for that he, with divers others, did begin to demolish and pull down the houfe of Mr. Matthew Cafey, Eaft-lane, Tooley- ftreet, on the 7th of June lait. He was acquitted.

Lord Loughborough afterwards addreffed the convicts in a very affecting manner. Two of the prifoners, he faid, had been recommended to mercy, but there was one of them (Bridport) who, having been found guilty of a capital crime, ought not to expect any mercy. The part of. his duty, which he would execute with the greatest pleasure, would be, he faid, to reprefent at the foot of the throne, fach favourable circumftances as had appeared in the trials. But he obferved, as in compaffion and juftice to all the people of the kingdom, it was impoffible to fhew mercy to all that had been condemned, he advised each convict to look upon himself as one of thofe who were not to experience any mercy.

fog then difperfing, we difcovered a large fhip bearing down to us: I immediately made the fignal to chace, foon after which the Chace hauling her wind, being then only fix miles diftance from us, we clearly difcovered her to be a large frigate, which from her conftruction we concluded to be French.

As we had light winds and calms the whole day, it was half paft eleven P. M. ere I found myfelf within clofe piftol fhot of her. The fignals fhe now made, both with rockets and lights, convincing me that he was an enemy, I immediately began to engage her; and at half past four A. M. fhe hauled down her colours to his majefty's fhips La Prudente and Licorne.

She proved to be La Capricieuse, a French frigate, eight days from L'Orient, pierced for 44 guns, but mounting only 32; complement 308 men. She was launched in March laft, meafured 1100 tons, and was one of the finest frigates I ever faw.

I am very forry to fay, that the condition of the prize was fuch (as their lordships may obferve from the report of the furvey) as rendered it impracticable to efcort her to England. Indeed the very heavy lofs I have fuftained in the action, and unfortunately having 20 fick on fhore and many on board, made it abfolutely impoffible for me to give her the neceffary affiftance for that purpofe; I therefore, after removing the prifoners, fct her on fire.

Finding from the condition of my fhip the utter impoffibility of executing my orders, I have there fore given directions to Captain

Cadogan,

Cadogan, the commander of his majesty's fhip Licorne, to put them into immediate execution.

Notwithstanding our feeming fuperiority, I hope the return of the killed and wounded will fufficiently evince, that my officers and fhip's company have acquitted themselves in the moft gallant and fpirited manner. Indeed I feel 'tis impoffible to do juftice to their merits.

In juftice to Lieutenant Banks of the marines, I muft beg leave to obferve to their lordships, that his party behaved with the utmoft fteadiness and bravery, keeping up a regular and conftant fire from the beginning of the action, till neceflity called them to the great guns, where they fhewed an equal share of fpirit and good order.

But while I am thus giving thofe well-deferved encomiums to his Britannic Majefty's fubjects, I fhould feel myself in honour bound to give his enemies, on this occafion, the merits they are fo truly deferving, did not the condition of the hip, and the heavy lofs they have fuftained, fufficiently fpeak their praifes. I muft beg leave to add, in honour to M. de Cheavel, who commanded La Capricieufe at the time the furrendered, that the colours were not hauled down till the fhip had five feet water in her hold.

Monf. de Ranfanne and Monf. de Fontaine, the first and fecond captains, both fell in the action; but as to their farther lofs, we are as yet ignorant, being unacquainted with the number of prifoners on board the Licorne; but from a rough calculation of their officers, they must have at leaft 100 killed. and wounded.

It is with infinite concern that I acquaint their lordships, that Lieutenant Ellifon ftands foremost on the lift of the wounded, having been very feverely bruifed in the back, and his right arm carried off by a flot. I muft beg leave to recommend his misfortunes, and the great intrepidity he fhewed during the action, to their lordfhips moft particular attention.

A lift of the killed and wounded on board his majesty's fhip La Prudente. Killed,

Mr. John Difmond, Mr.

Richard Montgomery, Mr. Thomas England, Mr. William Difmond, Seamen Midshipmen

Marine

4

12

I

Total 17

Purfuant to an order from the Hon. William Waldegrave, Commander of his majesty's flip La Prudente, of this day's date, to us directed; we whofe names are under-mentioned, have been on board the prize frigate La Capricieufe, and have there taken a trict and careful furvey on her, and find as follows, viz.

The fore-maft wounded in feveral places.

The foretop-maft over the fide. The main-maft laying fore and aft the deck, being gone about ten feet above the main deck.

The mizen-maft fhot in several places.

The mizen-top-maft the fame. All her fpare yards and top mats rendered unferviceable with

fhot.

A number of fhot-holes betwixt wind and water.

Many other damages about the hip, and, when we left her, fix feet water in the hold.

And we do declare we have made and taken this furvey with fuch care and equity, that, if required, we are ready to make oath to the impartiality of our proceedings.

Given under our hands, on board the prize frigate La Capricieufe, at fea, this 6th of July, 1780. JOHN RICHARDSON, Carpenter. JOHN SPASEATT, Carpenter.

ed three fail in the N. W. making fignals to each other, to which he immediately gave chafe, and about midnight came up with and clofely engaged one of them; that after a defence of more than two hours fhe ftruck, and proved to be La Belle Poule, mounted with 32 guns, twelve pounders, commanded by the Chevalier Kergariou, and 275 men; that the captain and 24 men were killed, the fecond captain, with feveral officers and men, to the amount of 50, were wounded; and that the Nonfuch had three men killed and ten wounded, two of whom have fince died.

Copy of a Letter from Captain William Peer Williams, of his Majefty's Ship Flora, to Mr. Stephens, dated Falmouth, the 15th of August, 1780.

