Monthly Chronicle.

the troops were on shore before ive were discovered , and it was not till a quarter past four that ihe batteries opened on the ships , which was instantly returned in a most spirited manner by Captain Mortlock of the Wolvereene , Lieutenant Edmonds , of the Asp , and Lieutenant Norman , of the Biter . The Keel" and Tartaros bombs very soon opened their mortars , and threw their shells with great quickness and precision . The town was on lire several times , and much damage was done to the ships in the bason . By five o ' clock all the troops ordered to land ,

except those from the Minerva , were on shore , with their artillery , miners , wooden petards , tools , and gunpowder ; and before six o ' clock 1 heard from General Coote , that he had no doubt of blowing up ( lie works . I now became very anxious for the situation of the . Minor-General , from the state of the weather , and I ordered all the gun-boats that had anchored to the eastward of ihe town 10 get as near the shore as possible , to cover aud assist the troops in their embjrkation . 'the batteries at the town continued their fire on the Wolvceene , Asp , and Biter ; and as the Wolvereene had received much damageand the Asp had

, been laying near four horns within three hundred yards of the batterv , I made their signal to . move , and soon after directed the Dart , Ilarpv , and Kite to take their stations , that the enemy might be prevented from turning their guns against cur troops ; hut it being low- water , ihey could not get so near as their commanders wished . At half past nine the Minerva came in ; and as I thought an additional number of troops would only add lo the anxielv of the General , from the little probability of being able to embark them , I sent Captain Mackellar on shore to report his arrival with four liolit companies of ihe Guards . In his

absence , Colonel Wardefilled two fiat boats with his officers and men , and was proceeding wiih every zeal to join ihe battalion of Guards , without considering the danger he was exposed to in crossing ihe surf , when Capt . Bradbv fortunately saw- him ; and advNed him to return immediately to his-hip . At twenty minutes past ten , I had the pleasure of seeing the explosion take place ; and soon after the troops assembled on ihe sandhills near the-shore ; but the sea ran so high that it was impossible to embark a single man ; therefore I could only make every arrangement against the wind moderated ; and this morning at day-light I went in

shore , in the Kite , for the purpose of giving every assistance ; bur I had Ihe mortification to see our army surrounded by the enemy's troops ; and as [ had no doubt the General had capitulated , I ordered all the ships to anchor farther out , and I sent in a flag of truce , by Colonel Boone , of the Guards , and Captain Brown , of the Kite , with a letter to the commandant ,- a copv of which I inclose for their Lordships'information . At ten this morning ihe General ' s Aid-de-Camp , Captain Williamson , came on board , and though it was very painful to hear General Coote was woundedafter all his exertionsyet it was satisfactory to learn

, , very , that under many disadvantageous circumstances , and after performing a service of such consequence to our country , the loss , in killed and wounded , was only between 'fifty and sixty officers and privates ; and that the General capitulated in consequence of being surrounded by several thousands of the national troops . ' I inclose , for their Lordships' information , a copy of such minutes as were left me by Captain Wilson , from which their Lordships will see the sluice gates and works are completely destroyed , and several vessels , intended for transports , burnt .

" 1 this morning learnt that the canal was quite dry , and that tbe works destroyed yesterday had taken ihe states of Bruges five years to finish . ' 1 hope their Lordships will be satisfied that the enemy was surprised , and eventhing they wished was accomplished , although llie loss of the troops far exceeded any calculation , ex . cept under the particular circumstances of the wind's coming to the northing , and blowing very hard . If ( he weather had continued fine the troops would have been embarked by twelve , at which time the return of killed and wounded did not exceed four rank and file .

' General Coote suit to inform me that he was highly pleased with the uncommon exertions of Captains Winthrop and Bradby , and Lieutenant Bradbv , who had acted on shore as his Aide-de-Camp : he aiso noticed the assistance he had derived from Captain Mackellar , after his landing . ' I take the liberty of sending this dispatch hv Captain Winthrop , of the Circe , who commanded the seamen lauded from the different ships : and as he had the par-