Sir, Martinique, April 27, I lose not a moment in having the honour to communicate the informa. tion which has been just now received, of the islands of St. Eustatius and Saba having surrendered, on the 21st instant, to a detachment of the 3d regiment of foot, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Blunt, and captain Perkins, of his majesty's ship Arab. The enclosed extract of a letter from Mr. President Thomson, commanding at St. Christopher's ordering lieutenant-colonel Blunt to proceed on that service, and of lieutenant-colonel Blunt's official letter, acquainting me with the result, will explain to your satisfaction all such circumstances as you may wish to be informed of, I have only to add, that the officers charged with the conducting of the service, have acquitted them selves selves with such judgment and promptitude as to merit and receive my entire approbation. I have the honour to enclose to you herewith, a copy of the terms on which these islands were surrendered, and have been placed under his majesty's government; but am unable to transmit by this opportunity the return of ordnance, as there is not sufficient time at present to have it made out correctly. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Tho. Trigge, lieutenant-general. Extract of a Letter from LieutenantColonel Blunt, of the 3d Regiment of Foot, to Lieutenant-General Trigge; dated St. Eustatius, 22d April. I have the honour to enclose an order addressed to me by the president of St. Kitt's, in consequence of which I embarked on board his majesty's ship Arab, captain Perkins, and an armed schooner, his prize, 100 men of the Buffs, with lieutenant Brown, and ten men of the royal artillery. We summoned the island of St. Eustatius on the morning of the 21st, which surrendered by capitulation; the terms of which accompany this, and I hope will not be disapproved by your excellency. They had no provisions in the garrison, and very little in possession of the inhabitants. From the extent of the batteries it will not be in my power to forward, by this opportunity, lieutenant Brown's report of the ordnance. I have the honour to be, &c. Extract of a Letter from the President of St. Kitt's to Lieutenant-Colonel Blunt, of the 3d Regiment of Foot; dated Bassaterre, 20th April. I have just received information that the island of St. Eustatius was evacuated by the French on the 16th instant. Under these circumstances, and considering that a favourable oppor tunity presents itself to acquire the possession of that island, and thereby give security to the islands in its neighbourhood, and recover a number of negroes who have eloped from hence, and which may be lost by delay; you will therefore embark with 100 men of the Buffs, on board his majesty's ship Arab, captain Perkins, and take possession of the island' of St. Eustatius, which you will retain until his excellency general Trigge's pleasure thereon be known, I have, &c. Rob. Thomson. (Signed) [Here follow the articles of capitulation.] London Gazette, August 1, 1801. Copy of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, to Evan Nepean, Esq.; dated on board his Majesty's ship Casar, at Gibraltar, the 6th July. Sir I have to request you will be pleased to inform my lords commissioners of the admiralty, that, conformably to my letter of yesterday'sdate, I stood through the Straits, with his majesty's squadron under my orders, with the intention of attacking attacking three French line of battle ships and a frigate, that I had received information of being at anchor off Algeziras: on opening Cabareta Point, I found the ships lay at a considerable distance from the enemy's batteries, and having a leading wind up to them, afforded every reasonable hope of success in the attack. I had previously directed captain Hood, in the Venerable, from his experience and knowledge of the anchorage, to lead the squadron, which he executed with his accustomed gallantry; and although it was not intended he should anchor, he found himself under the necessity so to do, from the wind's failing, (a circumstance so much to be apprehended in this country,) and to which circumstance, I have to regret the want of success in this well intended enterprise. Captain Stirling anchored opposite to the inner ship of the enemy, and brought the Pompée to action in the most spirited and gallant manner, which was also followed by the commanders of every ship in the squadron. Captains Darby and Ferris, owing to light winds, were prevented for a considerable time from coming into action; at length the Hannibal getting a breeze, captain Ferris had the most favourable prospect of being alongside one of the enemy's ships, when the Hannibal unfortunately took the ground, and I am extremely concerned to acquaint their lordships, that, after having made every possible effort with this ship and the Audacious, to cover her from the enemy, I was under the necessity to make sail, being at the time only three cables' length from one of the enemy's batteries. My thanks are particularly due to all the captains, officers, and men under my orders; and although their endeavours have not been crowned with success, I trust the thousands of spectators from his majesty's garrison, and also the surrounding coast, will do justice to their valour and intrepidity, which were not to be checked by the fire from the numerous batteries, however formidable, that surround Algeziras. I feel it incumbent upon me to state to their lordships the great merits of captain Brenton, of the Cæsar, whose cool judgment and intrepid conduct I will venture to pronounce were never surpassed. I also beg leave