P.M. the van fhip of the enemy, - having first tried her distance by a fingle hot, when fcarce within point-blank fhot distance, the enemy's fquadron began their fire on his majefty's, which at twenty minutes after was returned, and a heavy cannonade enfued on both fides, the enemy ftill keeping up their diftance; the cannonade continued till feven, P. M. when the enemy hauled off. At day-light I made the fignal, and wore with the fquadron, and brought-to to repair the damages, with the fhips heads towards the land; several of the fhips much difabled in their hulls, mafts, and rigging, the Gibraltar and Ifis in particular; the enemy's fquadron not in fight. In the morning of the 22d I faw the French fquadron at anchor in Pondicherry Road, bearing S.S.W. directly to windward of his majefty's fquadron, and fome of them getting under weigh; and I made what fail I could towards them, and anchored the fame night off the ruins of Alemparvo, the more effectually to ftop fhot-holes, and repair the damages fuftained. I beg you will be pleased to inform their lordships, that fo early as the 8th of June, the fcurvy began to make a rapid progrefs among the crews of all the fhips of the fquadron, but particularly on board the fhips laft arrived from England, under the orders of commodore fir Richard Bickerton, bart. The number of fick on board the line of battle fhips amounted on that day to 1121 men, 605 of whom being in the laft ftage of the fcurvy, I was under the neceffity of fending on the day following to the naval hofpital at this place, in 4 his majefty's fhips Bristol and San Carlos. From that time to the 22d, the disease increased the numbers of the fick daily, fo as most of the ships of the line had from 70 to 90 men, and the fhips laft from England double that number, very many in the laft ftage of the disease, and unable to come to quarters, dying daily. Under these circumftances, and the water of most of the ships being expended, except a few cafks in their ground tiers, and none to be obtained to the fouthward, I determined to return to this road, there to land the fick and wounded, and complete the water of the fquadron for further fervice; and on the 23d of June I weighed with the fquadron, and arrived in this road on the afternoon of the twentyfifth. On my arrival there, I received authentic (although not official) intelligence, that the preliminary articles of peace between Great Britain, France, Spain, and America, had been figned and ratified, as well as a ceffation from hoftilities agreed on between Great Britain, and the States General of the United Provinces, of which information the Select Committee of this Prefidency were also in poffeffion; and being fummoned the fame day to a confultation with the Select Committee, to take into confideration these circumftances, I concurred with the other members of the committee, that it would be proper, and was neceffary to communicate to the commanders in chief of the fea and land forces of the French king at Cuddalore, the information we had received, together with the grounds on which we believed it to be longing to the fquadron in Monf. Suffrein's power, amounting to ȧ be true and authentic; and on the 27th of June, I difpatched his ma-jefty's fhip Medea, as a flag of truce,bout 350. Monf. Suffrein informs with letters to Monf. Suffrein and the Marquis de Bully. On the 4th of July the Medea returned to this road, with anfwers from Monf. Suffrein and the Marquis de Buffy to my letters of the 27th of June, by which they con. curred in a ceffation of hoftilities by fea and land, as well as an immediate release and return of prifoners on both fides; in confequence, I have received all the prifoners be LINE OF me by letter, he has also sent to the Mauritius for fuch English prisoners as have been fent thither, and will return them. I have judged it, neceffary to fend, for their lordships information, the line of battle of his ma jefty's fquadron under my command, on the zoth of last month, and a lift of the French fhips oppofed to me under the command of Monf. Suffrein. BATTLE. The Cumberland to lead with ftarboard tacks on board, the Defence Eagle William Clark 64 500 Magnanime Thomas Mackenzie Frigates, &c.-Chafer, San Carlos, Pondicherry, Harriott. 64 500 Worcester Charles Hughes 64 500 Frigates, &c.-Juno, to repeat fignals; Combuftion, Medea, Lizard; 3d. Exeter Inflexible Seahorse, to repeat fignals. WHITE DIVISION. 3.d. Defence (A Copy) 350 600. Thomas Newnham 74 Frigates, &c.