acuated with a fincere regard for the welfare of his country. But with refpect to the indifpofition of his Majefty, he could not perceive any clear and cogent reafons for the interference of Parliament. Should, indeed, the moment unfortunately arrive to call forth our interference and inveftigation, to warrant proceedings calculated to provide for the fufpenfion of the executive power, he should have no objection in ftating, that in fuch a cafe he fhould agree with the principles laid down by the Hon. Gentleman, Mr. Fox. The refponfibility which attached to Minifters at this moment was almost unexampled, and, they must be aware, it was tremendous and weighty in the extreme. Confidering all thefe important fubjects, and taking alfo into view what had beer done in former inftances, he had no hesitation to fay, that the House hould not act with hafte and precipitation; that its proceedings ought to be characterifed by gravity and prudence; and that they were bound to count days after days, and hours after hours, before they could expect any communication of the nature which had been alluded to that evening. But it was well known, that danger impended over the country, and that they must be ready at their pofts, with increafed vigilance and firmness, to guard against every exigency; he therefore refifted the motion of adjournment. After Mr. Windham and Mr. Gren ville, and several other Members, had ipoken, the question for an adjourn ment was put, and negatived without a divifion. On the motion for the fecond reading of the Volunteer Bill, Mr. T. Grenville went into the fubject at length, and expreffed his difappointment with refpect to the provifions of the Bill, and his diffatisfaction with the general fyftem of the Volunteer Corps. Mr. Yorke profeffed, that the general fyftem of Government was to interfere no further with the Volunteer Inftitution than was neceflary to regulate the fpirit which gave it birth, fo as to render it moft ferviceable to the country; and in this point of view, he argued in defence of the details of the prefent Bill. Mr. Pitt thought that the Bill went as far as was confiftent with prudential confiderations, at a moment when the approach of the enemy was looked upon to be so near. But he hoped that Government would, at a future period, extend their views to fuch regulations as might render the Volunteer fervice moft efficient, as a branch of our permanent militia might be di minifhed to 40,000; the Army of Referve increased and kept up at 70,000; and that a certain proportion of the latter fhould be permitted, at ftated periods, to volunteer into the regulars. To prevent all competition of bounties, he propofed, that Government alone fhould recruit for fubftitutes, on the payment of a certain fine by the indivi duals drawn by ballot. Mr. Windham, in replying to Mr. Yorke and Mr. Pitt, pointed out the various defects which were inherent in all Volunteer Systems, and their injurious operations in regard to the ftanding army. He particularly cenfured Minifters for having fhewn too much tenderness towards the Volunteer riot ers at Chester. Lord Caftlereagh fupported the Bill. The rioters at Chefter had, he faid, been difmiffed from their Corps, and the Attorney General had been directed to inftitute a criminal profecution against them. His Lordthip concluded with a comparative view of the force of the Navy at the present moment, and at different periods of the late war. The general refult was, that at present we had of ships of the line, frigates, and floops, 411, fully manned and in late war we had not an equal nava! fervice; whereas in the courfe of the force until fo late as 1796. Mr. Pitt explained. Mr. Whitbread thought that the conduct of Minifters tended greatly to injure the Volunteer Corps, and blained Minifters for bringing forward the question refpe&ting the election of Offi Mr. Addington fupported the Bill, and was replied to by Mr. Grey. The Bill was then read a fecond time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday next, TUESDAY, FEB. 28. No House. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29. On the question for the Speaker's leaving the Chair, on the Volunteer Bill, Colonel Craufurd made his obfervations at confiderable length on the Volunteer System. He appeared, on the whole, to give a preference to an armed peafantry. It was fuch a peafantry, he obferved, that in la Vendee had extinguished the Garde Nationale, which, as a military force, might be confidered as nearly on a footing with our Volunteers. Mr. Fox fpoke nearly on the fame fide, and gave it as his opinion, that an armed peafantry was likely to offer the moft folid and effectual refiftance to an invading enemy. Mr. Pitt paid many compliments to the Volunteers, as being fully equal to meet the prefent, though not the profpective danger. He was willing to admit that their fpontaneous efforts had been productive of infinite good, but that this ebullition fhould not be fuffered to fubfide. It was obviously a cafe for the interference of the Legiflafure; and he was of opinion, that Minifters had been lax in their duty in not taking measures for rendering