and rebels, I put a garrifon in each, and on the 29th took poft against fort St. Elmo, which I fummoned to furrender; but the commandant being determined to ftand a fiege, we opened a battery of three 36pounders and four mortars, on the 3d inftant, within 700 yards of the fort, and on the 5th, another of two 36-pounders. The Ruffians, under captain Baillie, opened another battery of four 36-pounders and four mortars, against the oppofite angle, intending to ftorm it in different places as foon as we could make two practicable breaches in the work. On the 6th, I added four more mortars; and on the 11th, by inceffant labour, we opened another battery of fix 36-pounders within 180 yards of the wall of the garrifon, and had another of one 18pounder and two howitzers, at the fame diftance, nearly completed. After a few hours cannonading from the laft battery, the enemy difplayed a flag of truce, when our firing ceafed; and their guns being moftly difimounted, and their works nearly deftroyed, the enclosed, terms of capitulation were agreed to and figned.

In performing this fervice I feel much fatisfaction in informing your lordship, that I received every poffible affiftance from captain Ball for the first feven days, when your lord fhip ordered him on other fervice, and did me the honour to place captain Hallowell under my orders in his room, whofe exertions and abilities your lordship is well acquainted with, and merit every at tention.

Lieutenant-colonel Strickland, major Crefwell, and all the officers of marines, and men, merit every praise I can beflow; as does Antonio Sal

dineo de Gama, and the officers and men belonging to her most faithful majefty the queen of Portugal; their readinefs on all occafions does them great honour. The very commanding fituation of St. Elmo rendered our approaches difficult, or I truft it would have been reduced much fooner; the ready acquiefcence to all our demands, and the affiftance received from the duke de Sallandra, I beg may be made known by your lordship to his Sicilian majefty.

I feel myself alfo much indebted to colonel Tchudy for his great zeal and exertions on all occafions.

I have the honour to be, &c.

J. Troubridge,

The right hon. lord Nelfon, K. B.

Articles of Capitulation agreed upon between the Garrison of Fort St. Elmo and the Troops of his Sicilian Majefty and his Allies.

Art. I. The French garrison of fort St. Elmo fhall furrender themfelves prifoners of war to his Neapolitan majefty and his allies, and fhall not ferve against any of the powers actually at war with the French republic, until regularly exchanged.

II. The English grenadiers fall take poffeffion of the gate of the fort in the courfe of the day.

III. The French garrifon fhall march out of the fort to-morrow, with their arms and drums beating. The troops fhall lay down their arms on the outfide of the gate of the fort; and a detachment of Englifh, Ruffian, Portuguefe, and Nea politan, troops, fhall take poffeffion of the castle.

IV. The officers fhall keep their arms.

V.The garrifon fhall be embarked on-board the English fquadron, until the neceffary fhipping are provided to convey them to France.

VI. When the English grenadiers take poffeffion of the gate, all the fubjects of his Sicilian majefty fhall be delivered up to the allies.

VII. A guard of French foldiers fhall be placed round the French colours, to prevent their being deftroyed: that guard fhall remain until all the garrifon has marched out, and it is relieved by an English officer and guard, to whom orders fhall be given to strike the French flag, and hoift that of his Sicilian majefty.

VIII. All private property fhall be referved for those to whom the fame appertains; and all public property fhall be given up with the fort, as well as the effects pillaged.

IX. The fick, not in a state to be removed, fhall remain at Naples, with French furgeons, and fhall be taken care of at the expenfe of the republic. They fhall be fent back to France,as foon as poffible after their recovery.

Done at fort St. Elmo, the 22d Meffidor, in the feventh year of the French republic, or 12th July, 1799. (Signed) The duke Della Salandra, captain-general of the forces of his majefty the king of the Two Sicilies. Thomas Troubridge, of his majefty's fhip Culloden, and commander of the British and Portuguese troops at the attack of St. Elmo. Chevalier Belle, captainlieutenant, commanding

very uncommon at this season of the year.

