Victory, off Baftia, May 24, 1794. I have the honour to acquaint you, that the town and citadel of Baftia, with the feveral pofts upon the heights, furrendered to the arms of his majesty on the 22d. On the 19th, I received a meffage, that the garrifon was defirous of capitulating upon honourable terms; in confequence of which I fent the enclosed note on shore. This brought on board the Victory three officers, who informed me that Gentili, the commandant, would affemble the officers of the feveral corps, and of the mu nicipality, if a truce took place, which I agreed to, a little before fun-fet. The next day I received a note from Gentili, which I alfo enclofe, and fent captain Young on shore on the morning of the 21ft, who foon returned to the Victory, with two officers, and two of the adminiftrative bodies, which, with vice-admiral Goodall, captain Young, captain Inglefield, and my fecretary, Mr. M'Arthur, fettled the articles of capitulation, which were figned the following morning, when his majelty's troops took poffeffion of all the posts above the town, the troops in each retiring to the citadel, from whence they marched to the Mole Head, where they grounded their arms, and were embarked. You will receive herewith the articles of capitulation, which I hope his majetty will approve. I am unable to give due praise to the unremitting zeal, exertion, and judicious conduct of lieutenant-colonel Villettes, who had the honour of commanding his majefty's troops; never was either more confpicuous. Major Brereton, and every officer and foldier under the lieutenant colonel's orders, are justly entitled to my warmeft acknowledgements; their per fevering ardour and defire to distinguish themfelves cannot be too highly spoken of, and which it will be my pride to remember to the latest period of my life. Captain Nelfon, of his majefty's fhip Agamemnon, who had the command and direction of the feamen, in landing the guns, mortars, and ftores; and captain Hunt, who commanded the batteries, very ably affifted by captain Buller and captain Serocold, and the lieutenants Gore, Hotham, Stiles, Andrews, and Brisbane, have an equal claim to my gratitude, as the feamen under their management worked the guns with great judgment and alacrity. Never was a higher spirit or greater perfeverance exhibited; and I am happy to fay, that no other contention was at any time known, than who should be most forward and indefatigable for promoting his majefty's fervice; for, although the difficulties they had to struggle with were many and various, the perfect harmony and good humour that univerfally prevailed throughout the fiege, overcame them all. I cannot but exprefs, in the ftrongest terms, the meritorious conduct of captain Duncan and lieutenant Alexander Duncan, of the royal artillery, and lieutenant de Butts, of the royal engineers; but my obligation is particularly great to captain Duncan, as more zeal, ability, and judgment, were never thown by any officer than were displayed by him; and I take the liberty of mentioning him as an officer highly entitled to his majesty's notice. I feel myself very much indebted for the vigilance and attention of captain Wolfeley, of the Imperieufe, and of captain Hallowell, who became a volunteer whereever he could be useful, after being fuperfeded in the command of the Courageux by captain Waldegrave. The former kept a diligent watch upon the island of Capraia, where the enemy have magazines of provifions and ftores; and the latter did the fame, by guarding the harbour's mouth of Baftia with gun-boats and launches well armed, the whole of every night; while the fmaller boats were very judicioufly placed in the intervals between, and rather without the fhips (which were moored in a crescent just out of the reach of the enemy's guns) by captain Young, of the Fortitude, the center fhip, on board of which every boat affembled at fun-fet for orders; and the cheerfulness with which the officers and men performed this nightly duty, is very much to be admired, and afforded me the moft heartfelt fatiffaction and pleasure. The very great and effectual affistance I received from vice-admiral Goodall, captain Inglefield and captain Knight, as well as from every captain and officer of his majesty's fhips under my command, have a juft claim to my most particular thanks, not only in carrying into execution my orders afloat, but in attending to and fupplying the wants of the little army on fhore it is to the very cordial and decided fupport alone I had the honour to receive from