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The same gazette announces the capture of the L'Eclair, French privateer, of 14 guns, and 108 men, by lord A. Beauclerk of the Dryad, and of a lugger and brig by capt. Payne of the Impetueux.

Admiralty-office, Sept. 2, 1797. Captain Waller, of his majesty's ship Emerald, arrived here yesterday with dispatches from admiral lord St. Vincent to Evan Nepean, esq. secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are extracts: Ville de Paris, off Cadiz, August 16, 1797.

SIR,

I desire you will acquaint the lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that I detached rear-admiral Nelson, and the squadron named in the margin,* with orders to make an attempt upon the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe, which, from a variety of intelligence, I conceived was vulnerable. On Saturday the 15th of July, the rear-admiral parted company, and on Tuesday the 18th, the Leander having joined from Lisbon, I sent her after the rear-admiral, under instructions left by him.

The Emerald joined yesterday, with the inclosed dispatch aud reports from the rear-admiral; and although the enterprize has not succeeded, his majesty's arms have acquired a very great degree of lustre nothing from my pen can add to the eulogy the rear-admiral gives of the gallantry of the of

ficers and men employed under him. I have greatly to lament the heavy loss the country has sustained in the severe wound of rear-admiral Nelson, and the death of captain Richard Bowen, lieutenant Gibson, and the other brave officers and men who fell in this vigorous and persevering assault.

The moment the rear-admiral joins, it is my intention to send the Seahorse to England with him; the wound captain Fremantle has received in his arm, also requiring change of climate; and I hope that both of them will live to render important services to their king and country.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant.

ST. VINCENT. Theseus, off Santa Cruz, July 27,

SIR,

1797.

In obedience to your orders to make a vigorous attack on the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Teneriffe, I directed, from the ships under my command, one thousand men, including marines, to be prepared for landing, under the direction of capt. Troubridge, of his majesty's ship Culloden, and captains Hood, Thompson, Fremantle, Bowen, Miller, and Waller, who very handsomely volunteered their services; and although I am under the painful necessity of acquainting you that we have not been able to succeed in our attack, yet it is my duty to state, that I believe more daring intrepidity never was shewn than by the captains, officers, and men you did me the honour to place under my command.

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Inclosed I transmit to you list of killed and wounded; and

* Theseus, Culloden, Zealous, Seahorse, Emerald, Terpsichore, Fox (1st) cntter. amongst

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rines drowned; 5 seamen and marines missing. Officers killed-Richard Bowen, captain of the Terpsichore'; George Thorpe, first lieutenant of ditto; John Weatherhead, lieutenant of the Theseus; William Earnshaw, second lieutenant of the Leander; Raby Robinson, lieutenant of marines, of ditto; lieutenant Basham, marines, of the Emerald; lieutenant John Gibson, of the Fox cutter, drowned.

Officers wounded - Rear-admiral Nelson, his right arm shot off; captain Thompson, of the Leander, slightly; captain Fremantle, of the Seahorse, in the arm; lieutenant. J. Douglas of ditto, in the hand; Mr. Waits, midshipman, of the Zealous.

HORATIO NELSON, 5. The gazette announces the following captures: Poisson Volant, of four guns, and thirty-eight men, captured the 14th of June, 1797, off Deseada, by the Tamer, capt. Martin.

La Barbarosse, of eight guns, and sixty-one men, captured the 23d of June, 1797, off Deseada, by the Tamer, capt. Martin. Louis Bonfoi, of four guns, and sixty-six men, captured the 9th

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of June, 1797, off Barbuda, by the Lapwing, captain Barton. La Legere, of six guns, and fifty men, captured the 6th of July, 1797, off Mariegalante, by the Zephyr, commanded by lieut. G. Reynolds,

La Va-Tout, of two guns, and thirty-two men, captured the Sth of July, 1797, off' Martinique, by the Zephyr, commanded by lieut. G. Reynolds.

