had just preceded him, did not seem to justify the positions he had laid down in his speech; wishing, however, to avoid all appearance of party, he proposed the following amendment to the address:

That it was essentially necessary, at the present momentous period, to call forth the energy and strength of the country, and that nothing would tend more to this laudable purpose than the abolition of pensions and places in reversion.

Mr Waithman opposed the address, as being an unnecessary interference with party politics; and, as imposing upon them the burden of fighting the battles of the ministry, against the opposition.

Mr Quin generally approved of the conduct of ministers, but censured the rejection of the reversion bill. Agreeably to these sentiments, Mr Quin read the following amend

ment:

"That a clause be added to the address, expressive of the regret of the court, at the rejection, in so unaccountable a manner, of the bill for preventing the granting of offices in reversion, which had been regarded as the first step towards an economical reform.

After a few observations from different members, the question was loudly called for, and Mr Goodbehere's amendment was negatived by a great shew of hands.

For Mr Quin's clause—
Aldermen, 4.
Against it, Ald. 6.

Commoners, 39-43.
Com. 50-56.
Majority

The committee then withdrew; the address was agreed to, and it was ordered to be presented in the customary way.

From the London Gazette, March 26,

Admiralty-Office, March 26.

Copy of a letter transmitted by the Right Hon. Lord Gardner, to the Hon. W. W. Pole.

His Majesty's ship Emerald,

off Vivero, March 14,

MY LORD-I beg to state that, having fulfilled the first part of your Lordship's order, bearing date the 13th ult. I was proceeding to communicate with the Commanding Of ficer off Ferrol, when, in running along shore about five o'clock yesterday afternoon, a very large schooner was discovered at anchor in Vivero harbour, with a French ensign and pendant flying. Though I had never been in that port, from its appearance, and the place laid down in Fossino's Chart, it seemed to me not a very difficult matter either to bring her out or destroy her. It was late in the day for such an undertaking, but as we had a full moon, and alarm guns were firing from the forts and schooner, I, without hesitation, decided on putting it into execution, as they would doubtless have been better prepared for our reception had it been deferred till morning. At about half an hour after five P. M. the first fort on the right going in, consisting of eight 24-pounders, opened on the ship, as did the other (containing five of the same calibre) on the left, as soon as she was within range. As I saw it was impossible to place the ship in a situation to act upon the batteries at the same time, I sent the First Lieutenant, Mr Bertram, accompanied by Lieutenants Meek and Husband, of the Marines, and Messrs Mildridge and Saurin, Master's Mates, to storm the outer fort, and proceeded with the ship as near the other (which was about a

mile farther in) as the depth of water would allow, where she was placed, the sails furled, &c. I sent Mr William Smith, the Third Lieutenant, with another party, to endeavour to spike the guns of the fort, then engaged with the Emerald, Mr Bertram having happily succeeded in driving the Spaniards out of the battery he had been sent to attack, and spiked the guns. Lieutenant Smith, almost immediately on landing, was opposed by a party of soldiers, most of whom fell, and their officer among the number; but before they were completely subdued, they had led him a considerable distance into the country, being by that time quite dark, and from the nature of the ground, having been obliged to land nearly a mile from the fort, he was under the necessity of returning without finding it, as it had been silenced a considerable timé by our fire; it opened again, however, about ten o'clock, and continued engaged with the ship till near two hours, when she was out of range.

While these occurrences were taking place, Mr Bertram, with his party, had walked on over land, and joined Mr Baird, the midshipman, who had been sent to take possession of the schooner, which had run on shore on the rocks. As soon as they made out our determination of entering the port on the Road, he was met by a party of the schooner's crew, consisting of about sixty men; they gave and received a discharge of musketry from our people; but on their advancing with the pike and bayonet, took to flight, leaving several dead on the road. Mr Bertram's anxiety to save the schooner, induced him to persevere, for several hours, in attempting to get her off, (which was rendered impracticable

