reports accompanying it, (copies of which are enclosed will fufficiently explain to their Lordships the detail of this fervice, and the bravery with which the attack was fupported, and leaves me only one obfervation to make on the very gallant action, which adds infinite honour to Capt. Hamilton as an Officer, for his conception of the service he was about to undertake. This was, Sir, his difpofition for the attack which was, that a number of chofen men, to the amount of 50, with himfelf, should board, and the remainder in the boats to cut the cables and take the fhip in tow. From this manœuvre he had formed the idea, that while he was difputing for the poffeffion of the fhip, The was approaching the Surprize, who was laying clofe into the harbour, and in cafe of being beat out of the Hermione, he would have an opportunity of taking up the conteft upon more favourable terms. To the fteady execution of thefe orders was owing the fuecefs of this bold and daring undertaking, which muft ever rank among the foremost of the many gallant actions executed by our navy this war. I find the Hermione has had a thorough repair, and is in complete order: I have therefore ordered her to be furveyed and valued, and fhall commiflion her as foon as the reports are made to me from the Officers of the yard, by the name of the Retaliation.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.
H. Parker.
Surprize Port Royal Harbour,
Jamaica, Nov. 1, 1799.

SIR-The honour of my country, and the glory of the British navy, were firong inducements for me to make an attempt to cut out, by the boats of his Majefty's fhip under my command, his Majefty's late fhip Hermione, from the harbour of Porto Cavallo, where there are about 200 pieces of cannon mounted on the batteries. Having well obferved her fituation on the 22d and 23d ultimo, and the evening of the 24th being favourable, I turned the hands up to acquaint the Officers and fhip's company of my intentions to lead them to the attack, which was handfomely returned with three cheers, and that they would all follow to a man: this greatly increafed my hopes, and I had little doubt of fucceeding. The boats, containing one hundred men, including Officers, at half paft twelve on the morning of the 25th, (after having beat the launch of the ship, which garried a twenty four-pounder and 20

men, and receiving feveral guns and fmal arms from the frigate) boarded; the forecaftle was taken poffeffion of without much refiftance; the quarter-deck difputed the point a quarter of an hour, where a dreadful carnage took place; the main-deck held out much longer, and with equal flaughter; nor was it before both cables were cut, fail made on the fhip, and boats a-head. to tow, that the main-deck could be called ours; they laft of all retreated to the 'tween decks, and continued firing till their ammunition was expended; then, and not until then, did they cry for quarter. At two o'clock the Hermione was completely ours, being out of gun-shot from the fort, which had for fome time kept up a tolerable good fire. From the Captain Don Romond de Chalas I am informed fhe was nearly ready for fea, mounting 44 guns, with a fhip's company of 321 Officers and failors, 56 foldiers, and 15 artillery-men on board. Every Officer and man on this expedition behaved with an uncommon degree of valour and exertion; but I confider it particularly my duty to mention the very gallant conduct, as well as the aid and affiftance at a particular crifis, I received trom Mr John McMullen, fürgeon and volunteer, and Mr Maxwell, gunner, even after the latter was dangerously wounded. As the frigate was the particular object of your order of the 17th of September, I have thought proper to return into port with her.-Enclof d I tranfit you a lift of captures during the cruize, alfo two lifts of killed and wounded.

I have the honour to be, &c.
E. Hamilton.

A Lift of the Killed and Wounded on board the Spanish Frigate Hermione, late his Majefty's Ship Hermione, avhen captured by the Boats of his Majesty's Ship Surprize, under the Command of Capt. Edward Hamilton, in Porto Cavallo, Oct. 25, 1799, and general Statement of the Complement on Board.

Prifoners landed at Porto Cavallo the fame day, out of which there were 79 wounded, mofily danger

228

20 3

Swam

Edward Hamilton, Efq. Captain, feveral contufions,, but not dangerous; Mr John Maxwell, Gunner, dangerously wounded in feveral places; John Lewis Matthews, Quarter-mafter, dangerously; Arthur Reed, Quarter-gunner, dangeroufly; Henry Milne, Carpenter's crew, dangerously; Henry Dibleen, Gunner's Mate, flightly; Charles Livingston, able feaman, flightly; William Pardy, able feaman, flightly; Robert Ball, able seaman, flightly; Thomas Stevenson, able feaman, flightly; John Ingram, private marine, flightly; Jofeph Titley, private marine, flightly. (Signed)

E. Hamilton, Capt. H. Parker.

(A Copy.) A Lift of Veffels captured by bis Majesty's Ship Surprize, Edward Hamilton, Efq. Commander, from the 10th Day of Sept. to the 30th Day of O&t. 1799.

