objects, and /
knew them i'm their stations only by the
destructive effect of their fire upon the
walls and batteries to which they were
opposed.
had about this time the satisfaction of
seeing Vice-Admiral Van Capellen's flag
in the station had assigned to him, and
soon after, atintervals, the remainder Of
his frigatcs, keeping up well-supported
fire on the thanking batteries he had of
fered to cover us from, as it had not been
III my power for want of room, to bring
him,in the front of the Mole.
About sunset, Ireceived a message
from Rear Admiral Milne, conveying to
me the severe loss the Improbable was
sustaining, having then $50 killed and
wounded, and requesting / would, if pos
sible, send him frigate to divert some of
the fire. he was under.
The Glasgow, near me, Immediately
weighed, but the wind had been driven
away by the cannonade, and she was OBJ
iiged to anchor again, having obtained
rathera better position than before.
had at this time sent orders to the ex-
plosion vessel, under the charge ofLicut.
Fleming and Mr.. Parker, by Captain
Reade of the Engineers, to bring her into
the Mole; but the Rear-Admira. having
thought she would do him essential ser.
vice, ii explored under the battery in his
front, sent orders to this vessel to that
effect, which were executed. | desired
also the Rear admiral might be informed,
that many ofthe ships being now i'm flames,
and certain of the destruction of the
whole, considered had executed the
most important part of my Instructions,
and should make every preparation for
Withdrawing the ships, and desired he
would do SO as soon as possible with his
division.
There were awful moments during the
conflict, which | cannot now attempt to
describe, occasioned by firing the ships so
near us, and | had long resisted the ca
ger entreaties of several around me, to
make the attempt upon the outer frigate,
distant 100 yards, which at length [ gave
into, Major Gossett by my side, who had
been eager to land his corps of miners.
pressed me most anxiously for permission
to accompany 1t. Richards in this ships
barge.
The frigate was instantly boarded, and
in ten minutes in perfect blaze a gal
lantyouns midshipman, No.
3, although forbidden, was led by his ar
dent spirit to follow in support of the
barge, in which he was desperately
wounded, his brother officer killed, and
nine of his crew. The barge, by rowing
more rapidly, had suffered less and lost
but two.
The enemy's batteries around nv di-
vision were about ten O'Clock silenced. IL
Ill state of perfect ruin and dilapidation
and the fire of the ships was reserved
as much as possible, to save powder, and
reply to- few guns now and then bearing
upon us, although a fort OH the upper an
Dle ne the CITY on xvhich n,,r eun, oo,Id