fil their defires, and to remove every difficulty. The aged and the infirm, the women and children, I fhall confider as a precious trust confided to my honour and my care.

I fhall tafte no repofe, as long as any one of you fhall experience any want which I may be able to relieve. In thus acting, I am fure that I fulfil the intentions of the King, my Mafter, and I can affure you also a duty dear to my own heart.

(Signed)

No. II.

. PROCLAMATION of the KING of

NAPLES.

THE long war which ftill defolates Europe, which afflicts fo many nations, and cofts fo much blood, and fo many tears, is not a mere political conteft, but à religious war. Our enemies are the foes of Christianity: not content with deftroy. ing it in the breafts of their own nation, they would alfo banish it from every quarter of the globe, and replace it by atheifin or enthusiastic idolatry. Religion openly reprobates their projects. They aim at the overthrow of all princely government, and to attain this, they difturb the peace of nations, ftimulate them to revolt againit their lawful Sovereigns, plunge them into the most dreadfu: anarchy, and fink them in an abyfs of confufion and mifery. Belgium, Holland, and fo many German and Italian Provinces, have become the wretched victims of their feduction, and thirst for plunder. Thofe unfortunate countries groan and lament, but in vain, under the vain defpotifin of their op preffors, while the calls of juftice and humanity are unattended to. It was ne ceffary that religion, the moft powerful obstacle of their horrid projects, fhould be removed and deftroyed, in order that, this fence being once broke down, 'all laws, both divine and human, might be violated without fhame or reserve.

"Religion, whilft it informs us of our duties, ought al, co infpire us with courage. The religious citizen well knows that he was born for himself and for others; that at the moment of his birth he contracts the obligation to love his native land, to protect it in times of diftrefs, and even to hazard his life in the defence of the country where he repofes in fafety, and finds a livelihood for himself and his family, especially when that country is invaded

vigorous refiftance; he will place his confidence in the God of Hofts, who often trikes an unexpected blow, and difperfes his enemies like chaff before the wind.

I myself will fet you the example of zeal and courage; I will put myself at the head of my dearly beloved fubjects, affembled for the defence of their country, fully relying on the protection of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, who guides the counfels of Princes, and enlightens their minds, if with fincerity they implore his holy name. Yet at the fame time I fhall neglect no proper means for procuring peace and tranquillity to the people whom Divine Providence has entruffed to my care. But in order to ob tain this end, we ought not to neglect the neceffary precautions, that we may be prepared for every event. Negociations for peace fhall occafionally he fet on foot, but they must be carried on with arms in our hand, that we may not be obliged to fubmit to defhuctive and difgraceful conditions, which this enemy, lo apt to avail himfelf of the weakness of his advertaries, might choose to dictate. For this purpofe lend me your affittance, ye Prelates of the realin, ye who are the depofi taries and firft defenders of our holy reli gion, and fupport my exertions with a zeal worthy of your Apoftolic miffion. Summon the inhabitants of your dioceses to join me and my troops, to beat off the enemy, if he should dare to approach our frontiers. Explain to them the juftice and importance of our caute, and convince then that it is their bounden duty to con cur in its defence. Let the voice of the Church be heard through her Minifters, and invite her children to fupport the cause of God, and to offer up prayers to him, that, in his mercy, he may grant us either a just peace, or a glorious triumph.

(Signed). FERDINAND." May 18, 1796. FOREIGN

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, APRIL 26.

DISPATCHES, of which the follow. ing are copies and extracts, have been received at this Office from Sir Edward Pellew, Bart.

Extract of a Letter from Sir Edward Pellew, Captain of his Majefty's Ship Indefatigable, to Mr. Nepean, dated at Falmouth, April 20, 1796.

I HAVE the pleature to inform their Lordships, that on the 13th inft. at four P. M. we fell in with, and gave general chace to, a French frigate to windward: the Revolutionnaire, being far aftern, was tacked by fignal to cut the chace from the thore: and I had the pleasure to fee her, just before dark, in a fituation to weather the enemy upon a different board, which obliged her alfo to tack.

The night fetting in cloudy, we loft fight of the chace before nine o'clock, when the bore up, but not unobferved by that zealous and attentive officer Captain Cole, who purfued and clofed with her at half paft eleven; and not being able to prevail upon her Commander to furrender without refiftance, he opened a clofe and well-directed fire upon her, which was faintly returned; and, after a fecond broadfide, the enemy ftruck, and proved to be the national frigate La Unité, from L'Orient to Rochfort, mounting 38 guns, twelve and fix pounders, and manned with two hundred and fifty-five men, eight or nine of whom were flain, and eleven or twelve defperately wounded. LaRevolutionnaire hap. pily had no men hurt; and it appears that the was manoeuvred by Captain Cole in the moft officer-like manner, and the attack made with great gallantry. .

