14th instant, giving an account of his having captured, on a cruize, a Spanish gun-boat, mounting two long brass 18 pounders, and forty three men; a Spanish packet, and four merhant vessels.]

700 t Admiralty Office, Oct. 23. Lord Bridport to Mr. Nepean, 1.dated Torbay, Oct. 21. LASIR

It is with sincere satisfaction I acquaint you, that lieutenant Jauncey of bis majesty's ship Ethalion, is just arrived here from Plymouth, by whom I have received a letter from captain Young, stating his having captured on the 16th inst. the Thetis Spanish frigate, with much treasure and a valuable cargo of cocoa on board; also informing me, that another Spanish frigate, ber consort, has, no doubt, been taken by the Naiad. Inclosed is a copy of captain Young's letter.

BRIDPORT. Ethalion, Plymouth-Sound, Oct. 21. My Lord,

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I have the pleasure to inform your lordship, that on the 16th inst. at three P. M. in the lat, forty-four deg fifty three min. long. nine deg fifty-three min. W. we discovered three large sail on the weather-bow, evidently men of war, steering S. E. with all sails seta immediately tacked, and sood under easy sail, with an intention to speak to the sternmost, or to follow them till day-light, with a view to ascertain their force. On a nearer approach to the above ship, she made the private signal: concluding from that the other two ships were enemies, I made all possible sail in chace. At daylight I found her to be his majesty's ship Naiad, and another frigate in company, which I took to be the Alcmene, and two large frigates a-head. At seven, the

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Naiad made my signal to pass the sternmost, and stand on for the headmost. At nine A. M. being within random-shot of the sternmost, I fired a few guns in passing, which made her alter her course. At half-past eleven, the headmost ship bore up atbwart us, at the distance of half-musquet shot: by the abilities and meritorious conduct of the officers, the steady spirit, and prompt obedience to my orders, of the seamen and marines, with a well directed fire, of two broadsides from the Ethalion, and a running fight of an hour, exchanging bow and stern chaces, the latter part within half-pistol shot, I had the pleasure of seeing her haul down Spanish colours to his majesty's ship under my command. She proves to be the Thetis Spanish frigate, of thirtysix guns, 12 and 6-pounders, and 250 men, commanded by Don Juan de Mendoza, from Vera Cruz, bound to any port in Spain she could fetch, with 1,411,526 dollars and a quantity of cocoa on board. I have the additional satisfaction to acquaint your lordship, that not a single man is hurt on board the Ethalion. The other Spanish frigate is called the Brigada, commanded by Don Antonio Pil. lou, the same force and lading as the Thetis. The last time I saw the Naiad, which was just before the action took place, was nearly within gun-shot of her and I have no doubt of her being captured. I beg leave to recommend to your lordship's notice lieutenant Pym, the, senior officer, for the able assistance I received from him on the quarter-deck, and his indefatigable exertions, in shifting the wounded masts and yards on board the Thetis, which do him the utmost credit. I cannot pass over (K 4)

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in silence the praise due to lienTenants Jauncey and Quilliam, for their great attention to the guns on the main deck, nor that of Mr. Dücker, the master, and lieutenant Peake, of the marines, for their aid on the quarter-deck; the warrant and petty officers, seamen, and matines, Valso merit your lordship's notice, J. YOUNG. Ethalion, none killed or woundTed; Thetis, one killed, and nine wounded.

October 24. Copy of another letter from lord -Bridport, to Mr. Nepean, Oct. 22. bab SIRS net.f

Captain Digby, of his majesty's ship Alcmene, is just arrived here: The came from Plymouth by land, charged with dispatches from captain Pierrepoint, of his majesty's ship Naiad, stating, with other occurrences, the important capture trof the Santa Brigada Spanish frigate, consort of the Thetis, (as -stated in captain Young's letter of yesterday's date) copies of which you will herewith receive for their lordships' information, whom I sincerely congratulate upon this fortunate event, which does so much credit to captain Pierrepoint, and all the officers, seamen, and marines, of the different ships "under his command, for the meritorious and perseveringy conduct manifested upon this occasionyt じ ! Iam, &c. BRIDFORT. a Naiad, off Cape Finisterre, Oct. 19. - ( My Lord,' 10 no gnimaɔ at I have great pleasure in being srable to acquaint you, that his majesty's ships Naiad, Triton; and Alcmene (which your lordship has erdane me the honour to put under -my orders), captured yesterday morning the Spanish frigate Santa (Brigada, of thirty-two gons, and having on board 800 ment.com,

