The great anxiety of the Spanish admiral and his officers to return is fuch, and their aurances that my officers and feamen, that had boarded their ships, and were forced on shore near Cadiz, thould be forthwith reitored, as likewife all other British fubjects having been delayed upon frivolous pretences, I fent this morning the note I have the honour to inclofe for their lordships perufal, to the Spanish admiral, and have not a doubt but it will touch their feelings, and convince them that no delay must be made.

I flatter myself that I fhall have their lordships approbation in my endeavours to releafe a thoufand good feamen, who may do confiderable fervice to their king and country. G. B. RODNEY.

Gibraltar, Feb. 6. Admiral Rodney prefents his compliments to Sr. Don Juan de Langara, and will have great pleasure in complying with his defire relative to the releafe of the three friars belonging to Capuchin's mifion, for the province of Cumanna, if thofe friars are in the fleet.

The admiral, whofe inclination is ever to alleviate the misfortunes of war, by thewing every refpect and attention to thofe brave men who have done their duty to their king and country, is under the neceffity of informing Sr. Don Juan de Langara, that the release of himself and the Spanish officers entirely depends upon Spain's immediately releafing all the British prifoners now in her power. An equal number of prifoners will be returned for those fent by Spain.

Humanity obliges the admiral to offer thofe prifoners who are now fick, if they may be received by the Spanith general;

but this fhall be the last time unless an exchange takes place.

Gibraltar, Feb. 6.

Don Juan de Langara prefents his refpects to his Excellency Admiral Rodney, and returns thanks for his offer of releafing the three ecclefiafticks, whofe prefident's memorial was tranfmitted to him.

He obferves what his excellency fays refpecting the Spanish officers releafe; alfo what relates to the fick, on which fubject he can only inform his excellency, (as he has done before through Admiral Digby) that he has written to Spain, communicating what was imparted to him by that gentleman, and believes he will very fhortly have an aufwer, of which he will give notice to his excellency.

The Spanish general again repeats his refpects to his Excellency Admiral Rodney.

Gibraltar-Bay, Feb. 7.

I have the fincere fatisfaction to affure your lordship, that the five Spanith men of war are as fine fhips as ever fwam; they are now completely refitted, manned, and put in the line of battle, and I will anfwer for them will do their duty as Englith men of war, fhould the enemy give them an opportunity.

E. of Sandwich. St. James's, Feb. 28.

The Right Hon. General Elliott, Governor of Gibraltar, in a letter to the Earl of Hillborough, dated January 28, and received early this morning, gives an account, that the additional regiment, toge ther with the feveral stores of provifions, ammunition, and money, convoyed by the Aleet under the command of Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney, were then landing with all expedition; by which the garrifon will be compleatly relieved, and that fortress put in a state of perfect fecurity from the enemy.

4

On board the English flect there were 32 men killed and 102 men wounded. Among the former were Lieut. Strachan, of the marines, on board the Edgar, and Lieut. Forreft, on board the Ajax ; among the latter, Lieut. Forbes, on board the Edgar and the mafter of the Terrible.

The Ajax had her fore-top-mast shot away, and four guns difmounted; the mafts and yards of the Defence were much damaged; the Monarch loft her fore-topmait; the Terrible her main-top-gallantmaft; and the Bienfaifant her mizen-top

mait.

On the clofe of the ballot at the EaftIndia Houfe, on the queftion relative to the new articles propofed by Gen. Smith, (fee p. 99.) it was carried by a majority of 274; viz. for the question 466, against it 192.

Lord North moved in the H. of Commons, That the thanks of the houfe be given to Admiral Sir G. B. Rodney, for the fignal and important fervices he had rendered his king and country, which met with the unanimous approbation of the houfe.-Lord Sandwich made the fame motion in the H. of Peers.

The two gold medals of 15 guineas each, given annually by the Duke of Grafton, for the encouragement of claffical learning, were this day adjudged to Mr. Thomas

Gilburne,

and Mr. John Morgan, of Trinity-college, junior batchelors of arts.

During the night the atmosphere exhibited the most extraordinary appearance that has been obferved for many years. The light refembled that of a great fire, and the whole elements feemed to be in one continued flame. At intervals flathes of sparkling fire thot from the horizon to the zenith, and feemingly extinguished in a point. The fame appearance extended to France and Germany, and probably over all Europe.

