The Sampfon, Crown, and Vigilant, of 64 guns, and the Minerva and Andromache, were left cruifing off Lisbon; and the Ocean of 90, Admiral Milbank, with the Foudroyant, 80; Fortitude, 74; Dublin, 74; Afia, 64; and Panther, 60, were gone to Ireland to victual and water. They are fince arrived at St. Helens.

Letters juft received from 14th. Newfoundland, give a very melancholy relation of the lofs of the Hector man of war off that inland. She had juft had an engagement with two French frigates, whom she beat off; but a ftorm coming on foon after the action, fhe became fo leaky that it was impoffible to keep her above water. Juft as the crew were about to leave her and commit themfelves to the mercy of the waves in their boats, a brig came in fight, and landed as many of them as were able to come on board upon the abovementioned ifland, but in a miferable condition. Among them was Captain Bourchier, who is fince arrived in Ireland, being feverely wounded in the engagement; and it was with difficulty that the officer pre. vented her falling into the hands of the enemy. Capt. Drury, who was paffenger on board, is now in town, and confirms the melancholy fituation of that part of the crew who were faved (about 200 in number); the reft went to the bottom with the ship.

Lord Howe, with part of 15th. the fleet under his command, arrived at St. Helen's, viz. The Victory, Britannia, Atlas, Queen, Princefs Royal, Blenheim, Cambridge, Royal William, Alexander, Courageux, Edgar, Gan

ges, Goliah, Vengeance, Pegafe; and the Bombay, Monfieur, and Diana frigates.

The veffel with the div21ft. ing-bell came into Portmouth harbour, having fifhed up 16 guns, with cordage, &c. be longing to the Royal George.

This day Capt. M'Bride was at the levee, and delivered to the King returns of the volunteer feamen raited in Ireland for the royal navy.

25th.

Yesterday a court of proprietors was held at the Eaft India House, in Leadenhallstreet, pursuant to an advertisement from the court of directors, when the following motion was made :

"Refolved, That it appearing that there is fome defign to difpute the rights of the Eaft India Company; and it being found from the tenor of the letters that have paft between his Majefty's fecretary of ftate and the directors, that fomething inimical to the privileges of the court of proprietors is intended, a committee of nine proprietors be appointed to watch over the bufinefs of the Eaft India Company, as it may be agitated in parliament; and to take all fuch legal fteps as may appear neceffary to prevent thofe much feared innovations, fubject to the controul of general courts; and that the directors be inftructed not to fend out to India the over-land exprefs

that had been intended."

After fome defultory converfation, the motion was reduced merely to the appointment of a committee of nine proprietors, to meet at an apartment in the houfe, any five to do bufinefs; and then, on a motion, the court adjourned.

Late

Whitehall, Nov. 22, 1782. To the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of the City of London. My Lord,

His Majefty's ministers, anxious to prevent as early as poffible the mifchiefs too commonly refulting from speculation in the funds during the uncertain state of negotiations of peace between the powers at war, which it is the general honour and intereft of all perfons to avoid, have thought it their duty to ask his Majesty's permiffion to communicate to you, that the negociations now carrying on at Paris, are brought fo near to a crifis as to promite a decifive conclufion either for peace or war before the meeting of parliament; which will on that account be prorogued from Tuesday the 26th inftant, to Thursday the 5th of December; and I have his Majefty's command to affure you, that you will receive immediate notice of the fame.

(Signed)

1780, having retired to the con< tinent.

In America (two months ago) Major Gen. Horatio Gates (the captor of General Burgoyne) his wife, and fon.

T. TOWNSHEND. DIED, Charles Lee, Efq. a major-general in the Polish fervice. He was in the service of the American States, who fufpended him in 1778. He was furprised by Colonel Harcourt 1776; and being afterwards exchanged, was tried by order of Congrefs, and fufpended for one year. He was brother to Wm. Lee, who was Sheriff of London in 1774, and in 1775 chofen alderman of Aldgate ward, which he refigned in

At Rhuabon, Denbighshire, the celebrated Mr. John Parry, gene rally known by the appellation of the famous blind harper.

3d.

DECEMBER.

Saturday being St. Andrew's Day, the Royal Soci ety held their anniversary meeting in Somerset Place, in the Strand, when the following gentlemen were elected for the coun

cil:

Of the Old Council.
Sir Jofeph Banks, Bart.
Peter Holford, Efq.
Edward Hooper, Efq.
N. Maskelyne, D. D.
P. Henry Maty, M. A.
Lord Mulgrave,
Jofeph Planta, Efq.
Sir W. Mufgrave, Bart.
R. Saunders, M. D.
W. Watson, M. D.
Samuel Wegg, Efq.

Of the New Council.
Ifaac Hawkins Browne, Efq.
Sir William Chambers,
Earl of Dartmouth,
Right Hon. W. Ellis,
John Frere, Efq.
Mr. W. Harrison,
Jofeph Hoare, D. D.
Cyril Jackfon, D. D.
Philip Stephens, Efq.
Sir Noah Thomas.

