fails before him, which kept above the wind right across his courfe. He immediately gave a fignal for the convoy to remain behind, and fent Capt. Sylrefter, commander of the frigate De Valk, to reconnoitre the above-mentionel veffels, and make fignals accordingly; the other men of war were ordered to follow the Admiral. As foon as they came nearer to the ships in sight, they perceived them to be an English fquadron, and spread over a great extent of fea, endeavouring no doubt to get behind the convoy to prevent any efcaping in the night. In the mean time, keeping the fame course, the English man of war the Courageaux, of 74 guns, came a longide of the Admiral, and faid he came in name of the Commodore, to tell the Admiral he would wish to speak to him. About funfet Count Byland came up with the English Admiral, in the Namur, of 90 guns, and faid, he expected a boat to be fent for him on his part. Some time afterwards Capt. Marshall, of the Emerald, came on board the Admiral, with fome of the Commodore's lieutenants, who declared, that the English íquadron had orders to fearch the conay. Upon which Count Byland fhewed Capt. Marshall an act, figned by all the captains of the merchant-fhips under his convoy, in which they declared upon oath, that they had no fort of contraband goods on board, and that their cargoes confifted of nothing but what they had given accounts of to the Admiral'; who declared, upon his word of honour, that he not only had no fhips under his Convoy laden with contraband goods, but that he had refused to take thofe under his protection loaded with timber for fhip-building, and bound for France. But the Admiral foon perceived, that they would not let thofe veffels pals that were laden with iron and hemp; he therefore fent Capt. Byland back with the English officers to the Commodore, to fee if there were any means of fettling matters: but foon found, by their report, that there was nothing left for it but to defend themselves as well as they could againft being fearched. All that night Count Byland and the English Commodore were clofe to each other; and in the morning the Namure advanced towards fome of the convoy, and fent a boat with men to them: upon which the Admiral fired twice; which was returned by the Commodore, and

two of the 74 gun fhips, which fired upon the Admiral's fhip, and that of Capt. Kinfbergen; which they returned, and hung out the fignal for an engagement; and fome time after, perceiving of how little use it would be to hold out a long fight, the Admiral made a signal for all his fquadron to ftrike at the fame time that he did; the fignal for which purpose the Admiral had given to the captains of his squadron, sealed up, and only to be opened in cafe of an engagement. It appears from this account, that the English fquadron did all they could to prevent any of the convoy from efcaping, but nevertheless it is hoped fome of them have got away. The Admiral concludes with faying, that he did all in his power for the good of the State; and that it must appear evident, that the English were determined, against all treaties, to make themselves masters of the convoy, as the English Commodore knew the fhips were only laden with hemp.-Some time after Count Byland had ftruck his flag, Capt. Marshall came on board again, and faid, in the name of his Commodore, that he was at liberty to hoift his flag again, and fail what way he liked; and the Commodore having required the ufual falute, the Admiral gave it accordingly; which was returned by the English. Count Byland then declared, he would not quit his convoy, but would go with them whereever the Commodore thought proper to carry them in. In confequence of which he arrived at Spithead on the 4th of January; from whence this account comes, dated on board the Princess Fredericka Sophia Wilhelmina.”

In the report made by Capt. Byland, who was the officer fent by the Dutch Admiral on board Com. Fielding, it is faid, That Capt. Byland reprefented to the Commodore, that the Admiral was furprifed to find by Capt. Marshall, that it was his intention to vifit the republic's convoy; a proceeding which would be equally contrary to the friendship and the treaties fubfifting between their High Mightineffes and the King of G. Britain, as to general cuftom, the men of war belonging to the republic never fuffering a vifit of that kind: That the Commodore anfwered, that he had exprefs orders to visit the convoy: That Capt. Byland replied, that thofe veffels of the convoy which were bound to the ports of France, had not on board any mate

rials that could ferve for the fitting out of a veffel: The Commodore required, that he fhould extend this affurance, fo as to include fuch merchandise as might be fabricated into thofe materials, namely cordage; in which cafe he would venture to deviate from the ftrict orders he had received to vifit the convoy, and would rest satisfied with the above affurance. But as it was not in the Captain's power to do fo, the Commodore told him he should execute his orders.

