Admiralty-Office, July 2. Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Onflow, commanding his Majefty's Ships and Veffels, at Plymouth, to Mr. Nepean, dated June 30. HEREWITH I have the pleasure to inclofe a leter from captain Tomlinfon, of his majefty's floop La Suffifante, containing particulars of his fuccefs in capturing the Morgan French privateer, and recapturing the fix English merchant ships named in the inclofed lift, that had been taken by her, and which you will be pleafed to lay before my lords commiffioners of the admiralty. So complete a piece of fervice, perform ed by a veffel of fuch fmall force as the Suffifante, I am perfuaded their lordships will admit, reflects great credit on captain Tomlinfon, his officers, and men. La Suffifante, Plymouth, June 30. I BEG leave to acquaint you, that his majefty's floop La Suffifante, under my command, has retaken two English merchant fhips, on the 27th instant, near the Ile de Bas (from Oporto, laden with wine). I gained intelligence from the prifoners that the French privateer which they belonged to carried 16 guns, and 10 fwivels; and that on the preceding day the was to the northward of Scilly, in chafe of feveral English veffels; I therefore immediately defpatched the prizes, with orders to go to Plymouth, and ftood in for the French coaft, between Ufhant and the Ille de Bas, in hopes of meeting her on her return, or any other prizes that the hould fend into Morlaix or Breft. On the following morning I had the good fortune to difcover the above-mentioned privateer and four loaded merchant hips (her prizes) ftanding toward us; and, as I fetched within gun-fhot of the privateer, we gave her feveral broadfides as we paffed on oppofite tacks; and, on our putting about to follow him, he made the fignal for his prizes to disperse. They were then about feven miles from us to the NW. At one, P. M. we fetched very near her lee-quarter, and opened a well-directed fire of mufketry upon them from forward, which obliged them to ftrike before we could get alongside to bring our great guns to bear upon her. As the greatest dilpatch was neceffary, to enable us to overtake the prizes, which were endeavouring to escape by steering on different directions, I ordered lieutenant Pickford to take the command of the pri vateer, to fend the French captain and officers on board the Suffifante immediately, and then to make fail and affift me in taking the merchant ships; which service tion, he having taken two of them, one was performed very much to my fatisfacof which I had not the leaft hopes of his being able to come up with, as fhe was very far to the windward. the officers and crew of the Suffifante, I To the fpirited and active behaviour of confider myself in a great measure indebted for our fuccefs, which is as complete as I could with it to be; for, exclufive of the privateer, which is a fine copper-bottomed brig, capable of doing much mischief, we have likewife retaken fix valuable English merchant fhips, which are all that he had captured. Inclofed I have the honour to tranfmit you a lift of the prizes and their cargoes; and am, fir, &c. NICHOLAS TOMLINSON. The veffels re-captured as above, are from 110 to 200 tons, and are laden al together with above 1500 pipes of wine, 250 chefts of tea, befide cotton, lemons, vinegar, porter, with fteel, and other dry goods. road for erecting the neceffary batteries; and to bring forward the artillery and ammunition. On the 16th inftant, the batteries, confifting of eighteen pieces of ordnance, were opened. Thefe could only be confidered in the light of a first parallel. The fecond parallel is now nearly com plete, and the lodgment for the last or third is to be made to-morrow. If this operation fhould be attended with the effect expected from it, it is probable that we fhall, in the courfe of ten or twelve days, be in poffeffion of the enemy's works upon Morne Fortune. It is difficult for me to give an adequate idea of the ground on which we are obliged to act. The natural obftructions, as well as every obftacle that the enemy could throw in our way, render the poft of Morne Fortune not only refpectable, but in a high degree difficult to be fubdued. As the enemy still retained poffeffion of the Vigie, and as they only held it with a flender force, it appeared of confequence to get poffeffion of it, as it would fhorten our line of attack, and cover our right flank; and alfo as it gave us in fome degree the command of the Carenage. For this purpose, on the night of the 17th inft. the 31ft regiment, happening to be the regiment nearest at hand, was ordered to march immediately after it was dark to take poffeffion of the Vigie, where the enemy had not apparently more than from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men. The first part of the attack fucceeded to our wifh; a battery of three 18 pounders, which was feebly defended, was feized, the guns fpiked and thrown over the precipice.