of Good Hope by the Narcissus, 32, R. Donnelly.-28. Le General Blanchard, (French,) 16 guns, 130 men, taken by the Favourite, sloop, 18, J. Davie, Coast of Africa. During this year Buonaparte had vigorously pursued his plans for the invasion of Great Britain, having 160,000 men encamped on the French coast, while bis flotilla was assembled at Boulogne. The whole was, however, broken up on the commencement of the war with Russia and Austria. OBITUARY, 1805. October 23. Rear-Admiral R. Palliser Cooper, on the Superannuated List. November 23. At his scat at Sidmonton, Hants, Admiral Sir Richard Kingsmill, Bart. aged 74. COMMANDING OFFICERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE. Vice Admiral Right Hon. Lord Viscount Nelson, Victory, 100, killed. Post-Captain William Henry Jervis, Tonnant, 80, drowned.t Post-Captain George Duff, Mars, 74, killed. Post-Captain John Cook, Bellerophon, 74, killed. Commander William Temple, Geolan sloop, 16, drowned. Commander Henry Burke, Seagull brig, 18, drowned. Commander James Toppet, Hawke sloop, 18, drowned. Commander William Woolsey, Papellon sloop, 18, drowned. Lieutenant J. Eddes Baker, Winchelsea, 32, drowned 12th April, in endeavouring to join his ship from New Southend, Essex, the jolly boat upsetting. Lieutenant James Marshall, Watchful gun-brig, 14, drowned. Lieutenant William Scott, Althorpe, (hired cutter) 16, drowned. * State of the French Flotilla at the different Ports of France on the 20th July 1805, with the number of men and horses it was destined to carry. Twelve regiments of cavalry and twenty-three of infantry were ordered to be stationed on the coasts of France, and none are included in the above statement, and also the different vessels bought, built, and the great number of fishing-boats ordered to be ready to embark troops, &c. to Dieppe, Havre-de-Grace, Rochelle, Rochfort, St. Malo, all not included in the preceding account; according to the French information received by the French Government, the military force of Great Britain was ascertained to be, viz. 351,000 volunteers, 99,000 regular troops, 87,000 militia, 75,000 Irish volunteers, and 28,000 sea fencibles. + By the upsetting of his barge as he was proceeding to Sir Charles Cotton (who commanded before Brest in the absence of Admiral Cornwallis) with intelligence respecting the enemy's squadron. He was nephew and heir to Earl St. Vincent. He was killed by a cannon-ball off the coast of Boulogne, at the moment he was ordering his men to cheer. The shot entered his right side, just above the hip-bone, carrying away his bowels and some of the lower ribs. He was a brave and meritorious officer, had been 23 years a Lieutenant, and engaged in numerous actions. Number of ships of the line from 60 to 120 guns, ships from 44 to 50, frigates, sloops, &c. on the 1st of January and 1st of July, 1805. January 1. Mungo Park sailed from Portsmouth on his second expedition into the interior of Africa.*-11. Orders issued by Great Britain for making general reprisals againt Spain.-18. Le Vimereux (French lugger), 15 guns, 69 men, captured by the Greyhound, 32, C. Elphinstone, in the Channel.-21. The Doris, P. Campbell, 36, B. 1795, struck in the night on a sunken rock, and destroyed, in Quiberon Bay, crew saved.-23. A French felucca, 1 gun, I swivel, 27 men, taken by the Peterell (sloop), 18, J. Lambert, Jamaica Station.-26. L'Elizabeth, French schooner, 4 guns, 34 men, taken by the Epervier (brig), 16, John Impey, Leeward Island Station. Flip, 18 men, (Dutch) taken by the Swan (hired cutter), Lieut. W. R. Wallace.-29. The Raven (brig), William Layman, 18, B. 1804, wrecked in Cadiz Bay, two of the crew lost. Deux Amis (French privateer) 6 guns, 40 men, taken by the King Fisher (sloop), 18, R. W. Crabb, Jun.