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ERRATA.

Page.. 2, line 28, for H. Ferris read S. Ferris.

65, the paragraph March 13 belongs to Home Station, Page 189.

66, line 7 and 12, for Grieffe read Griesse.

71, line 4, for 1815 read 1814.

98, line 7, for I. O. Bland read L. O. Bland.

99, line 12, add " and March 20, 1813."

114, line 12 from bottom, for Indiamen read Indiaman.

123, line 15 from bottom, for S. W. read S. by W.

127, line 22 from bottom, for H. F. Coffin read F. H. Coffin.

151, line 8 from bottom, for La Glorie read La Gloire.

184, November 28, for Tonnant read Ardent.

192, line 3, for July 28 read July 18.

218, line 10 from bottom, for July read February.

222, line 27, for Capt. H. Street read Capt. B. Street.

303, line 13, for Mongal read Mongat.

308, line 9 from bottom, for Dromadaire read Dromedaire.

311, line 18, for Gran read Grau.

312, September 17, for James Rowley read Charles Rowley.

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THE

NAVAL GAZETTEER,

&c.

PART I.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, NAVAL OCCURRENCES, ENGAGEMENTS, &c.

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.

A.

ACRE (Siege of). See EGYPT.

AFFLECK (Admiral Phillip) was born about the year 1725, and embarked early in the service of the East India Company, which he quitted, and entered into the royal navy. In 1755 he obtained a lieutenant's commission, and an appointment to the Etna bomb-ketch, in which situation he distinguished himself at the siege of Louisbourg, in 1758, under the command of Admiral Boscawen, who promoted him to the rank of master and commander. He commanded the Grammont of 14 guns, under Adm. Boscawen, in the action with M. de la Clue, in the Mediterranean. on the 18th of August 1759, and was made post-captain, in the Namur of 90 guns, in the same month. He was renioved into the Panther of 60 guns, and was at the blockade of Pondicherry, in the winter of 1760, under Vice-Admirals Stevens and Cornish, whence he returned to England. In 1779 he commanded the Triumph of 74 guns, in the Channel Fleet, under Admiral Sir Charles Hardy, when it fell in with the French and Spanish combined fleets on the 31st of August. Early in 1780 he was ordered to the West Indies, to reinforce Sir George Rodney, and was in the action of the 1st of May, where he distinguished himself by his gallantry. On September 24, 1787, he was promoted to the rank of rear-adm. of the blue, and in 1790 to the chief command on the Jamaica station. On September 21, the same year, he was made rear-adm. of the white, and on February 1, 1793 vice-adm. of the blue. On April 26, 1793, he was appointed one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and in the same year was elected vice-president of the Marine Society. On April 11, 1794, he was made vice-adm. of the white, and on the 4th of June following vice-adm. of the red; on

B

June

June 1, 1795 adm. of the blue, and on the 14th of February 1799, adm. of the white squadron.

He retired from his seat at the Admiralty Board in 1796, and never again appeared in any official situation. Universally respected, he died at Bath, on December 22, 1799.

ALEXANDRIA (N. America). This populous city, situated upon the beautiful river Potowmac, which divides_Virginia from Maryland on the south, after its principal defence, Fort Washington, was abandoned, capitulated to a squadron of ships, commanded by Capt. J. A. Gordon, on the 29th August 1814. The ships employed on this service were the Seahorse, 38, J. A. Gordon; Euryalus, 36, Chas. Napier; Fairy, 14, H. T. Baker; Devastation (bb.), 14, Thos. Alexander; Etna (bb.), Rich. Kenah; Meteor (bb.), 18, Sam. Roberts; Erebus, 18, D. Bartholomew; and Anne, dispatch-boat. The difficulties in ascending the river, which is encumbered with numerous shoals, the prevalence of contrary winds, and the increased obstacles which the enemy had prepared against the return of the ships, were only surmounted by the most determined courage and perseverance. A fleet of 21 vessels laden with, stores was brought off. The loss sustained by the squadron was 7 killed and 35 wounded.

ALEXANDRIA (Egypt). See EGYPT.

