land, and obliged to desist; that Admiral Hawke had bombarded the town of Croissel, and set it on fire, because, the magistrates had refused to permit any boats to pass up the Vilaine, to destroy the men of war that had taken shelter there.

Capt. William Lawrence, commander of the Pluto privateer, convicted some time ago for robbing a Dutch ship on the high seas, was carried to execution-dock, and there executed, pursuant to his sentence. The two seamen who assisted, and who were likewise condemned, as they acted under his command, were respited. The following acts were 20th. signed by commission.-An act to continue and amend an act for the importation of Irish salted beef, pork, and butter. An act to prohibit for a limited time, the distilling of spirits or low wines from all grain. An act to punish mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army. And one naturalization act.-After which the house of peers adjourned till Tuesday the 15th of January, and the house of commons to Monday the 14th.

At night the trial of a pretended Dutch ship, called the Snip, taken by the Lyon privateer, Capt. Creil, came on before the lords of appeal, at the Cock-pit, Whitehall, when it plainly appeared to their lordships, that the real bill of lading, &c. were artfully concealed in a cask or bag of coffee, and that the counterfeit papers were encouraged by the Dutch governor of St. Eustatia, who was deeply concerned in the lading; their lordships were unanimously pleased to confirm the judge's sentence, by pronouncing

the ship and cargo (which is worth 80001.) to be French property.

21st.

The contract made this day by the commissioners of the victualling office for beef was no more than 21s. 5d. per hundred; and 27s. 11. for pork.

ing,

About four in the morn23d. ing, a fire broke out at a cabinet-maker's in King-street, Covent-garden, which entirely consumed that house, and two more in front; a large work-shop backwards took fire, and having no water for some time, the flames soon reached several houses in Hart-street, which were burnt down; as are likewise all the houses on the right hand side of the way in Rose-street, through to Long-acre. It is computed, that in the whole about fifty houses are consumed, and several more greatly damaged. One fireman and a brewer's servant lost their lives by the fall of a house, and several others had their legs and arms broke; and were otherwise much hurt. The loss is computed at more than 70,000l.

His majesty kas settled 24th. 1500l. per ann. upon Sir Edward Hawke, for his own life and that of Kis son.

Lord George Sackville having made application to be tried by a court-martial for his supposed misconduct on the first of August last, a doubt has been raised whether he is amenable before such a court, as hé does not at present hold any litary employment whatsoever. This point is referred to the judges, who are to give their opinion thereon next term.

mi

During the present war, there have been taken or destroyed 27 French ships of the line, and 31 frigates;

K. 2

frigates and two ships of the line and four frigates lost; making in the whole 58 taken or destroyed, and six lost. We have lost seven men of war and five frigates.

A subscription lately set on foot for the relief and reward of the soldiers, who triumphed at Minden and Quebec, meets with great encouragement; and another for cloathing and comforting the French prisoners, during the present rigorous season, has already the sanction of many great and illustrious names; whilst they, unhappy, brave fellows! are totally neglected and abandoned by their own country.

This morning arrived at 27th. Portsmouth, Capt. Geary, with several ships from sir Edward Hawke's fleet; as did Lord Howe in his majesty's ship Magnanime. Some of these ships are in a shattered condition, having had very bad weather for some time. Admiral Rodney is also arrived here with the ships under his command from off Havre de-Grace.

This morning Admiral Saunders arrived in town from Dublin. 27th.

Dr. Ward sent this day a benefaction of 50l. to the subscription opened at Slaughter's coffee-house for the relief of the distressed sufferers by the late fire in Covent-garden.

Died lately Mr. David Lacy, of Limerick, in Ireland, aged 112.

1

A few days since, as Hugh Bethell, Esq. of Rise, was hunting the stag between Scarborough and Burlington, the creature being very hard pressed, took down a cliff of an immense height; and ten couple and a half of the leading hounds followed; by which accident they were every one killed upon the spot,

and the stag had three of his legs broke. One of the whippers-in, a young lad, being just at their heels, and seeing his danger, threw himself from his horse; and the horse upon coming near the precipice suddenly stopt, by which means they were both preserved. Extract of a letter from Capt. Richard Maitland, of the royal regiment of artillery, dated Bombay, May 8, 1759.

30th.

Since my last, nothing particular has happened to the detachment, until February, when I was ordered by the governor and council to take the command of an expedition against the city and castle of Surat, my command consisting of 850 artillery and infantry, with 1500 sepoys.

I embarked my troops on board the company's armed vessels, and in eight days landed them all safe at a place called Dentilowry, distant from Surat about 9 miles, where we encamped for the refreshment of the troops three or four days. In our first day's march from the above encampment, Captain John Northail died of an apoplectic fit, and was succeeded in our company by Capt. Jos. Winter. The first attack that I made, was against the French garden, where the enemies (Scydees) had lodged a number of men; them I drove out, after a very smart firing on both sides, for about four hours; our number lost consisting of about twenty men killed, and as many wounded. After we had got possession of the French garden, I thought it necessary to order the engineer to pitch upon a proper place to erect a battery, which he did, and compleated it in two days.

