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we weighed and repaffed the point of Herqui, from which we received a few fhot, the enemy having found means to restore one of the guns to activity. Our lofs, as appears by the inclofed return, is trifling, confidering the nature of the enterprise, and the length of time we were expofed to the enemy's fire. Theirs, I am perfuaded, mutt have been great, from the numbers within the range of our fhot and shells. The conduct of every officer and man under my command meets with my warmeft approbation; it would be fuperfluous to particularife any others than those I have named fuffice it to fav, the characteristic bravery and activity of British feameni fever was more confpicuous. Lieut. Pine will have the honour to prefent their lordships with the colours which he ftruck on the battery; and beg leave to recommend him particularly to their lordships as a moft meritorious officer. 1 have the honour to be, &c.

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I beg leave to inform you, that on the 13th inft. in confequence of my letter to their lordfhips from Falmouth, I flood over to the French coaft, in fearch of the Artois, who joined me on the 18th; and on the zoth 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 fhips named in the margin, for a general chase, and, upon our nearer approach, perceived them to be a convoy of the enemy fteering in for the land. At rc A. M. being up with part of the merchant-hips, I captured four, and ordered the Valiant lugger to proceed with them to the nearest port. continued in purfuit of the men of war, who were forming in a line a-head to windward, and kept working to come up with the enemy, who, I foon perceived were endeivouring to preferve their diftance from us, and to avoid an action, by their tacking at the fame time with our hips; but, being at length arrived, within half gun-fhot to leeward, the two fquadrons engaged, and paffed each other upon oppofite tacks. Immediately upon our fternmost thip Neing clear of the enemy's line, I made the fignal N Ο T E.

Artois, Galatea, Amfon.

to tack and gain the wind, which, by making a very fhort board on the starboard tack, was ob tained. Perceiving em rallying round the commodore close in shore, and beginning to form again, 1 made the fignal for ours, in clofe order, to endeavour to break their line, by cutting off the rear fhip, and directed the Galatea to lead down for that purpose: but the enemy bore away, and mide all fail poffible from us, and stood inte the narrow part of the Raz de Fontenay among the rocks. I was, however, enabled to cut off their rear fhip. Night approaching, and being unacquainted with the paffage, I did not think it proper to continue the purfuit farther, at the risk of lofing fome of our hips in fo difficult a país. I have every reafon to be convinced, from the firm fupport and zeal I have always experienced from the officers and men of every fhip of the fquadron under my command, that the issue 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 majesty's ships, whofe damages I fhall make all dispatch poffible in repairing.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.
JOHN BORLASE WARREN.

P. S. Alfhip-corvette, two brig corvettes, and lugger, remained with the convoy.

A lift of Republican men of war engaged by the Squadron under the command of Sir John BorTafe Warren, Bart, K. B. March 20.

La Proferpine, Capt. Dogier, commodore, 44 guns, eighteen-pounders, 500 men, escaped; L'Unité, Capt. Durand, 40 guns, eighteen-pounders, 400 men, efcaped; Le Cequille, 40 guns, eighteen-pounders, 400 men, efcaped; La Ta mife, Capt. Fradiée, 32 guns, twelve-pounders, 300 men, escaped; L'Etoile, Capt. Bertheliée, 30 guns, twelve-pounders, 260 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 B. WARREN.

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An account of officers and men killed and wounded an board the fquadron under the command of Sir John Borlaje Warren, Bart. K. B. March 20, 1796, in an engagement with a Squadron belonging to the French Republic.

La Pomone, none killed or wounded; Artois no return made; Galatea, Mr. Evans, midshipman, and I feaman, killed; Mr. Burke, acting lieutenant, and 5 feamen wounded; Anfon, none killed or wounded.

JOHN B. WARREN.

March 24] A letter from Capt. Draper, of his Majefty's fhip Porcupine, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated in Mount's Bay, March 21, 1796.

