Herald of the United States (Warren, R.I.), 1805-06-29 00:00:00

Gazet of the United States.
WARREN:—PUBLISHED NEAR THE POST-OFFICE, BY NATHANIEL PHILLIPS.
[No. 39, of Vol. XIII.]
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 1805.
[Whole No. 663.]
WARREN BANK.
THE Stockholders of the Warren Bank are hereby notified, That the Tenth and last Installment of Five Dollars on each Share, will become due on Monday the First Day of July next, and Payment is expected at Bank, agreeably to the Charter of Incorporation.—At which Time a Dividend will be declared and Paid.
PETER CARPENTER, Cashier. *Warren, July 21, 1805.
BANK OF BRISTOL.
NOTICE is hereby given, That a Meeting of the Stockholders of the Bank of Bristol, will be held at the Bank on Monday the 1st Day of July next, at 3 o'Clock, P. M. for the Choice of Directors, for the year ensuing, agreeably to the Charter of Incorporation.—And that the half yearly Dividend will be declared, on the said first of July, and paid at the Bank; on and after that.
By order of the President and Directors, JOSEPH SMITH, jun. Cashier. *June 14, 1805.
For New-York and Albany.
THE Sloop PRISCILLA, Luth. Colse, Master, has good Accommodations for Passengers, to sail in all next Week:—For Freight or Passage, apply to the Master on board, at the Wharf of CHARLES COLLINS, jun. Esq. or to JAMES W. BRAYTON, NATHAN M. BURR.
Now landing, and for SALE as above, 12 Puncheons 4th Proof Sweet Rum. 2 Thousand White Oak bbls. Staves. 2 Thousand Ditto. Hhd. Ditto. 2 Thousand Ditto. Heading. *Warren, July 16, 1805.
New & seasonable GOODS.
JOHN CROADE, Takes the earliest opportunity of notifying his Customers and the Public,
THAT he has just received and now opening at his Store, a general Assortment and extensive Variety of SUMMER GOODS, of the latest Importations, which he is enabled to sell at a lower Rate than usual.
Among his goods, are 1st and 2d Quality SUPERFINE BROADCLOTHS, of the most fashionable Colors.
Middling & common, Ditto. Superfine and common CASSIMERES. Ribbed and plain Ditto. MOREENS, JOANS, SHARLOONS, DURANTS & DUROYS—all Colors. Black & blue, ribbed & plain RUSSELLS. Black FLORENTINES. 3/4 & 5/8 black and colored Sarfnet CAMBRICS for Ladies' Gowns. 3/4 & 5/8 embossed, Ditto. 3/4 & 5/8 white glazed & unglazed, do. Fashionable laced, Ditto. 3/4 JACONET, Ditto. Figured black & white Cambric MUSLIN, for Ditto.
A large Assortment and extensive Variety of the most fashionable and elegant, superfine and common CHINTSES and CALICOES. CHINTS FURNITURES—a Variety. Red and white, purple and white, and blue and white COPPERPLATE, Do. 3/4 and 5/8 Dutch and Irish LINENS. Brown, Ditto.
BRITANNIA and PLATILLAS, 3/4 to 5/8 DIAPERS, for Table CLOTHS, and other Purposes.
Russia SHEETING and DOWLAS. A great Variety of INDIA COTTONS, from stout SHEETING, to fine SHIRTING, by the Piece or otherwise—unusually low—3/4, to 5/8, wide.
Black, blue and brown, Ditto. India blue STRIPES, Ditto CALICOES.
Cotton and Linen CHECKS. Cotton, Ditto. DIMITIES and MUSLINETS a general Assortment.
3/4 BOOK MUSSLINS—an Assortment. Linen CAMBRICS. Plain and check'd CHAMBRAYS, for Gowns. Book and jaconet MUSLIN HANDKERCHIEFS.
ITALIAN SHAWLS, 3/4 figured, do. Silk and Camel Hair SHAWLS. Black, white and slate fring'd, and figured Cotton CAMBRIC, Ditto.
