SIR,

I beg you will inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty with the arrival of his Majefty's fhip Stag, under my command, at this port, and of her having captured, near Scilly, the French privateers, L'Approcate brig, of 14 guns and 65 men, and L'Hirondelle cutter, of 6 guns and 45 men, the latter of which was deftroyed. I am, Sir, &c. Fof. Syd. Yorke. From the London Gazette, March 11. Admiralty-Office, March 11, 1797. Copy of a letter from Lieut. Henry Fefting, commanding his Majefty's cutter the Nimble, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Yarmouth Road, Isle of Wight, March 8. 1797.

SIR,

Be pleased to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that I failed from Dartmouth the 6th inft. with a convoy for the Downs.

4

Yefterday morning, about 7 o'clock, off St Alban's Head, I captured a French privateer cutter, called L'Impromptu, Citizen L'Eccuyer, commander, with fwivels, plenty of fmall arms, cutlaffes, &c. and thirty-one men; failed from Cherbourg the preceding night, but had taken nothing. She has the Ann of Dartmouth on her ftern, her original name, and was taken away from Brixham a bout fix weeks weeks ago by fome French prifoners.

Difcovering another fufpicious cutter in chace of a floop, I immediately hauled after her, and made the fignal for my convoy (as the weather feemed variable, and little wind to the fouthward) to run in through the Needles.

About four P. M. came up with the chace; he is named Le Bonheur, Citizen Burnel, commander, with two threepounders, two fwivels, fmall arms, cutlaffes, and 24 men. The cutlaffes in both veffels were tound as sharp as razors. She has the Mary of Dartmouth on her ftern, · Ed. Mog. May 1797•

but French built, failed in company with the other, and had taken nothing. I im mediately took her in tow, and fhall pro ceed to Spithead to get rid of the pri foners. I have the honour to be, &c. H. Fefting.

Copy of a letter from Sir John Warren, Bart. Captain of his Majefty's fhip La Pomone, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated March 1: 1797.

I take the liberty of inclofing to you, for their Lordships information, a lift of the enemy's veffels taken and destroyed by his Majefty's fquadron under my command. I have the honour to be, &c. :

J. Warren.

7. B. Warren, Commodore. Copy of a letter from Admiral Peyton, Commander in Chief of his Maj fty's Ships and Veffels in the Doans, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated the 9th of March,

1797.

SIR,

By a letter I have received from Capt. Talbot, of his Majefty's fhip Eurydice, of this date, he informs me that at five A. M. on the 7th inflant, off the Flemifh Banks, he faw on his weather beam, and, after a chace of four hours, took Le Voltigeur French privateer, lugger rigged, no carriage guns, and manned with 23 men. She had failed from Dunkirk the night before to cruize on the North Coaft, and bad not taken any thing. I am, Sir, &c.

Jof. Peyton. From the London Gazette, March 14. Admiralty-Office, March 14. Extract of a letter from the Hon. Robert Stopford

Stopford, Commander of his Majefty's Ship Phaeton, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Falmouth, the 9th of March. I have to request you will inform their Lordships, that, on the 6th inftant, Ufhant bearing E. by W. forty-fix leagues, 1 captured a French privater called L'Actif, a fhip carrying eighteen guns and 120 nen; the failed from Nantes on the 16th ult. and, on the 27th ult. captured the Princefs Elizabeth Packet coming from Jamaica, in lat. 40. deg. 30. min. long. 14. deg. 30. min. the only Englifh prize fhe had made during her cruize. Several privateers were fitting at Nantes at the

time that the Actif failed.

From the London Gazette, March 18.

Capture of French Frigates. Admiralty-Office, March 18. Extract of a letter from Admiral Lord Bridport, K. B. to Mr Nepean, dated Royal George at Sea, March 10, 1797. I am now to acquaint you, for their Lordships information, that on the 7th inftant, Sir Harry Neale, in the St Fiorenzo, recaptured the Cynthia brig from Lifbon to Poole, laden with fruit, which had been taken eight days before by a privateer brig. On the 8th inftant the Impetueux captured La Vatout, a fmall cutter privateer, armed with mufquets, having twenty-eight men on board, and only one day from Breft. In the afternoon of that day, the wind coming to the northward, I bore up for Ushant, and detached the St Fiorenzo and Nymphe to look into Breft; and I have the fatisfaction to inform their Lordships, that, on the St Fiorenzo and Nymphe's returning to join the fquadron, they fell in with and captured La Refiftance and La Conftance, French frigates. The taking thefe hips does Sir Harry Neale, with Captain Cooke, and their officers and men, the highest honour, and I hope their fkilful and fpirited conduct will meet their Lordships approbation, as I warmly feel they have merited my particular thanks. Herewith you will alfo receive a copy of Sir Harry Neale's let ter to me on this occafion.

St Fiorenzo, at Sea, March 9. 1797.