-30. The London Docks opened. February. The Arthur (formerly Venus) cutter, Lieut. R. Cooban, 6, hired, taken by a French squadron in the Mediterranean. A French squadron of three ships of the line, and some frigates, made an attack on the town of Rosseau, Dominica, and after a gallant defence by Gen. Prevost, the town capitulated, but in a few days the French abandoned their conquest.-See Military Annals.4. The Arrow (sloop), of twenty-eight 32-pounder carronades, and 125 men, Capt. R. B. Vincent, The plan of the expedition was that Park, with a detachment of soldiers, an a lequate store of merchandize, and a few seamen and carpenters should construct vessels for the navigation of the and the Acheron (bomb), of eight carronades, two bombs, and 67 men, A. Farquhar, having charge of convoy from Malta, bound to England, were captured by the French frigates Hortense, of 48 guns and 340 men, and Incorruptible, of 42 guns and 320 men, off Cape Caxine.* El Fuerte de Gibraltar, 4, Spanish, taken by the Mercury, D. P. Bouverie.-7. Madame Ernouf (French), 16 guns, 120 men, taken by Le Curieux (sloop), 16, G. E. B. Bettesworth, Leeward Island Station.-8. Carmerara (Spanish) schooner, 16 guns, taken by the Lark (sloop), 18, Frederick Langford, Bay of Senegal. Orqulio,+ 18, (Spanish) taken by the Peque, 36, C. H. B. Ross, off the Havanna.-13. The Melampus, 36, S. Pointz, captured near the Passage 'du Raz, two gun brigs, carrying two 24 and one 18pounder each; and four luggers mounting one 18 pounder each. The Rhoda and Faith armed cutters, the latter commanded by Lieut. J. Nicholson, captured two luggers also of the same description. General Augereau (French), 14 guns, 88 men, taken by the Topaze, 38, W. T. Lake, Irish Channel.14. La Psyche, 36, (French) taken by the St. Fiorenzo, 36, H. Lambert, East Indies, after a very spirited resistance of three hours and a half.-23. Ville de Milan,‡ 48, (French) taken by the Leander, 50, John Talbot, on the Halifax Station. The Bouncer (gun brig), Lieut. S. Bassan, 14, B. 1804, wrecked off Dieppe, and crew made prisoners. March 1. La Farina (Spanish) schooner, 4 guns, 62 men, taken by the Circe, 32, J. Rose, off Oporto. Imogene (sloop), H. Vaughan, 18 Pr. P. 1804; foundered on her passage from Leeward Islands, crew saved. Redbridge (schooner), 8, B. 1804, lost at Jamaica, crew saved.-7. Santa Rosalia Galundrina (Spanish), 57 men, taken by the Rein Deer, 16, J. Fyffe, Jamaica Station. El Intrepide, corvette (Spanish), 14 guns, 66 men, taken by the Immortalite, 36, E. W. C. B. Owen, at sea.-10. Mr. Thomas Musgrave, Commander of the Kitty, private sloop of war, after an action of one hour and a half, captured the Spanish private ship of war, Felicity, of 20 guns and 170 men; one of the Kitty's men was killed and two dangerously wounded. This action was highly creditable to British valour, as not 20 of the Kitty's crew ever saw a gun tired before, and not twice that number were ever at sea before, leaving the Downs on the 3rd of the month.-16. L'Intrepid (schooner), 4 guns, 62 men, taken by the Grenada (schooner), 10, Lieut. John Barker, Leeward Island Station.23. Antelope (Dutch), 5 guns, 54 men, taken by the Stork (sloop), 18, G. Le Geyte, Jamaica Station. April 2. Empereur (French), 14 guns, 82 men, taken by the Eagle, 14, David Colby, Leeward Island Station.-3. L'Elizabeth, 10, (Spanish), taken by the Bacchante, 20, Charles Dashwood, off the Havannah. Capt. Dashwood after this capture, having information that there were three French Privateers in the harbour of Mariel, determined to rout them. Lieuts. Oliver and Campbell volunteered their services, and were dispatched on the evening of the 5th in two boats; and as it was absolutely necessary to gain possession of a round tower, near 40 feet high, on the top of which were three long 24 pounders, with loop holes round its circumference for musketry, and well manned, they * The noble defence made by this sloop and bomb-vessel, enabled thirty-one out of thirty-four merchantmen to escape. At a quarter past four A.M. the Hortense, after hailing, opened a fire of round and