Needle-wrought and clouded, Do. A Variety of fashionable colored and black fring'd SILK HANDKERCHIEFS. Blue and red China check'd, Do.
Red, blue and yellow Bandana, Do. Meat' Muslin CRAVATS.
A Variety of Linen and Cotton POCKET HANDKERCHIEFS.
Black and white Rutland GAUZES. 3/4 black CRAPE.
Plain and crape, black Ditto. Love, Ditto.
Black and white MILLINETS. A Variety of fashionable India, French and Italian black and color'd SILKS for Gowns.
1st chop of color'd SATIN for Cloaks. Black India SATINS, 1st. & 3d. Quality.
English and Italian stout plain and ribb'd Do. suitable for Gentlemen's Vests and small Cloaks.
A Variety of fashionable figured SILK VELVETS for Gentlemen's Vests.
Plain and figured MUSLINET, JANE and MARSEILLES, for Ditto.
Black and olive, plain and ribbed twilled VELVETS—a great Choice.
Genoa CORDS, THICKSETS & CORDUROYs.
India blue and yellow NANKEENS. English blue, black and figured, Ditto.
Striped NANKINETS. Blue and black Silk, Ditto.
Black, blue, olive and mixed Cotton CASSIMERES.
JEANS, FUSTIANS, & WEAVERETS. Black and colored SATINS for Ladies' Bonnets.
MODES, SARSNETS & PERSIANS. A great Variety of fashionable RIBBONS, TASTES, EDGINGS and LACES.
Black LACES—an Assortment. Black and colored GALOONS.
Velvet Collaring, and black and Color'd Silk VELVET for Caps.
Scotch THREADS. Color'd Ditto. TAPES and BOBBINS.
SILK, TWIST, and BUTTONS. QUALITY & SHOE BINDINGS—all Colors.
Ladies' black & color'd extra long French and English Silk GLOVES—a great Choice.
Black and color'd Cotton MITTS and GLOVES.
Long Kid Ditto. Silk and Cotton BRACES.
Glove TIES. Gentlemen's black, white and color'd Silk and Cotton GLOVES.
Common and best Beaver, Ditto. Kid and Morocco SLIPPERS.
Black FLORENTINE, Ditto. SILK, SILK and COTTON, plain and ribbed black, white and colored COTTON HOSE.
Vandyke and Hemp, Ditto. Ladies' black and white Cotton Ditto, with Clocks.
A Variety of Ivory, Bone, and other Wood-Stick FANS.
India fan, and common size Ditto. OIL CLOTHS, &c. &c.
English and Dutch LOOKING-GLASSES, a handsome Assortment.
A few Articles in the STATIONARY Line, such as Quarto and Common Bibles, Testaments, Rippon's Hymns, Watt's Psalms and Hymns, Spelling Books, Alden's 1st and 2d Vols. and Reading Books, Preceptors, Geographies, Dictionaries, Arithmetics, Blunt's Practical Navigators, Moor's Daily Assistant, Rumford's Essays, Writing-Paper, Red and Black Morocco Pocket-Books, Walkden's Ink Powder, Ink-Stands, Sand-Boxes, Dutch-Quills, Slates, &c. &c.
HARD-WARE, among which are, Shovels, Flat-Irons, Warming Pans, Shovels and Tongs, Knives and Forks, Pen and Jack Knives, Nail and Shoe Hammers, Candlesticks, Desk and Draw Trimmings, Door, Chest, Cupboard, Stock, and Trunk Locks, single and double warded pad Ditto, Coffee Mills, Hinges, Door & Table Hinges, Saws, Files, Chisels, Plane-Irons, Table and Tea Spoons, Block-Tin Tea Pots, House, Hearth, Clothes and Shoe Brushes, Wafer, Snuffers and Snuffer Trays.