to recommend to their lordships' notice, my flag lieutenant, Mr. Philip Dumaresq, who has served with me from the commencement of this war, and is a most deserving officer. Mr. Lamborne and the other lieutenants are also entitled to great praise, as well as captain Maxwell of the marines, and the officers of his corps serving on board the Cæ sar. The enemy's ships consisted of two of 84 guns, and one of 74, with a large frigate: two of the former are aground, and the whole are rendered totally unserviceable. I cannot close this letter without rendering the most ample justice to the great bravery of captain Ferris; the loss in his ship must have been very considerable both in officers and men; but I have the satisfaction to be informed that his majesty has not lost so valuable an officer. I have the honour to be, &c. The The hon. captain Dundas, of his majesty's polacre the Calpe, made his vessel as useful as possible, and kept up a spirited fire on one of the enemy's batteries. I have also to express my approbation of lieutenant Janverin, commander of the gun-boats, who, having joined me with intelligence, served as a volunteer on board the Cæsar. Copy of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Sir J. Saumarez; dated on board his Majesty's Ship Casar, Gibraltar Mole, July 10, to Evan Nepean, Esq. I have little more to tell you of the fate of his majesty's ship Hannibal, than yourself must have observed, only, that from the number of batteries and ships, gun-boats, &c. we had to encounter, our guns soon got knocked up; and I found it was impossible to do any thing either for the preservation of the ship, or for the good of the service, our boats, sails, rigging, and springs, being all shot away; and so many killed and wounded, which will appear by the annexed list, I thought it prudent to strike, and thereby preserve the lives of the brave men that remained. Sir, Casar, of Cape Trafalgar, It has pleased the Almighty to crown the exertions of this squadron with the most decisive success over the enemies of their country. The three French line of battle ships, disabled in the action of the 6th instant off Algeziras, were, on the 8th, reinforced by a squadron of five Spanish line of battle ships, under the command of Don Juan Joaquin de Moreno, and a French ship of 74 guns, wearing a broad. pendant, be ides three frigates, and an incredible number of gun-boats; and other vessels, and got under sail yesterday morning, together with his majesty's late ship Hannibal, which they had succeeded in getting off the shoal on which she struck. I almost despaired of having a sufficient force in readiness to oppose to such numbers, but, through the great exertions of captain Brenton, the officers and men belonging to the Cæsar, the ship was in readiness to warp out of the Mole yesterday morning, and got under weigh immediately after with all the squadron, except the Pompée, which ship had not had time to get in her masts. Confiding in the zeal and intre pidity of the officers and men I had the happiness to serve with, I determined, if possible, to obstruct the passage of this very powerful force to Cadiz. Late in the evening I observed the enemy's ships to have cleared Cabareta Point, and at eight I bore up with the squadron to stand after them. His majesty's ship Superb being stationed ahead of the Cæsar, I directed captain Keats to make sail and attack the sternmost ships in the enemy's rear, using his endeavours to keep in shore of them. At eleven the Superb opened her fire close to the enemy's ships, and on the Cæsar's coming up, and preparing to engage a three decker that had hauled her wind, she was perceived to have taken fire, and the flames having communicated to a ship to leeward of her, both were seen in a blaze, and presented a most awful sight. No possibility existing of offering the least assistance in so distressing a situation, the Cæsar passed to close with the ship engaged by the Superb, but by the cool and determined fire kept upon her, which must ever reflect the highest credit on that ship, the enemy's ship was completely silenced, and soon after hauled down her colours. car The Venerable and Spencer having at this time come up, I bore up after the enemy, who were rying a press of sail, standing out of the Straits, and lost sight of them during the night. It blew excessively hard till daylight, and in the morning the only ships in company were the Venerable, and Thames ahead of the Cæsar, and one of the French ships at some distance from them standing towards the shoals of Conil, besides the Spencer astern, coming up. All the ships immediately made sail with a fresh breeze; but, as we approached, the wind suddenly failing, the Venerable was alone able to bring her to action, which captain Hood did in the most gallant manner, and had nearly silenc ed the French ship, when his mainmast (which had been before wounded) was unfortunately shot away, and it coming nearly calm, the enemy's ship was enabled to get off without any possibility of following her. The highest praise is due to captain Hood, the officers and men of the Venerable, for their spirit and gallantry in the action, which entitled them to better success. The French ship was an 84, with additional guns on the gunwale. This action was so near the shore, that the Venerable struck on one of the shoals, but was soon after got off and taken in tow by the Thames, but with the loss of all her masts. ́ The enemy's ships are now in sight to the westward, standing in for Cadiz. The Superb and Audacious, with the captured ships, are also in sight, with the Carlotta Portuguese frigate, commanded by cap |