in the morning, and took her without lofing a man. She is commanded by Monf. Chilot, who I find was the commanding officer of the expedition. The whole convoy are, on the king's account, laden with warlike ftores and troops; the Prothée and Ajax, both of 64 guns, have money on board amounting to about 120,000l. The Marlborough has taken a fnow with warlike ftores, and the Apollo, who parted company in chafe the morning we faw them, has alfo taken one. The Invincible, Bienfaisant, and Triton have just now joined with another small prize of the fame convoy; the reft must have bore away in the early part of the evening; there were feveral hours that even the headmoft ships did not fee any of them. 3d March, Three o'clock. WE have just made Scilly; I therefore difpatch the Apollo to Plymouth, to give their lordships the earlied intelligence of the arrival of the fquadron under my command. Admiralty-Office, March 18, 1780. Extract of a Letter from the Right Honourable Lord Longford, Captain of bis Majefty's Ship the Alexander, to Mr. Stephens, dated Spitbead, March 16, 1780. ÓN the 12th inftant being to the weftward of Scilly, we gave chafe to a large frigate in the South-East quarter, and after 18 hours chafe got within half gun-fhot of her; at day-light in the morning of the13th the hoifted French colours, and we fired chafe guns at each other for about two hours. When we had got nearly along fide her, my fore-top-maft, without being ftruck, or any part of the rigging cut, and without wind, went over the fide: I found it quite rotten. The Courageux continued the chafe, and about noon, after firing a great number of shot, came up with and took her. She proved the Monfieur priva teer, of Granville, of 40 guns, twelve and fix pounders, and 362 men, commanded by Jean de Bochet. She had been eight days from L'Orient, and taken nothing. She is a very fine frigate, almost new, 134 feet on the gun deck, and I hope will be found fit for his majefty's fervice. TUESDAY, 7. Yesterday a court of common-council was held at Guildhall, at which a motion was made by Mr. Deputy Leekey, and feconded by Mr. Hurford, that the freedom of this city be given to Admiral Rodney in a box value 100 guineas, as a taken of the grateful fenfe the Court entertain of the fignal fervices rendered by him to this country, in the defeat of the Spanish fleet under Don Juan Langara, &c. which was agreed to. FRIDAY, 10, Thirteen flips of the line have failed within the last three months to join the Seet on the Leeward island station, viz, four under Arbuthnot, from New-York ; the Hector, from Rodney's squadron, with the convoy to the Weft Indies; the Intrepid and Triumph, from Portsmouth, with convoys, and two more fingle ships, with convoys from Cork, and the trade from Bristol, Liverpool, and Scotland, and four with Admiral Rodney. Seventeen fail of the line were under the command of Admiral Hyde Parker when the last dispatches came away, at which time none of the veffels here mentioned had joined him. When they arrive he will have 30 fail; but it is faid that the French have at prefent that number there, and that they are to be increased to 40. On the 7th inftant ended the court-martial at Portsmouth, when Captain Boteler, tried for the lofs of his majefty's fhip Ardent, was difmiffed the service. MONDAY, 20. On Saturday morning about five o'clock a fire broke out at the house of the Duke of Northumberland, at Charing-Crofs. It began at the Eaft end of the fecond story, fronting the street,in a room where the fervants kept their liveries, and other clothes two fervants lay in the next room, who were roufed by the fire, which broke in upon them, but they luckily made their efcape, though with the lofs of all they had. From five o'clock in the morning, when it was first perceived, the fire raged furiously till eight, when the flames were pretty well got under, but by that time had burnt from the Eaft end to the Weft, there being no party wall in the whole range of building. The roof is deftroyed, as are alfo the first and fecond floors, at the former of which it ftopped, the rooms on the ground floor being most of them arched with brick. The rooms in front, which have been destroyed, were all of them allotted to the use of the principal officers of his grace's household ; fuch as the fecretary, mafter of horse, &c. How it happened is not yet known; his grace got out of bed when the alarm was given, and was prefent during the whole time of its raging. THURSDAY, 23. Yefterday morning, in confequence of what had paffed the day before in theHouse of Commons, and which is faid to have been further aggravated by a letter fent to his lordship, containing