which I am confident they would have fhown, had the occafion prefented itself: but if the utmolt alacrity and cheerfulnefs, under almost every privation, ex-. cept, that of meat, during a march of 90 'miles, through fo barren a country that there exift but five houfes in the whole line, have any merit, I can with truth prefent them to his majesty's notice.

This march, fir, has never yet, I believe, been attempted by any body of troops, however fmall; and, permit me to affure you, has been attended with fuch uncommon difficulties, that it never could have been accomplished, but by the difplay of the qualities I have mentioned in the troops, and a union of extraordinary exertions in all the departments concerned. In thefe, all have equal claim to my acknowledgments; but I cannot difpenfe with particularifing the intelligence and activity with which, regardless of the uncommon fatigue which attended it, lieutenant M'Nab, of the 98th regiment, with about twenty of his mounted men, performed the fervice allotted to him of watching the enemy, and preventing any communication with them, from the firft. moment of their coming into the Bay, till our arrival.

It is, fir, with very particular fatisfaction that I have further to report, that I have received, on this occafion, every poffible affiftance from his majesty's fubjects of the colony.

The burgher fenate have difcharged the duty impofed upon them, with the greatest readiness, impartiality, and activity; while heir requifitions and orders on the inhabitants for their waggons, cattle and horses, have been complied with, with a cheerfulness which could, I am fatisfied, only proceed from a conviction of the preference to be given to his majesty's mild and paternal government, over the wild fyftem of anarchy and confufion from which they were furnishing the means of being effectually defended.

This will be delivered to you, fir, by my aide-de-camp, captain Baynes, who has been in this country fince the first arrival of his majesty's troops under my, command; and to whofe intelligent and active affittance I have been, on every occafion, highly indebted. beg leave, fir, moft humbly to recommend him to his majesty's notice.

I have the honour to be, &c. J. H. CRAIG. Admiralty-office, Nov. 3. Dispatches, of which the following are copies (brought

by capt. John Aylmer, of his majey's fhip Tremendous) were this day received from the hon. vice-admiral fir George Keith Elphinstone, K. B.

Sir,

Monarch, Saldanha Bay,
Auguft, 19, 1795.

I HAVE the honour to enclofe a lift of a Dutch Squadron under the command of rear-admiral Engelbertus Lucas, fent hither. for the reduction of this colony, but which were compelled to furrender by capitulation, on the 27th inft. to the detachment of his majefty's fhips under my command, named in the margin, on the terms alfo enclofed. For further particulars I beg leave to refer you to the accompanying detail of the proceedings of the fquadron from the 4th to 18th inft. and I hope the lords commiffioners of the admiralty will approve the measures I have taken, fo effential to the British commercial interetts in the East.

The fhips are all coppered, and in good condition, excepting the Caftor, whofe rudder is defective.

In juftice to the officers and men I have the honour to command, it is my duty to obferve, that, in confequence of the most violent tempeftuous weather I ever beheld, and the very unpleasant situations in which the fquadron was at times placed, they cheerfully, and much to their credit, underwent a degree of fatigue hardly cre-, dible.

Captain Aylmer will have the honour of prefenting thefe difpatches. I beg leave to mention him to their lordships, as a refpectable gentleman and an active officer. I have the honour to be, &c. G. K. ELPHINSTONE.

Evan Nepean, efq.

able to quit the anchorage in Simon's Bay until the 6th, when we proceeded to fea.

On getting under weigh an officer from the fhore came on board to inform me that a number of farts had been feen the preceding night in the offing, near Falle Bay; I then refolved to fteer to the fouthward and weft, in expectation of their having taken that courfe.

The fquadron continued cruifing in the molt tempestuous weather I have ever experienced, which damaged many of the hips, and at one time the Ruby had five feet water in her hold. We were joined at fea by his majefty's fhip Stately, Rattlefnake and Echo floops. On the 12th I returned, with a fresh breeze blowing from the fouth east, and, upon anchoring in Simon's Bay, the master attendant came off with information that the fhips feen, confifting of nine fail, had put into Saldanha Bay on the 6th, the fame day on which I had proceeded to fea; that they remained there by the laft advice, and that four fhips had been dispatched in quet of me to communicate this welcome intelligence.