I

SIR,

BEG

you will communicate to the Lords Commiffioners of. the Admiralty the following particulars, which I have the pleafure of tranfinitting to you from this port, where contrary winds have obliged me to put in,

On Thursday the 10th inftant; at half past four in the afternoon, flanding in under Ufhant, in queft of the fleet, the wind at that time

about E. N. E. we difcovered through the haze a fquare rigged veffel and cutter under our lee, lying-to with their heads to the north-ward, diftant from us about four miles; whereupon we made fail, beat to quarters, and edged towards them, which the fhip perceiving, wore, hauled to the wind, backed her mizen top-fail, and [ช]

waited

waited our approach, the cutter working off and on. At ten minutes past five we got abreast of her, and, within two cables length, upon fhewing our colours, received her fire, which we inftantly returned, and continued brifkly on both fides for about an hour, gradually nearing each other; when our wheel being shot away, our hrouds, back flays, and running rigging much cut, we dropped on board of her, and continued the engagement in that pofition about 15 minutes; the enemy then deferted their great guns, attempted to board us, but were inftantly repulfed with lofs. Our people boarded them in return, fword in hand, ftruck their colours, and in a fhort time took poffeflion of the fhip, which proved to be a French frigate, called La Nymphe, commanded by the Chevalier Du Remain, who died the fame evening ing of the wounds he received in the action. She is four years old, is copper-bottomed, mounts 32 guns, though pierced for 40, and her complement confifted of 291 men. She had been only four days out of Breft, and was employed upon reconnoitring fervice off that port.

Before I conclude my letter I beg leave to add, that my officers and people in general fhewed the greatest coolness and intrepidity on this occafion, and indeed merit more encomiums than I can find words to exprefs; their con- duct will, I Aatter myfelf, meet with their lordships approbation, and recommend them to their future faveur.

I am, &c.

W. P. WILLIAMS.

Return of Killed and Wounded co board the Flora."

Killed. Mr. Biffet, Midshipman 1. Seamen 6. Marines 2. Total killed 9.

Wounded. Mr. Creed, maf ter 1. Seamen 13. Marines 4. Total killed and wounded 27.

Seamen fince dead 1. Marines 2. N. B. The Flora mounted 36 guns, and had on board when the action began 259 men.

On board the La Nymphe. Killed. Firft captain, fecond ditto, firft lieutenant 3. Other officers, feamen, and marines, 60. Killed 63.

Wounded. The fecond lieutenant, two officers of marines, two volunteers, five other officers, feamen, and marines, 63. Total killed and wounded 131.

Admiralty-office, August 26, 1780. Copy of a Letter from Captain Macbride, of his Majefty Ship Bienfaifant, to Mr. Stephens, dated at Sea, August 13, 1780.

SIR,

WROTE to you, for the in.

formation of their lordships, on my arrival at Cork, the intelligence I had received, and the fteps I intended to take in confequence. The Charon arrived on the 11th inftant. I failed with the convoy next day, having the Charon, Licorne, and Huffar in company. As many of the convoy ftill remained, I ordered the Licorne and Huffar to keep off the harbour's mouth to haften them, whilft the Bienfaifant and Charon lay-to with thofe that were out. At day-light we had drove down as far as the Old Head of Kinfale, when I obferved a large fail in

the

the fouth east in chace of fome of the convoy; he was foon chaced in turn, the Charon in company; the other two frigates were out of fight of Cork. About half paft feven we came up with her. It is fomething fingular, that the action on both fides began with mufquetry; he hoisted English colours, and kept his fire: I determined to do the fame: as we ranged within piftol-fhot, fome converfation paffed between us. In this mode we got fo forward on his bow, that neither his bow or our quarter guns would bear. Being certain what the ship was, I then ordered the fmall arms on the poop to begin; fhe returned it, and hoifted her proper colours. It was fome little time before I could regulate my fail, and place my fhip: they had determined to board us, and acted fo to favour the defign. It was a daring, though unfuccefsful attempt. After an hour and ten minutes fmart action, her rigging and fails cut to pieces, twenty-one men killed and thirty-five men wounded, fhe ftruck, and proved to be the Comte d'Artois, of 64 guns, upwards of 644 men, a private fhip of war commanded by the Chevalier Clonard, a Lieu tenant de Vaiffeaux, who is flightly wounded in the action. His brothers, the one a colonel, the other colonel en fecond, in the Irish legion of that name, are on board; likewise a Lieutenant Perry of the Monarch; and the people who were taken on board the Margaritta prize. The Bienfaifant had three killed, and twenty-two wounded; furniture cut of courfe; but the mafts and yards not materially injured. There was one man flightly

wounded in the Charon. I brought to, to refit; and the convoy of 99 fail proceeded on with a very fresh and fair wind. The Licorne is in company; the fteady gallantry of my officers and men did them honour. I beg in particular to recommend my first lieutenant Sir Thomas Lewis to their lordships notice.

I am, &c.

JOHN MACERIDE.

Extract of a Letter from Nathaniel Davidfon, Efq; his Majefty Conful General at Algiers, to the Earl of Hillborough, one of Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State; dated Algiers, September 8, 1780, received October 11.

T

HE conduct and fuccefs of Captain Edward Moor, commanding the Fame private fhip of war, of Dublin, on a late occa fion, will, I doubt rot, be esteemed fufficiently remarkable for my troubling your lordship with the following particulars:

He failed from Mahon the 20th of laft month, and receiving advice foon after of the departure of five French veffels, all letters of marque, from Marfeilles, bound for the Weft-Indies, determined to go in queft of them. On the 25th he defcried five fail near the Spanish coaft, which correfponded with his intelligence; but as they were at a diflance, and the day was far fpcnt, he judged it pru dent not to make a fhew of purfuing them, that he might have a better chance to fucceed in getting betwixt them and the land at night, which he had the good fortune to effect. He found him[T] 2

felf