and the Thames was anchored across the mole-head, the Furieuse bringing up a little astern of her.

Colonel Coffin and the troops landed the same instant and pushed for the height of a strong tower, into which the enemy had retreated, and their appearance together with the severe fire from the ships, induced the governor to hoist a flag of truce, and agree to the enclosed capitulation.

I have much pleasure in informing you, that this service has been performed without the loss of a man in either profession; our being hulled three times, and Furieuse twice, sails and rigging a good deal cut, is the only damage suffered.

The most perfect cordiality has subsisted between the two services, and I am much indebted to captain Mounsey for the excellent support he gave, and his quickness in following our motions; and if the resistance had been greater, and another battery (which was expected), I have little doubt but we should have succeeded, particularly with such a storming party as colonel Cashell's regiment, and such a leader as colonel Coffin.

I have much reason to be satisfied with my first lieutenant, Davies, officers, and ship's company; their steady conduct and excellent firing, accounts for the smallness of our damage. Captain Mounsey likewise speaks highly of lieuten. ant Croker, his officers and crew: Mr. James Wilkinson, mate of this ship, I attached to colonel Coffin; and Mr. Black, of the Furieuse, I entrusted with the charge of the landing.

Enclosed is a return of prisoners, guns, &c. and I shall send a survey

of the island by the earliest oppor tunity. I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) CHARLES NApier. Captain.

Sir Robert Laurie, Bart. Captain of his Majesty's, ship Ajax.

[Here follow the articles of capitulation, by which the garrison surrendered as prisoners of war.]

Supplement to the London Gazetle,

June 5.

WAR DEPARTMENT. Downing-street, June 5th, 1813. A dispatch, of which the fol- . lowing is a copy, has been received by the earl Bathurst, one of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, from lieutenant-general right hon. lord William Cavendish Bentinck, K. B. his majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the court of Sicily, and commander of his majesty's military forces in the Mediterranean.

Palermo, April 9, 1813.

My lord;-I have the honour to transmit to your lordship, a report from lieutenant colonel Robertson commanding at the island of Lissa, stating to me the reduction of the neighbouring islands of Agosta and Curzola, by a detachment of the garrison under his command.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) W. C. BENTINCK,
Lieut-Gen.

The Earl of Bathurst, &c.

Lissa, Feb. 23, 1813. My lord ;-I have the honour to inform your lordship, that in consequence of information having been received here, that several

merchant vessels, bound to this island, had been captured by a French privateer, and carried into the island of Lagosta, admiral Freemantle and myself judged it expedient to lose no time in putting an end to a system which was likely to become very detrimental to the prosperity of this island, and to our commercial interests in general. For this purpose I embark ed on board his majesty's frigate, Apollo, commanded by capt. Taylor, on the 19th ult. with detachments from this garrison amounting to about 300 men, including artillery, with two six-pounders, two howitzers, and two mountain guns. The troops, together with a detachment of seamen and marines, landed on the island of Lagosta on the 21st, and marched towards the principal work, constructed by the enemy for the defence of the island, from whence the garrison opened a well-directed fire of shot and shells. As the work in question is situated on the summit of a high conical hill, commanding the town, I found it necessary to take up a favourable position, from whence I was enabled to forward the preparations necessary for the reduction of the fort. During this interval, captains May, 35th, and Ronea, Calabrese Free corps, together with Mr. G. Bowen, first-lieutenant of his majesty's ship Apollo, with a party of forty men, succeeded in spiking the guns of one of the enemy's lower batteries, and in destroying a magazine of provisions, both of which. were within musket-shot of the fort. On this occasion à French serjeant of artillery and two soldiers were taken prisoners. Mr. Ullark, purser of his majesty's ship

"

Apollo, volunteered his services on both these occasions. Having received certain intelligence that a detachment of three hundred men, commanded by a lieutenant-colonel, had marched from Ragusa, to reinforce the garrison of Lagosta and being aware of the great difficulty which would have attended the attempt to get battering artillery on the only hill which commanded the fort, capt. Taylor and myself were induced to offer favourable conditions to the French commandant, who, after some hesitation, agreed to surrender (together with the garrison consisting of 139 men), on the terms, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose your lordship. I have also the honour to enclose your lordship a return of the enemy's ordnance, ammunition and stores, which fell into our hands. It is particularly gratifying to me to be able to inform your lordship, that during the whole of our operation, the inhabitants gave us the most unequivocal proofs of their attachment, and rendered us the most efficacious assistance.

