PRINCIPAL OCCURRENCES JANUARY. In the Year 1797. evening, when they quitted their station, and have not since been 2. saffing, at S.S.E. HE Lisbon mail, which ar- heard of. The wind, at the time of brings us the melancholy intelligence of the loss of his majesty's ships, the Bombay Castle, of 74 guns, commanded by capt. Sothe by, and the Courageux, of 74 guns, commanded by captain Hallowell. The fleet of admiral sir John Jervis encountered a severe storm in coming through the Straits of Gibraltar. The Courageux was seen to go down.-Capt. Hallowell, the master, and about 100 of the crew were happily saved; but we lament to say, that between 4 and 500 gallant men lost their lives. The Bombay Castle was lost close to the Tagus, and the captain and all the crew fortunately saved. The following are the official accounts of the attempt of the French upon Ireland: Whitehall, January 3. By dispatches received on Sunday evening from the lord-lieutenant of Ireland, by his grace the duke of Portland, his majesty's principal secretary of state for the home department, it appears, that a part of the French fleet, consisting of eight two-deckers, and nine other vessels of different classes, had anchored in Bantry Bay, on the 24th ultimo, and had remained there, without any attempt to land, till the 27th in the From their first appearance every exertion was made by general Dalrymple, the commanding officer of the district; and a considerable force was collected to repel the enemy. The accounts further state, that the yeomanry and volunteer corps displayed the utmost zeal and alacrity in undertaking the guards in those places from whence the regufar troops were withdrawn;, and the universal readiness shewn by all descriptions of people to forward the preparations for defence, left no doubt of the event, in case the enemy had ventured to make a descent. In particular, the spirit, activity, and exertions of Richard White, esq. of Seafield Park, deserve the most honourable mention. 1 An officer and seven men were driven on shore in a boat belonging to one of the French ships, and were immediately made prisoners. This gentleman was conveyed to Dublin, and, upon examination, states, that the fleet, upon its leaving Brest, consisted in all of about fifty sail, having an army of 25,000 men on board, commanded by general Hoche, and that it was destined for the attack of Ireland. Whitehall, January 7. By dis-. patches received this day by the (A2) duke duke of Portland, from the lordlieutenant of Ireland and Mr. Pelham, dated the 3d and 4th, it appears that a part of the French fleet had returned to Bantry Bay, and that another part had been seen off the mouth of the Shannon; but that both divisions had quitted their stations, and put to sea, on the evening of the 2d inst. without attempting a landing. The accounts of the disposition of the country, where the troops are assembled, are as favour able as possible; and the greatest loyalty has manifested itself through out the kingdom; and in the south and west, where the troops have been in motion, they have been met by the country people of all descriptions, with provisions and all sorts of accommodation, to facilitate their march; and every demonstration has been given of the zeal and ardour of the nation to oppose the enemy in every place where it could be supposed a descent might be attempted. Whitehall, January 17. Extract of a Letter from his Excellency the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, to his Grace the Duke of Portland, dated Dublin Castle, Jan. 10, 1797. I have the satisfaction to acquaint your grace, that since the information transmitted to Mr. Greville, that the French had entirely left Bantry Bay, there has been no re-appearance of them upon the coasts; so that I trust, from the violence of the tempest, and from their ships being ill-found and ill-victualled, their expedition is for the present frustrated. Upon reviewing what has passed during this expedition of the enemy, I have the satisfaction to reflect, that the best spirit was manifested by his majesty's regular and militia forces; and I have every reason to believe, that if a landing had taken place, they would have displayed the utmost fidelity. When the flank companies of the Antrim regiment were formed, the whole regiment turned out, to a man, with expressions of the greatest ea gerness to march; and the Downshire regiment, to a man, declared they would stand and fall by their officers. At the time the army was ordered to march, the weather was extremely severe; I therefore ordered them a proportion of spirits upon their route, and directed an allowance of four-pence a day to their wives until their return. During their march, the utmost attention was paid them by the inhabitants of the towns and villages through which they passed; so that in many places the meat provided by the commissaries was not consumed. The roads, which in parts had been rendered impass able by the snow, were cleared by the peasantry. The poor people often shared their potatoes with them, and dressed their meat without