noon I took a private fhip of war L'Eclair, of 18 guns and 120 men, and the fame evening joined the British fleet. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN. 24, 1797. Extract of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Bligh, to Evan Nepean, Efp. dated on beard his Majesty's Ship Brunswick, Mole St. Nicholas, St. Domingo, O. 31, 1796. A SMALL French schooner privateer, mounting one gun and three (wivels, and twenty-five men, called Le Capitaine Ge. peroux, was brought in here the 18th init. captured by his Majesty's fhip Adventure and armed fchooner Le Dauphin Royal, belonging to St. Domingo. She had failed. from Aux Cayes two days, and had taken nothing. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JAN. 31. Copy of a Letter from Richard Onflow, Efq. Vice Admiral of the Red, to Mr. Ne. pean, dated on board bis Majesty's Skip Najau, Yarmouth Roads, Jan. 29,1797. SIR, BE pleafed to inform my Lords Commillioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's hired armed cutter Griffin anchored in thefe Roads yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, with the French privateer lugger La Liberté, her prize, carrying three carriage guns, four fwivels, and eighteen men: She was taken at the entrance of the thip-wash, after a chace of three hours and a half. This is one of the veffels that has infefted the coaft for fome time past.. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient humble fervant, R. ONSLOW. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FEB. 18. Extract of a Letter from Vice Admiral Onflore to Evan Nepean, El. dated on board bis Majefly's Ship Naffau, in Yar mouth Roads, Feb. 17, 1797. BE pleafed to inform my Lords Com. miflioners of the Admiralty, that bis Majefty's hip Efpion is just arrived in thefe roads; fhe feparated from the Martin floop on the night of the 14th inft. in a heavy gale of wind; the latter has the charge of the Buonaparte pri vateer. 1 inclofe, for their Lordships further information, Captain Dixon's letter. SIR, Efpion, at Sea, Feb. 16, 1797. I Have the honour to inform you, that, at ten A. M. on the 14th inft. the Texel bearing S. E. diftant eighteen leagues, chace was given to a fhip under Danish colours, on the weather bow, which, after making every effort to get away, was overpressed with fail, and at fix P. M. brought-to by the Espion and Martin. She proved to be La Buonaparte French privateer, mounting 16 fix-pounders, and one long twelvepounder, with a compliment of 110 men, but had only 82 on board; the failed from Cherbourg on the rft inft. fince fince which he had cruized on the Coaft of Scotland, and had only captured one floop in ballaft, which was liberated; eight fix-pounders were thrown overboard during the purfuir; all the day the weather was extremely boisterous, and it was with infinite difficulty and hazard the exchange of prifoners was effected. One boat belonging to the Efpion was left, but happily no lives; and it is but justice to the Officers and feamen of both fhips to declare they performed the fervice with manly spirit and determination; as during the night it blew very hard at N. N.W. The Martin and prize unavoidably separated from the Efpion; Capt. Sutton had been previously defired to ftay by the prize, and fee her into Yar mouth. The privateer is quite new, fails remarkably faft, and is in every respect well found as a veffel of war. I have the honour to be, &c (Signed) MANLY DIXON. Vice Admiral Onflow, Yarmouth. ADMIRALTY OFFICE, FEB. 12. Copy of a Letter from Captain Halftead, Commander of his Majefty's Ship Phonix, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Sea, Feb. 11, 1797. SIR, BE pleafed to acquaint their Lord. hips, that the Jeune Emilie, a French privateer brig, of ten guns and 62 men, was captured by his Majefty's fhip Triton this evening. She has been only 40 days from St. Maloe's, has taken an English floop called the Friendship, from Lifbon to Liverpool, with fruit, and an English fhip letter of marque, ten nine-pounders, and 21 men, called the Battalion, from Liverpool to Jamaica, after an action of three quarters of an hour. I have alfo to acquaint you, for their Lordships' further information, that the Triton captured the French privateer cutter Recovery, of 14 guns and 46 men, on the 10th inft. which had been a few days from Havre, and had taken an English fmuggler, and an American fhip bound to Bombay; the latter was re-taken a few hours afterwards by the Stag. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FE B. 21, 1797. Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Bazeley,Commanding his Majefiy's Ships and Veffels in the Downs, to E. Nepean, Efq. dated Feb. 19. YOU will be pleated to acquaint their Lordships, that his Majefty's fhip Eurydice, Captain Talbot, arrived here yefterday, and has brought in with him a fine French lugger privateer. I inclofe herewith a copy of his letter to me, giv ing an account of her capture. Eurydice in the Downs, Feb. 11, 1797. SIR, Laft Sunday morning, immediately on receiving the intelligence you fent me by the Phoenix cutter, relative to the privateers which have failed from Oftend and Dunkirk, I proceeded, together with the Queen and Narciffus cutters, to the northward, in hopes of ADMI meeting with fome of them. I have the honour to be, &c. On On Monday night, at half paft nine o'clock, being then a few leagues to the Southward and Weftward of the Galloper, we fell in with and captured, after a chace of three hours and a half, Le Flibuster, French lugger privateer, of 60 tons, mounting 14 four and threepounders, with fix fwivels, and man. ned with 63 men: he had failed the night before from Dunkirk, and had not taken any thing; is a very fine vetfel, fails fall, and was bound to the Northward to cruze for our Baltic trade. