as their Lordships had been prevailed excite and preferve an eternal animo upon to infer, in their Addrefs to his between them. To fo great a degree Majefty, that it was with a delign, on did this mifchievous and cruel prejudice the part of that Republic, to overturn prevail, that the foldiers arriving in this Conftitution, (an opinion with which England were taught to look upon every he could never agree) it was certainly perfon they met with as a rebel and ai highly neceffary to call forth the energy enemy of Great Britain; the natural e of every man in the empire; and the fest of which was, that they uniformly most effectual way to obtain his affiftance treated all as fuch. It would give their would be to make him feel the blefings Lordships fome idea of the militay of that Conftitution which he was called tyranny under which the people gr upon to protect. Miniers talked of the ed, when he informed them that the flourishing ftate of our exports and im- was not a man now in Ireland who w ports, which, according to them, not- not liable to be taken out of his bed, ar withstanding the numberless captures of arrested and imprifoned-feparated from our merchantmen, exceeded all former his family and all his connexiontimes, and from thence drew a conclu- allowed to have the leaft communic fion that neither our commerce nor our tion or intercourfe with them—and afd manufactures had been injured by the all, never be informed who were his a war-that it was not the cafe in Ireland, cufers or what was the nature of the might be known from the melancholy charge imputed to him. Such was the fact, (if the Mayor of Dublin, and a fituation in which, to his knowledge, moft refpectable committee of gentle- numbers of perfons had been subject, men, were to be credited) that 27,000 and every individual was every day manufacturers, including their families, der the apprehenfions of experiencing. were in the greateft diftrofs; that it was At the found of the bell at nine o'clock abfolutely neceffary to procure a daily every man was obliged immediately not fupply for 20,00c, to preferve them from only to thut up his houfe, but alio to pet perifhing; and even, with that affiftance, out his fires and his candles. No cir in the fummer months too, many had cuftances, no fituation, were fufficient to died for want. So far from being in a produce the fmalleft relaxation in this flourishing ftate, the looms were totally law. He could himself atteft a fingular ftopped; and thofe parts, which, to his inftance of feverity and cruelty in enforc knowledge, were remarkable for their ing it. A perfon who lived near the activity and induftry, were now funk fide of the road in the north of Ireland, into idleness; indeed, one reafon flated was disturbed one evening at nine o'clock for a continuance of the reftriction on by a man thundering at his door, who the bank, was the probability that fome on its being opened, immediately order fupplies might be wanted to that king- ed the matter to extinguish his fires and dom; fo that, inftead of being an affift- his candle. The perfon would have ant in this arduous ftruggle, he was readily, though perhaps not cheerfully likely to prove a dead weight on Great complied, if it were not for the difreilBritain. This, he faid, led him to draw ed fituation of his family at the time. their Lordships attention to the prefent He earneftly befought the man, to per ftate of that country, and to the diftreff- mit him for that once, at leaû, to keep es to which he had lately been an eye- a light, for that his child had fallen into witnefs. In doing this, he fhould avoid fits; and his wife hung over the infant, mentioning particular acts of atrocity, anxiously watching its convulfions, and and confine himself to fuch as, from their endeavouring all in her power to pre number and probability, left no manner ferve it-from expiring. He offered to of doubt but that they were counte- conduct him to this fcene of misfortune, nanced by that coercive fyftem, which, and ufed every folicitation to move him according to his idea, had been fo er- to comply with his requeft. The execu• roneously adopted by the Government tioner all the time remained inexorable, of that country. Never in his life did and the wretched father was obliged to he hear of fuch abfurd and difgufting obey, as the only means of preferving oppreffive tyranny as that which he him- his house and property from military ex felf had feca exercifed in ireland. Every ecution. There was fome years ago a artifice was employed to feparate the kind of punishment called 'picketting, characters of Irish and English, and to which was inflicted for great offences on foldiers s in the