Midshipman of the Windsor Castle, who was in the boat with me, fhewed much activity and addrefs on this occafion, as well as firmnefs throughout the day. The explosion of a fecond powder veffel, equally unexpected, and with a fhock even greater than the firft, again put us in the moft imminent danger of perishing; and when it is confidered that we were within the fphere of the falling timber, it is next to miraculous that no one piece, of the many which made the water foam round us, happened to touch either the Swallow or the three boats with me. It Having now fet fire to every thing within our reach, exhausted our combustible preparations, and our strength to fuch a degree, that the men abfolutely dropped on the oars; we directed our courfe to join the fleet, running the gauntlet under a few ill-directed fhot from the forts of Balaguier and Aiguelette, now occupied by the enemy, but fortunately without lofs of any kind, we proceeded to the place appointed for the embarkation of the troops and took off as many as we could carry. would be injuftice to those officers whom I have omitted to name, for their not having been fo immediately under my eye, if I did Dot acknowledge myself indebted to them all, for their extraordinary exertions in the execution of this great national object. The quickrefs with which the inflammation took effect, on my fignal, its extent and duration, are the beft evidences that every officer and man was ready at his poft, and firm under the moft perilous circumstances. We can ascertain that the fire extended to at least ten fail of the line, how much farther we cannot fay. The lofs of the general magazine, and of the quantity of pitch, tar, rosin, hemp, timber, cordage, and gunpowder, muft confiderably impede the equipment of the few fhips that remain. I am forry to have been obliged to leave any, but I hope your Lordfhip will be fatisfied that we did as much as our circumfcribed means enabled us to do, in a limited time, preffed as we were by a force la much fuperior to us. I have the honour to be, &c. W. SYDNEY SMITH. Right. Hon. Lerd Hood Sc. The Gazette further contains a lift of the fhips at Toulon when the Combined forces took poffeffion of that place, and how they have been difpofed of. An abstract of which fol lows: Ships of the line preferved at Toulon, Ships of the line fent to Breft, A fhip of the line in the Mediterranean, Ships of the line building at Toulon, An abftract of the return of officers and feamen belonging to the hips under-mentioned, who were killed, wounded, and miffing, on the 17th December 1793, at Fort Mulgrave. Victory-1 Lieutenaut, I Midshipman, 2 Seamen wounded; 8 miffing. Britannia-8 Seamen killed. Windfor Caftle-2 Seamen killed; 2 Seamen wounded; 2 Seamen miffing. Princess Royal-1 Midshipman, 8 Seamen miffing. Lieut. Goddard, of the Victory, wounded. Mr J. W. Loring, Midshipman of the Victory, wounded. Mr A. Wilkie, Midshipman of the Princess Royal, mifling. Return of the Miffing of the British Forces, on the morning of the 17th December 1793. Attack of Fort Mulgrave. 11th Regiment-Lieutenant Knight. 18th or Royal Irish--Ensign Minchin. 30th Regiment-Capt. de Vaumorelt, Lieut. Cuyler. Marines-Lieutenants Williams, Barry, and Lynn. Royal Navy-Mr Alexander Wilkie, midfhipman. Officers Names, Wounded and Present. I Loring, midshipman. I The fate of the above officers and men, re turned turned miffing, is not, or cannot be known; but from all the intelligence that can be gained it is much to be apprehended, that they fell before day-break, gallantly defending the poft they were entrusted with, when abandoned by other troops. Lond. Gaz, The commanders in chief exprefs their highest fatisfaction, with that appearance of cordial understanding which prevailed between the officers and men in the fleet and army, and that defire which the commanders of the forces of our allies difcovered to forward every plan, and to execute every measure which the common caufe required. The lords commiffioners of the Admiralty have fent letters to the commanders and captains of fhips in Lord Hood's fleet, expreffing their entire probation of their spirited exertions on the 18th November last. ap The French are faid to have coined 5000 guineas, fo refembling the English coin, that the counterfeit was not eafily discovered, the defect confifts in a fingle letter. That the above is done for finifter purposes, cannot be doubted. Prince Adolphus is embarked on board the Vestal frigate for Oftend. Six French frigates have appeared in the channel. Captain Bazely of the Alfred difcovered them off the Start. Three men of war at Plymouth, with frigates, are ordered out to fea in quest of them; they have already taken feveral fhips, Mr Taylor, of Lloyd's coffee-houfe, hath received official information of two fquadrons being difpatched by government in purfuit of them. Prince Auguftus is embarked at Portfmouth on board the Aquilon, Captain Stopford, for the Mediterranean, under convoy of the Culloden and Hannibal. 