Monthly Chronicle .

was - continued until the end of the action with great vivacity , although she frequently defended both sides of the ship at the same time . „ . ' As soon as we had replaced some necessary rigging , and " the Amazon had reduced all her sail , we commenced a second attack , placing ourselves , after some raking broadsides , upon each quarter ; and this attack , often within pistoi shot , was by both ships unremitted for above five hours : we then sheered olfto secure our masts . It would be needless to relate to their Lordships every effort that we made in an attack ; which commenced at a quarter before six , P . M . and did not

cease , except at intervals , until half past four A . M . I believe ten hours of more severe fatigue was scarcely ever experienced ; the sea was high , the people on the main deck up to their middles in water , some guns broke their breechings four times over , some drew the ring-bolts from the sides , and many of them were '• ' repeatedly drawn immediately after loading ; all our masts were much vvoundedj the main top-mast completely unrigged , and saved only by uncommon alacrity . ' At about twenty minutes past four , the moon opening rather brighter than before , shewed to Lieutenant George Bell , who was watchfully looking out on

the forecastle , a glimpse of the land ; he had scarcely reached me to report it , when we saw the breakers . We Were then close under the enemy ' s starboard how , and the Amazon as near her on the larboard -, not ' an instant could be lost , and every life depended upon the prompt execution of my orders ; we instantly hauled the tacks on board , and made , sail to the southward . The lingering approach of day-light was most anxiously looked for by all , and soon after it opened , seeing the laud very close a head , we again wore to the . southward , in twenty ' fathoms waterand a few minutes after discovered the enemywho had so

bravely-, . , defended herself , laying on her broadside , and a tremendous surf beating over her . The miserable fate of her brave but unhappy crew was perhaps the more sincerely lamented by us , . from the apprehension of suffering a similar misfortune . We passed her within a mile , in a very bad condition , having at that time four feet water in her hold , agreatsca , and the wind dead on the shore ; but we ascertained , beyond a doubt , our situation to be that of Audierne Bay . ¦ ' The sufferings of the Amazon are unknown to me ; and I am singularly happy to that own are inconsiderable . The first LieutenantMr .

Thomsay my , son , a brave and worthy Officer , is the only one of that description wounded , with eighteen men ; twelve of which number have wounds of no serious consequence , consisting chiefly of violent , contusions from splmtevs . ' N . B . Subsequent accounts state the total loss of the Amazon ; but the crew were nearly all saved . ADltftaAI-TY-OFFICEl JAN . 21 .

Extract of a letter from Admiral Lord Bndport to Mr . Nepean , dated at sea , ; -. '• the 16 th of January , 1797 . ! ' * Captain Countess of the Diedalus , informs me , that on the Sth instant , off Ushant , in company with the Majeslic and Incendiary , he captured Le Suflrein , a French transport , which had been taken by the Jason , and recaptured by Le Tortue frigate , and was going to Brest . She had two mortars , a quantity of small arms , powder ; shells , and some intrenching tools on board , which he sunk , to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy .

ADDITIONAL ' SHIPS OF WAR CAPTURF . D FROM TilE FRENCH . The La Didon French Cutter Privateer , of four guns and thirty men , by . the Cerberus Frigate , Capt . -Drew , oil the 30 th of September ; Le Capitain . e Genereux , of three guns and twenty-five men , by his Majesty ' s ship Adventure , off St . Domingo , on the i 8 lh of October ; the L'Esperance French Brig , by the Ance de Vauville , Sir Kit-hard Strachan , on the 9 th of Jan . off' Aldcmey ; the La Liberie ; French Lugger Privateer , of seven guns and eighteen men , off Yarmouth , by Admiral Onslow , in the Nassau Frigate , on the 2 SU 1 of Jan .

DOWNINU-STBKKT , JAS . 30 , I / ' 97-Official accounts have this day been received from Mr . Robert Craufurd , of the surrender ol ' Kehl , on the toth instant , to the Austrian ? ., after a siege of forty-nine days . It appears , that from the 31 st of December to the 7 th of VOL , Vlll . S