cavalry, which from its ous nature had long fallen into -This inftrument was, however, revived, to extort confeffione from unfortunate perfons in Ireland who have been pointed out by fome ymous accuter. Many infances naturally have concurred where in t perfons had no confeflions to , and yet were deliberately fubto this excrutiating punishment, veral cafes, it happened that the in fʊ picketted had fainted from inble pain: as foon as be recovered bicket was applied again, until ahe fainted; a third time was the It employed, and the tortured vicobliged to futain it till his ftrength I hold out no longer. After all this, teen were they for informations, her true or falfe, it was impoñible hem to tell, that they frequently inued their endeavours to exort conns, by threatening to renew, on the miferable victim, the repetition of tortures. A man educated under British Conftitution, and any ways ainted with its fyftem and its prines, muft know that it undoubtedly wed him to keep a gun in his houfe the defence of himfelf and of his perty. The General who commandn the north of Ireland issued a pronation, commanding all the inhabi. s immediately to deliver in their fire s. It must be fuppofed that many hem hesitated to comply-a hefita, it must be confeffed, not altogether heable, but which, however, fubed them to the fevereft punishment. arty of militia was fent out in queft thofe arms, and if they chanced to ay, not contented with taking them ay, they blew up, burnt, and deflroy. the houtes, the furniture, and all the perty. Even this, monstrous as it it appear, was far from being the rft. When a village was fuppofed to tain a certain quantity of arms, 1 the number delivered in did not hapto correlpond with their computan, a force was immediately detached, ich, for its imputed omillion, burnt 1 deftroyed the whole of the village difcriminately. Thus did the fate of ole families and villages frequently pend on the genius and caprice of the icer commanding a detachment, who folated and levelled them to the ound, whenever he had reason or incli nation to fufpect that any arms were concealed. Was it after all this to be expected that Ireland was to be kept as a valuable appendage of the British Empire by military coercion, and by a conduct more favage and revolting than had almost ever been adopted towards a conquered country! he had himfelf feen conquered 'countries kept under by military law; but never did he fee nor hear of perfons treated with the fame cruelty, violence, infult and fcorn, as were now the people of Ireland.-Instead of diffolving the bands of United Irishmen, they had fwelled that body to fuch a degree, that he had good reafon to fear they were now as numerous in the fouth, as they were known to be in the north. There were, he believed, a great numher of perfons of diftinction who regretted much, that thefe violent and compulfory meafures had ever been adopted, but who, notwithstanding, were a fraid that we had advanced too far at prefent to recede, and refted all their hopes of preferving that country, upon the precarious fuccefs of the meafures now purfued. But he, having lately vi fited that country, and taken pains to enquire into the opinions of the people, was fo far from defpairing, that he was thoroughly convinced it was not yet too late to recover the cordial affections of Ireland by measures of conciliation. But in order to effect this, he alfo was perfuaded that it must be done foon, that no time was to be loft, and that every moment was precious. However great might be our military force, however vigorous and prompt our meafures of coercion, it was folly to fuppofe that, under the prefent fyftem, Ireland could poffibly be retained for five years, as forming any part of the united Empire. Let their Lordflips but confider—(here he paufed for a confiderable time, and then proceeded.) He was glad, he said, that he recollected himfelt. What he was about to fay, would perhaps be imprudent before fo large an audience. If we meant to retain Ireland, it must be by burying in mutual oblivion every thing that was pait-by deftroying the feeds of animofity, and difpenfing the laws equally to all without any dillinction in gradations of rank or qualityby diffufiing over all the benefits of a free and happy Conftitution, and by uniting in one mafs of love, loyalty, and fidelity, men of all perfuafions, without any any regard to their religion. At prefent with being the regular inframes i he meant to fubmit no motion on this cruelty, gave him no fmall degree d fubject. He had endeavoured to dif- ftonishment, fince humanity was orta charge a duty which he thought indif- their leading characteristics: He penfible; he