was neceffary for their high mightineffes to excufe them- 17894 felves from furnishing the fuccours claimed by Great Britain; that convoys fhould be granted to protect effec-. tually all trading fhips bearing the flag of the republic, whatever may be their cargoes, excepting only fuck goods as are properly expreffed in the treaties to be contraband; and that the invitation of the emprefs of Ruffia fhould be accepted with gratitude. They highly refent in general the violence committed upon their convoy by capt. Fielding, in the execution of his orders, and the condemnation of the fhips and cargoes carried by him into the British ports. Different tranfactions now demand our notice. A convoy of about 26 fhips failed from Marseilles for the West Indies under the care of the Aurora. Between 8 and 9 in the morning on the 18th of December, they were discovered by the Preston being between Mar-` tinico and St. Lucie; upon her making the fignal for a fleet," the British ships in Grofs Iflet bay flipped their cables by order of Sir Hyde Parker and chafed. Before four in the afternoon, about ten of the convoy run themselves on shore, and were fet on fire by the men of war's boats. The next morning the Boreas was engaged with the French frigate in Fort Royal bay. On that, Mr. de la Motte Piquet fuddenly flipped his cables, put out to fea with three fhips, bore down upon and obliged the Boreas to fheer off. By this dexterous manœuvre he faved the Aurora and fome of the merchant fhips. The French admiral then hauled his wind in good time, and kept plying for the road, which he gained. The British however had captured nine fail, beside those they burnt. Within a few days after they took three French frigates 1780.envoy at Petersburgh on the 13th of April, with the greatest caution, and promised to "redrefs every hardship that may happen, in fo equitable a manner, that her imperial majefty fhall be perfectly fatisfied, and acknowledge a like spirit of justice which the herself poffeffes." On the 3d of April, prince Gallitzin, the Ruffian envoy extraordinary at the Hague, remitted to the prefident of the States General a memorial with the copy of the declaration, inviting their high mightineffes to accede to an armed neutrality, and acquainting them, that the like invitation had been given to the courts of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Lifbon. But the court of London determined upon adopting fpecial meafures, in order to prevent the acceffion of the republic to the confederacy, and to induce her to afford the fuccours that had been demanded: an order of the king in council was therefore publifhed on the 17th. It relates, that though their high mightineffes had been ftrongly called upon by a memorial of the 21st of March, to grant the fuccours ftipulated by treaty, they had not fignified any intention of complying. The non-performance of the ftipulated engagements is pronounced a defertion of the alliance fubfifting between the two countries; and it is thence declared, that upon every principle of wisdom and juftice, the republic must be confidered on the fame footing with other neutral ftates not privileged by treaty. The order therefore fufpends, provifionally and till further orders, all the particular ftipulations refpecting the fubjects of the States General, contained in the feveral treaties now fubfifting. The publication did not produce the defired effects. The different provinces, after continued deliberations, were unanimously of opinion, that it was neceffary for their high mightineffes to excufe them- 17894 Different tranfactions now demand our notice. A convoy of about 26 fhips failed from Marseilles for the West Indies under the care of the Aurora. Be-* tween 8 and 9 in the morning on the 18th of December, they were discovered by the Preston being between Mar-` tinico and St. Lucie; upon her making the signal for a fleet, the British ships in Grofs Iflet bay flipped their cables. by order of Sir Hyde Parker and chafed. Before four in the afternoon, about ten of the convoy run themselves on shore, and were fet on fire by the men of war's boats. The next morning the Boreas was engaged with the French frigate in Fort Royal bay. On that, Mr. de la Motte Piquet fuddenly flipped his cables, put out to fea with three fhips, bore down upon and obliged the Boreas to fheer off. By this dexterous manoeuvre he faved the Aurora and fome of the merchant fhips. The French admiral then hauled his wind in good time, and kept plying for the road, which he gained. The British however had captured nine fail, befide those they burnt. Within a few days after they took three French frigates 1780, of 42, 36 and 28 guns, on their paffage from St. Vincent's to Martinico. On the 20th of March, as the French admiral was convoying a number of merchant fhips, with four fhips of the line and a frigate, he fell in with capt. Cornwallis off Monti Chrifti, whom he chafed and came up with in the evening. He maintained a running fight with the British ships, of 64, 50, and 44 guns during the whole night. The next morning a general engagement took place, which lafted between two and three hours. The French fuffered fo that they were obliged to lie by and repair. They then renewed the chase, and continued it during the night. But the appearance of the Ruby man of war of 64 guns, with two British frigates, the following day, changed the face of affairs. The French were now chafed in turn for several hours, as they declined coming to action. They were superior in the fize of their fhips, and the weight and number of their guns; but as the British had a ship more, the admiral would not rifk the lofs of any of his convoy, by renewing the engagement. Sir George Rodney was appointed to the chief command in the Weft Indies; and had orders to proceed in his way thither, with a strong fquadron to the relief of Gibraltar; which had been fo clofely blockaded by the Spaniards ever fince the commencement of hoftilities between them and the British, that the garrifon was reduced to confiderable diftrefs, as well with refpect to provifions, as to military and garrifon ftores. After being a few days at sea, he fell in with a confiderable convoy, bound from St. Sebaftian to Cadiz, confifting of 15 fail of merchantmen, under the guard of a 64 gun fhip, 4 frigates from 26 to 32 guns, and two fmaller armed 1 veffels. The whole fleet was taken. The capture was 1780. Jan. exceedingly fortunate, much the greater part of the 8. veffels being laden with wheat, flour and other provision, the remainder with bale goods and naval ftores. The admiral fent the former to Gibraltar, the latter to Great Britain. About a week after, he fell in with a Spanish 16. fquadron of eleven ships of the line under Don Juan Langara, off Cape St. Vincent. The enemy being much inferior in force, endeavoured to avoid an engagement. On that, Sir George threw out the fignal for a general chafe, with orders to engage as the fhips came up by rotation, taking at the fame time the lee gage, to prevent the enemy's retreat into their own ports. The engagement was began by the headmost ships about four o'clock in the evening: their fire was returned by the Spaniards with great spirit and refolution. The night was dark, tempeftuous and difmal, and the fleet being nearly involved among the fhoals of St. Lucar, rendered the aspect more terrible. Early in the action, the Spanish ship San Domingo, of 70 guns and 600 men, blew up, and all on board perished. The action and pursuit continued till two in the morning, when the headmost of the enemy's line ftruck to Sir George. The Spanish admiral's fhip of 80 guns, with three of 70, were taken and carried fafely into port. The San Julian of 70, commanded by the marquis de Medina, was taken; the officers were shifted, and a lieutenant with 70 British feamen put on board; but by running on fhore the victors became prifoners. Another ship of the fame force was also taken, and afterward totally loft by running upon the breakers. Two more efcaped greatly damaged, and two lefs fo into Cadiz. |