Finding that the French privateer, together with the prizes, had taken refuge in the island of Curzola, captain Taylor and myself immediately proceeded thither. We landed (without delay) the troops under my command, with one hundred and twenty seamen and marines, together with a howitzer and field-piece. Major Slessor, 35th, advanced at day break with the flankers, and got possession of a fortified building on the height, which commands the town within musket-shot. In this operation he was supported by a second party, under the command

of my military secretary, captain Ball, 81st regiment. The enemy opened a sharp fire of musketry from their lines, as also from the windows and doors of the houses, and endeavoured to bring an 18pounder into one of the towers of the town wall, to bear on our position, which we prevented, by a well-directed fire from the howitzer, 6-pounder, and musketry.

Captain Taylor, in order to accelerate the surrender of the town, undertook to silence the sea-batteries, which he accomplished in the most brilliant and effectual manner, after a continued firing of three hours, during which the Apollo was always within range of grape-shot from the batteries. This point being effected, capt. Taylor and myself judged it expedient to şend major Slessor with a flag of truce into the town, proposing that the women and children should be allowed to quit it before we erected our mortar batteries; the enemy availed himself of this opportunity to offer to capitulate on terms which with certain modifications, we agreed to; in consequence of which the garrison, consisting of a lieutenant-colonel, and about 100 men, marched out of the town, which we immediately occupied.

We found, on taking possession of the town, that the French had packed up the church plate and bells of Lagosta and Curzola, for the purpose of sending them to the continent, and capt. Taylor and myself experienced the most heartfelt satisfaction in restoring them to the oppressed inhabitants.

I have the honour to transmit your lordship returns of the ordnance, stores, and ammunition

which we got possession of at Curzola. I have also the honour to enclose your lordship a copy of the terms of capitulation, which were signed at the moment that the expected French corps intended to reinforce the menaced islands appeared on the peninsula of Sabioncello, only a mile distant from the town of Curzola.

To express my approbation of the conduct of captain Taylor throughout the whole of the expedition, I fulfil a duty which is peculiarly grateful to my feelings. He unremittingly aided me with his advice, and promoted very considerably the success of the expedition by his personal exertions on shore with the troops. I have the fullest reason to be satisfied with the support which I experienced from major Slessor, of the 35th, and the whole of the officers. Lieutenant Rains, who had the direction of the artillery, performed the service allotted him with the greatest zeal. The services of lieutenant M'Donald, of the 35th who had the direction of the gunboats which accompanied the expedition, were found of great utility.

of July 3.

WAR DEPARTMENT.

Downing Street, July 4, 1813. Dispatches, of which the follow ing are copies and extracts, have been received at earl Bathurst's office, in the course of this day and yesterday, addressed to his lordship by field-marshal the marquis of Wellington:

Ainpudia, June 6, 1813. My lord; The troops have continued to advance since I wrote to your lordship on the 31st of last month, and were on the 1st at Zamora, and on the 2nd at Toro. The English hussars, being in the advanced guard, fell in, between Toro and Morales, with a considerable body of the enemy's cavalry, which were immediately attacked by the 10th, supported by the 18th and 15th. The enemy were overthrown, and pursued for many miles, and 210 prisoners, with many horses, and two officers, fell into our hands. I enclose col. Grant's report of this gallant affair, which reflects great credit upon major Robarts and the 10th hussars, and upon colonel Grant, un-' der whose direction they acted.

On the same evening Don Julian Sanches surprised the enemy's post at Castronuno, and took two officers and thirty cavalry prisoners, and he drove their posts from the ford at Pollos.