WEDNESDAY, March 1. Being St. David's day, was obferved at court as a high festival.

The Bhop of Bangor preached before the honourable fociety of Antient Britons, at St. Clement's-church in the Strand; after which the company proceeded to the Crown and Anchor tavern, where an elegant entertainment was provided, and the collection amounted to £417 4s. 2 d.

Admiralty-Office. Capt. Sutton, late commander of his majesty's fhip Sphynx, arrived with difpatches from Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, of which the following are extracts:

In the admiral's first letter, dated Dec. 9, 1779, he has given an account of the capture of the Alcmene French frigate, of 28 guns, Capt. de Benneval, commander, by the Proferpine, and inclofes a lift of 18 prizes taken by his fquadron before that date.

In his fecond letter he gives the particu lars of the falling in with, burning, and capturing the French convoy off Martinique, of which we gave the French account in our laft, p. 97. The following is the fubftance. This letter is dated on board the Princefs-Royal.

Jfki-By, St. Lucia, Dec. 23. On the 18th inftant, between eight and nine in the morning, the Prefton being between Martinico and St. Lucia, to windward, made the fignal for a fleet. The captains were then affembled at a courtmartial; the hips were in a courfe of fitting, fome lay on the heel, others had their fails unbent, and from all of them great numbers were employed on fhore in wood ng and watering. Under thefe cir cumftances the ale trefs and difpatch with which the thips put to fea was furprizing even to me, who am no ftranger to the activity and brifknefs of the English offcers and feamen. As the fquadron flood over for Port Royal, the enemy's thips were difcovered to be a convoy. Before four in the afternoon, nine or ten of them ran themfelves on fhore on the itland Martrico, and were fet or fie by our boats, either immediately or the next morning. About the fame time the Boreis engaged the French frigate in Port Royal bay; a French lear admiral, with two other 74

down upon him, which obliged the Boreas to theer off. This dexterous manuuvre faved their frigate, and fome of their merchant-fhips. The French admiral hauled his wind in good time, and kept plying for the road. The thips a-head of the Princess Royal at this time were the Conqueror, Albion, Elizabeth, Vigilant, and Centurion, but the Conqueror a-head and to windward of the reft. About five this ship got within diftance of the French rear-admiral, who began the cannonade. The steadinefs and coolnefs with which on every tack the Conqueror received the fire of thefe three ships, and returned his own, working his fhip with as much exactnefs as if he had been turning into Spithead, and on every board gaining confiderably on the enemy, gave me infinite pleasure: the reft of the fhips fhewed no lefs eagerness to get into action. Towards fun-fet the Albion had got well up to fecond the Conqueror, and the other ships were in action; but as they had worked, not only within the danger of the thoals of this bay, but within the reach of the batteries, from whence were fired both fhells and fhot, I called them off by the night fignal at a quarter before feven. It was with inexpreffible concern I then heard that Captain Walter Griffith was killed by the laft broadfide. The fervice cannot lofe a better man or a better officer. The Conqueror had three men killed and eleven wounded; the damage done to the ship is not very confiderable, nor I believe to any of the other thips: they are cruizing under Commodore Collingwood off the point of Salines. We have taken nine fail of this convoy, which came from Marfeilles under the convoy of the Aurora, about the middle of October; I judge that, including the frigate, they were twenty-fix in number.

On the 20th, ftanding with feven thips over to St. Lucia, late in the evening, I received a letter from Sir Henry Calder, informing me three large thips were feen that afternoon from the Morne, fteering to the northward, fupposed to be part of Mons. la Mothe Piquet's fquadron returning from Granada. As I judged this intelligence very probable, Rear admiral Rowley was immediately detached in the Suffolk, with the Vengeance, Magnificent, and Sterling Cafle, in purfuit of them.

The admiral's third letter, dated Jan. 2, inclofes an account of the capture of the above three thips, which proved to be three French frigates, the La Blanche, of 36 guns and 212 mer, commanded by Monf. Galiffoniere; the La Fortune frigate of 42 guns and 247 men, commanded by the Chevalier Marigny; and the La Ellis, of 23 guns and 68 mer, commanded by Mouf. Fontenaux. This letter likewife inclones a list of 15 prizes, taken fince the formci,

in which is included the recapture of the Sphynx frigate, by the Proferpine. Thursday 2.