-There remained on the fummit of the hill one large gun and a field piece, which the regiment was ordered to take poffeffion of; unfortunately the guide was wounded, and the troops became uncertain of the right approach to the hill: while in this fituation the enemy's grape fhot took effect to fuch a degree, as in duced lieutenant colonel Hay to order the regiment to retreat, which it did with confiderable lofs. Lieutenant-colonel Macdonald handsomely advanced with part of the grenadiers to cover the retreat of the 31ft regiment, which he accomplished. It proper to obferve, that a night-attack on the Vigie was indifpenfably neceffary, as three batteries of the enemy flanked the neck of land which connects the Vigie with the main; and in general in this country, when you have to march to attack an enemy's poft, who have artillery, and where it is impoffible for you to ad is vance with any on your part, it is almost a matter of neceffity to attack at night. Hitherto the troops continue healthy, notwithstanding their exertions and fatigue. I am, &c. (Signed) R. ABERCROMBY. Head Quarters, St. Lucia, May 31. Sir, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th of March. In my letter of the 22d of May, I acquainted you that on the day following we intended to make a lodgement as near to the enemy's works as poffible. This, however, was deferred, from neceffity, till the 24th. The 27th, 538, and 57th regiments had been previously placed near the point of attack. On the morning of the 24th, the 27th regiment lodged themselves upon two different points, the nearest of which was not more than five hundred yards from the fort. The enemy made a vigorous effort to diflodge them, but, by the good conduct and spirit of brigadier-general Moore, and the fteady and intrepid behaviour of the officers and men of the 27th regiment, the enemy were twice repulfed with confiderable lofs; and before night the troops were completely under cover at the fame time the communication to the posts occupied by the 27th regiment, was carried on with the utmost vigour, and two batteries for eight pieces of artillery were begun. Upon the evening of the 24th the enemy defired a fufpenfion of arms until noon the next day, which was granted till eight in the morning: a capitulation for the whole inland enfued, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose. On the 26th, the garrifon, to the amount of two thoufand men, marched out and laid down their arms, and are become prisoners of war. Pidgeon Island is in our poffeffions the 55th regiment has been detached to Souffriere and Vieux fort, to receive the fubmiffion of the garrifons of thofe places. From Souffriere-we have been informed that peaceable poffeffion has been given ; from Vieux fort there is no report. The principal object of the blockade of Morne Fortuné has been obtained. The enemy has been prevented from escaping into the woods; their troops, whom they call regulars, have been made prifoners of war, and the armed negroes have been in a confiderable degree disarmed. Our operations have been attended with confiderable labour and fatigue, roads were every where to be made through a mountainous and rugged country, artillery and ammunition to be carried forward, and the line of investment, extending about ten miles, to be supplied with provifions, without the affiftance of carriages, and with few horses. It is but justice to the troops to say that their conduct has been meritorious; that they have undergone an uncommon fhare of fatigue with cheerfulness, and in several inftances have given proofs of the greatest intrepidity. We are under great obliga tions to brigadier-general Knox for planning and executing the road of communication from Choc bay, by Chabot to Morne Duchaffeáux. Brigadier-general Lloyd, of the royal artillery, and captain Hay, the chief engineer, may juftly claim their fhare of praife. Brigadier-general Hope has on all occafions, most willingly come forward and exerted himself in times of danger, to which he was not called from his fituation of adjutant-general. Rear-admiral fir Hugh Chrißian and the royal navy have never ceafed to fhew the utmost alacrity in forwarding the pubJic fervice. To their fkill and unremitting labour the fuccefs which has attended his majefty's arms is, in a great measure, due. By their efforts alone the artillery was advanced to the batteries, and every co-operation, which could poffibly be expected or defired, has been afforded in the fullest nanner. I have the honour to inciofe the return of killed and wounded during our Operations in this ifland; together with a return of the artillery, Rores, and ammunition, as far as we have been enabled to collect. This will be delivered to you by major Forbes, my aid-de-camp, whom I beg leave to recommend to your protection. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) R. ABERCROMBY. The articles of capitulation are according to the ufual formalities. The garri fon was to march out with the honours of war; but to remain prifoners of war till exchanged. The total of the killed and wounded in the different attacks, from the 28th of April to the 24th of May, is as follows: One major, one captain, one lieutenant, one ferjeant, 62 rank and file, killed; three lieutenant-colonels, two majors, 12 captains, 14 lieutenants, three ensigns, 14 ferjeants, one drummer, 329 rank and file, wounded; four captains, two lieutenants, three ferjeants, one drummer, 112 rank and file, miffing. Names of Officers killed, wounded, and miffing. Killed.-Major Knevitt Wilfon, of the 27th regiment; captain Kerr, of the York Rangers; lieutenant Nuttall, of the 38.h regiment. Wounded. colm (fince dead) Lieutenat-colonel Mal Lieutenant-colonels Hay and Arbuthnot, of the 31ft regiment. Major Napier, of the 63d regiment, and major R. H. Malcolm, of the 27th regiment. Captain Stewart, of the 53d regiment; Coghlan, of the 1ft Weft India regiment, attached to the 48th; Baker, of the York Rangers; Henry Coxe, of the 14th regiment; Johnftone and Tuffie, of the 44th reginent: Murray and Sauvrell, of the 31ft regiment; Louifendhalle, of Lowenftein's; William Gillman and Alexander Dunlop, of the 27th regiment; and Ba, riac, of the royal etrangers. Lieutenants Collins and Carmichael, of the 53d regiment; Tortens, of the 63d regiment; W. F. Dalton, J. Grady, (mortally) and William Irwine, of the 28th regiment; Gregory (dangerously) of the 44th regiment; Frazer, of the 42d regiment; Hackshaw and Sullivan, of the 31 regiment; C. Sillery, Samplon Le Mefurier, and George Elliott, of the 27th regiment; and Fletcher, of the royal en gineers. Enigns Chirion, of Lowenftein's; De Courtray, of the royal etrangers; and George Milligan (fince dead) of the 27th regiment. Quarter-mafter John Stuthers, of the 27th regiment, fightly wounded, and not included above. Miling.-Captain Loriac and another captain, of Malcolm's corps, both fince returned. Captain's Johnston and Walker, of the 31ft regiment, fince found to be dead. Two lieutenants, of Malcolm's corps, fince returned. Next follows, as ufual, a return of the ordnance, ammunition, &c. [A fhort letter from captain Parr to admiral Chriftian, announces the furrender of Berbice.] Morne was taken poffeffion of by his majesty's troops on the 26th at noon; the terms of capitulation are herewith tranfmitted.-See page 60. In the progress of the fiege great difficulties were to be furmounted, and much fervice of fatigue undertaken. The more effectually to affift the operations of the army, I directed 800 feamen to land, under the command of captain Lane, of the Aftrea, and captain Ryves, of the Bulldog: the ment of their fervices will be better reported by the commander in chief of his majesty's troops; but I feel it an indifpenfable duty to acquaint their lordships, that the conduct of the officers and feamen equalled my most fanguine expectations, and that it has been in every inftance highly meritorious. Captain Lane, of the Aftrea, is charged with my difpatches; that officer having ferved at St. Lucia from the moment of my arrival, will be enabled to afford their lord hips correct information of the naval occurrences connected with the fiege. The state of the Aftrea, by capt. Lane's report to me, is fuch, that her proceeding to England became a neceffary measure. Captain Ryves, of the Bulldog, will proceed immediately to join his fhip; but I fhould be unjust to the merits of his exertion were I to omit recommending him to their lordships notice and protection. I ftated to their lordships, in my letter of the 4th inftant, the fervices of captain Searle, of the Pelican, on the first landing; fince that period he has, with unremitting diligence and ability, effectually blocked the ports of the Carenage. The Madrafs, under the command of captain Dilkes had been, in the first arrangements, detached to land, and cooperated with a divifion of troops on the left wing of the army anchored for that purpose at Marrigot des Roffeaux, where his exertion and affiduity has been highly commendable: he took poffeffion of a point at the fouthern entrance of the Grand Cul de Sac, with great labour and perfeverance, placed upon the pinnacle of the hill two 18-pounders, and two carronades, from which he confiderably annoyed the batteries of Sifferon and Agille. The general wishing to establish batteries on the fouthern fide of the Grand Cul de Sac, captain Wolley, of the Arethufa, was detached to join captain Dilkes, and directed to land a proportion of seamen to affift this fervice, which was very speedily and cheerfully executed more exertion has not been evinced, and I believe there never has occurred an inftance of more cordial co-operation than has fubfifted be tween the army and navy during this fiege. Great have been the fervices of fatigue, confidering the nature of the country and the fituation of the Morne, and very ra pidly have they been brought to effect the reduction of the island. On the morning of the enemy's attack on the 24th inftant, with a view to