21. Difpatches are received by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, from the Governor and Council at Bengal, ftating the fucceffes of the forces in that quarter directed against the French fettlements. As foon as it was known that war was declared in Europe, the neceffary arrangements were made, the fort of Chandernagore, with their factories, and vessels bearing their flag, were feized without refiftance. Colonel Floyd marched with a detachment to lay fiege to Pondicherry, while the Commodore was to blockade it by fea. The factories of Karical and Yanam were taken poffeffion of by the officers of the Madras government. On the Bombay ftation, fort Mahe, and the factory at Surat, were feized without refiftance. Lond. Gaz. The Queen's birth-day was celebrated with the ufual demonftrations of joy. It gave great fatisfaction to obferve the attention paid in the dreffes to the manufactures of this country, as Spitalfield filks, fancy metal buttons, and fhoe buckles, which were generally worn, and which muft give renewed vigour to trade, and bread to thousands. The illuminations in the city were even more brilliant than on former birth-days. The Turkish ambaffador and the Foreign Minifters were all at court, at St. James's. Preparations are making to recommence the trial of Warren Haftings. BRITISH PARLIAMENT. On the 21ft inft. the King opened the deliberations of the prefent feffion, by delivering the following moft gracious fpeech from the throne: My Lords and Gentlemen, THE Circumftances under which you are now affembled, require your most ferious attention. We are engaged in a conteft, on the iffuc of which depend the maintenance of our Conftitution, Laws, and Religion, and the fecurity of all civil fociety. You must have obferved, with fatisfaction, the advantages which have been obtained by the arms of the Allied Powers, and the change which has taken place in the general fituation of Europe, fince the commencement of the war. The United Provinces have been protected from invafion. The Auftrian Netherlands have been recovered and maintained; and places of confiderable importance have been acquired on the frontiers of France. The recapture of Mentz, and the fubfequent fucceffses fucceffes of the allied armies on the Rhine, have, notwithstanding the advantages recently obtained by the enemy in that quarter, proved highly beneficial to the common caufe. Powerful efforts have been made by my allies in the fouth of Europe. The temporary poffeffion of the port and town of Toulon, has greatly diftreffed the operations of my enemies; and, in the evacuation of that place, an important and decifive blow has been given to their naval power, by the diftinguished conduct, abilities, and fpirit of my commanders, officers, and forces, both by fea and land. 'The French have been driven from their poffeffions and fishery at Newfoundland; and important and valuable acquifitions have been made both in the Eaft and West Indies. • At fea our fuperiority has been undifputed, and our commerce fo effectually protected, that the loffes fuftained have been inconfiderable in proportion to its extent, and to the captures made on the contracted trade of the enemy. The circumstances by which the further progrefs of the allies has hitherto been impeded, not only prove the necefhty of vigour and perfeverance on our part, but at the fame time confirm the expectation of ultimate fuccefs. Our enemies have derived the means of temporary exertion, from a fyftem which has enabled them to difpofe arbitrarily of the lives and property of a numerous people, and which openly violates every reftraint of juftice, humanity, and religion. But thefe efforts, productive as they neceffarily have been of internal difcontent and confufion, have alfo tended rapidly to exhauft the national and real ftrength of that country. Although I cannot but regret the neceffary continuance of the war, I fhould ill confult the effential interefts of my people, if I were defirous of peace on any grounds but fuch as may provide for their permanent fafety, and for the independence and fecurity of Europe. The attainment of thefe ends is still obftructed by the prevelance of a fyftem in France, equally incompatible with the happiness of that country, and with the tran qulity of all other nations. Under this impreffion I thought proper to make a declaration of the views and principles by which I am guided. I have ordered a copy of this declaration to be laid before you, together with copies of feveral conventions and treaties with different powers, by which you will perceive how large a part of Europe is united in a cause of such general concern. 