what the writer intended additionally to have remarked, had he not been interrupted in the courfe of his fpeaking, a duel was fought in Hyde-Park, between the Right Honourable the Earl of Shelburne, and Mr. Fullerton, member for Plympton, and late Secretary to Lord Stormont, when at the Court of France. The letter being fent by the common poft, had not been received many minutets by his lordship, who was at breakfast, when a fecond letter came, re quiring quiring an immediate answer to the firft. As the expreffions used on this occafion admitted of no qualification, the noble peer replied that he should be in Hyde-Park the next morning early. Accordingly at Five o'clock the two parties met, the Right Honourable the Earl of Shelburne being attended by Lord Frederick Cavendish, as his fecond, and Mr. Fullerton, by the Earl of Balcarras. The place of combat being chofen, the ground was meafured out, and each party took his ftand at 12 paces diftance. Mr. Fullerton fired first, but miffed his lordfhip, who in return dif charged his piftol, but without effect. Mr. Fullerton then fired a fecond time, when the ball lodged in the upper part of his lordship's thigh. Mr. Fullerton, perceiving his lordship wounded, advanced towards him, telling him, he had now an opportunity of explaining what he had faid in the Houfe of Lords. Lord Shelburne replyed, he did not come there to make any explanations; on which Lord Balcarras returned Mr. Fullerton to his ground, when Lord Shelburne very gallantly fired his piftol into the air, faying, Mr. Fullerton could not fuppofe that he should now mean to fire at him. The feconds here interpofing, put an end to the combat, and Lord Shelburne walked to Hyde Park Corner, where getting into a hackney coach, he was carried home, and Mr. Adair being fent for, extracted the ball, fo that his lordship is fuppofed to be out of danger. The ball is faid to have been luckily impeded in its progrefs, by fome papers the carl had in his waistcoat pocket. SATURDAY, 25. His majesty's fhip Charon is anchored in the Downs, from the Gulf of Honduras, but laft from Jamaica, where she arrived the middle of December, with the Lowestoffe, Pomona, and their two prizes, regifter fhips they had met with very bad weather, and many accidents in the Gulf. The Omoa fever breaking out amongst the feamen foon after they failed from thence, destroyed almoft their whole crews, and it was owing to the affiftance they got from the Spanish flave prifoners that they were enabled to reach Rattan, from whence, after a confiderable ftay, they recovered a fufficient number of their people to carry their fhips to Jamaica. We learn alfo by the Charon, that advice was received at Jamaica of the garrison at Omoa, and the Porcupine's crew, being fuddenly and violently attacked by the Omoa fever; that in a fortnight's time, from having 150 men fit for duty, there did not remain more than 20; that it was determined to evacuate the fort: after burning all the ftorehouses and other buildings that fire would confume, removing every thing out of the fort on board the prize fnow Nymph, and Sally brig, and spiking up the guns with fteel machines which could not be extri cated, the Porcupine failed with our garris fon, and arrived fafe at Rattan. The Charon confirms the account of the lofs of the Leviathan man of war; the fprung a leak at fea the 16th of February laft, in a hard gale of wind, and by the continuation of bad weather he could not be preferved any longer than to the 27th, when the foundered. The crew, with fome provifions, and a few ftores, were with dif ficulty faved, and except thofe taken on board the Charon, her people were diftributed among the different fhips in the convoy. PROMOTIONS. R ALPH Bigland, Efq. clarenceux 'king of arms, to be a principal king of English arms, and a principal officer of arms of the noble order of the Garter, and alfo that office which is commonly called Garter; and likewile the nameGarter, with the ftile, liberties, pre-eminences, and emoluments, belonging and anciently accuf tomed to the faid office, vacant by the death of Thomas Browne, Efq. late Garter.The Reverend Doctor George Mafon, confirmed Bishop of Sodor and Man, and confecrated a Bishop at Whitehall Chapel, by his Grace the Archbishop of York.-John Doddington, Efq. to the office of fourth port cullis purfuivant of arms, in the room of Peter Toms, gentleman, deceased→→ Peter Dore, Efq. Richmond herald, to the office of norroy king of arms, and principal herald of the North parts of England. Promotions in Ireland. The Right Reverend Doctor James fhoprick of Raphoe.