I immediately made the fignal to fail, but the Crefcent had got afhore; the wind blew ftrong, and increafed on the following day to a perfect tempeft, in which the Tremendous parted two cables, drove, and was in great danger of being loft; fo that, notwithstanding every exertion, and the most anxious moments of my life, we could not get out until the 15th.

On the 16th the fquadron arrived off Saldanha Bay at fun fet; and the Crefcent, which had been ordered a-head to discover information, and to report, made the fig nal for the enemy, confiiting of three fhips of the line, three frigates, and other fhips, being moored in the bay..

The fquadron food on into the bay in. the order of failing; but the night coming on, and the rear being too far extended for action, I judged it expedient to come to an anchor within fhot of the enemy's fhips; and, perceiving their numbers very inconfiderable, in comparison with the fo ce under my command, I confidered it my duty, and an incumbent act of humanity, to addrefs the Dutch officer in command; and confequently forwarded the letter to him, of which the inclofure, No. is a copy, by lieutenant Coffin, of the Monarch, with a flag of truce; to this I received a verbal return, that a positive reply fhould be fent in the morning at daybreak. I was fearful the enemy might attempt to injure the fhips, and therefore

ordered lieutenant Coffin to return immediately, with my letter, No. 4; to which he brought back the reply, No. 5.

On the 17th at nine in the morning, a Dutch officer came on board with a flag, and prefented propofals of terms for capitulation, which you will obferve in the correfpondence, with my remarks and definitive letter; and at five P M. the terms contained in the enclofed copy were ultimately agreed upon, but it was impoffib'e to take poffeffion of the fhips until the 18th, on account of the tormy weather.

It affords me the higheft fatisfaction, therefore, to communicate to my lords commiffioners of the admiralty, that a fquadron of fhips belonging to the United States, under the command of his excellency rear-admiral Engelbertus Lucas, has furrendered to the British force under my command, confitting of three thips of the line, two fine frigates, two of 28 guns, and a floop of 18 guns, all completely coppered, ftored and victualled, together with a large ladened ftore fhip, the names of which are described in the inclosure No. 6, and the British fhips, to whom they are prizes, on the incolure No. 7.

The confequent joy of this fortunate event is much augmented from the confolatory reflection on it's accomplishment without.effufion of human blood, or injury to either of the enemy's or › British fhips, not a fingle fhot having been fired.

I must, however, beg leave to observe, that any refittance on the part of the enemy could only have occafioned the wanton facrifice of a few lives; and I doubt not, that had their numbers been adequate to contention, their conduct would have confirmed the acknowledged merit at all times recorded to the martial spirit of fubjects of the United States; and I can with similar confidence affure you, that the officers and men under my command would have exhibited a conduct equally creditable to themfelyes.

The repeated advices communicated in your letters, respecting the enemy's forces deftin d to this quarter, agreed to correctly with the intelligence I obtained by other means, that I have long been expecting this arrival, and was thereby enabled to be perfectly prepared to receive them, and conftantly to keep a vigilant look-out.

I have the honour to be, &c.
G. K. ELPHINSTON

Evan Nepean, efq.

(No. 3.)

To his Excellency the Admiral, or the
Officer commanding the fhips of the
United States, how lying in Saldanha
Bay.
Sir,

IT it is unneceffary for me to detail the force I have the honour to command, becaufe it is in your view, and fpeaks for felf; but it is for you to confider the efficacy of a refiftance with the force under. your command.

Humanity is an incumbent duty on all men; therefore, to fpare an effusion of human blood, I request a fiurrender of the hps under your command, otherwise it will be my duty to embrace the earliest moment of making a ferious attack on them, the iffue of which is not difficult for you to guefs. I have the honour to Le, &c.

G. K. ELPHINSTONE.
(No. 4.)

To his Excellency the Rear Admiral,
Commander in Chief of the Dutch
Ships lying in Saldanha Bay.

