APPENDIX. HISTORY OF THE WAR. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 13, 1798. Admiralty Office, March 13. Extra of a Letter from Vice-admiral Kingsmill, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels on the Coaft of Ireland, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Cork the 4th inftant. THE Greyhound captured a Spanifh fhip, named La Porta de Buenos Ayres, laden with hides and tallow, from Monte Video to Bilboa, which flood into the convoy. She is brought in here by the Magnanime, along with the James of Liverpool, outward-bound Guineaman, which having beaten off one French privateer, had fince ftood an action of an hour and a half with another; but was captured after lofing her mafter and boatswain, who were killed, and had two feamen wounded; one of whom is fince dead. This flip was recaptured by the Magnanime on the 28th ultimo, in latitude 45 deg. 52 min. longitude 11 deg. 7 min. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 17, 1798. Copy of a Letter from Sir John Borlafe Warren, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Sir, I TAKE the liberty of acquainting you, that this morning a convoy of the enemy was discovered within Ile Dieu, to whom I immediately gave chafe with his Majefty's fhips under my orders; but the breeze dying away, I made the fignal for the boats of my fquadron to chase, and I have the fatisfaction to inform you, that the veffels inéntioned on the enclosed lift were captured by them. A fchooner gun-vessel and an armed lugger escaped into the Fromentine paffage, near the island of Normentier. Two of the prizes are numbered, and laden with naval stores for the armament equipping at Breft for the intended expedition against England; the reft have wine and brandy for their cargoes, and were bound from Rochefort to the above port. I have the honour to remain, Sir, VOL. VIII. A A Lift A Lift of Veffels captured by the Squadron under the Orders of Sir John Borlafe Warren, Bart. K. B. Two brigs, from Rochefort, bound to Breft, numbered, and laden with naval ftores as tranfports. Five brigs, from ditto to ditto, laden with wine and brandy. Three chaffe marées, from ditto to ditto, laden with wine and brandy. A chaffe marée, from ditto to ditto, laden with ditto, burnt, being on shore. (Signed) JOHN WARREN. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 20, 1798. Admiralty Office, March 20. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Vessels at Portsmouth and Spithead, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated the 17th inftant. THE Telemachus cutter arrived this morning from Dartmouth. In her way to Spithead fhe captured La Sophie, a French cutter privateer, of four guns, and twenty men, as reported in the enclosed letter from Lieutenant Newton. Sir, Telemachus, at Spithead, March 17. I HAVE the pleasure of acquainting you, that yesterday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, three miles from the Berry Head, I fell in with and gave chafe to a cutter. At nine o'clock, two or three leagues to the northward of the Cafkets lights, I came up and captured her. She is called La Sophie, French cutter privateer, of four guns and twenty men, belonging to St. Maloes; had been from that place two days, and had taken nothing. I am happy to fay, that fhe was prevented from taking three English brigs that were very near her when I gave chafe. At half past seven his Majefty's brig Sea Gull joined in the chafe, and was in fight when I captured her. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. Admiral Sir Peter Paker, Bart, THO. NEWTON. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 31, 1798. Admiralty Office, March 31. Copy of a Letter from Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels on the Coast of Portugal, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Ville de Paris, at Sea, the 21ft February. Sir, YOU will herewith receive letters from Captain Lord Henry Powlett, of his Majefty's fhip the Thalia, and Captain Downman, of the Speedy floop; the firft giving an account of the capture of a French privateer, and the latter detailing an action between the Speedy and another of the enemy's privateers, which does great honour to her captain, officers, and company. I am, &c. ST. VINCENT. (3) Thalia, at Sea, February 6. ON the 5th inftant, at four A. M. Cape Finisterre bearing S. W. feventy leagues, I came up with and captured the Antoine French privateer brig, mounting fixteen guns and having feventy men. She was returning from a cruife to Rochelle, having captured five neutral veffels. I remain, Sir, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, H. POWLETT. Speedy, Tagus, Feb. 16. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that on the 3d inftant, at daylight, being seventeen leagues weft of Vigo, we discovered a brig bearing down on us with all fail fet. At three P.M. being within half a mile of us, the hauled her wind, and opened her fire; on which we made all fail to clofe, engaging her until half paft five, when fhe tacked, and made fail from us. I immediately tacked, continuing to engage till half paft feven, when, from her advantage of failing and little wind, fhe got out of gun-fhot. Owing to the great fwell, we received little damage, having only our fore-topmaft fhot through, with fome of the running rigging cut. It falling calm, and the veffels feparating against all our efforts with the fweeps, I had the mortification, about twelve o'clock, to fee her fire feveral guns at our prize that we had taken the day before. Owing to the good conduct of the mafter, who, with twelve men, were on board the prize, battened down twenty-fix Spaniards, and made their efcape in a fmall boat. At daylight a breeze of wind fprung up, which enabled us to fetch her. At eight o'clock fhe, being within gun-fhot, tacked, and made all fail from us, rowing with her fweeps at the fame time. We chafed her until noon, when they finding the had the heels of us, fhortened fail, wore, and ftood towards us, with a red flag flying at the maintopgallant-maft head. At half paft twelve, being within piftol-fhot, we began to engage her, with the wind upon the larboard quarter. At two, obferving her fire to flacken, I thought it a good opportunity to lay her on board, but at that inftant she wore, and came to the wind on the starboard tack; but finding us clofe upon her ftarboard quarter, and from our braces and bow-lines being fhot away, our yard coming fquare, fhe took the opportunity to put before the wind, and made all fail from us. We immediately wore after her, firing mufquetry at each other for twenty minutes, and fo foon as the lower maft was fecured, fet our ftudding-fails, and continued the chase until seven P. M. when we loft fight of her, from her fuperior failing. I then hauled our wind, and made short tacks all night to fall in with our prize; at daylight faw her to windward; at ten P. M. retook her, with ten Frenchmen on board. I learn from the prize-mafter, the brig is called the Pappilon, 360 tons burden, pierced for eighteen guns, mounting fourteen, four twelve and ten nine pounders, manned with 160 men. We had five men killed, and four badly wounded. I have to regret the lofs of Lieutenant Dutton and Mr. Jolinston, boatfwain, amongst the killed. I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice Mr. Marthall, mafter, for his good conduct during the action. Every praife is due to the fhip's company for their good behaviour. All our lower mafts, bowfprit, main boom, both topmafts, and moft of the yards fhot through, with all the ftanding and running rigging cut, I thought proper to put into Lisbon to repair our damage. I have, &c. HUGH DOWNMAN. A Lift of Veffels captured by the Squadron under the Orders of Sir John Borlafe Warren, Bart. K. B. Two brigs, from Rochefort, bound to Breft, numbered, and laden with naval ftores as tranfports. Five brigs, from ditto to ditto, laden with wine and brandy. Three chaffe marées, from ditto to ditto, laden with wine and brandy. A chaffe marée, from ditto to ditto, laden with ditto, burnt, being on fhore. (Signed) JOHN WARREN. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 20, 1798. Admiralty Office, March 20. Extract of a Letter from Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels at Portsmouth and Spithead, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated the 17th inftant. THE Telemachus cutter arrived this morning from Dartmouth. In her way to Spithead fhe captured La Sophie, a French cutter privateer, of four guns, and twenty men, as reported in the enclosed letter from Lieutenant Newton. Sir, Telemachus, at Spithead, March 17. I HAVE the pleasure of acquainting you, that yesterday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, three miles from the Berry Head, I fell in with and gave chafe to a cutter. At nine o'clock, two or three leagues to the northward of the Cafkets lights, I came up and captured her. She is called La Sophie, French cutter privateer, of four guns and twenty men, belonging to St. Maloes; had been from that place two days, and had taken nothing. I am happy to fay, that she was prevented from taking three English brigs that were very near her when I gave chafe. At half past seven his Majefty's brig Sea Gull joined in the chase, and was in fight when I captured her. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. Admiral Sir Peter Paker, Bart. THO. NEWTON. From the LONDON GAZETTE, March 31, 1798. Admiralty Office, March 31. Copy of a Letter from Admiral the Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Veffels on the Coaft of Portugal, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board the Ville de Paris, at Sea, the 21f February. Sir, YOU will herewith receive letters from Captain Lord Henry Powlett, of his Majefty's fhip the Thalia, and Captain Downman, of the Speedy 'floop; the firft giving an account of the capture of a French privateer, and the latter detailing an action between the Speedy and another of the enemy's privateers, which does great honour to her captain, officers, and company. I am, &c. ST. VINCENT. Sir, Thalia, at Sea, February 6. ON the 5th inftant, at four A. M. Cape Finisterre bearing S. W. feventy leagues, I came up with and captured the Antoine French privateer brig, mounting fixteen guns and having feventy men. She was returning from a cruife to Rochelle, having captured five neutral veffels. I remain, Sir, &c. &c. &c. My Lord, H. POWLETT. Speedy, Tagus, Feb. 16. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that on the 3d inftant, at daylight, being seventeen leagues weft of Vigo, we difcovered a brig bearing down on us with all fail fet. At three P.M. being within half a mile of us, fhe hauled her wind, and opened her fire; on which we made all fail to clofe, engaging her until half past five, when fhe tacked, and made fail from us. I immediately tacked, continuing to engage till half paft feven, when, from her advantage of failing and little wind, fhe got out of gun-fhot. Owing to the great fwell, we received little damage, having only our fore-topmaft fhot through, with fome of the running rigging cut. It falling calm, and the veffels feparating against all our efforts with the fweeps, I had the mortification, about twelve o'clock, to fee her fire feveral guns at our prize that we had taken the day before. Owing to the good conduct of the inafter, who, with twelve men, were on board the prize, battened down twenty-fix Spaniards, and made their escape in a fmall boat. At daylight a breeze of wind fprung up, which enabled us to fetch her. At eight o'clock the, being within gun-fhot, tacked, and made all fail from us, rowing with her fweeps at the fame time. We chafed her until noon, when they finding the had the heels of us, fhortened fail, wore, and stood towards us, with a red flag flying at the maintopgallant-maft head. At half paft twelve, being within piftol-fhot, we began to engage her, with the wind upon the larboard quarter. At two, obferving her fire to flacken, I thought it a good opportunity to lay her on board, but at that inftant she wore, and came to the wind on the starboard tack; but finding us close upon her ftarboard quarter, and from our braces and bow-lines being fhot away, our yard coming fquare, she took the opportunity to put before the wind, and made all fail from us. We immediately wore after her, firing mufquetry at each other for twenty minutes, and fo foon as the lower maft was fecured, set our ftudding-fails, and continued the chafe until feven P. M. when we loft fight of her, from her fuperior failing. I then hauled our wind, and made short tacks all night to fall in with our prize; at daylight faw her to windward; at ten P. M. retook her, with ten Frenchmen on board. I learn from the prize-mafter, the brig is called the Pappilon, 360 tons burden, pierced for eighteen guns, mounting fourteen, four twelve and ten nine pounders, manned with 160 men. We had five men killed, and four badly wounded. I have to regret the lofs of Lieutenant Dutton and Mr. Jolinston, boatswain, amongst the killed. I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice Mr. Marthall, mafter, for his good conduct during the action. Every praife is due to the fhip's company for their good behaviour. All our lower mafts, bowfprit, main boom, both topmafts, and most of the yards fhot through, with all the ftanding and running rigging cut, I thought proper to put into Lisbon to repair our damage. I have, &c. HUGH DOWNMAN. |