his Majesty's ships, without any deduction whatsoever on account of leakage or waste.

Thus has the wisdom of the British Legislature increased the comforts of Seamen as far as relates to wages and provisions; but that wisdom stopped not here, since by an humane regulation we find it enacted in the second clause of this Act, "That all petty officers, able Seamen, landsmen, and marines, who may hereafter be wounded in action with the enemy, shall receive the full amount of their wages and allowances until their wounds shall be healed; or until, being declared incurable, they shall receive a pension from the Chest at Chatham, or be admitted into the Royal Hospital at Greenwich."

The third section empowers the Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy to direct the Treasurer of the Navy, or any receiver general of land tax, collector of customs, or collector of excise, or clerk of the cheque, to whom an allotment shall have been made pursuant to the Act of 35 Geo. III. c. 28, to increase the allowance to the wives or mothers of petty officers or Seamen, non-commissioned officers of marines, or marines, in a proportion equal to half the increased pay provided by this act; and which shall thereupon be paid in the same manner as if such declaration and order of allotment had been originally, according to the rate of half the pay of such petty officers, Seamen, and marines, as by this Act is provided. This calculation is to be made as nearly equal as may be to half the pay, and to be calcu lated according to a schedule annexed to the Act.

From the brief view we have given of this subject, taking also into consideration the flourishing state of The Navy, it may be justly inferred, that the many salutary laws and regulations which have from time to time been wisely framed for the encouragement of Seamen in the Royal Navy, for their government when on board, and for conferring privileges and rewards on them during and after service, have now been raised to an higher degree of excellence than is known to other States it is ever consistent with the sound policy of a free and maritime Nation, most assiduously to continue to cultivate every measure, which at the same time that it adds to the comfort of our brave Mariners, reminds them that their Services are duly appretiated" by their country.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NAVAL CHRONICLE.
SIR,

THE

HE Author of the Essay given in your last, Number, "On the Method of supplying Deep Mines with Fresh Air by Means of Fire," assumes, that to the ignition of the fuel, it matters not whether it be supplied with "pure air or poisonous vapour;" the contrary of this is generally understood to be the fact-that the most vital part only of the air is consumed during the combustion, and that

azotic gas is a complete extinguisher. This is, I think, exemplified in several parts of "Priestley's Treatise on Air:" in further proof it may be only necessary to notice the common custom of letting down a lighted candle into a ship's pump-well, or other confined place, before the people are allowed to descend; if the candle coptinues to burn there is no danger, but if it is extinguished, the vapour is deemed too noxious for respiration. In one of the ingenious essays of Count Rumford on the propagation of heat, it is stated that no sensible difference was observed in the additional heat acquired by the blowpipe, whether it were supplied with atmospheric gas; but it must be observed that the candle on which this experiment was made, was burning in the pure atmospheric air, and the Count speaks but of the heat acquired by the action of the blowpipe.

or azotic

Fires are certainly of the greatest service, and are much used in the Navy for purifying the lower parts of the Ship; its heat corrects the damp, which is deposited in great quantities (during the night especially) from the breath of the people, as well as what may arise from the quantity of water by which they are surrounded; it also, by rarifying the air in contact with it, and causing it to ascend, keeps up a constant circulation, a pure air rushing in to supply the place of that displaced by the heat.

Wishing every success to your Work, to which, should any thing worthy notice fall within my observation, I shall be ever happy to contribute, I remain, Sir,

Your servant and well-wisher,

July 16, 1799.

A NAVAL OFFICER.

GRATUITIES TO THE RELATIONS OF OFFICERS AND OTHERS

KILLED IN ACTION.

To a Widow, her husband's full pay for a Year.

2. Orphans, each the one-third proportion of a Widow ; posthumous children are esteemed Orphans.

3. Orphans married are not entitled to any Bounty.

4. If there is no Widow, a mother if a Widow, and above fifty of age, is entitled to a Widow's share.

years

5. The relations of Officers of Fire-ships are entitled to the same bounty, as those of Officers, of like rank, in fourth rates.

6. Captains are to set down the names of the killed at the end of the Muster Book, and on what occasion.

7. This bounty extends to those who are killed in tenders, in boats, or on shore, as well as to those on board the ships; also to those who are killed in action with Pirates, or in engaging British ships through mistake. They who die of their wounds after battle, are all equally entitled with those killed in Action.

Gazette Letters.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, APRIL 9, 1799.

Copy of a Letter from Admiral Sir Richard King, Bart. Commander in Chief of bis Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Plymouth, to Evan Nepean, Esq. datea the 7th inst.

