added to the navy, and called the Janus; and the Mercury the Hermes. Admiral Duncan continued to cruize with unremitting vigilance, in conjunction with the Russian fleet, off the coast of Holland, and kept the Dutch completely blocked up in the Texel. The Empress of Russia, unsolicited, honoured Admiral Duncan with the Imperial Order of Alexander Newski. On the 17th of May Captain Nathaniel Tomlinson, in La Suffisante sloop of war, being on a cruize off the Lizard, discovered a sail, which, after a chace of eleven hours, he came up with between Ushant and the Main: when, after a smart action of half an hour, she struck, and proved to be La Revanche, (brig) privateer of 12 guns, and 85 men, commanded by Mon. G. H. Draveman, an experienced seaman. The privateer had two men killed and seven wounded: La Suffisante one man wounded. At day-break on the morning of the 8th of June, the Unicorn, of 38 guns, 18 pounders, Captain Thomas Williams, and Santa Margaritta, of 36, Captain Thomas Byam Martin, being on a cruize about 17 leagues to the westward of Scilly, discovered three large ships about two or three miles distant on their lee beams, to which they immediately gave chace. The chace soon afterwards edged away, and were perceived to be enemy's ships of war, two frigates and a large ship corAt nine A. M. they formed in a close bow and quarter line, still going off, the largest ship under a more easy sail for the support of his squadron. The corvette being the worst sailer, gradually hauled out to windward, as if with the intention of being in readi vette. in need of it. At half past eleven o'clock, the Margaritta, by her superior sailing, arrived within gun-shot 'of the enemy; but as they appeared to close for the mutual support of each other, and the Unicorn being at some distance a-stern, Captain Martin judged it most prudent to wait for her coming up, to attack at the same time the French Commodore, which had been previously agreed upon between the British commanders. At one in the forenoon having approached to within three quarters of a mile, the two frigates hoisted French colours, the largest a commodore's broad pendant, and instantly commenced a brisk fire, from their stern chace guns, now and then yawning to discharge their broadsides, At four o'clock the sternmost ship finding it impossible to escape, and to avoid the fire of the Margaritta bore round up, and endeavoured to rake her, in which he was baffled by a most skilful manoeuvre of Captain Martin, who placed his ship with great judgment and gallantry close alongside of his opponent, and in less than twenty minutes compelled him to strike. She proved to be the Thames, of 36 guns, and 320 men, commanded by M. Farden. The enemy had 32 men killed and 19 wounded: the Margaritta only two killed and wounded. The French commodore seeing the fate of his consort, made all the sail he could, and endeavoured to gain the windward of the Unicorn; but by the judicious and seamanlike conduct of Captain Williams, his attempt proved unsuccessful. The equality of sailing in the two ships was such, that a running fight was kept up for ten hours, in which time they had ran 210 miles; when Captain Williams had the good fortune to get close alongside of his antagonist; the crew gave three cheers at bringing the French ship to close action, and the en. gagement was maintained with great impetuosity for 35 minutes, when, on clearing up of the smoke, the enemy was observed to have dropped on the Unicorn's quarter, with the intention to cross her stern, and gain the wind; this manœuvre of the Frenchman's was most skilfully defeated, by Captain Williams instantly throwing his sails aback, which gave the ship stern way, passed the enemy's bow, regained his station, and renewed the action with fresh vigour, which lasted only a few minutes, when, after much bravery and good seamanship having been displayed on both sides, the enemy's ship being completely dismantled, her fire ceased, and she surrendered. She proved to be La Tribune, commanded by Commodore Moulson, pierced for 48 guns, but only 44 mounted, and 337 men, 37 of whom were killed the commodore and 14 wounded. Unicorn not a single man received the slightest hurt, a circumstance very extraordinary, after so long and obstinate a conflict. On the 6th of June Commodore Moulson had sailed from Brest on a cruize with a squadron of frigates, consisting of La Tribune, of 44, La Proserpine, 38, La Thames, 36; and La Legere, of 24. The evening before the action La Proserpine had parted company in a fog. His Majesty conferred the honour of knighthood on Captain Williams for this gal lant action. In the On the 13th Lord Amelius Beauclerk, in the Dryad, of 36 guns, being on a cruize off Cape Clear, fell in with, and after a most spirited action, which lasted 45 minutes, captured La Proserpine French frigate, commanded by M. Perrieu, mounting 26 eighteen-pounders, 12 nines, and four 32-pound carronades, with 348 men, in need of it. At half past eleven o'clock, the Margaritta, by her superior sailing, arrived within gun-shot of the enemy; but as they appeared to close for the mutual support of each other, and the Unicorn being at some distance a-stern, Captain Martin judged it most prudent to wait for her coming up, to attack at the same time the French Commodore, which had been previously agreed upon between the British commanders. At one in the forenoon having approached to within three quarters of a mile, the two frigates hoisted French colours, the largest a commodore's broad pendant, and instantly commenced a brisk fire, from their stern chace guns, now and then yawning to discharge their broadsides, At four o'clock the sternmost ship finding it impossible to escape, and to avoid the fire of the Margaritta bore round up, and endeavoured to rake her, in which he was baffled by a most skilful manœuvre of Captain Martin, who placed his ship with great judgment and gallantry close alongside of his opponent, and in less than twenty minutes compelled him to strike. She proved to be the Thames, of 36 guns, and 320 men, commanded by M. Farden. The enemy had 32 men killed and 19 wounded: the Margaritta only two killed and wounded. The French commodore seeing the fate of his consort, made all the sail he could, and endeavoured to gain the windward of the Unicorn; but by the judicious and seamanlike conduct of Captain Williams, his attempt proved unsuccessful. The equality of sailing in the twoships was such, that a running fight was kept up for ten hours, in which time they had ran 210 miles; when Captain Williams had the good fortune to get close alongside of his antagonist; the crew gave three cheers at bringing the French ship to close action, and the en. gagement was maintained with great impetuosity for 35 minutes, when, on clearing up of the smoke, the enemy was observed to have dropped on the Unicorn's quarter, with the intention to cross her stern, and gain the wind; this manœuvre of the Frenchman's was most skilfully defeated, by Captain Williams instantly throw. ing his sails aback, which gave the ship stern way, passed the enemy's bow, regained his station, and renewed the action with fresh vigour, which lasted only a few minutes, when, after much bravery and good seamanship having been displayed on both sides, the enemy's ship being completely dismantled, her fire ceased, and she surrendered. She proved to be La Tribune, commanded by Commodore Moulson, pierced for 48 guns, but only 44 mounted, and 337 men, 37 of whom were killed the commodore and 14 wounded. In the Unicorn not a single man received the slightest hurt, a circumstance very extraordinary, after so long and ob- ' stinate a conflict. On the 6th of June Commodore Moulson had sailed from Brest on a cruize with a squadron of frigates, consisting of La Tribune, of 44, La Proserpine, 38, La Thames, 36; and La Legere, of 24. The evening before the action La Proserpine had parted company in a fog. His Majesty conferred the honour of knighthood on Captain Williams for this gallant action. On the 13th Lord Amelius Beauclerk, in the Dryad, of 36 guns, being on a cruize off Cape Clear, fell in with, and after a most spirited action, which lasted 45 minutes, captured La Proserpine French frigate, commanded by M. Perrieu, mounting 26 eighteen-pounders, 12 nines, and four 32-pound carronades, with 348 men, |