277 
1811 .] State Public Affairs in September. 
national brig, LePluvier, mounting 16 guns 
and 137 men, whose Captain I have before 
spoken of, was decoyed on board. 
Having obtained to the utmost the object 
in view, I anchored in the Goronde, out of 
gun-shot, to repair the damages sustained 
by the different vessels, when I was rejoined 
by the boats and the captured convoy, a list 
of which I have the honour to inclose. 
The services I received from Captain 
Richardson, the officers and ship’s company 
of the Semiramis, meric ray warmest ac¬ 
knowledgments, and I should be commit¬ 
ting a great injustice to the officers and ship’s 
company I command, were I not to speak in 
terms of the highest admiration for their 
steadiness and zeal throughout the whole 
affair. And could I add stronger encomiums 
to one than another, it would be from the 
great assistance I received from Mr. David 
Bevans, the master, whose unremitted atten¬ 
tion in piloting the ship in the most intricate 
navigation, greatly tended to insure the ob¬ 
ject of pursuit. 
I also inclose a letter I received from Cap¬ 
tain Charles Richardson, narrating his attack 
upon the brig, and enclosing a list of 
wounded in the affray ; and I regret to add' 
that I lost one man overboard, after the brig 
was in our full possession, 
I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) W. FERRIS, Captain. 
Te Rear-Admiral Thomas Williams. 
His Majesty's shipy Semiramis^ Royan Roads^ 
August lo, 1811. 
Sir,—I have the honour to report to you, 
that as soon as the Diana ran on board the 
enemy’s outside brig, her consort, at anchor 
in-shore of her, immediately cut her cable, 
and made sail for the beach near the battery 
of Royan, where she grounded. I followed 
into five fathoms, anchoring with a spring j 
the broadside was brought to bear on the 
enemy’s brig, and bow guns on the battery, 
within grape-shot of both. 
After engaging some time, I found the 
guns of the enemy’s vessel almost silenced, 
and perceived the boats haul up to quit her. 
At this time the barge, pinnace, and cutter 
re-joined me ; I ordered Lieutenant Gardner, 
with these boats, immediately to board the 
enemy, which was gallantly effected after re¬ 
ceiving his broadside. She proved to be the 
French national brig, Pluvier, of 16 guns and 
136 men, commanded, pro tempore, by Lieu¬ 
tenant Page de St. Waasc. 
The prize being fa.t on shore, the ebb 
tide running most rapidly, ar.d my ov^n ship 
in only twenty feet water, I found it ne¬ 
cessary to take the remainder of her people 
out and burn her, v/hich, when completely 
effected, I made all sail to join you. 
I have but to add, in this little , affair, my 
officers and ship’s company behaved entirely 
to ray satisfaction ; and I leel much indebted 
my fust Lisutenan':, Gardner 5 secQ.nd 
Lieutenant, Grace 5 and Mr. Reneau, Mas¬ 
ter’s mate, commanding the boats, for the 
handsome manner in wliich they ran along¬ 
side the enemy- 
Lieutenant Taylor, of the Marines, and 
Mr. Brickwood, purser; being the only- 
officers on board, were of the greatest uSe, 
the former commanding the main-deck, the 
latter the quarter-deck guns, 
I have the honour to be, 
• (Signed) 
C, Richardson, Captain, 
To Captain William Ferris, oj his 
P/Iaj e sty's ship , Diana . 
P. S. Inclosed is the surgeon’s list of the 
wounded. 
List of wounded on board his Majesty’s ship, 
Semiramis, on the 2 ,bth of August, 1811, 
in action with the French National brig, 
Pluvier, and batteries of Royan. 
Mr. Thomas Gardner, lieutenant; Robert 
Annesly, Captain’s Coxwain; Archibald 
M‘Ervin, ordinary seaman. 
Alex. CocKBURN, surgeon. 
A list of vessels captured and destroyed by 
his Majesty’s ships Diana and Semiraimis, 
William Ferris and Charles Richardson, 
esqrs. Captains, August 25th, 1811. 
French national brig, Le Pluvier, of 16 
guns and 136 men, from Bourdeaux, burnt. 
French national brig Le.Teazer, of 14 guns 
and 85 men, from Rochefort with convoy, 
taken. 
French gallot transport, Le Mutet, of 8 
swivels and 42 men, from Rochefort, bound 
to Bourdeaux, laden with ship-timber, taken. 
French chasse-maree La Jeune Minelle, of 
3 men, from Blygh, bound to L’Orient, 
laden with^rosin, taken. 
French sloop, Fille Unique, of three men, 
from Bourdeaux, bound to Rochelle, laden 
with wood and tiles, taken. 
French vessel La Generosite, of five men, 
from Rochefort, bound to Bourdeaux, laden 
with wine and soap, taken. 
French sloop, Maria Anne, of four men, 
from Le Bourne, bound to Oieron, in Bal¬ 
last, taken. 
N: B. The Marie Anns has oft board the 
cargoes of La Jeune Emelie, and La Geue- 
rosite, William Ferris, Captain. 
GREAT BP IT AIN". 
Tlie French nre renewing their threats 
of invasion, and the object of their ma¬ 
noeuvres un our right wing, that is, in 
Portugal, is proved by their pi’esent de¬ 
monstrations on our left, that is, in 
Flanders. We sliould not wonder, while 
all our best troops and most experienced 
generals have been drawn towards our 
distant right'wing, tliat is, into Portugal, 
if the dashing Duke of Elchingen, he; ter 
4 known 