1 reflect, with unspeakable fatisfaction on the steady loyalty, and firm attachment to the established Conftitution and Government, which, notwithstanding the continued efforts employed to mislead and to feduce, have been fo generally prevalent among all ranks of my people. These sentiments have been eminently manifested in the zeal and alacrity of the Militia to provide for our internal defence, and in the distinguished bravery and fpirit difplayed on every occafion by my forces, both by fea and land: They have maintained the luftre of the British name, and have fhewn themselves worthy of the bleffings which it is the object of all our exertions to preferve. • Gentlemen of the House of Commons, 'I have ordered the neceffary estimates and accounts to be laid before you; and I am perfuaded you will be ready to make fuch provifion as the exigencies of the time, may require. I feel too sensibly the repeated proofs which I have received of the affection of my subjects, not to lament the neceffity of any additional burthens. It is, however, a great confolation to me to obferve the favourable ftate of the revenue, and complete fuccefs of the measure, which was last year adopted, for removing the embaraffments affecting commercial credit. Great as must be the extent of our exertions, I truft you will be enabled to provide for them in fuch a manner as to avoid any preffure which could be feverely felt by my people. you My Lords and Gentlemen, . In all your deliberations will undoubtedly bear in mind the true grounds and origin of the war. An attack was made on us and on Our our allies, founded on principles which whenever fuch terms fhall be propofed, tend to deftroy all property, to fubvert no obstacle may arife from the existence the laws and religion of every civilized of any particular form of government in nation, and to introduce, univerfally, that that country." wild and deftructive fyftem of rapine, anarchy, and impiety, the effects of which, as they have already been manifefted in France, furnish a dreadful, but useful leffon to the present age, and to pofterity. It only remains for us to continue to perfevere in our united exertions: Their difcontinuance or relaxation could hardly procure even a fhort interval of delufive repofe, aud could never terminate in fecurity or peace. Impreffed with the neceffity of defending all that is moft dear to us; and relying, as we may do with confidence, on the valour and refources of the nation, on the combined efforts of so large a part of Europe, and, above all, on the inconteftible juftice of our cause, let us render our conduct a contrast to that of our enemies; and, by cultivating and practising the principles of humanity, and the duties of religion, endeavour to merit the continuance of the divine favour and protection, which have been fo eminently experienced by these kingdoms.' HOUSE OF LORDS. After his Majefty retired, and the house was refumed, Lord Stair rofe and moved, That his Majefty's fpeech be read, which being done; his Lordship took a review of the heads contained in the fpeech, on which he commented with great force and energy. He concluded by moving an humble addrefs to his Majefty, which was in every refpect an echo of the fpeech. The addrefs was feconded by Lord Auckland, who in his fpeech and arguments followed the fame grounds with Lord Stair. The firft noble lord who spoke on the fide of oppofition was the Earl of Guildford, who argued ftrongly against the continuance of the war, and concluded his fpeech by moving the following amendment, "That an humble address may be prefented to his Majefty, to take the earliest opportunity of concluding a peace with France, upon fuch terms as his Majefty fhall, in his royal wisdom, judge prudent and fecure-that Lord Derby rofe to fecond this amendment, the propriety of which he urged from the diftreffes in our trade and manufactures, which the war had occafioned; and contended, that no obstacle for entering on a treaty could exift, from the prefent power in France who had feized the executive government, or from any power whatever in that country who fhould be found in poffeffion of it. On the fide of miniftry the debate was fupported by the Duke of Portland, the Lords Spencer, Kinnoul, Abingdon, Hardewick, Mansfield, and Grenville, who argued for the addrefs moved by Lord Stair. In favour of the amendment, appeared in debate the Duke of Norfolk, Marquis of Lanfdowne, the Lords Stanhope and Lauderdale. When the question was