muft be, with Marshal Wurmfer in Mantua, he cannot as yet have had it in his power to correfpond with your Lordship. General Alvinzy's report is dated at Caldo-Ferro, Nov. 7. Gen. Davidovitch's at Trente, the 8th inft.

After the fecond operation, undertaken for the relief of Mantua, thofe corps of Marshal Wurmfer's army, which could not penetrate, retired; the one under Gen. Quofdanowich to the Venetian Frioul; the other, under Gen. Davido vitch, up the valley of the Adige, towards Neumarkt.

Thefe corps were successfully reinforced by confiderable numbers of fresh troops; and Gen. Alvinzy was appointed to command the whole of the army, until it should effect its reunion with Marfhal Wurmfer.

After the arrival of the reinforcements at the places of their deftination, Gen. Alvinzy, who in perfon had undertaken the conduct of the corps in the Frioul, arranged a plan of operations, of which the following is a sketch.

His own corps was to advance through the Trevifane towards Baffano, and, after forcing the paffages of the Brenta, to proced towards the Adige, whilft Gen. Davidovitch fhould defcend the valley by which that river runs down from the mountains of the Tyrol, forcing the pofitions of Trente, Roveredo, &c.

On the 3d of this month, upon the approach of part of Gen. Alvinzy's advanced guard, the enemy abandoned Caftel Franco; and on the 4th the Auftrian corps advanced in two columns to the Brenta; the one to Baffano (of which they took poffeffion) and the other of nearly equal force (under Lieut. Gen. Proverra) to Fonteniva.

Gen. Álvinzy halted on the 5th inft. and spent that day in reconnoitring the pofition of the enemy. He found the French army encamped in three lines in front of Vicenza.

On the 6th, as Gen. Alvinzy was on the point of pushing forward the advanced guard, Buonaparte, who had marched in the night, commenced a moft fevere attack upon his whole line. The action began with Gen. Proverra's corps about feven in the morning, very shortly afterwards, the enemy alfo advanced againft Baffano.

Gen. Alvinzy reports, that the enemy's attacks though made with the greateft impetuoufity, were conftantly and completely repelled; and that night put an end to the affair, without either party

K

having gained or loft any ground: But an indifputable proof of the Auftrians having had the advantage in this action is that when Gen. Alvinzy next morning was preparing to renew it, he found that the enemy had completely retreated. He reports that they directed their march towards Lifiera.

Gen. Proverra's bridge over the Brenta having been deftroyed in the course of the morning of the 6th, his column could not cross the river till towards noon on the 7th, and Gen. Alvinzy's whole corps arrived late in the evening of that day at the camp of Caldo-Ferro.

Gen. Davidovitch had in the mean time driven back the corps opposed to him, had made a thousand prisoners, and taken poffeffion of Trente, as was mentioned in his former report.

On the fame day that the above mentioned fevere action was fought on the Brenta, Gen. Davidovitch attacked the enemy in the ftrong pass of Caliano, a little to the northward of Rovoredo. The French had entrenched their pofition, and occupied, in confiderable force, the caftle of Beffono and La Pietra, which, as I understand, command the pass.

The ftrength of the pofition was fuch, that, notwithstanding his repeated efforts, Gen. Davidovitch could not force it on the 6th; but on the following day he renewed his attack.

The corps on the right of the Adige eftablished batteries on the heights of Nomi, which fired with confiderable effect; the troops on the left of the river attacked the caftles and entrenchments with perfevering bravery, and the enemy was at length completely defeated, with the lofs of five cannon, eight ammunition waggons, and a thousand prisoners. Gen. Davidovitch fuppofes the enemy's lofs, in killed and wounded, to have been very confiderable, and ftates his own to have amounted to four hundred men, killed, wounded, and mifling.

2

I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Rob. Craufurd. From the London Gazette, Nov. 29.

CAPTURE OF AMBOYNA.

