of capitulation accompanying, were agreed to. Accordingly, at nine o'clock on the morning of the 19th, the force originally ally landed under Capt. Court, marched in and took possession of Fort Victoria for his Majesty (the Enemy having previously laid down their arms on the Esplanade), when the British Union was hoisted under a royal salute from the fort and shipping. I beg leave to congratulate your Excellency on the acquisition of this important colony, defended by 130 Europeans, and upwards of 1000 Javanese and Madurese troops, exclusive of the officers and crews of three vessels sunk in the inner harbour, many of which are Europeans, amounting to 220 men, aided by the Dutch inhabitants and Burghers, who were stationed in the batteries on this very formidable line of defence."

Capt. Court's report to Capt. Tucker, of the operations of the troops and seamen employed under the command of the former in attacking the Enemy's out-posts on the 16th February, after stating the carrying the battery of Wannetoo, says: "With the remaining force I proceeded along the heights to turn the Enemy's position at Batter Gantong, situated about 1500 yards distant from, and nearly on the same level with, that at Wannetoo, and which commanded the town of Amboyna and Fort Victoria. This party endured with the greatest spirit and patience a most fatiguing and troublesome march, ascending and descending hills over which there was no road, and many of them so extremely steep, as to require the assistance of the bushes for the men to get up and down by. Their toils, however, were rewarded by our reaching, a little after sun-set, an eminence which effectually commanded the Enemy, and by the satisfaction we experienced on finding that we had pursued the only mode of attack against this post (so strong by the nature of the ground) which admitted a probability of success, otherwise than by a great sacrifice of lives.The Enemy, who was collected in some numbers, retired immediately we were perceived on the heights above them, and we entered the battery without opposition, where we found four iron 12pounders, and one iron 9-pounder.The consequences of our successes in obtaining possession of Wannetoo and Batter Gantong, were observed by the desertion, on the part of the Enemy, of two batteries which had annoyed the ships, and which became exposed to our commanding fire. One of them, called the Wogoo Battery, is situated on the shore. The other is erected upon piles,

some distance in the sea; they were both well calculated for defence against a naval attack, and were covered by very thick parapet. During the night, two 12-pounders and one 9-pounder were relieved of the spikes, in the Batter Gantong battery, which on the following day were brought to fire on the fort. The enemy returned our fire (which continued until your summons for the surrender of the town) with shells, but without effect. Our loss, in obtaining our advantages, was trifling, in comparison with the importance of their consequences, and considering the obstacles the troops had to surmount."

The Island was summoned by Capt. Tucker on the 17th February. The answer of the Governor, L'Heukelugt, imputes his situation to the treacherous conduct of the Amboynese inhabitants, and requests a capitulation. The artieles of capitulation follow, by which the garrison are to be conveyed to the island of Java, at the expence of the British Government. The total return of mounted ordnance on the fortification of Fort Victoria, and on the batteries on the heights to the right and left thereof, is 215, and of dismounted iron guns, 18.

H. M. S. Dover, Amboyna, March 1. SIR, I have the pleasure to acquaint your Excellency, that, since my letter of the 20th ult. the valuable islands of Saporoua, Harouka, and Nasso - Laut, as well as those of Bouro and Manippa, have surrendered to his Majesty's forces under my command. E TUCKER.

[Here follows a return of the armed vessels captured, consisting of seven brigs and cutters, from 8 to 16 guns, 42 Government supply vessels of various descriptions, and three neutrals: total 52.]

Another letter, from Capt. Tucker, dated Amboyna, Feb. 10, 1810, states the destruction of the Dutch fort at Boolo Combo, on the Celebes, by a detachment of troops, seamen, and marines, landed from that ship, under the command of Capt. Forbes, of the Madras European regiment. We had one man killed and seven wounded in this service, including Capt. Forbes in the latter.

tons; ship Patholgair, of 450 tons; brig Charlotte, of 50 tons; Ketch Salo Sala, of 80 tons. E. TUCKER, Capt.

