January the 16th Captain Mainwaring, of his Majesty's ship Babet, discovered a French privateer half way between Martinico and Dominica. Upon making out the Babet's force, the privateer attempted to escape, by using her sweeps. Lieutenant Pym immediately volunteered to attack her, with the pinnace and launch, and twenty-four men; after rowing four hours he succeeded in boarding the Frenchman, with the loss of one man killed and five wounded. The enemy, La Desirée, of six guns and forty-six men, had three killed and fifteen badly wounded.' "Captain Dickson's account of the destruction of the vessels "SIR, "On the 29th of last month, I received intelligence of three privateers to leeward. I proposed to Colonel Picton, as the only sure method of keeping the trade open, to attack Rio Caribe and Garupano, destroy their forts, and bring off their guns, as the privateers would then have no shelter, if chased by us. He perfectly agreed with me, and ordered Major Laureil, with forty of the royal rangers, to embark and proceed with me. On the 2d I pushed down in company with the Zephyr; and having reached Cape Three Points, we destroyed the schooner Proserpine, a Dutch privateer of two guns and thirteen men, from Cariaco, on a cruize. On the 3d, having reached within eighteen miles of Rio Caribe at two o'clock in the morning, I landed the troops with a party of seamen, to attack the forts in the rear, while the brigs attacked in front. At daylight, the commandant sent to beg we would not fire, as he Ann. Reg. 1798. p. 39. Capt. Mainwaring's Letter. 1799, p. 16. Capt. Dickson's Letter. The Author has much pleasure in recording this gallant action of his old mess-mate's. Admiral Harvey reported the capture of the following privateers, schooners belonging to Guadaloupe. The Barton, merchant ship, Cutler master, to windward of Barbadoes, beat off a privateer schooner of 18 guns, after a very gallant action. would give us possession without resisting. We immediately reimbarked the troops, took off the guns, and made sail for Garupano, where we arrived at four in the evening. Observing a French privateer in the harbour, I sent a flag of truce to the commandant, to say I was determined to take her out, and on his peril to fire on me: he answered he would protect her, and that I should give him the guns I had taken at Rio Caribe. I found there was no time to be lost, and ordered Major Laureil with the troops, Lieutenants Case and M'Rensey, with thirty seamen from the Victorieuse and Zephyr, to land and carry the forts by storm, while the brigs attacked in front. At five we anchored, and opened a smart fire on both forts; in ten minutes the troops and seamen carried the lower fort, and I observed the Spanish struck at the upper one, but instantly replaced by French colours. In five minutes the upper fort was carried. I have taken the guns and ammunition off, destroyed the forts, and sent the privateer to Trinidad: she had six guns and eighty men. "I cannot conclude my letter without informing you, I never saw more real courage displayed than by Major Laureil, Lieutenants Case and M'Rensey of the Victorieuse, and soldiers and seamen under their command, by attacking two forts with seventy men, defended by at least 300. Great zeal was also shewn by the officers and seamen of the Victorieuse and Zephyr, and I am much indebted to Captain Champain, to whom I beg leave to refer you for further information. "E. S. DICKSON." Captain Fahie, in his Majesty's ship Perdrix, on the 11th of December, captured L'Armée d'Italie, French privateer ship, of thirteen guns and 117 men, to windward of the Virgin Gorda. She engaged the Perdrix forty-two minutes, had six killed and five wounded, and was unmanageable when she struck. Captain Fahie praises the conduct of Lieutenants C. Ottley and James Smith, Mr. M. Crawford, master, and Mr. Piquenet the purser. Letters from the Earl of Balcarras to the Duke of Portland. "On the 31st of October, I received a dispatch from the Bay of Honduras. Colonel Barrow informs me that the settlers had been attacked by a flotilla consisting of thirty-one vessels, having on board 2000 land troops and 500 seamen; Arthur O'Neil, governorgeneral 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 armament has been repulsed, and the expedition entirely frustrated. Gazette Letter. March, 1799. Annual Register, 1799, p. 4. The lieutenant-colonel speaks in the handsomest Manner of the conduct of Captain Moss, of his Majesty's sloop Merlin, and of the wonderful exertions of the settlers and their Negro slaves, who manned the gun-boats. The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel 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. “My Lord, "I have, &c. " BALCARRAS. "Honduras, September 23d, 1798. "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 