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diate release of French prisoners of corresponding ranks will take place with the least possible delay. I must not omit this opportunity to express my entire satisfaction with the indefatigable zeal of Lieut. Colonel Jones, relative to the comfort of the prisoners, and my obligation to that officer, and to Major Stanhope, on this occasion. I am anxious, too, to do justice to the conduct of General Bizanet, which, truly characteristic of a brave man, has been marked from the first with the most kind and humane attentions to the prisoners.

He has sent me the name of an officer, prisoner in England, formerly his Aide-de Camp, and I would gladly hope that, in compliment to the General, this officer would be immediately released without exchange.

Major Stanhope, who can better than any body inform your Lordship of all particulars you may wish to be informed of, is sent purposely as the bearer of my dispatches, which makes it unnecessary for me to add more.

I have the honour to be, &c. THOMAS GRAHAM. Earl Bathurst, &c. &c. &c.

COLONIAL DEPARTMENT.

Downing Street, May 31. A dispatch, of which the following is an extract, has been this day received by Earl Bathurst, from Lieutenant General Sir Geo. Prevost, dated

Quebec, March 12, 1814. When I had the honour of addressing your Lordship on the 9th of February, the American

army, under Major-General Wilkinson, continued to occupy their position on the frontier of Lower Canada, at the French Mills, on the Salmon River, near St. Regis, and at the Four Corners.

I now beg leave to acquaint you, that, between the 12th and 16th of February, the enemy abandoned their position, after partially burning their block houses and barracks, erected with infinite labour and great expense, and also destroying their river craft and batteaux, several hundred of which have been frozen up in Salmon River, and they have succeeded in moving their ordnance and the principal part of their provisions and stores. Two regiments are stated to have proceeded to Sackett's Harbour, and the remainder of their force to Burlington and Platsburgh, where MajorGeneral Wilkinson has now taken up his head-quarters.

I am informed the frontier positions occupied by the enemy at the close of the last campaign were given up, by the orders of the American Government, in consequence of the extreme diffi culty experienced, and the enormous expence incurred, in supplying the troops allotted for their defence with provisions, and the daily decrease of their army by sickness and desertion, arising from the harassing and fatiguing duties to which their troops were exposed, from the constant apprehension of being attacked by us.

As soon as information of the enemy's movement was received, Colonel Scott, of the 103d regiment, with a small effective force, consisting of detachments from

that

that corps, the 89th, and Canadian Fencibles, and a picket of light cavalry from Coteau du Lac and Cornwall, passed over the ice from the latter post to the Salmon River, and arrived in time to press upon the enemy's rear-guard, which made a precipitate retreat; and about a hundred sleigh loads of provisions and stores have fallen into our possession, and the destruction of their block-houses, barracks, and boats, been completed.

Colonel Scott advanced with his party without opposition into the enemy's country to Malone, Madrid, and within a few miles of Platsburg, and returned by the route of Four Corners, to his post at the Coteau du Lac.

WAR DEPARTMENT.

Downing-street, Murch 22. Dispatches, of which the following are extracts, have been this day received, addressed to Earl Bathurst, by the Marquess of Wellington, dated Aire, 13th and 14th March, 1814:

Aire, March 13th, 1814. The excessive bad weather and violent fall of rain, in the beginning of the month, having swelled, to an extraordinary degree, all the rivers, and rendered it difficult and tedious to repair the numerous bridges, which the enemy had destroyed in their retreat, and the different parts of the army being without communication with each other, I was obliged to halt.

The enemy retired after the affair with Lieutenant General Sir Rowland Hill on the 2d, by both banks of the Adour towards Tar

bes, probably with a view to be joined by the detachments from Marshal Suchet's army, which left Catalonia in the last week in February.

In the mean time I sent, on the 7th, a detachment, under MajorGeneral Fane, to take possession of Pau; and another on the 8th, under Marshal Sir William Beresford, to take possession of Bordeaux.

I have the pleasure to inform your Lordship, that the Marshal arrived there yesterday (the small force which was there having in the preceding evening retired across the Garonne), and that this important city is in our possession.