-William Beresford, Hawkins, Bishop of Dromore, to the BiM. A. to the Bishoprick of Dromore. MARRIAGES. Feb. ICHARD Aubrey, Efq. youngest 26. Ron of Sir Thomas Aubrey, Bart. to Mifs Digby, daughter of the late Ho nourable Wriotherly Digby.-March 1. Thomas Grimftone, Efq. of Kilnwick, to Mifs F. Legard, daughter of the late Sir Digby Legard, Bart.-15. The Reverend Mr. Griffiths, M. A. of Pembroke Col lege, Oxford, to Mifs Browning of the fame place.-18. Benjamin Keen, Efq fon of the Bishop of Ely, and Member of Parliament for the town of Cambridge, to Mifs Ruck, daughter of the late G. Ruck; Efq. of Swincomb, in Oxfordshire.-19%, Peregrine Courteney, Efq. to Lady Augusta Glynn.-A few days fince, at the Caftle, Dublin, AlmarLowry Corroy, Efq. Knight of the Shire for the county of Tyrone, to `S 2 the the Right Honourable Lady Harriet Hobart, eldest daughter of the Earl of Buckinghamshire. Feb. DEATHS. of Drury-Lane, Sr. Martin in the Henry Weedthecary Henry Foot, of the parish of Alvediston, in Wilts, woolftapler. John Peerman Cranston, of Bridge Street, St. Margaret, Westminster, mercer, Jofeph Bate, of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, fellmonger. John Brown, of the town of Kingston upon Hull, cabinet-maker. Michael Jackson, late of Orrell, in Lancashire, William Hall, late of Birmingham, dealer. George Peirce, of Basinghall Street, London, Blackwell Hall Factor. Samuel Freeth, of Birmingham, edge-tool makèr and malt mill-maker. Robert Porter, of Wandsworth, in Surrey, mér chant. printer merchant. William Gates, now or late of St. Martin's Lane, St Martin in the Fields, cabinet maker. IR Anthony Cowper, Knight.26.1 26. Lady Tankard, lady of Sir Thomas Tankard, Bart.-March 2. Dr. Ifaac Schomberg.-5. At Raphoe in Ireland, the Right Reverend Doctor John Ofwald, Bishop of Raphoe.-8. Right Honourable Lady Mulgrave.-Lord Fortef cue Aland.-12. Sir William Barlow, Knt.-14. Mrs. Gulfton, Wife of Jofeph Gulfton, Efq. and fifter of the prefent Sir S. Stepney, Bart.-18. Countefs. Robert Wynne, of Greenwich, in Kent, callicoDowager of Eglintoun.-19. Mifs Leti- James Pownall, of Bafinghall Street, London, lacetia Beauchamp, daughter of the late Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, Bart. by his Second wife.-Sir Benjamin Truman, brewer, of Spitalfields.-20. The Reverend Doctor Richard Brown, canon of ChriftChurch-College, Oxford, king's profeffor of Hebrew, and Lord Almoner's profeffor of Arabic in that University.-Sir Jofeph Tomlinton, Knt.-21. Lady Sanderfon, relict of Sir William Sanderfon, Bart. and fifter to the late Sir Henry Gough, Bart.24. The Right Honourable Lady Anne Sophia Egerton, wife of the Bishop of Durham: her ladyfhip was the daughter of Henry, late Duke of Kent, by the Lady Sophia Bentinck, daughter of the Earl of Portland.-25. The Reverend Greene, Dean of Salisbury. BANKRUPT Doctor S. William Naith, of Bristol, currler. John Lee Breton, late of Newington Butts, in John Tidfall, late of Weymouth Street, in the Joseph Thomas and Benjamin Thomas, of All- Robert Tadd, of Road, in Somerfetfhire, grocer John Knott and Sampion Knott, of Sandwich, in Jofeph Longfellow, of Brecon, in the county of James Pedge, late of Wramplingham, in Norfolk, John Chambers, now or late of Greenfield, inFlintfhire, merchant. Thomas Hughes the younger, of Holywell, inFlinthire, mercer, draper, and grocer Thomas Fidkin, of Bewdley, in Worcestershire, Samuel Watts, of Norwich, haberdasher. John Rands, late of Portimouth, but now of the John Mawley, late of Margate, in Kent, linen- Jofeph Kettle, of Birmingham, in Warwickshire, Richard Townend, of Haworth, in the Parish of COUNTRY NEWS, ARRIVED Admiral Digby with his fleet this morning, and all brought-to at Spithead, with three Spanish men of war, and alfo the Prothée, a French 64 gun fhip, and four transports, bound to the Mauritius. The money on board the Prothee was to pay the tranfports there. The Ajax, a French 64 gun fhip, was in company with the above, but, by favour of the night,efcaped. Sir John Rofs, with the Bienfaifant, and two Spanish men of war, we hear, are gone to Plymouth. Bristol, March 1. From good authority we are informed, that fuch was the scarcity and dearness of provifions before Sir George Rodney's arrival at Gibraltar, that a Turkey fold for 31. 155. a goose 11. 116. 68. a duck 11. Is. a fowl 10s. 6d. a pigeon 25.68. goats from Barbary 31. 3s. mutton and pork 45. per lb. Irish butter 58. 