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by of the libels on the other fide of the queftion, and, for God's fake, let him kindle a fire which would fill all Palace-Yard. But let him not, by moving that this publication be burned, affix the fanction of the Houfe on all that fwarm of libels with which the country had been infefted for fome time past. He concluded with moving an amendment-that after the word "That," the following words may be inferted, "An humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, that he may be graciously pleafed to give, directions to the Attorney General to enter a profecution against John Reeves, Efq. for the publication of a fcandalous, malicious, and dangerous libel against the Houfe of Commons."

Lord Sheffield feconded the amendment; but he did it for reafons which would not be acceptable when he told them, perhaps, to either fide of the Koufe. He faid, he obferved that one fet of men, inftead of profecuting a libel against the conftitution, meant to profecute a man whom they confidered as have ing counteracted their views; and that another fet fhrunk from the common protection of a man, the attempt to opprefs whom was perfectly clear, altho' they did not confider him as proved guilty; he therefore thought it highly proper that the profecution fhould be carried on by the Attorney General, and then evidence on oaths would decide the queftion.

Mr Fox oppofed the motion, and Mr Pitt fupported it; and after several other Members on both fides had delivered their fentiments, the original queftion was negatived, and the amendment carried. It was then propofed, on Mr Dundas's motion, to addrefs the Crown to profecute John Reeves, Eiq. together with the Printer.

Mr Sheridan moved to amend this, by leaving out the Printer, which was agreed to; but on putting the main queftion, Sir William Dolben and Mr Dent infifted upon dividing the Houfe; when they were told out, it appearing that the numbers were only Ayes 24, Noes 4, fo that the Houfe was adjourned, and the queftion remained this day undecided.

15. Mr Sheridan objected to referring the Seditious Pamphlet to the Attorney General, as well as the profecution of either the printer or publisher, and moved that the debate on it be refumed. An amendment was moved to this, "That an humble Addreis be presented to his

Majefty, to be gracioufly pleased to order his Attorney General to profecute John Reeves, Efq."

Agreed to without a divifion.

Mr Pitt moved, that the Sedition Bill, fent back from the Lords with amendments, be taken into confideration.

Mr Fox objected to the amendment ; there ought not to be any amendments in Money Bills, much lefs in thefe, but this practice had been lately adopted. When the Bill went to the Lords, the words were, "certain penalties for certain offences;" inftead of the word "offences,' "felonies" were fubftituted.

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After a converfation of fhort duration, the bill was agreed to with the amendments; the Chancellor of the Exchequer to carry it to the Lords.-Ordered.

The Bill for raifing 18,000,000l. by annuities, was read a third time and paffed.

Mr Wilberforce begged leave to say a few words on the Slave Emancipation Bill. He had, he faid, pledged himself to bring this bufinefs forward before the rft of January 1796, and gave notice, therefore, that he would bring the matter forward again in this feffion, and that immediately after the recess.

Mr Fox faid, he was glad that the Hon. Gentleman brought it forward a gain, and hoped that this business would obtain a full and fair difcuffion, and that the Houfe would recover that portion of charity which it had loft.

Mr William Smith rofe and moved, That a Committee be appointed to take into confideration the loan of 18,000,000l, and to report thereon."

Mr Pitt faid, he fhould certainly give his vote for the measure propofed by the Hon. Gentleman, and he trufted that the refult of the inquiry would be to eradicate every particle of doubt that might exift in the mind of any man, either in or out of that Houfe, relative to the Loan.

The queftion for the Committee of Inquiry was then carried without a divifion.

Mr Smith moved, that it should be a Committee of the whole House.

Mr Pitt moved, as an amendment, that it fhould be an open Committee above flairs.

After a few words the Houfe divided, For Mr Pitt's amendment 56, against it 19; majority 37.

Mr Pitt propofed that the Drawback

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on the coarfer kinds of Sugar fhould cease on the 20th of this month.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourn ed.

16. Mr Huffey moved the order of the day for a Committee of the whole House on the high price of corn.

Mr Pitt wished to know if the Hon. Gentleman had any thing particular to fay.

Mr Huffey replied, to raise the bounty, After a conversation of fome length, Mr Huffey move, that 20s. fhould be fubftituted in the place of 15s. which was agreed to.

Sir Peter Burrell made another motion, that three-fifths of the additional duty on all corn imported from foreign parts fhould be granted on all foreign corn in the King's flores. Agreed.

The Houfe went into a Committee of the whole Houfe on the new Horfe Duty Bal.

