in that country. But whoever had confidered the political agitations of that part of the united kingdom, must have seen the ftruggle there was for the higher exercife of power and prerogative in a certain family, and not for the propagation of principles, which, by exciting difcontent and infurrection among the lower orders of the community, had a tendency to promote fedition. The authority of fir George Mackenzie, which feemed to be pretty much relied on, even by thofe who moft warmly cenfured him, in a paffage in his commentary on the ftatute 10 James VI. ch. 10. enters into a minute defcription of fedition, which must be an offence, varying according to particular acts, times, and countries, but which, upon the whole, muft in Scottish jurifprudence have ever been efteemed a diftinct and specific crime, liable to the infliction of arbitrary punishment. The legality of the proceedings being thus eftablished, he mult next call the attention of the houfe to the circumftances of the trial, as ftated by the lord advocate; and without inquiring whether the country was exactly divided into affociators and republicans, he muft remark, that the jury having belonged to the Goldfimiths Hall Affociation, could be no juft caufe of challenge, as they might ftill act with the most impartial justice toward the libeller, however they might hate the libel, A right hon. gentleman (Mr. Fox) had uttered a panegyric on non-affociators, and yet he had himself become an affociator, and, if he mittook not, encouraged profecutions; fo that in his opinion it was innocent at least and though the Goldfmiths Hall Affociation did not chufe to admit Muir of their number, yet could : that circumftance be any ferious cause of challenge to a jury compofed of its members? This whole tranfaction had been reprefented as moft oppreffive; but, stripped of all party exaggeration, it would appear that the queftion with regard to Flower's book had been waved, that inftead of ranfacking the actions of Muir's life, none but thofe of the three last months of it had been inquired into; that his exculpatory witnefs, James Ruffel, had not been examined, from his own misconduct; and that the circumftances which he was called upon to prove, were unequivocally admitted by the lord advocate. When he had no doubt of the legality of the fentence, he would not be difpofed to entertain furmifes to the prejudice of the judges, on account of any mistaken expressions they might ufe; nor would he think it at all neceflary to enter into any juftification of his learned friend (the lord advocate) with regard to the part he had acted in this bufinefs, nor of his own behaviour in the queftion of parliamentary reform; and laftly, he thought that the judges would have been highly culpable, if, vefted as they were with difcretionary powers, they had not employed them for the prefent pu nifhment of delinquents, and the preven tion of the future diffufion of their doctrines. Mr. Fox explained; denied that he had ever countenanced profecutions, and moved that the bill of rights might be read, which was done accordingly. Mr. Adam fpoke in reply. After which, the houfe divided, when there appeared, for the motion 32; against it 171; majority 139. [To be continued.] LONDON GAZETTES. From the London Gazette Extraordinary, April 28. Admiralty-Office, April 28, 1794. THE letters, of which the following are extracts, were this day received from rear-admiral Macbride. Minotaur, Plymouth Sound, April 26. Sir, Be pleafed to acquaint my lords commillioners of the admiralty, that the Echo floop arrived here yesterday morning, bringing with her a letter from fir John Warren, of his majesty's ship Flora, who was on his paffage to Portsmouth, with the Pomone and La Babet, French frigates captured by the fquadron detached under his command. The Concorde and La Nymphe arrived yesterday evening with L'Engageante, anc ther French frigate, captured by the Con corde. Inciofed are the letters from the captains, fir John Warren and fir Richa: d Strachan, to me on the occafion. The Refolue, another frigate that was in company, efcaped, by her outfailing the Melampus and La Nymphe, who chated her dient and moft humble fervant, into Morlaix. I am, fir, your most obe Flora, at Sca, April 25, 1794. Sir, In purfuance of your orders, I proceeded with the fhips tuned in the margin to cruife on the coat of France; and on the 23d inftant, from variable winds being in the weftward of Guernsey, Rock Dover bearing E. by S. four or five leagues, the Severn Islands S. S. W. four or five leagues, Guernley N. E. half eat feven or eight leagues, I difcovered, at four in the