An Assortment of Nails & Brads.—German, Heart and Club, Crawly and Halback, English and Philadelphia Steel, &c.
London PEWTER. Platters, Plates, Salvers, Porringers, Pint and Quart Potts.
An Assortment of TIN-WARE. Boston and New-York SNUFF per Bladder.
West-India GOODS, and GROCERIES, among which are—West-India Rum, French Brandy, Holland Gin, Sherry, Malaga, and Port Wines, Hylon, Souchong and Bohea, Teas, Loaf and Brown Sugars, Molasses, Flour, Rice, Raisins, Pimento, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmegs, Ginger, Coffee, Bar-Soap, &c. &c. &c.
Leather and Hair TRUNKS. *Warren, May 18, 1805.
CASH, given for clean cotton and linen RAGS, at this Office.
Foreign Intelligence.
ENGLAND. LONDON, APRIL 2.
CASE OF LORD MELVILLE. (Continued from our last.)
ANSWER OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Office of Naval Inquiry, Great-George-Street, April 2, 1805.
MY LORD—
WE have received your Lordship's letter of the 28th of last month, by which you intimate that we appear not to have accurately understood the grounds on which you decline answering our question, and submit to us some observations in order to place those grounds in their just view; and also to express a wish that before you conclude to correct an inaccuracy in one part of your evidence, and a readiness to verify by your oath facts stated in that letter.
If it be the object of this communication, that we should again require your Lordship's attendance; for the purpose of being examined, touching these matters, and that we should make a supplemental report upon the result of that examination, and such other examinations as we might thereupon judge necessary, there can be no disinclination on our part (as far as we are concerned in the proceeding) to meeting your lordship's wishes:—But it appears to us that the inquiry, which is the subject of the Tenth Report has attained that period, when it would not become us to adopt such a measure, merely upon the suggestion of any of the parties to whose conduct that report relates.
We were occupied several months investigating the mode of conducting the business of the office of Treasurer of the Navy. Those who were examined by us had the fullest opportunity of stating and explaining all things which related to the management of that department, or to the share which they respectively had in it; and of correcting, at any time, during the progress of the inquiry, any mistake which might inadvertently have been made. Our opinion and observations upon the irregularities and abuses, which we discovered, were formed and drawn up with the utmost care and deliberation; and they are now submitted to the three branches of the Legislature, as the act, by which we are appointed, requires. If it could be made to appear upon a representation to them that any thing has been omitted on our part, that any misunderstanding or error had occurred, and that a further enquiry is advisable upon these, or any other grounds, it would be for them to direct such further enquiry, and to decide by whom and in what manner, it should be prosecuted: but, in the present circumstances, it appears to us that we cannot with propriety resume it.
Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
CH. M. POLE, EWAN LAW, JOHN FORD, H. NICHOLS, W. MACKWORTH PREAD.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MONDAY, APRIL 8.
TENTH REPORT OF NAVAL ENQUIRY.
Mr. Whitbread rose. He stated, that it had been originally his intention, to have moved that this momentous report should be taken into the consideration of a committee of the whole house; but thinking that some difference of opinion might probably arise on proposing such a step, and wishing the discussion on this subject to be most ample, and at the same time to be limited to the precise nature of that report, he should propose certain resolutions at the conclusion of his speech. The commissioners of
naval enquiry had made various reports of their proceedings, but nothing had been instituted upon them but regulations respecting the chest at Chatham, and regarding civil proceedings in the Navy. It now remained for him to bring to justice delinquents that board had laboured to discover and detect. In the report of the commissioners, there are a certain number of individuals implicated; there are, Lord Melville, Mr. Alexander Trotter, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Mark Sprott. There was also some imputation thrown on that high and distinguished body, the Bank of England; and there was also an imputation against the Right Honourable Gentleman himself, opposite (Mr. Pitt.) The main object of his motion this night was Lord Melville, Mr. Trotter being a subject of after consideration, against whom, he trusted, a prosecution would speedily be commenced; and also against others. With regard to the imputation against the Bank, it amounted to this: that, if the evidence of one of its officers was correct, the Bank had acted improperly in paying certain drafts, where the heads of service were not specified; and the charge against Mr. Pitt consisted in his having been apprized, years ago, that such abuses existed in the administration of the office of treasurer of the Navy, and that he had taken no steps whatever, to correct them. This charge would be matter of future consideration also.