ALGESIRAS, battle in the bay of, near Gibraltar, fought on 6th July by a British squadron under the command of Rear-Adm. Sir James Saumarez, K. B., consisting of the Cæsar, 80, Rear-Adm. Sir James Saumarez, K. B., Capt. J. Brenton; Spencer, 74, H. D'E. Darby Venerable, 74, S. Hood; Pompée, 80, C. Sterling; and Hannibal, 74, H. Ferris, with a French squadron of 3 ships of the line and I frigate, commanded by Admiral Linois, supported by the batteries and gun-boats. The Hannibal, endeavouring to get between the enemy's ships and batteries, grounded, and could not be gotten off, and was therefore surrendered to the enemy. After a severe conflict of five hours, the English withdrew from the action, and retired to Gibraltar to refit. The English had 121 k. 240 w. the enemy 306 k. 184 w. See MED. STATION.

On the 12th another battle was fought by the squadron, under Rear-Adm. Sir James Saumarez, K. B. and the combined Spanish and French squadrons. The British squadron now consisted of the Cæsar, 80, Rear-Adm. Sir James Saumarez, K. B. Capt. J. Brenton; Spencer, 74, H. D'E. Darby; Venerable, 74, S. Hood; Superb, 74, R. G. Keats; Audacious, 74, S. Peard; Thames, 32, A. P. Holles; Calpe, 20, Hon. G. H. L. Dundas; and Louisa (bg.), 8, Lieut. Truscott. The combined force consisted of the Real Carlos, 112; San Hermenegildo, 112; San Fernando, 94; Argonaut, 80; San Augustin, 74; San Antonio, 74; Formidable, 80; Indomptable, 80; Dessaix, 74; and Hannibal, 74; but the last was not in the action, she having been towed back to Algesi To these may be added, four frigates, two armed vessels, and several gun-boats.

ras.

Of this engagement it has been observed, "Posterity will scarcely credit that a squadron of five sail of the line, which had been disabled in action five days before, in a dreadful contest under the batteries of Algesiras, could be in a condition to follow, and determined to fight, an enemy's fleet, consisting of two ships of 112 guns, one of 94, three of 80, four of 74, four frigates, &c.

"Not all the familiarity of the British navy with glorious success

-not

-not the memory of the battles of a St. Vincent or a Nelson-not the knowledge of this victory itself, can make us contemplate with tranquillity the disparity of the British force, whose commander determined, with his crippled ships and unequal numbers, to pursue the combined fleets, and to prevent their retreat under the batteries of Cadiz.

"The splendour of the attempt, and its astonishing success, have not been exceeded by any of those heroic achievements which have formed and fixed the character of the British navy."

The thanks of parliament were voted to the commander-in-chief, to the officers, and the seamen, for their promptitude, spirit, and intrepidity, in the attack. And, to the Rear-Admiral, who had also shared in the glory of Lord Rodney in his memorable victory of the 12th April 1782; of Earl St. Vincent, on the 14th February 1797; of Lord Nelson, at the mouth of the Nile, on the 1st August 1798; as well as in several other brilliant actions, his Majesty, besides other honours, has been since pleased to confer a pension of £1200 per annum, to commence from the day of victory, 12th July 1801.

AMBOYNA (Island of, in the Indian seas).-This important Dutch colony, which had been taken by a squadron commanded by Rear-Adm. P. Rainier, on the 8th March 1796, and ceded at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, surrendered once more to the British arms on the 19th February 1810. The naval force was under the command of Capt. Tucker, of the Dover, 38, and consisted, besides this ship, of the Cornwallis, 38, W. A. Montagu, and Samarang, 18, Rd. Spencer. Capt. Major H. Court, in the East-India Company's service, commanded the land forces. The islands of Saparona, Haronka, and Nasso Lant, of the Moluccas, surrendered soon after Amboyna, to the same forces. The vessels of war and merchantmen captured and destroyed by the blockading squadron under the command of Capt. Tucker, between the 8th December 1809, and the 8th March 1810, amounted to 52.

