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consequence of the enemy's corps being reinforced to 20,000 men, and furnished with sixty pieces heavy ordnance, and your Majesty's army having been reduced to 7000 men by losses in the field and sickness, it became imspossible to maintain our position, and I thought it advisable to open again a negotiation for an armistice, the result of which was the convention which I hereby have the honour to lay at your Majesty's feet." This convention we need say nothing of, but that it is a full engagement on the part of the Swedes to evacuate the whole of Finland. By an additional article it was proposed, that the armistice between the two armies should continue for a month after the Swedes had passed the Finnish frontier, or until the 12th January 1809; 15 days notice of its cessation to be given. The Russian General replied, that although as Commander in chief he must decline the con. clusion of a formal armistice, yet he engaged his word of honour that he would not recommence hostile operations against the Swedes till 14 days after their army should have taken up the positions stipulated in the convention.

It appears from private letters, that the people in Sweden are no way de pressed by the loss of Finland; one of them says: "The terms of the convention are very honourable to the Swedes, considering the state of the two armies. The loss of Finland du ring this war has long been expected, and the above intelligence has, there-, fore, not occasioned the sensation here' which might have been supposed. I beg you will not allow yourself to be alarmed by any foolish reports of the Russians penetrating farther into Sweden."

We have likewise received a copy of the report made by the Governor of Bornholm, giving the following account of a recent bombardment of the fortress of Christianhoe, in that island, by the English:

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On the 24th November two British ships of the line, one of them a three decker, a frigate, a brig, and three bombs, each carrying two mortars, were descried from the heights. The wind south-west. About seven o'clock the bombs took a station about 400 yards from the east-side of the fortress, and he, at half past eleven, had thrown 300 shells.

At nine o'clock the large ships advanced in a line, and, after repeated discharges on the fortress, passed out of reach of our fire to the eastward, the wind continuing from the south. When the vessels had ceased firing, they moved to the north east of the fortress, and departed. None of the garrison were killed, but six Swedes and a woman were killed by a shell which fell in the pri son. The Commandant Konivas wounded in the legs; six soldiers and three strangers were likewise wounded. It is admitted that the fortress was much damaged, as were several ships in the harbour."

We cannot expect any further accounts from the Baltic or Sweden for some time, as the ice has set strongly in in the Sound and at Gottenburgh.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Gazette contains a dispatch from Lord Collingwood, containing an account of the services of the Imperieuse, Lord Cochrane, on the coast of Languedoc. The dispatch and enclosures are in substance as follow:

The first enclosure is a laconic letter from Lord Cochrane, dated Imperieuse, Gulph of Lyons, Sept. 28. as follows:"With varying opposition, but unvaried success, the newly constructed semaphoric telegraphs, which are of the ut most consequence to the safety of the numerous convoys that pass along the coast of France, have been blown up, and completely demolished, together with their telegraph-houses, 14 barracks of the gens d'armes, one battery, and the strong tower on the lake Fratignan. To a number of officers (whom Lord C. enumerates) is due whatever credit may arise from such mischief, and for having with so small a force drawn about 2000 troops from the important fortress of Figueras in Spain, to the defence of their own coast. We had a man singed in blowing up a battery. The French had a commanding officer of troops killed, with many others not known.'

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The other enclosure is a letter from Capt. Rodgers, of his Majesty's ship Kent, dated August 2. containing the details of a gallant action by the boats of the Kent and Wizard, which we can

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not abridge;-it is as follows;-" I beg leave to acquaint you, that yester day, running along the coast from Genoa towards Cape del Melle, we dis covered a convoy of 10 sail of coasters deeply laden, under the protection of a gun-boat, at anchor close to the beach abreast of the town of Noli; and as there appeared a fair prospect of bringing them out by a prompt attack, before the enemy had time to collect his force, I instantly determined to send in the boats of the Kent and Wizard; and as there was but little wind, I directed Capt. Ferris, of the Wizard, to tow in and cover the boats, which immediately put off, and with great expedition soon towed her close to the vessels, when it was found impossible, to bring them out without landing, most of them being fastened to the shore by ropes from their keels and mast heads; the boats therefore pulled to the beach with great resolution, exposed to the fire of two guns in the bow of the gunboat, two field pieces placed in a grove which flanked the beach, a heavy gun in front of the town, and a continued fire of musketry from the houses; but these were no check to the ardour and intrepidity of British seamen and marines, who leaped from the boats, and rushed upon the enemy with a fearless zeal that was not to be resisted.