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manded by Don Antonio Pillow. This frigate, mydord, in company with another, called the Thetis, Jeft Vera Cruz on the 21st August last; and I had the good fortune to fall in with them both, on the evening of the 16th inst. in lat. forry. four deg, one min. N. long. twelve deg. thirty-five min. W. at eight P. M. the Naiad then a single ship, and with which I immediately gave chace: before midnight, I discovered them to be vessels belong. ing to the enemy, and was joined by the Ethalion: when the day broke, I was joined by the Alcmene, when the Triton was discovered far astern: still, owing to the superior sailing of the latter ship, after a chace which lasted thirty-two hours, I set myself down as indebted for a most valuable capture. The two frigates at seven A. M. perceiving themselves not in a state to withstand our united force, took different routes; upon which I made the Ethalion's signals to pass the sternmost ship of the enemy, as she at that time took the leadin point of sailing, and stand for and engage the headmost vessel; which was obeyed: with that alacrity by captain Young, that I make no doubt but she has experiened a similar fate to her companion; but as the Santa Brigada made a determinate push on a southern course, a separation of course took place. The latter frigate of the enemy having rounded Cape Finisterre on the morning of the 18th inst: by her fast sailing, about five o'clock her commander shoved so very close to the rocks of Monte Lora, that the Triton, who was first in pursuit (captain: Gore being regardless of every thing but closing with the enemy), struck upon the said: tocka, going seven knots at the time I fear her damage is considerable,

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considerable :: however she was soon off again, and commenced an animated fire on the enemy; as did capt. Digby, with an officer-like presence of mind keeping in that direction to cut off the entrance of -Port de Vidre. At eight A. M. the three frigates closed with the enemy amidst the rocks of Commarurto, at the entrance of Muros, when the colours were hauled down, and we found ourselves all in foul ground together. A fortunate breeze sprang up from the shore, and we were enabled to put the ships' heads to the sea, and began -to shift prisoners, when a Spanish squadron, consisting of four large -ships, one with a broad pendant, bcame out of Vigo, with an intention, I suppose, of rescuing the prize. This being the opinion of captains Gore and Digby also, every exertion was made to secure the prisoners, and get the ships under my command ready to receive them; but, on their perceiving my determination, they bore up, and ran into Vigo. Light and variable winds have kept me still in sight of the Spanish coast, which is to-day one continued blaze; and, as I was aware of e another squadron of Spanish ships being in Corunna, have thoughts its my duty to keep all together, for the protection of the prize, which is of immense value, having on board 1,400,000 dollars, independent of a cargo of equal restimation. My companions in chace, captains Gore and Digby, make the most favourable report off the zeal and perseverance of their respective officers and crews ; and in justice to the officers and ship's company I have the honour to command, I can only say, that * their anxiety to get alongside the enemy's frigates, whilst alone,

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↑ October 26.

Rear admiral Duckworth, to Mr. Nepean, dated Leviathan, off Lisbon, October 13.

ve tctoS¥

SIR, You will be pleased to lay before my lords commissioners of the admiralty the copy of a letter from captain Brenton, of the Speedy, relating the destruction of three Spanish vessels he chaced on the 3d inst. It is but justice to this officer to observe, that his exertions and gallantry, at all opportunities, do him the highest honour.

SIR,

1 am, &c.

J. J. DUCKWORTH. Speedy, at Sea, Oct. 4.

I have the honour to inform you, that yesterday, whilst running through the gut of Gibraltar, in sight of the British convoy, I observed a number of small vessels coming out of Algesiras, and concluded they were Spanish gun-boats endeavouring to cut off some of the merchant-ships; I therefore steered for them, in order to keep them as far as possible from the body of the fleet; but, upon our near approach, perceiving they were Spanish coasters (eight in number) under the protection of a cutter

and

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lunteer upon that service. tention of Mr. Marshall, the master to the anchoting his majesty's sloup, and the able assistance I have receiv

