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the 18th, when, shortly after I had returned to the breach battery, from visiting the posts, a fresh firing commenced on the east side of the island, from boats, and at the same instant a schooner came in sight, standing directly for the beach ; a strong and well-directed fire of great guns and musquetry was immediately opened upon her, and the people on board being either wounded or driven below, she drifted on shore. In the mean time the boats, to the number of eight, full of troops, had unfor. tunately effected a landing on the rocks, to the east side of the town, where the surf happened to be unusually low; and having overcome the force which was opposed to them, they had penetrated through the town as far as the main guard, of which, after having been once repulsed, they gained possession, making some prisoners. The inhabitants having given way, nearly on all sides, and the enemy being now in such force on our right, it appeared advisable to form a junction with the soldiers in the north-point battery, where we should retain the command of the beach, and be ready to check any further attempt to land, until some information could be received of the strength and situ ́ation of the enemy, to enable me to judge what ought to be done.

The firing continued till towards six o'clock, when, being yet uncertain what number had landed, and in hopes that the main guard was the only post held by the enemy, I directed that it should be attacked by the soldiers I had with me; which was executed with great alacrity, and the post carried with considerable loss on the part of the enemy. On our side it was less as to numbers, but I lost the assistance of a

very gallant officer, Doctor Heddle, being shot through the breast in the attack, when capt. Lloyd was also slightly wounded. We now learned that the enemy had possession of the hills, where capt. Lloyd proposed to attack them, a measure I should gladly have adopted, but the day beginning to break, we had the mortification of seeing them appear in such numbers, as left no room to suppose there was any probability of success, our force being reduced by killed, wounded, and prisoners, to about twenty five soldiers, capt. Lloyd, lieut. Christie, and myself. At this time the enemy's vessels were standing in closer, apparently to land a reinforcement; and the inhabitants seeing French colours on the hill, came to me, asking leave to treat. Under these circumstances, and exposed to the enemy's fire on all sides, farther resistance appeared vain; I therefore felt it my duty to comply with the request of the inhabitants, and sent an officer with them, proposing terms of capitulation for the garrison. The officer who commanded the storming party having been killed, the terms of capitulation were virtually agreed to with the senior who survived, to be communicated to the commandant of the squadron: until his answer should be received, firing ceased, and we continued to occupy the battery.

The terms of capitulation being confirmed by the chevalier Mahè, the soldiers grounded their arms, and the place was surrendered. We were informed that the enemy's force consisted of four schooners, which had been fitted out at Cayenne, and supplied with soldiers for the purpose of attacking Goree ; that they had touched at Senegal,

where they had been furnished with additional boats, pilots, and a reinforcement of soldiers, and another schooner; and where they had been joined by the ship, which happening to call at Senegal, was put in requisition for the expedition. The squadron altogether carried upwards of sixty guns, and six hundred men, two hundred and forty of whom had been landed; the whole under the command of M. Mahè, lieutenant de vasseau. The commodore's pendant having been hoisted only while coming in, by the captain of the ship having held that rank during the late war. On the evening of the action we had fifty-four white men, including officers; and although the serjeant major was the only one who was not able to come upon the batteries; when it is considered, that several of the men, worn out by disease, and disabled by accidents, were incapable of making any great exertion; that uncertain where an attack might be made in the night, it was necessary to divide our force very much, to occupy the different posts: I hope and trust it will appear to our king and to our country, that the garri. son I had the honour to command did not submit, without discharging its duty like British soldiers. Our loss consists of 1 drummer, 8 rank and file, killed; 2 officers, 8 rank aud file, wounded, total 19.-Of the enemy, according to the most correct accounts I can procure, 3 officers and 40 men killed, or since dead; 2 officers and upwards of 30 men, wounded, total 75.-Captain Lloyd, who has already, upon several occasions been mentioned as a

deserving officer, both here and at Sierra Leone, continues to merit very great praise. Doctor Heddle having proposed some time back to do military duty, I gladly accepted his offer, and he has given me great assistance. His wound, which was at first thought to be mortal, has since taken a favourable turn, and I am happy to add, I think he will recover; and I earnestly wish to recommend him to your lordships' notice, as distinguished by his conduct upon this occasion, and also by his attention to his medical duties, since we came to Africa.

