[Original.] Letter from SIR JOHN CRADOCK to ROBERT PEEL, ESQRE. MY DEAR SIR,—I hope you will excuse my troubling you upon the Subject of my Passage to the Cape of Good Hope on Board the Theban Frigate, appointed to take under her Convoy the East India Ships, and declared to sail on the 18th, the Day after To morrow. I lament to say that from a Concurrence of delaying Circumstances that I could not control, it is wholly out of my Power to leave London till Monday Sennight, and though I daresay that the India Fleet will not actually depart before that Time, yet it seems impossible to act without some Certainty, and where the India Fleet is concerned the Admiralty, as I learned from Authority yesterday, never interpose. I am also informed that the Atalanta Store ship, on Board of which is all my Baggage, is still in Deptford, and will not proceed until the next Convoy to the Cape; likewise the Cartel ships that are to carry out the 60th Regiment to the Cape will not be ready for Sea under 10 Days. From this general view of the Case, I am induced to hope that some other arrangement may be adopted for my passage, and that I may be enabled to proceed either in a single ship or with the succeeding Convoy. As the Orders only went down last night to Portsmouth to Capt. Digby, I conceive that no Inconvenience will arise to Him. I beg again to repeat that I shall be ready by the 27th Inst. With many apologies, I have etc. (Signed) J. F. CRADOCK. [Office Copy.] Letter from the EARL OF LIVERPOOL to SIR JOHN CRADOCK. DOWNING STREET, 18th May 1811. SIR,-I herewith transmit for your information and guidance the Copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury dated the 16th Instant, together with a Printed Copy of "Regulations for the Issue of Bat & Forage," and of "Warrant establishing Nett daily Rates of Pay for General Staff Officers and for Officers of Garrisons on Foreign Service." I am etc. Letter from CAPTAIN C. M. SCHOMBERG to HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP Astrea, OFF FOUL POINT,' SIR,—I had the honor of communicating to you from off Round Island my determination to quit that Station in order to follow the three Enemy's Frigates with troops on board, which had appeared off Mauritius on the 7th Instant, and also my reasons for supposing they would push for a near point, perhaps Tamatave. I have now the satisfaction to report to you that the Enemy were discovered on the morning of the 20th Instant far to Windward and well in with the land near Foul Point, Madagascar. The Signal to chace was promptly obeyed by His Majesty's Ships Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse sloop, the weather was most vexatiously variable during the whole of the day, which combined with the efforts of the Enemy to keep to Windward, rendered it impossible to close with them until nearly four o'Clock, when (the Astrea being about a Mile ahead and to Windward) they were together kept away, and evinced a disposition to bring us to Action. The Enemy then commenced firing, I regret to say at a long range, which soon so effectually produced a calm to leeward as to render our Squadron unmanageable for three hours. No exertion was omitted to bring His Majesty's Ships into close action during this very critical and trying period; but all was ineffectual; the Enemy's rear Frigate neared the Astrea a little, who lay on the water almost immoveable, only occasionally bringing guns to bear, while his Van and Centre Ship preserving a light air succeeded in rounding the Quarter of the Phoebe and Galatea, raking them with considerable effect for a long time. At this his favourite distance the Enemy remained until nearly dark, when a high air enabled the Phabe to close the rear Frigate in a good position to bring her to a decisive Action; in half an hour she was beaten, her Night Signals drew the other two Frigates to her assistance; the Phoebe was in consequence obliged to follow the Galatea, which Ship brought up the Breeze to me. At this time I was hailed by Captain Losack, who informed me that the Galatea had suffered very considerably, and as she was passing under my lee, I had the mortification to observe her Mizen and soon after her Fore Topmasts fall. Having shot ahead, she made the Night Signal of distress, and being in want of immediate assistance I closed to ascertain the cause, when I was again hailed by Captain Losack and informed that the Galatea was so totally disabled as to prevent her head being put towards the Enemy to renew the Action, as I had before directed. My determination was immediately communicated to Captain Hillyar to recommence action, when the Phabe was in a state to support me she was promptly reported ready altho' much disabled, the Astrea then wore and led towards the Enemy, followed by the Racehorse and Phabe, the conduct of which ship as a British Man of War did honor to all on board. The Enemy was soon discovered a little ahead, and his leading Ship the Commodore was brought to close Action by the Astrea, in twenty five minutes she Struck and made the