Chasse marée, name unknown, laden with wine and brandy, dismantled and set fire to, afterwards extinguished. Admiralty-Office, September 24, 1811. Copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Foley, Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in the Downs, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on board the Monmouth, in the Downs, the 22d inst. SIR, I herewith transmit a letter just received from Captain Carteret, of the Naiad, detailing the account of an attack made on that frigate off Boulogne on the 20th inst. by seven praams of twelve 24pounders each, and ten brigs, said to have four long 34-pounders each, with one sloop said to have two such guns. Captain Carteret applauds the steadiness and zeal of the officers and crew on this occasion, and from what I know of their high state of discipline, I am convinced their conduct will ever merit the approbation of their commanding officer.--I have the honour to be, THOMAS FOLEY, Rear-Admiral. His Majesty's ship Naiad, off Boulogne, 7 A.M. Sept. 21, 1811. SIR,-Yesterday morning, while this ship was lying at an anchor off this place, much bustle was observed among the enemy's flotilla, moored along shore, close under the batteries of their bay, which appeared to indicate that some affair of unusal moment was in agitation. At about noon, Buonaparte, in a barge, accompanied by several other officers, was distinctly seen to proceed along their line to the centre ship, which immediately hoisted the imperial standard at the main, and lowered it at his departure, substituting for it a rear-admiral's flag; he afterwards visited others, and then continued in his boat for the rest of the evening. Since it is so much within the well-known custom of that personage to adopt measures that confer supposed éclat on his presence, I concluded that something of that kind was about to take place. Accordingly, seven praams, each having twelve twenty-four pounders long-guns, with one hundred and twenty men, and commanded by Rear-Admiral Baste, weighed and stood towards this ship, being expressly ordered by the French Ruler, as I have since learned, to attack us. As the wind was S. W. with a very strong flood-tide setting to the N. E., while the enemy bore nearly south from us, it was clear that by weighing we could only increase our distance from him; so that our only chance of closing with him at all was by remaining at an anchor. The Naiad, therefore, quietly waited his attack in that position, with springs on her cable. It was exclusively in the enemy's own power to choose the distance: each ship of his squadron stood within gun-shot, gave us successively her broadsides, tacked from us, and in that mode continuously repeated the attack. After this had so continued for three quarters of an hour, ten brigs (said to have four long twenty-four pounders) and one sloop (said (said to have two such guns), also weighed, and joined the ships in occasionally cannonading us, which was thus kept up for upwards of two hours without intermission, and returned, I humbly hope, with sufficient effect by this ship. At slack water the Naiad weighed her anchor and stood off, partly to repair some trivial damages, but chiefly by getting to windward, to be better enabled to close with the enemy, and get within shore of some, at least, of his flotilla. After standing off a short time, the Naiad tacked and made all sail towards them; but at about sunset it became calm, when the enemy took up his anchorage under the batteries eastward of Boulogne, while the Naiad resumed hers in her former position. In this affair not a British subject was hurt, and the damages sustained by this ship are too trifling for me to mention or report. I have indeed to apologise for dwelling so long on this affair, but my motive is the manner in which I understand it has been magnified by the enemy, and the extraordinary commendations which have been lavished on the Frenchmen engaged in it by their ruler. It is fitting, therefore, that his Majesty's Government should know the real state of the case, and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may rest assured, that every officer and man on board the Naiad did zealously and steadily fulfil his duty.