the whole, that the innumerable difficulties we had to contend with were fo happily furmounted. Major Smith and enfign Vigoureux, of the 25th regiment, and captain Ridfdale and lieutenant St. George of the 11th, not embarking with their respective regiments, having civil employments on fhore; it is to their honour I mention, that they relinquifhed thofe employments and joined their corps, foon after the troops were landed. It is very much my duty to inform you, that I am extremely obliged to general Petrecono, Mr. Frediani, and all the officers of the Corficans, ferving with the army, for their great zeal, ardour, and attention, in forwarding the reduction of Bitia by every means in their power, who were of infinite fervice by preferving good order in the troops. I tranfmit an account of the lofs on the part of his majefty, in killed and wounded, which, I am happy to fay, is inconfiderable; but the enemy fuffered much, their hospitals being full. At the commencement of the fiege, the number of the enemy bearing arms was 3000. By the firft fhip that fails for England, I fhall have the honour of fending, to be laid at his majefty's feet, the feveral ftand of colours taken at Baftia. Captain Hunt, who was on fhore in the command of the batteries from the hour the troops landed, to the furrender of the town, will be the bearer of this difpatch, and can give any further information you may with to know refpecting the liege. I have the honour, &c. His Britannic Majefty's fhip Victory, off Baftia, May 19, 1794. In confideration of the very gallant defence the garrifon of Bastia has made, and from the principles of humanity which ever govern British officers, I am difpofed to give you terms; and if you will fend on board two or three officers, profation will be toon fettled, as honourable perly authorised to treat, I trust a capituto the inhabitants as can in any reason be expected. HOOD. (Signed) To the Commandant of the Garrison and TRANSLATION. Baftia, the 2d Priairial, fecond Year of the My Lord, In confequence of the propofal which you did me the honour of making in your dispatch of the 18th of May (Old Style) I have the honour of fending to you wo adjutant-generals of the army, and two members of the adminiftrative corps of this town who are commiffioned to prefent to you the plan of a capitulation between the garrifon and inhabitants of Baftia, and you, my lord, in the name of the king of Great Britain. Thefe four commiflioners, who equally poffefs my confidence, and that of the garrifon and of the citizens, have inftructions to arrange, with you, the fettlement of all matters relative to this capitulation. I hope that you will be fatisfied, and that they will enable you to fulfil the views you have fignified to me, of putting an end to the unavoidable confequences of the calamities of war. Captain Young has had a long conference with ine: I was of opinion that a reciprocal understanding might co-operate in the fuccefs of the negociation which occupied our attention, and I have requested him to acquaint you with my ingenuous and loyal intentions. Greeting or health, (Signed) GENTILI, Commander in Chief. Thes [Then follow the articles of capitulation of the garrison and town of Bastia; as well as a return of the killed, wounded, miffing, and dead of their wounds, of the troops before the place, amounting in the whole to three rank and file killed, two captains, and 19 rank and file wounded, four rank and file dead of their wounds, and fix miffing. The two captains wounded are Rididale, of the 11th regiment, and Clarke, of the 69th. Also a return of the killed and wounded feamen, amounting in the whole to feven killed, thirteen wounded, and two miffing; lieutenant Tupper, of the Victory, killed; and lieutenant George Andrews, of the Agamemnon, wounded. Admiralty-Office, June 9. Extract of a letter from Francis Laforey, Efq. Captain of his Majefty's fhip Carysfort, of twenty-eight guns, to Mr. Stephens, dated in Plymouth Sound the 7th inftant. On the 29th of last month, being in lat. 46 deg. 38 min. north, long. 9 deg. 40 min. weft, his majesty's fhip fell in with, and, after an action of an hour and fifteen minutes, captured a French frigate (late his majefty's fhip the Caftor) commanded by monf. L'Huiller, mounting 32 guns, and manned with 200 men. She had parted company from the French fquadron on the 24th, in chafe of a Dutch brig, which she had in tow when we first discovered her, and which, upon our coming up, was enabled to effect her efcape. I have the fatisfaction