from her having gone on shore at high water,) during which time a large body of infantry had been collected, and galled our men so excessively with musketry, that it became absolutely necessary to set her on fire, which was accordingly done about one A. M. when she soon blew up, and at day-light there was not a vestige of her to be seen. From the papers I have in my possession, the schooner appears to have been a French corvette, called L'Apropos, commanded by Mons. Legary, Lieutenant de Vaisseau, which had arrived with dispatches from the Isle of France on the 24th of December, mounted eight 12-pounder carronades, but pierced for sixteen guns, with upwards of seventy men. She had yesterday put to sea, but returned to an anchor on the signal being made for an enemy. She appeared to me the largest schooner I ever saw; our officers inform me she must have been upwards of 250 tons burthen, copper-bottomed, and in all respects a most complete vessel. I must beg leave, my Lord, to request you will state Lieut. Bertram's meritorious conduct to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in the strongest point of view; when I hope their Lordships will be induced, in consideration of his very gallant behaviour, and a most severe wound he has received, to consider him worthy of that reward, which, in our service, has ever been looked up to as the certain consequence of distin guished bravery. Mr Mildridge, master's mate, a young man who has served the whole of his time with me, and whose gallantry has been represented to me by Lieutenants Bertram and William Smith as highly exemplary, I hope your Lordship will be induced to mention also as

deserving of promotion. The conduct of Lieutenant Bertram and his party, as well as that of Lieutenant William Smith, renders it unnecessary for me to say any thing further on the subject. I shall, therefore, only add, that Mr J. Smith, the Second Lieutenant, whom I kept on board to assist me, as well as Mr Brokensher, the Master, and the whole of the officers and ship's company that remained in the ship, have my warmest thanks for their cool and steady conduct during the action, that lasted, with intervals, for more than six hours. The ship's damages are trifling to what might have been expected, which I account for by the enemy not being able to distinguish where the shot fell, and, having taken a bad elevation, most of them passed over her. When the boats had returned after firing the schooner, we weighed, and had the good fortune to obtain a light air of wind, that sent us just out of the shot of the batteries, when we were obliged again to anchor, otherwise our situation this morning would have been by no means pleasant, as the Spaniards must by that time have unspiked the guns in the outer fort, and at day-light six gun-boats were seen pulling from the westward.About eight A. M. a light breeze 'springing up, we weighed and made sail towards them; when within about two gun-shots of the enemy, it fell again perfectly calm, and they had the temerity still to row for us; finding the ship's broadside could not be kept towards them by the boats, I ordered the anchor to be let go with a spring, and, when within good reach of grape, opened a fire, which they received and returned with tolerable spirit for about half an hour, when they made the best of their way into Veres Bay; and as several shots

were seen to strike them, I have no doubt considerably damaged them. The total want of wind prevented me from following and destroying them.

I cannot conclude this letter, my Lord, without once more expressing how highly I appreciate the behaviour of every officer and man in the ship I have the honour to command, during a most arduous and fatiguing service, that lasted for eighteen hours, the whole of which time they were either at their guns or expecting every instant to be called to them. Our loss, I am extremely sorry to say, is very great in killed and wounded, and most of them the best men in the ship. What the enemy's may be, from the nature of the service it is impossible to ascertain, though we know it to be very considerable. I have the honour to be, &c.

F. L. MAITLAND.

Copy of a letter transmitted by ViceAdmiral Sir Charles Cotton, Bart. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels off the Tagus, to the Hon. W. W. Pole.

His Majesty's ship Confiance, at anchor off the Tagus, Feb. 14. SIR-Having been informed of a report at Lisbon that the Russian squadron were about to sail, I last night sent the cutter and jolly-boat under the orders of Mr Robert Trist, master's mate, accompanied by Mr Largue, master's mate, to row guard in the mouth of the Tagus, when Mr Trist perceiving a French gun-vessel at anchor under Fort St Pedro, between Forts Belem and St Julien, he instantly boarded in a most gallant manner, and, after an ineffectual resistance on the part of the enemy, captured her. She proves to be La Cannonier, No. 1, commanded by M. Gaudolphe, Ensign de Vaisseau,