the Volunteer Syftem more permanent. In his opinion, there fhould be a Corps of Balloted Men, ready to recruit either the Regulars, or the Army of Referve; in his idea, the very establishment of fuch a Corps would be fufficient to keep the Volunteers to their duty. Mr. Windham went over fome of his former arguments, but in a qualified way, refpecting the infufficiency of the Volunteers to meet a Regular Force. Captain Markham took occafion in cidentally to ridicule the preparations of the enemy, whose small craft he defcribed as crabs creeping along the coast, and which, even if unmolested, could not keep the fea! The House went into the Committee; but after the reading of the first claufe pro forma, the Chairman reported progrefs, and obtained leave to fit again tomorrow. THURSDAY, MARCH 1. No House. FRIDAY, MARCH 2. account of fums paid at par to perfons from Ireland in this country, was agreed to. Mr. Fofter, after animadverting on the want of fpecie, and the depreciation of paper currency in Ireland, moved for a Committee of Inquiry on the fubject; which, after fome obfervations from Mr. Corry, and Lords H. Petty and Caftlereagh, was agreed to. Mr. Grey took occafion to advert to his Majefty's illness; and wished to know whether, by the declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that "there was not any neceflary fufpenfion of the Royal Functions," the Houfe was to understand that his Majefty was not prevented by indisposi tion from attending to bufinefs. Mr. Addington anfwered, that the fubject was improper to be renewed. The House then went into a Com mittee on the Volunteer Bill; when Mr. Yorke proposed, that the preamble fhould relate to Volunteer Corps in Great Britain; and that every thing relative to Ireland fhould be omitted. Mr. Pitt reverted to his propofition for appointing regular Field Officers; and, after the explanations and remarks of feveral Members, the Bill, as amend ed, was ordered to be printed, and taken into farther confideration on Tuesday. INTELLIGENCE FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. TUESDAY, FEB. 7. THIS Gazette contains two Letters from Capt. Biffell, of the Racoon, to Admiral Duckworth, defcribing the capture of the under-mentioned French veffels, attended with fuch circumftances of gallantry and abilities as are not often equalled. The first letter, dated Auguit 20, off the east end of Jamaica, announces the capture of two out of three French fchooners, after tedious chafes, near St. Jago de la Cuba, where they feparated in different courses: the third was driven afhore and loft in a small bay.-Captain Biffelk adds, "On Wednesday the 17th, at one P. M., I again obferved a brig coming along along fhore, which foon after hauled her wind to fpeak a fchooner which had been avoiding us all day. At three they bore up together, under all fail, with a strong breeze: I stood off until certain of fetching them, and then made fail in fhore. At a quarter past four the brig hoifted French colours, and fired a gun, ftill keeping within half a mile of the shore, under a prefs of fail. At twenty minutes paft four the fired her broadside at us, and attempted to crofs our hawfe, which I was fortunate enough to prevent, for I ordered the helm to be put hard a-port to board her, though going eight knots at the time, and fired a broadfide at her, which, from being nearly aboard each other, brought down her ftudding-fails, top-fails, &c. She then luffed up, and ran on fhore on the rocks in a small bay, and ftruck her colours. To avoid a fimilar fate, I was compelled to heave in ftays; and when we wore round, our ftern was nearly in the breakers. In this pofition we fired our oppofite broadfide to effect her de. ftruction. In about half an hour the hoited her enfign again, and made feveral fhort tacks near her, firing upon her in paffing. Towards funfet her mainmat went over the fide, and the fell on her beam ends." Mr. Thompson. Mafter of the Racoon, then offered to go with a few picked hands and burn her; but Captain B. confidered this fervice too hazardous, in confequence of the brig having landed feveral boats full of armed men. The next day fhe was perceived to be a complete wreck, and full of water. She proved to be la Mutine, of eighteen long 18-pounders, and full of men, from Port-au-Paix to St. Jago. The fecond letter from Captain Bif fell is dated in Port Royal Harbour, October 20, and announces the capture of the following veffels, part of nine fail, hear the coaft of Cuba: la Petite Fille, gun-brig, which had on board 180 troops, including about fifty Officers of all ranks; the fchooner la Jeune Adele, of fix fmall guns, which had on board 80 troops; and the cutter l'Amelie, carrying four long guns and many fwivels, with upwards of 70 troops. The two latter had on board twentytwo Officers. The captured veffels, it appears, attempted to run in hore; and as foon as the Racoon was within gun-fhot, the brig truck, but the others bore up together with inten tion to board the Racoon. A defperaté running fight commenced, when the cutter being literally beaten to a wreck, ftruck, as did the fchooner, and were then taken poffeffion of. In the mean time, however, the crew of the brig had overpowered the prizematter, and driven her on fhore, where they all landed with their arms; but Captain B. immediately deftroyed her, and fucceeded in recovering all his men in fafety. He obferves, the Commanders of thefe veffels were apprifed of our being on the coaft, and they had planned their mode of attack in Cumberland harbour, having determined on boarding us: their lofs is about forty killed and wounded." No perfon was killed on board the Racoon, and the Mafter only wounded.