The French fchooner Nancy, of nine men, and twenty-five tons, from Aux Cayes, bound to Curacoa, laden with coffee, taken near Cape de la Vella, Oc

tober 4, 1799.

The Dutch fchooner Lame Duck, of ten guns, and eighty tops, from Aux Cayes, laden with fundries, cut out from the harbour of Aruba, Oct. 15, 1799.

The Spanish fchooner La Manuel, of fix men, and ten tons, from Aux Cayes, laden with plantain, deftroyed near Porto Cavallo, Oct. 20, 1799.

The Spanish trigate Hermione, of forty four guns, three hundred and ninety-two

Amethyst, at Sea, December, 19, 1799. Lat. 46 deg. 44 min. N. Long. 4 deg. W.

MY LORD-I have the honour to ac

quaint your Lordship, that I this day captured L'Avanture French brig privateer, mounting fourteen guns, and manned with feveny five men, belonging to L'Orient.

I have the honour to be, &c.

John Cook. Admiralty-Office, Jan. 25. Extract of a Letter from Capt. Valentine Edwards, Commander of his Majesty's Ship the Sceptre, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, the 20th October 1799.

On my paffage I made the Ifland of Roderique, where I discovered a fail; on the rocks and hoifted French colours; I our coming up with her the ran among immediately hoifted out the boats and fent them manned and armed to take poffeffion of her, which, after a defence of about half an hour, they accomplished, without any lofs or damage. She proved to be L'Eclair French privateer brig, from the Mauritius, of twelve guns, twelve and fix pounders, and eightythree men. She had been cruizing on the coaft of Brazil; the fituation the was placed in rendered it impoffible to get her out that evening, I therefore judged it moft prudent to destroy her, rather than delay the convoy till the morning, and gave directions to that effect, and faw her burnt down to the water's edge before I made fail. This fervice was executed by Mr Tucker, the Second Lieutenant of the Sceptre, whole conduct on this occafion merits my warmeft thanks.

(Here end the Gazettes.)

(Signed)

Confulate.

ters

ters of the Free and Imperial City of Hamburgh, to the Confuls of the French Republic.

CITIZENS CONSULS!

"Whatever may have been the prejudices which caufe you to entertain unfavourable fentiments against the Magif trates of the City of Hamburgh, these cannot prevent them from again approaching you, under the auspices of the late fortunate events which have happened at Paris. The whole nation having formed the faireft and moft confolatory hopes, you will at least permit us to par ticipate in them, and pray for their ac complishment.

"You are too illuftrious and too juft, not to be convinced of the fincerity of our fentiments in this refpect, or to doubt for a moment of our having always taken a lively part in the profperity of the French nation.

The painful event of the arreft and delivery of four Irifhmen, the fatal fource of many errors, of perfecutions, . and of acts of injuftice, appears to have irritated the Directory to fuch a pitch, as to render them unwilling to believe that the conduct purfued by us was ir reproachable, and in the ftricteft manner demonftrative of the most attentive regards for the Government of the Republic."

[This Paper, which is too long for infertion, then goes on to flare-That Napper Tandy and Blackwell were the only two perfons who had been demanded by the French Republic; and that Morris and Peters had been confidered by the Legation as British fubje&s.-That there never was any example in history of one Belligerent Power having confidered itself as authorised to protect in a neutral flate thofe fubjects that were claimed, That it could not be imputed to them as a crime to have delivered up men who inconteftibly belonged to another nation, and were foreigners in regard to the Republic. That Citizen Grenville, French Minifter at Copenhagen, had judged their fafety, while they continued at that place, fo precarious, and was in his wifdom fo convinced that the claims of the British Government, with regard to them, was fo well founded and legitimate, that in order to fecure them against the demands of the British Minifter, he thought it neceffary to afford them an afylum in his own houfe. That although they knew and faw the favourable reception given at Hamburgh