had laid before them a true lefs attonithed at his treating fo and unexaggerated statement of the miferable and alarming condition of Ireland, and it was the dearest with of his heart, that he may be permitted to prove it, at the bar of their House, or before the Privy Council. our late naval victories, which makla convinced our enemies that we re proof against their most defperate tempts. After flightly touching s the finances and refources of the co try, his Lord hip again reverted to å opinion, that the Parliament of t kingdom could not interfere with s fringing the folemn compact betwa Lord Grenville obferved, that the Noble Earl's declining to make any motion on the fubject he had thought proper to introduce, was the ftrongeft pofli- the two countries. ble proof that it was a queftion which ought not in that place to be brought into difcuffion; of course he should not attempt to argue it at much length. It might be fufficient for him to fay, that, as the interference of that Houfe with Captures for November and Dece A French lugger of 4 guns and o deftroyed by the Stag frigate. A French schooner privateer, of 4 po pierced for 14, and so men, by the Ca ders floop. A finall French privateer, by the F floop. and 70 men, conveying difpatchest A French national corvette, of 145 Welt Indies. Likewife a French p teer of 24 guns and 230 men, former the British frigate Hyaena, by the Ind fatigable, Sir E. Fellew. A French lugger privateer of 8 gaty and 55 men, by the Albatros. A French privateer of zo guns ais 120 men, by the Boadicea. any thing refpecting the internal regulations of Ireland would be an infringement of the Constitution of that kingdom, they could not debate upon it without breaking the folemn compact between the two countries; but he could not avoid faying a few words upon the fubject. His Lordship then proceeded to thew, that, during the whole reign of his prefent Majefty, one invariable fyf. tem of conceffion and indulgence had been purfued with regard to Ireland; and he ftrenuously denied that any steps were now taken which the exigencies of the times did not abfolutely demand, to prefcrve it from a dangerous and extenlive confpiracy, to render it a province of our inveterate enemy the Republic of France.-A Committee of both their Houfes of Parliament had proved the existence of this conspiracy beyond the leaft pofiible doubt, and the confpitators had carried it to fuch a height, as to have a Committee for the purpose of paying fums of money for aflaffination. He had a printed paper, wherein a number of individuals were fet down, gate. And another of 12 guns and se men; but unfortunately the upfet. as meriting the refentment of Irifhmen; and it was plain that, by the word refentment, they meant affaffination, for they were all perfons who had been active to check and oppofe their intentions; and he was forry to add, that informers, witnesses, and magiftrates, had been murdered, to check the progrefs of juftice. That, under fuch circumftances, fome exceffes might occur, he fhould not attempt to deny; but that the Noble Lord fhould charge the British foldiers Two French privateers, one of 16 m and 145 men; the other of 18 guns 189 men, by the Cerberus. A Spanish corvette of 16 guns and ↑ men, with dispatches from the Caraza by his Majefty's thip Majeftic. A French privateer of 14 guns and men, by the Blanch. ber of the crew not mentioned, by the A French privateer of 16 guns, num Diana. A French privateer, by the Clyde fri LONDON. AT a Court-Martial holden on bard his Majefty's fhip Circe, in the R Medway, and continued by adjour ment, in purfuance of an order, ge by the Commiffioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Eng land, and directed to the members who compofed the Court to try Captain Juba Williamfon, late of his Majefty's th A ourt, upon certain charges pre- obferved two large veffels at a confidera- · against him. (See p. 924) The ble distance; guns were fired, and at after hearing the evidence ad- length one of the thips blew up; the oon the part of the profecutor, ther came within two miles of the elate defence, together with all the ed beholders, and then changed her nce the prifoner chofe to bring for- courfe; the fucceeding morning another ; and, after having weighed the thip came within nearly the fame difmaturely and deliberately, are of tance, and as fuddenly took another on that charges of cowardice and track; to her fucceeded a French frig. ation have not been proved againit ate, the, Infurgent, to whom the Prince Captain Williamdon; that the o- Frederick of courfe ftruck; all but two Charges have been proved in part; of the crew were helped on board, one fore the Court