grape on the Acheron, which she returned with her starboard guns, then tacked and discharged her opposite ones. The Arrow, which had in the mean time bore up, raked the Hortense. Daylight showed to the British the force with which they had to contend. The Arrow made signals to the convoy, and hauled the wind, followed in close order by the Acheron. About five minutes after seven, being abreast of the Arrow, and within half-musket shot distance, the Incorruptible opened her broadside, and received that of the Arrow in return. In a few minutes more this frigate arrived up with, and began engaging the Acheron; and the Hortense having closed with the Arrow, the action then became general. From being exposed to the fire of both frigates, the Arrow became unmanageable, and in this state was warmly engaged with the Incorruptible. At length, having four of her guns dismounted, her rudder machinery disabled, her lower masts and yards badly wounded, several shot between wind and water, 13 of her crew killed, and 27 wounded, the colours were hauled down, after being engaged more than an hour. In twenty minutes after, the Acheron, who, on the Arrow's surrender, had made all sail to the southward, having also been much disabled in masts, sails, and rigging, struck her colours to the Hortense. Scarcely had the surviving crew been removed from the Arrow, than she sank; and the shattered state of the Acheron induced the captors to set her on fire. The French frigates had each about 300 troops, exclusive of their crews. + Afterwards foundered, see October. The Ville de Milan had previously taken the Cleopatra, 32, Sir Robert Lawrie, after a long and most determined resistance, which latter was also retaken by the Leander. Sir Robert Lawrie did not surrender until he had so completely disabled his huge opponent, as to render both vessels (now French) an easy capture to the Leander, Capt. Talbot, one of the most promising young officers in the service, who, by this means, and scarcely firing a gun, had the option of commanding one of the finest frigates in the French Navy; but with that generous spirit, the characteristic of a brave officer, he deferred this material object to Sir Robert Lawrie, to whose spirit, bravery, and perseverance alone, he generously ascribed the double capture of the Ville de Milan and her prize the Cleopatra, as, if the Frenchman had not been so beaten, she certainly would not have proved so easy a prize. Sir Robert in bis dispatch observed, that immediately after the surrender of the Cleopatra, "she became a perfect wreck, not a spar standing but the mizen-mast, the bowsprit, and other masts gone by the board, and I fully expected she would have foundered before both ships could get clear of each other."-" More gallantry and bravery could not have been displayed than by both officers and men of so young a ship's company, many being under twenty years of age, and only three marines who had joined that corps more than two weeks before they embarked."-Dispatch. had to carry the fort previous to their entering the harbour, so as to secure a safe retreat. Lient. Oliver being in the headmost boat, finding himself discovered, and as not a moment was to be lost at such a critical period," most nobly advanced, without waiting for his friend, landed in the face of, and in opposition to, a most tremendous fire, without condescending to return the salutation, mounted the fort by a ladder, and fairly carried it by a coup-de-main.”* "Having been rejoined by Lieut. Campbell, he dashed on to attack the privateers, but found they had sailed the day previous on a cruise. He was therefore obliged to be content with taking possession of two schooners laden with sugar."-Dispatch.-4. La Hazard (French) schooner, 6 guns, 80 men, taken by the Blanche, 36, Zelludge, Jamaica Station.