the Delft; in this manner these hindmoft fhips became engaged on both fides, ani were thereby very ill-treated, and thrown into confufiou in a fhort space of time; to fuch a degree indeed, that the Alkmaar ran against the ftern of the Munnikkendam, which frigate being already confiderably flattered, ufed her utmost efforts to bear away, and for a fhort time quit her station, that she might have the better opportunity of repairing her damage; but being almost unmanageable from the injury fhe had fuftained, and being purfued by the Beaulieu and a fhip of the line (fuppofed the Agincourt), fhe was reduced to the fad neceffity of fubmitting to her more powerful opponents; and, after a valiant defence, the Delft, the Haarlem, and the Alkmaar, being not only much dif abled, but in a finking condition, were alfo obliged to ftrike to the fuperior force of their affailants, as well as the Jupiter, which was at once attacked by the Ruffel, and forfaken by the Cerberus.

At the fame time the conflict commenced between the divifion of admiral Duncan, confifting of three thips of 74, four of 64, and one of 50 guns, whereof the Venerable was the foremost, which endeavoured to penetrate between rear-admiral Story, and admiral, de Winter; but was at firft frustrated in her intention by the closing of thefe divifions: unfortunately, however, the Waffenaar, being a very heavy and bad failing fhip, could not clofe with fufficient speed, and being at the fame time attacked by the Powerful, of 74 guns, the Venerable fucceeded in getting a-ftern of the States General, without fuftaining much injury; whilft the Ardent attacked the Vryheid, and attempted to pafs in like manner: the other Englifh fhips likewife exerted

themfelves to pafs the Hercules and de Vries, but were prevented by the clofe fituation of our fhips.

The battle now became general, and one half of the English feet being to leeward, and the other half to windward of the Batavian line, the conflict was vigorous and obftinate on both fides; and, confidering the feparation of the Englith line, and that the part of their fleet which was lying to leeward fuffered confiderably by the tremendous fire they received from our fhips opposed to them, and the repeating frigates and brigs, the Batavian admiral de Winter entertained great hopes that victory would (as has often happened) declare in favour of the Batavian flag. In thefe expectations he was, however, much difappointed, when, after being overwhelmed with clouds of fmoke and flames, for the space of an hour and a half, and after having confiderably damaged his adverfary, the ftate of the Dutch fleet was no fooner clear to his fight, than he had the melancholy profpect before his eyes of the Hercules on fire, which obliged her to quit the line; whilft the Befchermer alfo got before the wind, out of the action, as well as the States-General, which fet her fore-fail, and got on the lee fide, a-head of the Vryheid, probably to fhelter herfelf from the flames of the Hercules. By this movement the Vryheid became engaged with three English fhips; namely, the Venerable; the fhip by which the Hercules was battered; and her own opponent: this was alfo the cafe with the Gelykheid and Admiral de Vries, who were attacked by four fhips of the enemy. They, neverthelefs, continued all to fight with great vigour and bravery.

The Waffenaar, being very crank and not able to use her lower tier on

the

the ftarboard fide, (and the Batavier not coming up, but having, upon the first fire, run before the wind to leeward of the fleet,) the Powerful, which was lying a-tern of the former, battered her in fuch a manner that he was no longer governable. Being thus, from the retreat of the Batavier, expofed to the attack of two fhips, he was alfo feen to strike to the fuperior force of the enemy. The Powerful then came up to the affiftance of admiral Duncan's fhip, which being in a very shattered condition, might ftill have been fuccefsfully attacked by three Batavian fhips the Brutus, Leyden, and the Mars at that time formed in a line under fingle topfails, and in good order, and having apparently difcomfited and repulfed their opponents.

The battle ftill continued in the year of the Batavian line. The Vryheid, though quite furrounded, had the good fortune to damage the fore-rigging of the Powerful fo much, that the latter could not advance, or perform any manoeuvre to facilitate the renewal of her attack. The Vryheid being alfo much shattered, her helm ungovernable, and having no longer an opportunity of making any fignals, tell off herself, and was thereby fortunately liberated from the Hercules, then in flames, as alfo from the joint attack of the Powerful and Venerable. The Brutus, Leyden, and Mars, coming up, engaged in paffing by fome of the English hips, which were much shattered, and endeavouring to recover themfelves: they alfo exchanged fome broadfides with the Venerable; but, nevertheless, remained on the ftarboard tack, and failed by the difabled fhips Vryheid, Gelykheid, and Admiral de Vries, without giv

ing them any other affiftance, or putting about towards us.

