to cease along the whole line; and both sides, as it were, by mutual consent, put an end to the engagement. The fleets were occupied the succeeding days in repairing their damages; and nothing particular happened until the evening of Monday, the 15th, when a severe action was fought between the van di-: visions of the two fleets, neither of which had been › in the action of the 9th. The Stafford, the Lord Grenville, the Lauderdale, the Hawkesbury, and the Erskine, bore the brunt of this day. The Sidmouth was also warmly engaged, but unfortunately took such a position, that it is supposed her companions suffered as much from her fire as the enemy. Every necessary preparation being made, another general action took place on Wednesday, the 15th, close un- : der St. Stephen's, the scene of the first engagement. It commenced with a lively cannonade from the Lyttleton, the fire of which, though only a frigate, annoyed the enemy very much. Shortly after, the Leitrim, Capt. Gore, an armed sloop, used as a troopship, stationed in the rear, was seen to pass under the bow of the Newport, the bowsprit of which she grazed n her flight to the enemy, with a shot from her stern chaser. The Newport immediately luffed up, and poured an entire broadside into the Leitrim, which aked her from stem to stern; but the Extraordinary Squadron opened to receive her as she was just on the point of going to the bottom, and thus enabled her to effect her flight in safety. It was soon after perceived, hat in this, as well as in the action of the 9th, a great many vessels had deserted to the enemy. They consisted chiefly of hired craft, built in the merchants' wards, intended for commercial purposes, and very mproperly and unconstitutionally taken into the King's service. April 24. No. No. III. (Concluded) WE gave, on Friday, some particulars of the dreadful engagement between the British Fleet and the Extraordinary Squadron, under St. Stephen's. It was attended with a phenomenon that may rank among the most wonderful in nature. During the action, the Extraordinary Squadron was enveloped in the thickest fog that ever fell upon the earth; " shadows, clouds, and darkness, rested on it;" while the opposing fleet, although only a few yards distant, was illuminated by the purest and most brilliant rays ever emitted from the fountain of light in its meridian splendour. The fire from the British Fleet partly succeeded in dissipating the clouds; and as they began to disperse, the Extraordinary Squadron became occasionally visible through the dismal gloom, and presented a most shocking ap. pearance. One would suppose that every shot had told, for every vessel discernible in the mass bore marks of havoc and desolation. Flags of distress were flying in every direction, and in many of the ships the crews had quitted their guns, and run down below in despair. The whole Van Division, consist. ing of the Castlereagh, Capt. Stewart; the Chancellor, Capt. Perceval: the Anti-Jacobin, Capt. Canning; the Rose, and several others; had their heads completely beaten in, and lay in a heap, all wrecked together upon the rocks of Bigotry and Statecraft, while the great body of the squadron were aground upon the shoals of Delusion, and the moving sands of Apostacy. The flag-ship had something flying from her topmast, which, at a distance, appeared to be the Cap of Liberty; but, upon nearer inspection, it proved to be the Cap of Folly, and there was scarcely a ship in the whole line that did not fight under false colours. The British fleet, on the contrary, appeared in ex cellent cellent order and condition. Not a single vessel had' suffered in her hull, mast, sails, or rigging. Their signals were all well concerted and arranged, and obeyed with promptitude and precision. The gale, it is true, was not favourable; but still, having plenty of sea-room, and every ship sound in her timbers, and worked by a well-disciplined crew, they suffered not the slightest injury or inconvenience. In two or three instances, the enemy's fire recoiled upon themselves; and their guns, being all pointed in the dark, and, consequently, without good aim, it is not surprising that they should have done more injury to themselves, than to the British fleet. It may excite some surprise, that, with all this superiority and advantage, the British fleet did not capture the Extraordinary Squadron; but it will be remembered, that the great Nelson, though commanding a squadron superior to the enemy in weight of metal, as well as in discipline, courage, and experience, was unable to take the Boulogne flotilla. The fact is, the fire of the enemy was scarcely silenced, when a strong wind arose from a height, called Speaker's Chair, close to Table Bay, which completely divided the two lines, and the tide ebbing with extraordinary and unexpected velocity, left the British fleet, at the moment it fancied itself afloat, completely aground. There they were when the dispatches catne away, and there they will remain until the returning tide. In the mean time, the Captains of the Extra ordinary Squadron, which, as we stated in a former Number, was to windward, by holding out promises and rewards for exertion, prevailed on the crews to work it into the King's Dock and Treasury Roads: here it is now actively employed in repairing its damages, and preparing for another cruise. With an intent stil more to strengthen and increase its force, orders have been issued for building an immense number of ne 5 vessels vessels, among which are the following, at the undermentioned ports: Two Frigates, at Harwich. Two Brigs, at Dublin. &c. &c. &c. This is only a small portion of the new vessels, the keels of several of which have been already laid down in the above ports. It will be seen from the list, that the Extraordinary Squadron are more anxious about the number, than the size, strength, and value of their vessels. It looks as if all they wanted was to outnumber their opponents, not to beat them. It is, however, very well known, that they will not be able to augment their force to the extent which they hopeas in some cases the docks are pre-occupied, and in others, the workmen either stand out for extravagant wages, or have actually entered into the service of their opponents. It is also well known, that most of the timber which they have provided is rotten, and that they have no crews with which to man them, but a sort of Swiss, that are ready to fight for either side, and never fail to desert the sinking vessel. April 28. SARE, Rue de Downing Street, April 20. HAVE ver gran news to tell you: dere vas a Conseil of all mine Comarades two days passés. Dere vas myself; my Interprete en second, Mons. Coral; mi Lor Canningue; Lor Hoguesburi; Lieutenant Gene ral ral First Lor of de Amirauté, Lor Mule-Grave; Lor Castelré; Lor Illdone; el Mons. l'Avocat Perceval. Ma foi, mon ami, vc go strike ver fine blow! Ve send all de Armée and beaucoup of de Argent in England to get back Hanovre, for every body he know how necessaire Hanovre he is for England. Son Altesse Royal le Duc de C. is General en Chef of de Expedition; but Milors dey all agree vid me dat dere must be von oder General en Chef to take care of Son Altesse Royal, for dat he be ver fine "Protestant,' but tant soit peu General. Mi Lor Castelré he vas recommend us that oder General en Chef, Lieutenant General Otto Widdlesbach, Baron Schütte. Mi Lor Canningue he was ask how he should prononcer dat name? I vas remind him dat in de Langue German, "de ü, twice dotted, vas prononce as i.-(Vide German play in de Anti-jacobin.) My Lor Illdone he vas ask of vat religion vas de Baron, as veder he fight well depend entierement upon vat religion he vas have. Mi Lor Castleré vas say, he not know veder de Baron he vas vat you call Dissentere, Catholique, ou Protestant; but dat my Lor Illdone he vas make great mistake, for dat he (mi Lor Castleré) had been himself Dissentere, Catholique, et Protestant, all at von time, and he vas never fight at all, and vas not like it! Enfin Mons. le Baron vas call in to be examiné upon his religion, and vas introduit by le Chevalier Pultene. Mi Lor Illdone vas begin by asking," Vat is your name?" Le Baron, he vas answere," Otto Widdlesbach, Baron Schütte." Mi Lor he vas say agen (pur moyen of de Interprete en second, Mons. Coral), "Who vas give you dat name?" Mons, le Baron vas look surprise, and l'Avocat Perceval vas vispere him to say, "Mine Godfaderes and mine Godmoderes;" but le Baron he vas say, dat he never have de honneur. to have eidere de von or de odere! { VOL. I. Le |