The above fleet, at fetting out, confifted of feventeen fail of Dutch merchantmen, under convoy of the Dutch Admiral Byland, with two fhips of the line and two frigates. Nine of the merchantmen were taken, and brought into Portsmouth harbour, laden, as it is re; ported, with hemp, iron, cables, pitch, rofin, tar, and other naval ftores: the remaining eight parted company, and got into Breft. No lives were loft on either fide.

Capt. Henry, of the Fowey, naval commander in Savannah river, Georgia, writes to the Admiralty, Nov. 8. "His Majefty's fhip Ariel, of 24 guns, Capt. Mackenzie, on a cruise off Charlestown, (when the French came on this coaft), was taken on the 11th of September, after a very gallant refiftance, by the French frigate Amazon, of 36 guns. His Majefty's fhip Experiment, Capt. Sir James Wallace, having loft all her mafts and bowfprit in a gale of wind, on her paffage from New York to Savannah, fell into the middle of the French fleet off this bar, and was taken on the 24th of September, together with the Myrtle navy-victualler, and Champion ftoreship."

Rear-Adm. Parker, naval commander at the Leeward islands, transmits to the Admiralty, in a letter, dated, Barbadoes, Oct. 16. a lift of prizes taken by the fquadron under his command, from Aug. 30. to Sept. 29. both inclufive, confifting of twelve French and four Ame`rican veffels. Of the French fhips, feven were bound from Bourdeaux for Cape François, fix with provifions, (of which three carried 30 guns and 160 men each, and were of burthen, one 600 tons, and two 550 each; one was of 400 tons burthen, and carried 22 guns and 150 men; one was of 200 tons, 10 guns, and 35 men; and one was of 180 tons, 8 guns, and 35 men), and one with merchandife, of 160 tons, 2 guns and 30 men; two were bound from Cayenne to

Cape François, with fire-wood, birch, &c. one 550 tons burthen, 18 guns and 52 men; the other 250 tons, 18 guns, and 40 men; one was bound from Marseilles to Martinique, with wine, oil, candles, &c. 100 tons, 4 guns, and 27 men; and two were bound from Martinique; one laden with fugar, 20 guns, and 140 men; and the other, for Bourdeaux, with fugar, cocoa, and coffee, 50 tons, and 12 men. -The four American veffels were very fmall.

Capt. Keeler, of the Acteon, one of Adm. Parker's fquadron, writes to the Admiralty, from St Lucia, Oct. 29. that being a few days before, with the Cornwall, on a cruise off Martinique, they saw two fail, one in chace of the other, the latter of which, by fignal from the former, was known to be an enemy; that they ftood athwart her, in order to cut her off from the island; and that foon after the ftruck to the Proferpine, of 28 guns, (the frigate that was in pursuit of her), and proved to be the Alcmene, one of D'Eftaing's fquadron, of 30 guns, and 220 men, without a gun being fired on either fide.

"Admiralty-office, Dec. 7. Capt. Salter, of the Huffar, of 28 guns, which arrived at Spithead on the 4th inft. being on the 19th of November, in company with the Chatham, of 50 guns, convoy to the homeward-bound trade from Lifbon, perceived a ftrange ship, and gave chace. Coming up with her in the night, and finding her to be a two-decked ship, he ftuck clofe to her till day-light. She then hoifted Spanish colours, and began an engagement, which lafted three quar ters of an hour. She then struck, and proved to be the Nostra Senora del Buen Confejo, commanded by Don Juan Jofeph Ezpeleta, of about eleven or twelve hundred tons, pierced for 64, but mount. ing only 26 twelve-pounders, with about 170 men. She was bound from Lima to Cadiz, but laft from Fyal, where fhe had landed her bullion to a very confiderable amount, having received information there of a war with Great Britain. The remainder of her cargo confifts of copper, pewter, cocoa, a very large quantity of Jefuits bark, fome beaver and minerals, befides private ventures. The Huffar had 4 men killed and ro wounded; the enemy, by the best accounts that could be obtained, about 27 killed and 8 wounded. Capt. Salter

fent

fent his prize to Lisbon, and immediately proceeded in queft of the convoy, from which he had separated.