—I have the honour to be, &c. PHILIP CARTERET, Captain. Thomas Foley, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the Red, &c. Copy of another letter from Rear-Admiral Foley, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on board the Monmouth, in the Downs, the 23d instant. SIR, I have much pleasure in transmitting a letter from Captain Carteret, of his Majesty's ship Naïad, relating the capture of la Ville de Lyons, a French praam ship of the Boulogne flotilla, mounting twelve long twenty-four pounders, commanded by Commodore Jean Baptiste Coupe, and Captain Jean Barbaud, with 112 men, 60 of them soldiers of the 72d regiment. On this occasion, as well as on the attack made on the Naïad the preceding day, Captain Carteret has shewn a skill and judgment which does him infinite honour. He applauds the conduct of the respective Captains under his command, who have always, with commendable zeal, availed themselves of every opportunity of distinguishing themselves in attacks on the enemy. The list of killed and wounded are herewith sent. (Signed) THOMAS FOLEY, Rear-Admiral. His Majesty's ship Naïad, off Boulogne, Sept. 21, 1811. SIR,-This morning, at seven o'clock, that part of the enemy's flotilla which was anchored to the eastward of Boulogne, consisting of seven praams and 15 smaller vessels, chiefly brigs, weighed and stood ⚫ut on the larboard tack, the wind being S. W. apparently to renew the the same kind of distant cannonade which took place yesterday. Different, however, from yesterday, there was now a weather tide. The Naiad, therefore, weighed, and getting well to windward, joined his Majesty's brigs Rinaldo, Redpoie, and Castilian, with the Viper cutter, who had all zealously turned to windward in the course of the night, to support the Naiad in the expected conflict. We all lay to on the larboard tack, gradually drawing off shore, in the hope of imperceptibly inducing the enemy also to withdraw farther from the protection of his formidable batteries. To make known the senior officer's intentions, no other signals were deemed necessary, but To prepare to attack the enemy's van,' then standing out, led by Rear-Admiral Baste, and not to fire until quite close to the enemy.' Accordingly, the moment the French Admiral tacked in-shore, having reached his utmost distance, and was giving us his broadsides, the king's small squadron bore up together with the utmost rapidity, and stood towards the enemy under all the sail each could conveniently carry, receiving a shower of shot and shells from the flotilla and batteries, without returning any, until within pistol-shot, when the firing on both sides his Majesty's cruizers threw the enemy into inextricable confusion. The French Admiral's praam was the principal object of attack by this ship; but as that officer in leading had of course tacked first, and thereby acquired fresh way, and was now under much sail, pushing with great celerity for the batteries, it became impossible to reach him without too greatly hazarding his Majesty's ship. Having however succeeded in separating a praam from him, which had handsomely attempted to succour his chief, and which I had intended to consign to the particular care of Captains Anderson and M'Donald, of the Rinaldo and Redpole, while the Castilian attacked others, it now appeared best preferably to employ this ship in effectually securing her. The Naïad accordingly ran her on board; Mr. Grant, the master, lashed her alongside; the small arms men soon cleared her decks, and the boarders, sword in hand, completed her subjugation. Nevertheless, in justice to our brave enemy, it must be observed, that his resistance was most obstinate and gallant, nor did it cease until fairly overpowered by the overwhelming force we so promptly applied. She is named la Ville de Lyons, was commanded by a Mons. Barbaud, who was severely wounded, and has on board a Mons. La Coupe, who, as Commodore of a division, was entitled to a broad pendant. Like the other praams she has twelve long guns, twenty-four pounders (French), but she had only 112 men, 60 of whom were soldiers of the 72d regiment of the line. Between thirty and forty have been killed and wounded. Meanwhile, the three brigs completed the defeat of the enemy's flotilla, but I lament to say that the immediate proximity of the formidable batteries whereunto we had now so nearly approached, prevented the capture or destruction of more of their ships or vessels. But no blame can attach to any one on this account; for all the commanders, officers, and crews, did bravely and skilfully perform their duty duty. If I may be permitted to mention those who served more immediately under my own eye, I must eagerly and fully testify to the merits of, and zealous support I received from, Mr. Greenlaw, the first Lieutenant of this ship, as well as from all the excellent officers of every description, brave seamen and royal marines, whom I have the pride and pleasure of commanding. I have the honour herewith to inclose reports of our loss, which I rejoice to find so comparatively trivial, and that Lieutenant Charles Cobb, of the Castilian, is the only officer who has fallen. I have the honour to be, &c. P. CARTERET, Captain. Thomas Foley, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the Red, &c. A list of officers and men belonging to his Majesty's ships and vessels undermentioned, killed and wounded in action with the enemy's flotilla, off Boulogne, on the 21st of Sep tember, 1811. NAIAD, Captain Carteret.