thoufand three hundred and twenty pounds, a moft amazing fuperiority. If we allow, at the fame time, four difcharges of the fmall arms in each minute, then the number of fmall fhot fired from the Foudroyant, more than from the Ramillies in one hour, will be twenty one thoufand one hundred and twenty, which increases the chance of the men being killed on the upper decks on board the English fhip equal to that number.' Deducting then the leffer from the greater number, the weight of the fhot fired by the Foudroyant in a difcharge of all the cannon, exceeds that of the Ramillies by five hundred feventy-two pounds, almoft a third of the whole quantity. The number of men on board the English fhip, was feven hundred and thirty on board the French, nine hundred and fifty: which gives a majority of two hundred and twenty, men to the French fhip. Now, on a medium, we may allow eight men to a gun on board the Foudroyant, as her metal is heavier, fix to a gun on board the Ramillies; this will make fix hundred feventy-two at the great guns, and two hundred and feventy-eight at the small arms, on board the French ship; and five hundred and forty at the great guns, and one hundred and ninety at the small arms, on board the Ramillies, which gives a majority of eighty-eight fmall arms men to the Foudroyant, almoft a third fuperior to the Ramillies. In this account we have computed the officers and others employed in various duties, amongst the fmall arms; and, as each fhip has probably an equal number engaged in thefe fervices, whatever is allowed being allowed alike on board each fhip, it leaves the fame proportion amongst the fmall arms men; this then effects nothing on the validity of the reafoning. Let me then imagine them all engaged on board each fhip, the Foudroyant discharging from the fmall arms two hundred and feventy-eight balls, and the Ramillies one hundred and ninety, the French hip's fire in this refpect exceeds the English by eighty-eight balls in each general volley; let me fuppofe alfo, that a number of cannon, equal to the whole fum in each fhip, be discharged in a minute, which feems no improbable fuppofition, fince cannon are fired twelve times in a minute in land-fervice; the excefs of weight of metal in the Foudroyant, compared with that fired by the Ramillies in one hour, will be thirty-four VOL. XII Having thus endeavoured to afcertain the fuperiority of the French to the English, the author inquires into the nature of the paragraphs omitted in the Gazette, and thence attempts to deduce the true reafons for the cmilion of them. He alfo expatiates on the inferiority of the English fleet, and the delays in fitting it out, and endeavours to prove, 'that the blame does not lie greatly against Mr. Byng, and that what has happened, has not been repugnant of his purfuers.' And then afks, Did they ever defign that Minorca fhould find relief from the fleets and armies of Great Britain ?. Notwithstanding (adds the author) this favourable appearance on his fide, and criminal on theirs, I ask not mercy, but juftice to Mr. Byng, his pursuers, and your country; all I request is a candid tribunal, an impar tial inquiry, and an unprejudiced people, which I wifh alfo to thofe who have thus inhumanly treated him. If they have all erred alike, give them up to the fame condign punishment. If their guilt is unequal, you will not add cruelty to injuftice, but let their punithinent be proportioned to it. If he is proved guiltlefs, you will preferve him. But at all events remember, that thofe, in whole hearts the horrid compound of cunning and iniquity refide, who brought this once flournishing country to fo ruinous a ftate, escape not, by the fufferings of Mr. Byng, the rewards which are due to them. To you I appeal; be Englishmen,, and I fear no injuftice to him who is thus unjuftifiably purfued; him, whom you PP have have already been deceived to condemn, you will now be refolved to fee treated according to the laws, rights, and privileges, of a fellow-fubject and free Briton.' SIR, BY Gibraltar-Bay, July 4, 1756. can be more aftonished at that particn- Your very humble fervant, J. B. A Letter from an Officer prefent in St. Philip's during the Siege, dated at Gibraltar, August 17, 1756. HE particulars of our unfortuTH nate affair are shortly as follows; Our governor having good information that the great preparations of the French at Toulon were defigned against Minorca, loft no time in putting every thing in the most defenfible condition, augmenting and repairing the fortifications, and deftroying all the roads