-6. Mr. Whitbread, in the House of Commons, brought forward charges against Lord Melville, for misapplication of the public money, when Treasurer of the Navy, and in consequence of the resolutions of the House, bis Lordship+ resigned the office of First Lord of the Admiralty.-8. La Desirée (French) schooner 14 guns, 71 men, taken by the Barbadoes, 28, Joseph Nourse, at sea.-9. French schooner, name unknown, 7, sunk by the Gracieuse, 14, T. B. Smith, Jamaica Station.-11. Treaty of Concert concluded between Great Britain and Russia against France: Austria, and Sweden, shortly after joined in the league.-12. L'Alert, (French) 4 guns, 32 men, taken by the Inflexible; 64, T. Bayley, at sea.-13. Capt. P. Carteret of the Scorpion brig, (18) in company with the Providence, (16) Capt. Rye, captured L'Honneur, Dutch schooner of 12 guns.-14. Orestes, 1 gun, 6 swivels, 36 men, and Pylades, same force, (both French) taken by the Musquito sloop, 18, S. Jackson, in the Channel.-15. Conception, (Spanish) felucca, 1 gun, 20 men, taken by the Papillon, 16, W. Woolsey, Savannah La Mar.-24. Seven Dutch Schuyts taken by Rear-Admiral Douglas's squadron off Cape Grisnez.-27. General , (French) taken by the Renard sloop, 14, Jeremiah Coghlan, Jamaica.-29. The Commons of England impeach Lord Melville at the Bar of the House for malversations during his tenure of the Office of Treasurer of the Navy.-30. La Perseverance (French) schooner, 5 guns, 84 men, taken by the Seine, 36, D. Atkins, Jamaica Station. May 4. Le Temprebort (French) cutter, 4 güns, 35 men, taken by the Unicorn, 32, L. Hardyman. -6 and 7. La Renomée (French) 3 guns, 56 men, La Rencontre (French) 2 guns, 42 men, and Venus (French) 1 gun, 35 men, taken by the Sandwich cutter, 10, Lieut. Benardiney, Babama Banks. Les Amis Reunis, (French) 2 guns, 38 men, taken by the Victor sloop, 18, Lieut. Bell, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf. Santa Rosa (Spanish) schooner, 3 guns, 57 men, taken by the Hunter, 18, S. H. Inglefield.-7. Napoleon, (Spanish) 20 guns, 108 men, taken by the Topaze, 36, W. J. Lake, at Sea. -8. Capt. C. Boyle, of the Seahorse, 38, having observed a Spanish convoy go into the anchorage of St. Pedro, to the eastward of Cape de Gatt, where they were protected by a fort, two armed schooners, and three gun and mortar launches, determined to attempt their destruction. The vessel of greatest consequence to get out was an ordnance brig, laden with 1170 quintals of powder, and various other stores for the gun boats on the coast, which was effected by Lieut. Downie, in a six-oared cutter, assisted by Mr. T. Napper, midshipman, in a four-oared boat. The Seahorse during the time kept up a well-directed fire on the fort, gun vessels, and convoy, and having sunk one of the gunlaunches, and damaged and sunk several others of the convoy, night coming on, with light winds, the main-top gallant masts, sails, braces, and bowlines shot away by the fire of the gun-launches, she hauled off.-9. La Travela (Spanish) lugger, 3 guns, 40 men, taken by the Millbrook, schooner, 14, John C. Carpenter, Bayonne Islands.-11. Damas, (Spanish) 4 guns, 57 men, taken by the King. fisher, sloop, 18, W. R. Cribb, off Cape St. Julah. Hawke, sloop, J. Tippet, 18, P. P. 1803, missing since May, supposed to have foundered in the channel. Sea Gull, brig, H. Burke, 18, B. 1795, and Mary, (hired) Lieut. T. S. Pacy, foundered in a cruise, with all the crews, time unknown. Fly, sloop, T. B. Pellew, 18, B. 1804, lost on the Carysfort Reef in the Gulf of Florida, crew saved.— 12. Cyane,|| sloop, 18, Hon. G. Cadogan, B. 1796, (since Cerf) taken by the French frigates Hortense and Hermione, near Martinique. Orestes, sloop, T. Browne, 16, P. 1803, ran aground on a sand-bank near Gravelines, and afterwards burnt, to prevent capture; crew saved.-13. Santa Anna (Spanish) schooner, 5 guns, 108 men, taken by the Peterell, 18, J. Lanborn, off Cuba.-14. Orestes (French) 1 gun, 6 swivels, 34 men, taken by the Inspector, sloop, 16, E. J. Mitchell, Channel. Le Felix (Spanish) schooner, 6 guns, 42 men, taken by the Bacchante, 20, C. Dashwood, off the Havana.