Be pleased to inform my Lords Commiflioners of the Admiralty, that his Majefty's hired armed cutter Griffin anchored in thefe Roads yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, with the French privateer lugger, La Liberte, her prize, carrying three carriage guns, four fwivels, and eighteen men: She was taken at the entrance of the Ship Wafh, after a chace of three hours and a half. This is one of the veffels that has infefted the coaft for fome time paft. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient humble fervant, Admiralty-Office, Feb. 7. Copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Bazey Commanding Officer of his Majefty's hips and veffels in the Downes, to Evan Nepean, dated Feb. 5, 1797. I have the honour to acquaint you, that, at five o'clock this morning, flretch ing clofe in with Dungeness Point, we fell in with his Majefty's armed cutter Lion, bringing too a floop, aftern of a convoy running to the eastward, which proved to be the Reguin, Republican privateer, belonging to Dieppe, with 20 men, and armed with mufquets. I have the honour to be, &c. Admiralty-Office, Feb. 14. Copy of a letter from Captain Goffelin, Commander of his Majesty's fhip Syren, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated off Cherburg, February 2, 1797. SIR, You will be pleafed to inform the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that being off Cherburg with his Majef• ́ ty's fhip under my command, I this day captured Le Spanfeur French cutter privateer, carrying two fwivels, fome fmall arms, and eighteen men. She left Cherburg the 5th of January, and had not taken any thing. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. From the London Gazette, Feb. 18. Extract of a letter from Vice-Admiral Onflow, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board his Majefly's bip Naffau, in Yarmouth Roads, Feb. 27. 1797. Be pleafed to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that his Majefty's fhip Efpion is juft arrived in thefe Roads; the feparated from the Martia floop on the night of the 14th inft. in a heavy gale of wind; the latter has charge of the Buonaparte, French fhip privateer. I inclofe, for their Lordfhips further information, Captain Dixon's letter. I have the honour to inform you, that at ten, A. M. on the 14th inft. the Texel bearing S. E. diftant eighteen leagues, chace was given to a fhip under Danish colours, on the weather bow, which, after making every effort to get away, was overpreffed with fail, and at fix P. M. brought to by Efpion and Martin. She proved to be Le Buonaparte French one long twelve-pounder, with a comprivateer, mounting 16 fix-pounders, and plement of 110 men, but had only 81 on board; the failed from Cherburg on the ift inft. fince which he had cruized on the coaft of Scotland, and had only captured a floop in ballaft which was liberated; eight fix-pounders were thrown overboard during the purfuit; all the day the weather was extremely boisterous, and it was with infinite difficulty and hazard the exchange of prisoners was ef fected. One boat belonging to the Ef pion was loft, but happily no lives; and it is but juftice to the officers and feamen of both fhips to declare they performed the fervice with manly fpirit and determination; as during the night it blew very hard at N. N. W. the Martin and prize unavoidably feparated from the Efpion; Capt. Sutton had been previously defired to ftay by the prize, and see her into Yarmouth. The privateer is quite new, fails remarkably Be pleafed to acquaint their Lordships, that the Jeune Emilie, a French privateer brig, of ten guns and fixty-two men, was captured by his Majefty's fhip Triton this evening. She has been only forty days from St Maloes, has taken an Englith floop called the Friendship from Lifbon to Liverpool, with fruit, and an English hip Letter of Marque, of ten aine pounders and twenty-men, called the Battalion, from Liverpool to Jamaica, after an action of three quarters of an hour. I have alfo to acquaint you, for their Lordships further information, that the Triton captured the French privateer cutter Recovery, of fourteen guns and forty-fix mer, on the roth inftant, which had been a few days from Havre, and had taken an English (muggler, and an Américan fhip bound to Bombay; the latter was retaken a few hours afterwards by the Stag. I have the honour to be, &c. L. W. Halfied. From the London Gazette, Feb. 21. Extract of a letter from Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's fhips and wefels at Portsmouth, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated February 17, 1797. Lieut. Sanders, of the Phoenix, who has charge of the Difficile privateer, informs me he was captured by the Phonix, Tritoy, and Scourge laft Sunday night, at half past eleven o'clock. She mounts eighteen guns, had two hundred and fix men on board, and failed three days before from Breft. Admiralty-Office, Feb. 23. Copy of a letter from Capt. Young, Commander of his Majesty's fhip Greyhound, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated at Spitbead, Feb. 18, 1797. SIR, I request you will inform my Lords Commiflioners of the Admiralty, that on the 18th inftant, at seven A M. I fell in with, five leagues to the weftward of Beachy-Head, Le Tartane French privateer brig, of fixteen guns, four-pounders, and fixty men, from Dieppe, on a cruize, had taken nothing. I feel myfelf much obliged to Capt. Chefshyre, of his Majefty's floop Plover, on feeing the Greyhound in chace, and his being to leeward, by hawling a thwart, occafioned the capture of the privateer much fooner than the otherwife would have been. I have the honour to be, &c. James Young Admiralty-Office, Feb. 21, 1797. Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Bazely, commanding his Majesty's fhips and vefels in the Downs, to Mr Nepean, dated February 19, 1797. You will be pleafed to acquaint_theis Lordships, that his Majefty's fhip Eurydice, Captain Talbot, arrived here yefterday, and has brought in with him a fine French lugger privateer. I inclofe herewith a copy of his letter to me, giving an account of her capture. Eurydice, in the Downs, Feb. 11, 1797SIR, Laft Sunday morning, immediately on receiving the intelligence you fent me by the Phoenix cutter, relative to the priva teers which have failed from Oftend and Dunkirk, I proceeded, together with the Queen and Narciffus cutters, to the northward, in hopes of meeting with fome of them. On Monday night, at half paft nine. o'clock, being then a few leagues to the fouthward and westward of the Galloper, we fell in with and captured, after a chace of three hours and a half, Le Plibuftier, French lugger privateer, of fixty tons, mounting fourteen four and three pounders, with fix fwivels, and manned with fixty-three men: fhe had failed the night before from Dunkirk, and had not taken any thing; is a very fine veffel, fails faft, and was bound to the northward to cruize for our Baltic trade. I have the honour to be, &c. Admiralty-Office, Feb. 25. SIR, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that his Majef R52 ty's ty's floop Scourge, under my command, at half paft twelve P. M. on the 21ft inft. the land bearing N. E. by E. diftant five or fix leagues, captured, after a chace of three hours, a French privateer called Le Furet, pierced for 14 but only mounting to guns, having the other four in her hold. She had on board, when taken, 50 men, besides 22 English prifoners, feven of whom were wounded the is commanded by Benoish Giron, had been 20 days from L'Orient, is coppered, and a faft failer. I have the honour to be, &c. H. R. Glynn. From the London Gazette, Feb. 25. Whitehall, Feb. 25. A letter this day received by the Duke of Portland, from Lord Milford, Lord Lieutenant of the county of Pembroke, dated Haverfordweft, February 23. five P. M. contains information that two frigates, a corvette, and a lugger, appeared off the coaft of Pembrokeshire the 2nd inftant; and on the evening of that day difembarked fome troops, reported by deferters to be about twelve hundred, but without field pieces. It appears that the most active exertions were made by the Lord Lieutenant and gentlemen of the county, and its neighbourhood, in taking proper mea fures on this occafion; and that the greateft zeal and loyalty were manifefted by all ranks of people, who crowded to offer their fervices against the enemy. Extra of a letter from Lieut.-Col. Or chard, commanding the North Devon Volunteers, to the Duke of Portland, dated Hartland Abbey, Feb. 23.1797. I think it my duty to ftate to your Grace, that I yefterday received an exprefs from Ilfracombe, mentioning that there were three French fhips off that place; that they had fcuttled feveral merchantmen, and were attempting to deftroy the shipping in the harbour. They begged that I would immediately * order the North Devon Volunteers under my command to march to the afliftance. In confequence of this reprefentation, I ordered my men to get ready to march as foon as poffible. I have great fatisfaction in saying, that in four hours I found every officer and man that was ordered on the parade at Bideford (fifteen miles from home) ready and willing to march to any place they should be commanded to go. I cannot express the fatisfaction I felt on feeing the men so willing to defend their King and country, at the fame time as filent, orderly, and fober, as might be expected at a morning parade of an old regiment. The greatest exertions were made by all descriptions of people to affift, and to render every fervice in their power. As I was preparing to march, I received an account fromIlfracombe, that the French fhips were gone from the coast, and that tranquillity was again restored to the town. How far the report was well founded I cannot poffibly fay; but as this affair may be mifreprefented and exaggerated, I truft your Grace will excufe my troubling you with this letter; and I flatter myself it must give you pleasure to hear of the loyalty of this neighbourhood, and that the behaviour of the Volunteers and inhabitants will meet the approbation of his Majefty. From the London Gazette, Féb. 26. 