Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

PORTSMOUTH, August 31,

At a quarter before six on Friday evening last, L'Impetueuse, one of the large line of battle ships, lately captured by Earl Howe's fleet, and which lay but a small distance from the dock-yard, was perceived to be on fire, and flames bursting out with great rapidity, and forming a pillar of fire, that had the most awful appearance. Signals being immediately made, all the boats from the ships in harbour were manned, and forming themselves into two divisions, the boats lashed together, they contrived, at imminent hazard, to grapple the Impetueuse fore and aft, with strong chains, in order that when her anchor cables were burnt, she should be kept from moving, so as to endanger the Northumberland, which was near her, and prevent the conflagration from spreading, as might be the case if she was adrift. With these grapples the boats could also force her wherever the fire would be least dangerous, and they accomplished their purpose by keeping her in a proper station, until she burned down to the water's edge. There were some Spaniards on board, one of whom was preserved, after being much scorched by the fire. The others, it is said, fell a sacrifice to the flames, which were got under about nine, but not totally extinguished till 12 o'clock