Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

Foreign Intelligence.
From the London Gazette.

Admiralty-Office, April 21, 1794.

Captain Henry Powlet arrived this morning with dispatches from Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, to Mr. Stephens, of which the following is an extract and copy.

Boyne, Fort-Royal-Bay, Martinique,
March 25, 1794.

SIR,

My letter to you of the 16th, by the Roebuck packet, a duplicate of which is enclosed, has made the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty acquainted with the operations of the siege until that date; I have the pleasure to communicate, for their Lordships further information, that the battery on Point Carriere, which forms the east side of the entrance of the Careenage, opened at day-light on the 17th, and with gun boats kept an incessant fire on Fort St. Louis, while the gun and mortar batteries on the heights played on Fort Bourbon; Lieutenant Bowen of the Boyne, who had commanded the night guard and gun-boats for a considerable time, perceiving a favorable moment, pushed into the Careenage with the rowing boats of the guard, boarded the Bien Venu, French frigate, and brought off the Captain, Lieutenant, and about 20 men who were on board her, under a smart fire of grape shot and musquetry from the ramparts and parapet of the fort.

The success of this gallant action determined the general, and me to attempt the fort and town of Fort Royal by assault, and I directed forty scaling ladders to be made of bamboo and small stretched cordage, from twenty to thirty feet long, and ordered the Asia and Zebra to be held in readiness to enter the Careenage, in order to batter the Fort, and to cover the flat boats, barges and pinnaces, under the command of Commodore Thompson, supported by Captains Nugent and Riou, while the grenadiers and light-infantry from the camp at Soururier advanced with field pieces along the side of the hill under Fort Bourbon, towards the bridge, over the canal, at the back of Fort Royal.

This combination succeeded in every part, except the entrance of the Asia, which failed for the want of precision in the ancient Lieutenant of the Port, Monsieur de Tourelles, who had undertaken to pilot the Asia.

Captain Faulknor observing that ship baffled in her attempts, and the Zebra having been under a shower of grape shot for a great length of time, (which he, his officers and sloop's company, stood with a firmness not to be described) he determined to undertake the service alone, and he executed it with matchless intrepidity and conduct, running the Zebra close to the wall of the Fort, and leaping overboard, at the head of his sloop's company, scaled and took this important post before the boats could get on shore, although they rowed with all the force and animation which characterizes English seamen in the face of an enemy. No language of mine can express the merit of Capt. Faulkner upon this occasion; but as every officer and man in the army and squadron bears testimony to it, this incomparable action cannot fail of being recorded in the page of history.

The grenadiers and light infantry made good use of their field pieces and muquets, and soon after the surrender of the fort, took possession of the town, by the bridge over the canal at the back of it, while a strong detachment from the naval battalions at Point Negro, under the command of Captains Rogers, Scott, and Bayntun, in flat-boats, barges, and pinnaces, approached the beach in front.

Monsieur Rochambeau did not lose a moment in requesting that Commissioners might be appointed to consider of terms of surrender; and the General and I named Commodore Thompson, Colonel Symes, and Captain Conyngham, to meet three persons named by him at Dillon's plantation, at 9 o'clock on the 21st; and on the 22d terms were concluded. The rapid success of his Majesty's arms has been produced by the high courage and perseverance of his officers, soldiers and seamen, in the most difficult and toilsome labours, which nothing short of the perfect unanimity and affection between them and their Chiefs could have surmounted.

Commodore Thompson conducted the enterprize on the side of La Trinité, like an able and judicious officer.

Captain Henry carried on the business at Ance d'Arlet with great energy, and has been indefatigable in forwarding all the operations he has had a share in.

To Captains Brown, Nugent, Harvey, Markham, Faulknor, Sawyer, Carpenter, and Scott, I am greatly indebted for the manner in which they conducted the attack against St. Pierre.

Captains Harvey, Kelly, Rogers, Salisbury, Incledon, Riou, Lord Garlies, Carpenter, Scott, and Baynton, have gained great reputation in the army by the conduct of the naval battalions, and working parties under their command.

Captain Berkeley (since the arrival of the Assurance) has furnished a powerful reinforcement of men from that ship. Captain Pierrepoint has been very active in the services allotted to the Sea-flower. In Capt. Grey I have found the experience of age, joined to the vigour of youth. The Captains of the 44 gun ships armed en flute, of the store-ship and hospital ship, have done well.

For other particulars, I beg leave to refer their Lordships to Capt. Powlet, who carries this dispatch, and to Capt. Markham of the Blonde, who conveys him. They served with Commodore Thompson at La Trinité, and arrived on the south side of the island in time to have a share in most of the transactions there.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
With great consideration,
Your most obedient
Humble Servant,
J. JERVIS.