duct of the Vice-Admiral; the recrimination is called a demonftration of malice. But ought that to be admitted as a demonftration? Certainly not; for it is very poffible, that innocence, integrity, and recrimination, might go hand in hand together. The Vice-Admiral finds, that his conduct is cenfured; he applies to his commander to bear teftimony to his behaviour, and fails in his application: feeling then as a man of spirit should do, who fees himself pointed out as the caufe why an inferior fleet of France had efcaped from a fuperior British fquadron, he appeals to the public [40. 624.], and lays the blame where, in his opinion, it ought to reft. Where is the demonftration of malice in this? If, after the many attacks that had been made upon him, from quarters that seemed to point out that they were not infignificant people who were concerned in the attacks, he had remained filent, he would have deserved much praife for his Chriftian forbearance, and brotherly love; but furely the part he had taken was fo very natural, that there was no neceffity to look for malice in it: he did not bring falfe charges; at leaft the facts were not falfe; for the Hon. Admiral had not denied, but juftified them. Where then was the ground for a conviction of malice? The Hon. Gentleman deduced it from the Vice-Admiral's refignations. The refignations might be good, bad, or indifferent; but if the Hon. Gentleman's doctrine were carried to its full length, every man who refigns, as the gentleman himself might do, a valuable employ. ment, might be faid to acquiefce in a charge of guilt, and thereby furnith evidence against himself. The Vice-Admiral might perhaps have refigned for the moft laudable purposes: he might have wifhed not to difturb the peace and bar mony of his Majefty's fleet: or perhaps there might have been fomething perfonal in his refignation; he might have feen a ftorm gathering, and fnuffed the tempeft from afar; to feek a fhelter from it therefore was prudent; in fact, it was more than prudent, it was neceffary; there was a madnefs in the times; the three nights illumination fhewed that the people were feized with phrenzy, and that it was madnefs to contend at that time against the ftorm. The Hon. Gentleman knew well how furious the times had been, when he and his friends had been obliged to go out on a cold night, in February, to endeavour to QUELL the tumult, and to difperfe the mob [41. 422.]. To refign on fuch an occafion, was a mark of prudence; but it must be strange logic indeed, that could demonstrate malice from it. His Lordihip concluded by moving amendments; which being inferted, the motion ran nearly thus: It is the opinion of this Houfe, That the appointing Sir Hugh Palliser, Vice-Admiral of the Blue, who appeared by the fentence of a court-martial, to have preferred a malicious and ill founded charge against his fuperior officer, which court-martial was not conftituted to try him for fuch offence, and to which he was not permitted to make any defence, to the Government of Greenwich hofpital; the said Sir Hugh Pallifer having been tried by a fubfequent court-martial, for his conduct on the 27th of July, and by the sentence of that court found to have acted in many things exemplarily and meritoriously; the faid Sir Hugh Pallifer alfo having ferved his Majefty forty-five years in a civil and military capacity, with courage, wifdom, and fidelity, is fubverfive of the intereft and derogatory to the honour of the navy.”. lieu of thefe amendments, evidently defigned to make the original queftion ridiculous, his Lordship offered to adopt general terms, and fairly take the opinion of the Houfe on the appointment, without reference to any particular merit or accufation. But this was not accepted; in confequence, a debate eufued on the amendment. In Lord Howe wished, for the fake of all officers, that it could now be fettled, whether courts-martial ought to centure accufers who did not make good their charge; he thought, that, for the fake of commanders in chief, there ought to be fome power in courts martial to deter inferior officers from accufing them upon flight or frivolous grounds; otherwife an Admiral would be obliged to foot he his people into a compliance with their duty, without daring to compel them by authority. Mr Miller fupported the amendment, and obferved, that if the appointment to Greenwich hofpital, a place always confidered as a place of retirement,, could ruin the country, it was not worth faving: he fhewed likewife by many ingenious diftinctions. that a sentence pro. nounced by a majority of a court, alter L 2 a ferious inveftigation, was much more honourable than a rafh good-natured unanimity in opinion. fent home the extraordinary account of taken, burnt, and deftroyed, as per margin, had fuffered himself to be carried away by party, and had agreed to the confederacy formed by Adm. Bembo's cap. tains to ruin his commander: but when he faw his admiral attacked, he could not bear to see him torn by the enemy, but, breaking through the confederacy, he instantly bore down to his