1797. Whitehall, Feb. 26. Letters, of which the following are extracs, have been this day received from the Right Hon. Lord Milford, Lord Lieutenant of the county of Pembroke, by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. Haverfordwest, Feb. 24. 6 o'clock, A. M. Since I had the honour of writing laft ed information of the French fhips havto your Grace by express, I have receiving failed and left three hundred men be hind, who have furrendered themselves prifoners. The great fpirit and loyalty that the gentlemen and peafantry have fhewn on this occafion exceeds defcription. Many thousands of the latter affembled, armed with pikes and scythes, and attacked the enemy, previous to the arrival of the troops that were fent against them. Haverfordsweft, Feb. 24. 9 o'clock, P. M. I have the honour and pleasure to inform your Grace, that the whole of the French troops, amounting to near fourteen hundred men, have furrendered, and are now on their march to Haverfordweft. I have taken the firft opportunity of announ *Thefe are the fame veffels mentioned in the above letter from Lord Milford, announcing this good news to your Grace, and fhall have the honour of writing again to your Grace by to-morrow's poft. From the London Gazette, Feb. 27. Whitehall, Feb. 27, 1797. A letter, of which the following is a copy, has been this day received from the Right Hon. Lord Cawdor by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department. Fishguard, Friday, Feb. 24. 1797. My Lord, In confequence of having received information, on Wednesday night at eleven o'clock, that three large fhips of war and a lugger had anchored in a small roadflead upon the coaft in the neighbourhood of this town, I proceeded immediately, with a detachment of the Cardigan militia and all the provincial force I could collect, to the place. I foon gained pofitive intelligence they had dif embarked about 1200 men, but no cannon. Upon the night's setting in, a French officer, whom I found to be the fecond in command, came in with a letter, a copy of which I have the honour to inclofe to your Grace, together with my anfwer in confequence of which they determined to furrender themselves prifoners of war, and accordingly laid down their arms this day at two o'clock. I cannot at this moment inform your Grace of the exact number of prisoners, but I believe it to be their whole force. It is my intention to march them this night to Haverfordwest, where I shall make the beft diftribution in my power. The frigates, corvette, and lugger, got under weigh yefterday evening, and were this morning entirely out of fight. The fatigue we have experienced will, I truft, excuse me to your Grace for not giving a more particular detail; but my anxiety to do juftice to the officers and men I had the honour to command, will induce me to attend your Grace with as little delay as poffible to ftate their merits, and at the fame time to give you every information in my power upon this fubject. The spirit of loyalty which has pervaded all ranks throughout this country is infinitely beyond what I can express. I Cazudor. am, &c. SIR, Cardigan Bay, 5th of Ventofe, 5th year of the Republic. The circumftances under which the 1 body of the French troops under my command were landed at this place renders it unneceffary to attempt any military operations, as they would tend only to bloodshed and pillage. The officers of the whole corps have therefore intimated their defire of entering into a negociation, upon principles of humanity, for a furrender. If you are influenced by fimilar confiderations, you may fignify the fame by the bearer, and in the mean time hoftilities fhall ceafe. Salute and respect, Tate, Chief de Brigade. To the Officer commanding his Britannic Majefty's troops. SIR, Fishguard, Feb. 23, 1797. The fuperiority of the force under my command, which is hourly increasing, muft prevent my treating upon any terms fhort of your furrendering your whole force prifoners of war. I enter fully into your with of preventing an unneceffa ry effufion of blood, which yuur fpeedy furrender can alone prevent, and which will entitle you to that confideration it is ever the wifh of British troops to fhew an enemy, whose numbers are inferior. My Major will deliver you this letter, and I fhall expect your determination by ten o'clock, by your officer, whom I have furnished with an efcort, that will conduct him to me without moleftation. I Cawdor am, &c. To the Officer commanding the French troops. SCOTLAND. High Court of Jufticiary, April 3. This day came on the trial of James Harknefs, late clerk to a writer in Mauchline, accufed of being concerned in the murder, or culpable nomicide of Mungo Miller, late tanner at Manchline. At the affizes, held at Ayr in Autumn 1795, John Thomfon, inn-keeper in Mauchline, with his wife, a fon and daughter, were tried for the murder of Mungo Miller, tanner in Mauchline, who had been found dead on the ftreet of