6d. per Ib. eggs 6d. each,and an old fow fold for 15 guineas. Leeds, March 14. On Wednesday the rft inftant, about midnight, a fife broke out in a blacksmith's shop at Yefterton, in Staf fordshire, and communicated to the buildings of Mr. Smith, farmer, and Mr. Goodman, Goodman, fhopkeeper, which confumed both houfes, with all their furniture and wearing apparel, eight horses, 13 cows, and four calves. Mr. Smith's family confifted of 14 perfons, not one of whom had a fecond fhirt to put on. It was fuppofed to be wilfully fet on fire. IRELAND. DVICE having been received here that fee. Sept. 17. French floop St. Vincent's, with rum, fugar, and coffee. 20. Spanish fchooner Séignora Socana, with provifions. 21. Schooner Maria Magdelena, with fifh. 29. American brig Fair, 120 tons, 15 men, with rice and tobacco. O. 4. French floop Liberty, with bottles. 5. French loop Alexander, with rum, fugar, and coffee. 7. French floog La Superbe, with bale goods, wine, and provifions. 29. French Ship St. Jean, with fugar, coffee, and cotton. 21. French A the royal aneb that been given in Wigate alement, 28 guns, 200 men. 29. London to the bill for the further extent of the trade of Ireland, the House of Commons yesterday voted an addrefs to his majefty, expreffive of the grateful fenfe the Houfe entertains of the liberal participation granted this kingdom of the trade of Great-Britain, and to affure his majefty of the unfhaken loyalty of his faithful Commons. AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE. Admiralty-Office, March 4, 1780. APTAIN Sutton, late A French floop with naval ftores, &c. 29. A French floop with fugar and coffee. 29. An American loop with tobacco, &c. Dec. 1. French thip Conquereur, with fundries, provifions, &c. 1. French Polacre Lovely Maria, with fundries, provifions, &c. Extract of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker to Mr. Stephens, dated Princess Royal, Gros-Iflet-Bay, St. Lucia, Dec. 230 1779. CAPTAIN Sutton not having yet left the fquadron, gives me an opportunity to add a fupplement to my letter of the 9th inftant, and defire will inform their Comer obert Sujesty's ship the lordships, that on the 18th inftant, between Sphynx, arrived on the 1ft inftant, from the Leeward Inlands, with difpatches from Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker to Mr. Stephens, of which the following are extracts and copies: Extra of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker to Mr. Stephens, dated Princefs Royal, Gros-Ifle-Bay, St. Lucia, Dec. 9, $779. [Duplicate, of which the Original is not yet received.] MY laft to you of the 16th of October, acquainted you with my arrival at BarbaGoes with the fquadron of his Majefty's Thips under my command. On the 24th of October, the Acteon and Proferpine came into Carlisle Bay, with the Afemene Frigate of 28 guns, commanded by Captain de Bonneval; the was chafed by feveral fhips, but ftruck to the Proferpine. From the capture of this hip I firft Tearned with certainty, that the Count D'EAaign was gone with all bis fleet to America. Enclofed I fend a lift of prizes taken fince my last. An Account of Prizes taken by bis Majefty's Squadron under my Command, fince my laßt. 1779. Auguft 30. French Flute Le Compas, 20 guns, 140 men, laden with fugar. Sept. 8. American Ychooner Sally, 60 tons, 6 guns, 6 men, with lumber. Sept. 16. American Tchooner Nancy, 40 tons, 5 guns, 5 men, with fish and lumber. 16. A French floop, with rum, fugar, and cof eight and nine o'clock in the morning, the Prefton being between Martinico and St. Lucia, to windward, made the fignal for a Heet, which was no fooner observed on board the Princess Royal, than a fignal was thrown out for the hips under my command to flip their cables, and chafe to windward. The captains were then affembled at a court-martial; and as the fhips 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 wooding and watering. Under thefe circumftances the alertness and dispatch with which the fhips put to fea was furprifing even to me, who am no ftranger to the activity and brifkness of the English officers and feamen. As the fquadron food over for Port Royal, the ene my's fhips were difcovered to be a convoy. Before four in the afternoon nine or ten of them run themselves on shore on the Island Martinico, and were fet on fire by our beats, either immediately or the next moraing. About the fame time I obferved the Boreas engaged with a French frigate in Port-Royal Bay, a French rear-admiral with two other 74 gun fhips, flipped their cables and bore down upon him, which obliged the Boreas to fheer off. This dextrous manœuvre 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 hipe a-head of the Princess Royal at this time were the Conqueror, Albion, Elifabeth, Vigilant, Vigilant, and Centurion, but the Conqueror a-head and to windward of the reft. About five this fhip got within diftance of the French rear-admiral, who began the cannonade. The fteadiness and coolness with which on every tack the Conqueror received the fire of these three ships, and returned his own, working his fhip with as much exa&nefs 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 hips fhowed no lefs eagerness to get into action. Towards fun-fet the Albion had got well up to fecond the Conqueror, and the other hips were in action, but as they had worked, not only within the danger of the fhoals 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 Capt. 