ODE TO A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY,

AND A FINE SINGER.

A

SK me no more, whither do stray
The golden atoms of the day;
For in pure love Heav'n did prepare
This powder to enrich the air.

Ask me no more, whither doth haste
The nightingale when May is past;
For in your sweet melodious throat
She winters, and keeps warm her note.
Ask me no more, where Jove bestows,
When June is gone, the fading rose;
For in your beauties, lovely deep,
All flow'rs do in their cases sleep.
Ask me no more, where those stars light
That downward fall in dead of night;
For in your eyes they sit, and there
They fix'd become, as in their sphere.
Nor ask me more, if East or West
The Phenix builds her spicey nest;
For unto you at length she hies,
And in your fragrant bosom dies.

M.

W

A CAUTION TO VIRGINS.

HEN you the sunburnt pilgrim see,
Fainting with thirst, haste to the springs,

Mark how, at first, with bended knee,

He courts the crystal nymph, and flings
His body to the earth, where he
Prostrate courts the flowing deity:

But when his dusty face is drench'd

In her cool stream, when from her sweet Bosom his burning thirst is quench'd,

Then mark how with disdainful feet

He spurns the green banks, and from the place
That thus refresh'd him moves in sullen pace.
Thus shalt thou be despis'd, fair maid,
When by thy sated lover tasted;

What first he did with tears invade

Hereafter will with scorn be wasted: When all thy virgin springs grow dry, No streams are left but in thine eye.

M.

MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.

July 7. on the resignation of Jacob Sawbridge, Esq. Brother Matthews, S. P. G. W. in the chair, DR. WILLIAM PERFECT was elected to succeed to that high office; and the afternoon was spent in that fraternal harmony which so eminently characterizes the Royal Craft.

Ta Lodge of Emergency of the Free and Accepted Masons of

A KENT, held at the Bear Inn, Maidstone, for nominating a P. G. M.

July 17. The Patrons, Rulers, Council, and Companions of the GRAND CHAPTER of the Antient and Venerable ORDER OF HARODIM held their Annual Feast at the Grove House, Camberwell; and, agreeable to the genuine principles of Masonry, gave the true zest to conviviality by the liberal exercise of Benevolence and Charity.

WILLIAM BIRCH, Esq. one of the Vice Patrons of the Order, and a worthy Trustee of the CUMBERLAND FREEMASONS' SCHOOL, introduced as a Toast, "The Cumberland School, success to all the Undertakings of its Supporters, and Immortality to the Memory of its benevolent Institutor." Every eye was turned on the CHEVALIER RUSPINI, who is a Companion of the Harodim Grand Chapter, and who was then present. The modesty with which the worthy Chevalier received this compliment was very honourable to him.

Mr. Birch then delivered some extremely pertinent remarks on the nature and present state of the Charity, expressed in very elegant language, and was ably supported by Mr. Preston, Mr. Fausteen, Mr. De Haes, and many other zealous Governors of the School; and we are happy in announcing, that Five Brethren present immediately became Life-Governors by a subscription of Ten Guineas each, and others Annual Contributors. These surely are acts pleasing to God, and beneficial to Humanity: These are thy Triumphs, O MASONRY! The Provincial Grand Lodge for the County of Durham will be held in the Granby Lodge-Room, Durham, on Tuesday the 12th day of August next, the Birth-day of his Royal Highness the PRINCE OF WALES, our Most Worshipful Grand Master.

MONTHLY CHRONICLE.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

French Account of the late Naval Engagement.

NTELLIGENCE of the action between the French and English fleets was commu

prefaced his report by announcing the safe arrival of the homeward-bound French American fleet, with provisions of every kind, consisting of 116 vessels. He then proceeded to give an account of the action. The object of the French fleet, he said, was to protect the American convoy, and for that purpose they got between the convoy and the English fleet, which consisted of all the forces the British could get together, and exceeded the French fleet in point of number by fourteen ships of the line. Notwithstanding this great inferiority, the French fleet attacked the English, and after a desperate and bloody action obliged them to abandon the empire of the sea with ten of their ships dismasted, and one, it was supposed, sunk; and had it not been for treachery and cowardice those ten dismasted ships must have been taken. The French fleet had seven ships dismasted, and it was feared, from their not being arrived, they were lost.

"Let Pitt (said Barrere) then boast of this victory to his nation of shopkeepers," (nation boutiquiere). He concluded his report by declaring an intention on the part of the Republic to invale England.

VOL. III.

K

Barrere then read a letter from Jean Bon St. Andre and Prieur de la Marne, the two National Representatives, in corroboration of what he had announced. Jean Bon St. Andre, who was in La Montagne, was wounded by the falling of a block, and Bazil, the captain of the same ship, killed, and 300 of her men killed or wounded. The Montagne had six ships on her at one time, and received about 130 shot.

