land to the northward of our pofts at the haul-over. Under this idea, I began to prepare fmall veffels and gun-boats, in which I meant to embark with 100 men, including detachments of his Majesty's 63d and 6th Weft India regiments, and of the royal artillery, with one howitzer and two field pieces, fix pounders; with this force it was my intention to block up the channel between the main and the western point of Hick's Keys, and to obftruct as much as poffible a landing in that quarter; or, if foiled in both of these objects, to throw the whole ftrength into the works at the haul over, and to defend that extremity; while a body of experienced bufh-men, all good fhots, and under orders for that purpose, should hang on the flanks and rear of the enemy. On the morning of Monday the 10th of September, fourteen of the largeft veffels of the Spanish fleet weighed anchor, and at nine o'clock brought to about a mile and a half diftant from our fleet. Captain Moss was then of opinion that they meant to delay their attack till the following day; but nine of them got under weigh about noon: These carried each two twenty-four pounders in the bow, and two eighteen pounders in the ftern; one fchooner carried twenty-two, and all the reft from eight to 14 guns in their wafte; and every one of them, befides being crowded with men, towed a a large launch full of foldiers. The other five veffels, with fome large launches all full of men, remained at this laft anchorage at the diftance of a mile and a half. Our fleet was drawn up with his Majefty's fhip Merlin in the centre, and directly abreast of the channel: The floops with heavy guns, and the gun-boats in fome advance to the northward, were on her eaftern and western flanks. but night coming on, and rendering a purfuit too dangerous in a narrow channel and difficult navigation, they were foon after recalled. At half paft three in the afternoon, I received a letter from Captain Mofs, ftating that the enemy was preparing to attack him, and requiring all the affiftance which I could give. I immediately ordered as many men to embark and proceed to his affiftance, as fmall craft to carry them could be procured. The alacrity fhewn on this occasion was great indeed ; but as a requifition of this nature was by no means expected, the neceffary arrangements had not been made for fo speedily embarking the troops, and of confequence fome irregularity enfued; for the cannonade being diftinctly heard, and a certainty of an engagement having taken place, it became impoffible to reftrain the eagerness of the colonial troops, who, poffeffing canoes, dories, and pitpans, without thought or retrospect to thofe left behind, haflened with impetuofity to join their companions, and share their danger: Hence arofe difficulty and difappointment to the regular troops, who being under arms, and anxious to proceed with all expedition, fuffered delay from want of the neceffary boats and craft to embark in. As foon as I faw feventeen craft of different defcriptions, having on board 200 men, fet off with orders to rally round the Merlin, I immediately joined them in hopes of affifting Capt. Mofs and baraffing the enemy; but although we were only two hours in getting on board the Merlin, a dittance of three leagues and a half, in the wind's-eye, we were too late to have any share in the action. But I am of opinion, that the fight of so many craft full of men coming up with velocity, haftened the return of the enemy, and that their appearance on the following day, as well as the junction of two armed fhips, the Juba and Columbia, which I had ordered round to St George's Key on the 9th, induced the fleet to prepare for returning to their respective pofts. The Spaniards remained under KeyChappel until the 15th; on the morning of which they made various movements, and in the course of the day fome of them anchored under Key-Caulker. On the morning of the 16th, it was discovered that they had ftolen off; eight of their largeft veffels got out to fea, and flood to the northward; the remainder, being Capt. Mofs, on seeing them retreat, twenty-three in number, shaped their made the signal for our veffels to chace ; ___course for Baccalar. Ed. Mag. Feb. 1799. The enemy came down in a very handfome manner, and with a good countenance, in a line abreaft, ufing both fails and oars. About half after two o'clock Capt. Mofs made the fignal to engage, which was obeyed with a cool and determined firmness, that, to use his own expreffion to me on the occafion, would have done credit to veterans. The action lafted about two hours and a half, when the Spaniards began to fall into confufion, and foon afterwards cut their cables, and failed and rowed off, affifted by a great number of launches, which took them in tow. U We We have every reafon to believe that the enemy fuffered much in the action of the 10th, as well in killed and wounded, as in the hulls and rigging of the veffels engaged; and I am happy to inform your Lordship that we had not a fingle man hurt, and that no injury was done to our veffels deferving of notice. It would be unjuft, my Lord, to mention the names of any officers, either of the military or militia, on account of any particular fervice performed by them; for the conduct of all being fuch as to merit my best thanks no particular diftinction can be made. It is alfo unneceflary for me to fay any thing refpecting Captain Mois: his penetration in difcovering, and activity in defcating, the views of the enemy; his coolnels and fteady conduct is action, point hire out as an officer of very