[This Gazette likewise contains a Letter from Mr. G. Collier, of the Surveillante, addressed to Vice-adm. Sotheby, dated Quiberon Bay, Sept. 5, mentioning the cutting out of a French brig from under the batteries of St. Guildas and St. Jacques, by Lieut. Arbuthnot and Mr. Illingworth, the master's mate, at the head of two boats crews, without loss. Also, on the 7th, of the destruction of a battery, guard-house, and watch-tower, the labour of some months, at the entrance of Coack River, by Mr. Illingworth, at the head of two boats crews, of the Surveillante. A Letter from Capt. Wolfe, of the Aigle, announces the capture, on the 12th inst. after a chace of 13 hours, of the PhϾnix French privateer, of Bourdeaux, pierced for 20 guns, but carrying only 18, and 129 men, commanded by Mons. Jacques Perrond.]

Admiralty-office, Sept. 29. Letter from Adm. Sir C. Cotton, Bart. Commander in Chief in the Mediterranean, to J. W. Croker, Esq. dated on-board H. M. S. San Josef, off Toulon, July 24. SIR, A continuance of streng gales from the N. W. since the 15th instant, obliged me to take shelter under the Levant Island with the fleet, from which, however, we were driven as far to the Eastward as Villa Franca. I have been, at length, enabled to gain the rendezvous of Cape Sicie; and, having had communication with Capt. Blackwood, the senior officer in-shore, have received from him an account of his proceedings with the detached squadron under his orders, upon a division of the Enemy's fleet, consisting of six sail of the line (one a three-decker with the Commander in Chief's flag), and four frigates, coming out of Toulon on the 20th inst. for the purpose of enabling a frigate and convoy to get from Bandol, and no less to endeavour to cut off the Euryalus and Sheerwater; and, in justice to the Captains of his Majesty's ships Warspite, Ajax, Conqueror, Euryalus, and Sheerwater, I cannot desist from transmitting to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the enclosed copy of Capt. Blackwood's letter on the subject; and I doubt not their Lordships will view with no small degree of satisfaction the gallantry and steadiness of those ships, and, under the existing circumstances, the determined measure that officer adopted by bringing-to in order of battle, with his Majesty's squadron, against so superior a force, and engaging the headmost

ships of the Enemy's line, which had the
effect of completely frustrating their in-
tentions, as regarded the Euryalus and
Sheerwater, though the latter was un-
der their guns, and received three broad-
sides from one of the line-of-battle ships,
besides a frigate, but without being struck
by either. The Enemy's ships remain in
the same state as usual in the outer
road of Toulon; five or six sail daily
stand out off the harbour's mouth, to
exercise.
C. COTTON.

Warspite, off Toulon, July 20.

SIR, In a former letter, I did myself the honour to acquaint you of the Enemy having twice come out in great force, and failing in an attempt to detach a store-ship to the Eastward, and liberate å frigate in Bandol, where we had forced her to take refuge. This morning they agam came out with six sail of the line, one of them of three decks, bearing the Commander in Chief's flag, and four frigates; and as the weather was light and variable I found it impossible to prevent the junction of the frigate in' Bandol; I therefore endeavoured to collect the squadron, and place ourselves without the Enemy in as good a posture of defence as I could'; 'but, owing to the situation of the Euryalus and Sheerwater, who were obliged to eross their headmost ships, and the wind rather failing them, whilst the Enemy preserved it so entirely as to render the capture of the Sheerwater certain, if not that of the Euryalus; it became a matter imperatively necessary that I should risk an action, though at the door of the Enemy, and with a force so superior; a step which, without such an object, I should not have considered myself authorized in taking, particularly as you had been unavoidably blown off and out of sight by the late heavy gales. I therefore brought-to, with the Conqueror and Ajax astern of me, in such a position as evinced my determination to protect the frigate and brig; and I am happy to inform you, that the result has proved as creditable to the British flag as I could have wished or expected; for, although the enemy appeared equally as decided to endeavour to cut them off as we were to defend them, the moment they came within reach of our fire they hauled up in succession their headmost ships, giving us their broadsides, and then tacked, in which we followed their example, by also tacking; a movement for which I am entirely indebted to Capt. Otway's promptness and good judgment, who being the sternmost ship in our line, and perceiving the Enemy began to retreat, became the more anxious to-en-1 deavour

