pliments to the noble duke who had feconded the motion; and faid, that, having come down to the houfe to vote against the American war, fupported only by four perfons, who had finally fucceeded in obtaining peace, he did not doubt to fee the finall band, which was now united and new fcouted as much as the former had been, perfevering, without a fingle defortion, till they had finally accomplished the happy object. The houte divided, for the motion 12, poxy 1; again it 86, proxies 17, majority 90. In the house of commons, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, Mr. Fox rofe to bring forward his promifed motion on the subject of convoys. He oblerved, that the great failures in the important fervice of convoys, may not be folely imputable to the negligence of government. They might as well arife from the want of refources. The object of his motion, which was for an enquiry into the business, could beft determine the point. It would go to exculpate adminiitration were it innocent; to fix the fligma of cenfure, were it guilty, and thereby afford fuch a leffon as would compel government to profit by experience, and enfue a proper attention to the convoy fervice in future. The first point he touched on was the Newfoundland and Canada trade. This, he alleged, in both the inftances of homeward-bound and out-ward-bound, had fuffered to a confiderable degree by the culpable neglect of the admiralty, in not providing carly and adequate convoys. With refpect to the Baltic fleets, he confefied that he was, in what he afferted on a former night, to fome degree mil-in formed, as well in the circumitances of the cale, as in the number of veffels captured, However it appeared that feveral flips of that fleet had been taken, which might be attributed, in a certain degree at leaft, to the failure of convoy. The Afri can trade had been confiderably injured on the fame account, which being convoyed to-a certain latitude, was left to purfue the rest of its voyage unnfured and unprotected. lays which it experienced for want of con-voys, firit in the inftance of the veffels leaving England, and then when they arrived at Gibraltar, being configned to a certain degree to the protection of lord Hood's fquadron, operated fo much to its difadvantage, by being too late for the great fairs of Salerno and Senegalia in Italy, as that the lofs would be long felt. The most important of all, the Weft India trade, both homeward and outwardbound, had by the fame reasons, he alleged, fuffered in a confiderable degree. The delays experienced by the outwardbound fhips were near three months, and the inadequacy of the convoy of the homeward bound fleet, eftimated to be worth four millions, was fhameful to thofe who had the ordering of thefe matters; and alfo the Irish victualling thips, upon whofe arrival the well-being of the Weft India Inlands depended, had been confiderably embarraffed and delayed for the want of convoy. The Levant trade did not escape his animadverfion; the neglect, with refpect to this very important traffic, did not fall fhort of all the foregoing. In fupport of thefe allegations, Mr. Fox brought forward feveral documents, which were handed to him, he obferved, from perfons deeply engaged in the several. trades, and whofe loffes were confiderable; he alfo read feveral extracts from letters from perfons of the fame defcription, as well as memorials prefented from different bodies of merchants, at fundry periods, to the admiralty, respecting convoys: his object, as he before observed, was for an impartial and minute enquiry, the refult of which would be in every point of view productive of benefit.-He then moved, That it be referred to a committee, to enquire into the protection which the trade of his majesty's fubjects had received from convoys during the prefent war.' Admiral Gardner obferved, that in oppolition to the voluminous detail now adduced, he would put in a general way the united and publicly avowed fentiments of the great mercantile body of the kingdom, which were unanimous in afferting, that upon the whole, the trade to the different, quarters had never received fach effectual protection, as during the prefent war. The trade to Germany, but more par-,, ticularly that of Italy and the fouthern parts of Europe, next engaged his attention. The former, principally with what In fupport of this, the hon. admiral related to the Hamburgh bufinefs, was de brought forward feveral extracts from oflayed to long as to injure confiderably 'ficial documents, wherein were fet forth thole concerned in that traffic; but with the feveral applications which had been respect to the Mediterranean trade, it fuf- made by different mercantile bodies for fered very much indeed. The great disconvoys, with their dates, particularsof the measures taken by the admiralty in confequence, the different thips difpatched on the convoy fervice, the dates of their failing, the unavoidable delays on account of weather, want of men, and the procraftination of the fhip owners themfelves; from all of which he deduced conclufions very different from what had been drawn by the right hon. gentleman; and demonftrated, feemingly very much to the fatisfaction of the houfe, that the conduct of the board of admiralty was fuch, as inRead of cenfure, deferved the thanks of the mercantile interest. Alderman Anderfon fpoke in fupport of the obfervations of the laft speaker; he afferted, that in confequence of the most minute enquiry he could learn, that only two fhips, which had failed with convoy, had been taken; and that at no period whatever a more effectual protection had been extended to our trade; as an inftance of which, he adduced the amount of in furance last year. With respect to the right hon. gentleman's facts relative to the Baltic fleet, he obferved, that they