"The gun in front of the town was soon taken and spiked by Lieut. Chasman, second of the Kent, who commanded the seamen, and Lieut. Hanlon, of the royal marines; and the enemy, who had drawn up a considerable force of regular troops in the grove to defend the two field pieces, was dislodged by Captain Rea, who commanded the royal marines, and Lieut. Grant of that corps, who took passession of the field-pieces, and brought them off. In the mean time, Lieutenants Lindsay and Moresby of the Kent, and Lieut. Bisset of the Wizard, who had equally distinguished themselves in driving the enemy from the beach, were actively employed in taking possession of the gun-boat, and freeing the vessels from their fasts to the shore; and I had soon the satisfaction to see our people embark, and the whole of the vessels coming out under the protecting fire of the Wizard, which, by the judicious conduct of Captain Ferris, contributed very essentially to

keep the enemy in check, both in the advance and retreat of the boats. We had only two men killed. The enemy left many dead on the ground. The gun-boat was a national vessel, with a complement of 45 men.' A postscript mentions, that the boats of the same vessels had brought out, without loss, from under the guns of a fort near Leghorn, where they had taken shelter, three laden vessels, and burnt a fourth, which was aground.

The Gazette also contains dispatches from Admiral Cochrane, in the West Indies, announcing the following captures by his cruizers :-By the Circe frigate, after an action of 12 or 15 minutes, under the protection of a battery, which she gained before the Circe came up, the Palineur French national brig, of 14 24-pounder carronades, and two six pounder guns. She had but 79 men on board, most of whom were troops of the 82d regiment. We had one man killed and one wounded, the enemy seven killed and eight wounded. -By the Pompee, after a long chace, the Pylade, French corvette, of 14 24pounder carronades and two long ninepounders, and 109 men, three years old, in perfect good state, fit for his Majesty's service, and the fastest sailer the French have in those seas.

The Gazette also announces the follow gallant capture by the Onyx sloop, Captain Gill, who carried his prize to Hull Roads:

SIR" I beg to inform you, that on the morning of the 1st Jan. at daylight, when in lat. 53. 30. long, 3. we discovered a strange brig on the lee-bow, standing to the southward, on which we made the private signal, She immediately showed Dutch colours, and hove to, as if prepared for battle. We kept our wind until eight o'clock, when being perfectly ready, we bore down, and brought her to close action. The enemy attempted several times to rake us, but, from our superior sailing, we were enabled to foil every attempt. At half past ten she struck her colours, being much cut up in her sails and rigging, and having most of her guns .disabled by the superior fire kept up by the Onyx, which, considering the very heavy sea, displayed a cool and steady conduct, far beyond any thing I could expect from so young a ship's company,

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and merits my warmest commendations. She proved to be the Dutch national brig Manly, formerly British, and captured by the Dutch in the river Ems. She mounts twelve 18-pounder carronades, and four long brass 6-pounders, with a complement of 94 men,commanded by Capt.-Lieut. J. W. Heneyman, of the Dutch navy.

"I am happy to say our loss is trifling, having only three wounded, and the enemy five killed and six wounded. I feel more pleasure in announcing her capture, as she sailed from the Texel, in company with another brig, for the sole purpose of annoying and intercepting our trade with Heligoland. She has made one small capture from Embden, laden with oats, supposed to be for England."

The following particulars respecting the capture of his Majesty's schooner Rook were communicated in a letter from the master, who succeeded Lieut. Lawrence in the command :—

"The Rook sailed from Plymouth with dispatches for Jamaica, and after taking in a quantity of specie, sailed again for England on the 15th of August. On the 18th of Aug. at day light, she fell in with two French schooners, and immediately cleared for action; on the largest vessel coming alongside with English colours, and not answering when hailed, but immediately hoisting French colours, Lieutenant Lawrence shot the French captain, when a most desperate action commenced; after an hour's hard fighting, Lieutenant L. received his last wound by a musket-ball, and the Rook was immediately carried by boarding, the French officers repeatedly calling to the men to give no quarter. Mr Stewart, the master, received seven most desperate wounds with a cutlass, of which he recovered, but died afterwards of the yellow fever. Mr George Reid, an officer in the Royal Artillery, after 20 years service in Jamaica, returning to his native country in the Rook, with a very considerable property, was inhumanly killed by the enemy in boarding. The survivors were stripped naked, put in their boat, and turned adrift, but by the exertions of four, who were not wounded, they reached land, and were most hospitably received by the natives. The Rook was so much damaged that the enemy set fire to her."