SIR,

I beg you will be pleased to acquaint my lords commiffioners of the admiralty, that on the 20th inft. about feven A. M. the Lizard bearing N. N. E. three or four leagues. I received information from the Fox excife cutter, that a French privateer had that morning captured an English brig, then bearing S. S. W. I accordingly gave chafe to both, and about nine o'clock retook the Diamond, of Aberdeen, Geo. Killar, mafter, and sent a petty officer and men on board, with orders to make the nearest port, and then ftood after the privateer. About 12 the carried away her main-top-maft, owing to her being over-preffed with fail: about one took poffeffion. She proves to be Le Coureur brig, of 144 tons, and 80 men, pierced for 14 guns, has but 10 on board. She fails remarkably faft, and left St. Maloes the day before. She had only taken the veffel above-mentioned, but was in chace of a large English fhip when we faw her. There were feveral merchant ships in fight, which fhe must have taken, had we not prevented her.

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April 5.1 Copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Rainier, dated on board his Majefty's fhip Suffolk, in Madras Road, the 15th of October, 1795, to Evan Nepean, Efq.

SIR,

YESTERDAY, on the point of failing, I received the inclosed letter and papers from captain Newcome, giving an account of his proceedings, and particularly of the fuccefs of the expedition, under his own and major Browne's orders, of the honourable Company's infantry, against Malacca, this place being now in the poffeffion of the British troops.

ecution, in obedience to the king's orders by him tranfmitted, and as therein prefcribed, (not having then even received their lordships directions foto do, and which are alfo filent on that head) I have to request you will please to intercede with their lordships to ufe their influence to remove any culpability that may reflect on my conduct for this omiffion; in which, if I have erred, it has been through defect of inftructions and my inexperience in the receipt of fuch kind of orders.

On the fuccefs of his majefty's arms at Trincomale and Fort Ooftenberg, and on receiving the account of the fame from Malacca, I took upon me to order falutes to be fired by his majesty's fhips then in port; and on the 13th inftant, at the fuggeftion of my lord Hobart, I directed captain Lambert, of his majesty's fhip Suffolk, to fire feventy-eight guns, funeral-wife, on the melancholy occafion of the death of his majesty's faithful ally his highness the Nabob Wallajah,' late Nabob of the Carnatic, (the fort of St. George, by his lordship's orders, paying the fame honours) that particular number of guns being appointed as correfponding to thofe of the years of his late highnefs's age; which I trust their lordfhips will approve, and notify to the board of ordnance, to be allowed in the feveral gunners monthly expences.

I feel a more than ordinary fatisfaction in announcing this event for their lordships information, as, on account of the original force defined for that service being reduced, my expectations. were lefs fanguine; and alfo of its great importance, from the fecurity thereby afforded to the trade of his majesty's subjects in the ftreights of Malacca and the Chinese feas.

Being doubtful of the propriety of my conduct in not having correfponded with the right hon. Henry Dundas on the fubject of the late expeditions, in which I co-operated in council and ex

Pleafe to acquaint their lordships, that the refidency here have juft received accounts of the furrender of Mahar, in the gulph of the fame name. I have the honour to be, &c. PETER RAINIER.

To Peter Rainier, Efq. Commodore and Commander of his Majefty's fhips employed in the Eaft Indies.

SIR,

I ARRIVED here on the 15th inftant with his majesty's ship under my command, the Ewer and Carnatic tranfports, and a part of the convoy, having parted company with his majesty hip Refiftance, in the night of the 13th, between the Sandheads. Capt. Packenham joined company again in Malacca Road on the 17th in the morning.

By the inclofed letters you will fee that we were obliged to commence hoftilities, which began by the Refiftance firing a few guns at the Conftantia (a Dutch Indiaman run into the mud) which the returned by firing two guns, and then ftriking her colours. From the great affistance afforded me by the boats from the Chinese fleet, &c. I was enabled to land all the troops, with two fix pounders at the fame time. They left the fhip at feven P. M. on the 17th, and reached the shore at nine P. M. at half past nine P. M. an officer, came on board the Orpheus from the governor to furrender the place on our terms; they then delivered over St. John's post, a commanding work well furnished with cannon, about 1300 yards from the fort and 200 from the place of conference, to a fubaltern with a party of our grenadiers, and we entered the fort with the remainder of the British detachment. The garrifon being thus completely in our power, and Bbb 2 unconditionally

unconditionally, further than the fecuring of property, the Dutch guards were permitted to remain armed at their pofts, until the governor, whom we then accompanied to his houfe, gave, in his own hand-writing to major Browne, a detail of the guards, which were then relieved by the British troops. From the anxious defire of complying with his majefty's orders, we have agreed to the inclofed capitulation, and every thing now appears perfectly quiet, and all parties reconciled.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) HENRY NEWCOME. Orpheus, Malacca Ronds, *August 25, 1795

PRELIMINARY ARTICLES.

