his majefty's fhip Sirius, under my command, captured on the 11th inft. (Sifaraga bearing W. by N. three miles) the Spanish merchant brig Melchura, from Corunna, bound to Monte Video, out of port only 25 hours. It may be fome fatisfaction to your lordship in hearing it is the only Spanish vetfel that has failed from Corunna fince the fhip taken by his majesty's fhip Boadicea in Auguft laft.

RICH. KING. Letter from lieutenant Smith to the right honourable lord Keith. Schooner Milbrook, off Oporto, Nov. 14. MY LORD,

I have the honour to inform your lordship, that being off Oporto, in his majesty's fchooner Milbrook, under my command, early on the morning of the 13th inft. we fell in with a French fhip wearing a pendant, apparently a frigate, mounting 36 guns; and as I had, at that time, two brigs of the Newfoundland convoy under my protection, and feveral vellels appearing in the offing, which I have every reafon to fuppofe part of that convoy alfo, I determined, as the only means of preferving them, to give her battle, and made fail to clofe with her accordingly at the fame time with a view of increafing our distance from the convoy. It was nearly calm when the action commenced at eight A. M. and continued till near 10, when the enemy's colours came down; but, the Milbrook at this time having her mafts, yards, fails, and rigging, very much cut, and

ten of her guns difabled, I could not prevent his taking advantage of a light breeze springing up, aflifted by his fweeps, to get away from us. The bravery and steady conduct of the officers and feamen under my command against fuch fuperior force, in the difabled state of the Milbrook, for a long time with only three guns oppofed to the enemy's broadlide, and their activity in changing her pofition with the oars (not a fail fet), whilft expofed to his raking us for 15 minutes, merits my higheft commendation, and does them the greatest credit. But I fhould fail in my duty if I did not, in the ftrongest manner, recommend to your lordship's notice Mr. Thomas Fletcher, the master; who, wounded in the beginning of the action, continued on deck, exerting himfelf with the greatest bravery; as did alfo Mr. Thomas Groves, the clerk, and Mr. Jose da Sa, the Portuguese pilot.

MATTHEW SMITH.
Lift of wounded.

Eight feamen and one marine (feverely); Mr. Thomas Fletcher, mafter; Mr. J. Parfter, furgeon's mate; and one feaman (flightly).-Total, two petty officers, and 10 feamen.

[This gazette alfo contains an account of the capture of a French chate-marée, mounting three three. pounders, laden with hides; and a French brig letter of marque, Rocou, pierced for 14 guns, laden with cotton and rice; by the Comus private fhip of war, Mr. Le Gallais commander.]

I I - 2

BIRTHS.

BIRTHS in the Year 1800.

Jan. 6. Lady Sondes, a fon. 8. Countefs of Mansfield, a daughter.

15. Lady Margaret Maclean, a daughter,

16. Countefs of Antrim, a daugh

ter.

20. Countess of Oxford, a fon and heir.

31. Lady of fir Sam. Fludyer, bart, a fon.

-.

Marchioness of Bath, a still

born child.

Feb. 3. Lady of fir Henry Mildmay, bart. of her ninth son.

- Right hon. lady Charlotte Carr, a daughter.

11. Countess of Berkeley, a fon. 18. Lady Elizabeth Talbot, a fon. - Hon. Mrs. Grenfell, a daugh

ter.

22. Countess of Yarmouth, fon and heir.

24. Countess of Errol, a daughter; 25. Countess of Caithnefs, a fon. March 9 Countess of Derby, a

fon.

19. Lady of fir H. Harpur, bart. a daughter.

-Hereditary princess of Orange, a daughter.

31. Lady Georgina Buckley, a

fon.