called, and the houfe divided on the amendment, there were Contents Not Content 97 12 Majority for the Addrefs 85 The addrefs was then put and carried. HOUSE OF COMMONS. In the Houfe of Commons, after the Speech had been read, Lord Clifden rofe to move an addrefs to his Majefty, which was, like that of Lord Stair in the Houfe of Lords, an echo to the speech. Sir Peter Burrel came forward to fecond this addrefs. Lord Weycomb commenced the oppofition to the motion, and moved an amendment, thanking his Majefty for the communication he had been gracioufiy pleafed to make to the house, and earneftly recommending to him to adopt such meafures for bringing about a peace, as to him might feem wife and fit. On the fide of the addrefs appeared At five on Wednesday morning the Houfe divided, when there appeared for on the frontier, had been made; the Against it 277 Majority 218 The motion for the addrefs was then put and carried. Since the famous fpeech made at the opening of the feffion, when Lord Shelburne was minifter, and the war with America was terminated, perhaps no speech from the throne hath been delivered in terms lefs equivocal, or in language more decifive. The objects to which minifters are to direct their attention are plainly pointed out, and the grounds and reafons of their proceedings are ftated by his Majefty in exprefs terms; the point of attack and defence was marked out for both fides, "The war in which Great Britain is now engaged, with the Allies, on the continent againft France." From the chief point in view there was lefs deviation than perhaps ever was obferved in a debate protracted to fuch length; nor was there ever a clofer union of idea, fentiment, and expreflion, obferved, than what was difplayed by the fpeakers of the two parties in both Houfes of Parliament. Avoiding, therefore, that repetition, which would difgult, by detailing the feveral speeches as they were delivered iu both Houfes, we hali lay before our readers the principal arguments for and against the addrefs, as they were urged by their champions in either Houfe. 1 On the fide of miniftry it was contended, that the language which was held forth in his Majefty's fpeech was juftified by the whole events of the laft campaign, and that thefe afforded the Arongelt grounds for expecting ultimate fuccefs in the profecution of the war. The fafety of Holland, by the interpotion chiefly of the British arms, had been fecured; a ftop had been put to the impetuous carreer of Dumourier and the French armies; the poffeffions belonging to Auftria in the Netherlands, which had been over-run, had not only been retaken, but the conqueft of feveral important places in French Hainault, and VOL. LVI. ftrong pofts of Valenciennes, Conde, Quefnoy, and Fort Louis, on the Rhine, were now in our power. France, in ro former campaign with this country, had fuffered fo much: by one blow at Toulon her marine ftrength had been crippled more than could have been expected by the battles of twenty years. Never did Britain, in any war, fuffer lefs; our commerce had been completely protected; 50 different fleets in trade had failed, and amongit thefe, not one veffel had been loft; while our captures from the enemy had been confiderable, and whofe commerce was nigh being completely ruined. Their trade at Newfoundland was deftroyed, their poffeffions in the Eaft and Weft Indies were daily furrendering to the arms of his Britannic majefty, the exertions of whofe fervants at home, and in every quarter of the globe, had on no occafion been furpaffed, in that prompt nefs with which the meafures for general fafety and fuccefs had been planned and executed. The fuccefs which had of late attended the arms of France, in the calmness of deliberation, and of comprehenfive view, might juftly be confidered, without a problem, as the prelude to the final ruin of the prefent ufurped government, and the confummasion of the miferies of that country. Their efforts of valour and enterprife were momentary and tumultuous; the numbers which crowded to their standards, and fwelled their armies, were compelled thither by the irrefiftable impulfe of want, or the dread of the guillotine, which accompanied all their marches. The means by which their deftructive fyftems were fupported, was the unlawful fpoils extorted from the wealthy, or the facrilegious plunder, of which, with all the circumftances of a wanton impiety, they had robbed their churches. Their exceffes carried along with them their own antidote: from mutual maffacres and executions, their numbers would foon diminish, and the enormous expenditure made for the fupport.of 14 armies, and the carrying on the daily defigns of anarchy and murder, muft foon be exhausted. H Te |