THE measures adopted by the Dutch government of Malacca fubfequently to the amicable proposals tendered by the naval and military commanders of the British forces, by the agency of Mr. Forbes Rofs M'Donald, appointed by commodore Peter Rainier, commanding the British fquadron in India, and col. John Brathwaite, commanding the land forces, on the coaft of Coromandel, having rendered it neceffary to debark the troops, towards which the poffeffion of the Conftantia, a Dutch armed fhip, which lay between the English fquadron and the fort, becoming indifpenfable, actual hoftilities commenced by his majesty's fhip the Refiftance firing upon, and, after exchanges of fome guns, taking poffeffion of her; and, having been followed by the difcharge of feveral guns from the Dutch battery upon the British troops after they had gained the fhore, are circumftances which, together with the invitation fubfequently given to the British commanders to take poffeffion of the fort, cannot be confidered in any other light than ultimately placing the Dutch garrifon in the predicament of having furrendered as prifoners of war, and which has been fince acknowledged by the Dutch government to have been their expectation.Agreed.

The commanding officer of the British troops to be acknowledged commandant of the fort and garrison of Malacca, and military posts thereupon depending, with a feat as fecond in council.— Agreed.

The keys of the fort to be lodged with him, and the military ftores of every description to be delivered over to him.-Agreed.

Nevertheless, in obedience to his Britannic, majefty, requiring us to cultivate the alliance, which has fo long and fo happily fubfifted between the two nations,, we difpenfe with the unparticipated controul, which the foregoing circumItances would warrant our taking upon ourselves, and hereby accede and confirm to the Dutch government its establishment and authority in all civil matters, to the full extent as heretofore; referving however to ourselves, and those who have been in immediate connexion with us upon the fervice, a claim to the public property in Malacca, and the fhipping in the roads, to the extent which his Britannic majefty may be gracioufly pleased to determine; and for this purpofe the value of the public property afhore and in the roads, to be estimated and placed in depofite, promifing on our part to give protection to public and private property under the above refervation, and to defend the interefts of the ancient Dutch government against their enemy the French, to the utmost of our power, under the following conditions -Agreed.

The parole to be given by him-Agreed. The difpofal of the Dutch garrison to be wholly at his difcretion.-Agreed.

A fund to be affured to him, in monthly pay. ments, for the fubfiftence of the troops, and for the defence of the fort and its dependencies, and that provifion for this fund be made in the first inftance. A greed.

This article to be understood as agreed to, fo far as the refources of the Dutch government of Malacca and its dependencies extend.

N. B. This paragraph by Mr. Couperus. In confideration of the extraordinary expence incurred by the British government, in fending their troops for the protection of their allies the Dutch at Malacca, the government and council of that fettlement will reprefent these circumftances to the governor general and council of Batavia, and in forwarding an account of the monthly expence of the British troops, they will make application to the governor general that he may provide for it,-Agreed,

The Englah and Dutch flags to be displayed, when occation requires, upon the two flag ftaffs which are already erected.-Agreed.

The armed veffels belonging the Malacca government shall be put under the orders of the British naval commander.-Agreed.

Orders shall be fent by the Dutch government to their officers commanding at Rhio and Peru, to put themselves and their garrifon under the orders of the officer commanding the British forces. -Agreed.

The above conditions being drawn up in general terms, as the bafis of connexion with the protecting power, the illuftration which any of them may require will be arranged and detailed in a fubfequent paper, fubject, however, in whole or in part, to the future regulation of the British government in India.

A true copy, (Signed)

True copy,

H. NEWCOME.

Dan. Inces, Dep. Sec.

Horfe Guards, April 16, 1796.

A LETTER, of which the following is an extract, dated Calcutta, December 15, 1795, has been received by the right hon. Henry Dundas, one of his majesty's principal fecretaries of state, from major general fir Robert Abercromby, K. B. commander in chief of his majesty's and the Eait India company's forces in Bengal.

