TH

LONDON, JANUARY 7. HIS day an account was received in town from Portsmouth of the arrival there of the Woolverine gun-vessel, commanded by capt. Mortlock. This vessel sailed from the Downs only on Thursday last, on a cruise off the French coast, and on the following day she fell in with two large French luggers, one carrying 16 guns, and the other 14, and having on board 140 men each. A very warm action im mediately commenced, which was sustained for near two hours, during which the Frenchmen attempted to board the Woolverine. Capt. Mortlock, with his own band, lashed one of the French vessels to an iron stanchion of his ship, which, however, unfortunately gave way, and the Frenchman got off; and, they being close in with their own shore, they both escaped. Capt. Mortlock was wounded mortally the master was likewise wounded, and eight men; and a seaman and a marine were killed. When it is considered that the Woolverine mounts only 12 guns, and carries but 70 men, and that the united force of the enemy was 30 guns, and 280 men, this must be allowed to be one of the most gallant actions which a single ship has fought, during the war, distinguished as it has been by naval gallantry.

Admiralty Office, Jan. 8. The gazette contains an account of the capture of the French ship privateer La Minerve, of 16 guns, and 140 men; and the re-capture of the Asphalon of Newcastle, by his ma jesty's ship Indefatigable, capt. Sir E. Pellew.

This gazette contains likewise a letter from Sir E. Buller, commanding the sea fencibles along the coast of Devon, which states, that the Susannah brig, having sailed from the port of Dartmouth for Torbay, and come to an anchor off West Down Head, five miles from that place, being perceived to be boarded by a French privateer (L'Heureux Speculateur, of 14 guns), the Brixham sea fencibles went off in a boat, armed with musquets, and succeeded in recapturing the brig, which, on their appearance, was deserted by the Frenchmen, whom they also pursued and took. And that lieutenant Nicholas, with his usual zeal, with collector Brooking's assistance of small arms and boat, went also from this port with part of the sea fencibles, accompanied by a boat from his majesty's cutter Nimble, but was not fortunate enough to succeed in the attempt.

This gazette also contains an account of the capture of a French brig privateer of 14 guns and 64 (A 2)

men,

men, by his majesty's ship Triton, capt. Griffith ;-and also, the French cutter privateer La Rancune, carrying two swivels, small arms, and 21 men; and two brigs, the Lark and the Dion, which she had captured, by the Pigmy cutter, lieut. Shepheard commander.

Jan. 14. The corniog mill belonging to the gonpowder works of messrs. Pigou and Co. at Dartford, this day blew up, by which unfortunate accident two men and a boy were killed. A few of their scattered remains were collected together and interred, but by far the greatest part were literally blown to atoms. One man had fortunately left the mill not more than a minute before the explosion took place; and what, though singular, is true, this is the third time he has thus miraculously escaped from similar accidents.

Admiralty Office, Jan. 19. This gazette contains an account of the capture of L'Air schooner letter of marque; and Le Bon Ordre, of sixteen guns and 65 men; by his majesty's ship Clyde, capt. Cunningham.

IV bitehall, Jun. 21. Letters received from the earl of Balcarras, by his grace the duke of Portland.

expedition entirely frustrated. The lieut. colonel speaks in the handd somest manner of the conduct of capt. Moss, of his majesty's ship Merlin, and of the wonderful exertions of the settlers and their negro slaves, who manned the gun-boats. The conduct of lieut.-col. Barrow, and of the settlers, in putting the port of Honduras Bay into a respectable state of defence, as well as the gallant manner in which it was maintained, gives me entire satisfaction; and it is with pleasure that I report their services to your grace, ́ I have, &c.

BALCARRAS. Honduras, Sept. 23, 1798!

My Lord,

After the date of my last dispatch of the 11th, 14th, and 21st August, by the express boat Swift, I continued to strengthen our flotilla, which now consists of

N 1. Towser, one gun, eighteenpounder.

2. Tickler, one gun, eighteenpounder.

My Lord,

On the 31st of October I received a dispatch from the Bay of Honduras. Col. Barrow informs me, that the settlers had been attacked by a flotilla consisting of 31 vessels, having on board 2000 land troops, and 500 seamen. Arthur O'Neil, governor-general of Yucatan, and a field marshal in the service of Spain, commanded in person. I have great satisfaction in transmitting the letter of the lieutenant colonel; by which your grace will be informed, that this armas ment has been repulsed, and the

pounders.

Besides eight flat gun boats, carrys ing each a nine-pounder in the

prow.

Nos. 1, and 2. are commanded by Mr. Gelston and Mr. Hosmer, mas. ters of merchant vessels, who with some of their crews, volunteered the business in a very handsome manner: to those gentlemen I am much indebted for their able and active services. The masters and crews of all the other vessels consist entirely of volunteers from the co lonial troops, and together amount to 354 men, now on float. The

enemy

enemy was so well watched by scout-boats and canoes, that not a single movement could be made by him without our knowledge; and, finding that he aimed at the possession of St. George's-key, the armed vessels, Nos. 1, 4, and 5, were sent to that place to guard the narrow channels leading to that commodious harbour. On the 3d of September the enemy endeavoured to force a passage over Montego. key-shoal with five vessels, two of which carried heavy metal, but was repulsed. He renewed his attempt on the following day; but our little squadron, being now reinforced by six gun-boats, beat them off with great ease; and the five vessels returned to the main body of the fleet, then at anchor about two leagues to the northward. This movement gave our people an opportunity of drawing and destroying all the beacons and stakes which the enemy had placed in this narrow and crooked channel, and without the use of which nothing but vessels of a very easy draught of water can pass. On the 5th, the same vessels, accompanied by two others, and a number of launches, endeavoured to get over this shoal by another passage, but were repulsed, apparently with loss. On this, as well as on the two preceding days, the Spaniards expended an immense quantity of ammunition to no manner of purpose; while our people fired comparatively little, but with a steadiness which surpassed my most sanguine hopes. Capt. Moss, in his majesty's ship Merlin, left his anchorage at Belize on the evening of the 5th, and arrived at St. George'skey about noon on the 6th of September, The Spaniards, having found a passage through the lee ward channels impracticable, had got under weigh on the morning of that day with their whole fleet,

seemingly with a view of forcing a passage through the windward, a sand-bore passage, to the castward of Long-key; but, on seeing the Merlin beating into the harbour of St. George's-key, and that our fleet was reinforced by the armed vessels Nos. 2, and 3, and a large gun-boat, they returned to their former anchorage between Long-key and Key-chapel. I was now of opinion that the enemy would alter his mode of attack, and endeavour to make a landing on the main land to the northward of our posts at the Haulover. Under this idea I began to prepare small vessels and gun-boats, in which I meant to embark with 200 men, including detachments of his majesty's 63d and 6th WestIndia regiments, and of the royal artillery, with one howitzer and two field-pieces, six-pounders: with this force it was my intention to block up the channel between the main and the western point of Hicks's-keys, and to obstruct as much as possible a landing in that quarter; or, if foiled in both of these objects, to throw the whole strength into the works at the Haulover, and to defend that post to the last extremity; while a body of experienced bush-men, all good shots, and under orders for that purpose, should hang on the flanks and rear of the enemy. On the morning of Monday, the 10th of September, fourteen of the largest vessels of the Spanish fleet weighed anchor, and at nine o'clock brought to about a mile and a half distant from our fleet, Captain Moss was then of opinion, that they meant to delay the attack till the following day; but nine of them got under weigh about noon: these carried each two twenty-four pounders in the bow, and two eighteen-pounders in the stern; one schooner carried twentytwo, and all the rest from eight to (A3) fourteen