Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

NORFOLK. Sept. 18.

In a part of the last edition of our paper, we gave a hasty account of the destruction of the French line of battle ship, L'Impetueux of 74 guns, commanded by Monsieur Levyeyer Bolaix, member of the Legion of honour.

Since then we have conversed with some of the officers of the French ship who say, that in a violent gale on the 19th August, in lat. 26, she was totally dismasted, her rudder broke, water casks stove, and all the powder wet and destroyed, they were obliged to throw all their guns overboard, except the lower tier, to keep her afloat. After being in this deplorable state for twenty-three days, short of provisions, and not a drop of fresh water, early on Sunday morning last they descried two British men of war, a frigate and an armed brig, being then about 12 miles off shore to the Southward of Cape Henry; that sooner than be taken at sea, they immediately made for the shore, on which they run the ship before the British got within shot, having with their colours signal of distress also hoisted.—They state that the frigate commenced firing upon them when they were aground and within a mile of the land, and continued the fire until the colours and sails were lowered—during this time the two line of battle ships were at anchor within long shot—that the crew of the first boat which came on board from the frigate behaved with much civility, but when the marines came they conducted themselves with rudeness. That the captain of the French ship expostulated with them, stating that they were on neutral ground, but to no effect, for after taking out what of the crew that did not jump overboard, they set fire to her and effectually destroyed her.

The L'Impetueux had near 700 men; those taken on board the frigate have been sent up from Hampton Roads, and are comfortably lodged at Ferry Point.

The L'Impetueux was one of Villeneuve's squadron, & of which Jerome was second in command in the Veteran, which ship parted from the squadron in the lat. of New-York, 20 or 30 days before the gale, and has never since been heard of.—strongly suspected she has foundered. They fell in with the Fouroyant, (the admiral's ship) three days after the gale totally dismasted, rudder gone, and nearly a wreck—suppose she has got into the Havanna. The Caillard and Valereuse frigate, belonging to this squadron, are also missing.

Commendation is due to Mr. Myers, who, on hearing of the deplorable situation of the poor fellows who swam on shore, and who were making the best of their way for this place, without clothes and without victuals, immediately sent carriages, with provisions and clothes, to meet them.

It is the opinion of many, that the burning of the French ship L'Impetueux, by the British. within the jurisdiction of the United States, is an illegal act. This point we leave to our sages to discuss and settle. Mons. Turreau, no doubt, will soon issue a violent philippic against such proceedings.