in the islands, to prevent the progrefs of the enemy when they fhould land. On the 18th of April the French landed at Cieutadella, and our four regiments marched next day into the caftle. We foon felt the happy confequences of breaking up the roads. it being the 30th before we faw any of the enemy, and the 8th of May before they could open any batteries to play against us. 15th the fire both fides. From the 8th to the Y Sir Edw. Hawke, I have received their lordships orders, and your letter of the 8th of June, which I have immediately complied with, and have only to exprefs my furprife at being fo ignominiouly difiniffed from my employment, in the fight of the fleet I had commanded, in fight of the garrifon, and in fight of Spain, at fuch a time, in fuch a manner, and after fuch conduct, as I hope fhall fhortly appear to the whole world. 'Tis not now for me to expostulate; I flatter myself, that Mr. Weft and I fhall make evident the injury done to our characters, which I know of nothing in the power of any being whatever that can attone for; fo high an opinion I have of that, which was ever unfullied before, and which I hope to make appear has been not injuriously and wrongfully at was very fmart on tacked now, on the grounds of a falfe From the 16th to the Gafconade of an open enemy to our 20th they flacked a little, which we king and country, and which would imagined was owing to their want of have evidently appeared, had the polli- ammunition, and which we afterwards ble time been allowed for my own ex- found was really the cafe. The little prefs's arrival, in which there was no- progrefs the French had hitherto made, thing falfe, nothing vaunting, nothing gave our fmall garrifon great fpirits; fhameful, nor any thing which could but I give you leave to guefs the addihave prevented our receiving his ma- tional joy we felt when on the 19th jefty's royal approbation, for having, we defcried the British fleet bearing towith a much inferior force, fought, wards the island. As they stopped 7 or met, attacked, and beat the enemy: 8 leagues diftance, and did not feem of this, it is needlefs for me to fay to come nearer, Gen. Blakeney thought more at prefent, than that I am forry proper to fend off a boat with a letter to find Mr. Weft, with the captains, to the admiral; but the fleet ftanding Lieutenants, and officers of the fhips further off, and the night coming on. we had our flags on board of, are to be the boat was obliged to return, withfufferers for what I alone, as comman- out being able to effect, the intended der in chief, am anfwerable; but it is purpofe. The next morning there to inuch of a piece with the whole unwas one fhip in view. On the 21 a heard of treatment I have met with, fleet appeared at a diflance but it provthat neither they, the fleet, or myfelfed to be the French! nor had we ever the pleasure of feeing our fleet a fecon 2 time. I fhall leave it to thofe who have experienced fuch a change, to exprefs the grief and vexation this difappointment caufed in the garrifon. Our whole dependance was on this affiftance, and the protracting the fiege till its arrival, was all we could hope to accomplish. We comforted the foldiers the best in our power, encouraging them to behave with their ufual gallantry; and as there certainly must have been fome reafon for the return of the fleet, that they might ftill expect to fee them again in a thort time. Thus did we endeavour to keep up the fpirits of our men; and I aflure you, it required all the skill we were matters of. The enemy having, fince the departure of our fleet, received fresh fupplies of cannon and warlike ftores, began to open new batteries, and by their continued fire, greatly damaged our works, and deftroyed feveral of our cannon. They now played on us with 30 cannon and 21 mortars, and fo hot a fire, I believe, can fcarcely be parallelled in any hiftory. I have counted upwards of 300 fhells thrown by the enemy in one night. In this manner we continued till the 27th of June, when, at 11 at night, a general affault was made from all quarters, and after about an hour's engagement, three of our outworks were taken. They immediately began to intrench themselves in thefe redoubts, which they effected, though they loft a number of men by fmall arms. About four in the morning the enemy beat a parley, and defired time to bury their dead. This was granted; and, in the mean time, the general called a council of war, when it was judged abfolutely neceffary to offer propofals for capitulating, which was accordingly done, and, next day, agreed to