French gun-boat, No. 82, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 30 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 86, of one long eighteen-pounder, and 30 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, no number, of one twelve-pounder carronade, and 24 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-brig, no number, of one twelve-pounder carronade, and 24 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, no number, of one long brass six-pounder, and 18 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 1, of one long six-pounder, and 17 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. French gun-boat, No. 8, one long six-pounder, and 15 men, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. One large merchant settee, name unknown, of two long six-pounders and four muskets, from Pizzo, bound to Naples, laden with oil. Fourteen merchant vessels, names unknown, from Pizzo, bound to Naples, laden with oil, pot-ash, &c. Four rafts, of large spars, in all 36, from Pizzo, bound to Naples. Total Captured.-11 gun-vessels, one armed felucca with oil, 14 feluccas, &c. merchantmen—26.. Thirty-six large spars, for the line of battle ship and frigate at Naples. Officers attached to the gun-boat flotilla. Lieutenant de Vaisseau Rauchea, Commandant. Enseignes de Vaisseau, Mattines and Rock, and Enseign de Vaisseau Teissiere, taken, the officer under whose care the timber was cut, and who had the conducting of it to Naples. (Signed) CHARLES NAPIER. Return of wounded men on board of his Majesty's sloop Cephalus, A. W. J. Clifford, Esq. Commander, 29th July, 1811. Hood Douglas, boatswain, badly; William Holmes, boatswain's-mate, ditto; J. Gordon, captain of the forecastle, slightly; Robert Lewis, captain of the main-top, ditto; John Renny, able seaman, ditto. (Signed) A. J. W. CLIFFORD, Captain, Extract of a letter from Captain Chamberlayne, of his Majesty's ship the Unité, addressed to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, and transmitted by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. His Majesty's ship Unité, off the Tiber, July 4, 1811. SIR-I am to acquaint you, that in complying with your orders de livered to me by Captain Otway, of his Majesty's ship Ajax, on the 2d inst. I was led near the Roman coast off Port Hercole, where a brig being discovered at anchor, at day-light this morning, a part of the boats of this ship, under the command of Lieutenant Crabb, accompanied by Second Lieutenant Victor, of the royal marines, Mr. M. Dwyer, and Mr. H. Collins, Master's-mate, and Mr. Hutchinson, midshipman, were sent to bring her out. On approaching the coast, they were vigorously attacked by the brig, carrying four six-pounders, 'four three-pounders, and a number of small arms, protected by a battery of two nine-pounders on the beach. Very light and variable winds preventing the ships closing; the launch was detached, under the conmand of Lieutenant M'Dougal, to support the other boats; but ere she could reach them, the crew had been beaten out of the brig, her guns dismounted, and the boats were bringing her out in a very hand some some manner, under showers of grape from the battery; at seven she joined us, and I had the satisfaction to find, that although the vessel was materially damaged in her hull, masts, and rigging, no man was hurt. She proves to be the French brig Saint François de Paule, partly laden with ship-timber, of the largest dimensions. During this affair a sloop of war was observed to leeward, and at nine I was joined by his Majesty's ship Cephalus. On proceeding along the coast at five p. m. several vessels were discovered at anchor between Civita Vecchia, and the mouth of the Tiber. Captain Clifford, in a most handsome manner, instantly offered to lead into the anchorage, and to head the boats in performing any service which might appear to me practicable; I therefore directed him to anchor the Cephalus as near the battery and vessels as possible, and to point out the soundings by signal, a service he performed in a very masterly style, bringing his sloop up within the range of grape, under a fire from four nine and six-pounders. The Unité being anchored shortly after in four fathoms water, the enemy were quickly driven from their guns, and the boats sent to Captain Clifford, under those officers who had distinguished themselves in the morning, and three vessels, (the others proving fishing-boats) were brought out under a smart fire of musketry from their crews and the soldiers collected on a height above them, with the same great good-fortune which had attended our previous enterprise; the only person hurt in either ship being Mr. Simon, Master of the Cephalus, who was slightly wounded in the face by a grape-shot while bringing the sloop to an anchor. To Captain Clifford I feel much indebted for his gallantry and able assistance. He speaks in high terms of his own officers and men, as well as those from this ship, who were employed under him. Permit me to remark to you, Sir, that this is the third time within two months I have had the satisfaction to bear testimony to the zeal and bravery of the officers I have now mentioned. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew has transmitted to this office a letter from the Hon. Captain Waldegrave, late commanding his Majesty's ship the Thames (now in the Voluntaire) giving an account of the destruction, on the 16th of June last, in the Gulph of Policastro, of ten large armed feluccas, on their way from Pizzo to Naples. They had been hauled up on the beach, under Cetraro, where they were taken possession of under a heavy fire of musquetry, by a detachment landed from the Thames and Cephalus, under the direction of Lieutenant Whiteway, of the former, and set fire to and burnt, being found too large and heavily laden, to allow of their being launched and brought away. In the performance of this service, one midshipman (Mr. Cornwall) and two men, only were wounded. Vice-Admiral Sawyer, Commander in Chief on the coast of North America, has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Mulcaster, of his Majesty's sloop the Emulous, giving an account of his having, on the 26th of last month, captured the French brig letter of marque, L'Adele, pierced for sixteen guns, only two mounted, with 35 men, bound from Charlestown to Nantes, with a cargo of cotton. Admiralty Admiralty-Office, Sept. 28, 1811. Extract of a letter from Captain Willes, of his Majesty's sloop the Leveret, addressed to Vice-Admiral Murray, Commander in Chief at Yarmouth, and transmitted by the latter to John Wilson Croker, Esq. His Majesty's sloop Leveret, Yarmouth, Sept. 27, 1811. I have the honour to inform you, that his Majesty's sloop under my command captured, on the afternoon of the 22d instant, Flamborough Head bearing west one hundred and seventy miles, after a chace of three hours, the French lugger privateer Le Prospere, commanded by Peter Van Oronglen, mounting two long six-pounders, and one eighteenpounder carronade, with a complement of 39 men; out two days from Rotterdam; she had captured, on the morning of the 22d, a Danish brig from Norway, laden with timber, bound to Hull, and was taking possession of another when we fell in with her. Finding the direction the captured brig had made sail in, I sent an officer and a party of men on board the lugger, to endeavour to recapture her, being charged with dispatches myself, which I hope will meet your approbation. Admiral Sir Charles Cotton has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Ballard, of his Majesty's ship the Sceptre, giving an account of the capture of a French merchant sloop and five chasse marées, on the coast of France, by the boats of that ship, under the direction of Lieutenant Chrystie. Foreign Office, Downing-Street, October 1, 1811. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has been pleased to appoint the Right Hon. Henry Wellesley to be his Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to his Catholic Majesty, Ferdinand VII.; and Charles Vaughan, Esq. to be his Majesty's Secretary of Embassy in Spain. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has also been pleased to appoint Charles Stuart, Esq.; George Cockburn, Esq.; and John Philip Morier, Esq.; to be his Majesty's Commissioners in Spanish America, to act with such Commissioners as may be appointed by the Supreme Council of Re gency of Spain and the Indies, in the name of his Catholic Majesty Ferdinand VH. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has also been pleased to appoint Richard Belgrave Hoppner, Esq. to be Secretary to his Majesty's Commissioners in Spanish America. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has also been pleased to appoint Thomas Sydenham, Esq. to reside at the seat of the Provisional Government of Portugal, as his Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary, during the absence of Charles Stuart, Esq. who has been named his Majesty's First Commissioner in Spanish America. His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the the behalf of his Majesty, has also been pleased to appoint the Rev. R. M. Miller, B. A. to be resident Chaplain at Lisbon. Admiralty-Office, October 1, 1811. Copy of a letter from Captain Browne, of his Majesty's ship the Hermes, addressed to Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, and transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. His Majesty's ship Hermes, Dungeness Roads, Sept. 26, 1811. SIR-I have the honour to report to you, that on the morning of the 24th inst. close in with Cape le Heve, his Majesty's ship Hermes recaptured the Prussian brig Anna Maria, from Lisbon for London, and would most certainly have taken the privateer, had not the contiguity to his own coast favoured his