to all perfons in the fervice of the French Republic, yet they entered that city by ftealth, and after the manner of makefactors, with falfe names and falle characters, Napper Tandy took the name of Jones, and faid he was a merchant who had just come from Philadelphia. Blackwell took that of Barthelemy Blackfirst, and described himse f also as an American merchant. That in Germany, it was well known that the demands of Foreign Minifters claiming perfons be longing to their nation, were not refufed and that Citizen Reinhard, Minister of the Republic, had met the fame facility at Hamburgh. That when the officer of police had asked the former of those perions his name, he faid it was Jones. After having been arrested, he did not declare who he was, but fubmitted without murmur, explanation, or proteft to the demand of the British Government. The other perfon alfo continued after his arreft to call himself Barthelemy Black firft; and it was not until after their arreft, that they wished to pafs for French Officers. That when they were claimed as Brevet Officers belonging to the Republic, the French Minister did not even think proper to entrust the Magiftrates with thofe Brevets, nor even furnish them with copies of them; but that the Britifh Minifter had officially declared them to be fubjects of the King of Great Britain. He was the firft who made the claim; and on Jones was found a sword with the British arms on it. That under fuch circumstances, the Magiftrates could not refufe their affent to the official declarations of the British Minifter; and that when he had heard of the demand of the Republic, he infifted with more vehemence than ever, and with the most violent menaces, that they should be giv en up; and he gave the city reason to dread the warmeft refentment on the part of his Government. That the demand of the British Government was ftrongly fupported by examples from hiftory. One of thefe examples was the arreft of the famous Trenck, who, though in the Ruffian fervice, had been taken up at Dantzic on the requifition of the Pruffian Minifter, and delivered up to him as a Pruffian subject, That refifting, for fome time, all the menaces and argu ments that had been used, the Magif trates referred the affair to the decifion of the King of Pruffia, as Chief Director of the Circle of Lower Saxony, and as the guarantee of the neutrality of the North of Germany; but his Majefty

would

would not give any decifion. That at length they were threatened by the Em peror of Ruffia, whofe fquadrons in the North Sea had feized their veffels, and whofe troops chey feared would difembark and attack their city. That all their efforts and entreaties to keep the prifoners in their poffeffion till peace would arrive, were vain. That at the fame time, the Emperor, the Chief of the German Empire, joined in the demands of his Allies, and did not hesitate to declare that the refiftance on the part of Hamburgh must cease. That notwithflanding all this, the Magiftrates made one other, and laft attempt, which was, that the prifoners might be exchanged; but that was unfuccefsful. Their ruin and annihilation would have been the confequence of any further refiftance; and the only thing that remained for them was to confide in the generofity of France.]

"We prefume to flatter ourselves, Citizens Confuls, that you will, by the return of your friendship and kindaefs, juftify the confidence which the unmerited feverity of the Directory was not even able entirely to efface from our fouls, and we hope, that, after having maturely reflected in your wildom, you will no longer hefitate to put an end to the fevere meafures which the Directory has taken against this city.

"Receive in the mean time the homage of our profound refpe&t.

"Done under the ordinary Seal of

our City, Dec. 16, 1799. Burgomafters and Senate of the Free and Imperial city of Hamburgh.

"F. A. Wagner, Firft Prefident." Bonaparte, First Conful of the French Re public, to the Burgomafters and Senate of the Free and Imperial City of Humburgh.

"We have received your letter, Gentlemen-it does not justify you.

"Courage and virtue preferve States; by cowardice and vice they are ruined.

"You have violated the laws of hofpitality. No fuch thing ever happened among the moft barbarous hordes of the defert. Your fellow citizens will for ever reproach you with this act.

The two unfortunate perfons whom you have given up will die illuftrioufly; but their blood inflicts more evil upon their perfecutors than an army could have done. (Signed)" Bonaparte, First Conful. H. B. Maret, Sec. of State?"

SCOTLAND.

Mifcellaneous.

The House of Lords lately determined a caufe of great importance to the Church and to the Country at large. It is now confirmed and declared," That all schoolmafters, and teachers of youth in schools, are, and fhall be liable to the trial, judgment, and cenfure, of the Prefbyteries of the bounds, for their fufficiency, qualifi cations, and deportment in the faid of fice," and all" Magiftrates, Judges, and Officers of Justice, are ordained to give all due affiitance for making the fentences and cenfures of the Church, and Judicatures thereof, to be obeyed and other ways effectual."

