against fuch an irregular and diforderly-like foe, it was impoffible to form a regular line of battle; juft at this moment when the True Briton, Captain Steady, who led the van, was within piftol-fhot of L'Affaffin, Captain Sang, it came on fo foggy, that for fome time it throuded the whole fleet from our fight. The enemy, taking advantage of this circumftance, crowded all the fail they could carry, and, as I have fince been informed, in their hurry to bear, away from us, not only ran foul of each other, but run down many of their flat-bottomed boats and fmall veffels. About eleven A. M. the fog cleared away, and, as we had ftill kept on the fame tack, we again difcovered them: Captain Steady, refolute in his purpofe, foon came up with, and attacked L'Affaffin, with an alacrity and intrepedity that does honour to himself, officers, and crew: the other hips, as they came up, went gallantly into action, which was continued with uniform fuccefs on our part till four o'clock, P. M. During this conteft, L'Egyptien, Admiral Jaffa, a near relation of the First Conful, ftruck to the Royal Sovereign, on board of which I had hoifted my flag; the Admiral and crew were confequently made prifoners of war. Le Catiline was funk by a broadfide from the Tremendous, Captain Dart. La Gasconade blew up early in the action. Le Brutus ftruck to the Caefar, Captain Pharfalia. Le Pet (bomb) alfo blew up with a terrible explofion, when alongside Le Regicide, which, from this circumftance, caught fire and burnt to the water's edge. Never was acclamation fo general as that from our furrounding fhips when Le Catiline went down. This I mention with the more fatisfaction, as the greater part of her crew were faved by the gallantry of the British feamen. The contest betwixt the Lion and Le Coq, both first rates, was, while it lafted, extremely fevere; but it was decided in favour of the former. While the capture 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 ifland, 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 escape our fleet, with all the canvafs they could crowd. In 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 reafon to believe that feveral were either burnt, funk, or taken; and that those few which had the good fortune to efcape, were in fo crippled a ftate as to prevent the French government from a fecond attempt at invafion, for at least many years. Thus ended this glorious and memorable day, in the courfe 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 refpect 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. R (SECOND MY LORD, (SECOND LETTER.) Royal Sovereign, St. Helens, I WOULD not clofe my difpatches until I had communicated to your Lordihip, as accurately as it is in my power to collect it, an account of the grand flotilla of transports, flat-bottomed boats, &c. &c. which was defined 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 furprifed 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 mifguided men, being facrificed to the caprice of a cowardly tyrant, who, I understand, 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 himfelf fafe on thore, furnished, instead of weapons, with the beft 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 himfelf that his grand intention in projecting projecting this expedition is anfwered, 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, 12,500 Pair of handcuffs, 25,040 Pair of fetters, and Many of thefe inftruments of torture, which were unquestionably 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 vast number of daggers: the ufe for which thefe articles were intended it is eafy to conjecture. On a farther fearch, the failors alfo difcovered a very great number of ftrong 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: thefe had all the name of BONAPARTE ftamped upon their lids, and were under the care of a confidential Commiffary appointed for that purpofe, as foon 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 difcover and apprehend the publifhers, and to write down the loyal productions of the prefent times, were alfo difcovered; of which I fhall, the first opportunity, tranfmit fpeci'mens 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 Majefty's fhips under my command, while that of the enemy muft have been enormous. And here I cannot help congratulating my country on the characteristic generofity which every action difplays 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 those 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 greateft refpect, my Lord, your Lordship's moft obedient humble fervant, GUARD'EM. THE ENGLISH COOKS; OR, BRITANNIA THE QUEEN OF THE SEA! You AN IRISH SONG. [From the fame.] OU'LL find, if in Fame's latter page you 'll be looking, Let's begin with the firft, for I with to get on straight, Arrah! whack fai la lara, la lara, The |