SARATOGA

BURGOYNE’S SURRENDER AT.—General Burgoyne, commander of a body of the British Army, after a very severe engagement with the American Provincials in the American War of Independence, October 17th, 1777, surrendered to the American General Gates. No le than 5791 men laid down their arms. This was the greatest check the British suffered during the war. SCOPOLO.—On July the 5th, 1808, a desperate action was fought off the island of Scopolo, between a large Turkish frigate and corvette, and the Seahorse thirty-eight guns, captain Stewart, exhibiting the skill and gallantry of the latter against a great disparity of force, by which his own ship was so well preserved, while that of his opponent was ruined. The action began at half-past nine in the evening, the Turks under easy sail, a little off the wind, and continually endeavouring to board. At ten o’clock, after a quarter of an hour’s hot fire, the small ship was silenced; the large ship, which had during this time fallen a little to leeward, and thus been prevented from a isting her consort, recovered her position; the action was recommenced; and the resistance of the Turks was so obstinate, that it was not till a quarter past one she was rendered a motionle wreck. As they would neither answer nor fire, captain Stewart, knowing the character of the people, conceived it most prudent to wait for daylight to send on board her. At daylight, observing her colours upon the stump of the mizenmast, the Seahorse poured a broadside into her stern, when she struck. She was named the Badere Zaffer, of fifty-two guns, with a complement of 500 men, commanded by captain Scanderli Kichuc Ali, who had been prevented by his own people from blowing her up. Her lo was prodigious—165 killed and 195 wounded. The Seahorse had only five killed and ten wounded. SEBASTOPOL.—The celebrated city besieged during the Crime an war. See Bombardment, first and second (final) of Sebastopol ; also, Mamelon , Malakoff and Sortie .