At laft Effex Affizes, Henry Hunfden, a boy of eleven years of age, who ftoie various bank notes out of the letters from the Poft Office at Chelmsford, was convicted and received fentence of death; but Baron Hotham, in the most humane manner, informed him there was great reafon to believe that he would receive the Royal Mercy. The little convict fainted away, and was fupported in the goaler's arms while fentence was paffing upon him."

Thomas Cleary was this day executed purfuant to the fentence of a Court Martial held here, for the murder of Edward Turner, Efq. his mafter, on the bridge of Wexford.-While Cleary was under the gallows, and juft before he was turned off, he made the following confeffion to Joshua Nunn, Efq. High Sheriff of this county, and in the prefence of the undernamed gentlemen and many others, that he was guilty of the murder of his matter, charged against him.-On being asked did he not think it a fin to kill his mafter he replied, that he often heard the people fay it was not a fin to kill him; and that fince the murder of his mafter, he received abfolution from two Priefts, Father Murphy, of the Parish of Kilbrush, and Father Ryan, of the parish of Ferns. He was alfo asked, did they order him to do any thing for committing fo horrid a crime? he answered, they ordered him to faft for three days, in each week, for three months, as a pennance!

Jofbua Nunn, High Sheriff.
James Boyd.
Christopher Wilfon.
Wm. Turner.

By

By a letter from Elfineur, dated F b. 24th, we are informe that there was 15 feet water on the Memel bar on the 7th, and that from moft of the ports on the Baltic there is every appearance of good freights this Spring; particularly for timber and deals from Ruffia, and grain from the lower ports.

Indutrious Blind.

An Anniverfary Sermon for the benefit of the Indigent and Induftrious blind, was lately preached in St. Andrew's church Edinburgh, by the Rev. Mr Ireland of North Leith.-The Directors of the Society returned their warmeft thanks for the countenance and fupport which they had received from a humane and benevolent public. They have now under their charge 22 males and 3 females, who are tangat d f rent branches of nanufacture, and earn a comfortable fubfif tence. Sx are employed in making baf kets of all kinds; three in waving cot ton cloth; three in working nerring filh ing nets; three in carding wool occafionally; and the rest in picking cakum, and in making mats of brown rops, failcloth, and ftraw. All of them appear to be pleafed with their fituation, and are chearful and happy.

At a time when the Poor experience fuch great difficulties in providing for their families on account of the high price of meal and other articles, it must be a matter of pleafing reflection to the Public, that the Edinburgh Afficiation for the Relief of the Poor, have been en-: abled to diftribute, in about fix weeks, fo many as about 118,000 meals of good nutritious meat foup, whereby between fix and 7000 perfons have been cffentially affifted.

It is with great fatisfaction that we obferve the attention of the Houfe of Commons, directed by M Wilberforce, to the Fisheries of this country. Thofe, of Scotland, Cornwall, and Newfoundland, which are the objects of fo imenfe an exportation to the South of Europe, are a certain guarantee to the Kingdom against the calamity a Femine. The Cod, the Herring, and the Pilchard are a fafe and perpetual refource.

BIRTHS.

Jan. 14. At Gibraltar, the Lady of Lieutenant Colonel Martin Hunter, of the 48th R. giment, a fon.

April 2. Mis Farquharfon of Howden, a daughter.

4. Lady Mary Murray, a daughter.

At Montrofe, Mr John Beattie, merchant in Montrofe, to Mils Agnes. Hi, daughter of the late Mr Thomas Hill, of Montrofe.

At Perth, Mr John Jardine, merchant there, to Mifs Mary Young, daughter of M James Young, watchmaker.

At London, the Marquis of Abercorn to Lady Anne Hatton, fifter to Lady Elizabeth Monk and Lord Sudley.

At London, Col. Lindlay, of the Guards, to Lady Charlotte North, daugh ter of the late Earl of Guildford.

April 1. Ar Aberdeen, Lieut. Rode. rick M Kenzie of the ad regiment N. B. Militia to Mf Jane Smith, daughter of Mr Richard Smith, of Culter Papermill.

3. At Inverness, Major MacCafkell, infpecg field-officer of that diftrict, to Mis Shaw, eft daughter of James Shaw, Elq. of Waternih, Banker in Invernefs.

5. Hay Smith, Efq. Banker in Haddington, to Mifs Yeomans, daughter of the late Dr Yeomans, Physician, Shrewfberry.

Lieut.-Colonel James Pringle of the Honourable the Eaft India Com. pany's