At the close of the American war, when the country was dreadfully distressed by the profuse expenditure of the public money, petitions poured in from every quarter requesting a reformation in that particular. In consequence of these petitions, which were presented in the dawn of Mr. Pitt's political life, resolutions were moved by Lord I. Cavendish, that certain regulations ought to be adopted, for lowering and keeping down the balances in the hands of the Treasurer of the Navy; and that he, and certain principal clerks, should be paid certain salaries; 2dly, that the paymaster of the forces and of the navy, should be prohibited from applying any sum or sums intrusted in their hands, to any private purpose, or to any other branch of the public service whatever. These resolutions were founded, on reports made from Commissioners appointed to investigate the public accounts, and they were so well and so generally known, that it was almost unnecessary, for him to point out that fact. He should however, endeavour to show that the noble Lord had acted in a manner opposite to these resolutions, although it was impossible for him to have misunderstood them; and also, that it was impossible any defence could be maintained on the part of the noble Lord, for their violation and infraction. One of the principal charges was the large balances mentioned by the first Commissioners, who were of opinion, that were it set aside, and not immediately wanted, that the public was entitled to the first use of it in the mean time, as it passed directly from the pockets of the people to the exchequer, and from thence to the specific service it was destined for. The treasurer of the Navy thus became an accountant to the public, not a banker for the public. After this it was resolved to effect a reform in the office of the treasurer of the Navy. The salary he then enjoyed was £2000 a year, but at the same time the public balances were in hand, sometimes, to a large and occasionally to a small amount. Mr. Barre in consequence had that sum augmented to a salary of £4000 per

annum, in lieu of all fees, perquisites, or emoluments whatever; what was the conduct of this gentleman? Before any act of Parliament passed on the subject, he paid all the money in his hands into the bank of England, and he proved that from that moment neither he nor any of his dependents derived or received the smallest or most distant benefit from its use. Lord Melville succeeded Mr. Barre, and where his lordship kept the money he could not say, in his first treasurerhip, whether it was in the bank or in the iron chest. Lord Bayning succeeded Lord Melville, and neither he nor any person under him, it appeared, derived the smallest benefit from the use of the public money. Lord Melville again got the office on the 5th January, 1784, and continued to hold it till June, 1800, a period of 16 years. On his lordship's second introduction to the office, he found that the increase of the salary to £4000, had not been completed by a grant to Mr. Barre, and he directly obtained a minute of council confirming that, and adding two or three trifling articles, such as coals, candles, &c. in lieu of fees, emoluments and perquisites. In the year 1785, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed certain additions, and in his Majesty's speech, held forth most flattering prospects to the country. Lord Melville, on this occasion led the van of reform, and carried a bill through the house for regulating the office of treasurer of the navy. That act was worded with such care, so scrupulous in every point, that its letter and meaning could not be possibly tortured or twisted by the most ingenious lawyer in the house. He trusted, in allusion to this act, that the house would adhere to its strict letter, and take care that it was not perverted. This act it was worthy of remark, was passed in the month of July, 1785, and it ordered the treasurer to deposit all sums he had, or which might be granted him, for navy services, in the bank of England; but from the examination of the noble Lord, it turned out that he had not taken any steps whatever to obey the injunctions of this statute until the last of January, 1786, assigning as his motive, that certain regulations necessary to be made in the navy office prevented him from doing it sooner. Could the house believe this?