At this critical juncture, the Vry. heid was again driven to leeward, within the reach of the English fhips; thefe having now fomewhat recovered themselves, immediately furrounded, and battered her with incredible fury; this was alfa the cafe with the Gelykheid, then lying to windward. The Mars made fome attempts to lend them affiftance; but for want of her being fupported by the others, fhe alfo adopted the most prudential conduct, by following the Brutus under eafy fail. Thus we found our felves forfaken on all fides, and furrounded by the English fleet. The Venerable having put about, together with all the reft of the English fhips, ran a-head of the Vryheid, already engaged with two other hips, and fo vigorously attacked her, that in a few minutes all her mafts went overboard at once; but, notwithstanding every thing being hot away, many guns difmounted, and about 200 of her men killed and wounded, the nevertheless continued her defence upwards of half an hour; vainly hoping that fuch of the Batavian fhips as had not suffered very much in the engagement, would hasten to the relief and liberation of their admiral; or that by a wind ariúng from the north-weft, we might be driven towards the hore, and the English thereby be obliged to desist from further attack; but these hopes were foon evinced to be momenta. ry illufions. The wind, on the contrary, fhifted to the N. and N. E. and the greatest part of the Batavian fleet food away on the other tack from the English; and from the difaftrous effects of thefe combined caufes the admiral de

Vries, the Gelykheid, the Hercules (which, while on fire, had thrown her gunpowder overboard), and laftly, the Vryheid, were obliged feverally to ftrike, as neither of them were any longer manage able, and, being furrounded by a number of the enemy's fhips, all further refiftance was rendered ineffectual.

Thus the battle of the 11th of October, 1797, was ended by the ceafing of the fire from the Batavian flip Vryheid, which to the laft nobly contended to preferve what the honourably loft-the Batavian colours.

The bad fuccefs of this engagement is to be attributed to the following caufes :

ift. The English force, although equal in number, exceeded that of the Batavians as to fhips of the line.

2nd. The English fhips having been together at fea during the fpace of nineteen weeks, the particular capacity of all the fhips was known to them, with relation to each other; which, it must be allowed, is of the utmost importance and advantage in nautical mancuvres. This was not the cafe with the Dutch.

3d. The advantage of the attack; and

4th. The early retreat of fix Batavian fhips from the action. And among those that remained were four very indifferent failers, to which may be principally attributed the breaking of the line. Add to this, that having loft the advantage of attack, and being partly torfaken, it becomes a matter of lefs furprize that the victory turned out fo decifively in favour of the English. Upon the whole, without magnifying Batavian courage beyond what was exemplified in this me1797.

morable engagement; and admitting that cafual circumftances had been equally favourable to them as to the English, and admiral de Winter's fignals been obeyed and exeq cuted with the fame promptitude as admiral Duncan's were, it is no improbable conjecture that fome of the Britifli fleet would at this time have been moored in the Texel, as a memento of Batavian prowefs, and a monument to the memory of the 11th of October, 1797.

16. There was a general illumination in the metropolis, and its vicinities, in celebration of admiral Duncan's victory. The manfion-houfe, admiralty, theatres, and other public buildings, were fplendidly illuminated. Few events have given rife to more general and ardent demonftrations of joy.

17. The gazette of this night announces the capture of La Découverte, French brig, 14 guns and 91 men, by the Unité; and of the Telemachus, French lugger privateer, of 12 guns and 35 men, by lieutenant Tomlinfon of the Speedwell.

18. The livery of London affembled in common hail, to proceed to the choice of a fit perfon to fill the lord mayor's chair for the enfuing year.

The court of aldermen went to the huftings at one o'clock, and after the usual ceremonies were paffed through, the recorder came forward. He informed the hall, that in confequence of fir Benjamin Ham met's having declined to ferve the office to which the livery of Lon don had elected him; and of his having paid into the chamber of the city the fum of 1000l. as a fine, it became neceffary to choose fome other fit and proper person to the fame office in his ftead, (L)

The

The names of the aldermen next in turn were then read, beginning with thofe of Newman, Anderfon, and Combe; the two laft of whom, having the majority of hands in their favour, were returned to the court of aldermen for their approbation, and they returned Mr. alderman Anderson duly chofen, he being the fenior on the lift: he was accordingly invested with the infignia of office.

20. The court of aldermen and common council voted thanks to admiral Duncan and his officers, and the freedom of the city and a fword of 200 guineas value to him; and the freedom, with a fword of 100 guineas value, to vice-admiral Onflow.

26. The city of London prefent ed a loyal addrefs to his majefty on the victory gained by admiral Duncan. See Public Papers.