were erroneous. Major Maitland fpoke at fome length, and with his ufual warmth, in fupporting what had been advanced by his right hon. friend, and infifted on the neceffity of an inquiry. Alderman Curtis faid a few words in defence of the conduct of the admiralty. He feemed of opinion, that the rate of infurance was a fufficient criterion of the comparative degree of protection afforded to our trade in the prefent and former wars, and which he faid was decidedly in favour of the prefent. Mr. D. Scott offered a few details in favour of what the foregoing fpeaker ad. vanced. Mr. Pybus obferved, that the right hon. gentleman's propofitions were lefs calculated to inform the house and the public of the real state of the convoy fervice, than to embarrass men in the offices concerned on the occafion. Had he previously informed them what his objections were, and itated the particular mealures in which he thought them culpable, they could have come forward prepared to anfwer, and to refute what had been advanced, and not as now, obliged to follow him through an indefinite and unconnected mafs of alleged facts, fupplied by unknown perfons, and in fome inftances from unknown quarters. He entered into a juftification of the 1113 conduct of the admiralty, and allow ed that many applications for convoys had been refufed, partly from bility on account of exilting and unavoidable circumstances to comply with them, and partly on the obvious fcore of inexpediency, in which cafes the requifitions could be complied with only to the injury of the other branches of the naval fervice. However, on the whole, he ob ferved it was fufficiently obvious, from the united teftimony of the most refpectable commercial men in the kingdom, and particularly of all of thofe, with one folitary exception, who had the honour of a feat in that houfe, that the trade of the country had never generally been better protected, Mr. Pitt faid, that after what had fallen from various gentlemen who had oppofed the motion, particularly the hon, admiral, he did not think there was any great neceffity for him to trouble the houfe much, if at all, upon this question: but he conceived it to be a question of fo much importance, that he felt himself irrefittibly impelled to trefpafs a fhort time upon their attention. Though the protection of the trade of this country was of very great importance, there were other objects that called for the attention of ministry, which were still more important in their confe quences. A variety of offenfive measures were to be planned and executed; large fleets were to be kept in certain places, and upon particular tations, without which convoys would be but of fmali ute. The minister of this country would confult very little indeed the interell of the people, if, for the purpofe of protecting trade, he was to fritter down and fubdivide the naval force of the country into convoys, instead of employing it in the great and important objects of the war.' The natural confequence of fuch conduct must inevitably be the deftruction of that very commerce which they had affected to protect. The fair queftion, therefore, to put to that houfe wis, whether, confidering the great and numerous objects which, preffed upon the attention of minifters. fince the commencement of the war-whe ther, confidering the defencelets (comparatively speaking) fituation of the country when the French to fuddenly and to unjuitly declared war against us, and confidering all the peculiar nature of the war itlf-whether, having reflected upon all thole points, and then looked to the degree of protection which the trade had acFiz tually tually received, any ferious blame could be imputed to administration ? The right hon. gentleman had, from an examination of Lloyd's books, stated the number of English ships captured by the enemy fince the commencement of the war, to be 217. If he (Mr. Pitt) were to estimate the number, he fhould make it rather larger, and state it at 236. The number of thips which had been taken by the English from the French, amounted to 233 during the fame period. When gentlemen reflected upon the great and widely extended commerce of this country, fcattered over every part of the world when they recollected the circumstance mentioned by the hon. gentleman who fpoke laft, that 250 went to and from the ports of Newcastle and Shields every month, employed in the coal trade, the most dangerous and the largest of all our coafting trade-and when they found that only 236 had fallen into the hands of the enemy in the first year of the war, the only fentiment in the house and in the kingdom must be that of surprise that so small a number had been captured. In the appointment of convoys, many different circumstances happened, arifing from a variety of caufes, which rendered it neceffary sometimes to delay, fometimes to alter, and even fometimes entirely to ftop the failing of the convoy. Those who fuppofe, that when an application was made by merchants for a convoy for a fleet to a given place, that when the vessel was appointed for that purpose, the whole difficulty was over, were much mistaken; between the time of the appointing and the failing of a convoy, it might happen that the enemy had altered the fituation of a part of their force, which might render it the duty of the admiralty to give a larger convoy, or perhaps to prevent the failing of it; therefore it might frequently happen, that what appeared to the merchants as neglect and inattention on the part of the admiralty, might be the ftrong eft proof poffible of their care and vigilance; and they could not in all cafes communicate to the merchants the caufes which influenced their conduct, without letting them into their councils, and stating circumftances which perhaps the intereft of the country called upon them to conceal. To illuftrate this argument, he would mention a cafe which had occurred in the prefent war, and which he might now ftate without impropriety.