The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-29 00:00:00

TNONIAS a. PALMER.

This man Anion brought to recover the ex-
pences of an indinment which the Defendant had
prosecuted against the Plaintiff's wife.
It appeared that the Plai!.tiff's wife had purchased
goods of the JJefendan:'s wife, who is a broker,
about which a dispute bad arisen—that from words
they came to blows. The Defendant's wife then
procured a Bench Warrant against the Plaintiff's ;
upon which she was arrested, and confined in the
Watch House an entire night. When the cause
came to be tried at the Middlesex Sessions, there
Was no appearance on the past of the prosecution,
and the Defenaant in that anion was acquitted.
The Plaintiff now sought to recover the expenses
of the criminal prosecution against the Defendant ;
but it coming out in tl)c course of the evidence' that
the assault had been actually given by Mrs. Thomas
(the Plaintiff's wife), the Plaintiff was nonsuited.
The Sittings at Westminster ended this day.
Lord Et. t. Zr 4 Donut:on sits at Nati Prim. at Guild-
hall. to-morrow.

Yesterday, as a person just arrived In town
was gaping with astonishment at the water-works at
London-Bridge, three pick-pockets contrived to re-
lieve him from the burthe.n of his pocket-book, con-
taining notes to the amount of 301. and other papers
of consequence to him. They were perceived by
some by-standee, and pursued. Upon finding they
could not escape, they flung away the pocket-book,
which the owner v.-as fortunate enough to recover;
and two of the offenders were taken into custody,
and brought before the LORD MAYOR at the Man-
sion-house. The pocket-book and notes were pro-
duced. and the prisoner, who was seen to throw the
book away, being properly identified, was fully
committed for trial ; and his companion, who had
attempted to rescue him, was ordered to be put on
board the tender to serve His M a j'sr.. On hear-
ing this sentence, he immediately declared himself
Cro,k-fiagrnel Jeri, to the extent of three fingers;
and assured his Lordship he was lame of one hand ;
but. :If= a proper examination by the Constable, he
wa. declared awed in limbs at least.

On Sunday las•, a well dressed man went into the
Turk's Head public house, on the Kent road, and
called for a pint of beer. Whilst it was drawing.
he took a knife Iriou his pc...Act and cut Lis threat.
Immediate assistance was procured, and, although
much lacerated, it is hoped he will recover.

NAVAL ACTIONS IN THE WEST INDIES.

Extrail ist • Letter from Capt. Richard Sherrat, of the ship
Caidieot Cutts:, to the Owners in Lmerpool, dated Barbadoe,,
18th April, 1804.

" I suppose long ere this you have heard of the
Caldle*, Catie's being captured, as I wrote you from
Guadeloupe on the 18th March to that purport; but
should you not have received my letter, I now give
you the particulars. I sailed from Demerara on the
27th of February, and on the 8:h March, being
then about 200 miles to the eastward of Guada-
loupe, I fell in wits two French privateers, a ship and
a schooner, who came alongside about eight in the
evening, and opened a very heavy fire upon us,
which we returned, and in about fifteen minutes dis-
abled the schooner, when she sheered off. We con-
tinued the anion with the ship, until about twenty
minutes past nine; when she sheered off also; but
continued in sight during the remainder of the night,
in which time we were employed repo ring damages,
and getting the ship in a proper state of defence.
About half past six next morning. the ship came
within pistol•shot, and opened a tremendous fire of
great guns and small arms, which we returned, and
continued in anion for about fifteen minutes, when
finding our sails and rigging cut to pieces, the ship
much hulled, several shot having gone through her,
our wheel shot to pieces, two others and myself
wounded, one (my second mate) mortally, we were
obliged to strike. The ship proved to be Le Grand
Decide, of Guadeloupe, mounting 20 9-pounders,
and two brass twelves, with 160 men.

I have been here these two days, and will go
home either in the Venerable or Berbadoet. with the
protest regularly done. I am nearly well of my
wound ;it was a musket-ball entered my right hip,
and came out near my back-bone. I have nothing
more to inform you of, but hope by the above ac-
count there will not be any blame attached to either
my men or me, as they all to a man behaved in a
very gallant manner."
Extract of a Letter from Captain Cummings, of the Apollo, of
twelve guns and twenty inen, dated Uonsuuca, 2,tlt March,
to his Owners in Liverpool, go iug •u Account of his engage-
ment.

6, The privateer appeared to mount 12 guns, and
from the number of men on deck, may reasonably
suppose there were not less than 70 or 80 on board ;
he bore down about nine at night : we immediately
shortened sail and prepared for aaion, well-
suspeurling him, from his manoeuvres, to be a rogue;
kept under easy sail all night, and all hands at
quarters, the schooner keeping about gun-shot
asters, until day-light, when I rounded to, hoisted
English colours, and fired two shot at him, but
being at too great a distance to engage, and finding
him not inclined to give battle, bite up and made
sail : at eight he bore down again and stood within
gun-shot, when I hove to again and gave him a
broadside, which he returned, and began the therm ;
during which, my officers and men fought wit) true
British courage; and, after a good drubbing, com-
pelled him to leave us, and haul his wind to th'!
northward. The anion lasted about one hour."

The &Irak Cannel!, of 20 nine-paunders, is cap-
tured by a French privateer of 10 guns, 6 pounder,
and 100 men, and carried into Guadaloupe. The
capture of the Sarah was owing to the dastardly b:-
laay..)ur of the ciew, who, on seeing the Captain and
Chief Mate so severely wounded as to be obliged to
quit the deck, ran down below and hid themselves
among the slaves ; and though the Second Mate Ix -
haved-with great spirit and resolution, he coull not
get them again to quarters; before this, the pr,va-
teer had dropped astern, but seeing the Sarah'i fire
slacken, pushed up and carried her by boarding,—
The Lou on board the Sarah is two killed and twelve
wounded, and on board the privateer, the second
Capuin and two men killed and 20 wounded, lioth
vessels materialiy injured in hull, sails, and riggi ,g.