capture of the latter feems to have been the fignal for a general retreat on the part of the enemy, who immediately after appear to have foregone the intention of invading our island, and, in confequence, taking advantage of a gale which fprung up in their favour, to have borne away for their own coaft. Le Marat, Le Santerre, L'Egalité, La Baftille, which they intended for a prifon-fhip, with feveral others, flew, to efcape our fleet, with all the canvafs they could crowd. În this, however, they had little fuccefs. Le Marat was forced into action by the Terrible, Captain Condé, and foon after ftruck. Of the others I have not yet received a correct account; but have reason to believe that several were either burnt, funk, or taken; and that thofe few which had the good fortune to efcape, were in fo crippled a state as to prevent the French government from a second attempt at invafion, for at least many years. Thus ended this glorious and memorable day, in the course of which, and in attending to its confequences, your Lordship will perceive that I have been too much engaged to be more particular. One obfervation you will permit me to make with respect to the officers and failors under my command-that they have upon this, as upon former occafions, acted like true Britons. Where all have been fo meritorious, it would appear invidious to mention particular individuals; but it is with pleasure and pride I boaft that they have in every respect deferved the rewards, the applaufes, the honours, which their King and Country, whom they have fo ably defended and avenged, have prepared for them. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, my Lord, your Lordship's moft obedient humble fervant, Guard'em. VOL. VIII. (SECOND MY LORD, (SECOND LETter.) Royal Sovereign, St. Helens, I WOULD not close my difpatches until I had communicated to your Lordship, as accurately as it is in my power to collect it, an account of the grand flotilla of tranfports, flat-bottomed boats, &c. &c. which was deftined to convey the invading forces, that have been arrogantly termed "the Army of England," to this kingdom. I have already intimated to your Lordship the manner in which, under the convoy of the fleet, they failed; but it is impoffible to convey to your mind an adequate idea of the confufion that enfued in confequence of our attack. Impelled by their guardian men of war to follow them, while they endeavoured as faft as poffible to make their efcape, as they were crowded with troops, horfe and foot, the former of which they termed "marine cavalry," you will be little furprised to learn that many of them fell foul of each other, and that the far greater number of them are gone to the bottom. Humanity fhudders at the reflection of fo many brave, but misguided men, being facrificed to the caprice of a cowardly tyrant, who, I underftand, fo far from fharing with his companions in arms, as he called them, the dangers of the expedition, of which he was well apprized, kept himself fafe on thore, furnished, inftead of weapons, with the best telescopes he could procure, with which he furveyed the Channel; and, although his diftance from the principal fcene of action was too great for the events of it to come within the fcope of his vifion, he had, probably, the gratification to behold fome of his battered and difmantled veffels purfued to their own ports by our fhips. He may now alfo congratulate himself that his grand intention in projecting projecting this expedition is answered, as it has enabled him to difpofe of many, both officers and foldiers, whom he feared, and confequently hated. It is a curious circumftance, that the crew of the Terrible, in overhauling the hold of Le Marat, that ftruck to her, found among the other articles, 50,128 Thumb-fcrews, 10,905 Iron collars, 44,201 Toe-vices, 12,500 Pair of handcuffs, 25,040 Pair of fetters, and Many of thefe inftruments of torture, which were unqueftionably intended to facilitate the difcovery of property, had the word LIBERTY at full length; and others the initials L. E. i. e. Liberty and Equality, ftamped upon them. There were alfo found feveral packages of opium, probably the remains of the Egyptian expedition; and a vaft number of daggers: the ufe for which thefe articles were intended it is easy to conjecture. On a farther fearch, the failors alfo difcovered a very great number of strong iron-bound chefts and cafks, intended for the reception of money; and fome of the fame nature, evidently formed for the conveyance of plate, and other valuable articles: these had all the name of BONAPARTE' ftamped upon their lids, and were under the care of a confidential Commiffary appointed for that purpose, as soon as filled to have been fent to Paris. Several reams of proclamations, printed in English, and dated "From our Court of St. James's," and figned Bonaparté," together with other papers, the intention of which was to discover and apprehend the publishers, and to write down the loyal productions of the prefent times, were alfo difcovered; of which I fhall, the firft opportunity, tranfmit fpecimens to your Lordship. In conclufion, it gives me great pleasure to state, that this arduous conteft has ended with little lofs in killed or wounded on our part, and little damage to his Majesty's fhips under my command, while that of the enemy must have been enormous. And here I cannot help congratulating my country on the characteristic generofity which every action displays in her foldiers and failors. In this, the far greater number of the latter who have fallen, loft their lives in confequence of their fedulous endeavours to fave thofe of their enemies, who, abandoned by their officers, fell martyrs to the confufion which the unfeamanlike conduct of the conductors of their fleet occafioned; and had it not been for the intrepidity of thofe for whom they were preparing tortures, the whole muft have perifhed. I have the honour to be, with the greatest refpect, my Lord, your Lordship's moft obedient humble fervant, GUARD'EM. THE ENGLISH COOKS; OR, BRITANNIA THE QUEEN OF THE SEA! AN IRISH SONG. [From the fame.] YOU'LL find, if in Fame's latter page you'll be looking, Arrah! whack fal lal lara, la lara, The The Spaniards came forwards, och! they must be boasting, Arrah! whack, &c. They have lately caft fheep's eyes from Calais to Dover, And by Warren done up, and by Nelfon done over, The whole of their fleets are funk, taken, or lost. Now as for their boats, there's no doubt of their striking, While Britons fuch capital cooks still poffefs; The French can ne'er fail to be dress'd to our liking, For the cause we defend must enfure us fuccefs. Then fing whack fal lal lara, lal lara, Whack fal lal lara, lal la, Great Britain will never attempt at promotion, Contented alone to be "Queen of the fea." PIDCOCK'S GRAND MENAGERIE. [From the fame *.] BONAPARTE, THE LITTLE CORSICAN MONKEY. TE HIS furprifing animal was taken by Admiral John Bull, of the True Briton, one of his Majefty's principal line of battle fhips. He poffeffes the cunning of the fox, the rapacity of the wolf, the bloodthirsty nater of the hyena, the tender feelings of the crocodile, and the obftinacy of an afs. He has rambled over feveral parts of the world, where he played a number of wicked and ridiculous tricks, particularly in Egypt; there he had like to have been nabbed by Sir Sidney Smith, but contrived to fteal away to * In the original a very humorous ENGRAVING accompanies this article. |