The ardour of admiral Mitchell for the fervice in which we were jointly engaged, left it only for me to follow his example of zeal and perfeverance, in which I was encouraged by the manner that he kept a numerous convoy collected.

It was our determination not to depart from the refolution of attacking the Helder, unless we fhould have been prevented by the want of water and provifions.

On the forenoon of the 21st inftant, the weather proved fo favourable that we stood in upon the Dutch coast, and had made every preparation to land on the 22d, when we were forced to fea by a heavy gale of wind.

It was not until the evening of the 25th that the weather began once more to clear up.

On the 26th we came to anchor near the fhore of the Helder, and on the 27th, in the morning, the troops began to difembark at daylight.

Although the enemy did not oppofe our landing, yet the first divifion had fcarcely began to move forward before they got into action, which continued from five in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon.

The enemy had affembled a very confiderable body of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, near Callanftoog, and made repeated attacks on our right with fresh troops.

Our pofition was on a ridge of fand-hills, ftretching along the coaft from north to fouth. Our right flank was unavoidably expofed to the whole force of the enemy. We had no where fufficient ground on our right to form more than a bat

The conteft was arduous, and the lofs has been confiderable. We have to regret many valuable officers loft to the fervice, who have either fallen or been difabled by their wounds. The corps principally engaged were the referve, under the command of colonel Macdonald, confifting of the 23d and 55th regiments.

The regiments of major-general Coote's brigade, which have been much engaged, were the Queen's, the 27th, 29th, and 85th regiments.

Major-general D'Oyley's brigade was brought into action towards the clofe of the day, and has fuftained fome lofs.

As the enemy ftill held the Helder with a garrifon of near 2000 men, it was determined to attack it before day-break in the morning of the 28th, and the brigade under major-general Moore, fupported by major-general Burrard's, were deftined for this fervice; but about eight o'clock yesterday evening the Dutch fleet in the Mars Diep got under way, and the garrifon was withdrawn, taking their route through the marthes towards Medemblick, having previously spiked the guns on the batteries, and defroyed fome of the carriages. About nine at nigl, major-generalMoore, with the fecend battalion of the Royals, and the 92d regiment, under the command of lord Hunt

ley,

ley, took poffeffion of this important poft, in which he found a numerous artillery of the best kind, both of heavy and field train.

All that part of the Dutch fleet in the Nieueve Diep, together with the naval magazine at Nieueve Werk, fell into our hands this morning, a full detail of which it is. not in my power to fend. This day we have the fatisfaction to fee the British flag flying in the Mars Diep, and part of 5000 men, under the command of major-general Don, difembarking under the batteries of

the Helder.

During the course of the action I had the misfortune to lose the fervice of lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney, from a wound he received in his arm, but not before he had done himself the greatest honour, and I was fully fenfible of the lofs of him. Major-general Coote fupplied his place with ability.

Colonel Macdonald, who commanded the reserve, and who was very much engaged during the courfe of the day, though wounded, did not quit the field.

Lieutenent-colonel Maitland, returning to England, to go on another fervice, and major Kempt, my aiddu-camp and bearer of this letter, whom I beg leave to recommend to your notice and protection, will be able to give any farther information which may be required.

A lift of the killed and wounded, as far as we have been able to af certain it, accompanies this letter.

I have the honour to be, &c.
Ralph Abercrombie.

To the right honourable

Henry Dundas, &c. &c. &c.

Head-quarters, Klein Keeten,

Auguft 28. Return of the killed, wounded, and miffing, of his Majesty's Forces, under the Command of General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, K. B. in the Action of the Helder, on the 27th August, 1799.

Total lieutenant-colonel, I fubaltern, 3 fergeants, 51 rank and file, killed; I colonel, 1 lieutenantcolonel, 1 major, 9 captains, 6 subalterns, 18 fergeants, 1 drummer, 334 rank and file, wounded; 26 rank and file, miffing.

