expedition; denied all credit to ministers for the escape of the Royal Family of Portugal; contended that there was now as good an opportunity of making peace with France as ever; and particularly called upon ministers to attend to Ireland. Mr. Canning defended the conduct of ministers in every point alluded to in the royal speech. No angry discussion, he said, had taken place with the court of Vienna. Strictly speaking, there was no negociation through the medium of Austria, nor any distinct offer from Talleyrand. No remonstrances had been received from Prussia. Every hostile appearance on her part was extorted by France. In justice to the late ministers, he stated, that the expedition to the Dardanelles had been undertaken at the request of Russia. As that had not succeeded, the cause of war with the Porte had ceased. A negociation with the Porte was entered upon, and the only difficulty was the admission of Russia into the treaty. In the middle of this, the Russian minister left Constantinople, and then a treaty was concluded by the Porte with France. As to Sweden, subsidiary negociations were carrying on with that power, which would be laid before the house when finished. With regard to America, as no right had been claimed by Great Britain of searching ships of war, satisfaction was offered for the affair of the Chesapeake. But ministers had kept that affair distinct from other matters in dispute, while the Americans endeavoured to blend them. He at the same time acquitted of any serious blame the gallant officer who had the command on the American station, as his provocation was extreme. As to the policy of the orders in council, all agreed that there must be something of that sort, and the difference was only as to the degree, which was a question of inferior importance. It was proper to shew other powers that Great Britain might be as formidable as Buonaparte in some instances, though he admitted that our having a giant's strength was not a reason why we should use it like a giant. Similar objections were made to the address, in this house, as in the house of peers; but no specific amendment was proposed, and it was agreed to without a division. Letters on Service, Copied verbatim from the LONDON Gazette. ADMIRALTY OFFICE, JANUARY 2, 1808. Extract of a letter from Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Gardner, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated on board his Majesty's ship Ville de Paris, in Torbay, the 31st December, 1807. EN NCLOSED I transmit, for their lordships' information, a letter from Captain Atkins, of his Majesty's ship Seine, giving an account of the capture by the above ship, ou the 26th instant, of the French lugger privateer la Sybille, belonging to Morlaix, pierced for fourteen guns (but only one on board), and having on board forty-three men.j Seine, at Sea, December 26, 1807, in MY LORD, Lat. 49°. 27'. N. Long. 8°. 30'. IV. After a short chase this afternoon, his Majesty's ship under my command captured a French lugger privateer, la Sybille, pierced for fourteen guns, (but had only one long gun on board, with swivels and musketry), and forty-three men. She is a very fine fast sailing new vessel, of large dimensions, belonging to Morlaix, has been out five days, and, I am happy to add, with out making any capture. I have the honour to be, &c. To the Right Hon. Admiral Lord Gardner, &c. D. ATKINS, Captain. Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Dacres, to the Han. W. W. Pole, dated on board his Majesty's sloop Shark, Port Royal, 15th October, 1807. SIR, I have the honour to enclose to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy of a letter I have received from Captain Inglefield, of the Bacchante, acquainting me of the capture of the Spanish privateer Amor de la Patria by that ship and the Reindeer. SIR, I am, &c. J. R. DACRES. His Majesty's Ship Bacchante, Vallalis Point I have the honour to inform you, at eleven A. M. this morning, we discovered his Majesty's sloop Reindeer in chase to windward of a suspicious schooner coming down before the wind, and at half past one shewing Spanish colours; and finding she could not escape, cut off (froin our being to leeward): she struck, and proves to be the Spanish privateer Amor de la Patria, belonging to St. Jago, Captain Josse de Tournecy, armed with three guns, and sixty-three men, out five days, and, am happy to add, has not captured any thing. I have the honour to be, &c. To J. R. Dacres, Esq. Vice-Admiral of the White, &c. S. W. INGLEFIELD. Copy of a letter from Admiral Montagu, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated on board his Majesty's Ship Royal William, at Spithead, 29th December, 1807. SIR, Be pleased to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the