by the French. The reafons urged for the capitulation were, that the French, by being in poffeffion of the redoubts, our batteries were greatly damaged; and (which indeed was the principal one) that our fmall garrifon was quite worn out with continual duty, and would never be able to withstand another general affault. had likewife poffeffed themselves of the fubterraneous paffages leading to the body of the fort, where already were Lodged above 4000 men; that moft of The lofs we fuftained in the affault was very inconfiderable: Lieut. Samuel Whitehead killed, Col. Jeffreys taken prifoner, and Major Cunningham fhot thro' the hand; 30 private men killed, and about as many wounded. The French acknowledged they had 1200 men killed and wounded. Before the affault we loft Lieut. Armftrong, nephew to the general, a very promifing young gentleman, who was killed by a cannon-ball; and, fome days after, Capt. Hobby, who was killed by a fhell. Our whole lofs amounted to about 70 killed, 306 wounded, (35 of whom died of their wounds) 8 who died of fickness, and 16 mifling, most of whom, we imagine, were fuffocated in fpringing the mines. The French army confitted of 32 battalions, amounting to 20,550 men ; and our garrifon confifted of abount 3500. The lofs of the French during the fiege amounted to 3332 men. The following Addreffes, on the prefent Situation of Affairs, having been prefented to his Majefty fince the Publication of our laft, we shall infert them, for the Satisfaction of our Readers. The following Addrefs from the City of Chester was prefented to his Majefty at Kensington, by their Reprefentatives, Sir Richard Grofvenor, Bart. and Thomas Grosvenor, Efq; To the King's moft Excellent Majefty. Moft gracious Sovereign. faithful fubjects, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common-council of your ancient and loyal city of Chefer, iu Common. Counci council affembled, do, in behalf of ourfelves and fellow-citizens, beg leave to approach your throne, and, with a fidelity ever diftinguishing this city, endeavour to expreís our heart-felt concern at prefent ills, and impending dangers. We fee the nation burthened with foreign mercenaries, denied the aid and defence of its natives, grievously taxed, nearly overwhelmed with an immenfe debt, and, by cowardice, or treachery, deprived of that once glorious acquifition, the island of Minorca; a lofs accompanied with utter ignominy, and almoft indeliable difgrace! Thefe, together with the dilatory and perplexed ordering of our fleets and armies, both in Europe and America, and the very little availment of moft extraordinary fupplies, too fatally evince a ftrange mitmanagement among those to whom the care of the levied treasures and public weal have been, alas! unhappily intrufted. Permit us, therefore, humbly to intreat your Majefty, out of regard to your Royal felf, for the fake of your illuftrious Houfe, for the fecurity of the Proteftant fucceflion, and for the welfare of your kingdom, foon to direct a full inquiry into the conduct of thofe who have (as it is prefumed) abufed your authority, and brought diftrefs and infamy upon thefe nations. We further moft dutifully and earneftly defire, that your people may have their natural and conftitutional guard, a well regulated militia, which, we are perfuaded, will prove the most effectual and permanant defence of your Majefty's facred perfon, and this much endangered country. We beg leave likewife to add our fincere profeffions of a hearty zeal for your Majesty's fervice; and that we will always readily contribute, to the utmost of our power, to retrieve our Joffes, to guard thefe realms, and to render Great Britain, as heretofore, honoured in peace, and terrible in war, The following Addrefs from the Coun ty Palatine of Chester was prefented to his Majesty at Kensington, by their Reprefentatives, Samuel Egerton and Thomas Cholmondeley, Efqrs. To the King's moft Excellent Majefty Most gracious Sovereign. WE JE your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the High Sheriff, Grand Jury, Gentlemen and Freeholders, of the county Palatine of Chefter, moft humbly beg leave, at this very extraordinary juncture, to addrefs your facred perfon with hearts firmly attached to the prefervation of your Majefty's government, and the liberties of our country; which we apprehend to be so closely connected, that they must mutually depend on the existence of each other. Confcious, therefore, of your Majefty's wonted juftice and paternal affection for your people, we dutifully hope, that your Majefty will