demanding payment, of which there was a very particular instance in the town of Banagher, where no gentleman or principal farmer resides to set them the example. At Carlow a considerable subscription was made for the troops as they passed; and at Limerick and Cork every exertion was used to facilitate the carriage of artillery and baggage, by premiums to the carmen ; and in the town of Galway, which for a short time was left with a very inadequate garrison, the zeal and ardour of the inhabitants and yeomanry were peculiarly manifested, and in a manner to give me the ut most satisfaction. In short, the ge neral good disposition of the people through the south and west was so prevalent,, that, had the enemy larrded, landed, their hope of assistance from the inhabitants would have been totally disappointed. From the armed yeomanry, government derived the most honourabie assistance. Noblemen and gentlemen of the first property vied in exerting themselves at the head of their corps. Much of the express and escort duty was performed by them. In Cork, Limerick, and Galway, they took the duty of the garrison. Lord Shannon informs me, that men of three and four thousand pounds a year were employed in escorting baggage and carrying expresses. Mr. John Latouche, who was a private in his son's corps, rode twenty-five miles in one of the severest nights, with an express, it being his turn for duty. The merchants of Dublin, many of them of the first eminence, marched sixteen Irish miles with a convoy of arms to the North, whither it was conducted by reliefs of yeomanry. The appearance in this metropolis has been highly meritorious. The corps have been formed of the most respectable barristers, attorneys, merchants, gentlemen, and citizens, and their number is so considerable, and their zeal in mounting guard so useful, that I was enabled greatly to reduce the garrison with perfect safety to the town. The numbers of yeomanry fully appointed and disciplined in Dublin exceed two thousand; above four hundred of whom are horse. The whole number of corps approved by govern ment amount to four hundred and forty, exclusive of the Dublin corps. The gross number is nearly twenty-five thousand. There are also ninety-one offers of service under consideration, and one hundred and twenty-five proposals have been declined; and, in reply to a circus lar letter written to the commandants of the respective corps, their answers almost universally contained a general offer of service in any part of the kingdom. Many prominent examples of individual loyalty and spirit have appeared. An useful impression was made upon the minds of the lower Catholias, by a judicious address from Dr. Moylan, the titular bishop of Cork. I cannot but take notice of the exertions of lord Kenmare, who spared no expense in giving assistance to the commanding officer in his neighbourhood, and who took into his own demesne a great quantity of cattle which had been driven from the coast. Nor could any thing exceed the ardor of the earl of Ormond, who, when his regiment of militia was retained as part of the garrison of Dublin, solicited with so much zeal a command in the flank companies, that I thought it a measure due to his majesty's service, to encourage his lordship's request. 3. The London Gazette of this day announces the capture of Le Suffrein, a French vessel, with 250 troops, arms, &c. on board. She was taken off Cape Clear by captain Stirling of the Jason. Also of the Didon French cutter privateer, carrying four brass four-pounders and thirty men, by captain Drew of the Cerberus. Also of the L'Amaranthe French brig, of twelve sixpounders and nine men, by the Diamond. 7. The London Gazette announces the capture of the San Pio Spanish corvette, of 18 guns and 140 men, by captain Carthen of the Regulus; Le Coup d'Essai, a small privateer of two guns, small arms, and 23 men, by captain Colvill of the Star. 8. The steeple of Horningtoft church, near Norwich, fell down, while the bell was ringing for divine service. 9. The London Gazette announces the capture of the L'Esperance French brig, by sir R. Strachan of the Diamond; of L'Hirondelle French privateer, of 12 guns and 70 men, by vice-admiral Murray of the Cleopatra; and La Tortue, of 44 guns, 725 men, including troops, by capt. Lumsdaine of the Polyphemus. 11. About noon, a melancholy accident happened in Liverpool harbour. As Mr. Slack, deputy constable, was conveying a party of volunteers, raised in Manchester and the adjacent parishes, for the navy, the boat in which they were proceeding to the tender overset, by which fatal accident 25 persons lost their lives. The following address of the city of London was presented to his majesty by the lord mayor, accompanied by the aldermen Clark, Boydell, Le Mesurier, Sanderson, Curtis, Eamer, Newman, Anderson, Herne, Williams, and a few common-council. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty The Humble Address of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen; and Commons of the City of London, in Com mon-Council assembled. Most Gracious Sovereign, We, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common-council as sembled, beg leave to approach the throne most humbly to thank your majesty for your gracious communication to both houses of parliament, of the measures adopted by your majesty on the recent manifesto of the court of Madrid, abruptly declaratory of an unprovoked war with Great Britain. Your majesty's faithful citizens of London sincerely lament, that your majesty's endeavours to preserve peace with Spain, and to adjust all matters in discussion with that court by amicable negotiation, have been rendered ineffectual, and the calamities of war thus unavoidably extended. Nevertheless, relying on the jus tice of your majesty's cause, the resources of the country, the wisdom of your majesty's councils, and the bravery of your majesty's fleets and armies, we doubt not that, under the protection of Divine Providence, your majesty will be able to repel this unprovoked aggression, to subdue all your enemies, and finally to obtain the blessings of peace, to secure the dignity of your majesty's crown, and to advance the prosperity of these kingdoms. Signed, by order of Court, WILLIAM RIX. I sincerely lament the failure of my endeavours to preserve peace with Spain; but, from the justice of my cause, the experienced valour of my fleets and armies, and the spirited and generous exertions of the nation at large, I trust, under the protection of the Divine Providence, that this aggression will be effectually repelled, and that the blessings of peace 'will be restored, upon terms consistent with the honour of my crown, and with the security and interests of my people. Alderman Herne, of Castle Baynard Ward, received the honour of knighthood, now sir W. Herne, knight. 12. At the Old Bailey sessions this day, the following singular cause was tried. Launcelot Knowles was indicted for obtaining money under false pretences, and the indictment stated, that a person of the name of John Sanders was under judgment for a felony, and that the prisoner, intending to cheat and defraud one Ann Keys of a sum of money, knowingly and designedly did falsely pretend and affirm that he had great influence, credit, and interest with the duke of Portland, sir Watkin Lewes, and Mr. Baldwin, and that, by such influence, credit, and interest, he could procure pardon for the said John Sanders, and that he would procure such pardon, but that he must for that purpose have the sum of five guineas intrusted to him, for that he was to procure nch pardon on paying one guinea through one channel, and another guinea through another channel, but that no part of that money was to be kept by himself. That the said Ann Keys gave him the sum of six guineas, and he said he would procure such pardon by exerting his influence, credit, and interest with the duke of Portland, sir Watkin Lewes, and Mr. Baldwin, whereas, in truth, he had no such influence, credit, or interest with such persons, or with either of them, nor had he any reason to think that he bad any such influence, credit, or interest. Mr. Abbot opened the pleadings for the prosecution, Mr. Garrow opened the case. The prosecution, he said, which the jury were now called upon to decide, appeared to him, from the facts on which it was founded, to be of the highest importance that could possibly occur to a court, or come before it in the shape of a misde meanour. It had been thought by those who filled the highest departments in the administration of public affairs, that it was their duty to lay this case before the jury, which involved in it the case of unfortu nate individuals who were unable to protect themselves, and who had been the objects of the most rapacious and profligate plunder of the prisoner who now stood at the bar. The charge which was exhibited against the prisoner was, what probably the jury would agree with him in thinking, came before them in a shape which the best men must lament to see, for the prisoner was only indicted for a misdemeanour. He really wished it had been an higher denomination of offence, and that to affect the prisoner's life. The charge, however, was only a misdemeanour, that of having obtained, at three several times, upon false pretences, the sum of six guineas of Ann Keys, by pretending to have interest with three most respectable persons, namely, his grace the duke of Portland, sir Watkin Lewes, and Mr. Baldwin, as the jury has already collected from the opening of the indictment by his learned friend; and this was done under pretence, on the part of the pri soner, of procuring his majesty's pardon for a person of the name of John Sanders, who was convicted of a capital offence. Ann Keys was the mother of the unfortunate convict, John Sanders, and the prisoner now at the bar was introduced to her as a person who could procure his majesty's pardon to her son. The prisoner, without the least difficulty on his part, stated to this unhappy woman that he had such interest with the duke of Portland, sir Watkin Lewes, and Mr. Baldwin, as would enable him immediately to procure a remission of the capital part |