SIR,

I HAVE the satisfaction to transmit herewith, for their Lordships' information, a letter I received from Captain Seymour, of his Majesty's sloop Spitfire, acquainting me he captured the Resolue, a French privateer, the 31st ult. which, together with the Spitfire, arrived here this morning.—I am, Sir, &c.

R. KING.

Spitfire, Plymouth Sound, April 7. I have the honour to acquaint you, that the Spitfire captured, in a violent gale of the 31st ult. Scilly bearing N N. W. 14 leagues, the French brig privateer Resolue, of 14 six and eight pounders, and 65 men, perfectly new, being her first cruise, out two days from St. Maloes, and had not made any capture. 1 am, &c.

MICHAEL SEYMOUR. Copy of a Letter from Captain D'Auvergne, Prince of Bouillon, Commander of bis Majesty's Ship Bravo, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated at Jersey, the 6th inst.

Enclosed I have the honour to transmit you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners, Captain Lord Proby's report to me of his capture, in his Majesty's ship Danae, commanded by him, of a French national armed vessel that bad only left Saint Maloes a few hours before he fell in with her yesterday. I have the honour to be, &c. D'AUVERGNE, Prince of Bouillon. St. Helier, Danae, April 4.

SIR,

I have the honour to acquaint you, that his Majesty's ship under my command captured the French national lugger Le Sans Quartier this morning, off the Isles de Chosey. The prize is pierced for 14 guns, but all she had on board were thrown overboard in the chace-she has 56 men.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, APRIL 13.

PROBY.

Copy of a Letter from the Right Hon. Lord Bridport, K. B. Admiral of the White, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated on board the Royal George, at St. Helen's, the 10th inst.

SIR,

HEREWITH you will receive the copy of a letter from Captain Keats, of his Majesty's ship Boadicea, stating the capture of the French brig privateer L'Utile, which is transmitted for their Lordships' information. I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.

MY LORD,

BRIDPORT. Boadicea, at Sea, April 1.

I have the honour to inform your Lordship of the capture of a third privateer this cruise, by the Boadicea, viz. L'Utile, a very fine brig of 16 guns, eight pounders, ten of which are brass, and 120 men, quite new, and three weeks from Bourdeaux.I have the honour to be, &c.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, APRIL 16.

R. G. KEATS.

Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Harvey, Commander in Chief of bis Majesty's Ships at the Leeward Islands, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Prince of Wales, Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, March 4, 1799.

SIR,

YOU will be pleased to acquaint their Lordships, that Capt. Barton, of his Majesty's ship Concorde, captured on the 14th ult. to windward of Antigua,

La Frudente, French ship privateer, copper bottomed, of 18 guns and 100 men. She had been cruising to windward of Barbadoes for six weeks, without making any other captures than two schooners, one from Halifax, and the other an American, was on her return to the Spanish Port of St. Domingo, where she belonged, and from whence she had sailed early in December last, I have the honour to be, &c.

HENRY HARVEY. Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Dickson, Commanding Officer of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels at Yarmouth, to Evan Nepean, Esq dated Veteran, at Yarmouth, April 15.

SIR,

Herewith I transmit, for their Lordships' information, a letter from Captain Dacres, of his Majesty's ship Astrea, addressed to Capt. Sotheron, of the Latona, acquainting him of the capture of Le Marsouin, French lugger privateer.

SIR,

I am, sir, &c.

ARCH. DICKSON. Astrea, at Sea, April 13.

I beg leave to acquaint you, that on the reth inst. the Texel bearing east 9 er leagues, fell in with and captured, after a chace of three hours, Le Marsouin French lugger privateer, of 14 guns and 58 men. She left Dunkirk the day before; had taken nothing i have the honour to be, &c.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, APRIL 20.

R. DACRES.

Extract of a Letter from Capt. Reynolds, of his Majesty's Ship La Pomone, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Falmouth, April 17, 1799.

SIR,

I BFG to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of my arrival in this port.

I have also to inform you, that on the 31st ult. in lat. 42 deg. 25 min. N. long. 9 deg 16 min. W. we retook The Minerva, a valuable Liverpool West India ship, that had been captured 16 days before by the Argus French privateer, belonging to Bourdeaux; and I have the pleasure to add, that on the gd inst. we fortunately fell in with the Argus, and after a long chace of 108 miles running 12 knots an hour, took her close under Cape Finisterre. She is a beautiful Ship, not six months off the stocks, carrying 18 brass nine pounders, pierced for 22, and 130 men; is copper-bottomed, and a remarkable swift sailer. Besides the Minerva, the Argus had captured, this cruise, two brigs belonging to Teignmouth; the master and crews of both I found on board her. And on the 9th of this month we retook an American schooner from the Caraccas, bound to Corunna, laden with cocoa and indigo, that had been taken eight days before by the Gironde privateer, from Bourdeaux.