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) JOHN TALBOT. Rear Admiral Baseley, Downs. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, FEB. 25, 1797. SIR, I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Com. millioners of the Admiralty, that his Majefty's loop Scourge, under my command, at half past twelve P. M.on the 21ft inftant, the land bearing N. E. by E.diftant five or fix leagues,ca, tured, after a chace of three hours, a French privateer, called Le Furet, pierced for fourteen, but only mounting ten guns, having the other four in her hold. She had on board, when taken, fifty men, befides twenty-two English prifoners, feven of whom were wounded; the is commanded by Benoith Giron, had been twenty days from L'Orient, is Coppered, and a faft failer. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. H. R. GLYNN. WHITEHALL, FEB. 25, 1797. A LETTER this day received by the Duke of Portland, from Lord Milford, Lord Lieutenant for the county of Pembroke, dated Haverfordwest, Feb. 23, five P. M. contains information, that two frigates, a corvette, and a lugger, appeared off the coast of Pembrokefire the 22d inft. and on the evening of that day difembarked fome troops, reported by deferters to be about 1200, but without field pieces. It appears that the most active exertions were made by the Lord Lieutenant and Gentlemen of the county and its neighbourhood, in taking proper meafures on this occafion; and that the * These are the fame veffels mentioned in greateft zeal and loyalty were manifested Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant- 1797. I Think it my duty to fate to your Grace, that I yesterday received an exprefs from Ilfracombe, mentioning that there were three frigates off that place; that they had fcuttled feveral merchantmen, and were attempting to deftroy the thipping in the harbour. They begged that I would immediately order the North Devon Regiment of Volunteers under my command to march to their affiftance. In confe quence of this representation, I ordered the men to get ready to march as foon as poffibic. I have great fatisfaction in faying, that in four hours I found eve. ry Officer and man that was ordered on the parade at Bideford (fifteen miles from home) ready and willing to march to any place they should be commanded to go to. I cannot exprefs the fatisfaction I felt at feeing the men fo willing to defend their King and Coun try, at the fame time as filent, orderly, and fober, as might be expected at a morning parade of an old regiment. The greateft exertions were made by all defcriptions of people to affilt, and to render every fervice in their power, As I was preparing to march, I received an account from Ilfracombe, that the French fhips were gone from the coaft, and that tranquillity was reftored again to the town. How far the report was well founded I cannot poffibly tay, but as this affair may be mifreprefented and exaggerated, I trust your Grace letter; and I flatter myteif it muft give will excule me troubling you with this you pleasure to hear of the loyalty of this neighbourhood, and that the be haviour of the Volunteers and Inha bitants will meet the approbation of his Majefty. WHITEHALL, FEB. 26, 1797. LETTERS, of which the following are Extracts, have been this day receiv ed from the Right Hon. Lord Milford, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Pembroke, by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. the foregoing Letter of Lord Milford. Haverfordwest, February 24, 1797, Six o'clock, A. M. Since I had the honour of writing laft to your Grace by exprefs, I have received information of the French fhips having failed, and left 300 men behind, who have furrendered themfelves pri foners. The great spirit and loyalty that the Gentlemen and Peafantry have fhewn on this occafion exceeds defcription. Many thoufands of the latter affembled, armed with pikes and fevthes, and attacked the enemy, previous to the arrival of the troops that were fent against them. Haverfordwest, February 24, None o Clock, P. M. I Have the honour and pleature to inform your Grace, that the whole of the French troops, amounting to near four.' teen hundred men, have ferrendered, and are now on their march to Haverfordwest. I have taken the first opportunity of announcing this good news to your Grace, and thall have the honour of writing again to your Grace by tomorrow's poft. WHITEHALL, FEB. 27, 1797. A LETTER, of which the following is a copy, has been this day received from the Right Hon. Lord Cawdor, by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. Fifeguard, Friday, Feb. 24, 1797. MY LORD, In confequence of having received information, on Wednesday night at eleven o'clock, that three large hips of war and a lugger had anchored in a fmall Roadfted, upon the coaft in the neighbourhood of this town, I proceeded immediately, with a detachment of the Cardigan Militia and all the Provincial Force I could collect, to the place. I foon gained pofitive intelligence they had difembarked about 1200 men, but no cannon. Upon the night's fetting in, a French Officer, whom I found to be fecond in command, came in with a Letter, a copy of which I have the honour to inclofe to your Grace, together with my anfwer: In confequence of which they determined to furrender themselves prifoners of war, and accordingly laid down their