escape by half an hour's sail, as the Hermes was nearing him fast; but the wind blowing strong directly on shore, prevented further pursuit. I also beg to acquaint you, that the strong westerly winds having driven me from my station, and prevented my reaching St. Helens, I bore up for this anchorage; and in my way hither, when off Beachy Head, I discovered a large lugger in the midst of a number of English vessels, several of which she must have soon captured, and one of which she had taken before seen by the Hermes. She was instantly pursued, and in two hours' time, after sustaining a good deal of firing, which wounded some of his crew, and damaged her sails, she struck; but in the act of bringing-to, to take possession of her, the main-topsail-yard broke in the slings, and the fore-sail of the Hermes split from the violence of the wind, which the privateer immediately took the advantage of; and although in a situ ation under the lee when she surrendered, that would have enabled me to have totally destroyed her, he had the temerity to endeavour to escape, by making sail on the opposite tack; but by the great exertion of my officers the ship was wore, and as much sail set as enabled me to again come up with him, although he had got two miles from us on the weather-bow, when feeling myself justified after his conduct not to give him an opportunity of again escaping, I determined to run him alongside, notwithstanding it blew a gale of wind with a very heavy sea, in doing which he again endeavoured to escape, by crossing our hawse, when in one instant a heavy sea instantly threw him under the bottom of his Majesty's ship, and I lament to say, that only twelve men out of fifty-one were saved, it being impossible to hoist a boat out. It appears she was named la Mouche, of Boulogne, had sailed the evening before, was commanded by Monsieur Gageux, mounted fourteen carriage guns, twelve and six-pounders, was one hundred and eighty tons, and had a complement of 61 men, ten of whom were put on board his prize. I have the satisfaction to state, that not one of the crew of the prize were taken on board the privateer: she was a ship from the West Indies, but her name I could not learn. I have the honour to be, &c. To Admiral Sir Roger Curtis, Bart. Portsmouth. PHILIP BROWne. Admiralty Admiralty Office, October 8, 1811. Rear-Admiral Foley has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter he had received from Captain Clark, of his Majesty's sloop Rolla, giving an account of his having, on the 6th instant, captured off Fecamp, L'Espoir, French lugger privateer, of 16 guns, and 50 men, which sailed the preceding evening from St. Vallery en Caux, without making any capture. Admiralty Office, October 12, 1811. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Sibly, of his Majesty's sloop Swallow, giving an account of his having, on the 26th of July last, captured, off the coast of Sicily, La Belle Genoise, French privateer, of two nine-pounders, and 37 men. Rear-Admiral Foley has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Captain Carteret, of his Majesty's ship the Naiad, giving an account of his having, on the 6th instant, captured off Treport, the French lugger privateer Milan, armed with sixteen guns, only two mounted, and 52 men; out that morning from Dieppe. Admiralty. Office, October 15, 1811. The Honourable Rear-Admiral Legge has transmitted to John Wilson Croker, Esq. a letter from Lieutenant Westphall, Acting Commander of his Majesty's sloop Columbine, giving an account of the capture of two French privateers, on the 30th last month, under the batteries at Chipiona, by the boats of the above sloop, under the direction of Lieutenant Green. Admiralty Office, October 26, 1811. Copy of a letter from Captain Vansittart, of his Majesty's ship Fortu née, addressed to Vice-Admiral Thornborough, and transmitted by the latter to John Wilson Croker, Esq. His Majesty's ship Fortunée, at sea, Oct. 11, 1811. SIR-I have the honour to report to you, that his Majesty's ship under my command, and the Saldanha cruizing in company, in the execution of your order of the 14th ult. at day-light this morning, the Saldanha, at six or seven miles distance, bearing west by north, wind west, a strange ship was discovered south-west by south, distant seven or eight miles on the larboard tack, which immediately tacked and made all sail from us; at three o'clock, the Saldanha closing first on the weather quarter of the chase, and his Majesty's ship under my command on the lee beam, the shot flying over her, she struck, and proves to be the famous privateer le Vice-Amiral Martin, which, by the superiority of her sailing, has so often escaped from his Majesty's ships, and has been so successful on her former cruises. I have the greater pleasure in communicating this capture, as both Captain Pakenham and myself feel assured, that from the style of her sailing |