On the 18th of January, in the evening, the British soldiers were embarked on board the French squadron, until a cartel should be made ready for them. On the 23rd the officers and soldiers went on board a sloop which was sent as a cartel to Senegal, where a larger vessel was preparing to carry them to England. I am sorry to add, that, notwithstanding the articles of capitulation, the inhabitants, officers, and even soldiers, have been shamefully pillaged.

I am, &c.

John Fraser.

List of the French Force.-Division from Cayenne, having on board troops from the eighth demibrigade, and from the Cayenne volunteers. Schooner La Vigie, M. Mahè, lieutenant de vaisseau, commandant, 2 guns, 14 swivels and 90 men. Schooner la Renommée, citizen Renaud, 14 guns and 85 men.' Schooner l'Oiseau, 10 guns and 80 men. Division from Senegal with a detachment of the 46th brigade, La Rosalie; Ducraneau, enseign de

* This vessel was afterwards burnt by his majesty's sloop Penguin, capt. Morris, on the 17th of March, off Senegal Bar.

vaisseau, 2 guns and 80 men. Division from Rochelle, the ship P'Oncle Thomas, Papin ci-devant capitaine de vaisseau, 20 guns and

230 men.

Dispatch addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Admiralty, dated March 15th, Goree, announcing the re-capture of that Settlement, from Capt. Dickson, of his Ma. jesty's Ship the Inconstant.

Sir,

I have-the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, of the arrival of his majesty's ship under my command, and the vessels named in the margin,* off the island of Goree, on the morning of the 7th March, but, conceiving it possible that it might be in the possession of the enemy (although English colours were hoisted on the citadel, and sentinels cloathed in red placed on the different batteries), I brought to with the convoy, and directed Mr. Charles Pickford, my first lieu tenant, to proceed on shore in the cutter, and, if he found it in the hards of the English, to make the signal I established for that purpose. At sun-set, not any signal having been made, nor the appearance of the boat, I came to anchor with the convoy a little out of gun-shot; and, deeming it highly necessary to gain some information with respect to the garrison, I ordered, at 10 o'clock, P. M. three boats, manned and armed, under the direction of Mr. Runciman, midshipman, to proceed into the harbour, and cut out any of the vessels he could find, which he

VOL. XLVI.

1

did in a gallant manner, by bring.
ing out a ship, under a heavy fire
from the batteries, which sunk our
cutter, and wounded one man.
From her I learned, that the French
had been in possession of Goree
since the 18th of January, and that
they had 300 black and white troops
in the garrison. On the 8th inst. at
daylight, I weighed and stood to the
westward of the island, to prevent
any succours being thrown in by sca
from Senegal, and, on the evening
of the same day, being determined
to attack it, having ordered scaling-
ladders to be made for that purpose,
at nine P. M. anchored, and order-
ed all the boats of the convoy to be
sent on board the Inconstant, and
after embarking as many troops as
they could possibly stow, I found
they would not carry a sufficient
number to promise success; I there-
fore postponed the attack until the ar-
rival of one of our convoy, which was
in sight, standing into the bay, as her
three boats could carry from 30 to
40 more men. At daylight on the
morning of the 9th instant, we were
agreeably surprised by seeing the
English colours hoisted over the
French; and shortly after I receiv-
ed information from lieut. Pickford,
that the garrison had capitulated
with him. I instantly stood into
the harbour with the convoy; an-
chored, and disembarked the troops.
Conceiving it of importance that his
majesty's ministers should be made
acquainted as soon as possible with
the recapture of this island, I have
purchased a small brig, and sent my
first lieutenant, Mr. Charles Pick-
ford, an intelligent and deserving
officer, to England, who will have
the honour to present my dispatches;

Eagle store-ship, Hamilton, Venus, Jenny.
M m

and I beg leave to recommend him in the strongest manner to their lordships' favour. I have appointed captain William Murray, senior officer of the troops, to be commandant of Goree, till his majesty's pleasure is known; and Mr. Wm. Arnold, master's mate, to be lieut. of the Inconstant, vice Pickford, and hope it will meet their lordships' approbation. The moment I can get a sufficient supply of water and provisions landed, and put the island into a proper state of defence, I shall proceed, and put their lordships' orders into execution. I cannot conclude my letter without assuring their lordships that the greatest cordiality existed between the officers, seamen, and soldiers; and, had an attack been found necessary, from the handsome manner they voJunteered their services, I am persuaded they would have done honour to their country.

E S. Dickson.

Next follow the articles of capitulation, in which there is nothing particular; and a list of the ordnance on the island of Goree, when taken possession of by the English.]