-Naiade, Minerva, Active. EDWARD HUGHES. A Lift of the French Squadron in the Engagement with the British Squadron in the East Indies, on the 20th of June, 1783. Abftract of the Officers, Seamen, and Marines, killed and wounded on board his Majefty's Ships in the Action of the 20th of June, 1783. Le Coventry Lieutenant Middlemore, 2d Lieutenant Thompton, of Marines,} Hero. Account of the Proceedings of the Members; and the above antwers being read, they came to the following re folutions: bers of the Houfe of Commons, who Refolved, That the thanks of this in Ja- meeting be given to his grace the duke of Portland, and the right hon. William Pitt, for the atten January 26th, 1784.tion they have refpectively declared A Meeting of fuch members of the house of commons as with to promote an union of parties, is earneftly requested at the St. Alban's Tavern, this day, the 26th in ftant, at 12 o'clock precifely. On Monday, the 26th inftant, a meeting was held at the St. Alban's Tavern, for the purpose of recommending an union of parties, when an addrefs was agreed to and figned by fifty-three members of the houfe of commons, and prefented by a committee to the duke of Portland and the right hon. William Pitt.The committee were, the hon. Mr. Grofvenor, the hon. Charles Marfham, Sir William Lemon, and Mr. Powys. The duke of Portland returned for anfwer "That he should think himself happy in obeying the commands of fo refpectable a meeting; but the greatest difficulty to him, and he imagines ftill greater to Mr. Pitt, is Mr. Pitt's being in office." Mr. Pitt returned for anfer: "That he will be very ready to pay attention to the commands of fo refpectable a meeting, and cooperate with their wifhes, to form a ftronger, and more extended adminiftration, if the fame can be done with principle and honour." On Tuesday the 27th, the gentlemen met at the faid tavern, when there appeared to be feventy mem themselves ready to pay to the res quifitions prefented to them in our names. Refolved, fecondly, That, in anxi ous expectation of a cordial co-ope ration of great and refpectable characters acting on the fame public principles, we beg leave to exprefs our moft earnest with that fome explanation may be had between the duke of Portland and Mr. Pitt, on any difficulty in the way of confidential intercourfe. Refolved, thirdly, That we do not prefume to point out the mode in which fuch mutual explanation may be obtained, ftudioufly avoiding any interference on our part, which may impede or counteract whatever steps are taken towards that communication which it is our object to effect. Refolved, fourthly, That the chairman be defired to communicate the refolutions to his grace of Portland and Mr. Pitt. The refolutions being communicated to Mr. Pitt, be returned the following anfwer: 44999. Į I Mr. Pitt having received from fo refpectable a meeting an intimation of their wishes, that some explanation may be had between the duke of Portland, and himself, on any difficulties in the way of confidential intercourfe, begs to affure Mr. Grosvenor (the chairman) that there are no difficulties on his part in the way of an immediate intercourfe with the duke of Portland on the the fubject of an union, confiftent with honour and principle, which he agrees with the gentlemen of the meeting in thinking of the great eft importance in the present ftate of the country. If, on his grace's part, there are any objections to fuch intercourse, Mr. Pitt wishes to have them stated, and will immediately give a direct answer with re-, gard to them.", The duke of Portland returned the fol-, lowing anfer (addreffed to the chairman:) Sir, Devon-houfe, Thursday, I had the bonour of ftating to you, I did not think it poffible that fuch a meeting would tend to forward the defirable end we all with, as long as Mr. Pitt remained in his ministerial capacity, notwithstanding the refolution of the house of commons of the 16th inftant. Under these circumstances, the embarrassment seems mutual, and difficult to be got over; but if any expedient can' be devised for removing it, I fhall be extremely ready to confer with Mr. Pitt, and to contribute every faculty in my power to promote the object of our joint wifhes. I have the honour to be, (Signed) Tho. Grofvenor, esq. Thursday the 29th. The gentlemen met; and there being above eighty members prefent, they came to the following refolution: Refolved, That the chairman be requested to return our thanks to the duke of Portland and Mr. Pitt, for the additional favour they have now given of their attention to our withes. As you have so very obligingly communicated to me the affurances you have received from Mr. Pitt, "that there are no difficulties on his part in the way of an immediate intercourfe between him and me, on the fubject of an union of parties, and that he is ready to give an immediate and direct anfwer to any objections which I may have to fuch intercourfe," my fincere inclination to concur in the wishes of the very refpectable meeting of which you fo worthily fill the chair, and my anxious defire to see such an adminiftration formed, upon a folid and fecure bafis, as may restore harmony to this diftracted empire, and may be entitled to the confidence and support of every true friend of his country, make it neceffary for me to trouble you with. To intimate to them, that after a repetition of the reasons which I these declarations, we are the more afligned to you and other gentle- ftrongly confirmed in our hope and men who delivered me the repre- expectation, that by the interven fentation and requifition of your tion of mutual friends, fome expe. meeting of the 26th of January, for dient may be advised, which may declining an immediate interview tend to remove the difficulty which with Mr Pitt, on the prefent arduis ftated to be the most material ob. ous fituation of public affairs... ftacle to a communication between To express our cordial fatisfaction to find they agree in opinion with this meeting, that an union is of the highest importance, and is the object of their joint wishes. them, |