Mr Pitt moved an amendment in favour of all horfes under 13 hands high; this particularly related to fmail horfes ufed in parts of England and Scotland. This amendment was agreed to; after which the bill was reported with amend ments.

The other orders of the day being gone through, the House adjourned,

17. A meffage was fent down from the Lords, fignifying that their Lordships had agreed to the Treafon and Sedition Bills, with the amendments."

Mr Hobart brought up the report of the Corn Bill, with the amendments of the Committee on the increase of a bounty from America and the Colonies, which were agreed to.

Mr Hobart brought up the report on the general Horfe Duty Bill with amendments, a clause being added exempting horfes travelling post and paying 3d. per mile duty.

Mr Hobart brought up the report on the Pleasure-Hole Bill. A claufe was added to it, exempting the Yeomanry Cavalry from the duty, each captain or other commanding officer to give in the ift of horfes thus employed.

...Ed. Mag. April 1796.

The Bill for regulating the Marine Forces while on fhore was read a fecond time, and committed for Thursday the 4th of February next.

18. The following bills were read a third time and paffed: the Mutiny and Desertion Bill, Horfe-dealers Licence Bill, Working horfe Duty Bill, and Poor Relief Bill.

On the motion of Mr Wilberforce, a claufe was added to the Pleasure-horfe Duty Bill, exempting Freehold Farmers under 70l. annual rent, who fometimes rode their work horfes, which was agreed to

19. The Sugar Drawback Reduction Bill was read a third time, and paffed.

Mr Pitt moved that no Petition for private Bills be received after Thursday the 11th of February. Ordered.

Mr Pitt then moved, and it was agreed to nem. con. "That the Houfe hail adjourn until Wednesday morning

next.

23. A meffage was received from the Lords, acquainting the House that their Lordships had agreed to the Tax Bills, together with various other public and private Zills.

Mr Sloane prefented a Petition from the Bath Agricultural Society, praying the Houfe to enact a general Inclolure Bill, for the purpose of improving all the Wafte Lands. The Petition was refer red to the Select Committee appointed for examining the ftate, &c. of the Wafte Lands.

Several private Petitions refpecting Inclofures were prefented, and much private bufinefs was difpofed of.-Adjourned.

24. After fome private bufinefs,

Mr Pitt moved the adjournment of the House till Tuesday the 2d of February next.

On the queftion being put,

Sir John Sinclair gave notice, that on Tuesday the 2d of February next he would move that the Report of the Committee respecting the state of the Waste Lands be confidered. The Houfe then adjourned to Tuesday the ad of Feb ruary 1796.

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316

THE

MONTHLY REGISTER

FOR APRIL 1796,

Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazettes.

From the London Gazette, March 22. Admiralty-Office, March 22. DISPATCH, of which the follow. ing is a copy, has been received at this Office from Sir William Sidney Smith:

A

ed the marines and boarders to land be hind the point, and take the batteries in the rear. As the boats approached the Bach, they met with a very warm res ception, and a temporary check, from a body of troops drawn up to oppofe their landing the fituation was critical, the fhip being exposed to a moft galling fire,

Diamond, off Cape Frebel, 18 Mar. 1796, and in intricate pilotage, with a confi

S1R,

Having received information that armed veffels detached by the Prince of Bouillon, had chaced a convoy, confilling of a corvette, two luggers, four brigs, and two floops, into Herqui, I proceed ed off that port, to reconnoitre their pofition, and found the channel, which I found very narrow and intricate. I fucceeded, however, in gaining a knowledge of these points fufficient to determine me to attack them, in the Diamond, with out lofs of time, and without waiting for the junction of any part of the fqua dron, left the enemy fhould fortify them felves ftill further on our appearance.

Lieutenant M'Kinley, of the Liberty brig, and Lieutenant Goffet, of the A riftocrat lugger, joined me off the Cape, and, though not under my orders, very handfomely offered their fervices, which I accepted, as fmall veffels were effenti ally, neceffary in fuch an operation. The - permanent fortification for the defence of the bay are two batteries on a high rocky promontory. We obferved the enemy to be very bufily employed in mounting a detached gun on a very commanding point of the entrance. At one o'clock yeflerday afternoon, this gun opened upon us as we paffed: The Diamond's fire however filenced it in eleven miputes. The others opened upon us as we came round the point, and their commanding fituation giving them a decided advantage over a thip in our pofition, I judged it neceffary to adopt another mode of attack, and accordingly detach

derable portion of her men thus detach ed. I pointed out to Lieut. Pine, the ap. parent practicability of climbing the precipice in front of the batteries, which ke readily perceived, and, with an alacrity and bravery of which I have had many proofs in the courfe of our service together, he undertook and executed this hazardous fervice, landing immediately under the guns, and rendering himself maf ter of them before the column of troops could regain the heights. The fire from the hip was directed to cover our men in this operation; it checked the enemy in their advancement, and the re-embarkation was effected, as foon as the guns were spiked, without the lofs of a man, though we have to regret Lieut. Carter of the Marines being dangerously wounded on this occafion.