of reporting to their lordships the uniform good conduct of the officers and crew of his majesty's fhip I have the honour to command; and I feel myself indebted to lieutenants Worfely and Sayer, for the fpirited example they let to a new ship's company. Herewith I tranfmit a return of the lofs sustained by his majetty's ship in killed and wounded, with as accurate a one as we have been able to obtain of that of the enemy. Carysfort-One feaman killed; five feamen, and one marine, wounded. Le Caftor-Sixteen feamen, killed; nine feamen wounded. Curtis, firft captain to the admiral earl Queen Charlotte at Sea, June 2, 1794, Thinking it may not be neceffary to make a more particular report of my proceedings with the fleet, for the prefent information of the lords commiffioners of the admiralty, I confine my communications chiefly, in this dispatch, to the occurrences when in presence of the enemy yesterday. Finding, on my return off of Breft on the 19th paft, that the French fleet had, a few days before, put to fea; and receiving, on the fame evening, advices from rear-admiral Montagu, I deemed it requifite to endeavour to form a junction with the rear-admiral as foon as possible, and proceeded immediately for the station on which he meant to wait for the return of the Venus. But, having gained very credible intelligence, on the 21t of the fame month, whereby I had reafon to fuppofe the French fleet was then but a few leagues farther to the weftward, the courfe before fteered was altered accordingly. On the morning of the 28th, the enemy were difcovered far to windward, and partial actions were engaged with them that evening and the next day. The weather gage having been obtained, in the progrefs of the last mentioned day, and the fleet being in a fituation for bringing the enemy to clofe action the ift inftant, the fhips bore up together for that purpose, between feven and eight o'clock, in the morning. The French, their force confifting of twenty-fix fhips of the line, opposed to his majesty's fleet of twenty-five (the Audaci ous having parted company with the fternmoft fhip of the enemy's line, captured in the night of the 28th) waited for the action, and fuftained the attack with their cuftomary refolution. In lefs than an hour after the clofe action commenced in the centre, the French admiral, engaged by the Queen Charlotte, crowded off, and was followed by moft of the fhips of his van in condition to carry fail after him, leaving with us about ten or twelve of his crippled or totally dif masted ships, exclusive of one funk in the engagement. The Queen Charlotte had Admiralty-office, June 10. Sir Roger then loft her fore topmaft, and the main The London Gazette Extraordinary, topmaft fell over the fide very foon after. The greater number of the other fhips of the British fleet were, at this time, fo much difabled or widely feparated, and under fuch circumftances with refpect to thofe fhips fof the enemy in a state for action, and with which the firing was ftill continued, that two or three, even of their difimantled fhips, attempting to get away under a fpritfail fingly, or fmaller fail raifed on the ftump of the foremaft, could not be detained. Seven remained in our poffeffion, one of which, however, funk before the adequate affiftance could be given to her crew; but many were faved. The Brunfwick, having loft her mizen maft in the action, and drifted to leeward of the French retreating ships, was obliged to put away large to the northward from them. Not feeing her chafed by the enemy, in that predicament, I flatter myself fhe may arrive in fafety at Plymouth. All the other twenty-four fhips of his majefty's fleet re-affembled later in the day; and I am preparing to return with them, as foon as the captured fhips of the enemy are fecured, for Spithead. The material injury to his nrajefty's fhips, I understand, is confined principally to their mafts and yards, which I conclude will be speedily replaced. I have not been yet able to collect re gular accounts of the killed and wounded in the different fhips. Captain Montagu is the only officer of his rank who fell in the action. The numbers of both defcriptions I hope will prove fmall, the nature of the fervice confidered; but I have the concern of being to add, on the fame fubject, that admiral Graves has received a wound in the arm, and that rear-admirals Bowyer and Pafley, and captain Hutt of the Queen, have each had a leg taken off: they are, however, (I have the fatisfaction to hear) in a favourable state under thofe