The Enquirer

THE AVON AND WASP.

From a London Paper

Extract of a letter from Plymouth, dated Sept. 12, 1814.

" As the public mind must be much agitated about the fate of the Avon, for your information I beg to say, this moment her second Lieutenant and one midshipman (friends of mine) are arrived at this place with the Captain, only slightly wounded in both legs, themselves merely scratched. The first Lt. killed--both ships sunk!

" It was about 4 o'clock P.M. when the Avon discovered the enemy, and immediately an uninterrupted and sanguinary contest took place for 2 hours. When the engagement had nearly ceased, His Majesty's ship Castilian, attracted by the firing, bore down & instantly ran her bowsprit across the hawse of the enemy, pouring in at the same time a broadside, which she immediately followed up by a 2d, some say a third. At that critical moment the Avon threw out a signal of distress, which determined the commanding officer of the Castilian. Lt. Lloyd, to relinquish any farther attempt on the Wasp, and hasten to the succor of the Avon, which he was no more able than to effect, as she went down shortly after the last man was removed. His Majesty's sloop Tartarus just then came up, and having taken forty of the Avon's men from the Castilian to strengthen her crew, proceeded in quest of the Wasp.--The gallantry of Captain Arbuthnot and his ship's company cannot be too highly applauded when the disparity of force be estimated. The Wasp was over 600 tons burthen and mounted 24 32 pounders, with a complement of 300 men, whilst our vessel was only 200 tons and 18 24 pounders, with 100 men.' We regret to state our loss at 9 killed & 33 wounded. Amongst the former the gallant Lt. Prendergast, who fell by a grape shot whilst nobly cheering the crew. The captain's wound in the leg is likely to do well, nor have we heard that any of the other wounded are in danger of their lives."

[Advertiser.

[It is needless to say the above is full of ridiculous exaggerations and misstatements.]

[Edrs.]