-16. Justicia (Spanish) schooner, 4 guns, 95 men, taken by the Cyane, 18, G. Cadogan.— 17. Le Teazer (French) 7 guns, 51 men, taken by the Osprey sloop, 18, T. Clinch, Leeward Island Station.-20. El Fanix (Spanish) brig, 14 guns, 85 men, taken by Topaze, 36, W. T. Lake, at sea. "I wish to mark my admiration of the noble conduct of Lieut. Oliver in so gallantly attacking and carrying a fort which, with the men it contained, ought to have maintained its position against fifty times the number that were opposed; but nothing could withstand the prompt and manly steps taken by that officer and his gallant crew on this occasion."-Dispatch. On the 6th May, the Chancellor of the Exchequer acquainted the House that His Majesty had erased Lord Melville's name from the list of the Privy Council. Lord Melville was succeeded by Sir Charles Middleton, newly created a Baron of the Realm by the title of Lord Barbam. She had on board 1000 stand of arms, a complete set of clothing for that number of men, and a considerable quantity of warlike stores; she had besides, two field pieces, and two mortars, tents, &c. for troops. Jean Saint Faust, noted for his successful depredations on the British commerce, was a passenger on board of her, Retaken by the Princess Charlotte, see October 5. -26. San Felix El Socoro (Spanish) felucca, 1 gun, 40 men, taken by Racoon, 18, E. Crofton, off Jamaica.-27. Conception (Spanish) felucca, 2 guns, 10 men, taken by Seine, 36, D. Atkins, off Puerto Rico.-28. De Zenno (Dutch) 13 men, taken by the Charger, brig, 14, J. A. Blow. North Sea Station.-31. French Privateer, name unknown, 1 gun, 25 men, taken by the Trinidad, schooner, 10, Lieut. Stout. La Desirée (French) felucca, 1 gun, 49 men, taken by the Heureux, 24, G. Younghusband, West Indies. June 2. Capt. Maitland, of the Loire (40), sent the launch and two cutters, under his first Lieutenant, Yeo, to bring out a small vessel which was discovered standing in the Bay of Camarinas, to the eastward of Cape Finisterre; from the intricacy of the passage, the boats did not get up till break of day, when they found two small privateers moored under a battery of 10 guns. Lieut. Yeo, undaunted by a circumstance so little expected, ordered the launch, commanded by Mr. Charles Clinch, Master's Mate, to board the smallest, whilst he with the two cutters attacked and carried the largest, the Esperanza, alias San Pedro, a felucca of 3 guns, 4 swivels, and 50 men; the launch had the same success, the fort opening a fire so ill-directed as to do little damage. Being perfectly calm, close under the guns of the enemy's battery, and no possibility of receiving assistance from the Loire, Lient. Yeo was compelled to abandon the smallest vessel, a lugger of 2 guns, and 32 men, to secure the felucca.-3. Capt. Maitland being informed there was a French Privateer of 26 guns fitting out at Elburos, appointed Lieut. Yeo to head the boarders, amounting, officers included, to 50 men. On hauling round the point of the road, a small battery of 2 guns opened a fire on the ship, which was returned; but perceiving it would be a considerable annoyance, Lieut. Yeo pushed on shore and spiked the guns. As the ship drew in, and more fully opened the bay, Capt. Maitland perceived a very large corvette, (the Confiance of 26 ports) and a large brig (Le Belier of 20 ports), but neither of them firing, he concluded they had not their guns on board. The sole object of his attention there. fore was the fort, which began a well-directed fire, every shot taking place on the hull. The fire was returned with great effect, and the fort would have been soon silenced, notwithstanding its spirited defence, had it not been completely embrazured. Lieut. Yeo soon put an end to their fire; after taking the small battery on the point, he perceived at the distance of a quarter of a mile a regular fort, ditched, and with a gate, which the enemy (not suspecting his landing) had neglected to secure, and which was firing upon the ship. Without waiting for orders he pushed forward, was the first in, and after a dreadful slaughter on the part of the enemy, the remainder surrendered, and the British colours were immediately hoisted.