enclosed letter from Captain Adam, of his Majesty's ship Resistance, stating his having fell in with, and captured, after a chase of eight hours, l'Aigle, French lugger privateer, SIR, I have the honour to be, &c. G. MONTAGU. Resistance, Cape Barfleur, Dec. 28, 1807. I have to acquaint you that yesterday at sunset, the Ower's light bearing north four or five miles, his Majesty's ship under my command fell in with a large lugger privateer, and after a chase of eight hours, I find the satisfaction to capture her, close in with Cape Barfleur. She proves to be l'Aigle, of Dieppe, Vincent Pouchin commander, of fourteen guns, and sixty-six men, is only a few months old, and appears to be a very fine vessel. She has been three days from Barfleur, without making any capture. Admiral Montagu, Portsmouth. 1 am, &c. CHARLES ADAM, Captain. Extract of a letter from Captain Robert Rolles, of his Majesty's ship Lion, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated Downs, December 28, 1807. At daylight on the 27th, land bearing north about nine or ten miles distant, which was taken for Beachy Head, a lugger appearing under our lee that bore a very suspicious appearance, I considered it my duty to pursue her, and after nearly a whole day's chase, and her practising various manœuvres to escape, was captured. She proves to be la Reciprocité French privateer, of fourteen guns, and sailed the 25th from Dieppe, in company with another of the same kind which hove in sight the latter part of the. chase she is two years old, a fast sailer, and her crew composed of fortyfive men; are French, Prussians, Portuguese, Swedes, Danes, and Americans. These two vessels have been lying under Beachy Head since the above time, but made no captures. : JANUARY 9. Extract of a letter from Captain Rainier, of his Majesty's ship Caroline, to Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. dated Malacca Road, February 25, 1807, and transmitted by the lust mentioned Officer to the Hon. W. W. Pole. Having seen the Honourable Company's ships Perseverance and Albion through the Gillolo passage, I passed to the eastward of the Pellew Islands to insure fetching Pellappa, on the north end of the island of Summar, which place I looked into on the 26th ultimo, and not seeing any vessel there, I was making the best of my way to the straits of St. Bernardine. Early on the morning of the 27th ultimo, a strange sail was discovered on our lee beam. I immediately bore up in chase of her, and she ran for Albay. When we were nearly within gun-shot of her they hoisted Spanish colours, and fired a gun to windward. We were coming up with her fast, when she was taken aback with the land wind, and she having studding-sails set on both sides, we were close to her before she could take them in, when, either from their temerity, or not knowing our force, they commenced firing, and it was not until they had twenty-seven men killed and wounded that they hauled down their colours. On taking possession of her she proved to be the St. Raphael (alias Pallas) Spanish register ship, belonging to the Royal Company of the Philippines, mounting sixteen guns, with ninety-seven men, commanded by Don Juan Baptista Monteverde, having on board upward of five hundred thousand Spanish dollars in specie, and seventeen hundred quintals of copper, besides a valuable cargo; she sailed from Lima on the 12th of November last, bound to Manilla. P. S. I am sorry to inform you we had seven of our men wounded, one of whom is since dead. JANUARY 15. Copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. to Willia Marsden, Esq. dated on board his Majesty's ship Culloden, Madras Roads, September 28, 1807. SIR, I have the honour to enclose the copy of a letter from Captain Lye, of his Majesty's ship Bombay, stating the capture of la Jaseur French national corvette, which you will be pleased to lay before the Right Hon. the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. SIR, I have the honour to be, &c. EDWARD PELLEW. His Majesty's Ship Bombay, at Sea, July 11, 1807, Carnicolau S. S. W. 18 leagues, lat. D. R. 10. 6. N. long. 93. 10. E. I have the honour to inform you of the capture, yesterday evening, of the French national brig le Jaseur, of twelve guns and fifty-five men, and commanded by a lieutenant de vaisseau (the Little Andaman N. W. eight leagues), after a chase of nine hours, by his Majesty's ship Bombay under my command. The brig left the Isle of France the 15th of April, and had not made any capture. I have the honour to be, &c. Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. W. J. LYE. JANUARY 16. Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Douglas, to the Hon. W. W. Pole, dated North Yarmouth, the 11th instant. SIR, For the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I transmit two letters from Captain Farquhar, of his Majesty's ship Ariadne, stating the particulars relative to the capture of the two French privateers Trente & Quarante, and l'Eglé, which are arrived at this port, agreeably to Captain Farquhar's directions. SIR, I have the honour to be, &c. B. DOUGLAS, Vice-Admiral. His Majesty's Ship Ariadne, Jan. 7, 1808,- I have the honour to acquaint you that this morning, being off Huntly cliff about four leagues, I observed one of his Majesty's brigs to the south ward, at ten A. M. she bore up and made sail to the eastward, and we per ceived her to be in pursuit of a lugger. We immediately joined in the chase, keeping the wind of the enemy, and at one P. M. having closed within gun-shot, we had the pleasure to see the lugger surrender to his Majesty's brig Ringdove, which was nearer to the chase than the Ariadne, and had fired several shot at her. She is a French lugger letter of marque, (le Trente & Quarante) commanded by Monsieur Fanqueux, carrying sixteen guns, six and nine pounders, fourteen of which were mounted, with a complement of sixty-six men, sixty-five on board, had been sixteen days from Dunkirk, and had not made any capture. She is one of the largest luggers out of France, and a very fine vessel, only three months off the stocks, well found, and I think fit for his Majesty's service, I have sent her to Yarmouth, and have the honour to be, &c. A. FARQUHAR, Billy Douglas, Esq. Vice-Admiral of the Blue. SIR, His Majesty's ship Ariadne, Jan. 8, 1808, I beg to inform you, that after the capture of le Trente & Quarante, we stood during the night towards Flambro' Head, and at daylight this morning another lugger was discovered in the W. N. W. to which we immediately gave chase; having, at the same time, made the signal No. 3, to the Ringdove, which was in company. Soon after eight we observed the lugger was chased by two brigs, one of which proved to be his Majesty's brig Sappho, and the other belonging to the Excise, called the Royal George, commanded by Mr. Curry, and to whom the lugger surrendered at about a quarter before ten A. M. and I have satisfaction in adding that credit is due to Mr. Curry for the capture, although, from the situation of his Majesty's vessels, her escape was impossible. The prize is a French lugger l'Eglé, commanded by Mons. Olivier, sixteen guns mounted, three and four pounders, and a complement of fifty-six men; left Dunkirk nine days ago, has made one capture, the brig Gabriel, of Yarmouth (in ballast), which she took last night off Scarborough, and scuttled her. I saw her still above water this morning, and ordered the Ring-dove to examine her, and Captain Andrews has since reported to me, that the Gabriel was sinking so fast as to make it impossible to save her; the master and crew were found on board l'Eglé lugger, which I have ordered to Yarmouth with the other prize, and purpose seeing them in safety to that port. I have the honour to be, &c. Billy Douglas, Esq. Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Downing-Street, January 20, 1808. A. FARQUHAR. Captain Murphy, of the 88th regiment, Brigade-Major of his Majesty's forces at Madeira, has arrived at the office of Lord Viscount Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, with a despatch, of which, the following is an extract, from Major-General Beresford, dated Madeira, December 29, 1807. Extract of a despatch from Major-General Beresford to Viscount Castlereagh, dated Madeira, Funchal, December 29, 1807. I have the satisfaction to communicate to your lordship the surrender of the island of Madeira, on the 24th instant, to his Majesty's arms. We had, previously to the ships coming to anchor, seut to the governor to surrender the island to his Britannic Majesty, offering the terms we were authorized, which were acceded to. The troops were immediately landed, and before dark were in possession of all the forts, and had the 3d and 11th regiments encamped, with their field-pieces, a little to the west of the town. In regard to unanimity and cordial co-operation, it is sufficient to say, it was Sir Samuel Hood I had to act with, and the object, the service of his country. His ardent zeal communicated to all the same sentiments, and the utmost unanimity prevailed. I had the fullest reason to be satisfied with the zeal and ardour of all the officers and troops under my orders. I have the honour to enclose the articles of capitulation which have been agreed upon. Captain Murphy, of the 88th regiment, Brigade-Major to the forces, will be the bearer, and can communicate any further particulars your lordship may be desirous of knowing; and I humbly recommend him to his Majesty's most gracious consideration. ༡ |