off. The alacrity of the fhip's company in making fail after them was highly praiseworthy: our guns foon reached them, and feven, as per enclosed lift, ftruck; the corvette, containing Buonaparte's private property, and two fmall veffels, escaped, fince it became an object to fecure the prizes without chafing farther; their cargoes, confifting of the battering train of artillery, ammunition, platforms, &c. deftined for the fiege of Acre, being much wanted for its defence. The prizes were accordingly anchored off the town, manned from the fhips, and immediately employed in haraffing the enemy's pofts, impeding his approaches, and covering the fhip's boats fent farther in fhore to cut off his fupplies and provifions conveyed coaftwife. They have been conftantly occupied in these fervices for thefe five days and nights paft; and fuch has been the zeal of their crews, that they requefted not to be relieved, after many hours excessive labour at their guns and oars.

I am forry to fay we have met with fome lofs, as per enclosed lift, which, however, is balanced by greater on the part of the enemy, by the encouragement given to the Turkish troops from our example, and by the time that is gained for

the arrival of a fufficient force to

render Buonaparte's whole project

abortive. I have had reason to be perfectly fatisfied with the gallantry and perfeverance of lieutenants Bufhby, Inglefield, Knight, Stokes, and lieutenant Burton ofthe marines, and of the petty officers and men under their orders.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) W. Sidney Smith. Right hon. earl St. Vincent, commander-in-chief.

Lift of the Gun-veffels compofing the French Flotilla, bound from Alexandria and Damietta to St. John d'Acre, taken off Cape Carmel by his Majesty's Ship Tigre, Commodore Sir Sidney Smith, K. S. the 18th March, after a Chafe of three Hours.

La Negreffe, of 6 guns and 53 men; La Dangereufe, of 6 guns and men; La Fondre, of 8 guns and 52 23 men; La Maria Rofe, of 4 guns. and 22 men; La Dame de Grace, of 4 guns and 35 men; Les Deux Freres, of 4 guns and 23 men; La Torride, taken in the morning of that day, and retaken, of 2 guns and

30 men.

London Gazette, August 3, 1799.

Admiralty-Office.

Copy of a Letter from Sir William Sidney Smith, Knight, Captain of his Majefty's Ship Tigre, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Acre, the 3d of May. Sir,

I have the honour to enclofe you copies of my letters to earl St. Vincent, of the 7th of April and 2d inftant, for the information of my lords commiffioners of the admiralty; as also a sketch of the pofition of the forces. The enemy have made two attempts fince yesterday morning to force the two Englim ravelines, but were repulfed with lofs. The works have now cannon mounted on them, and are nearly completed. We have thus the fatisfaction of finding ourlelves, on the 46th day of the fiege, in a better state of defence than we were the first day the enemy opened their trenches, notwithstanding the increafe of the breach, which they continue to batter with effect; and the garrifon, having occafionally clofed with the enemy, in feveral forties, feel greater confidence that they fhall be able to refift an affault, for which they are prepared..

I have the honour to he, &c. &c.
W. Sidney Smith.

Tigre, St. Jean d'Acre Bay, April 7.
My lord,

I have the honour to inform your Jordfip, that as foon as the return of fine weather, after the equinoctial gale, allowed me to approach this unfheltered anchorage, I refumed my station in the bay with the fquadron under my orders. I found the enemy had profited, by our forced abfence, to push their approaches to the counterfcarp, and

even in the ditch of the N. E. angle of the town-wall, where they were employed in mining the tower, to increase a breach they had already made in it, and which had been found impracticable when they attempted to storm on the 1st instant, The Alliance and prize gun-boats, which had been caught in the gale, had fortunately rode it out except one; and captain Wilmot had been fo indefatigable in mounting the prize-guns, under the direction of an able officer of engineers, colonel Phelipeaux, that the fire therefrom had already flackened that of the enemy; ftill, however, much was to be apprehended from the effect of the mine, and a fortie was determined on, in which the British marines and feamen were to force their way into it, while the Turkish troops attacked the enemy's trenches on the right and left. The fally took place this morning, juft before daylight; the impetuofity and noife of the Turks rendered the attempt to furprife the enemy abortive, though in other refpects they did their part well. Lieutenant Wright, who commanded the feamen pioneers, notwithstanding he received two shots in his right arm, as he advanced, entered the mine with the pikemen,. and proceeded to the bottom of it, where he verified its direction, and deftroyed all that could be destroyed in its then ftate, by pulling down its fupporters.