misfortunes. In the captured fhips the numbers of killed and wounded appear to be very confiderable. Though I fhall have, on the fubject of thefe different actions with the enemy, diftinguished examples hereafter to report, I prefume the determined bravery of the feveral ranks of officers and the fhips companies employed under my authority, will have been already fufficiently denoted by the effect of their fpirited exertions; and, I trust, I thall be excufed for poftponing the more detailed narrative of the other tranfactions of the fleet thereon, for being communicated at a future opportunity; more especially as my firft captain fir Roger Curtis, who is charged with this difpatch, will be able to give the further information the lords commiffioners of the admiralty may at this time require. It is incumbent on me, nevertheless, now to add, that I am greatly indebted to him for his councils as well as conduct in every branch of my official duties: and I have fimilar affiftance, in the late occurrences, to acknowledge of my fecond captain, fir Andrew Douglas. I am, with great confideration, your moft obedient fervant, P. S. The names and force of the captured French fhips with the fleet is traní. mitted herewith. Lift of French Ships captured on the 1ft of June, 1794. 80 guns. La Jufte Sans Pareille L'America L'Achille 80 74 74 74 74' Northumberland L'Impetueux Vengeur 74 funk almoft immediately upon being taken posses- fion of. tured on the evening of the 28th of laft N. B. The ship ftated to have been capmonth, is faid by the prisoners to be the Revolutionaire of 120 guns. Supplement to the London Gazette Extraordinary of the 11th of June. Published June 14. Admiralty Office, June 14, 1794. A letter was received yesterday from admiral earl Howe to Mr. Stephens, dated that day, off Dunnofe in the Isle of Wight, giving an account of his fafe arrival with the fix captured French fhips of the line mentioned in his former letter of the ad in ftant, and with a great part of his majesty's fleet under his command, having fent the remainder into Plymouth Sound. The following are the returns of the killed and wounded on board his majefty's fhips in the aЯtions with the French feet on the 28th and 29th of May, and the ft inftant; and alfo of the numbers killed and wounded on board the French fhips cap tured and funk on the laft mentioned day. A Rc. A Return of the Killed and Wounded on WOUNDED, and unable to come to Quarters. board his Majesty's Ships. Bellerophon T. Pafley, Efq. Smith Rear Ad.of Wh. Cap. of Marines. Midshipman. Mr. Chapman Leviathan 31 43 58 Marlborough 29 90 119, Defence Glen Ro. Sovereign T. Graves, Efq. Admiral of Blue. S. Mitchell Lieut. of ditto. Marlborough Hon. G. Berkley Captain. Mr. A. Ruddack 2d Lieutenant M. Seymour 5th ditto Shorland Ditto. Fitzgerald 29 43 Impregnable W. Buller Lieutenant. Valiant Fogo 1 Midshipman. Ditto. Q. Charlotte Queen 13 17 8 52 Thunderer none killed or wounded. Audacious, parted company in the night of the 28th of May. Douglas Boatswain. Royal George J. Ireland 2d Lieutenant. Balmbrough Mafter. Boys Midshipman: J. Holland Ditto. John Hutt, Efq. Captain. Mr. Dawes 6th ditto. Midshipman. Hon.Mr.Bennett Ditto. Mr. T. Moore Ditto. The fecond captain, Sir Andrew Douglas of the Queen Charlotte, was wounded, but refumed his ftation on deck during the further continuance of the action on the aft inft. HOWE. Killed and wounded on board the French Ships captured and funk, 1ft June, 1794. Le Jufte 100 killed, 145 wounded.-Sans Pareile 260 killed, 120 wounded.-L'America 134 killed, 110 wounded.-L'Achilles 36 killed, 30 wounded.-Northumberland 60 killed, 100 wounded.-L'Impeteux rco killed, 75 wounded. Total 690 killed, 580 wounded. Le Vengeur 320 funk. Le Jacobin, funk in action, not a man saved. By a feparate return it appears that she had two men killed, and Mr. Triftram Whitter, the third lieutenant, and four men wounded. †The return, fince the came to Spithead, is as follows:-Killed, 1 master's mate, midshipman, 1 captain of marines, 41 feamen and marines.-Wounded, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, midfhipman, 1 enfign of marines, 111 feamen and marines. Names of officers killed and wounded.-Killed, Mr. Thomas Dalton, master's mate, Mr. James Lucas, midshipman, captain_Alexander Saunders, 29th regiment. -Wounded, Captain John Hervey, lieutenant Rowland Bevan, enlign Vernon, 29th regiment, Mr. Hurdis, midfhipman. The return of the killed and wounded has already been published in the Gazette of the 7th inftant. The |