repoffefs themselves of the advanced port from the Morne, it became neceffary to detach the 14th regiment to the fupport of the troops employed at that poft, in confequence of which 320 marines were landed to take the ground occupied by the 14th. The conduct of the marines upon this, as upon all other occafions, was moft perfectly correct. The general's opinion of the conduct of the feamen and marines will be best understood by the fentiments expreffed in his public orders, an extract of which is herewith tranfmitted. I tranfmit a lift of the fmall veffels found at this anchorage. I am, &c. (Signed) HUGH C. CHRISTIAN. Head Quarters, St. Lucia, May 27. EXTRACT of GENERAL ORDERS. DURING the fervices which have been carried on in the island of St. Lucia, all the courage and every exertion of the army would have proved ineffectual, if rearadmiral fir H. C. Chriftian, and the royal navy, had not ftepped forward with the alacrity which has been fo confpicuous in forwarding the most arduous part of the public fervice: to their skill and unremitting labour is, in a great measure, owing the fuccefs which has attended his majelty's arms. It will afford the commander in chief the greatest fatisfaction to be able to lay before his majefty the eminent fervices which have, on this occafion, been performed by the royal navy, and admiral fir Hugh Cloberry Christian will confer a particular obligation on lieuter.ant general fir Ralph Aber Cromby, and the army at large, if he will be to obliging as to communicate to the royal navy, and in particular to captains Lane, Ryves, and Stephenfon, and the other officers who acted on fhore, and to the corps of marines, the great obligation which they confider themfelves under to them. T. BUSBY, affiftant adjutant-general. Next follows a return of the fmall veffels found at the anchorage; being one fhip, three brigs, five fchooners, and one thallop; in all ten, Admiralty Office, July 5. Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Kingfinill, Commander in Chief of his majesty's Ships and Vessels on the Coast of Ireland, to Mr. Nepean, dated L' Engageante, Cork Harbour, June 29. I HAVE the fatisfaction of acquainting you, for the information of my lords commiffioners of the admiralty, that the whole of the fquadron which had failed. from Breft under the orders of commodore Moulton, is in our poffeffion; La Legére, a fine coppered fhip corvette, of 22 guns, being now brought in here by his majesty's hips Apollo and Doris ; further particulars of which are contained in the accompanying letter to me from captain Manley. Separated as thofe French hips were, the capturing of them all is a rare inftance of fuccefs, and a proof of the activity of his majefty's cruifers on this ftation. I have the honour to be, &c. R. KINGSMILL. Copy of a letter from Captain Manley, of his Majefty's Ship Apollo, to Vice Admiral Kingsmill, dated Cork Harbour, June 29. AGREEABLY to your order of the 21ft ult. I cruised in his majesty's fhip under my command, accompanied by his majefty's fhip Doris, until the 22d inft. and at nine o'clock in the morning of that day, in lat. 48 deg. 30 min. north, and long 8 deg. 28 min. weft, discovered the French nationale corvette, La Legére, very clofe to us to windward. We immediately gave chace, with the wind at WNW, blowing a double-reefed topfail gale; but, from her being a very faft failer, did not arrive within gun-fhot until feven o'clock in the evening, at which time the two fhips were a like distance from her; and, after exchanging a few fhots we had the fatif faction to fee her ftrike her colours. She is copper-fattened and copper-bottomed, and a remarkably fine ship, poffeffing every good quality for a man of war. She is commanded by monf, Car pentier, has 168 men on board, and is pierced for 22 guns, nine-pounders. She failed from Breft, on the 4th inft. in company with three frigates, and has taken fix prizes. I am very much pleafed to find that the whole divifion are taken by the fquadron under your command. I have the honour to be, &c. Vice-admiral Kingsmill, &c. Admiralty Office, July 16. Extract of a Letter from Sir John Jervis, K. B. Admiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Veffels in the Mediterranean, to Mr. Nepean, dated Victory, off Toulon, June 10. of the lords commiffioners of the admiral- Southampton, off Toulon, June 10. IN obedience to the orders I received hundred men under arms to receive him. In this fhort conflict the behaviour of all the officers and fhip's company of the Southampton had my full approbation, and I do not mean to take from their merit by ftating to you that the conduct of After lafhing the two ships together, I lieutenant Lydiard was above all praise. found fome difficulty in getting from under the battery, which kept up a very heavy fire, and was not able to return through the Grand Pafs before half past one o'clock this morning, with the L'Utilite corvette of 24 guns, French fix pounders, commanded by citizen Francois |