The enemy had destroyed the bridges of Zamora and Toro, and the difficulties in the passage of the Esla, had retarded the movement of our rear, while the enemy had concentrated their force to a considerable amount between Torrelobaton and Tordesillas. I therefore halted on the 3rd at Toro, in

and the troops under the command of lieutenant-general sir Rowland Hill, across the Douro, by the bridge of the town, and to close up the rear, and bring the Gallician army to join our left. We moved again on the 4th.

The enemy had commenced collecting their troops towards the Douro, when they found that we passed Ciudad Rodrigo; and they crossed the Douro at Tordesillas on the 1st and 2nd. The troops at Madrid and the detachments on the Tagus broke up on the 27th, and crossed the Douro at the Ponte de Douro on the 3rd, and Valladolid was entirely evacuated on the 4th.

The enemy left considerable magazines of grain at Arevale, and some ammunition at Valladolid, and Zamora.

The enemy have passed the Carrion, and are apparently on their retreat towards Burgos.

I have received no accounts from Alicant since I addressed your lordship last.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) WELLINGTON.

[Enclosure in the preceding,
Dispatch.]

Morales, June 2, 1813. My lord; I have the honour to acquaint your lordship, that on approaching Morales this morning, with the hussar brigade, the French cavalry appeared in considerable force near that place.

The 10th royal hussars were immediately brought forward, under the orders of major Robarts, who attacked the advanced squadrons of the enemy in the most gallant manner: their front line made a determined resistance, but

of my military secretary, captain Bail, 81st regiment. The enemy opened a sharp fire of musketry from their lines, as also from the windows and doors of the houses, and endeavoured to bring an 18pounder into one of the towers of the town wall, to bear on our position, which we prevented, by a well-directed fire from the bowitzer, 6-pounder, and musketry.

Captain Taylor, in order to accelerate the surrender of the town, undertook to silence the sea-batteries, which he accomplished in the most brilliant and effectual manner, after a continued firing of three hours, during which the Apollo was always within range of grape-shot from the batteries. This point being effected, capt. Taylor and myself judged it expedient to send major Slessor with a flag of truce into the town, proposing that the women and children should be allowed to quit it before we erected our mortar batteries; the enemy availed himself of this opportunity to offer to capitulate on terms which with certain modifications, we agreed to; in consequence of which the garrison, consisting of a lieutenant-colonel, and about 100 men, marched out of the town, which we immediately occupied.

We found, on taking possession of the town, that the French had packed up the church plate and bells of Lagosta and Curzola, for the purpose of sending them to the continent, and capt. Taylor and myself experienced the most heartfelt satisfaction in restoring them to the oppressed inhabitants.

I have the honour to transmit your lordship returns of the ordnance, stores, and ammunition

which we got possession of at Curzola. I have also the honour to enclose your lordship a copy of the terms of capitulation, which were signed at the moment that the expected French corps intended to reinforce the menaced islands appeared on the peninsula of Sabioncello, only a mile distant from the town of Curzoia.

To express my approbation of the conduct of captain Taylor throughout the whole of the expedition, I fulfil a duty which is peculiarly grateful to my feelings. He unremittingly aided me with his advice, and promoted very con siderably the success of the expedition by his personal exertions on shore with the troops. I have the fullest reason to be satisfied with the support which I experienced from major Slessor, of the 35th, and the whole of the officers. Lieutenant Rains, who had the direction of the artillery, performed the service allotted him with the greatest zeal. The services of lieutenant M'Donald, of the 35th who had the direction of the gunboats which accompanied the expedition, were found of great utility.

I feel great satisfaction in communicating to your lordship, that during the whole of this service, which was rather severe, owing to the unusual coldness of the weather, the conduct of the troops was highly praiseworthy, and they were ably supported by the seamen and marines who acted with us on shore. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

G. D. ROBERTSON, Lieut-col To his excellency, Lieut-gen. Lord Wm. Bentinck, &c.