"I have the honour to inform you that major Petrie, foon after the furrender of Cochin, detached a force against the Dutch fort of Quilon, and their factories of Porca and Quilon Quilon in the Travancore country. They were delivered up without refiftance; and we are now in poffeffion of all their fettlements on the Continent of India."

Admiralty

1796.

British Intelligence.

Admiralty Office, April 15, 1796.

Extrait of a letter from Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. Captain of his Majefty's foip Indefatigable, to Mr. Nepean, dated off Quiberon, the 9th April, 1796.

On the 20th ultimo, we chafed three corvettes, one of which, La Volage of 26 guns, we drove on fhore under a battery in the mouth of the Loire, and dismasted her, but the was afterwards got off. In this affair the Amazon had four men wounded, and the other two fhips got into the Loire. We have allo captured and deftroyed the veffels as per inclosed lift.

381

authorised to convey to Monfieur Barthelemi the
defire of his court to be made acquainted, through
him, with the difpofitions of France in regard to
the object of a general pacification. He therefore
requests Monfieur Barthelemi to tranfmit to him
in writing (and after having made the necessary
enquiries), his anfwer to the following questions:
1. Is there the difpofition in Frauce to open a
negociation with his majesty and his allies for the
re-establishment of a general peace upon just and
fuitable terms, by fending for that purpose, mi-
nifters to a congrefs, at fuch place as may here-
after be agreed upon?

2. Would there be the difpofition to commu-
nicate to the underfigned the general grounds of
a pacification, fuch as France would be willing

Lift of the ships and vessels referred to in the above to propofe; in order that his majefty and his

extract, viz.

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Ships of war from L'Orient to Breft.

La Sageffe and La Eclatant, driven up the Loire.

La Volage, driven on fhore and difmafted, but Awas got off again.

EDW. PELLEW.

[End Gazette.]

LONDON, March 29, 1796.

LETTERS were yesterday received in town - from the West Indies, announcing the fafe arrival -in the West Indies of feveral of the tranfports which failed with admiral Christian's fleet. They - have afforded a very feasonable reinforcement of troops to the islands. Three hundred of thefe troops landed at St. Vincent's, enabled colonel Hunter to attack the French on the 21st and 22d of January, over whom he obtained a complete and decifive victory. These letters, containing this intelligence, were received by the duke of Portland, Mr. Dundas, fir William Young, and feveral other gentlemen. They alfo bring the pleafing information, that the principal part of the troops which were in the tranfports that feparated from adiniral Chriftian's firit convoy had arrived safe.

STATE PAPERS.

allies might thereupon examine in concert, whe-
ther they are fuch as might ferve as the founda-
tion of a negotiation for peace?

3. Or would there be a defire to propofe any
other way whatever, for arriving at the fame
end, that of a general pacification?

The underfigned is authorised to receive from Monfieur Barthelemi the answer to these questions, and to tranfmit it to his court: But he is not authorised to enter with him into negotiation or difcuffion upon these subjects. Berne, March 8, 1796. (Signed)

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W. WICKHAM.

Note tranfmitted to Mr. Wickham, by M. Barthelemi, March 26, 1796.

THE underligned, ambaffador of the French Republic to the Helvetic Body, has transmitted to the executive directory the note which Mr. Wickham, his Britannic majesty's minister plenipotentiary to the Swifs Cantons, was pleafed to convey to him, dated the 8th of March. He has it in command to answer it by an expofition of the fentiments and difpofition of the executive directory.

The directory ardently defires to procure for the French Republic a juft, honourable, and folid peace. The step taken by Mr. Wickham would have afforded to the directory a real fatisfaction, if the declaration itself which that minifter makes, of his not having any order, any power to negoIn fact, ciate, did not give room to doubt of the fincerity of the pacific intentions of his court. if it was true, that England began to know her real interefts; that the wifhed to open again for herfelf the fources of abundance and profperity. If the fought for peace with good faith, would fhe propofe a congrefs, of which the necessary refult muft be, to render all negociation endless? Or would the confine herfelf to the asking, in a vague manner, that the French government fhould point out any other way whatever for attaining the fame object, that of a general pacification?

