nolds, Commander of his Majes ty's Ship La Pomone, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Plymouth Sound, the 14th of January, 1798.

I beg to acquaint you, for the information of my lords commissioners of the admiralty, that in the night of the 26th ult. I lost company with the Phoebe, in a very heavy gale of wind at W.S.W. which came on the 8th, and continued blowing strong, without intermission, until the 24th, and, though the violence of the gale then abated, still it blew from the west; that with every possible exertion we were unable to get farther to the westward than 29 degrees of longitude before the 31st. ult. the day on which my limited time for cruizing on the ground prescribed by their lordships expired.

On the 1st instant I edged away to the eastward, and on the 5th, at eleven o'clock in the night, Ushant bearing N. 65 deg. E. 94 leagues, crossed a large ship, standing under easy sail to the N.W. I instantly gave chase, and soon got close alongside of her; for it being thick, hazy weather, she was deceived in our strength, and shrunk not from the action, but had the temerity to exchange several broadsides with us before she called out for quarter; in which we had one man killed and four wounded, and our masts and rigging considerably damaged. Having shifted the pri soners, and our carpenter plugged up eight shot-holes she had received between wind and water, we were about to take her in tow (for her mizen-mast was shot away, and she was utterly disabled to carry any sail), when the officer on board hailed us, and said she was sinking.

I sent all our boats to her assistance

immediately, and finding no efforts could save her, had but just time to draw our men and their wounded from her, when she sunk along-side of us. She proved to be the Cheri, from Nantz, carrying twenty-six long twelve, eighteen and twentyfour pounders (mixed) upon her main deck, and two hundred and thirty men, commanded by Mons. Chassin; had been out fourteen days, and taken nothing: she had twelve men killed, and twenty-two wounded; among the latter was the gallant captain, who, with two others, died of their wounds the next day.

On Thursday evening, the Eddistone bearing N.E. twelve leagues, I captured a little privateer from Rysco, called the Emprunt Fosse ; had only two small carriage guns, six swivels, and 25 men on board; she had been out but one day, and had taken nothing.

Our main-mast and fore-mast being wounded, and both of them fished, and much of the standing rigging so injured that it is necessary to replace it, I thought it would be expediting the service to steer directly for this port, instead of Falmouth; and I hope my having done so will meet their lordships' approbation.

This gazette also contains accounts from capt. Stopford, of his majesty's ship Phaeton, of his having captured a French brig privateer, of fourteen six-pounders, call'd L'Hazard; and also a Spanish merchant vessel, from Nantes, bound to St. Sebastian, laden with sundry articles of merchandize; the latter of which, being of little value, he destroyed; and of his having recaptured an English merchant-ship, called the Arthur Howe, of Dartmouth.

17. George Mealmaker, of Dundee,

1

dee, was tried by the high court of justiciary at Edinburgh, for sedition, and was found guilty. He was the author of the handbill, for dispersing which the rev. T. F. Palmer was sentenced to Botany Bay in Sept. 1793. See our volume for that year, p. (39).

20, The London gazette contains an account of the capture of a French schooner privateer, called Le Vengeur, of 12 guns and 72 men, quite new; and also L'Inconceivable French privateer, of eight guns and 55 men, by his majesty's ship Indefatigable, captain sir Edward Pellew.

From the London Gazette, Jan. 23. Copy of a Letter from the Right Hon. Lord Bridport, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated the 20th instant.

SIR.

You will herewith receive copies of two letters from capt. Durham, of his majesty's ship Anson, and a copy of one from the hon. captain Stopford, of his majesty's ship Phaeton, which I transmit for their Lordships' information.

I am, Sir, &c. &c. &c.

BRIDPORT. Anson, Cawsand Bay, Jan. 17, 1798. My Lord,

I beg leave to acquaint your lordship, that in the passage to England, I have retaken the Harmony galliot, from St. Ube's, bound to London; also the Active of Baltimore, American ship, with a valuable cargo; and the George Randulph, under Danish colours: the latter being a neutral vessel, and not sus picious, after taking out the prisoners, I permitted the master to proceed on his voyage.

I have the honour to be, &c. P. C. DURHAM. Right Hon. Adm. Ld. Bridport, &c. &c. &e.

Phaeton, at Sea, Jan. 11, 1798.
My Lord,

I have the honour to inform your lordship, that his majesty's ships Ausou and Mermaid joined me on the night of the 5th instant, the former having captured the French frigate the Daphne, on the night of the 29th of December, for the particulars of which I refer your lordship to capt. Durham's letter herewith inclosed.

This capture gives me much satisfaction, as the Daphne was the only British frigate in the possession of the enemy.

The alacrity with which she was discovered, chased, and taken possession of, upon a lee-shore on the coast of Arcasson, reflects (in my opinion) much credit upon captain Durham.

I have the honour to be, &c.x ROB. STOPFORD. Right Hon. Lord Bridport, K. B. &c. &c. &c.

Anson, at Sea, Jan. 4, 1798. SIR,

In consequence of your signal, on the evening of the 29th of December, for having discovered an enemy in the S.W. steering to the E.S.E. with the Anson's signal to keep a look-out during the night, the moment it was dark I bore up, and steered the course I thought most adviseable to cut off the enemy, and have much pleasure in informing you that I had the good fortune to cross upon her during the night; having exchanged a few shot, she struck, and proved to be the republican ship of war La Daphne (late his majesty's friga te Daphne), mounting 30 guns, and having on board 276 men, among whom are 30 passengers of various descriptions, two civil commissioners (Jaiquelin and La Carze), charged with dispatches for Gua daloupe,

daloupe, which were thrown overboard. The Daphne had five men killed and several wounded. I feel much indebted to the exertions of my officers and ship's company. I am, &c. P. C. DURHAM. Hon. Rob. Stopford, Captain of his Majesty's ship Phaeton.