I have the honour to inclofe the report which he has made of the good conduct of his officers and fhip's company upon this occafion; and, from the higa terms in which he speaks of his Erft Lieutenant, Mr. Ellicott, whom I know to be a good officer, I have thought proper to give him an order to command the prize to England.

La Unité was reputed one of the greatest failers in the French Navy, and is a very fine frigate, only feven years

VOL. XXX. JULY 1796.

The wife of the Governor of the

Port of Rochfort, Madame Le Large, and her family, were on board, who, with her fon, an Ensign of the fhip, I fuffered to return to France in a neutral veffel, taking the parole of the young man not to ferve until exchanged. La Revolutionnaire, at Sea, April 131 1796.

SIR,

IT being fo dark when I came along fide the French frigate La Unite, that you could not obferve the conduct of the two fhips, I beg leave to report to you, that, not being able to prevail upon the Commander, Citizen Durand, to furrender, after fome minutes converfation, I opened a clofe and well-directed fire upon him. After we had fuftained the fire of his ftern-chafes fome time, and upon firing the fecond broadfide, he called out that he had ftruck. I had at the fame moment directed the helm to be put to port, in order to board him, as the fhips were going under a prefs of fail at the rate of ten knots, and drawing near the shore.

Allow me, Sir, to exprefs to you how much I feel my felf obliged to my First Lieutenant, Edward Ellicott, for his very particular attention in keeping fight of the chace, and for his fteady and manly courage when clofe engaged: the chearfulnefs with which he put himfelf at the head of the boarders promifed me the happiest fucceis, if that event had been neceffary, and which was only stopped by the enemy's calling to furrender.

In this short conteft the highest praise is due to my officers and fhip's company; and the effect of their fteady conduct is ftriking in the number of killed and wounded, of which a lift is annexed.

I cannot fufficiently exprefs my own good fortune in not having loft an officer or man, which is to be attributed to the enemy's firing at the mafts and rigging. I am, &c.

FRA. COLE. Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. &c. &c. Sc. L'Unite, Citizen Durand Commander. Killed 9-Wounded 11.

Indefatigable, Falmouth, April 23, 1796.

SIR,

I HAVE moft fenfible pleafure in defiring you to inform my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty of my arrival at this port, accompanied by the French National frigate La Virginie, of 44 guns, eighteen and nine pounders, and 340 men, commanded by Citizen Bergeret, Capitaine de Vaiffeau, who failed from Breft fingly, four days ago, to cruize off the Lizard in this favourite frigate, which is confidered the fineft fhip and fafieft failer in the French Navy, and of the largest dimenfions, being 158 feet long, and 43 broad.

On Wednesday morning the 20th inftant, after I had fealed my difpatches for their Lordships, laying to under the Lizard, with the fquadron, waiting for the French frigate La Unite, our prize, to weather that point, I obferved a fhip coming in from the fea, which in my mind looked rather fufpicious; and on her not answering the private fignal, when the tacked from us, I immediately gave chace to her, accompanied by the Amazon and La Concorde (having by fignal directed La Revolutionnaire to attend her prize into port, and the Argo to proceed to Plymouth). The fuperior failing of the Indefatigable gave me the fatisfaction of coming up with her, after a chace of fifteen hours, and running one hundred and fixty. eight miles. Fortunately the wind prevented her from fteering for Ufhant, or she must have escaped.

A little paft midnight I commenced action with the enemy, which was clofely continued, under a crowded fail, for one hour and forty-Eve minutes. The enemy, who fought gallantly, was by this time much crippled, her mizen maft and main-top-maft being hot away. The Indefatigable was not much lefs difabled, having loft her gaff and mizen-top-maft: the main-top-fail was rendered ufclefs by an unlucky fhot cutting both leach-ropes. In this fituation we paffed the enemy without the power of avoiding it, having no after fail to back; and I had long difcovered we had not only to combat a fhip of large force, but that her commander was completely mafter of his profeffion, in whofe prefence I could not commit myfelf with impunity, by throwing my thip in the wind, without fubmitting to be raked by him.

She had not at this time ftruck, and we kept clofe a-head of her, receiving new braces to enable us to bring the fhip to, to renew the attack.

At this period La Concorde appeared in fight, clofe under her ftern; and, upon the enemy feeing her, fhe fired a gun to leeward, and ftruck her light as a fignal of furrender.

Although a very few minutes would have placed the Indefatigable again alongside of her, I am confident the would not have furrendered without further refistance, had not the Concorde fo timely come up.