mounting one 24-pounder, and two brass six-pounders, with one hundred stand of arms, and fifty men. Great praise is due to Mr Trist and his small party for the intrepidity they displayed, when it is considered our boats had only sixteen men in all, opposed to such superior force, under heavy batteries, and were hailed and fired at long before they reached her. I therefore beg leave to recommend Mr Trist (having passed for Lieutenant near twelve months.) Mr Trist speaks of Mr Largue in terms of warm approbation, as also of Mr Taylor, the carpenter, and all the seamen and marines of the party. I am happy to add, it was accomplished without any loss on our side. The enemy had three killed and nine badly wounded. I have the honour to be, &c. J. L. YEO. 27th.-ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. Yesterday was held at the Freemason's Tavern, the first anniversary of the friends to the abolition of the slave trade. At about 7 o'clock the dinner was served up, and the chair was taken, as announced in the public advertisements, by his highness the Duke of Gloucester. The company assembled exceeded 500 persons, many of them of the first rank and distinction. Many appropriate toasts were drunk, and at a late hour, the company separated, highly satisfied with the day's enjoyment.

His Swedish Majesty has issued a declaration, in which he complains in the strongest terms of the recent aggression of Russia, and particularly of the mode adopted by that power, of holding out to the inhabitants of Sweden, incitements to rebellion, in place of trusting for success to the valour of its forces. The declaration observes,

"A breach of peace without a

previous declaration of war, without a single article of complaint being preferred a breach of peace emanating from treachery, and carried on by a traitor to his native country, placed at the side of the commander in chief, is an event which has but few examples, and must at the first glance create detestation; but when this act is examined at the same time with what has lately occurred between the two countries; when contemplated in its forbidding deviation from those paths of truth and honour exemplified by his ally, no feeling can then express, no name can compass the extent of such depravityIts features will remain without a pa rallel in history, filling up the deeds of iniquity heaped together in the present age."

WEXFORD, 28th.-This day, came on before Baron Smith, the trial of William Congreve Alcock, and Henry Dorensy, for the wilful murder of John Colclough, Esq. and the latter for aiding and abetting in the committal of the said murder.

Mr William Henry Caroll was the first witness examined. He stated, that he was present when the duel was fought, in which Mr Colclough was killed that Mr Alcock wore spectacles, against which he heard Mr Colclough remonstrate, as being a breach of an express agreement between them, that no spectacles should be worn; Mr Colclough observed, at the same time, that in case the spectacles were not laid aside, he would withdraw his pledge, not to prosecute in case any thing unpleasant occurred, which Mr Alcock noticed by bowing. The witness then stated, that, Mr Dorensy, not approving of the manner in which Mr Alcock stood, made him alter his position; that, about two minutes after

the word was given, by pronouncing the word one, both parties raised their arms, and when two, they fired. Mr Colclough received the ball immediately under his right arm, and he fell instantly on his back and expired.

Mr Bagnel Colclough then stated, that on the first day of the election, which gave rise to the dispute, Mr Piers Newton, Mr Alcock's particular friend, stated, that, if any one during the ensuing election, should interfere with his tenants, he would call him to account for his ungentleman-like conduct; he remembered also, pledging his honour to Mr Alcock, that Mr Colclough had not in the slightest degree interfered.

Mr Charles Elgee heard Mr Alcock accuse Mr Colclough of inter

Colclough answered, "On my honour I did not interpose with any gentleman's tenants, and those in particular." Mr Alcock replied, "Either you or your agents did, and by G-d I will make it personal with you in half an hour if they are not given up."

Various other witnesses were examined, to shew that every method had been tried by Mr Colclough, and his friends, to bring about an accommodation, but in vain. It was also proved, that the glasses worn by Mr Alcock on the day of the duel, rendered the object clear, and better

defined.

The evidence on the part of the prisoner being closed, Baron Smith delivered his charge.

The jury retired, and in about three minutes returned a verdict of Not Guilty, as to both.

The court was instantly in an uproar, and Baron Smith, in dischar

CITY ADDRESS TO THE KING.

Yesterday a deputation, consisting of the Right. Hon. the Lord Mayor, twelve aldermen, the recorder, the sheriffs, and twelve of the common council of the city of London, waited upon his majesty at the queen's palace, being introduced by Lord Somerville, the lord in waiting, with the following address, which was read by John Silvester, Esq. the recorder :

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT

MAJESTY.

The humble and dutiful Address of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in common council assembled. MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, "We, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council as