Com. Johnstone, in a letter dated on board the Romney, at Lisbon, Nov. 21. relates, that on the 11th of November, Ending towards Cape Finifterre, with the fquadron under his command, he difcerned a fail, to which he gave chace; and the Tartar, one of his frigates, of 28 guns and 200 men, coming up with her, and perceiving she had Spanish colours hoifted, began a close engagement. The enemy, after exchanging one broadfide, and firing some irregular shot, struck to the Tartar. She proved to be the Santa Margarita frigate of war, of 26 twelve-pounders and 2 fix-pounders, carrying 277 men, and commanded by Capt. Andres de Viana. The enemy had I man killed, and 3 wounded; the Tar

tar none.

Capt. Paisley, of the Sybil, in a letter dated in the Tagus, Nov. 20. gives an account of his having taken, and brought in with him, the Rambler, a privateer of Salem, of 14 guns and 90 men; and the Patagon, a Spanish packet, bound from the island of Teneriff to Corunna, armed with 10 carriage-guns and 55 men, commanded by a King's officer.

Rear-Adm. Edwards, in a letter, dated, St John's, Newfoundland, O&. 13. mentions, that Capt. Reeve, of his Maey's thip Surprise, had lately taken, and brought into that port, the Jafon, and Monmouth, American privateers; the former a fhip of 20 guns, nine and fix pounders, and 120 men, commanded by John Manley; the latter, a brig of 14 guns, fix-pounders, and 65 men, commanded by John Ravil."

By a royal proclamation, dated, Jan. 5. a reward of 300 1. and the King's pardon, is offered to any perfon who fhall difcover any other perfon concerned in fending, tranfporting, or delivering, or in lading on board, or in providing for the purpose of being fent, tranfported, or delivered, to, or to the use of, the French King, or of the King of Spain, or their refpective officers or fubjects, any arms, ammunition, naval ftores, or provifions, during the continuance of the prefent war, to be paid upon conviction of every fuch offender. From the preamble to this proclamation, it would feem, that fome fuch clandeftine commerce has been, and is now carried on, Corruptly and traitorously, by means of VOL. XLII.

clearances fraudulently obtained for pla ces within the King's dominions, or thofe of powers in amity with us, or by other artful contrivances.

On the 19th of January a French cartel-fhip arrived in Torbay from St Maloes, having on board Gen. Garth, (who was taken prifoner in the Experiment man of war by D'Estaing), and 360 failors, who had been prifoners at Dinant and Fougaret.

Gen. Prefcot arrived at Ld G. Germain's office, Jan. 29. with dispatches for government from New York.

[P.S.] A commiffion, during pleafure, paffed the great feal, Feb. 1. appointing Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. (commander in chief of the army), and Marriot Arbuthnot, Efq; (commander in chief of the navy, in North America), jointly and feverally, Commiflioners for restoring peace in America, and for granting pardons to fuch of his Majefty's fubjects there, now in rebellion, as shall deserve the royal mercy.

The following addrefs having been tranfmitted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to the Earl of Hillsborough, was prefented to the King, and received by his Majefty very graciously. It appeared in the gazette of Jan. 22.

"Moft Gracious Sovereign,

WE, your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Commons, and Citizens, of the city of Dublin, in Common Council affembled, feeling, with the reft of your Majesty's faithful fubjects of this kingdom, the moft lively fatisfaction at the profpect we have in view, of feeing our country happy in the enjoyment of an unrestricted commerce, moft humbly beg leave to be indulged in the firft and strongest impulfe of thofe feelings, by being permitted to lay at your Majefty's feet the grateful overflowings of hearts filled with a due fenfe of your Majefty's goodness, and tender regard which you have manifefted to the diftrefs of Ireland, and the gracious manner in which your Majefty has teftified your paternal care of our welfare, by giving your royal affent to the law lately paffed [41.665.], repealing certain acts of the British legiflature, impofing grievous and unjuft reftraints on the trade and commerce of Ireland, to the great injury of all your Majefty's dominions.