I am extremely indebted to Captains Hunt and Reynolds, for their very particular attention in keeping after us during the night on fo many courfes, which nothing but the moft delicate obfervance of my fignals would have enabled them to do, their distance aftern being fo great.

Their Lordships are well aware how difficult it is in a night action with a flying enemy, whofe rate of failing is little inferior to her antagonist, to choose a fituation; and, when it is remembered how often this hip changed her's in the action, I need fearcely fay what great attention was paid to my orders by every officer under my com mand.

To Lieutenants Pellowe, Thompson, and Norway, my thanks are above expreffion. Lieutenant Williams, of the Marines, and Mr. Bell, the Mafter, who were immediately about my perfon, rendered me the moft effential fervices. The ship's company, who have been my faithful companions during the war, and are endeared to me by their uniform exertions, manifefted on this occafion nothing but ardour and zeal.

man

But ab ve all other pleafures I feel is, that of informing their Lordships that I have loft neither officer nor in the conteft. The enemy fuffered confiderably, having 14 or 15 killed, 17 badly wounded, and 10 lightly: the hip much fhattered in her hull, and four feet water in her hold, from hotholes.

I have fent La Concorde to Plymouth, with La Virginie, and fhall proceed with the Amazon, who has lost her head, for the fame place, to-morrow, in order to repair the damages we have fuftained in the action. I am, &c.

EDW. PELLEW.
Extra&

Extra of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Murray, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's Ships and Vefels in North America, to Evan Nepean, Efg. Secretary of the Admiralty.

ON the 11th inft. arrived L'Aurore (French corvette) prize to his Majefty's hip Cleopatra. She had only fifty men on board when taken.

Admiralty-Office, April 26, 1796. Copy of a Letter from Commodore Sir John Borlaje Warren, K. B. to Evan Nepean, Efq, dated on board bis MaJy's Ship La Pomone, at Sea, the 8th of April 1796.

I BEG you will inform their Lord. fhips, that, on the 7th int. Le Bec du Raz bearing N. E. by E. feveral fail were feen in the N. E. quarter; and, upon the fignal for a general chace being made, it was foon perceived that they were a fmall convoy ftanding through the Straits between the Saints and, the Continent. As the weather appeared fettled and fine, I confidered that it was a proper opportunity to obtain a knowledge of the pafage, and continued working through, with the tide in our favour, after them; but the wind falling when we were in the Bay on the other fide, I found it was impoffible to cut off the brig who escorted them, as the ftood clofe in towards Camaret Point, at the entrance of the Goulet going up to Breft, and among the rocks. The boats of the fquadron, however, captured the veffels in the inclofed lift, who are all laden with corn and flour. A floop belonging to the convoy got off with the corvette, which I understand was La Voltigeur,

of 16 guns.

A Lift of Vff is belonging to the French Republic, captured by the Boats of the Smaron under the Command of Sir John Borlafe Warren, K. B. within the Saints on the Coaft of France, on the 7th of April 1796.

A brig, La Marie, of St. Maloes, one hundred and fifty tons, laden with wheat-fent to England.

A brig, name unknown, one hundred tons, laden with flour-ditto.

A brig, name unknown, one hundred and twenty tons, laden with wheatduto.

A loop, name unknown, feventy tons, laden with wheat-ditto.

A brig, name unknown, ninety tons, laden with wood and wine-fcuttled and funk.

J. B. WARREN,

Admiralty-Office, April 26, 1796. Extract of a Letter from Commodore Sir John Borlafe Warren to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board bis Majesty's Ship La Pomone, off the Saints, the 16th of April 1796.

I BEG you will inform their Lordfhips, that on the 15th inft. at eleven P. M. a fail being difcovered in the N. E. quarter, I immediately gave chace, and at three A. M. I came up with her in this thip; the proved to be La Robufte fhip corvette, mounting twenty-two guns and one hundred and forty five men, just come from Breft, bound to L'Orient.

The fquadron under my command alfo captured a brig loaded with falt, from Croific, on the 13th inftant.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, MAY 10.

Copy of a Letter from Vice-Admiral Kingimill, Commander in Chief of bis Majesty's Ships and Veffels at Cork, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated L'Engageante, Cork Harbour, May 5, 1796.

SIR,

I HAVE the pleafure to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that a French national cutter (L'Abeille), of 14 guns and 70 men, is just brought in here, captured by his Majefty's fhip Dryad, Captain Pulling, on Monday laft, the Lizard bearing north half eaft, 16 or 17 leagues, Ulhant S. S. W. 13 leagues; the other hips of the fquadron then in chace of a corvette, which there was every probability of their coming up with.