Return of Officers killed and wounded.

Killed.-Lieut.-colonel Smollett, of the 1ft regiment of the guards, brigade-major of 1ft brigade; lieutenant-colonel Hay, of the royal engineers; lieutenant Crow, of the 3d brigade of the 27th regiment of foot.

Wounded. Lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney, bart. fecond in command; the hon. colonel John Hope, of the 25th foot, deputy adjutant-general; lieutenant-colone! Murray, of the 3d regiment of guards, affiftant quarter-mafter-general; captain Arthur McDonald, of the 5th West India regiment, affistant quarter-mafter-general; captain Manners, of the 82d regiment, aiddu-camp to major-general Coote; lieutenant Chapman and lieutenant Squire, of the royal engineers; captain Gunthorpe, of the 1ft brigade of the grenadier battalion of the guards; captain Ruddock, of the Ift brigade of the 3d battalion of the 1ft regiment of guards; lieutenant Swan of the 3d brigade, of the 2d (or queen's) regiment; lieutenant

colonel

colonel Graham, of the 3d brigade of the 27th regiment of foot; captain Wyatt and lieutenant Grove, of the 3d brigade of the 29th regiment of foot; major Otley, captain M'Intosh, lieutenant Traverfe, lieu tenant Berry, of the 3d brigade of the 85th regiment of foot.

The referve-Captain Berry, captain Ellis, captain hon. G. M'Donald, of the 23d regiment of foot; colonel M'Donald, captain Brown, capt. Power, volunteer, John M'Gregor, of the 55th regiment of foot; I noncommiffioned officer and 4 gunners of the royal artillery; 1 fergeant and 14 rank and file of the 92d regiment, drowned in landing.

N. B. The cafualties in the general staff are noticed in the detail, but not in the body of the return. Alex. Hope, Lieutenant-colonel, R. A. general.

Admiralty-Office, Sept. 2. Captain Hope, of his majesty's fhip Kent, and captain Oughton, of his majefty's fhip Ifis, arrived this afternoon with a dispatch from admiral lord viscount Duncan, of which the following is a copy:

Kent, off Aldborough, 1st Sept. Sir,

I tranfmit, for the information of my lords commiffioners of the admiralty, a letter to me from viceadmiral Mitchell, giving a diftinct detail of the great fuccefs with which it has pleafed Almighty God to crown his majesty's arms. The boldness of the vice-admiral, in running in on an open fhore with fo numerous a fleet, and in fo very unfettled weather, could only be equalled by the gallantry of fir Ralph

Abercrombie and his brave troops landing in the face of a most formi. dable oppofition. During the whole of the conflict, on Tuesday, I could plainly perceive the vaft fuperiority of the British troops over those of the enemy, though oppofed with obftinacy; and, in juftice to both the land and fea fervice, I must say, that I never witneffed more unanimity and zeal than have pervaded all ranks to bring the expedition to its prefent happy issue.

Finding the Kent, with feveral of the Ruffian 74-gun fhips, to draw too much water to be able to get into the harbour, I have returned with them to this anchorage; but previous to my getting under weigh at eight o'clock on Friday morning, I had the pleasure to fee vice-admiral Mitchell, with the men of war, transports, and armed veffels, in a fair way of entering the Texel, with a fair wind, and have not the leaft doubt but the whole of the Dutch fleet were in our possession by noon on that day.

The difpatches will be delivered by captains Hope and Oughton, both able and intelligent officers, and who will give their lordships more fatisfactory information relative to our fnccefsful operations.

I fhall now only add my fincere congratulations to their lordships on this great event, which, I think, in its confequences may be ranked among one of the greatest that has happened during the war.

I am fir, &c.

Duncan. P. S. The winds having proved unfavourable has occafioned my anchoring here; but I fhall proceed to Yarmouth as foon as the weather moderates.