pronounces the ful- of them fell overboard, the other, refuf3 ing ali attance, fwore he would fink with the hip; which the did in lefs than That the fad Captain John Wil- ten minutes. o be put at the bottom of the lift it captains, and be rendered incae of ever ferving on board any of -sjefty's fhips.' Sentence: Signed by the Court, &c. s foon as Mr Binftead, the Judgeocate, had concluded the fenter be, Prefident informed the Provott Mar- that Captain Williamfon was no er in his cuftody, and the Court then lved. In the Council Chamber of the hall in the market place in Norwich, is erected the following device, a memoriai of the glorious action of the 14th of Feb. 1797: An anchor, to the ring of which is fufpended a yard and fail, fuppofed to be torn in action, on which is inferibed- The fword of the Spanish Admiral Don Xavier Winthyfen, who died of the wounds he received in an engagement with the British fleet under the aptain Williamfon, though rendered command of Admiral Earl St Vincent; pable of ever ferving on board any wherein the heroic valour, and cool deas Majesty's fhips, is, from his not termined courage of Rear Admiral Sir g ftruck entirely off the lift, entitled Horatio Nelfon, K. B. had ample scope if pay; from which, however, fome for their difplay. He being a native of nction will be made in confequence Norwich, honoured the city by prefentis being put at the bottom of the ing this fword, furrendered to him in of poft captains. that action."-From the flukes of the The fate of the Prince Frederick, ex- anchor the fword is fufpended Under4hip from Bengal, is now decided be- neath is the coat of arms of Sir Horatio d the poffibility of a doubt, by the Nelfon, which was given to him by the ival of Mr Kean, an affiftant furgeon, King. o partock of all the diftreffes experi- A general bill of all the Chrifienings and Burials, ced by the crew previous to her fink- from December 14, 1796, to December 12, I off Teneriffe. For above ten preHag days, they had only the feanty alvance of a bottle of beer per day to ey three men; all hands during most rt of that time had been kept to the mps, which were at length completechocked up, by the indigo oozing rough the fides. From the cargo ging in almoft every direction, it was Enerally immagined the ribs of the vef- 5 and 10 I would be beaten to pieces; and, no opes or fuccour remaining, the crew, ith that customary ideotifin which defration in thefe inftances too often proaces, rifled every article between decks, 1797 Christened, In all, Whereof have died, Under 2 years, Buried, 9615 Males, 8577 Females, 8457 15,645 In all, 17,014 Io and 20 20 and 30 600 90 and 100 1340 roke open the officers chefts, and pierc- Decreased in the burials this year 2274. d the caiks of Madeira-moft of them There have been executed in Midlefex, on became completely inebriated. In and Surry, 24; of which number 15 have his ftate of diforder, the captain and of- only been reported to be buried as fuch with, cers, on the 9th day of their diftrefs, in the bills of mortality, British Ships Loft, Taken, or Destroyed, fay, daughter of Wm Lindefay, Efq; di dinch. in 1797. Guns La Vipere, 18 Amazon, Hermes, Bloom (Tender) 24 Brighton (Ten), 14 Fox (Cut) Albion, 60 | Fortune 281 Tartar, 32 38 12 BIRTH. Mrs Roy of Nenthorn, a daughte DEATHS, Lately, the Right Hon. Lord Bellenia 16 aged 88. Ships of the Enemy Lol, Taken, or De- Stroyed in 1797. French. 24. At Whiteriggs, James Bademich, H.M 27. John Wilkes, Efq; Alderman of te 6 Win Lorimer ot Kymis Hall, fomir 36 fpirit-dealer in Dumfries. 8 La Freedom Le Gaieté Suffrein (SS) L'Atalanta (Sp) 18 L'Allegree (SS) Le Droits D'Homme A Schooner 29. At Dover, Robert Colt, Efq; of Ab 20 hame. 12 31. At Ballewick, Ireland, Andrew H La Conftance 24 La Decouverte 18 14 179 Privateers, guns 1440-Taken from Dutch. 74 | Herculus Jupiter PROMOTIONS. War-Office, 03. 28. 26th light dragoons. Major Robert Ges ift foot guards. First Major Franci 49th foot. Major Ifaac Brock, to be Lice 6oth foot. Capt. Julines Herring to be 64 Gelykheid Walienaer, Adm. Devries Salvador del Mundo San Josef 74 | Delft 68 | Alkmaar 68 Munnichken. 681 dam, 64 Ambulcade 56 56 44 Stuart, to be Lieutenant Colonel. Captain Willoughly 112 Magallanes 4 be Major. 112 Elean 36 San Nicolas San Ysidro 74 Pitious Virgin 84 Maria 12 74 Neufra Senora 741 del Rofana 20 San Cecilia 36 San Francifco 18 63d foot. Nov. 18. Captain R. M. Johnton, u ift bat. 1ft foot. Major Re- Dec. 19. 6th dragoons. Major-Gen. George 16th foot. Major Gen. Henry Bowych, 38th foot. Captain John Lindale Bot Sift foot. Major L. Albert Parry, to be Dec. 26. 20th light dragoons. Major George 26th light dragoons. Captain James INDEX |