We have some particulars of the loss of the Crescent frigate, in a letter to Mr John Munro, Quartermaster of the Forfarshire Militia, from his son, Mr John Munro, late master's mate on board the Crescent. They are in substance

as follows:

"The Crescent was wrecked off Jutland. The Master, Mr Weaver of the Marines, Mr Masson, Mr Lavender, Mr Houghton senior, and Mr Walker the boatswain, are the only officers saved; all the rest perished; only 53 men were saved. We are treated well, and I shall endeavour to send this by a vessel going with prisoners. We expect to be sent to Weiburgh in a few days, and hope we shall be exchanged soon. I was sa'ved in the joliy-boat. It was wonderful how Mr Weaver escaped on the raft, with Mr Lavender and Mr Masson, midshipmen. They were often washed off the raft by the sea breaking over them, but recovered themselves, and cleared the ship, when in the greatest danger. Their exertions were great. The Captain ordered Mr Weaver to take charge. Please publish the following list of the officers lost, for the information of their friends:-Capt. Temple, Lieut. Kerwin, Lieut. Maclean, Lieut. Stokes, R. N.; Lieut. Snodie, Royal Marines; Mr Hosier, pursuer; Mr Rolff, surgeon; Mess. Anson, Wallace, Haker, O'Donnel, Willis, Wytte, Houghton jun. Spurgeon, Knight, midshipmen; Mr Colter, carpenter; Mr Williams, gunner; Mr Bradford, passen. ger; one child and six women; besides 191 seamen and marines. All that went on the second raft perished. The ship struck at ten o'clock at night on the 6th Dec. and went to pieces about five next evening. We arrived here (Oldburgh) the third day, and met with great kindness. The exertions of the officers and men, from the time the ship struck till she went to pieces, are beyond description. Two pilots were drowned."

The brig Carnation, of 18 guns, was lost, after a severe action, in which she accidentally run ashore under the guns of some batteries at Martinique, when she was taken possession of by her enemy, le Palineur, of 18 guns, which also has since been taken by his Majesty's ship Circe, and carried into Antigua. Every officer on board the Carnation was killed.

SCOT

Scottish Chronicle.

HIGH COURT OF JUCTICIARY.

ON

N Monday Dec. 12. came on the trial of James Holland, private soldier in the 6th or Inniskilling dragoons, accused of robbing John Hay, tenant in Duncanlaw in East Lothian, on the evening of Friday the 18th of November last.

John Hay in Duncan law, the principal witness, stated, that he was at Haddington market on the above day, and left it about five in the afternoon, in company with James Cunningham in Barra; that about half a mile from the town, his horse was seized by the bridle, by a man who demanded his money, to which he answered, that surely the person must be in jest. Upon this the demand was repeated with a threat, if he did not comply, to blow out his brains, when he immediately received a blow on the left temple, which brought him to the ground, and he remembered nothing after this until he felt himself pulled along upon his back to a sort of rising ground, on the side of the road, where he found his head among thorns. He still felt the hand of a man dragging him, and began to struggle; the man sprung back, and put his hand under the witness's great coat. Upon this, he seized the man by the collar, and found by the hardness of it, that he was a soldier. A struggle then ensued, in the course of which, the soldier pulling more violently at the witness, the latter got upon his feet, when the soldier struck him several hard blows, and got his leg behind that of the witness, who immediately fell over, and pitched with his head upon the road, the soldier falling above him. The witness then laid hold of him with both his hands, and kept him down upon his back, in which situation they struggled for some time, until the witness, in trying to get upon his legs, allowed the soldier to get from under him, and they both rose, when another scuffle took place; the soldier striking the witness many severe blows, and swearing that his accomplices would come up and butcher him. He then Jan. 1809.

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succeeded in driving the soldier into a ditch, got above him, and called out to Mr Cunningham to secure his man. He then heard horses feet, and called out for assistance, as a man had been attempting to rob and murder him. Upon this James Hay in Sherriffside, and Wm. Simpson in Redhill, who had left Haddington a short time after the witness, came forward and seized the soldier. The witness asked if he had any pistol, to which he answered, that he had only a stick. A cart having then come up, they procured a rope, with which they tied the prisoner's hands, carried him to Haddington, and gave information to the Procurator-Fiscal. The witness then missed the chain and seal of his watch, the chain was broken from the watch, the fragments of the last link being found in his watch pocket. He swore to the person of the prisoner.

