tle, and one after the other to close to the wind, with the larboard tack down; whereby the rear, under rear-admiral Bloys, became of course the van. The Vryheid braced her top-sails a-back, to ena ble the other ships more conveniently and speedily to reach their respective stations; the Jupiter, vice-admiral Reyntjes, also fell back, whilst some other ships were endeavouring to get into their stations; but rear-admiral Bloys remained lying to windward with his topsail a-back; although a signal was out for his squadron to make more sail, and to repair to its station; which signal was duly answered by all the ships of the squadron, except his own. In the mean time, the English fleet approached within three quarters of a German mile, and then brought to, in order to arrange itself, the wind being very inconstant, varying sometimes one or two points. The Vryheid had the misfortune of having her main-top-sail yard carried away by a squall, which obliged her to set the fore-sail and some stay-sails, that she might keep her distance. In the mean time admiral de Winter made the signal for the ships to close as much as possible, as also for the foremost ship of the line to shorten sail.

The line of the Batavian fleet was now formed; but the Brutus, rear-admiral Bloys Van Treslong, not being in her station, laid herself in the line a-head of the Leyde, the Delft having fallen back below the line (and not being able properly to attain her station and distance in any other manner), was ordered by vice-admiral Reyntjes to place herself the hindmost ship of the line, by which means the Batavian line became completely formed; but being irregular as to dis

tance, the signal for closing as much as possible was repeated.

Whilst so doing the English fleet, having put itself in order, bore down upon us before the wind. The division of vice-admiral Onslow, who was in the Monarch, being somewhat a-head, that division, consisting of four ships of 74, three of 64, and one of 50 guns, made for the rear of the Batavian line. At the same moment the Haarlem got too close to the Jupiter, which ship filling her maintop-sail, and the Haarlem backing all her sails, a considerable distance was thereby occasioned between these two ships; and the Haarlem, being a very indifferent sailer, could not so speedily regain her station in the line.

Vice-admiral Onslow, profiting by this circumstance, forthwith led with his ship, the Monarch, through the line; while admiral de Winter made the signal to direct the fire against the advancing ships of the enemy; expecting that by forming in close order, the English fleet would be also obliged to form a regular and parallel line a-breast of the Batavian fleet. The Monarch thus running through the line, gave her starboard broadside to the Haarlem, and the larboard to the Jupiter; and per contra a broadside was given her by the Munnikkendam frigate, which had stationed herself somewhat behind, yet with. out the line, to the leeward of the Jupiter; and so well was the Monarch also received by the Jupiter, that the wheel of her helm was shot away, and the whole ship consider ably shattered.

In the interim, three English ships got alongside of the Haarlem, Alkmaar, and Delft, whilst two others, together with a frigate, passed astern, and severely battered

the

the Delft; in this manner these hindinost ships became engaged on both sides, and were thereby very ill treated, and thrown into confusion in a short space of time; to such a degree indeed, that the Alkmaar ran against the stern of the Munnikkendam, which frigate being already considerably shattered, used her utmost efforts to bear away, and for a short time quit her station, that she might have the better opportunity of repairing her damage; but being almost unmanageable from the injury she had sustained, and being pursued by the Beaulieu and a ship of the line (supposed the Agincourt), she was reduced to the said necessity of submitting to her more powerful opponents; and, after a valiant defence, the Delft, the Haarlem, and the Alkmaar, being not only much disabled, but in a sinking condition, were also obliged to strike to the superior force of their assailants, as well as the Jupiter, which was at once attacked by the Russel, and forsaken by the Cerberus,

At the same time the conflict commenced between the division of admiral Duncan, consisting of three ships of 74, four of 64, and one of 50 guns, whereof the Venerable was the foremost, which endeavoured to penetrate between rear-admiral Story and admiral de Winter: but was at first frustrated in her intention by the closing of these divisions: unfortunately, however, the Wassenaar, being a very heavy and bad sailing ship, could not close with sufficient speed, and being at the same time attacked by the Powerful, of 74 guns, the Venerable succeeded in getting a-stern of the States-General, without sustaining much injury; whilst the Ardent attacked the Vryheid, and attempted to pass in like manner: the other

English ships likewise exerted themselves to pass the Hercules and De Vries, but were prevented by the close situation of our ships.

The battle now became general, and one half of the English fleet being to leeward, and the other half to windward of the Batavian line, the conflict was vigorous and obstinate on both sides; and, considering the separation of the English line, and that the part of their fleet which was lying to leeward suffered considerably by the tremendous fire they received from our ships opposed to them, and the repeating frigates and brigs, the Batavian admiral de Winter entertained great hopes that victory would (as has often happened) declare in favour of the Batavian flag. In these expectations he was, however, much disappointed, when, after being overwhelmed with clouds of smoke and flames, for the space of an hour and a half, and after having considerably damaged his adversary, the state of the Dutch fleet was no sooner clear to his sight, than he had the melancholy prospect before his eyes of the Hercules on fire, which obliged her to quit the line; whilst the Beschermer also got before the wind, out of the action, as well as the States-General, which set her fore-sail, and got on the lee-side, a-head of the Vryheid, probably to shelter herself from the flames of the Hercules. By this movement the Vryheid became engaged with three English ships; namely, the Venerable; the ship by which the Hercules was battered, and her own opponent: this was also the case with the Gelykheid and Adiniral de Vries, who were attacked by four ships of the enemy. They, nevertheless, continued all to fight with great vigour and bravery.