Sir,

was

I AM this inftant honoured with your verbal answer to my letter of this date, and delivered to me by lieutenant Coffin, of the Monarch. If I understand him right, it is, that a flag of truce fubfifts between your excellency, on the part of the States general, and myfelf, on behalf of his Britannic majefty, and as demonftrated by my difplaying a flag of truce before I difpatched the first letter delivered to you by lieutenant Coffin, and which truce is to continue until day-light in the morning. It is, therefore, my duty to require a pofitive affurance, that no damage fhall be done to any of the fhips or veffels of war, public ftores, or effects, that may be placed under your command, otherwife I hali not confider myself in duty bound to reftrain an immediate attack, or to treat fuch prifoners as may fall into my hands in a manner fuitable to my general inclination, or his majesty's orders in fimilar cafes.

I have the honour to be, &c. G. K. ELPHINSTONE. (No. 5.) To his Excellency Admiral G. K. Elphinfore, Commander in Chief of his Britani e Majesty's Squadron. Excellency,"

THE two letters delivered to me by your fficer, from want of an interpreter, have taken a long time to tranfate.

Your excellency may reft affured of re

aid

This time is neceffary to call to my the captains of the frigates detached at the bottom of the Bay, in order to hold a council of war, whom I am obliged to affemble on account of refponfibility.

I have the honour to be, &c.
ENGELBERTUS LUCAS,

To his Excellency Vice- Admiral Sir
G. K. Elphinstone, &c.
Excellency,

Agreeable to my promife, I fend you a copy of terms of capitulation, which I doubt not you will grant. In this hope I am your excellency's obedient fervant,

ENGELBERTUS LUCAS.

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION, Agreed upon in Saldanha Bay, the 17th of August, 1796, between Rear-Admiral Engelbertus Lucas, Commander in Chief of the Squadron of Ships of the United States, and the Hon. Sit George Keith Elphinstone, Vice-Admiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief of His Britannic Majefty's Ships and Vellels in the Indian Seas,

Art. I. Rear-Admiral Lucas will deliver up to vice-admiral Elphinstone the fquadron under his command, upon the conditions of the capitulation underwritten;

Anf. The vice-admiral is actuated by principles of humanity to prevent the f fufion of human blood, and confiders the furrender of the Dutch fquadion as a matter of neceffity and not of choice.

II. The British admiral fall appoint two fhips as cartels, the frigates the Braave and Sirene, in which the rear-admiral, his officers and midshipmen, and fhip's crews, hindrance, to Holland, and the officers fhall be permitted to proceed, without hall keep their fide arms.

Apf. Inadmiffible, by reason, that the cartel hips fent from Toulon and various other places, under fimilar circumftances, have been detained, and their crews im

prifoned, contrary to the laws and ufage of war, and the general good faith of nations; but officers becoming prifoners fhall be allowed to keep and wear their fwords and fide arms, fo long as they behave with becoming propriety, and sha!! be treated with the refpect due to their ranks.

III. The Dutch admiral, his officers and crew, fhall retain their private property without being fearched, and the remainder of the crew who cannot be received on board the frigates, are to be fent to Holland in fuch manner as the British admiral fhall judge proper.

Anf, Private property of every denomination will be fecured to the proprictors to the fullest extent, in confequence of British acts of parliament, and his Britannic majesty's pofitive orders, as well as from the general known difpofition of British officers to treat with the utmott liberality those who become their prifoners. IV. They fhall be provided with fuch quantities of provifions as may be neceffary for thofe who embark on board the two frigates, and to be fo provided from the Dutch thips.

Ant. Antwered by the fixth article. V. Thefe cartel fhips, on their arrival in Holland, fhall be fent to England, and there delivered to his Britannic majefty. Anf. Already anfwered by the fecond

article.

VI. The crew fhall be permitted to go on fhore for refreshment after their long voyage.

Ani. This mult depend upon the major-general commanding the troops en fhore, but the commander in chief will ufe his utmost exertions to render the fituation of every individual as comfortable as poffible as to victualling, lodging, and every accommodation, either on board or on fhore, as can be procured or reasonably expected; and he will difpofe of fuch as become prifoners as fimilarly to their inclinations as his duty to his fovereign, and the interefls of his country will admit. The fick fhall be received into his majefty's hofpitals, and taken care of equally

with the British fick.

