tack, and each man zealous to emulate their noble example, and the most complete success has been the consequence of such determined bravery; of eight gun-boats, each mounting a thirty-two, and twentyfour pounder, and 46 men, six have been brought out, and one sunk; and the whole of the ships and vessels (12 in number), under their protection, laden with powder and provisions for the Russian army, brought out, and a large armed ship taken and burnt; I have deeply to lament the loss of many men killed and wounded, and especially that most valuable officer, lieutenant Hawkey, who after taking one gun-boat, was killed by a grapeshot, in the act of boarding the second. No praise from my pen can do adequate justice to this lamented young man; as an officer he was active, correct, and zealous, to the highest degree; the leader in every kind of enterprise, and regardless of danger; he delighted in whatever could tend to promote the glory of his country; his last words were "Huzza! push on! England for ever!"

Mr. Hawkey had been away in the boats on different services, since last Monday, accompanied by lieut. Vernon, whose conduct in this affair has been highly exemplary, and shown him worthy to be the companion of so heroic a man; but while I am induced to mention the name of Mr. Vernon, from his constant services with Mr. Hawkey, I feel that every officer, seaman and marine, has a claim to my warmest praises, and will, I trust, obtain your favourable recommendation to the lords commissioners of the admiralty. Lieut. Charles Allen, of the Bellerophon, was the senior officer after Mr. Hawkey's death.

I have just been informed, that lieut. Stirling of the Prometheus, who was severely wounded, is since dead; his conduct in this affair was very conspicuous, and captain Forest speaks highly in praise of the zeal and activity of his services on every occasion. I am sure you will readily believe that captain Forest did not witness the preparation for this attack, without feeling an ardent desire to command it, but I was obliged to resist his pressing importunity, as a matter of justice to Mr. Hawkey.

The Russians have suffered severely in this conflict; the most moderate statement makes it appear that two thirds of them have been killed and wounded, or jumped overboard. Inclosed is a list of killed and wounded, the names of the officers employed, an account of vessels captured, and number of prisoners.

I have the honour to be, &c.
T. B. MARTIN.

Dispatches from Sir Arthur
Wellesley, K. B.

Placentia, 15th July. My lord,-After I had written to your lordship on the first instant, Joseph Buonaparté crossed the Tagus again, and joined Sebastiani with the troops he had brought from Madrid, and with a detachment from marshal Victor's corps, making the corps of Sebastiani about 28,000 men, with an intention of attacking Venegas's corps. Venegas, however, retired into the mountains of the Sierra Morena, and col. Larey with his advanced guard attacked a French advanced corps in the night, and destroyed many of them. The French troops then returned again to the Tagus,

which river Joseph liad crossed with the reinforcement which he had taken to Sebastiani's corps; and this last corps, consisting of 10,000 men only, was on the left bank of the Tagus, about Madrilejos, in front of Venegas, who was again advancing. The last accounts from this quarter were of the 8th. The French army under Victor, joined by the detachments brought by Joseph from Sebastiani's corps, and amounting in the whole to about 35,000 men, are concentrated in the neighbourhood of Talavera, and on the Alberche; gen. Cuesta's army has been in the position which I informed your lordship that it had taken up, since I addressed you on the 1st instant. The advanced guard of the British army arrived on the 8th, and the troops which were with me on the Tagus arrived by the 10th; the 23rd light dragoons and the 48th arrived yesterday; the 61st regiment will arrive tomorrow. I went to gen. Cuesta's quarters at Almarez on the 10th, and stayed there till the 12th, and I have arranged with that general a plan of operations upon the French army, which we are to begin to carry into execution on the 18th, if the French should remain so long in their position. The Spanish army under general Cuesta consists of about 38,000 men (exclusive of Venegas's corps), of which 7,000 are cavalry. About 14,000 men are detached to the bridge d'Arzobispo, and the remainder are in the camp under the Puerte de Mirabete. I have the pleasure to inform your lordship, that the seven battalions of infantry from Ireland and the Islands, and the troops of horse artillery from Great Britain, arrived at Lisbon in the beginning of

the month. Gen. Crauford's brigade is on its march to join the army, but will not arrive here till the 24th or 25th.

ARTHUR WELLESLEY.

Downing-street, Aug. 26. The following dispatch has been received from Major Maxwell of the Royal African corps, addressed to Viscount Castlereagh.

Senegal, July 18. My lord,-When I had last the honour of writing to your lordship, I communicated such information as I had received concerning the situation of the French colony of Senegal, and my opinion of the practicability of reducing it with a small force: I also mentioned the annoyance we had received at Goree and its vicinity, from their privateers, during the absence of ships of war from that station. On the 24th June, commodore Columbine arrived at Goree with the Solebay frigate and brig Tigress, having the colonial schooner George, Agincourt transport, and several merchant vessels under convoy; and having communicated to him what intelligence I had lately obtained, we thought the reduction of Senegal practicable with the force we possessed, provided no obstacles should prevent our being able to pass the bars at the mouth of the river. To this attempt I was induced by considerations which I trust your lordship will conceive tobe of weight. I was of opinion that the colony of itself would be an acquisition of importance to the nation, from its commerce; that by the French government, as it had always been much valued, its loss would be proportionably felt; and that by