+-4. Confiance (French) 26 guns, and Belier (French) brig, taken by Loire, 40, F. Maitland, Elburos. The British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson, arrived at Barbadoes in pursuit of the Toulon French fleet, which after being joined by the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, had sailed from the latter place for the West Indies. His Lordship, on first learning that the Toulon fleet had put to sea, conjectured that the destination was Egypt, and he immediately sailed for Alexandria; but on his return, learning their true destination, and having hastily provisioned at Palermo, he again departed in pursnit.-5. Santa Leocadia (Spanish) 14 guns, 114 men, taken by the Helena, 18, Woodley Losack, at sea.--10. L'Amitie, 14, (French) schooner, taken by the Blanche, 36, Z. Mudge, Jamaica Station.-11. The House of Commons agree to a criminal prosecution of Lord Viscount Melville.-13. Maria (Spanish) schooner, 14 guns, 60 men, taken by the Cambrian, 38, J. P. Beresford, at sea.-18. La Colombia, 16, (French) corvette, taken by the Endymion, 44, Hon. C. Paget.--21. Constance, (French) 10 guns, 75 men, taken by the Circe, 32, Jonas Rose.--25. Valiant (French) 30 guns, taken by the Loire, 40, F. Maitland, at sea. The House of Commons change their mode of proceeding, and resolve on impeaching Lord Melville.-26. Amotellan (Dutch) 12 guns, 60 men, taken by the Rosamond sloop, B. Walker, Home Station. July 3. Matilda (French) schooner, 20 guns, 95 men, taken by the Cambrian, 38, J. P. Beresford, at sea.-7 Josefine, (French,) 2 guns, 35 men, taken by the Ramilies, 74, F. Peckmore, and Illustrious, 74, W. Shield.-10. La Hirondelle (French) brig, 16 guns, 90 men, taken by the Venus, 32, H. Matson, off Ireland.-11. In the House of Commons an address to His Majesty was resolved upon for copies of the correspondence between the British and French Governments relative" to the * When the crew of the felucca were mustered, 19 out of 50 were missing, some of them had jumped overboard; but the greater part were killed by the pike, there being no weapon used but that and the sabre. The Loire's men, including officers, only amounted to 35 opposed to 80 Spaniards, with their vessels moored to the walls of a heavy battery. The British had 15 wounded; the Governor of the fort, and a Spanish gentleman who had volunteered, the second captain of the Confiance, and nine others of the Spaniards, were killed; thirty, amongst whom were most of the officers of the Confiance, were wounded. The enemy's force at the commencement of the action was a fort of 12 guns, 22 soldiers, several Spanish gentlemen and townsmen volunteers, and about 100 of the ships' company of the Confiance. Capt. Maitland and his crew manifested so much humanity to the inhabitants, as to call forth the personal thanks of the Bishop of the Diocese, conduct which must have impressed the Spaniards with the most exalted ideas of the nobleness of character and heroism of British seamen. The combined fleets of France and Spain, on the arrival of Lord Nelson in the West Indies, notwithstanding their numerical superiority, immediately sailed for Europe; a transaction which, while it stamps the highest reputation upon the British name and arms, covers with indelible disgrace the naval character of the enemy. The unceasing activity of Nelson compelled him to, what even his modesty could not refuse the term of, a pursuit, and the novel scene presented itself to an admiring world of 17 sail of French and Spanish ships of the line, flying before a force of the same class bearing the British ensigns. |