The enemy's guns, three twenty-four pounders, being filenced and rendered ufelefs for the time, we proceeded to attack the corvette and other armed veffels, which had by this time opened their fire on us, to cover the operation of haul ing themfelves on fhore. The Diamond was anchored as clote to the corvette as her draft of water would allow. The Liberty brig was able to approach near, and on this occafion, I cannot omit to mention the very gallant and judicious manner in which Lieut. M'Kinley, her commander, brought this vefiel into ac tion, profiting by her light draft of water to follow the corvette clofe. The enemy's fire foon flackened, and the crew being obferved to be making för the fhore on the English colours being

hoifted

haifted on the hill, I made the fignal for the boats, manned and armed, to board her, directing Lieut. Goffet, in the lugger, to cover them. This fervice was executed by the party from the shore, under the direction of Lieutenant Pine,

in a manner that does them infinite credit, and him every honour, as a brave man and an able officer. The enemy's troops occupied the high projecting rocks all around the veffels, from whence they kept up an inceffant fire of musquetry; and the utmoft that could be effected at the moment, was to fet fire to the Corvette, (named L'Etourdie, of 16 guns, twelve pounders, on the main deck) and one of the merchant brigs, fince, as the tide fell, the enemy prefled down on the fands, close to the veffels; Lieut. Pine therefore returned on board, having re ceived a fevere contufion on the breaft from a mufquet ball. As the tide role again, it became practicable to make a fecond attempt to burn the remaining veffels. Lieut. Pearfon was accordingly detached for that purpose with the boats, and I am happy to add, his gallant exertions fucceeded to the utmost of my hopes, notwithstanding the renewed and heavy fire of mufquetry from the fhore. This fire was returned with fpirit and good effect; and I was much pleased with the conduct of Lieut. Goffet, in the hired lugger, and Mr Knight, in the Diamond's launch, who covered the ap proach and retreat of the boats. The veffels were all burnt except an armed lugger, which kept up her fire to the Jatt.

and I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships as a moft meritorious officer.

I have the honour to be, &c. W. Sidney Smith. A return of the Killed and Wounded be longing to his Majefty's fhip Diamond, in the three attacks of the enemy's batteries and fhipping in Herqui, the 17th of March 1796. Killed, a feanen.

Wounded, firft Lieutenant Horace Pine, Lieut. Carter of the marines, and five feamen.

Admiralty-Office, March 26.

A difpatch of which the following is a copy, has been received at this Office, from Sir John Borlafe Warren, Bart. K. B.

La Pomone, Falmouth, 24 March 1796. SIR,

I beg leave to inform you, that on the 15th inftant, in confequence of my letter to their Lordships from Falmouth, I ftood over to the French coaft in feareh of the Artois, who joined me on the 18th; and on the 20th, at day-break, having difcovered from the maft-head feveral fail of veffels in the S. S. E. the Saints bearing N. N. E. three or four miles, I made the fignal to the fquadron under my command, confifting of the Artois, Galatea, and Anfon, for a general chace, and upon our near approach, perceived them to be a convoy of the enemy fleering in for the land. At ten A. M. being up with part of the merchant hips, I captured four, and ordered the Valiant lugger to proceed with them to the neareft port. I continued in purfuit of the men of war, who were forming in line a-head to windward, and kept working to come up with the enemy, who I foon perceived were endeavouring to preferve their diftance from us, and to avoid an action, by their tacking at the fame time with our fhips; but being at length arrived within half gun-shot to leeward, the two iquadrons engaged, and påffed each other upon oppofite tacks. Immediately upon our fternmoft ship being clear of the enemy's line, I made the fignal to tack and gain the wind, which, by making a very short board on the ftarboard tack, was obtained; perceiving them rallying cound the Commolore clofe in fhore, and beginning to form again, I made the igual for our's, in clofe order, to endeavour, to break their line, by cutting off the reassi hips, Rea

The wind and tide fuiting at ten at night to come out of the harbour again, we weighed, and repaffed the Point of Herqui, from which we received a few fhot, the enemy having found means to refore one of the guns to activity. Our lofs, as appears by the inclofed return, is trifling, confidering the nature of the enterprize, and the length of time we were exposed to the enemy's fire. Their's, I am perfuaded, muft have been great, from the numbers within the range of our thot and shells. The conduct of every officer and man under my command meets my warmeft approbation; it would be fuperfluous to particularize any others than thofe I have named; fuffice it to fay, the characteristic brave ry and activity of British feamen never were more confpicuous.