deavour to disable them; when, after a few more shots passing, and we had some time previous to this movement secured the retreat of the Euryalus and Sheerwater, and the wind rather failing us, we wore and stood a little away to the Southward, which the Enemy most politely permitted us to do unhurt and unmolested, at a time too when they had it fully in their power to bring us to a decisive action, under circumstances as highly advantageous to them as they were the reverse to us; their conduct, therefore, puts in a flastering and clear point of view the respect in which they hold the British Navy; and from the determined conduct of the squadron you did me the honour to place under my command, I am fully persuaded, had the ambition of the Enemy permitted him to make a bolder attack, the result would have been still more honourable to his Majesty's arms.--And I trust it cannot escape your notice that, although the disparity of force was conspicuously encouraging to the Enemy, yet from the moment that the situation of the Euryalus and Sheerwater became doubtful, and for a long time after, we never declined an action, but on the contrary lay to receive them for more than an hour and an half. I have now, Sir, to perform'a task most grateful to my feelings, which is that of reporting to you that, in proportion as difficulties and dangers presented themselves, the patient, active, and undaunted conduct of the squadron was such as to merit my warmest approbation; and I feel most particularly sensible of the exertions of Capts. Otway and Fellowes, in preserving such compact order, which evidently deterred the Enemy from making a further attack. The Hon. Capt. Dundas, of the Euryalus, and Capt. Sibley, in the Sheerwater, situated as they were, did every thing I could either wish or expect; the latter I dispatched by signal to apprize you of our situation. To the officers and crew of this ship I shall ever feel much indebted for their steady and active conduct, but particularly to Lieut. Calloway, from whose judgment, zeal, and activity, as well as that of Mr. Bower, the master, I derived a most essential aid.-Capts. Otway and Fellowes have also reported to me, that the same coolness and activity manifested itself in all ranks in their respective ships: and that they feel equally sensible of the assistance they received from their first lieutenants, Messrs. Lowry and Fitz

maurice.

I am, &c. H. BLACKWOOD, Capt. GENT. MAG, October, 1810.

Letter from Capt. Malcolm, of H. M. S. the Rhin, addressed to Adm. Stopford, and transmitted by Lord Gambier.

SIR, I have the honour to inform you that, at four P. M. after a chace of two hours and an half, I captured off the Lizard, the French schooner San Joseph, of St. Malo, of about one hundred tons, pierced for 16 guns, but only mounting 14, and 68 men, commanded by Joseph Wittevronghel, a Dane; she sailed last evening at six o'clock, and had taken nothing; she is only one year old, copper bottomed and fastened, a most beautiful vessel, and sails remarkably well. His Majesty's sloops Little Belt and Wolverine were in company; the latter, I find, had been in chace of her from 11 Α.Μ. C. MALCOLM.

*** We are obliged to postpone till next month the Gazettes which in ther proper order should be here inserted, to make room for the interesting particulars contained in the following

LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY. Downing-street, Oct. 14. The following Dispatch was this day received at the Earl of Liverpool's office from Lord Wellington, dated Coimbra, Sept. 30.

My Lord, While the Enemy was advancing from Celorico and Francoso upon Viseu, the different divisions of Militia and Ordenanza were employed upon their flanks and rear; and Col. Trant, with his division, attacked the escort of the military chest and reserve artillery, near Tojal, on the 20th inst. He took two officers and 100 prisoners, but the Enemy collected a force from the front and rear, which obliged him to retire again towards the Douro. I understand that the Enemy's communication with Almeida is completely cut off; and he possesses only the ground on which his army stands. My Dispatches of the 20th inst. will have informed you of the measures which I had adopted, and which were in progress to collect the army in this neighbourhood, and, if possible, to prevent the Enemy from obtaining possession of this town. On the 21st the Enemy's advanced guard pushed on to St. Cambadao, at the junction of the Rivers Criz and Dao; and Brig.-gen. Pack retired across the former, and joined Brig.-gen. Crawfurd at Mortagoa, having destroyed the bridges over those two rivers. The Enemy's advanced guard crossed the Criz, having repaired the bridge, on the 23d, and the whole of the 6th corps was collected on the other side of the river; and I therefore withdrew the cavalry through the Sierra de Busaco, with the exception of three squadrons,