Colonel Douglas, to whom I had given the necellary step of rank to enable him to command the Turkish colonels, fupported the feamen in this defperate fervice with his usual gallantry, under the increased fire of the enemy, bringing off lieutenant Wright, who had fcarcely ftrength left to get out of the enemy's trench,

from which they were not diflodged, as alfo Mr. Janverin, midshipman of the Tigre, and the reft of the wounded. The action, altogether, fpeaks for itself, and fays more than could be faid by me in praife of all concerned. I feel doubly indebted to colonel Douglas for having preferved my gallant friend, lieutenant Wright, whofe life, I am happy to fay, is not defpaired of by the furgeon. We have, however, to lament the lofs of a brave and tried officer, major Oldfield, who commanded the Thefeus's marines, and fell gloriously on this occafion, with two of the men under his command.

Our lofs in wounded is 23, among which is lieutenant Beatty, of the marines, flightly. The Turks brought in above 60 heads, a greater number of mufkets, and fome intrenching tools, much wanted in the garrifon. A farther attack on the enemy's fecond parallel was not to be attempted without a greater number of regular troops. The return of the detachment was well covered by the Thefeus's fire, captain Miller haying taken an excellent pofition to

.that effect.

-The refult of our day's work is, that we have taught the befiegers to refpect the enemy they have to deal with, fo as to keep at a greater diftance. The apprehenfions of the garrifon are quieted as to the effect of the mine, which we have befides learnt how to countermine with advantage, and more time is gained for the arrival of the reinforcements daily expected.

I have the honour to be, &c.
W. Sidney Smith.

Right hon. earl St. Vincent,
commander-in-chief, &c.

Tigre, moored under the Walls of Acre, May 2.

My lord,

The enemy continue to make the moft vigorous efforts to overcome our refiftance in the defence of this place. The garrifon has made occafional forties, protected by our fmall boats, on their flank, with fieldpieces, in which the most essential fervice has been performed by lieutenant Brodie and Mr. Atkinson, of the Thefeus, and Mr. Joes, master of the Tigre, who commanded them.

Yesterday the enemy, after many hours heavy cannonade from thirty pieces of artillery brought from Jaffa, made a fourth attempt to mount the breach, now much widened, but were repulfed, with lofs. The Tigre moored on one fide, and the Thefeus on the other, flank the town walls; the gun-boats, launches, and other rowing-boats, continue to flank the enemy's trenches, to their great annoyance. Nothing but defperation can induce them to make the fort of attempts they do to mount a breach practicable only by the means of fcaling-ladders, under fuch a fire as we pour in upon them; and it is impoffible to fee the lives even of our enemies thus facrificed, and fo much bravery mifapplied, without regret.

Our lofs is as per lift enclofed; and we have therein to lament fome of the braveft and beft among us. Captain Wilmot was fhot on the 8th ult. by a rifleman, as he was mounting a howitzer on the breach: his lols is feverely felt.

We have run out a ravelin on each fide of the enemy's neareft approach, in which the marines of the Tigre and Thefeus have worked under a heavy and inceffant fire from the enemy, in a way that commands

the

the admiration and gratitude of the Turks, as it is evident the flanking fire produced from them contributed much to fave the place yesterday. Colonel Phelipeaux, of the engi neers, who projected and fuperintended the execution, has fallen a facrifice to his zeal for this fervice; want of reft and exposure to the fun having given him a fever, of which he died this morning: our grief for

this lofs is exceffive on every ac

count. Colonel Douglas fupplies his place, having hitherto carried on the work under his direction, and is indefatigable in completing it for the reception of cannon. I muft not omit to mention, to the credit of the Turks, that they fetch the gabions, fafcines, and thofe materials which the garrifon does not afford, from the face of the enemy's works, fetting fire to what they cannot bring away. The enemy repair in one night all the mifchief we do them in the day, and continue within half piftol-hot of the walls, in fpite of the conftant fire kept up from the ramparts, under the direc tion of lieutenant Knight.