28. Yesterday, the feffions ended at the Old Bailey, when Ann Sanmert, Henry Boxer, John Clover, Charles Martin, Richard Simmonds, William Goldfmith, William Ranten, William Morris, Mary Hodges (otherwife Sufannah Robinfon), William Ofland, William Coleman (otherwife Middleton), John Af quith, and Thomas Wiley (thirteen years of age, being a perfon employed in the general poft office, did felonioufly fecret a certain letter, containing bank notes and bills of exchange to the amount of 50l. the property of meff. Williams and co.), received fentence of death; 13 were ordered to be tranfported for the term of seven years; 12 to be imprifoned in the house of correction, Clerkenwell; 5 to be imprifoned in Newgate; and one ordered to be publicly whipped.

The ffons were adjourned until Wednesday the 6th of December

next.

30. The coroner's inqueft fat on the body of Humphrey Bruifter, Efq. who, on Thursday evening, fhot himself at his houfe in Dean-street, Soho, and brought in a verdict lunacy. The nurfe was the principal witnefs on this melancholy occafion. By her evidence it appeared, that the deceafed had been indif posed for several days. On Thurf day he was fufficiently well, and ordered a haddock for dinner, and a pudding. About two hours before his death he changed his mind, and defired to have boiled mutton at the ufual hour. In the morning of Thursday he locked himself in his bed-room for a confiderable time, a circumftance by no means cuftomary. At one o'clock the nurfe and fervant maid heard a piftol-fhot as they fat in the kitchen. The nurfe ran up ftairs, but did not open the door till fle called the maid, in confequence of the fulphureous fmell which iffued from the apartment. On entering the room, Mr. Bruif ter was ftretched on the fopha-the blood iffuing from a wound made in his head by the piftol ball. The piftol was not fufficiently charged to fhoot the ball through the head, in which it ftill remains. The ball did not enter the brain, as he furvived the fatal fhot about five minutes. Near him a loaded piftol was found, and behind him, on the fopha, a fmall difh of gunpowder and feveral balls! Mr. Bruifter was about fifty, extremely infirm, and led rather a folitary life. He was paffionate, but good-natured; nervous in the extreme, and impatient of infult. His rental is 6000l. a year. In the country he kept up a refpectable establishment, but in town it was by no means adequate to his income. On Satur day laft Mr. Bruister returned from his eftate, in confequence of indif

polition;

pofition; and fince that time was actually making arrangements to refide wholly in the country, being indignant at the impofitions practifed on him in town. This unfortunate gentleman had a conftant dre d of being defpoiled of his property; and fome wretches, practifing on his weaknefs, had written to him anonymous letters, affuring him that a confpiracy was formed to take away his life, and plunder his houfe. This had an evident effect on the mind of the deceased.

This morning, juft at day-break, the king fet off from Windfor lodge, in his poft-chaife and four, with the ufual efcort of light. horse, to Greenwich; where his majefty alighted at the governor's houfe, and was joined by his fuite, the lords of the admiralty, commiffioners of the navy, and other officers. A regiment of London militia were on duty at Greenwich, as well as a party of light-horfe. The college men were all drawn out to receive his majefty, and lined the ftairs, &c. on his embarkation. Lord and lady Hood and daughter were the hosts on this occafion. After break faft, his majefty went in his barge from the grand stairs of the hofpital on board the Royal Charlotte yacht, captain Trollope; the lords of the admiralty and commiffioners of the navy alfo going on board the Princess Augufta, and William and Mary yachts, all of which got under weigh at the time of the tide, and ftood down the river. As foon as his majesty came down to the ftairs to get into the barge, the fignal was given, and a royal falute was fired by all the veffels in the Reach, beginning at Deptford, and running down to Woolwich: on his embarking in the yacht, the falute was repeated; the Tower guns alfo fired at the fame

time, in confequence of a fignal. His majefty's y cht was fitted up in a very fuperb ftyle; the fore cabin was a chair and rich canopy of crimfon velvet, with gold fringe, for the king to fit in; the floor was covered with carpeting; and the chairs for the noblemen who attended him were mahogany, with mor cco leather feats. In the after-cabin was the state bed for his majefty to fleep in, with fofas covered with crimfón damask in the apartments adjoining, for the gen. tlemen in waiting. The state room was alfo elegantly fitted up for the reception of his majesty's attendants. On his majesty's going on board, he was received by the lords of the admiraity, and the royal ftandard was hoisted at the main, the lord high ad niral's flag at the fore, and the union jack at the mizen-top-gallant-maft-head of the Royal Charlotte; and the Augufta yacht (appropriated for the lords of the admiralty) hoifted the lord high admiral's flag. The wind blowing ftrong against them at E. N. E. they found it neceffary to warp the Royal Charlotte down the river a confiderable diftance, ere they could venture to caft her loof. The proceffion was thus arranged: A king's cutter. An armed The Royal Char- An armbrig. lotte. ed brig. The Princefs Augufta. The Mary.