On this battery were mounted two 24 pounders, and a 13 inch mortar,

which

which I ordered to fire against the wall, &c. as brisk as possible: this I continued to do for three days. Having thought of a more expeditious method of getting into the outer town, than by a breach in the wall, I called a council of war, composed of military and marine; formed a plan of a general attack, which I laid before them, and they as readily agreed to, and this to be put into execution at half past four the next morning. The plan was, that the company's grab and bomb-ketches should warp up the river in the night, and anchor in a line of battle opposite the Scydees Bundar, one of the strongest fortified places they had got: this they did, and a genetal attack begun from the vessels and battery at the appointed time, My intentions in this were, to drive the enemy from their batteries, and to facilitate the landing of the infantry at the Bundar, whom I had embarked on board of boats for their transportation. We made a continual fire until half past eight, when a signal was made for the boats to put off, and go under the cover of the vessels. This proved very successful, for the men were landed with the loss of one man only; getting possession of the Scydees Bundar, and putting the men to flight, with the loss of Capt. Robert Inglish mortally wounded, and Lieut. Pepperel wounded in the shoulder, our loss of men not very considerable.

Having gained this point, and getting possession of the outer town, with its fortifications, the next thing to be done, was to attack the inner town and castle,

I ordered the 13 and 2 ten inch mortars to be planted on the Scydees Bundar, and to begin firing into the castle and town as soon as

possible; distance from the castle about 700 yards, inner town 500.

About 6 in the evening the mortars began to play very briskly, and continued to do so until half past two the next morning. This continual firing of our mortars put the castle and town into such a consternation, that they never returned one gun. The enemy finding it impossible to support themselves, sent to acquaint me they would open the gates for my troops to march into the town; which I did, with drums beating and colours flying. After I was in the town, the governor sent to acquaint me, that he would give me up the castle, on proviso, that I would allow him and his people to march out of the castle with their effects, which I agreed to, taking possession without any further molestation.

4.

Royal artillery, killed 2, wounded

In the company's infantry, Captains killed 2. Subaltern 1. Killed in all 150, Wounded about 60.

Our expedition commenced the 9th of February, and we arrived at Bombay the 15th of April." Letter from Albany in New

31st.

York, Oct. 23. "Cayenquiliquoa and Rattle-snake Sam, two Mohawk In-`` dians, came here yesterday. They were about fourteen days ago at Oswegatchie, in Canada, on a visit to some relations who have been many years settled with the French.' They say they endeavoured to persuade their relations, and the other Mohawks at Gowegatchie, to leave the French in good time, and return to their own country; telling them, "That the English, formerly women, were now all turned into. men, and were as thick,ad over the K 3 country

country, as the trees in the woods. That they have taken the Ohio, Niagara, Cataracqui, Ticonderoga, Louisbourg, and now latelyQuebec; and they would soon eat the remainder of the French in Canada, and Indians that adhered to them." But the French Indians answered, "Brethren, you are deceived, the English cannot eat up the French; their mouth is too little, their jaws too weak, and their teeth not sharp enough. Our father Onontion (that is, the governor of Canada) has told us, and we believe him, that the English, like a thief, have stolen Louisbourg and Quebec from the great King, whilst his back was turned, and he was looking another way; but now he has turned his face, and sees what the English have done, he is going into their country with a thousand great canoes, and all his warriors; and he will take the little English King, and pinch him till he makes him cry out, and give back what he has stolen, as he did about ten summers ago; and this your eyes will soon see." The same notions and prejudices, we find, are industriously spread amongst the six nations: God grant nothing may happen at a peace to confirm them.

The Cheseria, from a place 20 leagues above Quebec, of near 500 tons, mounting 28 six-pounders, with 100 men, and six English prisoners, is sent into Bristol by the Rippon man of war, who took her the 20th instant, seventy leagues from the Lizard. She sailed from Quebec with four or five others; the forts fired as they passed the town; but did them little or no damage. It was thought impossible that they could escape.

Letters from Gibraltar advise, that

Mr. Milbank, who was lately sené to Morrocco with two men of war, to treat about the ransom of the crew of the Litchfield man of war, and a transport that was wrecked last year on the Barbary coast, is not able to succeed in his commission; for, besides the sum of money required, which is very large, the emperor demands a certain number of can non with powder and ball answerable, and cordage, tackle, &c. suffcient to equip four men of war.

In Paris 19,148 children were baptized, 4341 couple married, 19,202 died during this year; and 5028 foundlings were taken into their foundling hospital in the same time.

Amsterdam. The number of persons who have died in this city in 1759, amounts to 7771, and the christenings to 4317. Extract of a letter from Bombay, dated April 7, 1759.

There have been three very extraordinary appearances here. On the 13th of December last, there was almost a total eclipse of the sun, which lasted from ten in the morning till near one o'clock. A comet has been seen these 20 days, and remains still visible about four o'clock in the morning. A very large meteor in the air was seen on the 4th of this month, at about seven o'clock at night, which appeared in the same shape, but much larger than the comet, and had the same direction. It lasted about ten seconds, and was of so great a brightness, that it was not possible for a person to look steadfastly at it. As for myself, I narrowly escaped feeling the effects of it; being then returning from a village near Bombay town, and in the open road, seeing an extraordinary light in the air, I

turned