margin, having again fallen in with the enemy on the 24th off the entrance of the Rhone, and on the 25th they chased them on shore: the Robust of 84 guns, bearing the flag of Rear-Adm. Boudain, and the Leon of 74, off Frontignan, were the day following set fire to by the enemy. The Borée of 74 guns and a frigate ran on shore at the entrance of the port of Cette, where there is little probability of either of them being saved. I cannot sufficiently express the high satisfaction I have felt at the intrepid perseverance of Rear-Adm. Martin, and of the captains of the ships who were with him in pursuit. Nothing less ardent, or less skilful would have produced a result so fortunate, where the coast near the Rhone is exceeding shoal and dangerous, so that some of the ships were in five and six fathom water, the weather thick, and the south east wind blowing strong. I inclose to you, Sir, Rear-Admiral Martin's letter; and beg to congratulate their lordships on three great ships of the enemy being thus destroyed, without the smallest resistance on their part, or a shot being fired by the British ships, except a few by the Tigre at the Borée, when she was pushing ashore at Cette; of their two frigates, the Pomone and Pauline, one hauled her wind some time in the night, and fetched into Marseilles Road. The other part of the French squadron are found to remain in Toulon by the ships which have since examined that port. I have the honour to be &c. COLLINGWOOD. Canopus at Sea, Oct. 27. MY LORD,In obedience to the sig nal for the Canopus to chase, E. N. Ē. I stood that way the whole of the night of the 23d, and the following day, in company with the Renown, Tigre, Sultan, Leviathan, and Cumberland; in the evening four sail were seen, to which we immediately gave chase, and pursued them till after dark; when from shoal water, and the wind being direct on the shore, near the entrance of the Rhone, it became necessary to keep to the wind during the night. The following morning, the 25th, the same ships were again seen, and chased between Cette and Frontignan, where they ran Canopus, Renown, Tigre, Sultan, Leviathan, and Cumberland. on shore. Two of them (an 80 gun ship, bearing a rear-admiral's flag, and a 74) at the latter place, and one ship of the line and a frigate at the former. From the shoal water and intricacy of the navigation, it was impossible to get close enough to the enemy's two line of battle ships near Frontignan, to attack them when on shore; for in attempting to do so, one of his Majesty's ships was under five fathoms water, and another in less than six. On the 26th I sent my boats to sound, meaning if possible to buoy the Channel, (if any had been found) by which the enemy's ships could be attacked; but at night we had the satisfaction to see them set on fire. From the circumstances under which the ship and frigate ran on shore at the entrance of the port of Cette, I have little doubt the former will be lost; and the frigate must certainly have received considerable damage; but they cannot he got at on account of the batteries. Your lordship must be well aware that nothing but the great press of sail car ried by his Majesty's ships, and the good look out kept, could have enabled them to close with those of the enemy, from the distance they were at the time they commenced the chace. I have the honour to be, &c. G. MARTIN, Vice-Admiral, Lord Collingwood. Ville de Paris, off Rosas, Nov. 1. SIR,-When the enemy's convoy was chased on the 23d. ult. their transports, separated from the ships of war, and under the protection of an armed store-ship, two bombards, and a zebeck, made for the bay of Rosas. When the ships of war were disposed of, as related in my letter of yesterday, the convoy became the object of my attention, and on the 29th the Apollo was sent off Rosas to examine what vessels were there, and how far they were in a situation assailable, The next day I appointed the ships under the orders of Capt. Hallowell, to bring them out if the wind was favourable, or otherwise to destroy them. The state of the wind and sea would not permit this operation until last night, when, after, dark, the ships bore up for the bay, and anchored about five miles from the castle of Rosas, under the protection of which castle, of Trinity fort, and of several other newly erected batteries, the convoy, consisting of 11 vessels, (five armed) as per accompanying list, were moored. The boats being arranged in separate divisions, the whole were put under