Gazette Of The United States

LONDON, April 30.

Extract of a letter from on board the Lowestoft, dated Mahon Harbor, 28th of March.

"On the 19th of February we left Leghorn, in company with the fleet, and went off Toulon to offer the French battle. We stood in so near, that the enemy's shot from the forts passed over all our Ships. Notwithstanding this daring insult the republicans kept close to their anchorage. For four or five days we remained with the fleet, when we parted in company with the Lively, to look into Toulon. On the 7th of March being close in with the French land, at 10 o'clock, A. M. came on heavy squalls of wind, attended with much thunder, lightning, hail and rain. At a quarter past 12 the lightning struck 3 men on the main top mast head, who fell down, and one of them was killed; the other two were much burned, and otherwise hurt, the shock being so great as to affect all upon deck, many of whom were knocked down by it. At half past 12 another flash of lightning struck many on the different decks, rendering them motionless, and shivered the main top mast to splinters. A few minutes after, another flash set the ship on fire in several places about the masts and rigging, but it was speedily extinguished by the torrents of hail and rain. It nevertheless broke several hoops of the main mast, and shivered it to splinters; splitting the fore top mast, and carrying away the fore top-sail yard, at the same time knocking many men down into the top, one of whom was killed on the spot, and differently affecting the bodies of those on deck. The lightning entering between decks, made an explosion so as to affect all who were there, rendering the limbs and sides of some totally benumbed, and flying in different directions into every port below, saving in its tour, most providentially the magazines. The main mast being in such a state, was cut away, to prevent its falling in any dangerous direction, or carrying away the other masts yet standing. We bore up for Minorca, and on the 11th anchored in Mahon harbor. On our arrival here it was found that the fore top-mast too had received so much damage in the storm that it was necessary to remove it. We have been lying here, with only our mizen mast standing, fourteen days; the jury main-mast is now up, and the fore mast in, so that I expect we shall sail for Ajaccio in Corsica, by Saturday next, where we shall remain at least six weeks for a new main mast, for every thing attached to the old mast was lost."