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SYDNEY.
We have the satisfaction to state, that
the Lucy private ship of war of 18 guns,
whose arrival was slightly announced in
last week's Gazette, has been tolerably
successful since her departure from Eng-
land in the month of January, 1805.
Off Cape Frere she captured a Guinea-
man freighted with slaves for the West
India market, together with some bale
goods, valued altogether at about 12 to
14000£. This was a Swedish brigantine,
chartered by a Spaniard; and was sent by
Captain Ferguson into Surinam.
Off the Canaries she also captured two
small Spanish vessels; and afterwards
making the River Plate, had repeated oc-
casion for every exertion of bravery and
perseverance which peculiarly characterise
the British seaman, and reflect the highest
credit to the Officers and ship's company
of the Lucy.
Soon after her entrance into the River
Capt. Ferguson was under the necessity of
imposing a temporary detention upon an
American vessel by way of request, to
which the Commander readily acceded,
from any apprehension lest she might give
notice of the Lucy to the enemy, and
thereby render the design of visiting the
Plate abortive. In passing the harbour
of Maldanadah, the Spanish frigate LeSpa
...te, of 36 guns, supposing the American
a prize to the Lucy, weighed and stood
out for the purpose of engaging; but the
gallant reception she met with, notwith-
standing her own superiority together
with the prodigious assistance afforded her
by the batteries, induced the Spaniard to
abandon the project, and return into the
harbour of Maldanadah.


She afterwards fell in with the Ante-
lope, a brig of 16 guns, commanded by
Captain Mortlock, and joined company;

took possession of a felucca in Elsinada,

and manned her from the crews of both

ships, Capt. Mortlock taking the com-
mand, and Mr. Walker, Chief Officer of
the Lucy accompanying an expedition in-
to the harbour of Buenos Ayres, where

they succeeded in cutting out a large
merchant ship laden with hides and tal-


low, which was dispatched for St.

Helena.
On the 17th of September last, the
Port au Prince whaler in company,

a detachment was sent against the small

town of Chinka, on the Peruvian Coast,

where meeting no opposition, no violence
was offered. On the morning of the 3d

of October last, the whaler still in com-
pany, she fell in with a schooner, tender
to the Spanish frigate Astrea of 44 guns,
then lying at anchor in Paita harbour.

The same day the frigate weighed, and

stood out to engage:—The challenge
was accepted, and a brisk and heavy fire

very soon commenced:—he lay yard arm
and yard arm with the Lucy within close

pistol shot; and the observable execution
done on board her was truly tremendous.

At the commencement of the action the

quarter deck and forecastle of the enemy
were crowded with marines, who kept

up a brisk fire of muskettry, until by a

few discharges of grape and chain shot
they were totally cut off.

Unequal as the contest was, as well
from the number of men and guns as from
the disproportioned weight of metal, yet
it would be unpardonable injustice to

pass unnoticed the bravery of the Spanish
Commander, who at the end of five glas-
ses close engagement perceiving one of
his people ascending with intention to
strike the colours at the main top mast
head, pursued and killed him in the

shrouds. In the performance of such a

duty, this brave Officer must have fallen

an easy victim to a volley of well elevated

muskettry, had not his opponent been
imbued with equal magnanimity. To
spare distinguished valour was the man-

date echoed, and every tar, imprest with
congenial sentiments of esteem, obeyed

the generous impulse.

The situation of the Lucy, however,
now became alarming; hemmed in upon

a lee shore by her formidable antagonist,

with not more than 4 fathoms water and
her rigging very severely damaged, to
less determined bravery destruction must
have appeared inevitable; but exertion
increasing with the danger, the enemy
was compelled by her incessant and well

directed fire to relinquish the design of
driving her on shore, and ultimately to
(?) his own safety by returning in a
shattered state into the Paita harbour,
there with a spring upon her cable to

await the renewal of the conflict. On

the third day following the Lucy and her
companion attacked her at her anchorage
in hopes to take possession of her; but
the disadvantages that opposed this intre-

pid determination were not possible to be

overcome; and after the exchange of a
few broadsides, they separated.

Capt. Ferguson a few days after spoke
an American out of Paita, from whom

he had the satisfaction to learn, that the

Astrea had been so totally shattered in the
action, as to be supposed incapable of
further service; but at the same time

heard with regret, that upwards of 100
of her people had been slain.

In this gallant exploit it is no less
wonderful than incredible, that on board
the Lucy only six seamen were wounded,
five of whom recovered; the only life
lost during the action being that of the
Captain of the felucca, who was killed
in the cockpit by a shot that entered the
ship's side, passed through the spindle of

the capstan, and exhausted, fell upon the
devoted Spaniard.

The forbearance shewn by the Captain
and Officers of this vessel towards the

villagers upon the Peruvian Coast, de-
mands the most honourable mention.—
Though capable of wresting supplies of

provisions and other refreshments forcibly
from an unprotected people, yet disdain-
ing to take advantage of their helplessness,
Captain Ferguson chose always to obtain
by purchase what they durst not have
withheld to menaced violence—and thus
obtained the greatest of all human con-
quests, the gratitude and esteem of those

within his power.

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