Interesting narrative of the loss of his majesty's ship the Apollo, J. W. T. Dixon, esq. captain, with about forty sail of her convoy, on the coast of Portugal, three leagues north of Cape Mondego, when on her passage for the West Indies, on the 2nd of April 1804.

Monday the 26th of March, sailed from the Cove of Cork, in company with his majesty's ship Carysfort, and 69 sail of merchant-men, under convoy for the West Indies. Twenty-seventh, were out of sight

of land with a fair wind, blowing a strong gale, and steering about W. S. W. The 28th, 29th, and 30th, weather and course nearly the same. Thirty-first, the wind came more to the westward, but more moderate. Sunday the 1st of April at noon, observed in latitude 40 deg. 51 min. north longitude, per account, 12 deg. 29 min. west. At8 o'clock on Sunday evening, the wind shifted to the sout-west, blowing fresh; course S.S.E. At ten, up mainsail and set the main-staysail, split by the sheet giving way; called all hands upon deck. At half past ten, strong breezes and squally; took in the fore topsail and set the foresail. At half past eleven the main-topsail split; furled it and the mainsail. The ship was now under her foresail, main and mizen storm-staysails; the wind blowing hard, with a heavy sea. About half past three on Monday morning, the 2nd, the ship struck the ground, to the astonishment of every one on board, and by the above reckoning, we then conjectured upon an unknown shoal. She continued striking the ground very heavy several times, by which her bottom was materially damaged, and making much water, the chainpumps were rigged with the utmost dispatch, and the men began to pump; but in about ten minutes she beat and drove over the shoal. On endeavouring to steer her, found the rudder carried away; she then got before the wind. The pumps were kept going, but from the quantity of water she shipped, there was every probability of her soon foundering, as she was filling and sinking very fast.

After running about five minutes, the ship struck the ground again

with such tremendous 'shocks, that we were fearful she would instantly go to pieces, and kept striking and driving further on the sands, the sea making breaches completely over her. Cut away the lanyards of the main and mizen rigging, and the masts fell with a tremendous crash over the larboard side, with the gunwale under water. The violence with which she struck the ground, and the weight of the guns (those on the quarter-deck tearing away the bulwark) soon made the ship a perfect wreck abaft: only four or five guns could possibly be fired to alarm the convoy, and give notice of danger. On her striking the second time most pitiful cries were heard every where between decks, many of the men giving themselves up to inevitable death. I was told that I might as well stay below, as there was an equal likelihood of perishing if I got upon deck. I was determined to go, but first attempled to enter my cabin, and was in danger of having my legs broken by the chests floating about, and the bulk heads were giving way. I therefore desisted and endeavoured to get upon deck, which I effected after being several times washed down the hatchway by the immense volume of water incessantly pouring down. The ship still beating the ground very heavy, made it necessary to cling fast to some part of the wreck, to prevent being washed by the surges or hurled by the dreadful concussions over-board; the people holding fast by the larboard bulwark of the quarter-deck, and in the main channel, while our good captain stood naked upon the cabin skylight-grating, holding fast by the stump of the mizen mast, and making use of every soothing

expression which could have been suggested to encourage men in such a perilous situation. Most of the officers and men were entirely naked,, not having had time to slip on even a pair of trowsers. Our horrible situation every moment became more dreadful until daylight appeating about half past four o'clock, discovered to us the land at about two cables' distance; a long sandy beach reaching to Cape Mondego, three leagues to the south of us. On daylight clearing t we could percaive between twenty and thirty sail of the convoy ashore, both to the northward and southward, and several of them perfect wrecks. We were now certain of being on the coast of Portugal, from seeing the above Cape, though I am sorry to say no person in the ship had the least idea of being so near that coast. It blowing hard and a very great swell of the sea, (or what is generally termed, waves running mountains high,) there was little prospect of being saved. eight o'clock, there being every like-' lihood of the ship going to pieces, and the after part laying lowest, captain Dixon ordered every person forward, which it was very difficult to comply with from the motion of the main mast working on the larboard gunwale, there being no other way to get forward. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had his thighbroke in endeavouring to get a boat Over the side. Of six fine boats not one was saved, being all stove and washed over-board with the booms, &c. Soon after the people got for-ward the ship parted at the gangways. The crew were now obliged to stow themselves in the fore channels, and from thence to the bowsprit end, to the number of 220; M m 2

for

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