Is it that this ftep has had no other object Note tranfmitted to M. Barthelemi, by Mr. Wick- than to obtain for the British government the fa

ham, March 8, 1796.

Tuz underfigned, his Britannic majesty's minifter plenipotentiary to the Swifs Cantons, is

vourable impreffion which always accompanies the first overtures for peace? May it not have been accompanied with the hope that they would produce no effect?

However

However that may be, the executive directory, whofe policy has no other guide than openness and good faith, will follow, in its explanations, a conduct which shall be wholly conformable to them.-Yielding to the ardent defire by which it is animated, to procure peace for the French republic, and for all nations, it will not fear to declare itself openly. Charged by the conftitution with the execution of the laws, it cannot make, or liften to, any propofal that would be contrary to them. The conftitutional act does not permit it to confent to any alienation of that which, according to the existing laws, conftitutes the territory of the French republic.

With refpect to the countries occupied by the French armies, and which have not been united to France, they as well as other interefts political and commercial, may become the subject of a negociation, which will prefent to the directory the means of proving how much it defires to attain speedily to a happy pacification.

The directory is ready to receive, in this refpect, any overtures that shall be just, reasonable, and compatible with the dignity of the republic. Bafle, the 6th of Germinal, the 4th year of the French republic (26th of March, 1796). (Signed) BARTHELEMI.

Note.

The court of London has received from its minifter in Switzerland, the answer made to the queftions which had been charged to addrefs to Monfieur Barthelemi, in refpect to the opening of a negociation for the re-establishment of general tranquillity.

This court has feen, with regret, how far the tone and spirit of that anfwer, the nature and extent of the demands which it contains, and the manner of announcing them, are remote from any difpofition for peace.

The inadmiffible pretenfion is there avowed, of appropriating to France all that the laws actually exitting there may have comprized under the denomination of French territory. To a demand fuch as this, is added an expreís declaration, that no propofal contrary to it will be made, or even listened to: and this, under the pretence of an internal regulation, the provifions of which are wholly foreign to all other nations.

While thefe difpofitions fhall be perfifted in, nothing is left for the king but to profecute a war equally juft and neceffary.

Whenever his enemies thall manifeft more

pacific fentiments, his majefty will at all times be eager to concur in them, by lending himself, in, concert with his allies, to all fuch measures as fhall be best calculated to re-establish general tranquillity, on conditions juft, bonourable and permanent, either by the establishment of a congrefs, which has been so often, and so happily, the means of restoring peace to Europe; or by a preliminary difcuffion of the principles which may be propofed, on either fide, as a foundation of a general pacification; or, laftly, by an impartial examination of any other way which may be pointed out to him for arriving at the fame lalutary end.

Downing-freet, April 10, 1796.

Charette was taken at La Vendee the latter end By the last advices from France we learn that of March and hot. Pichegru has refigned the command of the army, and has been appointed by the directory to be ambaffador to Sweden. Ge-. neral Moreau is to fucceed him. A new fpecies of and the circulation of the affignats fuppreffed. paper money has been iffued, called mandats, lished under very heavy penalties. All clubs or political focieties have been abo

Extract of a Letter from Portsmonth, April 8, 1796.

The court martial which was held on vice-admiral Cornwallis, clofed this day, when the following fentence was pronounced:

"That the court having heard the evidence in Lupport of the charges exhibited against the hon. William Cornwallis, vice-admiral of the red; and having heard his defence, and the evidence in his behalf; and having maturely weighed and confidered the fame, were of opinion.

"That, with refpect to the two firft charges, of his returning without leave, after having been ordered to proceed to Barbadoes, and of his difobeying the orders he had received, mijcondućt was imputable to him, for not having shifted his flag on board the Mars or Minotaur, and proceeded in either of them to the West Indies; but in confi. deration of other circumstances, the court acquitted him of any difobedience in his conduct on that occafion.

"With respect to the third charge, of his having, after his return, disobeyed the orders of the board of admiralty, in not going out to the West Indies in the Astrea frigate, the court were of opinion that that charge was not proved; and therefore acquittad admiral Cornwallis upon that charge."

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