No. 1, Towser, one gun, eighteen pounder; No. 2, Tickler, one gun, eighteen pounder; No. 3, Mermaid, one gun, nine pounder; No. 4. Swinger, four guns, six pounders, and two four pounders; No. 5, Teazer, six guns, four pounders. Besides eight flat gun-boats, carrying each a nine pounder in the prow. "Nos. 1 and 2 are commanded by Mr. Gelston and Mr. Hosmer, masters 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 colonial troops, and together amount to 354 men, now on float. The 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. "Captain Moss, in his Majesty's ship Merlin, left his anchorage at Belize on the evening of the 5th, and arrived at St. George's key about noon on the 6th of September. The Spaniards, having found a passage through the leeward 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 eastward 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 Longkey 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 Haul-over. 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 West India 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 Haul-over, and to defend that post to the last extremity; while a body of experienced bushmen, 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 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 twenty-two, and all the rest from eight to fourteen guns in their waists; and every one of them, besides being crowded with men, towed a large launch full of soldiers; the other five vessels, with several large launches, all full of men, remained at this last anchorage, at the distance of a mile and a half. Our fleet was drawn up with his Majesty's ship Merlin in the centre, and directly abreast of the channel; the sloops with heavy guns and the gun-boats, in some advance to the northward, were on her eastern and western flanks. The enemy came down in a very handsome manner, and with a good countenance in a line abreast, using both sails and oars. About half after two o'clock, Captain Moss made the signal to engage, which was obeyed with a cool and determined firmness, that, to use his own expression to me on the occasion, would have done credit to veterans. The action lasted about two hours and a half, when the Spaniards began to fall into confusion, and soon afterwards cut their cables and sailed and rowed off, assisted by a great number of launches, which took them in tow. Captain Moss, on seeing them retreat, made the signal for our vessels to chase, but night coming on and rendering a pursuit too dangerous in a narrow channel and difficult navigation, they were soon after recalled. "At half after three in the afternoon, I received a letter from Captain Moss, stating that the enemy was preparing to attack him, and requiring all the assistance which I could give. I immediately ordered as many men to embark and proceed to his assistance, as small craft to carry them could be procured. The alacrity shown on this occasion was great indeed; but as a requisition of this nature was by no means expected, the necessary arrangements had not been made for so speedily embarking the troops, and of consequence some irregularity ensued, for the cannonade being distinctly heard, and a certainty of an engagement having taken place, it became impossible to restrain the eagerness of the colonial troops, who, possessing canoes, dories, and pit-pans, without thought or retrospect of those left behind, hastened with impetuosity to join their companions and share their danger; hence arose difficulty and disappointment to the regular troops, who, being under arms and anxious to proceed with all expedition, suffered delay from want of the necessary boats and craft to embark in. "As soon as I saw seventeen craft of different descriptions, having on board 200 men, set off with orders to rally round the Merlin, I immediately joined them, in hope of assisting Captain Moss, and harassing the enemy; but although we were on board the Merlin, a distance of three leagues and a half, in the wind's eye, we were too late to have any share in the action. But I am of opinion, that the sight of so many small craft full of men, coming up with velocity, hastened the return of the enemy, and that their appearance on the following day, as well as the junction of two armed ships, the Juba and Columbia, which I had ordered round to St. George's key on the 9th, induced the fleet to prepare for returning to their respective posts. The Spaniards remained under Key-chapel until the 15th, on the morning of which they made various movements, and in the course of the day, some of them anchored under Key-caulker. "On the morning of the 16th, it was discovered that they had stolen off. Eight of their largest vessels got out to sea, and stood to the northward, the remainder, being twenty-three in number, |