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 11 wounded: the damage done to the ship is not very confiderable, nor I believe to any of the other hips, as I have had no report from them. They are cruifing under Commodore Collingwood off the Point of Salines. We have taken nine fail of this convoy which came from Marseilles under the convoy of the Aurora about the middle of October; I judge that, including the frigate, they were 26 in number; four more had loft company, and are yet expected, rather at St. Lucia than Martinico. All of the French fhips, except those who were engaged, were in the carenage, I believe in ill condition, and many of their crews in the hospital. On the 20th, standing with feven ships over to St. Lucia, late in the evening, I received a letter from Sir Henry Calder, informing me three large fhips were seen that afternoon from the Morne, fteering to the northward, fuppofed to be part of M. la Mothe Piquet's fquadron returning from Grenada. As I judged this intelligence very probable, Rear-Admiral Rowley was immediately detached in the Suffolk, with the Vengeance, Magnificent, and Stirling Caftle, in pursuit of them. P. S. I am well affured the Sphynx is retaken by the Proferpine, after a smart action; but, as I have had no letters fince that time from Commodore Hotham, I cannot give your lordships the particulars. Copy of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker to Mr. Stephens, dated Princefs Royal, Gros-Iflet-Bay, St. Lucia, Jan. 2, 1786. SIR, THE delay of the merchant ship, in which Capt. Sutton is embarked, furnishes me with the opportunity, and Admiral Rowley's return with the occafion, of my writing you a third letter, that you may inform their lordships of the fuccefs of hi cruife, which I do by tranfmitting a copy of his letter to me. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble fervant, H. PARKER Philip Stepbens, Efq. Extract of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Rawley to Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, dated Suffolk at Sea, off Mount Fortune, Jan. 1, 1780. SIR, I Beg leave to acquaint you, that in purfuance of your order of the 20th of December last, I proceeded with the hips named in the margin, in purfuit of the three fhips which you had intelligence of. On Tuesday the 21ft, at eight A. M. three ftrange fail being difcovered from the Suffolk's maft-head in the north west, 1. ordered the fignal to be made for a general chafe, which being obeyed with the greateft alacrity, I had the fatisfaction by noon to find we gained upon them very fast. On Wednesday the 22d, at three P. M. they hoifted French colours, but foon after hauled them down again at five, having come well up with the chafe, which I could. now plainly perceive were French frigates, I fired a fhot at them, which was returned. At half an hour paft fix the Magnificent exchanged feveral fhot with one of the frigates, which, after a chafe of 14 hours, I had the pleafure to fee frike to her. She proved to be La Blanche frigate, of 36 guns, and 212 men, commanded by Monfieur Galliffoniere. At eleven La Fortune frigate of 42 guns, and 217 men, commanded by the Chevalier Marigny, ftruck to the Suffolk after a chafe of 18 hours. The Vengeance on my lee quarter having come up with La Blanche, took charge of her, and exchanged the prifoners, &c. while the Stirling-Caftle and Magnificent continued the chafe to leeward after the third fhip, which they came up with and took, after a chafe of 36 hours, on Thursday the 23d ult. at three P. M. She proved to be La Ellis of 28 guns, and 68 men, commanded by Monfieur Fon teneaux. From the information of the officers belonging to the frigates before mentioned, I learn, that they left Savanna on the aft of November laft, arrived at Grenada the 6th of December, left that place the gth, arrived at St. Vincent's the 15th, from whence they failed the 19th, and were on their paf fage to Martinique. On our paffage, in lat. 16 deg: 36 min. I fell in with the French fchooner from Martinique to America, which was taken by the Stirling-Caftle. In lat. 15 deg. 36 min. I also fell in with the Young * Suffolk, Veugeance, Magnificent, and Stirling-Cafile, Frow |