My Lord,

I have the fatisfaction to acquaint you, that after having, (agreeable to your direction) with the affiftance of Capt.Cook, of his Majefty's fhip La Nymphe, under my orders, reconnoitered the enemy's force in the outer road of Breft harbour,

Capt. Cooke informed me he sawtwo fhips to the weftward, ftanding in for Breft; in confequence of which we tacked, and made fail, clofe on a wind, tor the purpofe of gaining the weather gage, which being with cafe accomplished, we bore down upon the fhips together, having afcertained them to be two French frigates; and as we were not more than two or three leagues from Point St Matthew's, with a leading wind out of Breft, and the French fleet in fight from our tops, it was an object of great importance to be as decifive as poffible in our mode of attack. As the largest ship was the headmoft, we both engaged her very warmly, at the diftance of about forty yards, and compelled her to furrender, after a fhort refiftance. By this time the fmaller frigate had arrived up, and being fame manner as the former, her refiftimmediately attacked by both ships in the ance, though better made, was not long: She ftruck her colours about nine o'clock A. M. The whole of the action was a running fight, and did not laft more than half an hour.

I have great pleasure in expreffing to your Lordship that I feel particularly obliged to my friend Capt. Cock, for his judicious and active conduct during the time we jointly engaged the enemy. I have long known his abilities and zeal for the fervice, and am happy to have this opportunity of teflifying it both as an act grateful to myfelf, and as a duty I owe to his Majefty's fervice.

I fhould be wanting in gratitude to all my officers and fhip's company, if I did not acknowledge my felf much indebted to them for their fteady zeal, and the affillance I received from them during the action. Lieutenants Durell, Farnall, and Renwick, Mr Kitcatt the mafter, and Lieut. Caruthers, the officer of Marines, are particularly intitled to my thanks for their activity at their different ftations. Mr Durell, my first lieutenant, who has been an officer eighteen years, merits my highest recommendation. And it is with equal pleafure I exprefs myself obliged to the officers and fhip's company o of La Nymphe; Capt. Cooke fpeaks of the affistance he received from them in terms highly to their honour, and in particular of Lieutenants Irvine, Lawrence, and Mafters, and Mr Dyer, the mafter, and Lieutenant Campbell, the marine officer: In mentioning them to your Lordship I comply with their captain's wifh. I beg your Lordship will mention Lieut. Durell, and Lieut. Irvine

to

to my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty as officers deferving of the higheft commendation.

The fhips taken are La Refiftance, commanded by Monfieur Montagne, mounting 48 guns, eighteen pounders on her main deck, and manned with 345 men. She is only fix months old, built upon a new conftruction, and is in every respect one of the fineft frigates the French had, and certainly the largeft, measuring 45 feet beam. The other frigate La Conftance, commanded by Monfieur Defau ney, mounting 24 nine-pounders upon the main deck, and manned with 189 men: She is two years old, and a very fine fhip. These are two of the frigates which landed troops in Wales. It is a pleafing circumftance to have completed the failure of that expedition. I am particularly happy to inform your Lordship that neither the Saint Fiorenzo or La Nymphe have had any men killed, or wounded, or the fhips hurt. The St Fiorenzo only having received two fhot in her hull. La Refiftance had ten men killed, the first lieutenant and eight men wounded. La Conftance had eight men killed and fix wounded.

I have the honour to be, &c.

H. Neale.

Admiralty-office, March 18. Extract of a letter from Vice- Admiral King mill, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's fhips and veffels at Cork, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board his Majefty's fhip Polyphemus, in Cork Harbour, the 10th of March, 1797.

Please to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that his Majef. ty's fhip Alcmene arrived here laft evening from Lough Swilly to the weftward, and in her way has captured a French privateer fhip of 16 guns and 156 men, off the Skelligs, as will be further explained in the accompanying letter from Capt. Brown.

SIR,

Alcmene, Cove of Cork, Mar. 9. Be pleafed to communicate to the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that being off the Skelligs Rocks on the 6th of March, making the best of my way to Cork, I faw a fhip ftanding for the S. W. which I immediately pursued, and, after a feventeen hours chace, captured her; the proves to be the Surveillant privateer of 16 guns and 156 men; had been out thirty two days from Bourdeaux, had taken two brigs, the one from Lisbon and the other from Liver

pool; the latter of which (loaded with coals) I had the good fortune to recapture, and have allowed her mafter to proceed to his original deftination.

I have the honour to be &c. W. Brown. From the London Gazette, March 15.

Admiralty-Office, March 25.

Extract of a letter from Rear Adm. Sir John Orde, Bart. Commanding Officer of his Majefty's fhips and veffels at Plymouth, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated the 22d March, 1797. ·

Elliot, commanding the armed lugger Inclofed I fend you a letter from Lieut. Plymouth, acquainting me with his havfmall French privateer of 4 guns and 29 ing taken and brought into this port, a men, in purfuit of which I had ordered him yesterday, in confequence of a fignal from the Telegraph of an enemy's small cruizer being off the Start.

On board his Majefty's hired armed lugger the Plymouth, in Hamoaze, March 22. 1797.