kindly, and duly, confider the prefent unhappy fituation of these once flourishing kingdoms. We are too apprehenfive, from many alarming circumftances, that the fupplies, fo chearfully and liberally given, for the fupport of your Majef ty's British dominions, have been fatally mifapplied. We reflect, with the utmost conIcern and abhorrence, that our fleets and armies have been rendered ineffectual by ignorance, cowardice, or treachery: That our American plantations, by which our trade principally flourishes, are fhamefully torn from us, notwithstanding the large fums allowed for their defence: And that Minorca, once glorioufly acquired, and fince no lefs valiantly defended; an island fo effential to our commerce, and a jewel fo confpicuous in your Majefty's crown, has been unaccountably abandoned, to the perpetual dif grace of this nation, and your Majefty's glory, to our perfidious enemy; an enemy we have hitherto never feared, but have often humbled. Our concern naturally increases when we reflect, farther, that the taxes are grievous, the national debt immenfe; that our trade daily lef fens, though they multiply; by which we fear, we may too foon dif with the utmost Propriety and Force, that knoron Attachment to bis Majelly, and that Zeal for the Honour and Intereft of bis Country, which equally intitle bim to the Confidence of both. May it pleafe your Majefly, OUR faithful Commons, juftly abled from railing the neceffary fup- Ylenible of the billings they plies for the fupport of your Majefty's and our country's rights. We behold alfo, with the deepest forrow, foreign troops unavailingly imported, and expenfively maintained within this kingdom, while your Majefty's faithful fubjects are unarmed and rejected; who, innately brave, and cordially interefted, would firenuously defend your facred Majesty, and their now endangered country. have enjoyed under your happy reign, in juft indignation at every attempt to difturb it, bave exerted themfelves to the utmost of their abilities, to fupport your majefty in the juft war, which the ambition and perfidy of France have obliged you to enter into, by giving, for the fervice of this year, ordinary and extraordinary, ten millions, befides a vote of credit to anfwer any unforeseen emergency. They beg leave moft humbly to fay bravely drawn, and they fo effectually fupported, will be entrusted only in brave, capable, and honeft hands; that fo the naval, the natural ftrength of England, will make a figure, will do fervice, as much greater, as it is exalted higher than ever before. Thefe melancholy reflections fill us with fear and amazement; and our al--they hope the fword you have fo legiance to your Majefty, and love of our native country, once the arbitrefs of Europe, induces us to unbofom our thoughts to your Royal confideration; not doubting redrefs of our grievances from a King, who loves to be efteemed the father of his people. Permit us, therefore, moft humbly to represent to your Majefty the abfolute neceffity of having our natural guards, a well regulated militia, upon the footing of the English conftitution: And we likewife moft humbly hope, from your Majefty's known juftice and goodnefs, that you will be pleafed to direct fuch a speedy and ftrict inquiry into the conduct of thofe who, when it was in their power, did not prevent our loffes; but have conducted, or confpired, to overwhelm this nation, and your Majefty's crown, with reproach and difhonour that they may receive their due punishments, which they fo juftly deferve. When the Money Bills were prefented, at the Clofe of the Seffions, for the Royal Affent, it is faid the honourable Perfan who prefented them addreffed his Majefly in the following remarkable Speech, in which be bas expreffed, They apprehend; the prefent critical juncture convinces, that alliances. on the continent, as they are unnatural, fo they muft ever be prejudicial to the true intereft of England; that there is no gratitude to be expected from, no dependence to be had on fuch allies: allies, who tho' faved, fupported, fubfifting by the blood and treasure of this kingdom for more than an age, have taken an opportunity of the firft profpect of present profit, to break through every tye. Not difcouraged by the ingratitude of allies, nor the ambition of enemies, they have, with pleafure beheld the fword drawn to vindicate your honour, the honour and intereft of England; convinced, and proud to let all the world fee, that England is able to fight her own battles, to ftand by her. own natural ftrength, against all her enemies. Though |