Naples, June 17. On the 13th ultimo, at ten o'clock at night, all Naples was sensible of the shock of an earthquake, with an horizontal motion, which lasted about thirty seconds. On Sunday last, the 15th, about the same hour, the earthquake was repeated, which was followed by a violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius; the mountain opened in two places, towards the centre of its line, when columns of black smoke, mixed with liquid inflamed matter, issued from each mouth; soon after other mouths were opened, and in a line towards the sea. The explosions from all these mouths were louder than thunder, mixed with sharp reports, as from the heaviest pieces of artillery, accompanied by a hollow subterraneous rumour, like that of the sea in a storm, which caused all the houses to shake to their very foundations. The lava gushing from these mouths, after having run four miles in a few hours, destroyed the greatest part of the town of Torre del Greco, about a mile from Portici, and made a considerable progress into the sea, where it formed a promontory about ten feet above its surface, and near a quarter of a mile broad, having heated the water to such a degree that a hand could not be borne in it at the distance of 100 yards from the lava.

It cannot yet be ascertained how many lives have been lost in that city. Many families are missing, but whether they have escaped, or are buried under the ruins of their houses, is not known. Naples is covered with ashes, and every object is obscured as in a thick fog; but Vesuvius, though not visible, continues very turbulent, and more mischief may be expected, although the lavas are all stopped at this moment. The head of St. Januarius was carried in procession yesterday, and opposed to the mountain by the cardinal archbishop of Naples, attended by many thousands of the inhabitants of this city.

HOME NEWS.

THE embargo on shipping in America was taken off on the 27th of May, by a majority of 73 against 13.

The Duke of York in general orders, dated Tournay June 7, notified to the forces under his command the decree of the National Convention, forbidding any quarter to be given' to the English and Hanoverian troops. At the same time he presumed the French army would not so far lose sight of the honour and generosity of soldiers as to put it in force, and of course that the British and Hanoverians would scorn to be guilty of such barbarous treatment to any of the enemy that may fall into their hands, unless they should find the French so lost to every feeling becoming men and soldiers, as to follow the barbarous dictates of the Convention, and then the French army must alone be answerable for the vengeance which such unprincipled conduct must bring down upon them.

June 24. Being Midsummer-day, a Common-hall was held at Guildhall, for the election of sheriffs and other city officers for the year ensuing, when John Eamer, Esq. salter, and Robert Burnett, Esq. brewer, were chosen sheriffs.

The Officers of the London Militia, according to the bill lately passed, are to be qualified according to the Act of the 26th of George III. chap. 107. sect. 8. Field Officers 300l. per ann. real, or 5000l. personal.

One moiety in the city, the other in any part of the kingdom.

Seised of an estate either in law or equity, the claim or grant whereof was originally made for 20 years, of the same annual amoun', to be a qualification.

ROYAL VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH.

25. Prince Ernest and Princesses Elizabeth and Augusta, arrived at Portsmouth, and next day, a little before ten o'clock, their Majesties and the three younger princesses arrived at the commissioner's house in the dock-yard, where they were received by the Lords of the Admiralty, Sir Peter Parker, Port Admiral, and a number of officers.

About eleven o'clock the Royal party embarked in barges at the Hulk-stairs in the dock-yard. The Admiralty barge, with the flag of that Board, preceded the Royal barge, which carried the Royal standard in its bow. Admiral Sir Peter Parker, and Admiral Sir Alexander Hood, with their flags in their respective barges, followed by all the captains of the fleet, with their pennants likewise displayed in their barges: in this form of procession, their Majesties, Prince Ernest, and the Princesses, proceeded to Spithead. Upon their embarking at the stairs, a Royal salute was fired from the battery on the platform, which was answered by an equal salute from all the ships at Spithead. In about an hour they reached the Queen Charlotte, on board of which the Royal standard was hoisted upon his Majesty's arrival, and a Royal salute immediately commenced from that ship, followed by all the other ships of war, and which was answered by the salute battery on shore.

The King, on his coming on the quarter deck of the Queen Charlotte, presented Earl Howe with a sword, richly set with diamonds, and likewise with a gold chain to be worn about the neck; and he also presented Admiral Alexander Hood, Rear Admiral Gardner, and Sir Roger Curtis, first captain of the fleet, with similar chains; to each of which is to be suspended a medal now preparing for

that purpose.

The Royal Standard was hoisted at the main-top-gallant-mast of the Charlotte, the Admiralty flag at the fore, and Lord Howe's flag at the mizen.

His Majesty held a Naval Levee on board the Charlotte, after which the Royal party did Lord Howe the honour of dining with him.

The Lords of the Admiralty dined on board the Queen, at the main-top-gallantmast of which ship the Admiralty flag was hoisted.

A

At six o'clock their Majesties and the Princesses left the Charlotte, and returned back to the dock-yard in the same procession in which they went. Royal salute was again fired by all the ships upon their leaving the fleet, and by the salute battery as they entered the harbour. The day was remarkably beautiful.

27. His Majesty walked in the dock-yard, and inspected every thing going forward there, and was present at the forging a first-rate's anchor. At half past twelve, their Majesties, with Prince Ernest and five of the Princesses, went from the dock-yard to the Government-house, where a Military Levee or Drawingroom was held, and which was attended by the corporation, all the admirals and captains of the fleet, and the field-officers of the garrison, marines, &c. At three o'clock the Royal party returned to the commissioner's house in the dock-yard. At four his Majesty sat down to dinner with Prince Ernest, the Duke of Richmond, Earl Howe, Admirals Sir A. Hood, Gardner, Sir Roger Curtis, Mr. Dundas, Earl Chatham, &c. &c. &c.

