Gazette Of The United States

By the brig Roe, Capt. Meaney, arrived at this port on Wednesday last from the Isle of France, we have the Gazette of that place of the 2d Germinal (March 22d.) from which is translated the following very singular account of a naval action between the Triton, one of the English East-India Company's ships, carrying twenty twelve pounders on her deck, six four pounders on her forecastle, and 136 men, and a French schooner, with a few small cannon and 17 men.

Capt. Surcouf, commander of the corsair L'Emilie, perceiving that his vessel had lost her superiority of sailing, resolved to quit her and to arm the schooner le Kartier, which he had taken on the coasts of Bengal, being a remarkably good sailer.-- He fitted out this schooner with some small cannon, and put on board 23 of his crew: leaving L'Emilie, on the 23d of January, under the command of Citizen Croizet, to make his way for the Isle of France.

On the 28th in the evening he perceived a ship for which he immediately made sail and boarded her during the night ; this was the Diana, Captain Thompson, coming from Bengal. The next day, the 29th, in the morning, le Kartier perceived to the windward another ship, to which he gave chase, and come up with her about 8 o'clock. This ship seeing a schooner approach her, took it to be a pilot boat, from the Ganges, lay to, hoisted her colours and fired a gun. Surcouf got to the windward, and notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy which he had before him, after having been assured of the good disposition and courage of his crew, he resolved to take possession of her or perish in the attempt. Arrived within pistol shot he fired three rounds with his cannon, and caused all his musquetry to fire upon the vessel, and without waiting longer, boarded the Englishman with 17 of his crew, and after a combat of an hour and a half on board the vessel, Capt. Surcouf became master of his prize.

This vessel is the Triton, belonging to the English East India Company ; she had touched at Madras, where she left a part of her cargo, and was on her route for Bengal.

The French had one man killed and another wounded, but the latter is out of danger. The Triton had 8 men killed, among whom was Capt. Burnyheat, the commandant of the artillery, and many wounded. All the prisoners were put, for the moment, on board the Kartier, under the guard of three men only, until the Diana came up, which Surcouf had ransomed for 30,000 rupees, and on board of which he put all his prisoners, after having drawn up an engagement that they should not serve against France or her allies, until they had been legally exchanged.