also made at the same time upon lieut.-gen Sherbrooke's division, which was on the left and centre of the 1st line of the British army. This attack was most gallantly repulsed by a charge with bayonets, by the whole division; but the brigade of guards, which were on the right, having advanced too far, they were exposed on their left flank to the fire of the enemy's battery and of their retiring columns; and the division was obliged to retire towards the original position, under cover of the 2d line of gen. Cotton's brigade of cavalry, which I had moved from the centre, and of the 1st battalion 48th regiment. I had moved this regiment from its original position on the heights, as soon as I observed the advance of the guards; and it was formed in the plain, and advanced upon the enemy, and covered the formation of lieut.-gen. Sherbrooke's division. Shortly after the repulse of this general attack, in which apparently ail the enemy's troops were employed, he commenced his retreat across the Alberche, which was conducted in the most regular order, and was effected during the night, leaving in our hands 20 pieces of cannon, ammunition, tumbrils, and some prisoners. Your lordship will observe by the inclosed return, the great loss which we have sustained of valuable officers and soldiers in this long and hardfought action, with more than double our number: that of the enemy has been much greater. I am informed that entire brigades of infantry have been destroyed; and, indeed, the battalions that retreated were much reduced in numbers. By all accounts their loss is 10,000 men. Gens. Lapisse and Morlot are killed; gens. Sebastiani and Boulet wounded. I have par

ticularly to lament the loss of maj.gen. Mackenzie, who had distinguished himself on the 27th, and of brig.-gen. Langworth of the king's German legion, and of brig.maj. Becket of the guards. Your lordship will observe, that the attacks of the enemy were principally, if not entirely, directed against the British troops. The Spanish commander in chief, his officers, and troops, manifested every disposition to render us assistance, and those of them which were en gaged did their duty; but the ground which they occupied was so important, and its front at the same time so difficult, that I did not think it proper to urge them to make any movement on the left of the enemy, while he was engaged with us. I have reason to be satis fied with the conduct of all the offcers and troops. I am much indebted to lieut.-gen. Sherbrooke for the assistance I received from him, and for the manner in which he led on his division to the charge with bayonets. To lieut.-gen. Payne and the cavalry, particularly gen. Anson's brigade; to maj.-gens. Hill and Tilson, brig.-gens. A. Campbell, R. Stewart and Cameron, and to the divisions and brigades of infantry under their commands respectively, particularly the 29th regiment, commanded by col. White; the 1st battalion 48th, by col. Donnellan, afterwards, when that officer was wounded, by maj. Middlemore; the 2d battalion 7th, by lieut..col. sir W. Myers; the 2d battalion 53d, by lieut. col. Bingham; the 97th, by col. Lyon; the 1st battalion of detachments, by lieut.-col. Bunbury; and the 28 battalion 31st, by major Watson; and of the 45th, by lieut.-col. Guard; and 5th battalion 60th, commanded by major Davy on the 27th. The

advance

the proclamation of the American government had been known at the respective ports from whence they had taken their departure, are to be exempt from the operation of the non-intercourse act.]

Admiralty-office, August 19. The following dispatches have been received from sir R. J. Strachan, bart. K. B. rear-admiral of the white, &c. addressd to the hon. W. W. Pole.

Kangaroo, in the West Scheldt,

off the Kaloot, Aug. 11. Sir, I beg leave to acquaint you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, that I am this moment going up to Bachz, in South Beveland, which has been attacked by a strong detachment of the enemy's flotilla, and which, by sir R. Keats's reports, consists of two frigates, one bearing a viceadmiral's flag, 30 brigs, eight luggers or schooners, and 14gun-boats. -I was under the necessity of detaining our flotilla, to prevent supplies being thrown into the garrison at Flushing, and to assist in cutting off its communication with Cadsand; which service was effectually done, except during the late heavy gales, which drove the gun-boats from their stations, and prevented our ships entering the Scheldt, from the circumstance of their not being able to weigh their anchors. Since the weather has moderated, the wind has provokingly drawn round to the south east, which is the only obstacle that prevents lord W. Stuart, with a squadron of ten heavy frigates, passing Flushing, as well as rear-admiral lord Gardner, with the effective line-of-battle ships, taking up the anchorage in Dykeshook Bay, where I intend his lordship shall remain, with a view of having the assistance of that squa1809.

dron in our further operations a gainst the enemy, and eventually to proceed up the Scheldt.-The divisions of the army under the earl of Rosslyn and marquis of Huntley landed on South Beveland on the 9th. The cavalry and ordnance ships, with the brigs and some sloops of war, have passed through the Slough into the West Scheldt, and are now availing themselves of every favourable tide to proceed to Bathz. I am also endeavouring to warp the Pallas and Circe through by the same channel, and with every probability of success. Sir Home Popham was detached with some gun-vessels, for the purpose of sounding the river, and of joining sir Richard Keats at Bathz.-The batteries are not yet ready to open on Flushing; therefore I hope to be here again in time to cooperate with the army in the attack on that garrison. I am concerned to add, that the enemy has cut the dyke to the right of the town, and the island is likely to be inundated. I have ordered rear-admiral Otway to send the Monmouth and Agincourt to England for water, as soon as they can be got down from Zierickzee; and earnestly entreat that other means may be adopted for supplying the army and navy from England, as i apprehend all the water in this island will be spoiled by the inundation, and that there is not more in the other islands than is necessary for the subsistence of the inhabitants.