-John Ross, seaman, killed; James Draper, seaman, ditto; Lieut. William Morgan, royal marines, slightly wounded; Mr. James Dover, midshipman, ditto; Richard Lovet, sail-maker, severely wounded; William Black, seaman, ditto; John Wise, quarter-master, ditto; John Leece, seaman, ditto; John Tully, landman, ditto; Daniel Francis, landman, ditto; William Jones, captain of the afterguard, slightly wounded; William Hodges, seaman, ditto; John Holston, seaman, ditto; James Wall, (2) seaman, ditto; Daniel Harley, seaman, ditto; Edward Humphries, seaman, ditto. REDPOLE, Captain Macdonald.-None killed or wounded. CASTILIAN, Captain Braimer.-Lieutenant Cobb, first lieutenant, killed; John Collett, landman, severely wounded. RINALDO, Captain Anderson. Mr. John Swinard, pilot, wounded. Extract of a letter from Vice-Admral Sir Edward Pellew, Bert. Commander in Chief of his Majesty'r ships and vessels in the Mediterranean, to John Wilson Croker, Esq, dated on board the Caledonia, in Hieres Bay, 17th August, 1811. I have much satisfaction in forwarding to you a letter from RearAdmiral Boyles, giving cover to one from Captain Napier, of his Majesty's ship Thames, stating the particulars of a very handsome service which has been performed by him and Captain Clifford, of his Majesty's brig Cephalus. Canopus, Palermo Bay, July 21, 1811, SIR, I have the honour to acquaint you of the arrival here this day of his Majesty's ship Thames and Cephalus sloop, bringing with them eleven of the enemy's gun-boats, an armed felucca, and fifteen merchant vessels, captured by them on the 21st inst. in the Porto del Infreschi; also 36 spars, intended for the use of the enemy's line-of-battle ship and frigate fitting at Naples; the particulars of which enterprise are contained in Captain Napier's letter to me of the same date, which I have the honour herewith to enclose. The complete success of the above-mentioned instantaneous and brilliant attack on the enemy's convoy by the Thames and Cephalus, reflects reflects much honour on the conduct and gallantry of Captains Napier and Clifford, their officers and crews. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Sir Edward Pellew, Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1 CHARLES BOYLES. His Majesty's ship Thames, off Porto del Infreschi, SIR-Captain Clifford, of the Cephalus, having the look-out off Paleniuro, on the 20th inst. informed me by a Sicilian privateer, of a convoy of twenty-six sail attempting to gain that port, which he, with his usual activity, prevented them from doing, and compelled them to take shelter in Porto del Infreschi, off which place we arrived at five this evening. I immediately desired Captain Clifford to lead in and anchor, which service he performed in a most handsome style, and was closely followed by this ship, who soon silenced eleven gun-boats, and an armed felucca, carrying six eighteen-pounders, two twelvepounder carronades, three brass and two iron six-pounders, and 280 men, moored across, for the protection of 15 merchant vessels, and 36 spars for the line-of-battle ship and frigate at Naples, and under cover of a round tower, and the adjacent hills lined with musqueteers from the merchantmen and peasantry. The marines were then landed under their Lieutenant, M'Adam, and got possession of the tower, performing the light infantry manoeuvres in a very pretty style, tal ing an officer and 80 prisoners, and driving the rest before them; the boats at the same time, under Captain Clifford, took possession of the convoy, together with all the spars, except two, which could not be got off; all of which were alongside, and the ships under weigh, in less than two hours, without the loss of one man, and only the boatswain and another man badly, and three of the brig's men slightly, wounded: on entering the Bay her sails and rigging were a good deal cut up. The whole of the officers and ship's company behaved in the most steady manner; which must ever reflect the greatest credit on my predecessor, Captain Waldegrave, for the excellent discipline on board. Captain Clifford likewise speaks in the highest terms of his First Lieutenant, Richardson, officers, and crew. I have the honour to be, &c. Rear-Admiral Boyles, &c. CHARLES NAPIER. An account of the gun-boats and convoy of merchant vessels captured by his Majesty's ship Thames, Charles Napier, Esq. Captain, and his Majesty's sloop Cephalus, A. W. J. Clifford, Esq. Commander, on the coast of Calabria, July 21, 1811. French gun-boat, No. 63, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 30 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 23, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 30 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 75, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 32 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 92, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 30 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. GEN. CHRON. VOL. III. NO. XV. French |