The chairman of the East India Company, attended by General Smith, Mr. Crighton, -Mr. Devaynes, and other proprietors, waited on Lord North with the proprietors propofitions, who received them politely, but gave them to understand at parting, that parliament would frame the articles.

The Earl of Pembroke refigned his command of the first regiment of dragoons.

A caufe was tried, and learnedly argued, between the oyfter meters of London, and the proprietors of oyster-beds in the county of Effex; the oyfter-meeters claimed a fpecific fum for work which they had an exclufive right of performing by custom and immemorial ufage. On the part of the defendants it was contended, that the right infifted on was abolished by the acts of the roth and 11th of William & Mary, which made Billingsgate a free market, and fettled the fees. The jury, which was fpecial, after hearing the arguments on both fides, gave a verdict for the plaintiffs, which established their rights. Sunday 5.

The Stamford waggon took fire at five o'clock in the morning, three miles beyond Hertford, by the careleffnefs of the driver, who left the lantern in the basket with a candle which burnt to the focket, and nothing efcaped but a barrel of porter, and the bottom and one wheel of the waggon. The paffengers and waggoner were much fcorched in attempting to throw off the loading, which, on account of the approaching fair, was of confiderable value, and the damage is estimated at above Icool.

Monday 6.

A very interesting debate took place in the H. of Lords on a motion made by the Earl of Shelbourne, to address his majefty to inform the Houfe, whether he had been advifed and by whom to difmifs the Right Hoa. the Marquis of Caermarthen, and the Right Hon. the Earl of Pembroke from their refpective offices, for their conduct in parlia

ment.

Thefe difmiffions, he faid, appeared to him in a very alarming light. They fhewed that no member of parliament enjoying any office under the crown had any will of his own, but muft vote as directed, and if minifterial vengeance and minifterial influence extended fo far as to deprive men of the right of private judgment, he left it to the Houfe to judge of the miferable fate to which parliament was reduced.

Lord Stormont contended for the right of the crown to appoint and to difmifs the executive officers of government without controul. If the fovereign had not that right, he would be in a worfe condition than the meanest of his subjects.

The noble Lords who were the subjects of the motion both protested upon their honour

.

they knew no other caufe for their difmiffion, except that of having fupported the motion of the 8th of February, for appointing a committee to enquire into the expenditure of the public money.

On the queftion being put, the numbers were, for the motion 81, against it 55.

At a Court of Common Council at Guildhall, a motion was made, That the thanks of this Court be given to Sir G. B. Rodney; and alfo that the freedom of the city be prefented to him in a gold box; the fame was agreed to,-fince which the following pointed epigram has appeared in the papers:

YOUR wifdom, LONDON's council, far
Our highest praise exceeds ;
In giving each illuftrious tar

The very thing he needs.

For RODNEY, brave, but low in cash,
You golden gifts befpoke:
To KEPPEL, rich, but not fo rash,

You gave a beart of oak.

Admiralty-office. Lieut. Oakes, of his majesty's fhip Porcupine, has brought a 4th letter from Admiral Sir G. B. Rodney, dated Sandwich at fea, Feb. 15, in which he acquaints the admiralty with the fafe arrival of the convey at Mahon, and of the arrival of the Triton from that island, where all was well; that he had released the Spanish admiral Langara and the officers under his command, on their parole; that in return the Spanish court had given orders to their viceroys and officers to treat the English officers with the highest refpect and attention; and that the Spanish prifoners were all put on board the fleet for England, except 500 left at Gibraltar to be exchanged for the fame number of British.

At the fame time a letter from rear admiral Digby was received at the Admiraltyoffice, giving an account of his parting with admiral Rodney on the 18th; with his failing in with a French convoy for the Mauritius, on the 23d, confifting of two 64 gun fhips, two large ftore fhips armé en flute (fitted to fight) a frigate, and about 13 fail of tranfports, with warlike ftores and troops, three of which he had taken, together with the Prothè one of the 64 gun fhips, commanded by Monf. Chilot, who had charge of the expedition. The two men of war, (Ajax and Prothé) had 120,000l. on board, but what the proportion of that fum was on board the Prothé is not faid.