We befeech your Majefty to be perG fuade

aded, that, in this arduous and critical conjuncture, we fhould think we fell fhort of that duty which we owe to your Majefty, and to our country, if we did not chearfully lay hold of the earliest opportunity to convey to your Majefty our warmeft approbation of the generous and manly counfels by which thofe juft and prudent meafures in favour of this kingdom have been happily advanced; and, we truft, will fpeedily and steadily be carried into final execution.

As the first corporation in this kingdom, we feel ourselves particularly called upon to be first, at the prefent crifis, in teftifying our unfhaken loyalty to your Majefty's perfon and government, and our inviolable determination to manifeft to the world, that we have moft fincerely at heart the fuccefs and welfare of our fellow-fubjects of Great Britain, and the general profperity of the British empire. In teftimony whereof, we have caufed the common feal of the faid city to be hereunto affixed, this 6th day of January 1780."

At a numerous meeting of perfons of the greatest confideration and property in the county of York, held at York, Dec. 30. the following petition was una nimously agreed to.

"To the Hon. the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament affembled, The Petition of the Gentlemen, Clergy, and Freeholders, of the County of York,

Sheweth,

THAT this nation hath been engaged for feveral years in a most expensive and unfortunate war; that many of our va luable colonies, having actually declared themselves independent, have formed a ftrict confederacy with France and Spain, the dangerous and inveterate enemies of Great Britain; that the confequence of thofe combined misfortunes hath been, a large addition to the national debt, a heavy accumulation of taxes, a rapid decline of the trade, manufactures, and land-rents, of the kingdom.

Alarmed at the diminished refources and growing burdens of this country, and convinced that rigid frugality is now indifpenfably neceffary in every department of the ftate, your petitioners obferve with grief, that, notwithstanding the calamitous and impoverished condition of the nation, much public money

has been improvidently fquandered; and that many individuals enjoy finecure places, efficient places with exorbitant emoluments, and penfions unmerited by public fervice, to a large and ftill-inċreafing amount; whence the crown has acquired a great and unconftitutional influence, which, if not checked, may foon prove fatal to the liberties of this country.

Your petitioners conceiving, that the true end of every legitimate government, is not the emolument of any individual, but the welfare of the community; and confidering, that, by the conftitution of this realm, the national purfe is intrusted in a peculiar manner to the cuftody of this Honourable Houfe; beg leave further to reprefent, that, until effectual measures be taken to redress the oppreffive grievances herein ftated, the grant of any additional fum of public money, beyond the produce of the prefent taxes, will be injurious to the rights and property of the people, and derogatory from the honour and dignity of parliament.

Your petitioners therefore appealing to the juftice of this Honourable Houfe, do moft earneftly request, that before any new burthens are laid upon this country, effectual measures may be taken by this Houfe to inquire into and correct the grofs abuses in the expenditure of public money, to reduce all exorbitant emoluments, to refcind and abolish all finecure places and unmerited penfions, and to appropriate the produce to the neceffities of the ftate in fuch manner as to the wisdom of parliament fhall feem meet.

And your petitioners shall ever pray,

&c."

1. "That the petition now read to this meeting addressed to the House of Commons, and requefting, that before any new burthens be laid upon the country. effectual measures may be taken by that Houfe to inquire into and correct the grofs abuses in the expenditure of public money, to reduce all exorbitant emoluments, to refcind and abolish all finecure places and unmerited penfions, and to appropriate the produce to the neceflities of the ftate, is approved by this meeting."