The Dryad had before taken a large fmuggling cutter, laden with fpirits, and fent her to Plymouth.

Mr. Fairweather, one of the Mates of the Dryad, who has command of the cutter L'Abeille, informs me, that the had only been out three days from Breft, and had not taken any thing. She is three years old, coppered, and appears we'l found, and fhall be fent by the earlieft opportunity to Plymouth.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, MAY IO.

Copy of a Letter from Admiral Sir Peter Parker, Bart. Commander in Chief of bis Maifiy's Ships an i Veffels at Pirt mouth and Spithead, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated Royal William, at Spitbead, May 7. 1796.

SIR,

PLEASE to acquaint their Lord. fhips, that his Majetty's floop the Ratler returned to Spithead, this morning, 1 2 with

with the Pichegru French privateer, of 10 guns and 34 men, belonging to Havre, which the captured yesterday noon off Cherbourg, after a chace of eight hours.

HORSE-GUARDS, MAY 14 1796. THE following Extract of a Letter from Brigadier-General Nicols, dated Port Royal Grenada, March 28, 1796, to Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K. B. has been tranfinitted by the latter to the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State.

I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 24th inftant; that day I got on fhore the detachments of the 8th and 63d regiments, with a part of the 3d or Buffs; I alfo got two fix pounders and a five and half inch howitzer to a ridge fouth of Port Roya', and diftant about 1000 yards; a battery was made in the night, by the great exertions of Brevet-Major O'Mara, of the 38th regiment, fo that by day-light it opened upon the enemy's redoubt. We faw the howitzer difconcert them very much; but as it was our object to clofe with them as foon as poflible, I had determined to get on the fame ridge with them, or if I faw an opening to attempt the redoubt by affault: for this purpofe I thought it neceffary to try to diflodge fome ftrong parties of the enemy, which we faw poffed on the heights on our left, as if intended to turn or diftrefs that flank; I accordingly detached a trong black corps, with 50 of the 88th regiment, the whole under Major Houften, owing to the difficulty of the ground, it was near two hours before they could get near the enemy, when a heavy but diflant fire commenced on both fides. I had previoufly concerted with him, that in cafe of attaining a particular point, which would have covered our approach to Port Royal, he was to make a fignal, on which the light company of the Buffs, the detachments of the 8th and 63d regiments, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dawfon, were to advance, while the part of the battalion of the Buffs, that had landed, were to form a referve, the whole under Brigadier General Campbell, but fo far from diflodging the enemy, I faw with regret our black corps and the 88th regiment retiring, Major Houfton, having tried, without faccefs, to accomplish the object he was fent on; this obliged me to detach the 8th regis ment to fupport them, which it did ef

fectually. At this moment an alarming fire broke out in our rear, near the place where all the ftores we had landed were depofited; but by the exertions of our people, under the orders of LieutenantColonel Dyott, they were preferved. In the midft of thofe untoward circumstances we heard a firing from our fhips of war that lay at anchor, and were foon informed it was at two French schooners that were making into Marquis; the truth of this was foon confirmed, for we faw them enter and anchor. I had one of the fix-pounders turned on them, as they were well within reach, but unluckily we never ftruck them. The fituation of affairs was now fo critical, that an inftant was not to be loft. I accordingly directed Brigadier-General Campbell to proceed to the affault, and I brought up every thing in my power to fupport him. He therefore advanced with only the Buffs and 63d regiment, the 8th having, as I before stated, been detached on another fervice. Į ordered up half of the 29th regiment to replace them, and half of the 9th alfo to affift if neceffary; but the 29th, that I had to bring from Grand Bacolet, though they came as foon as poffiule, did not join him till after the Buffs had met with a check, from the advantage the enemy had of the ground, and from a very galling fire to which they were expofed: they however foon formed again under the cover of an hedge, and being then joined by the 29th regiment, under Captain Clavy, Brigadier-Gencral Campbell ordered the whole to advance to the affault, which they did in the most determined manner, led by the Brigadier himself. They foon gained the top of the ridge, the enemy then ran towards their redoubts, and were followed by our people, who fcrambled in at the embratures, Capt. Clavy of the 29th regiment, being the firit that entered. The enemy then flew in the utmoft terror in all directions, fome throwing themfelves down precipices, whilft others tried to escape down the hill, through brush and other wood; but was there fo heavy a fire kept on them from the top by our people, that they were forced to try to escape along a bottom, where the detachment of Light Dragoons, under Captain Black, and the St. George's Troop of Light Cavalry, under Cap. M. Burney' (that had previously been formed under the hill to profit of any occafion that offered), fecing the enemy flying, rushed on them through a fire of grape

from