-A convoy had been appointed for fome merchant fhips into the Mediterranean; that con voy had been appointed under the idez that lord Hood would arrive before it in that fea. It fo happened, that it became neceffary to take a part of the fleet which was to have gone with lord Hood, for the purpofe of fending it to the Weft Indies; it was therefore neceffary to prevent the convoy from failing, as it would probably have fallen into the hands of the enemy when it arrived in the Mediterranean, as it was impoffible for lord Hood's fleet to be there in time to protect it. Gentlemen had talked about convoys, as if it was poffible to fend one with every trading veffel that failed. They would not furely contend, that inftead of forming the three great fleets he before alluded to, it would have been more proper to have employed all thofe fhips as convoys : it would not be afferted, that it was improper to have a respectable channel fleet, which while it protected the coaft of this country from infult, actually defended the trade in a more effectual manner than convoys: it would not be contended, that it was wrong to fend one to the Weft Indies. and one to the Mediterranean: to the lat, ter it was peculiarly neceffary, in order to give the Spaniards the means of exerting their force; because, though Spain, when completely armed, is a very formidable naval power, yet the has not the means of calling all her powers into action immediately. If, then, it was admitted that the conduct of the admiralty in this point was juftifiable and prudent, with what propriety could they be accused of neglect, ing the trade of the country? But the right hon. gentleman, and those who fupported him, had relied with much appearance of triumph upon fome memorials which had been presented to the board of admiralty by merchants who conceived that convoys had not been appointed with fufficient expedition, The right hon. gentleman had commented upon fome warm expreffions which were contained in fome of thefe memorials, and had faid that the board of admiralty ought to have felt indignation at fuch language being held to them. He was fure that the admiralty would feel no indignation; he had feen thofe memorials before, and had felt no fentiment of that kind, because he made every allowance for men acting under the impulfe of difappointment and of lofs, but thefe few folitary inftances could not outweigh the general teftimony which adininiftration had received in favour of their conduct. Members of parliament, as refpectable for the private worth of their cha The trade to the Mediterranean had al, fo afforded scope for gentlemen to make obfervations-It was true, that in confequence of fome unavoidable delays, the trade deftined to the Italian and Spanish fairs had been loft-No man lamented that circumftance more than he did; but, at the fame time, could the blame be attri buted to the board of admiralty? The firft delay was occafioned by the request of the merchants themselves, because fome of the ships from Exeter had not come to the place of rendezvous. Another delay of fome weeks was caused by contrary winds; and after they had failed, a report coming to lord Howe, then refitting at Torbay, that the enemy's fleet was out, he fent immediately to order back this convoy, left they should fall into the hands of the enenty. All these delays were unfortunate undoubtedly, but certainly were not the fault of government It had been faid that these merchants were fo much diffatisfied with government, that they would not prepare goods for the fairs this year, left they fhould meet with a fimilar disappointment. Such might have been the language of thofe merchants when giving way to their immediate feelings upon their lofs: but fince then they had fettled with the board of admiralty refpecting their convoys for this year, and fuch arrangements had been made as would, he hoped, prevent the repetition of fimilar misfortunes. He had now taken a view of the various branches of our trade; and though he did not contend that on no occafion individual loffes had not been sustained, yet he hoped he had shewn that thofe loffes could not be imputed to the neglect of the board of admiralty; they were partly from accident, and partly from the impoffibility of our exerting our whole force at fo early a period of the war; but now, when the navy establishment was so much increased, there was every reafon to hope that even thefe fmall loffes might be avoided. characters as for their high commercial as things were at that time fituated, it fituations, had come forward, and given was impoffible. the most diftin&t and unequivocal proof of their approbation of the meafures adopted by the admiralty; but that evidence which went beyond all other, was that of the rate of infurance-that was a teftimony which could not err. If he was founded in all thofe obfervations, which he thought he was, it would not be neceffary for him to go into a detailed anfwer to the right hon. gentleman's arguments about particular branches of the trade. A few obfervations, however, he would make The first branch of trade which the right hon. gentleman had alluded to, was that to the Baltic. Upon that fubject he had with the utmoft çandour and franknefs avowed, that he was completely mifin. formed; at the fame time, however, that he approved of the right hon. gentleman's candour in making that confeffion, he could not help hoping, that the other affertions which he had made upon this fubject were not upon the fame authority which had fo completely milled him with respect to the Baltic fleet; but even if they were upon other authority, the right hon. gentleman muft forgive the