(From the London Gazette)

Admiralty, November, 20, 1848.-Despatches have been received at this office from Commander James J. M'Cleverty, of Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous, addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are copies or extracts :

(Copy.)

Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous,
Gibraltar,
November 9, 1848.

Sir,-

Deeming it of importance that my Lords of the Admiralty should be made acquainted, with as little delay as possible, of the proceedings of Her Majesty's sloop under my command on the 8th instant, I have the honour to enclose duplicates of my communications to the Commander-in-Chief, and to request that you will be pleased to lay the same before their Lordships.

I have, &c.,
James J. M'cleverty,
Commander

H. G. Ward, Esq.,
Admiralty."

(copy.)

Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous
at Gibraltar,
November 9, 1848.

Sir, I have the honour to inform you that on the 7th instant I received a communication from Mr. Glasgow, merchant, of this place, enclosing a letter from Mr. J. Forster, late master of the brig Three Sisters, of Liverpool, copies of which I herewith enclose.

We started the same evening to the Rif Coast, and at daylight ran into Al Khoyamich Bay, and coasted from thence close to the shore towards Cape Tres Forcas, for the purpose of discovering the brig, if they should have taken her to the westward.

At 11 A.M. of the 8th, on opening the Point of Calla Tramontana, we discovered her anchored close to the shore, in a small bay, partly surrounded by an amphitheatre of precipices, high rocks, and ravines, all of which places were crowded with men armed with long muskets, evidently for the purpose of protecting the brig, which lay considerably within musket. shot range.

Their boats, seven in number, were hauled up on the beach, and in the mouths of caverns, with a strong party of armed men lying under cover for the protection of part of the cargo, which they had landed. Their whole force appeared to consist of at least 500 men. On approaching close to the brig they opened fire of musketry from all points, which was immediately returned with grape, canister, and musketry, doubtless with very good effect, as a very large number of them began flying about in all directions, and taking up more secure positions. Having dislodged them from the beach, we proceeded to take the vessel! in tow which service was performed by Lieutenant Gardner, who volunteered to take the cutter, with a hawser, and weigh the brig's anchor. Just at this time a fire was opened from a gun, supposed to be a six or nine rounder, and as unavoidably, our stern was towards the nearest point of low rocks, and therefore could make no return, it encouraged them to approach us quite close, and open a well-directed fire of muskets, which I regret to say, severely wounded Lieutenant Wasey, and slightly two seamen, on board the ship, and one seamen severely, in the cutter.

It was my intention to have landed and burnt the boats, but from the secure position taken up by so numerous a body of well-armed men, I deemed it very imprudent to risk so severe a loss as must have inevitably taken place, particularly as the fire from our great gun had rendered them unserviceable. Having now taken the brig in tow, we steamed to sea.

From the scattered position taken up by the pirates, it would be impossible for me to estimate their loss ; but from the accuracy of our fire, and many men having been observed to fall, and some carried away as we steamed out of the bay, there is little doubt but it must have been very severe.

In performing this service it would be invidious in me to point out any individual where every one behaved so well; but I cannot omit bringing to your notice the zeal displayed by Mr. Gardner, first lieutenant, who volunteered to board the brig under so severe a fire, and. who has at all times shown the same anxiety to assist in forwarding the service ; also the able support I received from Lieutenant Wasey, in command of the foremost gun, and the coolness and skill displayed by Mr. Taylor, the master, in conducting the ship in so intricate a place.

I beg to return my thanks to Mr. F. Gilbert, Paymaster and Purser, who volunteered to take command of the small arm men.

Having placed Mr. Kirkham, master's assistant, on board the prize, with six men, I proceeded to Gibraltar, where I arrived this day.

As a steamer is about to start for England, I have thought it requisite to forward a duplicate of this communication to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

I have, &c.,
James J. M'cleverty, Commander.

Admiral Sir W. Parker, Bart., G.C.B., &c."

List of casualties on board Her Majesty's Sloop Polyphemous in action with pirates on Nov. 8, 1848:

Sir, We beg to forward you a letter we have just received from Captain J. A Forster, of the English brig Three Sisters, captured on the coast of Rif by Moorish pirates, and to request you will take such steps as you may consider to be necessary on this occasion.

Referring to the captain's letter for details, we remain, respectfully,

James Glasgow and Co.,
Consignees of the vessel at Gibraltar.

Captain M'Cleverty,
Her Majesty's ship Polyphemus.

(Copy.)

Messrs. Glasgow and Co.,

Gentlemen,-It is with extreme regret that I have to announce the capture of the brig Three Sisters, by the Moorish pirates, off Cape Tres Forcas, on the 2nd instant.

When I left Gibraltar on the 31st of October I carried a fair wind until midnight, it then fell very light, attended with calms until 8 o'clock the following morning, when a light breeze sprang up from the eastward ; I then stood to the south-east, and finding that I was under the influence of a strong southerly current, I stood to the north at 6 p.m. On the 1st it fell calm, which continued. At 10 a.m. on the 2nd I observed several boats pulling off from the shore, which caused my crew to be greatly alarmed ; however, I waited until I could make out that they were nothing else than pirates, each boat pulling from 12 to 14 oars, with an additional lot standing in mid-ships, with their long muskets, all ready for action ; they also had large guns on their gunwales. After witnessing all the formidable weapons I thought it was high time to look for the preservation of our own lives ; accordingly I ordered the small boats to be got out, in order to keep without the reach of their guns, but to my astonishment, no sooner had we put off from the ship than a volley of shot came tumbling about the boat, but fortunately they all fell a few yards short ; and I am confident had I remained five minutes longer, there would be no person to tell the tale. However, we saw six of them abreast of the ship keeping up their firing at the ship at a distance, leaving one to chase the boat, but, fortunately, he gave up the chase in about ten minutes; he then returned to his companions, and assisted them in towing the vessel within their own dominions. We then made the best of our way across towards the Spanish coast ; and thanks to Providence, we were picked up by the brig Dawn, at midnight, otherwise the boat must have been swamped before morning, owing to her being so deep with all the ship's company and sundries.

I beg you will transmit this information to the authorities, and probably they will look after the vessel. I remain, &c.,

J. H. Forster, Master."

SG & SGTL Vol 6 ; 1849

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