relief. The mere act of confederacy being his only crime, was forgot, and a pardon granted to him in confequence of his former fervices. One act should not damn a meritorious officer. Sir Hugh Pallifer in many actions had fignalized himself in a fervice of forty-five years. He was the darling of Sir Charles Saunders; and the feaman-like and gallant manner in which he took a French 74, would ever be remembered by the fleet. Popular infatuation was unaccountable; Sir Hugh Pallifer, for an act of which he was not fairly convicted, was condemned never to ferve again! And London was three days in a blaze for the inglorious 27th of July. Good God! cried the Governor, putting his hands on his face, and fhrugging up his fhoulders, the 27th of July! Politics ought never, he faid, to interfere with the duty of a feaman; and, greatly as he refpected the Hon. Admiral, he could not but be hurt, at finding him in a Surry committee, declaring that the war with America was unjust; and also declaring, that the Dutch war, which he deemed both juft and neceffary, was founded on a prin ciple of piracy. Thus the officers in both these wars were branded with the odious name of pirates, and charged with carrying on an unjust war. Gov. Johnstone protested against the exiftence of any power in a court-martial to cenfure an accufer unheard: attempts of that kind had been made often when he fat as judge; but they had been always over-ruled. He beheld Sir Hugh Pallifer in a double point of view; as a foldier, and a politician: as a foldier, he viewed his conduct on the 27th of July with rapture, ranging bravely along the line; backing his topfails, that he might remain the longer in action; wearing to renew it; and, fhattered, torn, difabled as he was, turning upon the enemy like a bull-dog: when he faw that gallant Admiral hobbling through the Houfe in confequence of the wounds he had received in his country's fervice, he challenged all his refpect, all his admiration. As a politician, he could not approve of his conduct; but he would not deduce an acquiefcence in the charge of malice from his refignation: for his part, he would not have refigned; but, as the Noble Lord had juftly obferved, the times had run mad, and phrenzy had feized the minds of the people. - Lon. don had been illuminated three nights for the difgraceful 27th of July; that Houfe had voted thanks for the protection of trade that had not arrived in the channel till our fleet had been in port fome time; and proofs had been difcovered of the newly-acquired glory of the British flag, nine months after the nation had begun to weep over its departed luftre. That 27th of July was not the brighteft in the hiftory of the commander in chief: there was blame fome where; and when the Admiral praised Sir Hugh Pallifer by name, he had acted very wrong if that officer had deferved reprehenfion. He was forry Adm. Keppel was no longer employed; but it was his own fault: if he thought his retreat was the confequence of Sir Hugh's exaltation, he would condemn it; but if both were in fome meafure to blame for conduct on a particular day, that was no reafon why their former gallant actions fhould be forgot: he well remembered thofe of the gallant Admiral, and though he could not recollect the 27th of July without indignation, yet he ne ver would forget the many brilliant actions which counterbalanced that difgrace. Politics were the bane of the Zervice; the brave Walton, who had " After this Adm. Keppel fpoke thrice, Adm. Pallifer twice, Sir Fr. Baffet, Ld North, the Solicitor and the Attorney General, and Ld Fr. Campbell, spoke in favour of Adm. Pallifer, and Meff, Burke, Fox, T. Townshend, Sir H. Mackworth, Sir Fl. Norton, and Mr Dunning, fpoke on the other fide. A little after two in the morning of Feb. 2. the question being put, the numbers were, For the amendment 214, A. gainst it 149 Another debate enfued on the main queflion, in which Mr Fox and Lord North were up refpectively five or fix times. At length this business was put an end to, by a motion for the order of the day, and at three the Houfe adjourned, AME AMERICA. [28.] "Philadelphia, Jan. 6. The Congrefs, as foon as they were informed of the fy. ftem formed by the Emprefs of Ruffia and her minifters for the eftablishing a general code for all nations, loft no time in expreffing their approbation of the plan, by coming to feveral refolutions on the occafion at different meetings. At length, on Thursday, Oct. 5. Congrefs took into confideration the report of the committee which fat Sept. 26. on a motion of Mr Livingston, relative to the declaration of the Emprefs of all the Ruffias concerning the rights of neutral veffels; when the faid committee agreed, that the regulations it contains are falutary, wife, and juft; and on Oct. 5. came to the following refolutions. "Her Imperial Majefty of all the Ruffias, attentive to the liberty of commerce and the rights of nations, in her declaration to the belligerent and neutral powers, having propofed certain regulations, founded on the principles of juftice, equity, and moderation, of