James Cunningham agreed with the former witness as to leaving Haddington on the evening of the 18th Nov. after passing the Nungate toll, he was attacked and knocked off his horse and being quite insensible, recollected nothing of what passed farther, than having heard Mr Hay call out to him to secure kis man.

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James Hay and Wm. Simpson concurred in stating, that when riding along the road, they heard John Hay call out murder, when they rode up to him, and assisted in securing the prisoner, put him in a cart which was passing, and carried him to Haddington jail.

A declaration emitted by the prisoner at Haddington was read, which simply stated, that he had got so drunk at Haddington on the day libelled, that he recollected nothing after leaving it, until he found himself upon the cart.

The Lord Justice Clerk addressed the Jury in a long speech, and stated, that the question of the robbery depend ed entirely upon the fact being proven, whether the prisoner had actually.robbed Mr Hay of his watch-chain and seal. If the evidence had not established that essential point to their satisfac

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tion, there was another, about which there could be no doubt, namely, that the assault was made as libelled, with an intention to rob. He should therefore leave both these points to their own judgment.

Next day, the Jury returned a verdict, finding the pannel not guilty of the robbery, but guilty of the assault, with an intention to rob.

The Lord Justice Clerk, after a strong admonition to the prisoner, then pronounced the highest sentence the law allows in such cases, that he be transported beyond seas for life.

Dec. 26. The Court proceeded to the trial of Robert Wright, alias John Handy, accused of theft, and of being habit and repute a thief. The indictment stated, that on the ad December 1807, the prisoner stole from the warehouse of James Aitken, carrier between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh, a parcel addressed to James Budge, merchant in Anstruther, containing various articles of linen and cotton goods. The prisoner pled Not Guilty.

The carrier's clerk and porter were examined, who concurred in stating, that the parcel stolen from the warehouse was directed, not to James Budge, but to John Budge, merchant in Anstruther.

Upon this the Counsel for the Crown declined to proceed farther in the trial; and the jury having, by direction of the Lord Justice Clerk, returned a verdict of Not Proven, the prisoner was dismissed simpliciter from the bar.

Dec. 27. Came on the trial of Grizel Johnston, lately residing at Port Se. ton, for breaking into the washing house of the Rev. Dr Hamilton, at Gladsmuir, and stealing several articles there from, being at the time under sentence of banishment from the county of Haddington, as a person of bad fame and a thief. The prisoner pled Guilty; and the Jury found her Guilty accordingly, and the Court sentenced her to be transported beyond seas for seven years.

Jan. 13. Came on the trial of Thomas Nielson, late servant to Lieut. Colonel Wauchope, of the Edinburgh militia, for opening by means of a skeleton key, the drawer of his master, and stealing money, &c. therefrom. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and the jury having re

turned their verdict accordingly, the Court, sentenced him to be transported beyond seas for life.

Jan. 16. Came on the trial of John M'Intyre shoemaker, Andrew Stewart tailor, and Robert Stewart journeyman bookbinder, all in Edinburgh, accused of breaking into the work shop of Peter More, calico glazer in Edinburgh, on the night of the first November last, and stealing therefrom a number of webs of cotton cloth, &c,

The prisoners having pleaded Not Guilty, the prosecutor proceeded to the evidence.

Peter More, calico glazer in Edinburgh, stated, that he takes in goods to be glazed; that about the end of October last, he received from Samuel Somerville and Co. 27 pieces of white ca, lico, together with 12 pieces from Gilchrist and Co. merchants in Edinburgh, in order to be dressed. On the morn ing of the Wednesday preceding the fast day in November 1808, he was told by one of his servants that his shop had been broken into, and on going down, he found the shutter of one of the windows forced open, by breaking the iron bolt. Thirty pieces of calico were car. ried away. He missed also two green cloths, for covering the goods, and a black coat, silk vest, black breeches, and hat, which were deposited in an open trunk in his shop. The first time he heard of these goods was on the Friday following, when a Mr Ramsay, a slater, told him he believed he would be able to discover where they were to be found, by means of a Mrs Thom, in the Cowgate, who had been asked to buy some such cloth lately. After some difficulty, Mr More found Mrs Thom, who went with him to a house in Blackfriars wynd, where he found, concealed in a bed, a large quantity of goods, which, upon examination, proved to be his own. These goods he immediately dispatched to the Council-chamber by several porters, attended by one or two of the town-officers. He was examined there himself, upon which occa sion he again looked particularly at the goods, and was satisfied they were his property. Certain goods were shewn him in Court, which he was certain were the same that he had deposited in his shop, and had afterwards seen in the house in Blackfriars wynd, having not

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