ed our bringing them off. We continued the pursuit of the others, passing under the shot from Tariffe Castle, and at 4 P. M. came up with four more in a bay to the ea-t of Cape Trafalguar; one immediately anchored near a fort, and the other three under a castle, which had one gun mounted as it blew very heavy, from the eastward, and being on a lee-shore, we could not go so near them as I could wish, but anchored within four cables length, and, bringing our guns to pear upon the castle (which appeared to be in a very ruinous state, and did not return our fire) and the yessels, in a short time compelled the Spaniards to abandon them all, first cutting their cables, by which means they drove on shore. I then sent lieutenant Parker to endeavour to bring them off, and shortly after Mr. Marshall, the master, to assist; or, if that was not practicable, to set them on fire; neither of which could be effected, from the heary surf breaking entirely over them, and rendering the approach danger ous to the boats. They, however, boarded them, brought away some of their fire-arms, and threw the remainder overboard, leaving them full of water, and complete wrecks. One vessel was laden with brandy and paper, one with English manufactures (cutlery, hardware, &c.) and the third in ballast. I beg leave to express the high satisfaction I received, from the conduct of lieutenant Parker, in boarding the vessels under the walls of the castle, while exposed to mosquetry from the beach; also of Mr. Rickets, the purser, who was a yo

Head-quarters, Schagen brug, Oct. 2.

SIR,

In my late communications, I have represented to you the circumstances under which I found it expedient to withdraw the army from its forward position in front. of Alkmaar, within that whish itat present occupies, and which, I trust, will have appeared to his majesty' sufficiently to warrant the measure. The season of the year, which has already assumed here the aspect of winter, gave me, from day to day, additional reason to ap-. prebend, that any attempt towards a prosecution of the campaign in this country could not be attended with decisive advantages, whilst the impossibility of covering the troops: in the narrow district of the country in our possession during the winter, and the precarious state of supplies to be expected in that season, added to the conviction I felt, that the most advisable measure to be pursued, was to remove with the army to England; an operation which, although it might have exposed the army to some loss in its execution, I judged, in my mind, preferable to any other which could be adopted. Under this imprèssion, and considering that serious loss might ensue from delay, 1 hava been induced to conclude an armistice, in conjunction with vice ad

miral Mitchel, with general Brune, commanding the French and Ba tavian armies, of which the conditions are inclosed, and which, although they provide for delivering up a large number of prisoners of war, now in our hands, yet, I trust, will not be thought by his majesty an - inadequate compensation for mahy valuable lives, which must have been lost, after the object which has hitherto directed them, no longer promised success; and when the only means which presented themselves of ensuring a secure retreat, were those of resorting to the destructive measure of inundation from the sea, which, as it would have involved the inhabitants of the northern part of this province in ruin for a series of years, must have been highly repugnant to the feelings, as well as contrary to the character and prac tice of the British nation. I rest confident, that the motives which I have here detailed will excuse me to his majesty, for having acted without waiting for previous instructions from home, and that I shall have the satisfaction of knowing, that my conduct in this respect, has met with his majesty's gracious approbation. FREDERICK. TRANSLATION. Articles agreed upon between major-general Knox, duly authorised by his royal highness the duke of York, commander-in-chief of the combined English and Russian army, and citizen Rostollan, general of brigade and adjutant-general, duly authorised by citizen Brune, general and commander in chief of the French and Batavian army.

Art. I. From the date of this convention, all hostilities shall cease between the two armies.

Art. II. The line of demar

cation between the said armies shall be the line of their respective outposts as they now exist.

Art. II. The continuation of all works, offensive and defensive, shall be suspended on both sides, and no new ones shall be undertaken.

Art. IV. The mounted batteries taken possession of at the Helder, or at other positions within the line now occupied by the combined English and Russian army, shall be restored in the state in which they were taken, or (in case of improvement) in their present state, and all the Dutch artillery taken therein shall be preserved.

Art. V. The combined English and Russian army shall embark as soon as possible, and shall evacuate the territory, coasts, islands, and internal navigation of the Dutch republic, by November 30, 1799, without committing any devasta tion by inundations, cutting the dykes, or otherways injuring the sources of navigation.

Art. VI. Any ships of war, or other vessels, which may arrive with reinforcements for the combined British and Russian army, shall not land the same, and shall be sent away as soon as possible.

Art. VII. General Brune shall be at liberty to send an officer within the lines of the Zuyp, and to the Der, to report to him the state of the batteries, and the progress of the embarkation. His royal highness the duke of York shall be equally at liberty to send an officer within the French and Batavian lines, to satisfy himself that no new works are carried on on their side. An officer of rank and distinction shall be sent from each army respectively, to guarantee the execution of this convention.

Art. VIII. Eight thousand pri

soners