Lieutenant General Don Manuel Frere joined the army this day, with that part of the 4th army under his immediate command; and I expect that Major General Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry will join to morrow.

I learnt from Major General Fane, who commands Lieutenant General Sir Rowland Hill's outposts, that the enemy have this day collected a considerable force in the neighbourhood of Couchez, and I. therefore conclude that they have been joined by the detachment of the army of Catalonia, which, it is reported, amounts to 10,000 men.

Nothing important has occurred at the blockade of Bayonne, or in Catalonia, since I addressed your Lordship last.

Aire, March 14, 1814.

I inclose Marshal Sir William Beresford's private letter to me, written after his arrival at Bordeaux, from which you will see that the Mayor and people of the

town

town have adopted the White .Cockade, and declared for the House of Bourbon.

Marshal Sir W. Beresford's private letter, to which Lord Wellington's dispatch refers, is dated at Bordeaux, 12th March, 1814.

It states, in substance, that he entered the city on that day. That he was met a short distance from the town, by the civil authorities and population of the place, and was received in the city with every demonstration of joy.

The magistrates and the city guards took off the eagles and other badges, and spontaneously substituted the white cockade, which had been adopted universally by the people of Bordeaux.

Eighty-four pieces of cannon were found in the city; and an hundred boxes of secreted arms had been produced already.

Admiralty-office, April 2. [The annexed letter from Captain Palmer, of the Hebrus, detailing the capture of the French frigate L'Etoile, on the morning of the 27th ult. after an arduous chase of 120 miles, and a wellfought action of two hours and a quarter, in eight fathoms of water, under Cape La Hogue, is transmitted in letters from Rear-Admiral Sir R. Bickerton and Capt. Sir M. Seymour, both of whom declare themselves at a loss to express in adequate terms, their admiration of Captain Palmer's skill and decision on so interesting an occasion, and his new ship's company, his officers, and his own able and intrepid conduct.]

His Majesty's Ship Hebrus,
March 29, 1814.
Sir,-When the Hannibal and

his Majesty's ship under my command separated on the morning of the 26th, in chase of the two French frigates we had fallen in with, we continued in pursuit of the one you were pleased to detach us after, the whole day, with all our canvas spread. About midnight he reached the race of Alderney, and the wind scanting, we began to gain upon him fast; by the time he had run the length of Point Jobourg, leading into the Bay of La Hogue, he was obliged to attempt rounding it almost within the wash of the breakers; and here, after an anxious chase of 15 hours, and running him upwards of 120 miles, we were fortunate enough, between one and two in the morning, to bring him to battle: we crossed his stern, our jib-boom passing over his tafrail, and shot in betwixt him and the shore, in eight fathoms water, and it falling nearly calm about this time, the ships continued nearly in the same spot until the conclusion of the action. At its commencement we suffered considerably in our rigging; the enemy firing high, he shot away our fore-topmast and fore-yard, crippled our mainmast and bowsprit, and cut away almost every shroud, stay, and brace we had. Our fire from the first, and throughout, was directed at our opponent's hull, and the ships being as close together as they could be without touching, he suffered most severely, every shot which struck passing through him. About four o'clock his mizen-mast fell by the board, and his fire ceased, when, after an obstinate contest of two hours and a quarter, he hailed us, to say that he had struck his colours. The moment we could get possession,

it became necessary to put the heads of both ships off shore, as well from the apprehension of grounding, as to get them clear from a battery which had been firing at both of us during the whole action, those on shore not being able, from the darkness, to distinguish one from the other; fortunately the tide set us round the point, and we anchored soon afterwards in Vauville Bay, in order to secure our masts as well as we were able. The prize proves to be L'Etoile French frigate, mounting 44 guns, 28 18-pounders on the main deck, and the remainder carronades, with a complement of 320 men; she was commanded by Monsieur Henry Pierre Philibert, Capitaine de frigate, who was returning, together with La Sultane (the other frigate,) from a four months' cruise to the westward. L'Etoile is a very fine frigate, quite new, and sails well; she lost in the action 40 killed, and had upwards of 70 wounded; her masts which remained are shot through, and her hull extremely shattered, having four feet water in her hold at the time she surrendered. are also a good deal cut up, several of our guns dismounted, and I have to regret the loss of some brave men, 13 killed and 25 wounded, some of them, I fear, dangerously. Amongst the former was a most promising young gentleman, Mr. P. A. Crawley, midshipman, who fell unhappily early in the action.

