Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

LOSS OF THE QUEBEC FLEET.

Mercantile Chronicle office, Cork, Aug. 25, Four o'clock.

Our courier has just arrived from Cove, with the following information—

The transport ship Osborne, capt. Moffatt, has arrived in this harbor. Her intelligence is of a very disagreeable nature—She made one of a fleet of twenty two sail, which left Quebec under convoy, of his Majesty's ship Champion. Three of that number were transports having on board the 6th regiment of foot, consisting of four hundred and sixty seven men; the other ships were merchantmen and mast ships, On the 15th inst. seven of the convoy parted at different periods of the day; and on the same day they fell in with a strange sail, which, when within four miles of the Champion not answering the private signal, it was intimated to the ships of the fleet to disperse. It was shortly discovered that the strange ship was an enemy, and a line of battle ship. She was observed to board five sail during the day which were set on fire. Another sail was distinguished to leeward, bearing S. by E. which had also the appearance of a man of war, and as a fire was discernible in that direction, she was also judged to be an enemy. From the situation in which the fleet was when the Osborne escaped, it is strongly to be apprehended, that the entire of it was either captured or destroyed. We are not specially informed of the fate of the Champion, from the short distance she was from the enemy, her escape was considered impossible. The Osborne has part of the 6th foot on board.