great merit. He firft fux gefted to me the very great ufe which might be made of gunboats against the enemy, and gave me much affiftance by the artificers belonging to his fhip in fitting them out. I am happy to fay, that the moft cordial cooperation has always exiled between us. Cu the 13th inft. I fent out two fcout canoes well manued, with orders to pafs the Spanish fleer in the night; and, proceeding to the northward, to board the first small veffel they could fall in with. On the 16th they captured a small packet boat with five hands, when taking out the prifoners, letters, &c. and deftroying the boat, they returned here on the 17th. At day-light of that day the canoes were entangled with the retreating Spanish fleet near the Savannah key, and efcaped with difficulty. The expedition was commanded by Arthur O'Neil, a Field-Marthal in the armies of Spain, and Captain-General of the province of Yucatan. The Campeachy fleet was commanded by Captain Bocco. Negra: Two thoufand foldiers were embarked and diftributed in proportion to the dimenfions of the veffels, on board of the fleet, which confifted of, The veffels which made the attack, in number Referve of equal force, fix ichooners not fo large, but armed in the fame manner as thofe which came down to the attack, and drawing too much water, remained with the tranfports and victuallers. Tranfports, victuallers, &c. all carrying bow and fide guns of different calibers, 9 5 7 Total 31 And navigated by five hundred fea men, principally from the Havanna and Campeachy. I am, &c. Tho. Barrow. Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant. (True copy) Balcarras. To the Earl of Balcarras. Admiralty-Office, Jan. 12. Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, Knt. Commander of his Majefty's fhips and Vessels at Jamaica, to Evan Nepean, Efq, dated on board his Majefty's fhip Abergavenny, in Port Royal Harbour the 6th of November. SIR. You will be pleafed to acquaint the Right Hon. the Lord Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that I have received dif patches from Captain Mofs of his Majefty's floop Merlin, dated Honduras, 17th September; a copy of which, deferibing the defeat of the Spanish flotilla, is here with enclofed. SIR, Merlin, St George's Key, Sept. 27, 1798. My letters by the Swift fchooner, which failed from Honduras exprefs on the 21ft Auguft, have informed you of the enemy's force intended for the reduction of this fettlement, and their fi tuation at that time; fince which our look-out canoes have watched them fo ciofely, that all their movements were known to me as they happened. On the 4th of this month they were vilible from our maft-heads at Belize, and jookouts reported to me thirty-one fail of all defcriptions, but their exact force by no means certain. The next day fix of their heavieft veffets attempted to force their paffage over Montego-Key hoals, by parting their provifions and ftores into other veffels; had they effected this, it would have fecured them all a paffage to Belize over fhoal water, where I could by no means act. I ordered three of our armed veffels to annoy them in their endeavours, which fucceeded fo far as to occafion their removal at dark, and a fmail channel they had marked by driving down ftakes was alfo taken up by our canoes. I clearly faw that their next e fort would be to get poffeffion of St George's Key, from which place (only nine miles from Belize,) they might go down through the different chanuels leading to it, and continue to harass the ing habitants and deftroy the town at the leifure, and drive me from my anchorage there; this determined me to gain the key before them if poffible; I therefore Left Jeft Belize on the evening of the 5th, and fecured this place, at the inftant twelve of their heaviest veffels were attempting the fame; they hauled their wind and returned to Long-Key, on my hauling my wind towards them. They continued working and anchor ing among the fhoals until the 11th, at the diftance of three or four miles; when having made their arrangements, at one P. M. nine fail of floops and schooners, carrying from twelve to twenty guns, including two twenty-four and two eighteen pounders each had in prow and stern, with a large launch-a-ftern of each full of men, bore down through the channel leading to us in a very hand fome cool manner; five smaller veffels lay to windward out of gun-fhot, full of troops, and the remainder of their lquadron at LongKey Spit to wait the event, each of which carried fmall prow-guns, with fwivels fore and aft. At half paft one P. M. feeing their intention to board the two floops, and that they meant to come no nearer, but had anchored, I made the fignal to engage, which began and continued near two hours; they then cut their cables and rowed and towed, off by fignal in great confufion over the fhoals. I had placed the Merlin as near the edge of them as poffible, and nothing that I had was equal to follow them unfupported by the Merlin. At dark they regained their other veffels, and continued in fight till the 15th at night, when they moved off with a light foutherly wind: Some are gone to Bacalar, and fome prifoners taken report others to Campeche. I am happy to add that the fervice was performed without a man killed on our fide. The enemy, I think, must have suffered much, from the great number of men on board, and the precipitate manner they made their retreat. This armament was commanded by General O'Neil, Governor of the province; troops and failors included, about 2500 men: And fo certain were the Spaniards of