Admiralty-office, fan. 171 Extract of a letter from Mr. Rub. Hofier, commander of the private schooner of war the Revenge, to Mr. Nepem, dated Viana, Dec. 6. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of their Lordships, that, on the 4th inft. at 5 A. M. in Vigo hay, I was attacked by 4 Spanish privateers, z fchooners, a brig, and a lugger, mounting from 4 to 14 gans. The wind being Southerly, I kept up a rumding fight till I got clear of the flands to the Northward, which lafted about 1e muutes, "when one of the fchanners, having lost her minmaft, gave up the chace, and the other three immediately hauted ther wind. Having suffered very much in our rigging and fails, it was not in my power to chace them to windward; Iherefore niade fail to the N W. A 2 P. M Cow a fchooner to the Weftward; gave chace; at 3 get clofe alongfide; Low the hat Spanish colours fiving; defired them to frike; making no ans fwer, gave them our broadfide, which they returned; and fmart fire was kept up on bottides about an hour, when the hi:w

up clofe alongside. Our boat being very much thattered, it was fome time befe I could get her ready to hòift but;' and I am forry to fay, I was enabled to fave but 8 of the crew, who informed me, fhe was the new privateer Brillaint, Ramo de Caftillo mafter, of 8 guns, 6 and 12-pounders; had, when she began the action, 63 men; had failed from Pontevedra that morning, on a cruize off Oporto, which I am happy in having prevented, as there are at tins time so fail of veffels off that bar, which cannot get in owing to bad weather.

Admiraltyfice, Jan. 11. Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Lord Keith, commander in chief of his Majetty's fhips and vellels in the Meditteranean, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Queen Charlotte, at Gibraltar, December 22.

Sir, la justice to the intrepid behaviður of Lieut. Bailbridge, I cannot refift reporting, for their Lordships' information, that laft evening an English cutter (the Lady Nelton) was feen off Cabreta point, furrounded by French privateers and gun veffe's, all firing. I ordered the boats from the Queen Charlotte and Emerald to Low towards the enemy, in hopes it might enCourage the cutter to refift until the could get under our guns but he was hoarded, and taken in tow, by two of the French

privateers; in which fituation, Lieut. Bainbridge, in the Queen Charlotte's barge, with 16 men, run alongfide the cutter, and, af ter a fharp conflict, carried her, taking 7 French officers, and 27 men, prifoners; 6 or 7 more were killed, or knocked over. board in the fenffte; the privateers cut the tow-ropes, and made off clofe under the guns of Algaziras, purfoed. and attacked by Lord Cochrane, in the Queen Charlotte's cutter, which had, by this tune, go-pp. Had not the darkness of the night prevent ed the boats acting in concert, all the pri vateers would have been taken. Lieut. Bainbridge is feverely wounded on the he by a froke from a fabre, and flighty in other places; but I truft he is not in danger. KEITH.

Almiralty-office, Jan. 14. This Gazerte records the capture of three French priesteers, and one Spanish, viz. Le Renard, of 14 guns, and 65 men, by the Nemefts, Capt Baker; Le Modere, of 4 gans, and 42 men, by the Nile (thire) lugger ; L'Avanture, of 14 guns, and 42 men, by the Ariftocrat, Lieut. Wray; and of the Santa Levirata y'Animas, of 2 guns, and 38 men, by the Caftor, Capt. E. L. Gower.-Allo the ret king of the Atlas British brig (płzę to Le Renard), by the Savage.

Admiralty-office, Jan 18. A letter from Adm. Sir Hyde Parker, with much commendation, introduces the following:

Sir, Echo, at Sea, 09. 18, 1793. I beg leave to inform you, that, on the 14th inltant I chafed into Laguadille, the N. W. end of Porto Rico, a brig' feeing feveral veffels in the bay, fome of them loaded, on the 15th I fent the pinnace and jolly-boat, under the command of Lieuts Napier and Rorie; they arrived too late to attempt boarding the veffels at anchor; but had the good fortune to capture a Spanith brig from Camana (on the Man), bound to Old Spain, laden with cocoa and indigo, and having on-board two 4-pounders, and 20 men. On the 16th, I fent the two boats under the command of Lieut