2. That a committee of fixty-one gentlemen be appointed to carry on the neceffary correfpondence for effectually

promoting

promoting the object of the petition, and to prepare a plan of an affociation on legal and conftitutional grounds, to fupport that laudable reform, and fuch other measures as may conduce to reftore the freedom of parliament, to be prefented by the chairman of the committee to this meeting, held by adjournment, on the Tuesday in Eafter week next enfaing."-The names of the committee chofen are inferted, among whom are thirteen clergymen.

3. "That the thanks of this meeting be given to the following Lords, and Members of the Houfe of Commons, who honoured it with their presence and fupport," viz. Dukes of Devonshire and Rutland, Marquis of Rockingham, Earls Scarborough, Effingham, FitzwilKams, and Egremont, Lords John Cavendish, Lumley, Rich. Cavendish, and G. H. Cavendish, Sir James Lowther, Sir George Savile, Sir J. Pennyman, Sir T. Frankland, C. Pelham, W. Stanhope, H. Goodricke, S. Finch, H. Peirse, W. Weddell, E. Lafcelles, C. Turner, G. Sutton, and T. Frankland.

Petitions to the fame purpose were agreed to by many other counties and towns.-But againft fome of them protefts were taken, particularly the following one, which was figned by the Lord Lieutenant, and the major part of the nobility, gentry, &c.

“WE the noblemen, gentlemen, cler. gy, and freeholders, of the county of Hertford, whofe names are hereunto fubfcribed, do hereby protest against the proceedings of certain noblemen, gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the faid county, at a meeting fummoned by the heriff of Hertfordshire, and held at Hertford this 17th day of January 1780, for the following, amongst other reafons.

1. Because, we apprehend, the true fenfe of the county cannot be collected, nor the matters propofed duly examined, in a meeting of this nature, fo new in its form, and to void of regularity or any known and established authority.

2. Because many affertions are made in the petition propofed to be prefented to the Houfe of Commons, in fupport of which no proofs have been adduced at the meeting.

3. Because the petition appears to us to convey infinuations injurious and difrefpectful to parliament, and dangerous to the conftitution; and rendered more

fo, as it is accompanied by refolutions explanatory of the intentions and purposes of it.

4. Because that part of the petition which relates to the granting of supplies, appears to us to be an attack upon the rights and privileges, and freedom, of the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled.

5. Because we conceive, that the petition and refolutions are calculated to produce diffidence and fufpicions in the minds of his Majefty's fubjects, at a time when unanimity and confidence in government are effentially neceffary to fupport and invigorate the exertions of the state in our defence, against the most formidable attack that has ever been made upon his Majefty's dominions.

6. We do moft particularly protest against the resolutions for appointing a committee of correfpondence, apparently tending to overawe the legislature, by collecting and combining the factious discontents of the feveral parts of the kingdom into one fyftem, upon which to found powers, and introduce measures, inconfiftent with and fubversive of our prefent happy conftitution, and to eftablifh a plan which appears to us to lead to the greatest calamities which can befal our country, namely, infurrection! confufion! and anarchy !" [14.]

The above proteft was figned by the Duke of Marlborough, Lords Cranburn, Effex, Melburn, Sandwich, Marchmont, and a number of other refpectable names.

"London, Jan. 5. Orders are fent from the ordnance for a number of carronades [41.542.] to be caft, and fitted with travelling-carriages for the use of the militia. Each regiment of infantry, it is faid, are to practife the ufe of the carronades; becaufe being light, and conftructed for grape-fhot, they are of great utility in covering either an attack or a retreat.'

[P. S.] On the 2d of February came on at Lincoln's-inn hall, before the Lord Chancellor and the two Chief Juftices, a hearing on an information brought by the Attorney-General, against a tradesman, his attorney, and a ferjeant at mace, for a breach of privilege, committed, above a year ago, on M. Pizzoni, predeceffor of Monf. Cavalli, the prefent refident of Venice, who was arrested for a debt of 300 1. The defendants admitted the facts as stated; and contended, that, if liable to cenfure, it was for an error of underftanding only, and not for a wilful vio

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lation