fuccefs, that the letters found in a canoe taken were actually directed to Belize and St George's Kev. The behaviour of the officers and crew of nis Majefty's fhip gave me great pleafüre, and had we had deep water to follow them in, I think many of them would have fallen into our hands. The fpirit of the negro flaves that manned our small crafts was wonderful, and the good management of the different Commanders does them great credit. Our force, besides the Merlin, as follows: Two floops, with I eighteen pounder and 25 men, One floop, with 1 fhort nine pounder and 25 men. Two fchooners, with 6 four pounders and 25 men each. Seven gun-flats, with 1 nine pounder and I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. Admiralty Office, Jan. 22. Extract of a letter from Sir Thomas Wil- You will be pleafed to inform their der, eight fwivels, and thirty-four men. La Cafualidad, of fix fix pounders, eight fwivels, and forty men. Charge of the American Judge Rush të the Grand Jury of Luzerne County. [Concluded from our laf, p. 79.] Gentlemen, the French reformers faw and perfectly understood what they were engaged in. Nobody ever suspected they were deficient in knowledge, abilities, or enterprize. They perfectly knew, as well as I know, that religion and marriage are the two great pillars on which the civilized world ftands, and could not pof fibly be ignorant of the confequence of removing them. Nevertheless, placing themselves between these two pillars, and feizing one in either arm, they exerted the ftrength of Samplon, and pulled them both down together. I prefume, you are not uninformed that the French have fubverted the inftitution of marri age, by permitting divorces at the will and pleasure of either party, in direct oppofition to the express commands of the Gofpel, and to every principle of social order and public good. "The Christian religion," lays the able and enlightened Mr Burke, “by consigning marriage to the pairs, and by rendering the relation indiffoluble, has by these two things done more towards the peace, happiness, U 2 Lettlements fettlement, and civilization of the world, than by any other part of that_whole fcheme of Divine wifdom ." The at tack on marriage was indeed a master ftroke of policy; the rulers of France ufed it like a fword with two edges. It introduced at once unbounded licentiouf nefs into the nation; and at the fame time, by detaching men from house, home, and family, filled the army, and thus indirectly contributed to their foreign conquefts, more than any other caufe. In this mode, military licentioufnefs and national profligacy were made to act alternately, as caufe and effect; and mutually to aid each other in producing that mafs of depravity, which, by its explofion, hath fhook not only France, but every moral and political fyftem in Europe, to the centre. Let it not be supposed these causes have been dormant and inactive. Not more certain is it, that a corrupt fountain will fend forth corrupted ftreams, than that immoral principles will produce immoral actions; and to these causes it must be afcribed, that at this moment, from the moft recent accounts, France exhibits scenes of more brutal fenfuality, profigacy, debauchery, and corruption, than even Sodom and Gomorrah, of ancient days. It feems almoft impoffible that any perfon of a candid and liberal mind, who attentively examines the tranfactions of the French reformers, can fincerely bring himself to believe they ever had in view the happinefs of mankind. They had certainly too much sagaeity not to know they were fcattering fire-brands, arrows, and death, and too little virtue to be concerned, if they did not rather rejoice in the confequence. What would you fay, Gentlemen, if the Government of your own country, the Prefident, and two Houfes of Congrefs, were to act as the rulers in France have done? I need not ask the queftion. You would execrate them as the moft abandoned monfters that ever difgraced human nature in the shape of rulers, and fpurn at their wickedness. You have nothing to do but to feel and apply the fentiments to the French Government, and all will be right. I am deeply fenfible, Gentlemen, that fome ferious and well-difpofed perfons among us have reviewed the affairs of France with too little horror, if not with approbation, from an opinion they are fo many links in the great chain of pro phecy. We fhould remember that fecret things belong to the Lord. In the mean time, we are commanded not only to abftain from evil, but never to do evil, that good may come of it. I need hardly add, that the man who approves of evil is not much better than he who commits it. It is clearly your duty and mine, and that of every other moral agent, steadily to fet our faces, and upon proper occafions to raise our voices against every fpecies of enormity; leaving it to the God of heaven, to accomplish his purposes in his own way and time. We have too long (at leaft many among us) rejoiced at French fucceffes. Their victories over humanity-their overturning establishments that diffused peace and happiness to millions-their carrying fire and fword through unof fending countries-nay, their very murders and maffacres, have been celebrated in our country. A more fhocking fpectacle can scarcely be exhibited, than crowds of people affembled to exprefs their joy at the triumphs of lawless power and ambition over nations who have done us no injury, nor had given any just caufe of war to their cruel invaders. A mind untinctured with fuperftition may be permitted to exprefs its fears that fuch conduct may, ere