I hope I need not affure your lordfhip that we fhall continue to do our duty to the utmost of our power, in fpite of all obftacles; among which, climate, as it affects health, and the expofed nature of our rocky anchorage, are the most formidable, fince they are not to be overcome, which I trust the enemy are by our exertions.

I am, &c.

W. Sidney Smith. The right hon. earl St. Vincent, commander-in-chief, &c. &c.

Return of the killed and wounded beLonging to his Majesty's Ships Tigre, Thefeus, and Alliance, at the Sortie

Fines, and 2 private marines, killed; Thefeus-Major Oldfield, of malieutenant Beatty, of marines, Mr. James M. B. Forbes, midshipman (flightly), fergeant Cavanagh, and 4 private marines, wounded.

Alliance-One feaman and 2 marines, wounded.

marines, killed; 1 lieutenant, 1 lieuTotal-One major and 2 private fergeant, 6 private marines, and 12 tenant of marines, 2 midshipmen, 1 feamen, wounded.

On-board his majefty's fhip Tigre, W. Sidney Smith,

off Acre, April 8.

Tigre-Mr. Edward Morris, midfhipman, and James Maugham, Andrew Wall, and Robert Bennet, feamen, killed; lieutenant Knight, a contufion on his breaft; John Bolton, boatfwain's mate, William Hutchinfon, William Pickard, James Bailey, Jofeph Hudfon, Jofeph Vincquez, and William Price, feamen, wounded.

Thefeus-John Rich, feaman, killed; John Chidlow, marine, wounded.

Alliance Captain Wilmot, killed by a rifle-fhot, as he was mounting a howitzer on the breach.

Total-One captain, 1 midfhipman, and 4 feamen, killed; 1 lien

tenant,

tenant, 1 boatfwain's mate, fix feamen, and 1 marine, wounded.

W. Sidney Smith. On-board his majefty's fhip Tigre, St. Jean d'Acre bay, the 2d day of May.

London Gazette, August 17, 1799,

Admiralty-Office, August 13. Extract of a Letter from Rear-admiral Lord Nelfon, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Bay of Naples, 27th of June.

I am happy in being able to congratulate their lordships on the poffeffion of the city of Naples, St. Elmo is yet in the hands of the French; but the castles of Ovo and Nuovo I took poffeffion of last evening, and his Sicilian majesty's colours are now flying on them.

Extract of another Letter from Rearadmiral Lord Nelfon, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Bay of Naples, 14th of July.

Herewith I have the honour of fending you copies of my letters to the commander-in-chief, and the capitulation granted to the French in St. Elmo. All the chief rebels are now on-board his majefty's fleet. Capua and Gaieta will very foon be in our poffeffion, when the kingdom will be liberated from anarchy and mifery.

Foudroyant, Bay of Naples, 13th July.

My lord,

I have the pleasure to inform you of the furrender of fort St. Elmo (on the terms of the enclosed capitulation), after open batteries of eight days, during which time our heavy batteries were advanced within 180

yards of the ditch. The very great ftrength of St. Elmo, and its more formidable pofition, will mark with what fortitude, perfeverance, and activity, the combined forces muft have acted, Captain Troubridge was the officer felected for the command of all the forces landed from the fquadron. Captain Ball affifted him for feven days, till his fervices were wanted at Malta, when his place was ably fupplied by captain' Hallowell, an officer of the moft diftinguished merit, and to whom captain Troubridge expreffes the higheft obligation. Captain Hood, with a garrifon for the caftle of Nuovo, and to keep good order in the capital, an arduous task at that time, was alfo landed from the fqua dron: and I have the pleasure to tell you, that no capital is more quiet than Naples. I tranfmit you captain Troubridge's letter to me, with returns of killed and wounded. I have alfo to ftate to your lordship, that although the abilities and refources of my brave friend Troubridge are well known to all the world, yet even he had difficulties to ftruggle with in every way, which the ftate of the capital will eafily bring to your idea, that has raised his great character even higher than it was before.

I am, &c. Right hon. lord Keith, commander-in-chief, &c. &c.

Nelfon.

Antignano, near St. Elmo, July 13,
My lord,

Agrecable to your lordship's or ders I landed with the English and Portuguefe marines of the fleet on the 27th of June; and after em barking the garrifons of the caftles Ovo and Nuovo, compofed of French