the orders of Lieut. Tailour, first lieutenant of the Tigre," and proceeded to the attack of the enemy, who, although he could have had no previous intimation of such an enterprize against him, was found vigilant and completely on his guard, The ship, which was a smaller sort of frigate, was enclosed in boarding, nettings, and a gun-boat advanced a-head of her for the look-out. On being hailed, and the alarm gun fired, our boats stretched out, the crews at the highest pitch of animation, filling the air with their cheers. Each division took the part previously allotted to it; the armed ship was boarded at all points, and carried in a few minutes, notwithstand ing a spirited and sturdy resistance which the enemy made; all their armed vessels were well defended; but the British seamen and marines, determined to subdue them, were not to he repelled, even by a force found to be double that which was expected, and besides the opposition made by the vessels, the guns from the castle, the forts in the bay, the gun-boats, and musketry from the beach, kept a constant fire on them, On the opening of day, every ship ør vessel was either burnt or brought off, aided by the light winds which then came from the land; and the whole of the convoy which came from Toulon, for the supply of the French army in Spain, has been destroyed, with the exception of the frigate which escaped to Marseilles, and one store-ship which has not since been heard of, I cannot conclude this narrative without an expression of the senti- ' ment which the execution of this bold enterprize has inspired me with,: and the respect and admiration I feel for those who performed it.-In the first place success greatly depended upon the previous arrange-ment which was made by Captain: Hallowell, with a judgment and foresight that distinguishes that offi-, cer in every service he is employed on. The division of the boats, the preparation of fire-materials, and providing them with every imple-, ment that contingency could require, established confidence throughout the whole; and in this he was ably assisted by the experience and zeal of Captains Wodehouse, Bullen, Taylor, and Hope. The brigs were under sail, as near the vessels attacked as the light winds would allow, and Captain Hallowell speaks in high terms of praise of the conduct of their commanders, Crawley, Raitt, and Wilson. The first lieute nant, Tailour, led to the assault in a most gallant manner, and was followed by the other officers as it each was ambitious of his place, and desired to be first; the whole party bravely maintained the character which British seamen have esta blished for themselves.-I am sorry I have to add that the loss has been considerable, of which I enclose a list. Lieutenant Tait, of the Volontaire, an excellent and brave young officer, and Mr. Caldwell, master's mate of the Tigre, a youth of great promise, were the only officers slain. Many officers in the fleet were desirous of being volunteers in this service. I could not resist the ear nest request of Lieutenants Lord Viscount Balgonic, the Hon. J. A. Maude, and the Hon. W. Waldegrave, of the Ville de Paris, to have the command of boats, in which they displayed that spirit which is inherent in them, I transmit also Captain Hallowell's letter, relating his proceedings, with a list of the vessels burnt and captured. I have the honour to be, &c. COLLINGWOOD. P. S. I have charged Lieutenant Waldegrave, of the Ville de Paris, with the delivery of my dispatches; an officer of great merit, and who commanded one of the boats employed on this service. His Majesty's Ship Tigre, off Cape St. MY LORD, Iu obedience to your I have the honour to inclose a list of vessels captured and destroyed on this occasion; and when your lordship is informed that the enemy was aware of our intention to attack him, and had taken the precaution of fixing boarding nettings, and placing a launch with a gun in advance, to give him a notice of our approach, and that the vessels were also defended by the very strong batteries on shore, I trust your lordship will consider it equal in gallantry and judgment to any exploit that has occurred under your lordship's command. Our loss has been severe, and among the list of killed I have to lament the loss of Lieut. Tait, of the Volontaire, of whom Capt. Bullen speaks in high terms, as an officer who has distinguished himself upon many occasions, and Mr. Caldwell, Master's Mate of the Tigre. The latter has left a widowed mother in * Tigre, Cumberland, Volontaire, Apollo, Topaze, Philomel, Scout, and Tuscan. distressed circumstances, who looked to him for comfort and support. Among the wounded are Lieut. Tailour, of the Tigre, and Lieut. Forster, of the Apollo, severely. The brigs were directed to keep under weigh, and were in an admirable situation at day-light to have given assistance, had it been necessary. I have the honour also to inclose a list of the officers employed on this service, and I have only to state that their conduct, and that of the seamen and marines under their command, was such as to exceed any encomium from my thanks and approbation. I have the pen, and entitles them to my warmest honour, &c. B. HALLOWELL. A List of the Ships taken and destroyed. 16 9-pounders, 116 meu, and 600 tons; Armed store ship, La Lemprove, of burnt.-Bombard, La Victoire, of 14 6-pounders, and 80 men; burut.-Felucca, L'Alsacien, of 25 muskets and 20 men; burnt.-L'Union, of 150 tons; den with biscuit; burnt.-Notre Dame burnt.-.Le Bien Aime, of 150 tons, lade Rosaire, of 150 tons; burut.-Felucca, Notre Dame de Grace, of 90 tons; burnt.-Bombard, of 8 6-pountaken.-Xebec, La Normande, of 10 ders and 45 men, laden with biscuit; 4-pounders, and 48 men; taken.-Le cuit; taken.-L'Indien, of 200 tons, laDragon, of 200 tons, laden with bisden with corn and flour; taken. B. HALLOWELL. The total number of killed and woun ded in this action is 15 killed and 55 wounded; among the former were Lieut Tait, of the Volontaire, and Mr. Caldwell, master's mate of the Tigre. The Gazette of the 5th. contains dispatches from Lord Collingwood, giving an account of the surrender of the French garrisous in the Islands of Zante, Cephalonia, Ithaca, and Cerigo to his Majesty's arms, and the declaration of the re-establish ment of the government of the SeptInsular republic. Their reduction was effected by several detachments from Sir J. Stewart's forces in Sicily, Oswald. Capt. W. Spranger, of the under the command of Brigadier-Gen. Warrior, of 74 guns, commanded the naval part of the expedition. Zante, Cephalonia, and Ithaca, shewed little resistance. Cerigo made a desperate effort. Our loss was trivial. A quantity of cannon, ammunition, &c. bas fallen into our hands. The several garrisons (amounting in all to 616) are made prisoners of war. Further dispatches from Lord Col. lingwood give an account of a spirited attack made by the boats of the Excellent, Acorn, and Bustard, on a convoy of the enemy, which had anchored under a fortress at Duin, to the westward of Trieste, in which all the enemy's vessels, consisting of six gun-vessels and ten trabaccolas, were taken. They also relate the capture of five French privateers, by the Success, Halcyon, and Volage. Admiralty-Office, Dec. 19. The following Dispatches, have been received by John Wilson Croker, Esq. Secretary to the, Admiralty. Cæsar, Flushing Roads, Dec. 11. SIR--I have the honour to com municate to you such circumstances as have occurred previous to your arrival, and subsequent to my last official communication. The trans-. ports necessary for the embarkation of the army having arrived the 25th ult. on the following day the measures that I had previously concerted with Lieut.-Gen. Don for the destruction of the basin, arsenal, and sea defences of Flushing, agreeable to the instructions from the Earl of Liverpool, dated the 13th and received on the 17th, were begun. On this service 600 seamen and artificers from the fleet were employed, under the orders of Captain Moore, of his Majesty's ship Marlborough, assisted by Captains Tomlinson and Henderson, of the fire-ship service. The navy having completed the portion i of work allotted to them, and Lieut. Colonel Pilkington, commanding the royal engineers, having reported to Lieut-General Don that his mines. for the destruction of the gates and piers at the entrance of the basin were ready, the whole of the army, with the exception of the rear guards, was embarked on the afternoon of the 9th inst. The mines were exploded yesterday, at low water, and appear to have fully answered their object. The whole of the east side of the basin had been previously completely destroyed; but as the port of Flushing west of the basin liesconsiderably below the high water mark, any material injury of the west bank would have caused the immediate inundation of the whole town; therefore our work on that side has been confined to the demolition of the careening wharf and pits. It was at first intended to defer the