long, draw down upon us the righteous retribution of Hea ven. Our country has been too long allied to France, it was the connection of unfufpecting youthful virtue with an old bawd; at one period disguised in robes of monarchy: at another in the lefs fafcianating garb of republican dress, but invariably the fame. From a country thus fteeped in vice and corruption, furely every benevolent heart, every lover of his country will re joice that we are at laft divorced. That evil communications corrupt good morals, is no lefs true with respect to individuals than to nations. The treaty of 1778, laid the foundation of a continual intercourfe between the two nations, and drew them into a clofe, but unnatural union. Their politics, their infidelity, and their immorality became fashionable, and have spread like an infectious diforder through our land. The French nation, diftinguished by enterprize, equally brilliant and wicked, attracted admiration; which has been followed by an imitation of her principles and an approbation of her crimes; and it * See his letter on a peace with the regicide Director. feemed feemed highly probable, if no event had occurred to put a check to our meretricious fondness, America muft ere long have perished in her vile and loathfome embraces. Let us however, Gentlemen, indulge the animating hope, that the period of our deliverance from this complication of evils is dawning upon us. The 17th day of July draws a line, and tears up the foundation of one national connection. Hail, aufpicious day! Henceforth the abfurd claim of national gratitude will be no longer rung in our ears by unge nerous benefactors. Let the 17th of July he had in everlasting remembrance; upon the anniversary of that day let the voice of joy and gratitude be heard through our land. It is a declaration, I trust, of our independence on France, and the perpetual exemption from the baleful effects of her morals, her religion, and her politics. From calamities infinitely more to be dreaded, than thofe commemorated upon the 4th of July, it is calculated to fecure us. The one thielded us only from political dependence and subjection -but the other, we flatter ourselves, will be the means of faving us from religious, moral, and political deftruction. SCOTLAND. Stirling, 29th Jan. 1:99. COURT MARTIAL. A General Court Martial met at Stirling, for the trial of Lieut. James Wil fon, of the Rofsfhire fencible infantry, on certain charges brought against him by Capt. John M Kenzie of the fame regi ment. Lieut. Wilfon, of the Rofsfhire fencible infantry, is fufpended from rank and pay for fix months, and ordered to be reprimanded at the head of the corps, in confequence of a fentence of the CourtMartial held at Stirling the 29th and 30th of January. The Court have recommended him to mercy as to the firft part of the fentence, which the Commander in Chief has laid before his Majefty. Feb. 1. About two o'clock in the morning, a fire broke out in a houfe near the head of the Cowgate, on the fouth fide, which had a moft alarming appearance, but by the timely attendance of the Magiftrates, city guard, and firemen, &c. was, by their united exertions, confined to the tenement (five ftories) where it began, which was burnt to the ground. Providentially no lives were loft. A number of volunteers, and a party of the Shropshire militia, were of great fervice in keeping off the crowd, and preventing depredations. Several gentlemen and a number of tradelmen were moft confpicuoufly useful in fupplying with water, and working the engines. It is faid the fire was occafioned by a foul chimney on Thursday, which had not been properly extinguished. The tenement is enfured, but a great deal of property and furniture was deftroyed. It was extremely fortunate that the wind was from the eaft; had it been in a contrary direction, fome wooden houfes adjoining would evidently have caught fire, and it would have been exceedingly difficult to have stopped the progrefs of the flames.-We are happy to inform the public, that a fubfcription is now opened for the relief of the unfortunate fufferers, many of whom narrowly efcaped with their lives, but with the total lofs of cloaths and property, under the patronage and management of the Right Hon. the Lord Provoft and Magiftrates, and a Select Committee. A fubfcription paper is now lying on the table of the Committee Room of the Council Chamber, where one of the Magiftrates attends to receive contributions. Tiend Court. Feb. 6. An augmentation having been applied for by a Minifter in Kincardinefhire, the heritors of the parish objected to its being granted on the two following grounds:-Ift, Because the fame minifter in that parish had obtained an augmen tation in 1783, in confequence of which his prefent ipend was rather more than Toool. Scots, at the Court converfion, and rather more than Tool. fterling, at the felling prices of visual. adly, Becaufe the minifter never offered up prayers to Heaven for the protection and affiftance of Divine Providence to his Majefty's arms, in the arduous conteft in which we are now engaged for our exiftence as a nation, and for the preservation of our religion. But the minifter being applied to by the heritors to offer up fuch prayers, refufed to do fo; in confequence of which the heritors, as loyal fubjects and religious, men, found themfelves compelled to go to other churches, fo that the cure in this parish was not properly ferved. The Court, upon confidering both objections to the augmentation, and particularly the laft, were of opinion, that no augmentation fhould |