morning, four fail, ftanding out to fea upon the larboard tack, the wind SS. W. and, as the morning began to break, I faw from their manœuvres and firing of guns they were fome of the ene. my's fhips of war. They foon afterward appeared in a line of battle on the larboard tack, and as our hips, from having chated, were not collected, I made the fignal to form in fucceffion. We croffed each her on contrary tacks, and the enemy began an action at a confiderable diftance; their fternmoft hip having paffed over, they again tacked; but the wind changing two points in our favour, I perecived it was unpoffible to weather them, and therefore made the fignal for the hips to engage as they came up, fo as to prevent the enemy gaining their own fhore, and to oblige them to come to a clofe action: I am happy to fay we fucceeded in this object. The engagement lafted nearly three hours, when two of the fhips ftruck: I then made the fignal for thofe who were coming up to pursue and engage the enemy, as, from the fituation of this hip, having led the line into action, he was incapable of continuing the purfuit. I am much indebted to fir Edward Pellew in the Arethufa, who was my fecond aftern, and to the other officers and fhips under my command, who exerted themfelves in engaging and purfuing the enemy. The French fquadron confifted of L'Engageante, 36 guns, 18 pounders, 300 men, montieur Defgarceaux Chef D'Ecarde; La Pomone, 44 guns, 24 pounders, 400 men; La Refolue, 36 guns, 18 pounders, 320 men; La Babet, 22 guns, 9 pounders, 200 men: they failed from Cancale Bay the evening be fore we met them. I owe every obligation and acknowledgement to the officers and crew of this fhip for their zeal and exertions upon this and every former occafion in the fervice of their king and country, and trust you will recommend them to their lordships notice and protection. Enclofed are lits of the killed and wounded, and alfo of the fhips taken from the enemy. I have the honour to remain, &c. JOHN BORLASE WARREN. A lift of the killed and wounded on board A lift of the killed and wounded on board [According to fir J. B. Warren's account, La Pomone was of 44 guns, 24 42 feet, beam; 1100 tons; five years old, pounders; 400 men; 143 feet, keel; and fuppofed to be the finest frigate they had.-La Babet, 22 guns, 9 pounders ; 200 men.] Sir, La Concorde, Plymouth Sound, I have the honour to acquaint you of my arrival here with his majelty's fhip under my command, with a French frigate, which we took in the afternoon of the 23d inftant. The early tranfactions of that day have been detailed to you by fir John Warren; but as the Flora was at too great a dittance to obferve my proceedings in the afternoon, I beg to relate the particulars of my conduct from the time we paffed the Pomona after the had furrendered. About eleven A. M. we were near enough to receive and return the fire of the enemy's two frigates, which were making off. It was my intention to endeavour to difable the fternmoft, and leave her to the fhips of his majefty, which were following us, and puth on to attack the leading fhip; but in this I was difappointed, for the leading fhip bore down, and clofed to fupport his fecond, and laying herfelf acrois our bows, foon difabled us in our fails and rigging fo much, that we dropped aftern. Arethufa, Melampus, La Nymphe, Concorde. We We foon got our fails on the fhip again, and I purpofed to keep the enemy's two fhips in cheque till ours arrived, as the only means of taking them both; but finding the day far advanced, and little probability of our being affifted, as our Thips rather dropped, and expecting our main-top maft, which was fhot through, to go every minute, knowing that if our maft went, both the fhips must escape, I determined to fecure the one I was neareft. She was affifted for fome time by her fecond, but, changing fides in the smoke, She it prevented him from annoying us. was defended with the greateft bravery from twelve till a quarter before two P. M. when being filenced, and totally unmanageable, they called they had furrendered. She proved to be L'Engageante, of 34 guns, and four carronades, with 300 men. The other frigate, La Refolue, after firing a few fhot, ftood on, and our fhip, much cut up in her fails and rigging, was not in a condition to follow her. The maft of the L'Engageant, in the evening, as we attempted to tow her, fell, and expecting ours to go alfo, I availed myself of feeing the Nymph and Melampus, returning from the chafe of the Refolue, to make the figns for affittance. The Nymph joined us at night, and we fteered for this port. I must request you will pleafe