arms this day at two o'clock. I cannot at this montent inform your Grace of the exact number of prifo. ners, but I believe it to be their whole force; it is my intention to march them this night to Haverfordwest, where I thall make the belt diftribution in my power. The frigates, corvette. and lugger, got ander weigh yesterday evening, and were this morning entirely out of fight. The Fatigue we experienced will, I truft, excufe me to your Grace for not giving a more particular detail; but my anxiety to do juice to the Officers and men I had the honour to command will induce me to attend your Grace, with as little delays poilible, to itate their merits, and at the fame time to give you every information in my power upon this fubject. The picit and loyalty which has pervaded all ranks throughout the country is infinitely beyond what I can exprefs. I am, &c. CAWDOR. Cardigan Bay, 5th of Ventufe, SIR, The circumftances under which the body of the French troops under niy command were landed at this place renders it unneceffary to attempt any military operations, as they would tend only to bloodthed and pillage. The Officers of the whole corps have therefore intimated their defire of entering into a negociation, upon principles of humanity, for a furrender. If you are influenced by fimilar confiderations, you may fignify the fame by the bearer, and in the mean time hoftilities fhall ceafc. Salut and refpe&, TATE, Chef de Brigade. To the Officer commanding his Britannic Majefiy's Troops. SIR, Fifbguard, Feb. 23, 1797. I enter The fuperiority of the force under my command, which is hourly increafing, must prevent my treating upon зuy terms fhort of your furrendering your whole force prifoners of war. fully into your with of preventing an unneceffary effufion of blood, which your speedy furrender can alone prevent, and which will entitle you to that confideration it is ever the wifh of Bri tih troops to thew an enemy whole numbers are inferior. My Major will deliver you this letter, and I fhall expect your determination by ten o'clock, by your Officer, whom I have furnished with an efccrt, that will conduct him to me without moleftation. I am, &c. CAWDOR. To the Officer commanding the French Troops. SINCE the battle of Rivoli, Citizens Directors, the army of italy occupied the Banks of the Piave and Lavis: the Emperor's army, commanded by Prince Charles, occupied the other Bank of the Piave, had its centre behind the Cordevole, and fupported its right on the Adige, from the fide of the Salurre. On the 20th Ventofe, in the morning, the divifion of General Maifena repaired to Feltre; at his approach, the enemy evacuated the line of Cordevole, and marched to Bellurne. General Serrurier's divifion advanced to Afols amid the most horrible weather; but wind and rain, on the eve of a battle, have always been an omen of fuccefs to the army of Italy. On the 22d, at day-break, the divifion croffed the Piave, facing the village of Vider; notwithfanding the rapidity and depth of the water, we only loft a young drumater. The Chief of Squadron Lalalle, at the head of a detachment of cavalry, and the Adjutant-General Le Clerc, at the head of the 21ft light infantry, worsted the hoftile corps which wanted to oppofe our paffage, and advanced rapidly to St. Salvador; but the enemy, at the first news of the paffage, were afraid of being furrounded, and evacuated their camp of La Campan. General Guieux, at two o'clock in the afternoon, paffed the Piave at Ofpedaletto, and arrived in the evening at Conegliano, Our cavalry, in the courfe of that day, encountered feveral times that of the enemy, had always the advantage, and took eighty huffars. On the 23d General Guieux, with his divifion, arrived at Sacile, fell on the enemy's rear-guard, and, notwithftanding the darkness of the night, took one hundred prifoners from them. A corps of Halans wanted to capitulate. Citizen Siabeck, Chief of Squadron, was killed, and General Dugua flightly wounded. At the fame time General Maffena's divifion, having reached Bellurne, purfed the enemy, who had retreated to wards Cadore, hemmed in their rearguard, took 700 prifoners, among whom were 100 huffars, a Colonel, and General Lufignan, whocommanded the whole centre. Lufignan having difgraced him. felf in his conduct towards our fick at Brefcia, I gave orders to conduct him to France, without being exchanged. On the 26th, General Guieux's di vifion fet out from Pardepone, at five o'clock, in the morning: that of Gencral Serrurier left Paliano at four, both directing their march to Valvafone. General Guicux's divifion paffed be. yond Valvafone, and arrived on the banks of the Tagliamento at eleven o'clock in the morning. The hoftile army was entrenched on the oppofite fide of the river, of which it pretended to difpute the paffage. My Aide-de. Camp, the Chief of Squadron Croiter, went at the head of twenty-five guides to reconnoitre it as far as the entrenchments, and was received with grape. hot. General Bernadotte's divifion arrived at noon. I immediately gave orders to General Guieux to march to the left, in order to cross the river on the right of the enemy's entrenchments, under the protection of twelve pieces of artil lery. General Bernadotte was to cros it on the right; both divifions formed their battalions of grenadiers, ranged themselves in order of battle, having each half a brigade of light infantry before them, fupported by two battalions of grenadiers, and flanked by the ca valry. The light infantry manoeuvred as riflemen; General Dammertin on the left, and General Lefpinale on the |