This morning came in a mail from the Groyn, with letters of the 8th of June from Madrid, new-style, giving the following account.
Admiral Russell, with the fleet under his command, sailed from Alicant the 24th of May, and came the 28th to an anchor off Barcelona; the town saluted him with 50 guns, and he returned the like number. The Marquis de Gastanaga, Viceroy of Catalonia, went that evening on board to visit the admiral. The same day the Catalans gained a great victory against a body of 10000 French, who being on their march to convoy 200 mules laden with with provisions to Castle-Follit, were defeated by much an inferior number of Miquelets, joined by some Spanish troops: of the enemy's loss we do not yet know the particulars, but that in general, many of their men were killed and wounded; and all the laden mules were taken, except 30 who escaped in the hurry and got into the town. The next day, being the 29th, another body of 2000 French were routed by the Miquelets. And in both these actions we had but few men killed on our side. Admiral Russell sailed the 30th from Barcelona towards the coast of Provence, having before sent away a squadron of ships under rear-admiral Nevill to fetch the regiments from Final that are to serve in Catalonia. Three English Men-of-War, which admiral Russell had sent to view the enemy's ports, after having been 30 hours before Toulon, and taken three prizes laden with wheat and a chest of coral, were returned to Barcelona before the fleet sailed from thence.
They write from Malaga, of the 31st past, that the Moors are still before Ceuta, but have lost abundance of men, and hitherto they have done little harm to the besieged.
Cadiz, June 13. The 8th instant arrived here the Berkeley-Castle with the ships under her convoy, and the next day the said frigate, with the Devonshire and Mary Men-of-War, as also the Ostend and Hamburgh convoy, and above 80 sail of merchant ships, sailed hence for the north.
Advices (By the Groyne Mail) of the Defeat of Twelve thousand FRENCH in Catalonia, who endeavoured to Relieve Castle-Follit, & c. (London: 1695).
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