2H 2

driving

driving the enemy from their sole possession on the coast, his majesty's settlements, and the British commerce, would be more secure, and more easily protected. Having therefore procured some light vessels and boats, the best adapted for passing the bar, a detachment of the garrison of Goree, consisting of 6 officers, 6 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 150 rank and file, was embarked on board the Agincourt transport, on the 4th of July, when we sailed, and anchored at the bar, on the evening of the 7th. Next morning commodore Columbine was of opinion the troops might be passed over the bar, which was acccordingly effected, though with much difficulty, by the exertions of the navy. We unfortunately, however, lost a schooner and sloop, containing much of our provisions and ammunition; and the schooner George went on shore inside the bar. I landed the detachment and 60 royal marines from the ships of war on the left bank of the river, where I took up a position, with a view to wait till provisions could be passed from the shipping, and the schooner George could be got off. We then learnt that the enemy had made a formidable line of defence at the post of the Baubague, 12 miles up the river, where there is a battery, in front of which three cannoniers and four other vessels were moored, and the whole protected by a strong boom drawn across the river. On the 9th we were attacked, but speedily repulsed the enemy, and drove them within their lines at Baubague, after which we returned to get off the schooner, which was effected on the following evening, The 11th was employed in refitting the schooner, and embarking provi

sions and water. The Solebay, frigate, and Derwent, sloop of war, were ordered to anchor opposite to the post of Baubague, and bombard it, which was executed with much effect. During the night, in shifting her birth, the Solebay unfortunately got aground, but in a position which enabled her still to annoy the enemy. On the morning of the 12th the troops were embarked, and the flotilla proceeded up the river, till just without gun shot of the enemy's line of defence; and when every thing was in readiness for a night attack, we received information that it was the intention of the French commandant to capitulate. Willing to spare an unnecessary effusion of human blood, the attack was postponed. On the morning of the 13th, we discovered that the boom was broken, that the enemy had abandoned the battery and vessels, leaving their colours flying, and shortly afterwards a letter was received from Messrs. Degrigny and Durecu, in the name of the commandant of Senegal, offering to capitulate. Mr. Heddle, surgeon to the forces, who had acted as my aid-de-camp during the campaign, was sent forward to treat with these gentlemen, and soon returned with the articles of capitulation, which I inclose, and which we ratified.I immediately took possession of the battery of Isle aux Anglois; and in the course of the evening the battery of Guelander facing the town. Next morning the garrison laid down their arms, and were embarked. We then found that the force which had been employed against us amounted to 160 regular soldiers, and 240 militia and vo lunteers. We had no reason, however, to count on much opposition

from

from the latter part of the enemy's force.

[The dispatch concludes with speaking in high terms of captain Titley, lieutenant Bones, and the other officers of the royal navy and marines, as well as Mr. Heddle, assistant commissary Hamilton, and captain Odlum, the bearer of the dispatch.]

C. W. MAXWell,
Major R. A. corps.

Downing-street, Aug. 15.-The following dispatches were this day received from Sir Arthur Wellesley.

Talavera de la Reyna, July 29. My lord, Gen. Cuesta followed the enemy's march with his army, from the Alberche on the morning of the 24th as far as Santa Olalla, and pushed forward his advanced guard as far as Torrijos. For the reasons stated to your lordship in my dispatch of the 24th, I moved only two divisions of infantry and a brigade of cavalry across the Alberche to Cassalegos, under the command of lieut.-gen. Sherbrooke, with a view to keep up the communication between gen. Cuesta and me, and with sir R. Wilson's corps at Escalona. It appears that gen. Venegas had not carried into execution that part of the plan of operations which related to his corps, and that he was still at Damiel in La Mancha; and the enemy in the course of the 24th, 25th, and 26th, collected all his forces in this part of Spain, between Torrijos and Toledo, leaving but a small corps of 2,000 men in that place. His united army thus consisted of the corps of marshal Victor, of that of gen. Sebastiani, and of 7 or 8,000

men, the guards of Joseph Buonaparté, and the garrison of Madrid; and it was commanded by Joseph Buonaparté, aided by marshals Jourdon and Victor, and gen. Sebastiani. On the 26th gen. Cuesta's advanced guard was attacked near Torrijos, and obliged to fall back, and the general retired with his army on that day to the left bank of the Alberche, gen. Sherbrooke continuing at Cassalegos, and the enemy at Santa Olalla. It was then obvious, that the enemy intended to try the result of a general action, for which the best position appeared to be in the neighbourhood of Talavera; and gen. Cuesta having consented to take up his position on the morning of the 27th, I ordered general Sherbrooke to retire with his corps to its station in the line, leaving gen M'Kenzie with a division of infantry and a brigade of cavalry, as an advanced post in the wood, on the right of Alberche, which covered our left flank. The position taken up by the troops at Talavera extended rather more than two miles; the ground was open upon the left, where the British army was stationed, and it was commanded by a height, on which was, in echelon and in second line, a division of infantry, under the orders of major-gen. Hill. There was a valley between this height and a range of mountains still further upon the left, which valley was not at first occupied, as it was commanded by the height before mentioned; and the range of mountains appeared too distant to have any influence upon the expected action. The right, consisting of Spanish troops, extended immediately in front of the town of Talavera down to the Tagus. This

part