—could they for a moment, admit so weak, so silly a pretence? Why was the execution of this act postponed? he could not prove it, but he had strong grounds for supposing its execution had been delayed in order to Lord Melville's private emolument. He should charge the noble Lord with having on his own authority, and without the authority of Parliament, appropriated to his own purpose the public money, in breach of the law, and at an imminent hazard to the public. He should in the second place, charge the noble Lord with conniving at the peculation of an individual, for which that individual would be responsible, but for which Lord Melville was deeply responsible to the house. To these points he should therefore, confine himself this night. In bringing forward charges of this nature, so serious in themselves, and so important to the country, it was essential the accuser should stand well with the house. Charges of this nature were rarely admitted against men high in office, but it ought not to be forgot, that a similar charge against a man in a similar high situation, had been brought forward by the noble Lord himself, against Sir J. Rumbold. In this case, it was highly material to look to the evidence. The commissioners had found, that the noble Lord had acted contrary to law, and that there were deficiencies against him to the amount of £697,500; and it was of that violation of the law, of which he had to complain. He then proceeded to state, that the name of Trotter would frequently occur in what he had to say, but he begged gentlemen to attend principally, to what related to his principal, Lord Melville. He then went over the history of the officers of treasury of the navy, and shewed its new
establishment by the acts of council and parliament, but Lord Melville did not seem to have attended to either of them. The first violation of the act was perceived by the deficiencies, and Trotter was called upon to explain them, but he refused to do so. This report had been called an ex-part statement, was it so? said Mr. Whitbread. Had these persons under examination by the commissioners no opportunity of stating the truth; of amending even the evidence they had given? ( loud cries of bear! bear! from the opposition. ) On the contrary, these gentlemen sheltered themselves under the 5th clause of the act, which in his opinion strongly evidenced a sentiment of guilt. Trotter said he could not tell how the deficiencies arose; but he stated, that the public money for a long succession of years had been taken to be his own private account. It was afterwards discovered that the sums deposited in the bank of England had been taken from thence, and deposited in the hands of private bankers, and applied to other branches of the public service, especially to one branch, in which Mr. Long, an hon. member was concerned. He was surprised that Mr. Long had not been called before the commissioners, in order to give evidence to that fact. Lord Melville stated on being called on regarding his transaction with Trotter, that he had burned all his papers while in Scotland. This was most extraordinary; it was impossible that a man so much familiarized, and so much in the habit of office could do so. Supposing that Mr. Long had not been able to pay the sum he borrowed from Lord Melville for a certain department of the public service, what situation would Lord Melville have stood in then? Why that of applying money clandestinely to purposes to which he was not authorized by Parliament to apply it. In doing this his Lordship, although he might accommodate the public service, was nevertheless guilty of a violation of the Act of Parliament.
After dwelling at great length on all the different points, he concluded by moving—The various resolutions of the House in 1782, and other resolutions, declaring them to have been grossly violated, &c. in the terms of the resolutions of the commissioners in their tenth report.