house, if they felt fome little inclination to doubt the authenticity of his information, after having been once fo completely miftaken in one point. With refpect to the Quebec trade, Mr. Pitt faid, he was free to confefs that fome very important statements had been laid before government by the Canada merchants, relative to the different articles which were demanded in Upper and Lower Canada, and as to the time which they fhould be there, in order to be in time for the Indian fairs. He certainly could have wifhed to have been able to have afforded a larger convoy; but under the circumftances of the period, and the general preffure which there was upon minifters for great naval exertions, that convoy could not be given as he wifhed; that was, with respect to the outward-bound fleet. As to that coming home, the veffel appointed to meet them at the Ifle of Eique, for the purpose of convoying them to this country, did go to the appointed place of rendezvous within the time appointed, and was there informed that the trading veffels had failed fome time before, without convoy. The next branch of trade mentioned by the right hon. gentleman, was that to the Welt Indies. Here also he was ready to admit, that if it had been convenient, he fhould have been glad if the great Weft India fleet had had a larger convoy; but Mr. Fox infifted, that there were fufficient grounds, from the letters which he had produced from Leeds, Norwich, and Exeter, for the parliamentary inquiry which he urged. Mr. alderman Newnham declared, that he must vote for the inquiry. The house now called for the question, upon which a division took place, when the numbers were, for the motion 48; against it 202; majority 154. [To be continued.] LONDON LONDON GAZETTES. From the London Gazette, of Tuesday, Whitehall, March 1. IT appears by difpatches which were received yesterday by the right hon. Henry Dundas, his majesty's principal iecretary of ftate for the home department, from vice-admiral lord Hood and lieutenant-general David Dundas, dated St. Fiorenzo in the island of Corfica, the 21st and 22d of February, 1794, that the tower and garrifon of Mortella furrendered on the 10th of that month; that the strong redoubt and batteries of the convention were taken by ftorm on the 17th, after a fevere cannonading of two days; that the fame night the enemy abandoned the tower of Forneli and two confiderable fea batteries dependent upon it that on the 19th they retreated from St. Fiorenzo to Baftia; that, previous to their retreat one of their frigates was funk, and another burnt in the gulf; and that the town, forts, and port, were taken poffeffion of the fame day by his majesty's land and fea forces. The lofs of the British confifts of 13 killed and 39 wounded, befides fix failors of the Fortitude killed and 56 wounded, from the fire of the fort of Mortella. of the admiralty, that the parishes of Jean Rabel, St. Marc, Arcahaye and Boucaffin, on the north, and Leogane on the south fide of the Bight, are in our poffeffion, by therein; and, as our poft at Boucaflin is capitulation, and the British flag flying within twelve or fourteen miles of Portau-Prince, I proceeded, without lofs of time, with the fquadron under my command, to the neighbourhood thereof, in or der to give countenance and protection, according to the exigency of the cafe; and finding, on my arrival there, that the Spaniards had taken poffeffion of Borgne, Gornahives, Petite Rivierre, and Verrete, I induce a capitulation to the king my mafproceeded off Port-au-Prince, in order to of the Penelope, on the 2d inftant, with a ter; and accordingly fent captain Rowley flag of truce, to the civil commiflary Santhonax, offering the fame capitulation which the inhabitants of St. Marc had volunta rily accepted, but which he refuted in toto. From the London Gazette of March 18. From the London Gazette, of March 15. Extract of a Letter from Major General Whitehall, March 15. By difpatches, received on Thursday laft by the right hon. Henry Dundas, his majefty's principal fecretary of 'ftate for the home department, from lieutenant governor Williamfon, dated Jamaica the 19th of January last, and from major Grant, of the fame date, from Mole St. Nicolas in the island of St. Domingo, it appears, that the united parishes of Leogane, and the parishes of Arcahaye and Jean de Rabel, in that ifland, have furrendered to his majesty, upon the fame terms which had been granted to Jeremie, Cape St. Nicolas, and St. Marc; and that Mirebalais, near Port-au-Prince, had folicited leave to hoift the British flag, which had been complied with. Admiralty Office, March 15. The following is an extract of a letter, received on Thursday laft, from commodore Ford, commander in chief of his majesty's fhips at Jamaica, to Mr. Stephens, dated Mole St. Nicolas, the 22d of January 1794. I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the lords cominiffioners Adam Williamfon to the Right Honourable Henry Dundas, dated King's Houfe, Jamaica, Feb. 9, 1794. I have the honour to fend herewith an extract of a letter from colonel Whitelocke, with the particulars of the capture of Cape Tiburon. The bufinefs was fpirited and well done. This poft is of the utmost importance ; it fecures the paffage, and, with Cape Nichola Mole, commands that fine extenfive bav. It has alfo drove the Brigands as far back as Aux Cayes, which leaves the parifhes of the Grand Ance in the molt perfect fecurity. Domingo is already prodigious; and the quantity of produce brought here, will, I hope, on its arrival in Great Britain, add confiderably to the revenue. The trade between this ifland and St. Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Whitelocke, of the 13th Regiment, commanding at Jeremie, to Major General Williamfon, dated Europa, off Tiburon, Feb. 3, 1794. The |