which their Moft Chriftian and Moft Catholic Majefties have already declared their approbation; Congrefs, anxious to demonftrate their regard for the rights of commerce, and their respect for the Sovereign who propofed, as well as for the powers which have approved the faid regula. tions, do refolve, That the Admiralty office fhall prepare and report inftructions for the commanders of armed fhips bearing the commiffions of the United States, which inftructions fhall be conformable to the principles contained in the declaration of the Emprefs of all the Ruffias concerning the rights of neutral bottoms: That the minifters plenipotentiary of the United States, in cafe they fhall be invited thereto, shall be refpectively authorifed, as they are authorifed by thefe prefents, to accede to fuch regulations, conformable to the fpirit of the faid declaration, as fhall be framed by the general congrefs which is expected to affemble in Europe in confequence of her Imperial Majefty's invita tion. Ordered, That copies of the above refolution be fent to the respective minifters of the United States at foreign courts, and to the Hon. the MinifterPlenipotentiary from France." It is impoffible to add any thing to the fplendid eulogium of Congrefs in their refolution of the 26th of September, of the auguft Catherine the Second, who, with the fame hand with which fhe perfects the work of Peter the Great, plans univerfal laws, from whence will fpring the happiness of all nations." The British land-forces in North Ame rica in the end of last year are stated thus. Under Gen. Clinton, at New York: Grenadiers 1000, light infantry 1000, the 22d, 37th, 38th; 42d, 43d, 54th, 57th, and 76th regiments: Provincials, one battalion De Lancey, two battalions of Skinner: Heffians, if complete, about 9000; two battalions of Anfpach; yagers and chaffeurs 500. Under Maj.-Gen. Leslie: 82d, Hamilton regiment, detach- Total, 700 300 300 200 800 200 250 2750 di Gen. Leflie failed from New York Oct. 16. 1780, and in a few days after landed in Virginia, and took poft at Portf mouth [42.647.]. At the mouth of James river, the men of war that convoyed him took many valuable prizes. On James river he was at too great ftance from Lord Cornwallis; and his force was too fmall to garrifon pofts, and to keep the field. He therefore had orders fent him to imbark; which he did the end of November, and failed for Charlestown; where he arrived the 13th of December, and marched on the 19th, with 1500 men, to join Lord Cornwallis on the frontiers of North Carolina [24.]. Under Brig.-Gen. Arnold. Arnold's own corps, 600 600 250 200 Under Lt-Gen. Earl Cornwallis, in Carolina and Georgia. The 7th, 23d, 33d, part of the 60th, 63d, 64th, and 71ft, befides fome regiments Heffians. Provincial corps. New-York volunteers, Lt-Col. Turnbull, The unfortunate Maj. André fays, in a letter to Gen. Washington [42. 586.], "Thus was I betrayed into the vile condition of an enemy in difguife within your pofts." The following circumftances may perhaps explain that paffage. "When Maj. André went to confult with Gen. Arnold, he was carried to the houfe of a Mr Smith, brother to the Smith lately appointed Chief Juftice of New York by Gen. Robertfon. While Maj. André was communicating with Gen. Arnold, he lived at the houfe of Smith, and wore Smith's cloaths; and when he fet out from Washington's camp, Smith attended him till within about twelve miles of Kingsbridge, where André told him he knew his way perfectly well. Juft after Smith left him, he was taken, and at that very time he had on Smith's cloaths. Washington has tried Smith for being concerned in what they call Arnold's confpiracy: but the trial has turned out a mere farce; for Smith has not fuffered any punishment. The people at New York therefore believe, that Smith betrayed André to the rebels." Gen. Clinton, in his difpatches dated in January laft, mentions his having fent feveral meffages and propofals to the body of troops who had revolted from Wathington's army; that two of his meffengers returned; but that the revolters had delivered other two of his meffengers to Congress, "in order (fay they) that we fhould remove every doubt of fufpicion and jealoufy [26, 27, 28.]." According to other accounts, the perfon who prevailed with them, by his perfuafions, and the efficacy of a hundred gui neas, to deliver up thefe meffengers, (whofe names were Mafon and Ogden), was Gen. Wayne, who pretended, that they were wanted only that they might be fifted by examination: but as foon as they were delivered up, they were carried across the Delaware, and hanged. In Gaine's New-York Gazette of Jan. 22. an article, dated, Chatham, Jan. 17. runs thus: "Laft Thursday, the emiffaries mentioned in our laft to have been taken, were executed." Whether thefe be the fame, does not with certainty appear. By the Grantham packet, which arrived in England about the middle of February, difpatches were received, by which the melancholy certainty of the lofs of the Stirling-caftle (which, and hoped were on their paffage home after the