The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, October 5.

Extract of a Letter, from Tetuan.

The Regency of this City has received this Day, by an Express dispatched from Larrache, the News, that within these few Days a French Squadron of ten Ships of War had attempted the Bombardment of that Place, but with very little Success; that the Moorish Troops of the Garrison, and the Environs, under the Orders of the Bacha Habil, made a Feint of retiring in order to impose upon the French, and engage them to a Descent; that the latter seeing the Fire of the Moorish Cannon slacken, and that none of them appeared, sent out sixteen Boats, which went up the River, and set Fire to a French Prize, equipped for cruising; that the Moors divided into two Bodies, and concealed behind their Fortifications on both Sides of the River, might have prevented the Burning of this Prize, but the Bacha Habil thought it better to suffer them to continue their Expedition; that accordingly the Enemies advanced for Some Miles, and set Fire to several Vessels at Anchor, among which was a Cheback of the Rais Salah; that then the Moors presented themselves, of a sudden, on both Sides of the River; that while 200 of them were employed in extinguishing the Flames, the rest fired with so much Briskness on the French Boats, that in the Impossibility of returning and resisting the Rapidity of the Current, they struck their Flags and demanded Quarter, which was granted them by the Moors; that upwards of 2000 of the latter then threw themselves into the River, with their Poniards in their Mouths, in order to get to the French Boats; but that the French hoisted out anew their Colours, and began to fire again upon the Swimmers, whom they endeavoured to massacre, in order to prevent their Boarding; that the Moors, however, who were upon Land, assaulted the Enemies in such a Manner, on all Sides, that they obliged them for the third Time to strike their Flags and demand Quarter; that many of the Swimmers having by this got on board the Boats, and killed there near 150 of the Crew; the Bacha refused to listen to any further Propositions, but gave Orders to save the Prisoners; that the sixteen Boats fell into the Power of the Moors; that the Number of French killed was about 500 and that the Loss on the other Side was near 100 in killed and wounded. Soon after a French Frigate arrived at the Mouth of the River, and made several Signals for recalling the Boats, none of which rejoined the Squadron. Another Letter says that the Loss of the French is much more considerable.