Napier and Mr. Wood (the boatswain), to cut out what they could from the hay. They arrived at the anchorage about two in the morning, and were hailed from the brig we chafed-in; they perceived her to be armed, and on the look-out for them; moored about half a cable's length from the fhore, with her breadfide to the fea, proteeted by two field-pieces, one 18-pounder, and fqme fmaller carriage guns, all placed on the beach. The bouts did not hofitate, but hʊarded her in the bow; tha Frenchinen" and Spaniards (about 30 number, all upon deck, with matches Fghted, and guns primed, every way preparcd for action) made the best of their way down the Latchways. By the tint

in

the cables were cnt, the guns on the beach opened their fire upon the boats. The third fhot, I am forry to fay, funk the pinnace, wile he was a-head towing the jolly boat. The brig was several times hulled, but a light breeze favouring, the foon got out of gun-shot. I have every reafon to be pleafed with the conduct of Lieut. Napier, and those under him. Had I known what they had to contend with, I should not have confidered myself justified in fending fo fmall a force; luckily not a man killed or wounded; the only lofs is the bot, with the arms and ammonition. The brig mounts 12 4-pounders; had 30 men on-board; is a French letter of marque, commanded by Citizen Pierre Martin, Enfergne de Vaifleau; is coppered, and a very faft failer; was to fail in two days from Caraccoa, there to be fitted out as a privaterr; the is American built, and has a valuable cargo on-board: the Captain of her was on-thore. ROB. PHILPOT.

Sir Hyde Parker, &c.

[Then follows a list of 14 armed and 84 merchant vetfels captured by the fquadron on the Jamaica station fince July 21.]

Admiralty office, Jan 21. Copy of a let ter from Adu. Sir Hyde Parker, Knt. com. mander in chief of his Majesty's thips and veffels at Jamaica, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated in Port Royal Harbour, Nov. 4.

-Sir, I have a peculiar fatisfaction in communicating to you, for the if » mation of my Lords Commithioners of the AdmiTally, that his Majefty's late thip Hermione is again restored to his navy, by as da fag and gallant an enterprize as is to be found in our naval annak, under the com. mand of Capt. Hamilton himself, with the bras of the Surprize only. Capt. Hamil tea's own letter, with the reports accom. panying it (copies of which are enclosed), will forficiently explain to their Lordships the detail of this fervice, and the bravery with which the attack was fupported, and leaves me only one obfervation to make on the very gallant action, which adds infinite honour to Capt. Hamilton, as an officer, for lus conception of the fervice he was about to undertake.. This was, Sir, his difpofition for the attack; which was, that a number of chofen men, to the amount of 50, with himself, should board, and the remainder, in the boats, to cut the cables, and take the thip in tow.. From this ma neuvre he had formed the idea, that, while he was difputing for the poll.tion of the fhip, the was approaching the Surprize, who was laying close into the harbour, and, in cate of being beat out of the Hermione, he would have an opportunity of taking up the content upon more favourable terms. To me fteady execution of thefe orders, was owing the fuccefs of this bold and daring undertaking, which mutt ever have

10

rank among the foremost of the many gillant actions executed by our navy this war. I find the Hermione has had a thorough repair, and is in complete order; I have therefore ordered her to be furveyed and valued, and shall commission her, as foon as the reports are made to me from the officers of the yard, by the name of the Retaliation. H. PARKER. Surprize, Port Royal barbour, Jamaica, Nov. 1.

Sir,

The honour of my country, and the glory of the British navy, were strong inducements for me to make an attempt to cut out, by the boats of his Majefty's fhip under my command, his Majefty's late ship Hermione, from the harbour of Porto Cavallo, where there are about 200 pieces of cannon mounted on the batteries. Having well-obferved her situation on the 22d and 23d ult. and the evening of the 24th being favourable, I turned the hands up, to acquaint the officers and ship's company of my intentions to lead them to the attack, which was handsomely returned with three cheers, and that they would all follow to a man; this greatly increased my hopes, and I had little doubt of fucceeding: the boats, containing 100 men, including officers, a half-past 12, on the morning of the 25th, (after having beat the launch of the ship, ' which carried a 24-pounder, and 20 men, and receiving feveral guns and fmall arms from the frigate), boarded; the forecaftle was taken possession of without much refiftance; the quarter-deck difpoted the point a quarter of an hour, where a dreadful carnage took place; the min-eck held out much longer, and with equal flaughter; nor was it before both cables were cut, fail made on the thip, and boats a-head to tow, that the main-deck could be called ours; they laft of all retreated to the 'tween decks, and continued fing still their am-, munition was expended; then, and not unol then, di they cry for quarter. At 2 o'clock the Hermione was completely ours, being out of gyn-fhot from the fort, which had for fome time kept up a tolerable good fire. From the Captain, Don Romand de Chatas, I am informed the was nearly ready for fea, mounting 44 guns, with a fhip's company of 321 officers and failors, 56 foldiers, and 15 artillerymen, un-board. Every officer and man on this expedition behaved with an uncom mon degree of valour and exertion; but, I confider it particularly my duty, to mention the very gallaut conduct, as well as the ad and affiftance, at a particular cris, 1 received from Mr. John M'Mullen, furgeon and volunteer, and Mr. Maxwell, gunner, even after the latter was dangerously wounded. As the frigate was the particular object of your order of the 17th of September, I have thought proper to retyru into port with her. E. HAMILTON.