To His Excellency Rear-Admiral Engelbertus Lucas, Commander in Chief of the Squad:on of the United States, now lying in Saldanha Bay.

Sir,

I have the honour to receive your letter, with the propofals of capitulation, and I have now the honour to inclofe you my letters and anfwers thereunto, which I hope will be acceptable. I have mentioned to captain Caris my inclination to accommodate your excellency and the other officers inclined to return to Europe upon their parole, with the Maria ftorefhip, or in Britif veffels, of which there are many at the Cape, but any of the public armed hips I dare not pretume to permit to depart.

Your excellency may reft affured of every good office within my reach. Should the inclofed articles not meet with your approbation, you'will be pleafed to or der the flag of truce to be hauled down, as a fignal that either party may commence

hoftilities.

the Dutch fquadron.

command of Sir George Keith Elphin

Spanish veffel, which we conjectured to be a fort of tender, was paffing us, fteering toward Carthagena, so that I could hardly flatter myfelf with being able to bring the frigate off in the event of a victory, or of even efcaping myfelf, if difabled. On the other hand, it evidently appeared that nothing but a flight and fuperior failing could enable me to avoid an action; and to do that from a frigate apparently not much fuperior to us, except in point of bulk, would have been committing the character of one of his majesty's fhips more than I could bring myfelf to refolve on, I therefore continued ftanding on without any alteration of courfe.

Having, with infinite fatisfaction and comfort to myself, commanded the Terpfichore's crew for two years and a half,

From the London Gazette, November 21.

Admiralty Office, Nov. 21.

Copy of a Letter from Capt. Bowen, of the Terpsichore, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Gibraltar, O&t. 23, 1796.

JUDGING it to be proper that my lords commiffioners of the admiralty fhould be acquainted as foon as poffible with the capture of a Spanish frigate, by his maefty's fhip under my command, I herewith inclose you a copy of my letter to the commander in chief, giving an accouut of the action; and I request you will be pleafed to lay the fame before their lordships. Extract of a Letter from Capt. Bowen, of the Terpsichore, to Sir John Jervis, Commander in Chief in the Mediterranean, dated at Gibraltar, October 23, 3796.

ON the morning of the 13th inftant, at daylight, we discovered a frigate to windward, ftanding toward us. About eight I could perceive her making every preparation for battle, and was then apparently in chace of us. Our fituation altogether was fuch as to prevent my being over defirous of engaging her. Out of our small complement of men, we had left 30 at the hofpital, and we had more than that number ftill on board in our fick and convalefcent lifts, all of whom were either dangeroufly ill or extremely weak. We were fcarcely out of fight of the fpot where we knew the Spanish fleet to have been cruizing only two days before; and in fact we had stood on to look for them, with a view of afcertaining their movements. A fmall

fervices, I well knew the veteran ftuff which I had ftill left in health to depend upon, for upholding the character of Britith feamen; and I felt my mind at ease, as to the termination of any action with the frigate in fight only.

At half paft nine, the came within hail, and hauled her wind on our weather beam; and as I conceived the only waited to place herself to advantage, and to point her guns with exactnefs, and being myself unwilling to lofe the pofition we were then in, I ordered one gun to be fired, as a trier of her intention. It was so instantaneously returned, and followed up by her whole broadfide, that I am confident they must have done it at the fight of our flash. The action of courfe went on, and we foon discovered that her people would not or could not refift our fire. At the end of about an hour and forty minutes, during which time we had twice wore, and employed about twenty of the last minutes in chace, the furrendered. At this period the appeared most entirely disabled, and we had drawn up clofe alongside, with every gun well charged and well pointed, It was, nevertheless, with confiderable difficulty that I prevailed on the Spanish commander to decline the receiving of fuch a broadfide by fubmitting; and from every thing which I have fince learned, the perfonal courage, conduct, and zeal of that officer, whofe name is don Thomas Ayalde, was fuch during the action, notwithstanding the event of it, as reflects on him the greateft honour, and irresistibly impreffes on my mind the highest admiration of his character.

After (from the effect of our fire) all his booms had tumbled down, and ren