1

4th.

In the late action in the caft, the French had a weight of metal fuperior to our fleet by 110 guns, befides the affiftance of near 3000 troops. In the firft action we fought them five to eight; and in the fecond ten to twelve; and though our fhips were much disabled, yet the British flag rode triumphant in both actions. The Superbe had upwards of 500 fhat in her hull, many of them under water. There was no news of Sir Richard Bickerton when the Royal Charlotte left India.

Yesterday a court of 12th. common council was held at Guildhall, at which were prefent the Right Hon. the Lord Mavor and fixteen aldermen.

Mr. Dornford moved, That the refolution of the laft court for converting the chapel into a juftice's office be refcinded, but the court confirmed the refolution.

The motion for fubfcribing to build a fhip of war was ordered to ftand over to the next court day.

A motion was made and carried, that the lord mayor and fheriffs, inftead of collecting charitable benefactions for prifoners at Chriftmas, fhould draw upon the chamber for one hundred pounds.

A letter from Barbadoes, 13th. dated October 28th, fays, "that the Argo frigate has lately taken a French 64 gun fhip, called the Actif, armed en flute, with a large quantity of brais cannon, mortars, and all kind of artillery ftores from Old France, bound to Martinique; the had alfo on board upwards of 200 foldiers, and her own lower deck guns in her hold. The Argo had like to have captured a frigate alfo, which was in company with her, on board of

which was the Marquis de Bouille."

Laft Tuesday being the anniverfary of the inftitution of the Royal Academy, a general affembly of the academicians was held at the Royal Academy, Somerset Place, when the officers elected for the year enfuing were Sir Joshua Reynolds, prefident.

Council.-Edw. Burch, Charles Catton, P. J. De Loutherbourg, Jofeph Nollekens, James Barry, George Dance, Jeremiah Meyer, and John Richards, Efqrs.

Vifitors. James Bary, J. B. Cipriani, P. J. De Loutherbourg, Jeremiah Meyer, Rev. Mr. Pe ters, A. Carlini, Richard Cofway, Jofeph Nollekens, and Jofeph Wilton, Elqrs.

This day fe'ennight the fubfcription for a national bank in Ireland was opened in Dublin, and filled in a few hours. 30,000l. more than was wanted was offered. The bank opens for business the 1ft of next June.

18th.

Yesterday a court of aldermen was held at Guildhall, at which were prefent the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and 17 aldermen, when John Hopkins, Efq. was fworn in alderman of Caftle Baynard-ward, in the room of Samuel Plumbe, Efq. refigned. Alfo the recorder and common ferjeant gave in their opinions, that alderman Wooldridge might be removed, for the reafons given in a petition against him; and he was ordered to attend by himself or attorney, the 21st of January, to flew caufe why he should not be removed.

This day arrived a mail from New York, brought by the Swallow packet-boat to Falmouth, She

Capt. Afgill came home paffenger on board the above packet.

20th.

Wednesday a court of proprietors was held at the Eaft India House, in Leadenhallftrcet, for the purpose of declaring a dividend on the laft half year's flock; when it was fettled at 81. per cent. for the half-year from Midfummer-day laft to Chrifimas. 23d. A letter from Plymouth, dated December 20, mentions the arrival of the Mediator, of 44 guns, from a cruize, and has brought in a fine new fhip, called the Menagere, deeply laden with all forts of naval and military ftores, among which are 100 tons of gun-powder. She failed from Bourdeaux with five others, under Convoy of two French frigates and an American, called the Alexander, of 22 guns, bound to Portau Prince, which the Mediator took. The Menagere maintained a running fight of feveral hours before fhe ftruck, but no confiderable damage on either fide; the has the appearance of a very beautiful fhip, and looks as long as any fhip in the navy; only her upper deck guns mounted; her lowerdeck ports are marked out, but the holes not yet cut: 'tis thought fhe is capable of mounting 74 guns. The Alexander is arrived Portfmouth,

at

Captain Kempthorn, returned. there from a cruize, during which fhe fell in with a French man of war of 74 guns, and engaged her for near two hours, when the ftruck; but, unfortunately, at that period, the perceived the London had received confiderable damage, and was unmanageable, and therefore took the advantage of mak ing fail, and got off. The London had feventy men killed and wounded, and, it is faid, was very much injured by the French fhip. running foul of her while they were engaging; but we are happy to find that the Torbay, of 74 guns, came up juft after the action, and immediately gave chace to the French fhip, who, by endeavouring to escape, run on fhore near Port Dauphin, on the north fide of Hifpaniola, where it was fuppofed the would be loft.

DIED, Charles Gray, Efq. of Colchefter, F. R. S. a trustee of the British Museum, and member for that borough in five parliaments.