Their lordships

must be aware that, in this extensive and complicated service, it is impossible for me to enter so fully into detail as I could wish, especially as our arrangements must vary in proportion with the movements of the enemy.-In my absence I have directed rear-admiral Otway to superintend the several duties

(I)

relative

relative to the investment of this island, and to correspond with the admiralty on all matters of service. Capt. Dobie, who acted in the Pallas during the absence of capt. Seymour, is the bearer of this dispatch. He had my flag for some time in that ship, and has been particularly attentive to the public service. In consequence of the protracted siege of Flushing, and the necessity for the flotilla going up the Scheldt, I have ordered guns from the ships of war to fit twenty transports as gun-ships, and with launches of the ships under rearadmiral Otway, to form a flotilla for the lower part of the Scheldt, which I trust their lordships will approve. You will please likewise to inform their lordships that lord Gardner has ordered the Centaur and Theseus to cruize off the Texel. R. J. STRACHAN. Kangarco, in the West Scheldi. Arg, 12. Sir, Having directed the frigates named in the margin to procced up the West Scheldt, under the orders of lord Wm. Stuart, captain of the Lavinia, the moment the wind was favourable, that zealous officer availed himself of a light air from the westward on the afternoon of the 11th instant, notwithstanding the tide was against his procceding, and passed the batteries between Flushing and Cadsand. The ships were under the enemy's fire nearly two hours. The gallant and seaman-like manner in which this squadron was conducted, and their s eady and well-directed fire, excited in my breast the warmest sencations of admiration. The army witnessed their exertions with ap

plause; and I am certain their lordships will duly appreciate the services of lord Wn. Stuart, the captains, officers, seamen, and marines, on this occasion. No very material accident happened, except by a shell striking L'Aigle, and which fell through her decks into the bread-room, where it exploded; one man was killed, and four others wounded; her stern frame is much shattered.-Lord Wm. Stuart's modest letter accompanies this dispatch, together with a return of the killed and wounded, and the damages sustained by his majesty's ships in forcing the entrance of this river. Kangaroo, in the West Scheldt, Aug.13.

Sir, I had dispatched sir Home Popham with the sloops, brigs, and vessels, named in the margin †, together with a light flotilla, under captains Lyford, Lowe, and Buck, up the West Scheldt, to sound and buoy the channels of that river, to enable the larger ships to advance, for the purpose of puttg into execution the ulterior objects of this expedition. Sir Home Popham has executed this service with his usual judgement and correctness. I have the honour to inclose, for their lordships' information, a copy of a letter I have received from sir Ri chard Keats, to whom I have given the command of the naval part of our operations in the upper part of both Scheldts, until I get the frigates advanced under lord William Stuart, and which will be done with the utmost dispatch.

R. J. STRACHAN. Fort Bathz, August 12.

Sir, I have the honour to inform you, that, in pursuance of your di

rections,

rections, I arrived at Bathz yesterday; and in order, if practicable, to make an attack on the enemy's flotilla more complete, I ordered thirty flat boats armed with carronades, and some other boats from the ships under my orders, to rendezvous at this place, and meet the flotilla under sir Home Popham; but before the arrival of either, six of the enemy's gun-boats having grounded on a bank within reach of the artillery of the fort, after sustaining some injury by it, were abandoned; five of which were de. stroyed, and the other brought in. The arrival of sir Home Popham and my boats from the East Scheldt took place nearly at the same time; but the enemy's flotilla moved up to Lillo with the same tide that brought ours to Bathz, one of which was handsomely burned by the advanced gun-boats, almost amongst them. As the navigation of the West Scheldt is now open as far as it can possibly be cleared by the navy, and a flotilla force of upwards of fifty sail in the East Scheldt demand attention, and I can at any time return in a few hours to this place, it is my intention to repair this morning to the Superb, where I have ordered the boats of my division. Sir Home Popham is examining the channels. Although we are now masters of the navigation to Lillo, it may be proper to observe, that it is in the enemy's power, by sending a superior naval force, to deprive us of it, as far as Bathz (before some larger ships ascend), whenever he pleases.

R. G. KEATS.

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY,

Downing street, Aug, 19. The following dispatch was this day received from the earl of Chatham, K, G,

Head-quarters, Middleburgh, Aug. 16.

My lord, I have the honour of acquainting your lordship, that on the 13th inst. the batteries before Flushing being completed (and the frigates, bombs, and gun-vessels, having at the same time taken their stations), a fire was opened at about half-past one p.m. from 52 pieces of heavy ordnance, which was vigorously returned by the enemy. An additional battery of six 21. pounders was completed the same night, and the whole continued to play upon the town with little or no intermission till late on the following day. On the morning of the 14th inst., about ten o'clock, the line-of-battle ships at anchor in the Durloo Passage, led by rear-admiral sir Richard Strachan, got under weigh, and kept up as they passed a tremendous cannonade on the town for several hours with the greatest gallantry and effect. About four in the afternoon, perceiving that the fire of the enemy had entirely ceased, and the town presenting a most awful scene of destruction, being on fire in almost every quarter, I directed lieut.-gen. sir E. Coote to send in to summons the place; gen. Monnet returned for answer, that he would reply to the summons as soon as he had consulted a council of war: an hour had been allowed him for the purpose; but a considerable time beyond it having elapsed without any answer being received, hostilities were ordered to recommence with the utmost vigour, and about 11 o'clock at night one of the ene my's batteries, advanced upon the sea dyke in front of lieut.-gen, Fraser's position, was most gallantly carried at the point of the bayonet by detachments from the 36th, 71st, and light battalions of the king's German legion, under lieut. (12)

col.