La Victoire, French lugger priva.

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teer of six guns, and twentytwo men, by captain Boorder of L'Espiegle.

Proceedings in the Sheriff's Court, Sept. 8, to assess the Damages, in an action, Boddington versus Boddington.

A special jury was impannelled by the sheriff of London, to assess the damages to be awarded against the defendant, Mr. Benjamin Boddington, for criminal conversation with the wife of the plaintiff (Mr. Samuel Boddington) in which he had suffered judgment to go by default on action brought against him in the court of king's bench. The damages were laid at 50,0001.

Mr. Erskine, as leading counsel for the plaintiff, opened the case, and, after expatiating, with his usual eloquence, on the enormity of the crime of adultery and seduction, which he said struck at the very root of society, especially where there were children, as in the present case, and of which charges the defendant had admitted the truth, by suffering judgment to go by default, proceeded to state the particular circumstances attending it, which he contended, united in themselves the most shocking instance of depravity that ever entered the human mind, the defendant not only being partner with the plaintiff in a very extensive mercantile concern, but his first cousin. They were the children of two brothers. The defendant, under the sacred mask of friendship, abused the confidence reposed in him, and by various acts contaminated the mind of Mrs. Boddington, a lady who, previous to this unhappy and fatal error, bore the most unblemished character, and who, beside possessing a most beautiful person and elegant accomplishments, was remarked for the

exemplary manner in which she discharged the duties of a wife and a mother. The unfortunate lady in question is a daughter of a Mr. Ashburnham, a gentleman of some consequence in Bombay, who sent her over here at an early age for education, and, when she had acquired all the requisites to adorn her sex, directed that she should return to Bombay, which was to have taken place in the year 1790, and she was actually on board the ship for that purpose, when his client, Mr. S. Boddington, who had been some time deeply enamoured of her, and almost reduced to a state of despair by the thoughts of losing her, followed her on board the vessel, then at Gravesend, and having obtained the consent of her guardians to await the fiat of her father for their union, persuaded her to return; which was no hard task, as her love was then reciprocal. A period of ten months elapsed before the wishedfor letter came, containing her father's consent, and approbation of her choice, and on which the union took place, the lady having 50001. settled on her by her father, and the like sum by Mr. Boddington. Two children were the fruits of this marriage, and they continued to enjoy the most uninterrupted felicity till a short time previous to Mrs. Boddington's elopement with the defendant, which took place the beginning of June last, and which was conducted in such a way as to shew that it was a premeditated thing, and deliberate plan of seduction laid down by the defendant, who had so overpowered the lady's reason make her forget the duties she owed to an honourable husband and her children, and to persuade her to elope with him. The means to ef

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fect this scheme were the most abominable on the part of the defendant. Mr. S. Boddington having observed something in his wife's conduct that gave him reason to suspect his honour was in danger, resolved to remove her for a time from the scene he dreaded, but did it in such a delicate manner as not to create the least suspicion of the cause either to his wife or friends, proposing a journey to Bath, and then to Wales. He parted with the defendant in the most cordial manner, little thinking that matters had proceeded so far as the result had proved. He was to return to town immediately if business required his presence. A few days after he got to Bath, he received a letter from the defendant, informing him that the West-India packet . had arrived, and that his presence was necessary in town, to attend a meeting respecting some exchequer warrants. This letter unfortunately had the desired effect, Mr. Boddington immediately setting off for town in the, mail, leaving his wife at Bath. He must have been crossed on the road by the defendant, who went thither and carried her away. On Mr. Bodding ton's arriving in town, he found the following letter left for him by the defendant: When we parted on Wednesday last, it was for the last time. This night I go from London never to return again. I have deceived you in sending for you to town, and I wish I had not in other things; if you see my father, for God's sake break the matter to him by degrees. I have taken seven hundred pounds. (Signed)

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B. BODDINGTON.' Mr. Erskine, in very strong colours, then painted the enormity of

the defendant's conduct throughout the whole transaction, and which, he hoped, would make such an impression on the minds of the jury, when they heard the evidence which he should bring forward, as to induce them not to mitigate the damages in the smallest degree. He said, that he was well aware of the defendant's intention by pleading guilty, and had himself opposed the matter coming into that court for judgment, though he was certain their verdict would justify the decision of the court of King's Bench in suffering it to be removed.