Mr. Pitt remarked, that although the Hon. Gentleman had set out with the determination of keeping his temper on the present question, yet that in the conclusion of his speech, he had suffered himself to be led away by a warmth, which he often indulged, and by an appeal to the passions of the House, which he ought not to have resorted to, as it was not applicable to the subject under consideration. It was important that the facts of the case should be clearly understood; if it was true that an aggravation of the public burdens was attributed to the Noble Lord, on account of his conduct, it would be very well to state so, but was not to excite clamour in the House, and to carry by acclamation what would not be conceded by the sober judgment of a few. No allegation had been brought forward by the Hon. Gentleman, that a single shilling had been lost to the Public by Lord Melville, and he could assert that no mischief had been done whatever—( bear! bear! loudly from the opposition Bench. ) He hoped the Gentlemen who were so strenuous in calling "Hear," would indulge him with being candidly heard, as he did not feel disposed to be interrupted, and it was moreover a bad omen of that sincerity, they professed, to attempt to disturb him in what he was about to state. He could not help saying, that every means had been used to inflame the passions of the House, and he could not refrain from noticing the means resorted to of exciting the public mind in certain publications respecting the way in which the Navy Pay office was conducted, by which, as was said, the seamen had no ready or effectual access to their prize money, the reward of their hard earned labour—( No! No! from the opposition. ) He had also to complain of the Hon. Gen-
tleman, for having given a most erroneous and mistaken view of the case.—He had said, that the persons blamed had an opportunity of being tried; questions had been put to them, and they had been asked, whether they would answer and criminate themselves. Was this any thing like a trial. Every man who is tried, knows the evidence to be adduced against him, and has an opportunity of cross examining the witnesses on oath, and then of being heard in his defence; but here the case was materially different, and the examination before the Commissioners of Inquiry had not the most distant resemblance to a trial. Although it could not be maintained that no inconvenience from these transactions had resulted to the public, yet it became the House to set its own mark on these transactions, and in full consideration of the report, he had no hesitation in saying, that the circumstances before Gentlemen were not such as to authorise them to come to such a decision as the Hon. Gentleman pointed at. It would be infinitely preferable to refer the consideration of the report to a select committee of the House where every information, divested of fear or resentment, would come forward, and on the report of that committee the House would be enabled to judge of the case before them with indubitable certainty and precision. After replying generally to several of the topics descanted on by Mr. Whitbread, he concluded by moving, as an amendment to the Hon. Gentleman's motion, to leave out all the words after "that" for the purpose of inserting, this report be referred to the consideration of a Select Committee of this House."
Mr. Fox suggested to the Right Hon. Gentleman whether it would not be a preferable course to propose the previous question, with the understanding that, if such a motion should be proposed to a select committee. The result of this course of proceeding would be, that the resolutions moved by his Hon. Friend would find a place in the Journals.
Mr. Pitt asserted to the propriety of the mode suggested by the Hon. Member.
Mr. Tierney said, that so much of the charges contained in the Tenth Report, as involved matters of account, ought to be referred to a select committee; but he had not heard any thing like a reason urged why the House should not come to an immediate decision, as to the main point.
Mr. Canning argued in support of the motion for the previous question. Mr. G. Ponsonby supported the original motion.
The Master of the Rolls supported the argument of Mr. Pitt, by contending no motion, such as had been proposed by the hon. Gentleman, could possibly be acceded to, unless a previous inquiry took place.
Lord Cuthreugh supported the previous question moved by Mr. Pitt.
Lord Andover approved of the original motion.
Mr. Wilberforce spoke next in support of Mr. Whitbread's motion.
Mr. Wallace spoke in favour of the amendment; and Lord A. Hamilton, for the original motion.
The House then divided upon the amendment, when there appeared—Ayes 216—Noes 216.
The number being declared equal, the Speaker gave his voice in favour of the original motion.
The other motions were then put seriatim, and carried without interruption, till they came to the 11th, containing the censure on Lord Melville.
Mr. Pitt here moved an amendment to leave out the last words "gross violation of the law, and a high breach of duty," and to insert the words—"contrary to the intention of the law."
On this a debate took place, and Mr. Pitt persisting in his declaration that he would take the sense of the House, the gallery was cleared; but on the question being put on the motion as it originally stood, the Speaker declared the ayes had it, and Mr. Pitt did not choose to divide.
The other two motions were then put and carried.
Mr. Whitbread said, he had of course a motion necessary to make, in consequence of the Resolution of the House that day, but it was too late.
Mr. Pitt moved that the House should adjourn to Wednesday.
Mr. Fox submitted to the good sense of the House, whether, in so critical a moment, they should adjourn over a single day. They would recollect that the country was now in the hands of a disgraceful Ministry.
Mr. Pitt pleaded for an adjournment, and hinted that it might be necessary in the present circumstances.
The House accordingly adjourned at five o'clock till Wednesday.