to inform their lordships, that the zealous, cool and fready conduct of the officers and fhip's company was highly meritorious in the action; and their efforts in refitting the fhip, after the fatigue they had experienced, exceeded any exertion I ever faw before. As the firft lieutenant, Charles Apthorp, was moftly with me, I had an opportunity of observing the spirit of enterprize which pervaded Iris conduct, and I mult acknowledge the great affittance he was of to me from the able manner in which he performed the various duties I employed him upon; and am convinced allo of the good conduct of lieutenants Boys and Evans, who commanded on the main deck. I inclofe a report of the damages and ftate, of the fhip. And have the honour to be, &c. R. STRACHAN. Rear-admiral M'Bride, &c. From the London Gazette Extraordinary, dated which the following is a copy, Sir, Cateau, April 25, 1794. In confequence of a request from the prince of Cobourg, I fent, the day before yesterday, a detachment of cavalry to reconnoitre the enemy, who were reported to have affembled at the Camp de Cefar, near Cambrai. This patrole, with which general Otto went himfelf, found the enemy in great force, and to furongly pofted at the village of Villers en Couchie, that he fent back for a re-enforcement, which I immediately detached; it confited of two fquadrons of the Zetchwitz cuiraffiers, major-general Manfel's brigade of heavy cavalry, and the 11th regiment of light dragoons. As they could not arrive till it was dark, general Otto was obliged to delay the attack till the next morning, when it took place foon after day-break. He then ordered two fquadrons of the 15th regiment of light dragoons to charge the enemy, which they did with the greatest fuccefs; and, finding a line of infantry in the rear of the cavalry, they continued the charge without helitation, and broke them likewife. Had they been properly fupported, the entire destruction of the enemy muft have been the confequence but, by fome mistake, general Manfel's brigade did not arrive in time for that purpofe. The enemy, however, were completely driven back, and obliged to retreat, in great confution, into Cambrai, with the lofs of twelve hundred men killed in the field, and three pieces of cannon. The gallantry difplayed by thefe troops, but particularly by the 15th regiment of light dragoons, does them the higheit honour; and, confidering the danger of their fituation, when left without fupport, the lofs they experienced is not confiderable. The only officer wounded was captain Aylett, of the 15th regiment, who had the misfortune to be feverely wounded by a bayonet in the body. Inclofed I tranfmit a return of the killed, wounded and miffing upon this occafion. The first parallel at Landrecies is in fuch forwardness that it is intended tonight to convey the cannon into the bat Whitehall, April 30. A letter, of teries, which are to open to-morrow. The entmy From the London Gazette Extraordinary, April 30, 1794, P. M. Whitehall, April 30. The letters, of which the following are copies, were this morning received from his 10yal highness the duke of York, by the right hon. Henry Dundas, his majefty's principal fecretary of ftate for the home department. Heights above Cateau, April 26, 1794. Sir, It is from the field of battle that I have the fatisfaction to acquaint you, for his majefty's information, with the glorious fuccefs which the army under my command have had this day. At day-break this morning the enemy attacked me on all fides. After a fhort but fevere conflict we fucceeded in repulfing them, with confiderable flaughter. The enemy'y general, Chapuy, is taken prifoner, and we are mafters of thirty-five pieces of cannon. The behaviour of the British cavalry has been beyond all praife. It is impoffible for me as yet to give any account of the lofs fuftained by his majetty's troops. I have reafon to believe that it is not confiderable. As I thought his majesty might wish to be informed, as foon as poffible, of the fuccefs which the combined troops under my command had on the 26th' inftant, I dispatched my aid-de-camp, captain Murray, from the field of battle,” and take this opportunity of giving you fome further details concerning the action. It appears that the attack of the enemy was intended to be general, along the whole frontier, from Treves to the fea. The corps which attacked that under my command, confifted of a column of eight and twenty thousand men, and leventy-nine picces of cannon, which marched out of Cambrai the preceding night at twelve o'clock, and a finaller one, whole force I am not justly acquainted with, which moved