The New York Packet

The last letters from Leghorn give the following particulars of a very desperate and bloody engagement, which happened off Messina the 30th of May, between a Maltese man of war, commanded by a valiant Knight of Malta, and an Algerine of the same force.

The accounts state that the attack was first made by the Algerines, who gave the Maltese a broadside, which carried away their mizen-mast close by the board, and killed and wounded near twenty men; the fire was returned with the greatest bravery:—And thus began one of the hottest and most resolute battles that ever was fought between two ships in this part of the globe; each engaged with such undaunted resolution for near two hours yard arm and yard arm, that both ships were at one time on fire, but by the activity of the different crews were extinguished.

Notwithstanding this perilous situation they kept fighting all the time in a very desperate and gallant manner, each side determined to sink or conquer. During this terrible carnage, the noble Knight was killed by a cannon ball as he was nailing the colours to the mast.—This proved a great misfortune to the Maltese, he being an officer of great experience and tried courage; yet the death of this veteran did not relax the spirits of his brave crew, who continued fighting like lions.

We must allow the pirates shewed astonishing courage, and fought with the utmost fury, firing incessantly, from every part of their ship with grape and chain-shot, which did great execution among the people, and considerable damage to the sails and rigging.—By this time they were so near each other, that upwards of 60 of the Barbarians, headed by a Lieutenant, jumped on board the Maltese sword in hand, swearing they would neither give nor take quarters.

This brought on a dreadful conflict upon the decks, with swords, pistols, javelins and lances, for near an hour, till the Algerines were all killed with their bold and resolute leader. Notwithstanding this horrid slaughter, it did not prevent the pirates from making a second boarding, which they effected with such undaunted courage and determined resolution, that in spite of every resistance that possibly could be made, the Maltese were overpowered and obliged to submit to these daring ruffians, but before the infidels could take possession of the ship he blew up, and the pirates with all on board perished, except the Maltese seamen, who were taken up the next day upon some pieces of the wreck by a Neapolitan barque, and carried into Naples; these people say, the Algerine ship was so terribly shattered in the hull, and her sails and rigging so much damaged in the engagement, and so few of the villains left on board, that it was impossible she ever could reach Algiers.