The admiral, with his fleet arrived at Spithead the very day the contents of the difpatches were published at London. The hips admiral Rodney took with him were the Sandwich of go guns; the Ajax, the Montague, and the Terrible of 74 guns each, and the Pegatus of 28 guns. The Edgar of 74; the Panther of 6c; and the Enterprize and Porcupine frigates are left at Gibraltar.

Mr. T. Luttrell complained in the Houfe that divers undue and corrupt practices in the

clection

6.

election of members to ferve in parliament for the borough of Milbourn Port, in the county of Somerset, had been used by the Right Hon. Frederick Lord North, and others acting for him in that transaction; and moved, that the faid complaint be referred to a committee of the whole House, on Thursday the 16th, to take the fame under confideration." The caufe of complaint, as Mr. Luttrell explained it to the Houle, was, that his lordship by his agents had contracted with Mr. Medlicot for a reverfionary feat for Milbourn Port at the next general election, in order to prevent his Mr. Luttrell's] re-election, threatening at the fame time to follow him wherever he propofed himself. This he pledged himself to prove, or to appear a culprit to the Houfe. He, however, failed in his proof, and it even came out that he himself had bargained for the borough on a former election.

Lord North opened what is called the budget, by enumerating the various fums wanted for deficiencies in laft year's ways and means; and then stating the fums wanted for the various fervices of the present year, which altogether amounted to 20,678,2 501. which he propofed to fupply by the following ways and means.

Land and malt-tax New Exchequer bills Sinking fund

Borrowed and funded

2,750,000 3,400,000 2,500,000 12,500,000

21,100,000

The terms of making up the principal to the fubfcribers are clear only to those who are converfant in funding, viz. for every rool, fubfcribed, the fubfcriber is to have 100l.capital took confolidated in the four per cent. of 1777, and valued at 741. He is befides to have 11. 16s. 3d. confolidated with the long annuities for 79 years, valued at 16 vears purchase, 291, and a proportionable part of 4 tickets to every 1000l. fubfcribed, valued at 1, making all together 104). The lottery is to confift of 48,000 tickets at 101. each, for which the subscribers are to pay leverally 1cl. for each.

Tuesday 7.

The report of the committee of ways and means was brought up, and the times of paying in the fubfcription money fettled according to the following inftaliments: On 12,000,000l. to be raised by annuities. 15 per cent. on fubfcribing,

10 per cent. on or before 28th April next. 10 per cent, on or before 26th May next. 10 per cent. on or before 231 June next. 10 per cent. on or betere 28th July next. 15 per cent. on or before 29th Auguft next. 10 per cent. on or before 26th Sept. next. 10 per cent, on or before 2 th 08, next. 10 per cent, on or before 24th Nov. next. On the lottery for 480,0col.

15 per cent. on fubfcribing.

40 per cent. on or before 12th May next. 25 per cent. on or before 14th July next.

Lord Effingham moved in the H. of Peers for lifts of peers holding places or penfions under the crown to be laid before the Houfe; and alfo of fuch peers as have a right to vote for the 16 peers of Scotland; but this was oppofed on the ground of nonprecedency, except in the ie gn of Charles 1. when a committee who had predetermined to over-turn the conflitution, proceeded to fuch a measure. It was treated as a high indignity to fufpect perfons of the rank and honour of peers of the realm to be influenced by any emoluments of office, and it was hinted, that fuch an idea could be adopted by none but those who would have acted from the like bafe motives. -If that was really the cafe, it was asked in reply, how it could happen that in all na tional questions there fhould be a majority of 2 to 1 against the friends of the people?

Saturday 11.

Letters from Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Parker, commander in chief on the Jamaica fistion, to Mr. Secretary Stephens, advife, that the garrifon at Omoa were fo reduced by a pestilential diforder, that it became neceffary to evacuate that fort, after having fpiked the guns and embarked the ammunition; also that the difbury, Capt. Inglis, had brought into Port Royal harbour, a Spanish private fhip of war of 50 guns, named the St. Carlos, laden with trais cannon, fhot, mufkets, and other military flores for that fort, after a fpirited defence, in which the enemy's main mait went by the board before the furrendered. Her mizen maft went allo in the night.

M.nday 13.

The fecond claufe of Mr. Burke's bill for the abolition of the Board of Trade, was carried by a majority of 7. Mr. Fox in his foeech having urged, that in point of delicacy the members of that board ought to withdrew, and not vote themfelves into office, their abfence turned the fcale. This day debates