586 
but his presence was absolutely ne- 
ccssary on board. To an ofticer of 
your discriminating judgment, I 
trust 1 shall stand excused if 1 take 
the liberty of recommending licut. 
Fleming to your notice, for his me- 
ritorious conduct on this occasion. 
He appears to me to be an oflicer of 
distinguished merit and bravery, and 
1 understood he was highly respect- 
ed by his late captain,’ the good, 
the amiable, and my gallant prede- 
cessor, the hon, John Murray. 
C. Dasuwoon. 
To Admiral Dacres, Sc. 
Magicienne, Mona Passage, Feb. 4. 
Sir, 
On the 25th ult. his majesty’s 
ship under my command captured, 
after a chase of 12 hours, Ei Car- 
men Spanish packet, commanded 
by an officer of the same rank as a 
commander in the British navy ; she 
is pierced for 14 guns; but had only 
two mounted, and 18 men ; the Pen- 
guin sloop was in company. 
Apam Mackrnzin. ~ 
Adm. Dacres. 
Letler from Lord Cochrane, dated 
Pallas, off Chasseron, April 8, 
with an Account of his hazardous 
Enterprise in the River Garonne. 
STR, 
Having received information, 
which proved correct, of the situa- 
tion of the corvettes in the river of 
Bourdeaux, a little after dark on 
the evening of the 5th, the Pallas 
was anchored close to the shoal of 
Cordovan, and it gives me satis- 
faction to relate, that, about three 
o’clock, the National conyette La 
‘Tapageuse, of 14 long 12 pounders, 
and 95 men, which had the guard, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
was boarded, carried, and cut out, 
about 20 miles above the shoals, 
within two heavy batteries, in spite 
of all resistance, by the first lieute- 
nant, Mr. Haswell, Mr. Sutherland, 
the master, Messrs. Perkins, Craw. 
ford and Thompson, together with 
the quarter-masters, and such of the 
seamen, the serjeants, and marines, 
as were fortunate enough to find 
place in the boats. ‘The tide of 
flood ran strong at day light. La 
Tapageuse made sail; a general 
alarm was given; a sloop of war 
followed, and an action continued, 
often within hail, till, by the same 
bravery by which the Tapageuse was 
carried, the sloop of war, which 
had been before saved by the rapidity 
of the current alone, after about an 
hour's firing, was compelled to sheer 
olf, having suffered as much in the 
hull as the Tapageuse in the rigging. 
The conduct of the officers and men 
will be justly appreciated. With con- 
fidence | shall now beg leave to re- 
commend them to the notice of the 
lords commissioners of the Admi- 
ralty. [tis necessary to add, that 
the same morning when at anchor, 
waiting for the boats (which, by 
the bye, did not return till this 
morning), three ships were observ- 
ed, bearing down towards the Pal- 
Jas, making many signals; they 
were soon perceived to be enemies, 
In a few minutes the anchor was 
weighed, and, with the remainder 
of the officers and crew, we chased, 
drove on shore, and wrecked, one 
national 24 gun ship, one of 22 
guns, and La Malirieuse, a beautiful 
corvette of 18 guns ; their masts 
went by the board, and they were 
involved ina shect of spray. All 
in this ship shewed good zeal for 
his majesty’s service. ‘lhe warrant-_ 
oflicers, aud Mr, Tattual, midship. 
2 man, 
—_——_ 
