Ship of War Le Guillaume Tell, of Eighty-six Guns and One Thousand Men, bearing the Flag of Contre Amiral Decres, furrendered, after a moft gallant and obftinate Defence of Three Hours and a Half, to His Majefty's Ships Foudroyant, Lion, and Penelope.

To detail the Particulars of this very important Capture, I have to inform you, that the Signal Rockets and cannonading from our Batteries at Malta, the Midnight preceding, with the favorable ftrong foutherly Gale, together with the Darkness which fucceeded the fetting of the Moon, convinced me the Enemy's Ships of War were attempting to effect an Escape, and which was immediately afcertained by that judicious and truly valuable Officer Captain Blackwood, of the Penelope, who had been ftationed a few Hours before between the Lion and Valette, for the Purpose of obferving clofely_the Motions of the Enemy; nearly at Midnight an Enemy's Ship was defcried by him, when the Minorca was fent to inform me of it, giving Chace himfelf, apprizing me by Signal that the ftrange Ships feen were hauled to the Wind on the Starboard Tack, I loft not one Moment in making the Signal for the Squadron to cut or flip, and directed Captain Miller, of the Minorca, to run down to the Foudroyant and Alexander with the Intelligence, and to repeat the Signal.

Under a Prefs of Canvas I gave Chace until Five A. M., folely guided by the cannonading of the Penelope; and as a Direction to the Squadron, a Rocket and Blue Light were fhewn every Half Hour from the Lion. As the Day broke, I found myself in Gun-fhot of the Chace, and the Penelope within Mufket-fhot raking her, the Effects of whofe welldirected Fire during the Night, had fhot away the Main and Mizen Top Mafts, and Main Yard; the Enemy appeared in great Confufion, being reduced

to

to his Head Sails, going with the Wind on the Quarter.

The Lion was run clofe alongfide; the Yard Arms of both Ships being jutt clear, when a destructive Broadfide of Three Round Shot in each Gun was poured in, luffing up acrofs the Bow, when the Enemy's Jib-Boom paffed between the Main and Mizen-Shrouds; after a fhort Interval, I had the Pleasure to see the Boom carried away, and the Ships difentangled, maintaining a Polition across the Bow, firing to great Advantage.

I was not the leaft folicitous either to board or be boarded, as the Enemy appeared of immenfe Bulk and full of men, keeping up a prodigious Fire of Mufketry, which, with the Bow Chafes, he could for a long Time only ufe, I found it abfolutely neceffary, if poffible, to keep from the Broadfide of this Ship: after being engaged about Fifty Minutes, the Foudroyant was feen under a Prefs of Canvas, and foon passed, hailing the Enemy to ftrike, which being declined, a very heavy Fire from both Ships, Broadfide to Broadfide, was moft gallantly maintained, the Lion and Penelope frequently in Situations to do great Execution; in fhort, Sir, after the hotteft Action that probably was ever maintained by an Enemy's Ship, oppofed to thofe of His Majesty, and being totally difmafted, the French Admiral's Flag and Colours were struck.

I have not Language to exprefs the high Senfe of Obligation I feel myself under to Captain Blackwood for his prompt and able Conduct in leading the Line of Battle Ships to the Enemy, for the Gallantry and Spirit fo highly confpicuous in him, and for his admi rable Management of the Frigate; to your difcrimi nating Judgment it is unneceffary to remark, of what real Value and Importance, fuch an Officer mult ever be confidered to His Majesty's Service: the Termination of the Battle must be attributed to the

fpirited

fpirited Fire of the Foudroyant, whofe Captain, Sir Edward Berry, has juftly added another Laurel to the many he has gained during the War.

Captain Blackwood fpeaks in very high Terms of the active and gallant Conduct of Captain Long of the Vincejo during the Night; and I beg to mention the Services of Captains Broughton and

Miller.

The crippled Condition of the Lion and Foudroyant made it neceffary for me to direct Captain Blackwood to take Poffeffion of the Enemy, take him in Tow, and proceed to Syracufe.

I received the greateft poffible Affistance from Lieutenant Jofeph Patey, Senior Officer of the Lion, and from Mr. Spence the Mafter, who, together with the other Officers and Ship's Company, fhewed the most determined Gallantry.

Captains Sir Edward Berry and Blackwood have reported to me the fame gallant and animated Behaviour in the Officers and Crews of their respective Ships.

I am forry to fay that the Three Ships have fuffered much in Killed and Wounded, and that the Lofs of the Enemy is prodigious, being upwards of Two Hundred.

I refer you to the inclofed Reports for further Particulars as to the State of His Majefty's Ships, and have the Honor to remain, Sir, &c. &c. &c. MANLEY DIXON.

P. S. The Guillaume Tell is of the largest Dimenfions, and carries Thirty fix-Pounders on the lower Gun Deck, Twenty four-Pounders on the Main Deck, Twelve-Pounders on the Quarter Deck, and Thirty-two-Pound. Carronades on the Poop.

A Return

A Return of the Number killed and wounded on board His Majesty's Ships as undermentioned, in Action with the Guillaume Tell, a French Ship of Eightyfour Guns, on the 30th of March 18co. Foudroyant.-8 killed, 6 wounded. Lion.-7 killed, 38 wounded. Penelope.-2 killed, 2 wounded.

I

Officers killed or wounded.

Foudroyant.

Captain Sir Edward Berry. Knt. slightly wounded,
but did not quit the Deck.
Lieutenant J. A. Blow, wounded.
Philip Bridge, Boatswain, ditto.
Edward Weft, Midshipman, ditto.
Granville Proby, Midshipman, ditto.
Thomas Cole, Midshipman, ditto.

Lion

Mr. Hugh Roberts Midshipman, killed.
Mr. Alexander Hood, Midshipman, wounded.
Penelope.

Mr. Damerel, Master, killed.

Mr. Silthorpe, Midshipman, wounded.

(Signed) MANLEY DIXON.

BULLETIN

FROM THE

LONDON GAZETTE OF JUNE 7th, 1800.

No. IX.

A

Downing-Street, June 7, 1800.

DISPATCH, of which the following is an Extract, has been received from LieutenantColonel Clinton, by the Right Honourable Lord Grenville, His Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

ST

MY LORD,

Head Quarters, Ulm, 22d
May, 1800.

INCE the Army croffed the Danube at this Place on the 12th Inftant, the Enemy has not ventured to undertake any Move of Confequence: in the Night of the 18th he paffed the Danube, in confiderable Force at Erbach, and the following Day reconnoitered the Position of the Auftrians, on the Heights above the Town, which he found fo formidable, that he recroffed the Danube in the Courfe of the Night, and refumed his Pofition be. tween that River and the Iller, without attempting any Thing.

The Refult of the different Affairs of Advanced Pofts fince the Arrival of the Army in its prefent Pofition, has uniformly been to the Advantage of the Auitrians.