burning of the storehouse and other buildings in the arsenal until our final departure, but from the probability that with a strong east wind the flames might communicate to the town, the whole was set fire to yesterday, and is totally destroyed. Thus Flushing is rendered useless to the enemy as a naval arsenal; and the basin, which afforded very secure retreat for several ships of the line during the winter, is for the present effectually destroyed, and can only be restored by great labour, and at an immense expence. I cannot conclude without expressing my great obligations to Captain Moore, for the able assistance he has rendered me in the performance of a very complicated service; and he speaks in terms highly satisfactory of the conduct of Captains Tomlinson and Ilenderson, and the other officers who served under his orders on shore. I have the honour to be, &c. W. A. OTWAY, Rear-Admiral. Clyde, in the Veer Gat, Dec. 8. SIR-Last night the enemy worked very hard at the battery on Woolversdyke, notwithstanding the continued fire kept on it. At day light this morning, it was found he had opened four embrasures in it. Captain Carteret, therefore, pushed two divisions of the gun-boats forward against it, which completely - succeeded in demolishing two of the embrasures, and in injuring the others very materially. About noon, three mortars were brought down, and, with a field-piece, opened against our vessels (the brigs more especially); but, after about an hour's firing, in which their shells were thrown with some precision, but without effect, they were completely silenced, and all our vessels kept their ground, About this time the guard-boats entered the Cross Channel which unites the two passes of Woolversdyke, to endeavour to tow off a flat boat, which was lost last night from the Pallas's stern, being swampt and overset; they got her in tow, but she was fast aground and could not be moved. The enemy's troops were in number behind the Dyke, and a considerable fire of musketry was exchanged with them, I believe with our effect on either side; some few shot struck our boats. The enemy's advanced gun-boats appeared to lie close together, and I ordered two of the Clyde's boats to advance into the passage and throw some rockets that way, in order that the occasion might be taken to reconnoitre them more closely. I find the enemy's batteries are not so far in advance as I had supposed, and that their gun-boats are not nearer than Cortjen. They are, however, erecting a battery on a point of the dyke which commands the channel, about half-way between that place and the outer battery. I have the honour, &c. E. W. C. R. OWEN, Commodore. Favourite Cutter, Dec. 11. SIR-I am happy to find, by a report of this day from Captain Carteret, that the exertions of our gunboats have completely succeeded in preventing the progress of the enemy on the Woolversdyke. I informed Rear-Admiral Otway that the duty being heavy on the division of gunboats in advance, I had ordered that of Acting Captain Rich to relieve it. This was done, and to-day every embrasure the enemy had opened is said to be completely levelled by their fire. E. W. C. R. OWEN, Extract of a Letter from Commodore Owen, Favourite, Dec. 11. The enemy was very busy with the battery on Woolversdyke, which if completed, would have rendered the post I had taken on that side a very uneasy one; I therefore thought, under the present circumstances, every thing should be tried to keep it back, and the gun-boats have done it well. If the enemy in our retreat treads too close on us, we feel confident in our strength, and can form as good a front as our channel will allow feeling the necessity for my being myself in the rear, I have hoisted my pendant in the Favourite cutter, leaving the care of the Clyde to my first lieutenant. This I trust, you will approve of. E. W. C. R. OWEN. Letters from Lisbon by the Prince of Wales packet to the date of the 18th ult. state that the progress of disease in the British army at Ba dajos is more rapid and more fatal than at any former period. The fol lowing letter supplies some interesting observations on Portuguese affairs, both naval and military. Lisbon, Nov. 16. "I am sorry to be under the painful necessity of continuing to inform you of the dreadful morality in the army. The latest accounts say, 60 or 70 per day are buried. Lord Wellington has been for some days at Seville with the junta, and the Marquis his brother. Afterwards he accompanied the latter to Cadis, |