MAY 3. The Paris journals say, that Napoleon, the great, is about to create another Empire.—Madam Lapagerie, who lives at Martinique, and is mother of the Empress Josephine, is to be created Empress of the West , with remainder to her grandson, Eugene Beauharnois; and that the Grand Expedition fitted out has for its object, the re-conquest of St. Domingo, and the capture of the British Islands, which are to be attached to her Imperial Crown.
MAY 10. The new King of Italy, Napoleon I. has created seven Princes, with the title of Most Serene Highnesses, viz. Me'zi, (late Vice-President) Litta, Boomei, Stampi, Soncinas, Camprara, and M'raschatchi.
By the Sophia stop of war from the Mediterranean, government has this morning received dispatches from Lord Nelson, the particulars of which have not yet transpired. It is said some information has been received respecting the course of the combined squadron which lately sailed from Cadiz.
An expedition for the West-Indies, consisting of 8000 men, under the command of Sir Byre Coote, is nearly in readiness for sea.
An unusual degree of activity has been recently remarked among the enemy's flotilla at Boulogne. The following is an extract of a letter from an officer belonging to our squadron off that port, dated off Boulogne, May 2, 1805.—"We constantly perceive the enemy actively engaged on their coast, which leads us to believe they will speedily attempt something in a formidable way. The force under the command of our active Admiral Douglas, is on the alert, and prepared to give them a warm reception. Yesterday and this morning a few of their small gun-boats crept from Ambleside along the shore to Boulogne. They keep in so close under batteries, and draw so little water, that it is almost impossible for any of our cruizers to molest them."
The following is an extract of a letter from an officer on board the fleet, dated the 28th ult.
"This day the Polyphemus, of 64 guns, Capt. Lawford, joined us; she came from Sir John Orde's squadron that was cruising off Cadiz, but retired on the appearance of eleven French line of battle ships, which had passed the gut of Gibraltar on the 9th ult. from Toulon, and entered Cadiz roads on the following day. Before Sir John got out of sight of Cadiz he saw six more line of battle ships go in, having it is conjectured, got out of Carthagena. There were lying in Cadiz harbor during the blockade, twelve Spanish and one French line of battle ships, so that their force now in that port consists of thirty sail of the line, besides several frigates, and they showed every appearance of soon putting to sea. The enemy's fleet in Brest amount to 21 sail of the line, and have twice endeavoured to come out. We hourly expect to be joined by Sir John Orde, with five sail of the line."
We understand, from unquestionable authority, that his Majesty has issued orders for erasing the name of Lord Melville from the list of the Privy Council.—His Lordship is now removed from all places which he held at the pleasure of the crown.
The lords of the Admiralty have lately adopted a measure for supplying his majesty's ships to the Indian seas with seamen, which, it is conceived, will prove highly beneficial to the public interest; they have sent on board the Indianmen that are on the point of sailing, near 1000 free lads which are to be delivered on board the Admiral's ship on their arrival in India; the voyage to India, and a few months experience in the cruizers, will make them expert seamen; besides, it has been proved, that young lads will stand the climate much better than men, with all the care that can possibly be taken. The plan, which is intended to be pursued, will, in all probability, soon prevent the necessity of impressing the seamen from the East-Indiamen, which hitherto has been unavoidable, from the great mortality and loss in his majesty's ships, besides giving security to the maritime interests of the East-India Company.
Professor Robertson, who is now at St. Peterburgh, proposes, in the second volume of the Archives du Nord , to construct a balloon which will measure 132 feet in diameter, will carry 74,400 pounds, and in which fifty persons, with provisions and necessaries, may embark for many months, in order to make researches and experiments in natural philosophy and astronomy in all heights, in all seasons, in every kind of weather, and over every point of the earth they think proper.
A most dreadful accident happened yesterday morning at the Harriet Coal Work, near Paisley. About nine o'clock, while the men were at work, the insatiable air in the pit took fire. Four men were blown from the bottom of the pit into the air, their bodies torn in pieces, and the mangled parts scattered about