At six o'clock his Majesty and the Royal family, attended by the admirals and captains, went on board his barge at the dock-yard, and proceeded up the harbour to view the French prizes. The two first ships they went on board of were L'AMERIQUE and LA JUSTE, which were lashed close together. On board these his Majesty staid a long while: he afterwards proceeded to the SANS PAREILLE and L'ACHILLE. The PUISSANT, one of the Toulonese ships, hoisted the white flag to salute his Majesty. The POMPEE, at Spithead, did the same, At ten o'clock at night his Majesty and the Royal party returned to the dock-yard.

28. At ten o'clock, his Majesty, with the Royal family, reviewed the troops in garrison. He then proceeded to the dock-yard, where a pavilion was prepared for his reception, in order to see the launch of the Prince of Wales, a very fine new ship of 98 guns. At half past eleven precisely the launch took place, and was completed without any kind of accident whatever: three cheers were given by about 1500 persons on board the ship, which were returned by 20,000 people by land and water.

His Majesty then embarked on board his barge with the Royal family, and proceeded to Spithead with the admirals and captains of the fleet in the order as before.

Their Majesties and the Royal Family, on their arival at Spithead, went on board the Aquilon frigate of 32 guns, commanded by the Honourable Captain Stopford; and the Board of Admiralty, &c. &c. repaired on board the Niger frigate of 32 guns, commanded by the Honourable Captain Legge: shortly afterwards both frigates got under sail, and stood with a fine breeze towards the Needles, and on their arrival off Cowes, their Majesties were saluted by the Monarch of 74 guns, and by the frigates and sloop of war lying there. The tide being nearly spent, and the wind not favourable for going back in the frigates to Spithead, their Majesties and the Royal Family, the Board of Admiralty, and Earl Howe, returned in their respective barges to the dock-yard, where they arrived about ten o'clock in the evening.

29. Their Majesties and the Royal Family went this morning to the chapel in the dock-yard, attended by Mr. Secretary Dundas, the Board of Admiralty, Earl Howe, &c. &c. &c. where prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Howell, and a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Scott, Chaplain to the Ordinary. Their Majesties and the Royal Family then went to see the ship (launched the day before) which had been taken into deck to be coppered; an operation then in hand, and which was completely performed in eight hours and ten minutes. His Majesty, after inspecting very minutely every part of the ship, and going to the bottom of the dock to see the copper sheathing put on, returned with the Queen and Royal Family to the Commissioner's house, where the Lords of the Admiralty, Earl Howe, the Admirals Hood and Gardner, and the Post Captains of the fleet, had the honour of dining at his Majesty's table.

30. His Majesty this morning went to see the Prince of Wales, which (having been completely coppered) was put off dock and afloat in the harbour. Their Majesties and the Royal Family went afterwards, about nine o'clock, to the King's Stairs, and embarked on board the King's barge for Spithead.

On their arrival at Spithead, their Majesties and the Royal Family went on board the Aquilon frigate, which soon afterwards made sail with a fair wind to Southampton (attended by the Niger frigate), where the Royal family landed about two o'clock, and immediately proceeded to Windsor, and arrived there in perfect health at ten the same evening.

His Majesty, before he left Portsmouth, was graciously pleased to give orders for donations to be made out of his privy purse, to the artificers, workmen, and labourers of the dock-yard, &c. &c. and to the crews of the Queen Charlotte and Aquilon, and the Chatham Yacht, similar in proportion to their numbers to those which were made when his Majesty was at Portsmouth in 1773. And his Majesty was also graciously pleased to order one hundred pounds to be distributed to the poor of each of the parishes of Portsmouth and Portsea, fifty pounds to the poor of Gosport, and fifty pounds to the debtors in Portsmouth gaol, amounting, with other donations, to upwards of three thousand pounds.

July 16. Intelligence was received by Government, and announced in an Extraordinary Gazette, that Port au Prince, in the island of St. Domingo, had been taken by the army under the command of General Whyte, together with near 50 vessels, and stores almost innumerable. Of the former the much greater part were laden with sugar, coffee, and indigo.

22. The London Gazette announced the important news of the voluntary union of Corsica to the Crown of Great Britain, through the medium of Lord Hood and Sir Gilbert Elliot.

23. A most dreadful fire broke out at Mr. Cloves's, a barge-builder adjoining to the East India Company's saltpetre warehouse, at Stone-stairs, Ratcliffe Highway, which burnt down all the buildings on both sides of the way from thence to Ratcliffe Cross, as well as several courts and alleys. 20,000 bags of saltpetre are said to have been consumed in the warehouse of the East India Company; whose loss, on the whole, is estimated at 200,oool. The number of houses consumed has been accurately ascertained to be 630.

[Promotions, &c. are unavoidably postpon.d for want of room.]