Last Thursday evening the engagement between the gondolas and men of war was renewed, and continued some hours, when the ships retired below Newcastle, having, it is thought, received a good deal of damage. Both the Roebuck and Liverpool were hulled several times. During the time the Roebuck was aground, the Wasp schooner, which had been chased into Christeen by the Liverpool, came out, and retook a brig that the Liverpool had taken the preceding day.¹ By the best accounts, too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men on board the gondolas, who behaved with the greatest courage and prudence. They have received very little if any damage.

This engagement, a correspondent says, sufficiently establishes the reputation of Row-Gallies, as being the best mode of defence practicable in a river; especially, if we consider, that although the whole thirteen were employed, yet not more than one half can be said to have been engaged at any one time: And this circumstance, though it shews a want of judgment somewhere, in stationing them properly and at proper distances, is, at the same time, an additional argument in favor of the real service of boats. The officers and men have done their duty with credit, and many of them have distinguished themselves nobly. The proper distance to engage at is now known, which is, the nearest distance you can approach a ship without coming within the reach of grape shot; and beyond that, is a waste of powder. But if it should at any time be necessary to approach within grape shot, then in that case, the nearest you are, so as to be out of the reach of the musketry, is the best shot both for service and safety; because, grape shot. like small shot, does the most execution at the greatest killing distance, and the least execution at the least distance.