SIR,
In pursuance of your orders of yefter-
day, I got his Majefty's hired lugger un-
der my command under weigh, and went
in purfuit of the enemy's cruizer, as de-
noted per fignal, and I have pleasure to
inform you, that the Start bearing north,
diftant three leagues, I fell in with and
captured this morning, after a fhort chace,
La Epervier French privateer, mounting
four carriage guns, two of which were
thrown overboard in chace, three fwi-
vels, and otherwife well armed with
fmall arms, is floop rigged, and navigat-
ed with twenty nine men, Dick Poiffon,
Captain, formerly an English Thrawl
boat; fhe is three days from Breft, and
had taken nothing.

I have the honour to be, &c.
Rob. Elliot.

Admiralty-office, March 25. 1797. Copy of a letter from Mr William Wefton, Collector of the Cuftoms at Weymouth, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated March 23d

1797.

SIR,

man

April 16. The Circuit Court of Jufticiary was opened at Glasgow, by the Right Hon. Lords Efkgrove and Methven. Alexander Campbell was tried for the murder of -M'Leod, cotton-fpinner, on one of the streets of Glasgow, by stabbing him with a knife, on the morning of the 17th October. The Jury found, by a plurality of voices the prifoner Not Guilty, and he was difmiffed from the bar. Janet McDougall, accused of child murder, not appearing was outlawed.

John Pollock, portioner of Flender, and DavidHunter, fervant to Adam Reid, carrier betwixt Glasgow and Ayr, were tried for having been the caule of the death of William Arbuckle, an old man who had been laid hoid of by them and fome other perfons in the courfe of the night of Old New-year's Day laft, as fufpected of having committed fome acts of theft in the neighbourhood, who next day was found lying on the high road, and afterwards died of a fracture which it appeared had been made in the feull; the Jury returned a verdict unanimoufly finding the prifoners Not Guilty, who were therefore dismissed.—Elizabeth Setter, accused of theft, was, upon her own petition, banished from Scotland, for fourteen years.-Donald Martin alias Cameron, Duncan Martin alias Carteron, and John M'Donald alias Kennedy, were accused of theft; but on account of fome material evidence which could not at prefent be brought forward, the Diet was deferred pro loco et tempore.

May 17. The firit battalion of the fecond regiment of Royal Edinburgh Vo Junteers received their Colours in Brunts field Links, Edinburgh. His Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, their Colonel, gave the word of command, and the Colours were prefented by his Grace's daughters, Lady Caroline and Lady Harriet. The regiment then formed a hollow (quare, when Mr David Ritchie, their Chaplain, in a fuitable and elegant prayer, confecrated the two ftandards. The first regiment of Royal Edinburgh Volunteers attended, and likewife the Royal Edin

burgh Volunteer Light Dragoons in their drefs uniform, which had a very elegant appearance. When the ceremony was completed the three regiments marched through the city, by George's-fquare and the two bridges; and the new Colours were conveyed by the regiment to the houfe of Lieut.-Col. Crichton. Notwithftanding the rain, the number of spectators was very great; and feveral officers of rank and perfons of diftinction were prefent, to whom the appearance of the men, and the regularity and order with which the bufinefs was conducted, gave much fatisfaction. Edinburgh has now a Defenfive Phalanx worthy of the metropolis of Scotland.

General Affembly.

May 18. This day the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland met at Edinburgh. The Right Hon. the Earl of Leven, his Majefiy's Commiffioner, attended by feveral Noblemen and Gentlemen, (amongst whom were the Duke of Buccleugh, Earls of Moray, Hopetoun, Lords Adam Gordon, Torphichen, &c.) walked in proceffion from the King's Arms Tavern, to the High Church,) the Breadalbane Fencibles and the City Guard lining the ftreets,) where his Grace was received by the Lord Provoft and Magiftrates in their robes, The Rev. Profef for Greenfield preached an excellent difcourfe. After Divine Service, his Grace the Commiffioner, went to the Affembly Room, and the Members proceeded to chufe a Moderator. The Rev. Profeffor Adamfon of St Andrews, was unanimoufly chofen. His Majefty's commiffion and warrant for One Thousand Pounds to be employed in propagating the Chriftian Religion in the Highlands of Scotland, were read. After which, his Grace the Commiffioner, opened the Affembly with an elegant fpeech from the Throne, to which the Moderator made a fuitable reply.

22. The Affeinbly had tranfmitted to them a petition for Mr John Yorfton, craving to tranfmit a reference from the Prefbytery of Penpont, refpecting a prefentation in favour of Mr John Nevifon, to the parish and church of Penpont.The Prefbytery were heard; alfo Mr J. Connel, Counsel for the Duke of Queeniberry, and Mr Moncreiff Threipland for the Heritors. The Affembly found, that the Heritors of Penpont were not entitled to appear before the Prefbytery, to act against the presentation, and remitted to the Prefbytery, with an advice to proceed in the fettlement of Mr Nevison. 23. The