Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this common-hall be given to the right hon. the lord mayor, for his readiness to call the same, and his impartial conduct this day. RIX.

The city of Westminster, and the principal wards and parishes in London and Westminster, held meetings about this time, in which resolutions similar to the above were passed.

16. The London gazette contains letters from rear-admiral Harvey, all of which, except the last, are dated the 5th of October, 1797, or board the Prince of Wales, in Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, to Evan Nepean, esq. &c.

on

Admiralty-office, Dec. 16. Be. pleased to acquaint their lordships, that his majesty's sloop Bittern, commanded by lieutenant Edward Kittoe, fell in with, the 13th ultimo, off Tortola, and captured the French ship privateer P'Agréable, of 18 guns, nine and six-pounders, and 115 men, which had left Guadaloupe two days before, and taken nothing; had been just fitted out, is a fast sailer, and coppered.

The capture of this vessel under her first equipment is of much consequence; and the very spirited manner in which she was attacked and captured in the night (although without resistance), does great credit to the conduct of lieutenant. Kittoe.

His majesty's ship Lapwing, on the 1st of August, being to the northward of Tortola, in lat. 22 deg. 20 min. captured Le Regulus French privateer sloop, belonging to Porto Rico, of four guns, and 26 men, which captain Barton sent to St. Christopher; she had been out fifteen days, and had captured an American brig.

Be pleased to acquaint their lord

ships, that his majesty's ship Scourge captured, the 28th ult. off Mariegalante, La Sarazine French schooner privateer, belonging to Guadaloupe, of six guns, and 58 men, which captain Warren sent to this island. She had been out ten days, but had taken nothing.

Be pleased to acquaint their lordships, that his majesty's ship Tamer (captain Martin) has captured and sent to Barbadoes three French privateers belonging to Guadaloupe, the force of which, with their names, and the dates of their capture, are as follows:-4th August 1797, Le Pont de Arcoll, cutter, 4 guns, and 48 men, off Martinique. 8th ditto, Le Renard, cutter, 10 guns, and 71 men, off Martinique. 10th ditto, L'Utile, ship, of 14 guns, and 135 men, off Barbadoes. They had been out a very short time, and the two former had not taken any thing; but the latter had captured one English and two American vessels.

The Alexandrian schooner, of six guns, and 40 men, tender to his majesty's ship Prince of Wales, having sailed from hence, under the command of lieutenant William Wood Senhouse, in quest of some privateers that were said to be off this island, fell in with, the 15th of August last, Le Cocq French privateer, of six guns, and 34 men. After an action of three quarters of an hour, she struck, having two men killed and five wounded. The same evening the Alexandrian attacked another schooner of greater force, which, after a running action of some time, escaped by the darkness of the night. The conduct of lieutenant Senhouse, the officers and men of the Alexandrian, on this occasion, was highly spirited and meritorious.

The fifth letter refers to a list

of

I enclose, for the information of their lordships, a copy of a letter I have received from lieutenant William Wood Senhouse, of his majesty's ship Prince of Wales, commanding the Alexander armed tender.

The very gallant and spirited conduct of Mr. Senhouse, by the capture of a privateer so superior in force, together with his former services on a similar occasion, will, I am persuaded, recommend him to their lordships' particular favour.

The Alexander's force was six guns and thirty-eight men, that of the French privateer eight guns, and seventy-four men.

I have, &c.

HENRY HARVEY. Alexander, Fort Royal, Martinique, Oct. 8, 1797.

SIR,

I have the honour to acquaint you, that, after delivering your dispatches to the governor of Demarary, and captain Manwaring of the Babet, on the first instant, we immediately, in pursuance of your orders, made sail for Barbadoes, and at day-light on the 4th, that island then bearing west five or six leagues, we observed a schooner on our quarter making sail after an American brig to leeward; we continued our course, but she discovering us to be an armed vessel, hauled her wind to the northward, as we did in chase of her; and at nine, A. M. brought her to a close action of fifty minutes, when she struck, proving to be L'Erpicharis French privateer, mounting eight

carriage guns, and having on board seventy-four men, belonging to Guadaloupe.

It is with regret I add, that this was not accomplished without the loss of an excellent seaman, and four others wounded, one, I fear, mortally. The loss of the enemy, I have reason to think, was great, as on our taking possession of her four men were found lying dead on her deck, and twelve severely wounded.

The muster-roll of the privateer being lost, and the captain's account not agreeing with the number found, I have mentioned seventyfour, as the number actually counted by us when she struck.

I have, &c.

W. W. SENHOUSE. Rear-admiral Harvey, &c. Leeward Islands.

17. Advices are received from the West Indies of a dreadful mutiny, on the 22d of September, on board the Hermione frigate, when captain Pigot, and all his officers, except the surgeon and one master's mate, were murdered, as well as most of the marines-in all, more than 40 persons. They carried the frigate to Laguana, intending to deliver her up to the Spanish governor, on a capitulation to be paid their arrears of pay, to be received as Spanish subjects, and not to be returned at the end of the war.

The mutiny was headed by captain Pigot's own coxswain, who had been in different, ships four or five years with him. He cut off the captain's head while asleep.