Signal to that effect, having previously attempted to lay us athwart Hauser under a heavy fire of Grape and Musquetry from all parts of the Ship. Another Frigate on closing struck and made the Signal also, but on a shot being fired at her from her late Commodore, she was observed trying to escape. Chase was instantly given, and continued until two o'clock in the morning with all the sail both ships were enabled from their disabled state to carry, when I judged it adviseable as she gained on us to wear for the purpose of covering the captured ship, and forming a junction (if possible) with the Galatea. At this moment the Phoebe's Fore topmast fell. Sight of the Galatea or captured Ship was not regained until daylight, when to the credit of Lieutenant Royer 2nd of the Astrea and Drury R.M., who with five men, all that could be put on board the latter in a Sinking Boat, she was observed making an effort to join us, a perfect Wreck. The Captured Frigate proved La Renommee, of the first class (as are the other two), of 44 Guns and 470 men, 200 of whom were picked Troops commanded by Captaine de Paisseau (with Commodore's Rank) Roquebart Officier de la legion d'Honneur, who fell when gallantly fighting his Ship. The Senior Officier of the Troops Colonel Baviorie, membre de la legion d'Honneur, is dangerously wounded. The Ship that struck and escaped was La Clorinde, the one disabled by the Phoebe La Nereide, having each two hundred Troops on board besides their Crew. This Squadron escaped from Brest on the night of the 2nd of February, and was destined to reinforce Mauritius, having Arms and various other Warlike Stores on board. I beg to apologize for so lengthened a detail, but few Actions have been fought under such a variety of peculiarly trying and vexatious difficulties. I am however called upon by my feelings and a Sense of my duty to bear testimony to the meritorious conduct of the Officers and ship companies of His Majesty's Ships Phoebe and Astrea. To the discipline of the former I attribute much; but as Captain Hillyar's merit as an officer is so generally and by you so particularly appreciated, it is useless for me to comment on it further than to observe that the separation of the Galatea was amply compensated by the exertion manifested in the conduct of the Ship he had the honor to Command. To the Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the Astrea, I am for ever indebted, their cool and steady conduct when in close Action with the Enemy, and on fire in several places from his wadding, merits my admiration (particularly having been so recently formed). A difference in the personal exertion of each Officer was not distinguishable, but I cannot allow the efforts and judgement of Lieutenant John Baldwin first of this Ship to pass without particular encomium. I received the greatest assistance from him, and also from Mr. Nellson, the Master. The moment the Phœbe and Astrea are in a state to get to windward, the Prisoners exchanged, and La Renommée rendered Seaworthy, I shall proceed off Tamatave for further information, as I have reason to think it in possession of the Enemy. I have the honor to transmit returns of killed and wounded on board His Majesty's Ships. The loss on board La Renommée is excessive, one hundred and forty five killed and wounded. The Galatea having parted company, no return. I have etc. [Office Copy.] Letter from ROBERT PEEL, ESQRE., to SIR JOHN CRADOCK. SIR,-I am directed by Lord Liverpool to beg you will take charge of the accompanying Box containing Governor Farquhar's Commission and Instructions, and further to desire that upon your arrival at the Cape you will request the Admiral commanding on that Station to forward it to the Isle of France by the first safe opportunity that may offer. I have etc. (Signed) ROBERT PEEL. [Original.] Letter from CAPTAIN SCHOMBERG to REAR ADMIRAL STOPFORD. Astrea AT ANCHOR, TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR, 28th May 1811. SIR,-In my Letter of the 21st Instant detailing the action between His Majesty's Ships under my Orders and those of the Enemy, I had the honor to inform you that it was my intention to reconnoitre this Port, as I had received information that the Enemy had landed and surprized the Garrison on his first arrival on the Coast. The State of His Majesty's Ships Astrea and Phabe did not admit of their beating up quickly against the Currents and very variable Winds; the Racehorse sloop was therefore dispatched in advance to summon the Garrison of Tamatave to immediately Surrender. On the evening of the 24th Instant Captain De Kippe rejoined me, reporting his having seen a large Frigate anchored in the Port. A Strong Gale prevented His Majesty's Ships getting in Sight of her until the afternoon of the 25th Instant, when everything being ready to force the anchorage, I stood in and observed an Enemy's Frigate placed in a most judicious position, within the Reefs of the Port, for the purpose of infilading the narrow passage between them, Supported by a Strong Fort in her van within half |