I revicus to the above, his Majesty's ship Pomone had captured, off Carthagena, the Mutius Scævola French privateer, belonging to Genoa, and a Spanish coaster; particulars of which transmitted in a letter on service to the Earl of St. Vincent. I have the honour to be, &c.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, APRIL 23.

R. C. REYNOLDS,

Extract of a Letter from Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart. Captain of bis Majesty's Ship St. Fiorenzo, to Evan Nepean, Esq.

SIR,

Plymouth, April 17.

I BEG you will acquaint their 1 ordships that I arrived with the St. Fiorenzo in Plymouth Sound this morning, with a French brig prize, from St. Domingo bound to 1.'Orient with sugar and coffee. I also captured a French brig in ballast on the same day, not yet arrived.

I enclose, for their Lordships' information, a copy of my letter to Lord Brid port, of the 6th inst.

MY LORD,

H. NEALE.

St Fiorenzo, at Sea, April 16.

I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that on the 9th inst. after reconnoitring two French frigates at anchor in the port of L'Orient, I stood

towards Belle Isle. On our approach I saw some ships at anchor in the Great Road, but as the weather was hazy, and the ships under the land, I could not sufficiently ascertain their strength until we had run the full length of the island, when I clearly distinguished them to be three French frigates and a large sailing gun-vessel, with their topsail-yards ready hoisted to come out to us. At this instant a heavy and sudden squall of wind from the N. W. carried away the Amelia's main-top-mast, and her fore and mizen top-gallant-mast; the fall of the former tearing a great part of the main-sail from the yard.

The enemy who were apparently waiting our near approach, got under weigh immediately, and made sail towards us in a line ahead. Circumstanced as we now were, I felt we had but one duty to perform, and that we could do nothing more than testify our readiness to meet them: I therefore made the signal to prepare for battle; and when they had advanced a little to leeward of us, I shortened sail, so as for the Amelia to keep under command, with her fore and mizen topsails only, and made the signal to bear up, preserving the weathergage, and keeping close order. The enemy tacked to meet us, and we instantly commenced an action, receiving the fire from one of the batteries on the island at the same time. The enemy were so little disposed to close quarters that we were under the necessity of bearing down upon them three times, until they were close upon the islands of Houatt and Hedie. After engaging them one hour and 55 minutes, they wore ship and stood from us. I am extremely sorry we had it not in our power to do any thing more with the enemy (who had a port close on each side of them) than compel them to relinquish an Action which, from their superiority and the crippled state of the Amelia previous to the action, had inspired them with the hope of success.

Soon after the Action ceased they bore up for the Loire, two of them apparently much shattered; and the gun-vessel returned to Belle Isle.

It is with peculiar satisfaction I acquaint your Lordship, that the active and spirited conduct of Captain Herbert is deserving of the highest applause, and I feel that no encomium of mine can do justice to his merit.

The officers and ships' companies, of both ships, conducted themselves with the greatest order and most determined courage: they are entitled to every

commendation I can bestow.

I take the liberty of naming in particular Lieutenants Farnall and Holmes, the First Lieutenants of each ship, as very deserving officers.

The damage sustained by his Majesty's Ships is principally confined to the masts, sails, and rigging.

By a Vessel captured since the Action, I learn the frigates we engaged were La Cornelie, La Vengeance, and La semillante; they have been lately stationed at Belle Isle to guard the Coast.

Enclosed is a list of killed and wounded in each ship.

I have the honour to be, &c.

H. NEALE.

Right Hon. Lord Bridport, K. B. Return of Killed and Wounded on board his Majesty's Ships St. Fiorenzo and Amelia, on the 9th of April 1799.

St. Fiorenzo 1 seaman killed; 18 seamen wounded; 2 of them dangerously. Amelia-Mr. Bayley, midshipman, and i seaman killed; 17 wounded, 1 of them dangerously..

Total 3 killed, and 35 wounded.

Copy of a Letter from Mr. Daniel Hamon, to Evan Nepean, Esq. dated Jersey,

SIR,

April 16.

I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the Phoenix lugger private ship of war under my command, on the 5th inst. St. ebastian bearing S. E. four leagues, fell in with and captured the French lugger privateer La Courreur, commanded by 7 Gabriel de la Garats, mounting four guns, four-pounders, and six swivels, having on board 46 men: she belonged to St. Jean de Luz, sailed last from sebastian; had captured nothing.I have the honour to be, &c.

DAN. HAMON.