23.

Robert Franklin was executed, pursuant to bis sentence, facing the debtors' door in the Old Bailey, for forgery.

27. The gazette contains a long proclamation, intimating that the plague had been communicated at Corsica by a vessel from Borberg, and requiring a strict quarantine for forty days to be observed by all vessels from thence, or from Spain, within the Mediterranean, or from Minorca, or Gibraltar. It farther contains a proclamation, permitting all his majesty's subjects, and the subjects of all states in amity with Great Britain, to trade to and from the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies: except to and from the eastward of it; all the trade of or with which shall be carried on by the India Company exclusively; and except in warlike stores, which shall be conveyed only by the company. The goods or merchandize imported from India by the Cape shall not be exported thence, except by the company, farther than shall be requisite for sea stores. All the manufactures of the subjects of his majesty on this side the Cape to be imported by that settlement du ty-free. A fifth proclamation extends, for six months from the 25th instant, the prohibition on the export from this country of naval stores, except to Ireland, or for the necessary supply of vessels sailing hence, or for the supply of his majesty's garrisons, &c.-It contains also a particular account of the capture of the La Belliqueux, a French corvette, now fitted as a

privateer, pierced for 20 guns, mounting 14 eight-pounders and 4 carronades, and 120 men, by his majesty's ships Melampus and SeaHorse; Also, theLa Pensée French schooner privateer, mounting two four-pounders and nine swivels, and carrying 32 men; captured by his majesty's sloop Racoon ;—and a proclamation for a general fast to be held throughout England and Wales, and town of Berwick upon Tweed, on Wednesday the 7th of March next; and another of like purport for a fast in Scotland on Thursday the Sth of the same month.

Antigua, Jan. 28. On the 13th inst. died, at English Harbour, Charles Peterson, esq. first lieutenant of his majesty's ship Perdrix. This event was occasioned by a dispute between the deceased and Lord Camelford, upon the right of commanding at English Harbour. Lord C. commanded his majesty's sloop of war the Favourite, by virtue of an order or warrant from admiral Harvey; and Mr. P. (though an older lieutenant than lord C.) had lately served on board that ship under his command; but, having been removed to the Perdrix, and Lord C. not having a commission as master and commander, Mr. P. being then at English Harbour, supposed himself to be the commanding officer, and under that idea issued some orders to Lord C. which were answered by other orders from Lord C. to Mr. P. Upon Mr. P.'s refusal to obey these orders, a lieutenant with a party of marines were sent to put him under arrest, and Mr. P. prepared for resistance, and ordered the crew of the Perdrix to arm in his defence. But before any conflict took place, Lord C. arrived, went up to Mr. P., demanded if he would obey his orders or not; and, upon being answered in the nega

tive, he immediately shot him dead upon the spot. An inquest was taken by the coroner the next day; but the jury not being willing to take upon themselves the determination of the question upon whom the command at English Harbour had devolved, found only that the deceased had been shot by lord Camelford in consequence of a mutiny. A court martial has since been held on board his majesty's ship Invincible, in Fort Royal bay, by William Cayley, Esq. captain of his majesty's ship Invincible, and senior captain of his majesty's ships and vessels in Fort Royal bay, Martinique, president; captains J. Main waring, Charles Ekins, Richard Brown, and Alexander Burrowes. -The court, being duly sworn, proceeded to try Lord Camelford; and having heard the whole of the evidence adduced on the occasion, and what the prisoner had to offer in his defence, and maturely and deliberately weighed and considered the same, and being fully sensible of the necessity of prompt measures in cases of mutiny, were unanimously of opinion, that "the very extraordinary and manifest disobedience of lieutenant Peterson, both before and at the instant of his death, to the lawful orders of Lord Camelford, the senior officer at English Harbour at that time, and the violent measures taken by lieutenant Peterson to resist the same, by arming the Perdrix's ship's company, were acts of mutiny highly injurious to the discipline of his inajesty's service. The court do therefore unanimously adjudge, that the right hon. lord Camelford be honourably acquitted; and he is bereby honourably acquitted accordingly."

Admiralty-Office, Jan. 29. Copy of a Letter from Admiral the

Earl of St. Vincent, Commander in Chief of his majesty's ships and vessels at Lisbon, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Ville de Paris, in the Tagus, Jan. 10, 1798. I enclose for the information of my lords commissioners of the admiralty, letters I have received from the captains of his majesty's ships L'Aigle, Blanche, and Mercury, and Speedy sloop, acquainting me with the captures they had lately made: three of those lately taken by L'Aigle (the fourth being retained as a tender), Le Bayonnois, taken by the Blanche, and Le Benjamin, by the Mercury, are safe arrived in this river.

ST. VINCENT.

Extract of a Letter from Capt. Tyler, of his majesty's ship L'Aigle, to Admiral Earl St. Vincent, dated off Cape Finisterre, Dec. 28, 1797.

were

On the 26th instant I chased into the bay of Corunna three vessels, and captured them, the Aurora in company. I left her in charge of the prizes, while I chased a suspicious sail to the westward. This morning I fell in with two of the prizes; the third, a brig laden with timber, unfortunately overset this morning, while I was in chase of them; however, the men saved; the other two have hemp, coals, and nails. On the 30th of last month I captured a French privateer, of four guns, and 52 men; she had taken three English merchant ships, and sent one into Lach bay. I sent Mr. Tritton, the master, and 20 men to cut her out.— The same evening he captured a Spaniard, laden with Sardinias, and sent her for Lisbon.

CHA. TYLER.

I am, &c. Copy of a Letter from Capt. Rogers, of his majesty's ship Mercury, to Admiral Earl St. Vin

cent,