Lieutenant Pine will have the honour to prefent their Lordships with the coTours which he ftruck on the battery;

and

and directed the Galatea to lead down for that purpofe; but the enemy bore away, and made all fail poffible from us, and flood into the narrow part of the Raz de Fontenay among the rocks; I was, however, enabled to cut off their fear fhip Night approaching, and being unacquainted with the paffage, I did not think it proper to continue the purfuit further, at the risk of tofing fome of our fhips in fo difficult a pafs.

I have every reafon to be convinced, from the firm fupport and zeal I have always experienced from the officers and men of every ship of the fquadron under my command, that the iffue of the conteft would have been more complete, if the enemy had been more difpofed to give them an opportunity of trying their force.

I have inclofed an account of the enemy's force, together with the veffels of the convoy taken; and a lift of the killed and wounded on board his Majefty's thipe, whofe damages I fhall make all difpatch poffible in repairing.

I have the honour to remain, &c. (Signed) John Borlafe Warren. P. S. A fhip corvette, two brig corvettes, and a lugger, remained with the

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A Lift of Republican Men of War engag ed by the fquadron under the command of Sir John Borlafe Warren, Bart. K. B. on the 20th of March 1796. La Proferpine, Captain Dogier, Commodore, 44 guns, eighteen pounders, 500 men, efcaped.

L'Unite, Capt. Durand, 40 guns, eigh teen pounders, 400 men, escaped. Le Coquille, 40 guns, eighteen-pounders, 400 men, efcaped.

La Tamife, Captain Fradice, 32 guns, twelve-pounders, 300 men, efcaped. L'Etoile, Captain Berthelice, 30 guns, twelve pounders, 160 men, taken. Le Cygnone, Capt. Pilet, 22 guns, twelve pounders, 150 men, efcaped. La Mouche, brig, 10 guns, fix pounders, 80 men, went off with the convoy at the commencement of the action."

(Signed) John Warren A Lift of Vessels taken by the Squadron under the command of Sir John Porlafe Warren, Bart. K. B. en the 10th of March 1766 being part of a convoy belonging to the French Republic. Ship, name unknown, co tons burden, from Erell, bound to Nantes.

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John Warren.

La Pomone, Falmouth, 24 March 1796. An Account of Officers and Men killed and wounded on Board the Squadron under the command of Sir John Borlafe Warren, Bart. K. B. on the 20th of March 1796, in an engagement with a Squadron belonging to the French Re public.

La Pomone, none killed or wounded.
Artois, no return made.

Galatea, Mr Evans, Midshipman, and e feaman, killed: Mr Burke, acting Lieus tenant, and 5 feamen, wounded. Anfon, none killed or wounded.

John Warrens La Pomone, Falmouth, 24 March 1796.

Copy of a Letter from Captain Draper, of his Majefty's hip Porcupine, to Evan Nepean, Efg. dated in Mount's Bay, 28 March 1796.

Admiralty-Office, 24 March 1796.

SIR,

I beg you will be pleafed to acquaint my Lords Commiffioners of the Admis ralty, that on the 20th inftant, about feven A. M. the Lizard bearing NNE. three or four leagues, I received information from the Fox Excife cutter, that a French Englifi brig, then bearing SSW. I ac privateer had that morning captured an nine o'clock retook the Diamond of cordingly gave chace to both, and about Aberdeen, George Killar, master, and fent a petty officer and men on board, with orders to make the nearest port, and then food after the privateer. About twelve o'clock fhe earried away her main-top-maft, owing to her being over-preffed with fail; about one took poffeffion.

She proves to be Le Couteur brig, of one hundred and forty-four tons, and eighty men, pierced for fourteen guns, has but ten on board. She fails remark ably faft, and left St Maloes the day be fore. She bad only taken the veffel abovementioned, but was in chace of a

large English fhip when we faw here There were several merchant ships in fight, which he muft have taken had we not prevented her.

Eaft

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