Thunderer, Adm. Parker [42.660.] the dreadful ftorms in the West Indies) is eftablished, fome of the men belonging to her having been taken up at fea by an American veffel, and carried into Philadelphia; and there were no accounts whatever of the Thunderer. Weft Indies, already known, are com"London, Jan, 8. Our loffes in the puted at three millions Sterling." M. de Rouille, fecretary to the com mittee of merchants at Paris for raifing a fum for the immediate relief of the Weft-India iflands which have fuffered by the tornado, in a letter, dated, Paris, Jan. 20. fays, "By the moft authentic advices now before the committee, a calculation is made of the whole lofs France is fuppofed to have sustained, which is as follows, computed at Sterling money. At Martinique L.470,000] Guadaloupe St Domingo Grenada Dominique St Vincent's 180,000 200,000 90,000 1,210,000 200,000 70,000] In the London gazettes of Feb. 3. &6. there are extracts of letters from Adm. Rodney and Maj. Gen. Vaughan, commanders in chief of the British fea and land forces at the Leeward iflands, viz. Adm. Rodney to Mr Stephens, dated, St Lucia, Dec. 12. 1780. "I have the honour to acquaint you, that on my arrival at this island, I received all their Lordships orders, and your letters, which have been tranfmitted to me from the 10th of July to the 20th of October; and muft defire that you will pleafe to inform their Lordships, that Gen. Vaughan and myself are determined to undertake an enterprife, which we Matter "I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that the Admiral and myfelf, having many reports made to us of the ruinous ftate of the island of St Vincent in confequence of the hurricane, and being ever anxious for the recovery of any of his Majefty's poffeffions, we judged it proper, as the fleet was going to cruife, to fee with what foundation thefe reports were made, and whether any advantage could be taken of their fituation : we therefore imbarked 300 of the flank corps, and appeared off the island on the 16th, and with them landed the body of marines; whom I marched four miles up the country, to be able to reconnoitre the enemy's works; which, on viewing, I found fo perfectly strong, and well for tified, both by art and nature, that I am convinced treble our numbers would have made it a very doubtful undertaking. Upon fignifying my opinion to the A4: miral, it was agreed, the troops fhould reimbark; which they accordingly did on the 17th, without meeting the leaft moleftation. Your Lordship may be affured, that, on every favourable opportunity, no exertions in my power fhall be wanting; and I flatter myself, that the precautions obferved on the prefent occafion will meet with his Majefty's approbation." Adm. Rodney to Mr Stephens, dated, Sandwich, St Lucia, Dec. 22. 1780, received by Copt. Edwards, of his Majefty's floop the Hornet. land the troops on St Vincent's the next morning; but the currents baffing us, we did not make that ifland till the 15th in the evening, and then at fuch a diftance to windward as not to be difcovered by the enemy. We anchored about two in the afternoon in Warrawarou bay. All the troops and marines were landed; and before the day closed, Gen. Vaughan had put the whole in motion, and at their head advanced towards the enemy's citadel. I could eafily perceive, on my approaching the island, and viewing the enemy's works, which they had erected upon the mountain that commands Kingfton bay, and that of Warrawarou, that the whole appeared in perfect repair, with a numerous and ftrong garrifon. However, fuch was the fpirit of Gen. Vaughan, that he marched to the foot of the works, (having difperfed every impediment in his way), and reconnoitred them in every part, in hopes to find fome place vulnerable where he might make the attack with a probability of fuccefs; but finding they were in every part complete, I concurred with him in opinion, that an attack ought not to be hazarded with the force he commanded. The troops therefore returned to the beach, and were reimbarked, without the enemy's daring to move from their intrenchments." A fhort while after the engagement commenced between Adm. Rodney and M. Guichen, April 17. 1780 [42.257.], a game cock that had been principally fed upon the main-deck, and was much carefied by the failors, immediately after the firing began, flew upon the quarterdeck, and took his ftation near Sir Geo. Rodney and Gen. Vaughan. The feathered hero feemed not only to enjoy the conflict, but endeavoured, by every means in his power, to infpire all within hearing of him with the love of glory; for every five or fix minutes he was fure ftrut the deck, and conduct himself in to fet up a loud crow; and continued to this manner during the whole of the engagement. Sir George, pointing to the phenomenon, called out to the General, in the heat of the engagement, "Look at that fellow, Vaughan, by G- he is an honour to his country.' Chanticleer, it feems, efcaped unhurt; and, as the reader may fuppofe, has been ever fince honoured with the particular attention of the commander in chief. From |