The

Vries, the Gelykheid, the Hercules (which, while on fire, had thrown her gunpowder overboard), and lastly, the Vryheid, were obliged severally to strike, as neither of them were any longer manageable, and being surrounded by a number of the enemy's ships, all further resistance was rendered ineffectual.

Thus the battle of the 11th of October, 1797, was ended by the ceasing of the fire from the Batavian ship Vryheid, which to the last nobly contended to preserve what she honourably lost-the Batavian colours.

The bad success of this engagement is to be attributed to the following causes.

1st. the English force, although equal in number, exceeded that of the Batavians as to ships of the line.

2d. The English ships having been together at sea, during the space of nineteen weeks, the particular capacity of all the ships was known to them, with relation to each other: which, it must be allowed, is of the utmost importance and advantage in nautical manœuvres. This was not the case with the Dutch.

3d. The advantage of the attack: and

4th. The early retreat of six Batavian ships from the action. And among those that remained were four very indifferent sailers, to which may be principally attributed the breaking of the line. Add to this, that having lost the advantage of attack, and being partly forsaken, it becomes a matter of less surprize that the victory turned out so decisively in favour of the English. Upon the whole, without magnifying Batavian courage beyond what was exemplified in this me

1797.

morable engagement; and admitting that casual circumstances had been equally favourable to them ast to the English, and admiral de Winter's signals been obeyed and executed with the same promptitude as admiral Duncan's were, it is no improbable conjecture that some of the British fleet would at this time have been moored in the Texel, as a memento of Batavian prowess, and a monument to the memory of the 11th of October, 1797.

16. There was a general illumination in the metropolis, and its vicinities, in celebration of admiral Duncan's victory. The mansionhouse, admiralty, theatres, and other public buildings, were splendidly illuminated. Few events have given rise to more general and ardent demonstrations of joy.

17. The gazette of this night announces the capture of La Decouverte, French brig, 14 guns and 91 men, by the Unité; and of the Telemachus, French lugger privateer, of 12 guns and 35 men, by lieutenant Tomlinson of the Speedwell.

18. The livery of London assembled in common hall, to proceed to the choice of a fit person to fill the lord mayor's chair for the ensuing year.

The court of aldermen went to the hustings at one o'clock, and, after the usual ceremonies were passed through, the recorder came forward. He informed the hall, that in consequence of sir Benjamin Hammet's having declined to serve the office to which the livery of London had elected him; and of his having paid into the chamber of the city the sum of 10001. as a fine, it became necessary to choose some other fit and proper person to the same office in his stead.

(L.)

The

The names of the aldermen next in turn were then read, beginning with those of Newman, Anderson, and Combe; the two last of whom, having the majority of hands in their favour, were returned to the court of aldermen for their approbation, and they returned Mr. alderman Anderson duly chosen, he being the senior on the list: he was accordingly invested with the insignia of office.

20. The court of aldermen and common council voted thanks to admiral Duncan and his officers, and the freedom of the city and a sword of 200 guineas value to him; and the freedom with a sword of 100 guineas value, to vice-admiral Onslow.

26. The city of London presented a loyal address to his majesty on the victory gained by admiral Duncan. See Public Papers.

28. Yesterday the sessions ended at the Old Bailey, when Ann Sanmert, Henry Boxer, John Clover, Charles Martin, Richard Simmonds, William Goldsmith, William Ranten, William Morris, Mary Hodges, (otherwise Susannah Robinson), William Osland, William Coleman (otherwise Middleton), John Asquith, and Thomas Wiley, (thirteen years of age, being a person employed in the general post-office, did feloniously secrete a certain letter, containing bank notes and bills of exchange to the amount of 501. the property of messrs. Williams and co.) received sentence of death; 13 were ordered to be transported for the term of seven years; 12 to be imprisoned in the house of correc tion, Clerkenwell; 5 to be imprisoned in Newgate; and one ordered to be publicly whipped.

The sessions were adjourned until Wednesday the 6th of December

next.

30. The coroner's inquest sat on the body of Humphrey Bruister, esq. who, on Thursday evening, shot himself at his house in Deaustrect, Soho, and brought in a verdict lunacy. The nurse was the principal witness on this melancholy occasion. By her evidence it appeared, that the deceased had been indisposed for several days. On Thursday he was sufficiently well, and ordered a haddock for dinner, and a pudding. About two hours be-, fore his death he changed his mind, and desired to have boiled mutton at the usual hour. In the morning of Thursday he locked himself in his bed-room for a considerable time, a circumstance by no means customary. At one o'clock the nurse and servant-maid heard a pistol-shot as they sat in the kitchen. The nurse ran up stairs, but did not open the door, till she called the maid, in consequence of the sulphureous smell which issued from the apartment. On entering the room, Mr. Bruister was stretched on the sofa-the blood issuing from a wound made in his head by the pistol-ball. The pistol was not sufficiently charged to shoot the ball through the head, in which it still remains. The ball did not enter the brain, as he survived the fatal shot about five minutes. Near him a loaded pistol was found, and behind him, on the sofa, a small dish of gunpowder and several balls! Mr. Bruister was about fifty, extremely infirm, and led rather a solitary life. He was passionate, but good-natured; nervous in the extreme, and impatient of insult. His rental is 6000l. a-year. In the country he kept up a respectable establishment, but in town it was by no means adequate to his income. On Saturday last Mr. Bruister returned from his estate, in consequence of indis

position;