-Admiral Duckworth, in his letter introductory to the above, defcribes the profeffional conduct and bravery of Captain B. in the most flattering terms. Admiral Duckworth likewise, in a difpatch dated November 4, announces the capture and deftruction of twentyfour fail of veffels in lefs than a month by Captain Mudge, in the Blanche, which frigate had blockaded the entrance of Manchineel Bay. One of the veffels captured is a beautiful armed fchooner; the other a large coppered cutter, full of bullocks. ST. DOMINGO.-This Gazette also contains ample particulars of the eva cuation of St. Domingo by the French. By them we learn that Rochambeau, when reduced to the last extremity, fent General Bove and Captain Barre to Captain Loring of the Bellerophon, with the following propofition: "That he should be allowed to leave the Cape with his guards, confitting of about 4 or 500 men, and be conveyed to France without being confidered prifoners of war, and that the Surveil Jant and Cerf be allowed to carry him and his fuite."-Captain L., in a letter of November 19, anfwered, that the French Officers and troops in health must be fent to Jamaica, and the fick to America or France, the tranfports which fhould convey them being va lued, and fecurity given for the payment of the value. The following abstract of a letter from Admiral Duckworth, dated Port Royal, December 18, exhibits a fubfequent plan of the most refined treachery and duplicity on the part of the French Officers towards this coun try. try. In this letter the Admiral obferves, "I am forry to fay that Rochambeau, whofe actions are too extraordinary to account for, had, on the 19th ult., (previous to his propofals to Captain Loring, through the General of Brigade Boye and Commodore Barre,) actually entered into a capitulation with the Black General Deffalines, to deliver up the Cape to him, with all the ordnance, ammunition, and ftores, on the 30th, flattering himself, I conclude, that the tremendous weather which our fquadron was then and had been experiencing for three weeks, would offer an opening for efcape; but the perfeverance and watchfulness thereof precluded him from even attempting it. On the 30th, the colours of the Blacks were difplayed at the forts, which induced Captain L. to difpatch Captain Bligh to know General Deffalines' fentiments refpecting General Rochambeau and his troops; when, on his entering the harbour, he met Commodore Barre, who preffed him, in strong terms, to go on board the Surveillante, and enter into fome capitulation, which would put them under our protection, and prevent the Blacks from finking them with red hot fhot, as they had threatened, and were preparing to do; which Captain B. complied with; when they haftily brought him a few articles they had drawn up, which he (after objecting to fome particular parts, that they agreed thould be altered to carry his interpretation on their arrival at Jamaica,) figned, and haltened to acquaint General Deffalines, that all the hips and veffels in port had furren dered to his Majefty's arms, and with great difficulty he obtained the promise to defift from firing till a wind offered to carry them out (it then blowing hard directly into the harbour). This promife he at length obtained, and the firft inftant the land breeze enabled them, they failed out under French colours, when, upon a hot being fired athwart them, the veffels of war fired their broad fides, and hauled down their colours." It is worthy, however, of remark, that fo anxious were the French Officers to elude the vigilance of the British fquadron, that they did not prepare to embark till the last day of the terms granted, and not till Deffalines was actually heating hot to exterminate VOL. XLV. MARCH 1804. their naval force.-The Black General alfo, on application from Captain Loring, refufed to fend pilots to conduct the Britifh fhips into the harbour to take poffeffion of those of the French; obferving, that he fhould drive the latter to fea, when the English might deal with them as they thought proper. The Clorinde French frigate, of 38 guns, took the ground, loft her rudder, and was obliged to throw moft of her guns overboard. She was, however, got off by the exertions of Lieutenant Willoughby and the boats of the Hercule.