Killed

Killed and wounded on-board the Spanish frigate Hermione (late his Majefly'y ship Hermione), when captured by the boats of his Majesty's Ship Surprize, under the command. of Cant. E Hamilton, in Porto Cavallo, and general fatement of the complement on-board. Prifoners landed at Porto Cavallo the fame day, out of which there were 97 wounded, mostly dangerous, 228.-Escaped in the launch, which was rowing guard round the ship, with a 24-pounder, 20.— Remain prifoners on-board, 3.-On fhore ou leave, I Lieutenant, 1 Captain of troops, 4 pilots, and midfhipman, 7-Swam on thore from the hip, 15-Killed, 119.Total, 392, Killed in the boats, of his Majefty's skip Surpize, in cutting out a privateer fehooner of ten guns, and trvo floops, from the barbour of Aruba on October 25.

EDWARD HAMILTON.

Mr. J. Bufey, acting Lieutenant, killed.

(Signed) E. HAMILTON, Captain. Officers and men wounded on-board the Hermi ̧ane, on the attack made by the boats of the Surprize, under the orders of Capt. Hamil won, in the barbour of Porto Cavallo, 09.-25. Edward Hamilton, Efq. Captain, feveral contufions, but not dangerous; Mr. John Maxwell, gunner, dangerously wounded in feveral places; John Lewis Matthews, quarter-mafter, dangerously; Arthur Reed, quarter-gunner, dangerously; Henry Milne, carpenter's crew, dangeroufly; Henry Dibleen, gunner's mate, flightly; Charles Livingston, William Pardy, Robert Ball, and Thomas Stevenfon, all able feamen, flightly; John Ingram, and Jofeph Titley, private marines, fghtly. E. HAMILTON. (A copy) H. FARKER. Veffels captured by his Majefty's fhip Surprize, from Sept. 2010 Oct. 30.

The French (chooner Nancy, the Spanish fchooner La Manuel, and the Spanish frigate Hermione. E. HAMILTON.

{This Gazette alfo contains an account of the capture of L'Avanturier-French brig privateer, mounting 14 guns, and manuredwith 5 men; by the Amethyst, Captain Jom Cook.]

Admiralty office, Jun. 25. This Gazette contains an account of the Sceptre, Capt. V. Edwards, taking poffeffion of L'Eclair French privateer brig, from the Mauritius, of 12 guns, and 83 men: the fituation the was placed in rendering it impoffible to get her out, it was judged prudent to destroy her; which was executed by Lieut. Tecker..

EAST INDIES.

From the Madras Gazette, June 8.

GARRISON ORDERS.

His Majesty's 10th and 51ft regiments, and the Madras militia, to be under arms at half past 4 to morrow morning, and to form a fquare on the general parade, for the purpote of receiving the fandard of the

late Tippoo Sultaun, taken May 4, in the fort of Seringapatam, and alfo the colours of the French Republic, taken on the fame day from the French corps in the service of that prince, and arrived at this prefidenty under charge of Lieut. Harris, of his Majetty's 74th regiment. The flank compa nies of his Majefty's 10th regiment will meet Lieut. Harris, before 5 o'clock, at the bridge feading to the Wallajah gate; and, after the Right Hon, the Governor General has paffed into the fort, they will escort the standard and colours to the centre of the parade, where they will be received with prefented arms. The standard and colours having been prefented to the Governor-General, his Lordfhip will proceed with them to the church, and, after they have been depofited at the altar, the flank companies will return, and take up their ftations on the parade. Prayers being over, a royal falute will be fired from the walls of the garnfons anfwered by the thips in the roads, and followed by three volievs from the troops: The Governor-General having paffed out of the fort, the troops are to return to their barracks, and two days batta will be distributed to all the noncommiffioned and privates in garvifons. Major Tafwell will continue the Madras · militia under arms to-morrow morning, and their new colours will be presented to them by the Right Hon. Lady Clive.

The troops having paraded in conformity to the above orders, the Right Hoa. the Governor-General, attended by the body-guard, alighted from his carriage, upon the parade, at ten minutes peit Lord and Lady Clive, Mrs. Harring and family, arrived a few minutes after: the whole of the civil and military officers were now affembled, either upon the parade, or in the balconies and windows of the adjacent houfes; which, with the ramparts, ftreets, and all the avenues leading to the fort, were crowded with innumerable fpec tators, natives, and Europeans. The ftand ard of Tippon Sulizun, borne by Lieutenant Harris, and the colours of the French Re public, carried by M-jors Bestfon and Ailan, followed by the Bank companies of Ius Majesty's roth regiment, having now entered the fquare, were received with prefented arms, and the different bands playing a folemn march. On Liest. Haris approaching within a few paces of the Governor-General, he addreffed his Lordship in the following words: "This ftandard, and thefe colours, taken from the enemy, under the confummate wifdom of your Lordship's councils, by the brave army commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Harris, his Excellency has honoured me, by committing to my charge, and directing that I fwould lay them at your Lordthip's feet." His Lordship inftantly embraced Lieut. Harris in an impressive manner, which

excited