Letters from Portsmouth mention the death of captain Parker, of the Intrepid, as particularly singular, as well as truly unfortunate. He was sitting in his cabin, when, upon a sudden heel of the ship, and his chair giving way, he fell against the sash window of one of the port.

holes,

holes, which he went through into the sea. It blew so strong, that be fore any assistance could be given by backing the sails, he unhappily disappeared. Captain Parker was brother to vice-admiral sir William Parker, at Lisbon. Dublin, Dec. 18. Yesterday intelligence was received in town of the death of colonel Fitzgerald, who was lately guilty of a most shameful and dishonourable act in the family of the present earl of Kingston, by seducing a daughter of that muchrespected nobleman, to whom he was allied, in whose family he had been a constant visitor. He met with his death in the following

manner:

After the discovery of this unfortunate criminal intercourse, which occurred in England, and in consequence of which a duel had taken place between the brother of the young lady (who is now lord Kings borough) and the deceased colone! Fitzgerald, she was removed to the country residence of her noble father, now the earl of Kingston, at Mitchelstown, near Kilworth, in this kingdom. The deceased feeling no remorse for what he had done, in dishonouring, by the most artful stratagems, an illustrious family, had the audacity and hardihood to follow the young lady to Ireland; it is supposed with a view to wrest her by violence from her parents, and took lodgings at an inn in Kilworth. The colonel had been there some days before his arrival at Kilworth was known, or the object of his expedition was discovered. He was observed to walk out in the night, and conceal himself in the day, and the servants at length noticed him lurking about Mitchels town house at unseasonable hours. The intelligence having reached lord Kingsborough, who had had

the duel with the colonel, and resolved to defeat his antagonist's project, he left his father's house, and went to Kilworth, where, hav ing inquired if that gentleman was in the house, and being informed he was, he went to the apartment he was directed to that the colonel lodged in. Lord Kingsborough rapped at the door, requiring admittance; the other, knowing his voice, replied that he was locked in, and could not open the door; but, if he had any thing to say to him, he would receive it in writing under the door. This enraged the young nobleman, and he forced open the door, and running to a case of pistols in the room, took one, and desired the colonel to take the other and defend himself; he was resolved to have satisfaction for the scheme the deceased had formed against his sister, and which he came to this place to put in execution. On both seizing the pistols, they grappled with each other, and were struggling, when the earl of Kingston, who had been apprised of his son's departure in pursuit of the colonel, and quickly followed the young lord, entered the room, and finding them in the contest, and that his son must lose his life from the situation the deceased had him in, the earl fired upon the colonel, not we believe with an intent to kill him though his aggravation was great; but the shot however took effect, and the colonel lost his life, but not lamented by any one who has heard of his very dishonourable conduct in this affair..

When Miss King was taken by her father from England, on account of her disgrace, it was disco vered, on her arrival in Dublin, that the servant-maid who accom panied her favoured the views of the seducer. On her consequent dis

missal from the service, she returned to England, and was the bearer of a private letter to col. Fitzgerald, the contents of which were, it is said, sufficient to induce the colonel, even at the risk of his life, to make an effort to gain the young lady, but his finances not enabling him to undertake the journey, he borrowed a sum of money of an amiable woman, who ought ever to have been most dear to him, un der the pretence of making a visit to Dorsetshire. Thus accommodated, he set out for the sister kingdom, and arrived at the village of Kilworth, near Mitchelstown, the residence of the noble family, the place where the young lady was then kept, and whose conduct was then watched with peculiar vigilance.

An admiralty-sessions was held at the Old Bailey, when three prisoners were tried, one of whom was capitally convicted, viz. George Jay, for that he, being a natural-born subject of this kingdom, was, on the 4th day of June last, taken on board a French privateer, fighting against the subjects of this country, and received judgment of death. Two were acquitted; and four discharged by proclamation.

This

Admiralty-office, Dec. 19. gazette contains an account of the capture of a fast-sailing French privateer, La Mouche, of 18 guns, and 222 men, by his majesty's ship Diana, captain Faulkner.

The national thanksgiving for the three great naval victories of lords Howe, St. Vincent, and Duncan, took place this morning. Never, perhaps, was there so fine a spectacle exhibited; and the recollection of the ever-memorable events which gave rise to it added in no small degree to the gaiety of the scene. The remarkable beauty and clear

ness of the day (the finest which had taken place for many weeks) greatly increased the splendour and brilliancy of the spectacle.

Long before day-light the houses of the streets through which the procession passed began to fill.

The military, consisting of the three brigades of foot-guards, the horse-guards not immediately employed about the king's person, the volunteer corps of London, and Westminster light-horse, came upon duty at seven o'clock; the latter assembled in Hyde Park, and before eight moved down Constitution Hill, on their route through Pall-Mall and to the city. His majesty, seeing them pass, did them the honour to require them to countermarch by the gate next Pimlico, where his majesty was pleased to stand to see them march past him. His majesty was most graciously pleased to express his high consideration of the corps in the most gratifying terms. About seven, the military moved to their stations in the different streets which they were appointed to line. The foot-guards took the duty from St. James's to Temple Bar, inside of which the streets were lined by the two regiments of city militia, the two regiments of East-India volunteers, and several other corps of the same description, to whose military and decorous conduct, we are happy we can bear the most decisive testimony.

At eight o'clock; the seamen and marines chosen to escort the colours, formed before the admiralty. They were fine-looking men; and the trophies of their bravery were labelled" June, 1794," " Febru ary, 1797,"" October, 1797," &c:

The procession began with two colours taken from the French, three from the Spaniards, and four from

the