-Captain Loring, after fending the prizes for Jamaica, bore for the Mole, and fummoned General Noailles to capitulate, which he refufed, afferting. that he was able to ftand a fiege of five months; yet the very night on which he fent the refufal, he evacuated the place, and made his escape in a brig. The garrifon had embarked in five or fix veffels, and were brought into Jamaica by la Pique, which had been left to blockade the Mole. Here follow fome letters from Captain Loring, fenior Officer of the blockading fquadron, to Admiral Duckworth, defcriptive of the proceedings which led to the furrender of the Cape, as defcribed in the difpatch from the Admiral.-Captain L. alfo ftates, in a letter dated off Cape Francois, November 23, that having been informed of Rochambeau's intention to escape in an armed schooner lying in the Caracol Paffage, he difpatched the launches of the Bellerophon and Elephant, under Lieutenant Pilch, who took poffettion of her under a strong fire of her guns and fall arms, without the loss of a man. She had fix 6-pounders, fix fwivels, and fifty-two men.-The following are the Articles of Capitulation: Art. I. The town of the Cape, and the forts, fhall be furrendered in ten days from the 28th of the prefent month, to the General in Chief Deflalines. II. The ammunition and warlike ftores in the arfenal, the arms and the artillery which are in the town, and in the forts, thall be left in their prefent state. III. All the hips of war, or others, which fhall be judged necellary by General Rochambeau for tranfporting the troops and the inhabitants who may Hh with wish to depart, fhall be at liberty to fail on a day to be appointed. IV. The Officers, civil and military, the troops compofing the garrifon of the Cape, fhall depart with the honours of war, carrying with them their arms, and the effects belonging to their demi-brigade. V. The fick and wounded are efpe. cially recommended to the humanity of General Deffalines, who engages to embark them for France on board neutral veffels. VI. General Deffalines, in giving the affurance of his protection to the inhabitants who may continue in the country, relies on the juftice of General Rochambeau to fet at liberty all men belonging to the country, of whatever colour they may be; and that none of them fhall, under any pretence, be compelled to embark with the French army. VII. The troops belonging to the two armies fhall remain in their prefent pofitions until the tenth day fixed for the evacuation of the Cape. VIII. General Rochambeau fhall fend, as a fecurity for the fulfilment of the prefent Convention, the AdjutantCommandant Urbain de Vaux; in return for whom General Deffalines fhall fend an Officer of equal rank. (Signed) DESSALINES. DUVEYRIER. The conduct of Rochambeau had rendered him fo odious to Captains Loring and Bligh, that they would have no intercourfe with him after his furrender. The following is a lift of ships of war which were captured:-La Surveillante, 40 guns; la Clorinde, 40; la Vertu, 40; Cerf brig, of 12; and Caurvet fchooner, of 6 guns. [This Gazette alfo contains a difpatch from the Hon. F. North, Governor of Ceylon, to Lord Hobart, dated Columbo, July 8, which confirms the report that Candy was attacked, during a truce on the 24th of June, and Major Davie, with all the foldiers who 'accompanied him, treacherously murdered. From the tenor of the Gover nor's letter it would appear, that the best understanding did not prevail between the Civil Government and Major Davie; as Mr. North obferves, that "the fort was rendered, in the opinion of mot military men, tenable against any force that was likely to be brought against it, and large fupplies of provifions had been fent thither, in ad dition to thofe which Lieut. Col. Barbut had declared to be fufficient for fix months' confumption, two months ago."—He adds, "Lieut. Hufkiffon was alfo on the road from Trincomalee (as Major Davie must have known) with 100 doolies under an efcort of 150 Malays; and when I heard of the breach of the truce, I ordered Lieut. Col. Hunter to proceed from Trincomalee with 200 of the roth regiment, and 50 Malays, to fecure the evacuation, which, (had it been delayed for a fortnight,) would have been fafely affected. But what I can ftill less account for is, that Major D. having obtained fuch terms, should have confented to lay down his arms, when he must have felt that the perfon who infifted on fuch an infraction of agreement, could have no other defign but that of murdering him and his men; and when he muft, in common with all the army, have known that a corps of 40 Europeans in good health, and of 200 Malays, might cut their way through an army of Candians to any part of the island." The Governor however formally contradicts the report of the defection of the Malay regiment; there having been a few individual defertions :-he adds, that the Malay Princes at Columbo waited upon him, on the arrival of the melancholy intelligence, and affur. ed him of their inviolable attachment to the British Government. TUESDAY, FEB. 21. [This Gazette announces the cap ture, by the Squirrel, on the 17th init. of a French fchuyt, fitted up for horfes, bound from Oftend to Boulogne. She is 40 tons burthen.] FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. WE logne. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the projects of Buonaparte are of immenfe magnitude; and his waiting till they are ftill further in creased, |