3801.] 
tor, has infpected Bruges, Oftend, and 
Nieuport. 
The whole coaft of ci-devant Flanders, 
the mouths of the Scheldt and the Meufe, 
and the ports of Holland, are however 
blockaded by the Englifh fquadrons and 
cruizers. All thefe extraordinary exer- 
tions evince the fears of the Englifh Go- 
vernment at the formidable preparations 
carrying on from the Texel as far as 
Havre. 
Authentic intelligence arrived at the 
Admiralty, July fhe 28th, from the Hon. 
William Cornwallis, Admiral of the Blue, 
informing the Lords Commiffioners that 
his Lordthip, had received a letter from 
Captain Brifbane, of his Majefty’s fhip 
Doris, who commands the frigates em- 
ployed in watching the enemy’s fleet at 
the entrance of Breft harbour. 
Captain Brifbane informs the Admiral 
that a moft daring and gallant enterprize 
was, on the night of the 21ft of July, un- 
dertaken by the boats of his Majefty’s 
fhips, entirely manned ni volunteers, un- 
der the direction.of Lieutenant Lofack, 
of the Ville de Paris, whofe gallantry on 
the occafion is better felt than exprefled, 
who fucceeded in‘boarding and carrying 
the French national fhip, La Chevrette, 
mounting twenty guns, manned and com- 
pletely prepared with 350 men, under the 
batteries in the Bay of Cameret, and in 
prefence of the combined fleets of France 
and Spain. Captain Brifbane fays, any 
comments of his would fall fhort of the 
merits due to thofe gallant. officers, fea- 
men, and marines, employed in this fer- 
vice. He concludes with regretting the lofs 
of the killed and wounded; but fays, 
when compared with that cf the enemy, 
it is comparatively fmall. ‘The total of 
the killed was eleven, and of the wound- 
ed fifty-feven, and one miffing. The total 
of the enemy killed was the captain and 
ninety-one feamen and troops, and of the © 
wounded fixty two. 
~ Rear Admiral Sir James Saumarez has 
fent a Jetter to Mr. Nepean, dated on 
board his Majefty’s fhip Cefar, at Gibral- 
tar, the 6th of July, of the following pur- 
port: He food through the Streights, 
with his Majeity’s {quadron under his or- 
ders, with the intention of attacking three 
French line of battle thips and a frigate, 
which were at anchor off Algefiras: On 
opening Cabareta point, he found the fhips 
Jay at a confiderable diftance from the 
enemy’s batteries, and having a leading 
wind up to them, afforded-every reafon- 
State of Public Affairs in Auguft, 1801. 
157 
able hope of fuccefs in the attack. He 
had previoufly directed Captain Hood, in 
the Vener able, to lead the {quadron, which 
he executed with his accuftomed gallantry; 
and, although it was not. intended he 
fhould anchor, he found himfelf under the 
neceflity fo to do, trom the wind’s failizg, 
(a circumftance fo much te be apprehend- 
ed in this country) and to which circum- 
ftance he has to regret the want of fuc- 
cefs in this well-intended enterprize. Cap- 
tain Stirling anchored oppolite to the imner 
fhip of the enemy, and brought the Pom- 
pée to action in the moit f{pirited and gal- 
lant manner, which was alfo followed 
by the commanders of every fhip in the 
{quadron. 
Captains Darby and Ferris, owing to 
light winds, were prevented for a confi- 
derable time from coming into ation; 
at length the Hannibal getting a breeze 
Captain Ferris had the moft ee 
profpeét of being along-fide one of the 
enemy’s fhips, hen the Hannibal unfor- 
tunately took the ground, and he was ex- 
tremely concerned ‘to acquaint their Lord 
fhips, that after having made every pof- 
fible effort with this fhip and the Auda. 
cious to cover her from the enemy, he 
was under the necefiity to make fail, be- 
ing at the time only three cables length 
from one of the enemy’s batteries. 
The total number of officers and men 
killed, wounded, and mifiing,, in this 
action, was 375. 
Another di {patch from Rear Admiral 
Sir James Sa2umarez, dated on board the 
Cefar, off Cape Trafalgar, July 13, was 
received at the Admiralty, Augult the 3d, 
acquainting the Commiffioners that the 
three French line of battle thips difabled 
in the aétion of the 6th of July, off Al- 
gefiras, were, on the 8th, reinforced b 
a f{quadron of five Spanifh line of battle- 
fhips under the command of Don Juan 
Joaquin de Moreno, and a Frenchthip of 
feventy-four guns, wearing a broad pen- 
dant, befides three frigates, and an incre- 
dible number of gunboats and other 
veffels, and got under fail on the morning 
of the rath of July, together with his 
Majefty’s late fhip Hannibal, which the 
French had fuceeeded in gettmg off the 
fhoal on which the ftruck, | 
- The Admiral fays, *¢ I almof defpair- 
ed of having a fufficient force in readinefs 
to oppofe to fuch numbers, but, through 
the great exertions of Captain Brenton, 
the officers, and men, belonging to the 
Calar, the fhip was in readinefs to warp 
out 