that village, on the morning of the 19th of March 1793. All thele perfons were acquitted by the verdict of the Jury. Bu David Thomion, formerly baker in Mauchline, and then a foldier in. the Eigin Fencible regiment, who had been indicted along with them, was outlawed for not appearing. In Augufti laft, this David Thelon returned from Ireland, where his regiment was upon duty, and and was apprehended, upon the petition of the father of the deceafed. While in jail he got the fentence of outlawry recalled, and in December laft, Dav. Thomfon, who, till that time, had denied all knowledge of the circumftances attending the death of Mungo Miller, emitted a declaration, accufing James Harkness, clerk to Mr Hamilton, writer in Mauchline; and Harknefs having voluntarily gone to Ayr, on hearing of this accufation, and furrendered himself, was committed to prifon, and afterwards executed his letters of intimation to bring on a trial. -The public mind had been long and much agitated, on the supposed crimes, and the cafe excited much curiosity. The evidence being closed, the Solici tor-General flated the import, with the utmoff candour, on the part of the Crown; and the Hon. Henry Erskine spoke, with his ufual ability, for the prisoner. After which, Lord Efkgrove, the Prefiding Judge, diftinctly summed up the whole, and recommended to the Jury, if they fhould think the evidence defective, but fhould entertain a fufpicion of the guilt of the prisoner, to bring in a verdict, find-ing the libel "Not Proven," and if they entertained no such suspicion, to find tim "Not Guilty." The Jury were inclofed at 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning, and unanimoufly found the prifoner Not Guilty. Perth, April 3. The Circuit Court of Jufticiary was opened here on the firft curt, by the Right Hon. the Lords Swinton and Dunfinnan.-Robt. Watfon and Katharine Muir, accufed of theft, petitioned for banishment; to which the Advocate Depute confented; and Watfon is banished from Scotland for life, and Muir for feven Years.-Pat. Blair of Norrieston, and John Laing, accused of affault, failing to appear, were outlawed.-The Advocate-Depute deferted the diet pro loco et tempore, against Charlest Graham, tinker, accused of house-breaking and theft, and horse-ftealing, and he was recommitted on a new warrant.Alexander Muir was accufed of Culpable Homicide; but the Jury found the libel Not Proven; whereupon he was The libel was found relevant, the evidence for the profecution was led, the only part of which, that tended material ly to criminate the prifoner, was the teftimony of David Thomfon, the foldier, who pofitively fwore, that on the night between the 18th and 19th of March 1793, he had been called out of his houfe by Janet Thomfon, daughter of John Thomfon, the innkeeper, who had been formerly tried; and that, on following her to her father's house, he was taken by her into a low room, where he found her father, mother, and her brother, a longft with James Harkness, ftanding by the dead body of Mungo Miller. That 'Harkness confeffed himself to have been the murderer, and offered the witnefs money, to affift in carrying the body to the place where it was found next morn-acquitted. ing, which he refufing, the perfons prefent, with the affiflance of another man then in the house, carried out the body themselves. In this ftory, he was direct'y contradicted by the family of John Thomfon, and the other perfon, whom he alledged to have been employed in carrying out the body. His account of the wounds, was alfo not confiftent with the fact, as proved by the furgeons examined, and others; and there were feveral improbabilities in his narrative.—Indeed, feveral of the witneffes gave very contradictory evidence. On the part of the prifoner it was proved by his mafter, Mr Hamilton, that he had performed bufinefs for him, on the evening of the alledged murder, and went to his bed at the ufual hour, with-, out any appearance of guilt in his conduct. His character was established to be good, by the fame evidence; and Janet Thomson entirely contradicted the ftory of the foldier. Jedburgh, April 5. The Circuit Court of Jufticiary was opened here this day by the Right Hon. Lord Juftice Clerk.Ifobel Fleeming, accufed of child-murder, was banished from Scotland for life, upon her own petition, with the confent of the Advocate Depute. There was no other business of a criminal nature before the Court. Aberdeen, April 11. The Circuit Court of Jufticiary was opened here on Friday, by the Right Hon. Lords Swinton and Dunlinnan-James Stewart at Etrach, was tried for adminiftering poifon to John Glafs, by which his life was put in imminent danger. The libel was reftricted to an arbitrary punishment.-He was found Guilty, and fentenced to be tranf ported for fourteen years-John Davidfon, from Rathen, was tried for hamefucken and beating Margaret Kerr and her niece. Verdict Not Guilty.-Alexander Donald from Aftied, was tried for ftealing an ox. Verdict Not Proven. This finished the Circuit here.” Dum |