1

squadrons, as the ground was unfavourable for the operations of that arm. On the 25th, the whole of the 6th and of the 2d corps crossed the Criz, in the neighbourhood of St. Cambadao; and Brig-gen. Crawfurd's division, and Brig.gen. Pack's brigade retired to the position which I had fixed upon for the army on the top of Sierra de Busaco. These troops were followed in this move ment by the whole of the corps of Ney and Regnier (the 6th and 2d), but it was conducted by Brig.-gen. Crawfurd with great regularity, and the troops took their position without sustaining any loss of importance. The 4th Portuguese Caçadores, which had retired on the right of the other troops, and the picquets of the 3d division of infantry, which were posted at St. Antonio de Cantaro, under Major Smith, of the 45th, were engaged with the advance of Regnier's corps in the afternoon; and the former shewed that steadiness and gallantry which others of the Portuguese troops have since manifested. The Sierra de Busaco is a high ridge which extends from the Mondego in a Northerly direction about eight miles! At the highest point of the ridge, about two miles from its termination, is the Convent and Garden of Busaco. The Sierra of Busaco is connected by a mountainous tract of country with the Sierra de Caramula, which extends in a North-casterly direction beyond Viseu, and separates the Valley of the Mondego from the Valley of the Douro, on the left of the Mondego. Nearly in a line with the Sierra de Busaco, is another ridge of the same description, which is called the Sierra de Murcella, covered by the river Alva, and connected by other mountainous tracts with the Sierra d'Estrella. All the roads to Coimbra from the Eastward, lead over one or the other of these Sierras. They are very difficult for the passage of an army, the approach to the top of the ridge on both sides being mountainous. As the Enemy's whole army was on the ridge of the Mondego, and as it was evident, that he intended to force our position, Lieut.-gen. Hill crossed the river by a short movement to his left, on the morning of the 26th, leaving Col. le Cor with his brigade on the Sierra de Murcella, to cover the right of the army; and Major-gen. Fane with his division of Portuguese cavalry and the 13th Light Dragoons in front of the Alva, to observe and check the movements of the Enemy's cavalry on the Mondego. With this exception, the whole army was collected upon the Sierra de Busaco, with the British cavalry observing the plain in the rear of

its left, and the road leading from Mortagoa to Oporto, through the mountainous tract which connects the Sierra de Busaco with the Sierra de Caramula. The 8th corps joined the Enemy in our front on the 26th, but he did not make any serious attack on that day. The light troops on both sides were engaged throughout the line. At six in the morning of the 27th, the Enemy made two desperate attacks upon our position, the one on the right, the other on the left of the highest point of the Sierra. The attack upon the right was made by two divisions of the 2d corps, on that part of the Sierra occupied by the 3d division of infantry. One division of French infantry arrived at the top of the ridge, when it was attacked in the most gallant manner by the 88th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lieut.col. Wallace, and the 45th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lieut.col. Meade, and by the 8th Portuguese regiment, under the command of Lieut.col. Douglas, directed by Major-gen. Picton. These three corps advanced with the bayonet, and drove the Enemy's division from the advantageous ground which they had obtained. The other division of the 2d corps attacked farther on the right, by the road leading by St, Antonio de Cantaro, also in front of Major-gen. Picton's division. This division was repulsed before it could reach the top of the ridge, by the 74th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lieut.-col. French, and the brigade of Portuguese infantry, under the command of Col. Champelmond, directed by Col. Mackinnon. Major-gen. Leith also moved to his left, to the support of Major-gen. Picton, and aided in the defeat of the Enemy ou this post, by the 3d battalion royals, the Ist battalion, and the 2d battalion, 38th regiment. In these attacks, Major-generals Leith and Picton, Colonels Mackinnon and Champelmond, of the Portuguese service, who was wounded, Lieut.-col. Wallace, the Hon. Lieut.col. Meade, Lieut.-col. Sutton of the 9th Portuguese regiment, Major Smith of the 45th regiment, who was unfortunately killed, Lieut.-col. Douglas, and Major Birmingham of the 8th Portuguese regiment, distinguished themselves. Major-gen. Picton reports of the 9th and 21st Portuguese regiments, commanded by Lieut.-col. Sutton and by Lieut.-col. de Arouje Bacellar, and of the Portuguese artillery, commanded by Lieut.-col. Arenschild. I have also to mention in a particular manner the conduct of Capt. Dansey of the 88th regiment. Major-gen. Leith reports the good conduct of the Royals, 1st bat