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Mr. R. M. Jackson, the Senior Lieutenant; as also to give my best testimony to the exertions of the junior Lieutenants. Messrs. Addis and Cocks, together with Lieuts. Griffith and M'Laughlin, of the marines. To Mr. M'Gowan, the master, I am much indebted for the skill and care with which he conducted the steerage of the ship during a period of much difficulty and peril. Mr. Maddox, the purser, very handsomely volunteered his attendance on deck, where he rendered good services.

I cannot close this letter with. out observing, that I derived the greatest assistance from the pro fessional ability of Captain William Sargent of the navy, who was serving on board with me as a volunteer.

Herewith, Sir, you have lists of the killed and wounded; and I notice with great pleasure the care and attention of Mr. Boyter, surgeon, not only towards our own men, but to those of the enemy also. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) EDM. PALMER, Captain of his Majesty's ship Hebrus. [Here follows a list of 13 killed, including a midshipman, P. A. Crawley, and 25 wounded. The prize L'Etoile had 40 killed and 71 wounded.]

Admiralty-office, July 23. Copy of a Letter from Captain Hillyar, of his Majesty's ship Phoebe, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated in

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Admiralty, that a little past three o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th instant, after nearly five months anxious search, and six weeks still more anxious look. out for the Essex and her companion, to quit the port of Valparaiso, we saw the former under weigh, and immediately, accompanied by the Cherub, made sail to close with her: on rounding the outer point of the bay, and hauling her wind for the purpose of endeavouring to weather us, and escape, she lost her main topmast, and afterwards not succeeding in an effort to regain the limits of the port, bore up, and anchored so near the shore (a few miles to the leeward of it), as to preclude the possibility of passing a-head of her without risk to his Majesty's ships. As we drew near, my intention of going close under her stern was frustrated by the ship breaking off, and from the wind blowing extremely fresh; our first fire, commencing a little past four, and continuing about ten minutes, produced no visible effect: our second, a few random shot only, from having increased our distance by wearing, was not apparently more successful, and having lost the use of our mainsail, jib, and main-stay, appearances were a little inauspicious. On standing again towards her, I signified my intention of anchoring, for which we were not ready before, with springs, to Captain Tucker, directing him to keep under weigh, and take a convenient station for annoying our opponent. On closing the Essex, at 35 minutes past five, the firing recommenced, and before I gained my intended position, her cable

was cut, and a serious conflict ensued; the guns of his Majesty's ship gradually becoming more destructive, and her crew, if possible, more animated, which lasted until 20 minutes past six; when it pleased the Almighty Disposer of Events to bless the efforts of my gallant companions, and my personal very humble one, with vic

tory. My friend, Captain Tucker, an officer worthy of their Lordships' best attentions, was severely wounded at the commencement of the action, but remained on deck until it terminated, using every exertion against the baffling winds and occasional calms which followed the heavy firing, to close near the enemy; he informs me that his officers and crew, of whose loyalty, zeal, and discipline, I entertain the highest opinion, conducted themselves to his satisfaction.

I have to lament the death of four of my brave companions, and one of his; with real sorrow I add, that my first Lieutenant, Ingram, is among the number; he fell early, and is a great loss to his Majesty's service; the many manly tears which I observed this morning, while performing the last mournful duty at his funeral on shore, more fully evinced the respect and affection of his afflicted companions, than any eulogium my pen is equal to. Our lists of wounded are small, and there is only one for whom I am under anxiety. The conduct of my officers and crew, without any individual exception that has come to my knowledge, before, during, and after the battle, was such as become good and loyal subjects, zealous for the honour of their

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