forward by the way of Prémont and Marets. The enemy formed their line at day-break in the morning, and, under favour of a fog, advanced to the attack of the villages in my front, which, being occupied by light troops only, they poffefled themselves of without much refiftance; and advancing, formed their attack upon the village of Trouville, into which they had actually entered, but were diflodged again by the well-directed fire of grape fhot from two Britith #x pounders, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Congreve. Their movements being now plainly feen, and their left appearing to be unprotected, I determined to detach the ca valry of the right wing, conlifting of the Austrian cuirailier regiment of Zetchwitz, of the blues, 1ft, 3d, 5th dragoon guards, and and royals, under the command of lieutenant-general Otts, and to turn them on that flank; while, by a fevere cannonade from our front, I endeavoured to divert their attention from this movement. Some light troops likewife were directed to turn, if poffible, their right flank; but having received a very fevere fire from a wood, which they imprudently approached too near, they were obliged to retire; they however immediately rallied, and after driving the enemy back, took from them two pieces of cannon. General Otto completely fucceeded in his movements. The enemy were attacked in their flank and rear; and although they at first attempted to refift, they were foon thrown into confufion, and the flaughter was immense. Twenty-two pieces of cannon, and a very great quantity of ammunition, fell into our hands. Lieutenant-general Chapuy, who commanded, this corps, with 350 officers and privates, were taken. While this was paffing on the right, we were not lefs fortunate ou our left." The cavalry of the left wing, having moved forward to obferve the enemy's column, which was advancing from Prémont and Marets, the 7th and 11th regiments of light dragoons, with two fquadrons of archduke Ferdinand's huffars, under the command of major Stephanitz, attacked their advanced guard with fo much spirit and impetuofity, as to defeat them completely. Twelve hundred men were left dead on this part of the field; ten pieces of cannon, and eleven tumbrils filled with ammunition, were taken. I cannot fufficiently exprefs my thanks to lieutenant-general Otto for the manner in which he conducted the movements of the cavalry of the right wing, as well as to prince Schwartzenberg and colonel Vyfe (the latter of whom commanded the two brigades of British cavalry after general Manfel's death) for the fpirit and gallantry with which they led on the troops. The coolness and courage manifefted by all the officers and foldiers of his majesty's troops, demand my highest acknowledgements; and it is a duty I owe to them, to defire that you will lay my humble recommendation of them before his majesty, Enclofed I fend the returns of the killed and wounded, which I am happy to find are not fo confiderable, as, from the feverity of the action, might have been expected. The enemy, in three columns, attacked likewife the army under his Imperial majetty; they were, however, repulfed with confiderable lofs, and driven back und.r the cannon of Guife. I am, fir, your's,. FREDERICK. P. S. From the reports which I had received when I dilpatched captain Murray, I mentioned captain Pigot as killed; but it is with fingular fatisfaction that I find, that, though feverely wounded, he is still alive, and not without hopes of recovery. Total of Killed, Wounded, and Miffing. Hories. 135 killed, 91 wounded, two taken by the enemy, 65 iniffing. Officers' Names. Major general Manfel and lieutenant Fellows, killed. Captain Pigott, lieutenant Moore, and lieutenant Froom, wounded. Captain Manfel, miffing. Whitehall, May 3. A letter, of which the following is a copy, was yesterday received from colonel Craig, adjutant-general to his royal highnefs the duke of York, by the right hon. Henry Dundas, his majefty's principal fecretary of state for the home department. Deynfe, April 30, 1794. is Sir, General Walmoden's aid-de-camp this inftant arrived here with the difagree. able news, that yefterday the enemy attacked the post at Moucron, where-general Clairfayt, with fome battalions of Auftrians, had joined the Hanoverians, and that, after a long and fevere action, they had forced our people to retire with the lofs of fome cannon and tumbrils. Menin ftill held out late last night; but this event, by rendering an immediate fuccour inpoffible, obliges us to look up to the lofs of that poft as an almost neceflary confe quence. I have the honour, &c. J. H. CRAIG. |