talion 9th, and 2d battalion 38th regiment; and I beg to assure your Lordship, that I never witnessed a more gallant attack than that made by the 38th, 45th, and 8th Portuguese regiment, on the Enemy's division which had reached the ridge of the Sierra. On the left, the Enemy attacked, with three divisions of infantry of the 6th corps, that part of the Sierra occupied by the left division, commanded by Brig.-gen. Crawfurd, and by the brigade of Portuguese infantry, commanded by Brig.-gen. Pack. One division of infantry only made any progress towards the top of the hill; and they were immediately charged with the bayonet by Brig. gen. Crawfurd with the 48th, 52d, and 95th regiments, and the 3d Portuguese Caçadores, and driven down with immense loss. Brig.-gen. Cleman's brigade of Portuguese infantry, which was in reserve, was moved up to support the right of Brig-gen. Crawfurd's division; and a battalion of the 19th Portuguese regiment, under the command of Lieut.-col. Macbean, made a gallant and successful charge upon a body of another division of the Enemy, which was endeavouring to penetrate in that quarter. In this attack Brig.-gen. Crawfurd, Lieut.-colonels Beckwith, of the 95th, and Barclay, of the 52d, and the Commanding Officers of the regiments engaged, distinguished themselves. Besides these attacks, the light troops of the two armies were engaged throughout the 27th, and the 4th Portuguese Caçadores, and the 1st and 16th regiments, directed by Brig.-gen. Pack, and commanded by Lieut.-col. de Rego Bonito, Lieut. col. Hill, and Major Armstrong, shewed great steadiness and gallantry. The loss sustained by the Enemy in his attack on the 27th, has been enormous. I understand that the General of Division Merle and Gen. Maucun are wounded, and Gea. Simon was taken prisoner by the 52d regiment, and three CoIonels, 33 Officers, and 250 men. The Enemy left 2000 killed upon the field of battle; and I understand, from the prisoners and deserters, that the loss in wounded is immense. The Enemy did not renew his attack excepting by the fire of his light troops on the 28th, but he moved a large body of infantry and cavalry from the left of his centre to the rear, from whence I saw his ca valry in march on the road which leads from Mortagon over the mountains towards Oporto. Having thought it probable that he would endeavour to turn our left by that road, I had directed Col. Trant, with his division of militia, to march to Sardao, with the intention that he should occupy those mountains; but unfortunately he was sent round by

Oporto by the General Officer commanding in the North, in consequence of a small detachment of the Enemy being in possession of St. Pedro de Sul; and, notwithstanding the efforts which he made to arrive in time, he did not reach Sardao till the 28th at night, after the Enemy was in possession of the ground. As it was probable, that in the course of the night of the 28th, the Enemy would throw his whole army upon that road, by which he could avoid the Sierra de Busaco, and reach Coimbra by the high road to Oporto, and thus the army would have been exposed to be cut off from that town, or to a general action on less favourable ground; and as I had reinforcements in my rear, I was induced to withdraw from the Sierra de Busaco. The Enemy did break up in the mountains at 11 at night of the 28th, and he made the march expected. His advanced guard was at Avelans, in the road from Oporto to Coimbra, yesterday; and the whole army was seen in march through the mountains; that under my command, however, was already in the low country, between the Sierra de Busaco and the sea; and the whole of it, with the exception of the advanced guard, is this day on the left of the Mondego. Although, from the unfornate circumstance of the delay of Col. Trant's arrival at Sardao, I am apprehensive that I shall not succeed in effecting the object which I had in view in passing the Mondego, and in occupying the Sierra de Busaco, I do not regret my having done so. This movement has afforded me a favourable opportunity of shewing the Enemy, the description of troops of which this army is composed; it has brought the Portuguese levies into action with the Enemy for the first time in an advantageous situation; and they have proved that the trouble which has been taken with them, has not been thrown away, and that they are worthy of contending in the same ranks with British troops in this interesting cause, which they afford the best hopes of saving. Throughout the contest upon the Sierra, and in all the previous marches, and in those which we have since made, the whole army has conducted themselves in the most regular manner. Accordingly, all the opera tions have been carried with ease, the soldiers have suffered no privations, have undergone no unnecessary fatigue, there has been no loss of stores, and the army is in the highest spirits. I have received, throughout the service, the greatest assistance from the General and Staff OLieat.-gen. Sir Brent Spencer kas given me the assistance which his experience enables him to afford me; and I

cers.

am