The first witness called was Mr. Thomas Green, an attorney, who being sworn, was examined by Mr. serjeant Runnington. Mr. Green said, that miss Ashburnham, previous to her marriage with Mr. Samuel Boddington, was principally under his care; and that when her father sent for her to Bombay, he, the witness, provided every thing necessary for the voyage, and saw her on board the vessel; but, on application being made to him by Mr. Samuel Boddington, he consented to her coming on shore, and remaining in England till her father's will should be known respecting the intended marriage, and who sending his consent in about ten months after, the witness signed the marriage articles; they were united; that he visited them frequently after, and conceived them to be extremely happy, and that the union was founded in love on hoth sides.Cross-examined by Mr. Law.-He said he had no knowledge of Mr. Benjamin Boddington, the defendant, though he believed he dined with him once: he said that Mrs. Boddington was married in February

February 1792, is now about twenty-two years of age, and extremely beautiful and accomplished.

A lady of the name of Emerson said, she had known miss Ashburnham (now Mrs. Boddington) when she was ten years of age, and had continued the intimacy ever since; that she considered her perfectly virtuous till this affair took place: she spoke of her as being extremely beautiful and attractive in her manners; and said, that after she returned from on board the vessel at Gravesend, she was at the witness's house for some time, and then went to Mrs. Murray's school, at Kensington. The witness was present at the marriage, and conceived it to have been the result of love on both sides, and that Mr. Boddington appeared to make an excellent husband. She knew Mr. B. Boddington very well, and had frequently seen him in company with the plaintiff' and his wife.

On her cross-examination by Mr. Law, she said, she thought the defendant, at times, seemed to express too much attention and admiration to Mrs. Boddington, es.pecially when they were not in mixed companies; which circumstance she once mentioned to Mrs. Boddington, about half a year before the separation took place; after which she thought Mrs. Boddington did not behave with her usual kindness to her husband.

observed any thing particular in the behaviour of the defendant towards Mrs. Boddington.

Joseph Street, a clerk in the house of Messrs. Boddington, was examined. He described them to be West-India merchants, who traded to the amount of from 300,000 to 500,000l. per year. He said, that the defendant was admitted a partner about three years ago; that for the first year he had only one-third share of the profits of the business, but for the two last he had four ninths. He spoke of the great degree of happiness that appeared to subsist between the plaintiff and his wife till their separation, and described her to have always been extremely reserved in her behaviour. On being shown the letters before alluded to, he declared them to be the defendant's writing, as were also the drafts for 2001. and 5001.

Cross-examined by Mr. Law. Mr. He does not know that the money the defendant had in the business was advanced by his father, or that he had any other source to resort to for money; he had frequently seen the defendant at his father's, and thought he behaved as a dutiful son; he heard of his return to town on Wednesday week following the elopement, and also that he had been seen wandering on Enfield Chase. He saw Mrs. Boddington once at his house in MarkMr. Cline, surgeon, said, he had lane, after she had left the deknown Mr. S. Boddington for fendant, and that she came to see seven years that he had frequent- her children. In answer to a ly visited him after his marriage, question from Mr. Erskine, he deand that he thought Mrs. Bodding-clared that the plaintiff was not reton appeared to be extremely at- conciled to his wife. tentive to her husband, and affectionate to her children, the eldest of whom was four, and the other two years of age. He had frequently dined with them, but never

The evidence being gone through, Mr. Law, as advocate for the defendant, made a very able speech in mitigation of damages, and in which he endeavoured to convince

the

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