AMERICAN STATIONS (North & South), Occurrences on. -1793. The first squadron on the Newfoundland station, after the commencement of hostilities, consisted of the Stately, 64, ViceAdm. Sir Richard King, Bart. Capt. J. S. Smith; the Boston, 32, G. W. A. Courtney; Fox, 32, T. Drury; Cleopatra, 32, A. J. Ball; Shark, 16, S. Barker; Pluto, 14, J. N. Morris; Placentia, 14, J. Tucker; Trepassey, 12, J. Brenton; and Bonetta, 16, Graham Moore. The only ships on the Halifax station, at the same time, were, the Hussar, 28, Capt. Rupert George; the Severn, 44, P. Minchin; and the Alligator, 28, W. Affleck; the two latter being employed chiefly as convoy between Halifax and Quebec.

On the 14th May, Capt. Affleck, in the Alligator, 28, with the troops under Gen. Ogilvie, arrived off the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, and summoned the French commandant to surrender immediately after the landing had been effected. He surrendered at discretion. Eighteen small vessels with fish, and two American schooners, were taken in the harbour.

In the month of July, a large French W. I. fleet put into the Chesapeake, with convoy, and disposed of or shipped their cargoes into American vessels for France, in order to avoid the British Cruizers.

The Pluto, Capt. Morris, of 14 guns, captured, after an action of

45 minutes, Le Lutin, of 16 guns, and 70 men. The Pluto had not one wounded.

In July, Capt. Courtney, in the Boston, 32, when cruizing off the banks of Newfoundland, having learned that L'Ambuscade, French frigate, of 38 guns, and 300 men, was at anchor off Sandyhook, proceeded for that place, and on the 31st, came in sight of her; he then hoisted French colours, when the French captain, believing it to be one of his comrades, sent off a boat with an officer, who was detained, and the boat sunk. The French commander having discovered the deception, bravely put to sea, and soon came alongside the Boston, when a desperate engagement ensued; and after a conflict of two hours, the two ships separated, both being dreadfully crippled. Capt. Courtney and Lieut. Butler fell by the same shot: 11 men were also killed and 37 wounded. His majesty afterwards settled a pension of £500 annuity on Captain Courtney's widow, and £50 on each of his two children.

1795, May 17.--The Thetis, 38, Hon. Capt. A. Cochrane, and Hussar, 28, Capt. J. P. Beresford, in cruising off the Chesapeake, to intercept some French store-ships, then lying in Hampton Road, ready for sea, discovered five sail of ships standing to the N. W.; observing the British frigates in chase, they formed the line of battle a-head, and waited to receive them. At half-past ten the English ships were within half-musket shot, when the French ships opened their fire, which was soon returned, and a close action ensued. Before eleven the Hussar compelled the Commodore, and his second a-head, to quit the line and make sail. The fire of both ships now falling on the centre ship and those in the rear, at a quarter before twelve they struck their colours, notwithstanding which, the two sternmost ships endeavoured to make off; one of which however was brought to by the Hussar, and proved to be La Raison, of 18 guns, pierced for 24. The other capture was La Prévoyante, of 24, but pierced for 46

guns.

This year a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, was ratified between Great Britain and the United States of America, in which mutual indemnifications were to be made to the subjects who had suffered by illegal captures.

1796, May 4.--The Spencer sloop, of 18 guns, Capt. R. Evans, when cruising off Bermuda, outsailed the Bonetta slp. Capt. Rood, and L'Espérance, Capt. Rose, in company with him, and came up with Le Volcan corvette, of 12 guns, and 95 men, which he captured, after a brisk action of a quarter of an hour. On the same day, L'Espérance and Bonetta captured Le Poisson Volant, formerly his Majesty's sch. Flying Fish, taken in the West Indies.

August 28.-Rear Adm. Murray, in cruising off Cape Henry, gave chase to three sail of large ships. In the evening, the Topaze, Capt. Church, came up with the sternmost, when she struck, after discharging her broadside. She proved to be L'Elizabeth, of 36 guns, a merchant ship armed for war. The other vessels escaped.

A French squadron, commanded by Adm. Richery, which had been shut up in Cadiz, with the captures made from the Mediterranean convoy the preceding summer, put to sea with the Spanish fleet in the month of October, and proceeded to the coast of Newfoundland, where they mischievously plundered, burnt, and destroyed, property to a considerable amount. Adm. Richery afterwards returned to Rochelle, and thence went to join the fleet at Brest. this time the squadron under Vice-Adm. Sir James Wallace, then commander

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