Parliament Street, Nov. 29. A Difpatch from the Governor and Council of Madras, dated Fort St George, June 22, 1796, of which the following is a copy, has been received by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and by them communicated to the Rt. Hon. Henry Dundas, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State:

Honour

Honourable Sirs,

We have particular fatisfaction in of fering to you our fincere congratulations on the complete fuccefs which has attended the operations of Rear-Admiral Rainer in the Eastern Seas; and judging that an early communication of this event might be of material use to his Majefly's Minifters, we have determined to forward this letter by the route of Buffo rah.

It appears by the Rear-Admiral's difpatches dated the 27th of March and 11th of April laft, and which reached us on the 18th inftant, by the Orpheus frigate, that the British troops were in poffeffion of the islands of Amboyna and Banda, with their several Dependencies, comprifing, as it was thought, the whole of the Dutch iflands, excepting Fornate, yielding cloves, nutmegs, and mace.This acquifition has been attained with out the fmalleft lofs on our fide.

Amboyna and its dependencies were delivered up on the 16th of February, and Banda and its dependencies on the 8th of March.

The Admiral speaks in the handfomeft manner of the activity and alacrity with which every duty was performed by the forces under his command, both naval and military; and dwells particularly on the perfect harmony which all along fubfifted between the officers and men in both services. It behoves us on this occafion to convey to you the high fenfe we entertain of the able and fpirited conduct displayed by Rear-Adm. Rainer, whole hearty co-operation with us in every measure conducive to the public weal, demands our warmeft acknow ledgments; and whilft we feel affured of your entire approbation of all the means employed by this Government, to give effect to the arrangements framed by his Majefty's Minifters for fecuring the Dutch fettlements in India, it is, nevertheless, incumbent upon us to declare, that the accomplishment of this great object has been chiefly obtained by the zealous and chearful fupport which we have had the good fortune to experience from the Officer intrufted with the execution of it.'

We shall do ourselves the honour of tranfmitting, by the firft fea conveyance, copies of all the papers received from the Admiral, which will enable you to form an accurate opinion of the value of thofe iflands. At prefent we can only give you a fummary of his proceedings.

The Admiral found in the treafury at Amboyna, 81,112 rix-dollars, and in ftore 515,940 pounds weight of cloves in the treasury at Banda, 66,675 rix-dollars, and in ftore 84,777 pounds weight of nutmegs, 19,587 pounds of mace, befides merchandise and other ftores at each place, upon which no value had been then put.

We are preparing to fend a reinforcement of troops for the better protection of thofe valuable iflands; and as the Admiral has advised us that he is fhort of provifions, and in want of a supply of naval and military ftores, it is our intention to forward an adequate flock of every neceffary article.

We have great pleasure in acquainting you, that the Company's poffeffions on this coaft are in a state of perfect tranquility; and that we have no reason to believe that any defigns are in agitation by the Native Powers hoftile to your interefts. We have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Hobart.

Alured Clarke.
Edw. Saunders.
C. W. Fallofield.

Admiralty-Office, Dec. 17.

Copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Bazely, Commanding Officer of bis Majefty's fhips and veffels in the Downs, to Evan Nepean, Efq. dated on board his Majefty's fhip Overyssel, the 14th of Dec. 1796.

Sir,

I have just received a letter from Lieutenant Webb, commanding the Marechal de Cobourg cutter, acquainting me that, on the night of the 12th instant, off Dungeness, he fell in with, and, after a chace of two hours, captured a French lugfail privateer of two guns and eighteen men, named the Efpoire, which had left Boulogne the day before, but had not taken any thing.

I am, Sir, &c. &c.
John Bazely.

[Here end the Gazettes.]

SCOTLAND.

1796. Dec. 29. About two o'clock in the morning, a very alarming fire was difcovered in the fquare of the offices at Kenmore Caftle. In that part where the gardener flept, the floor of the room was set on fire, and fallen down into the apartment below, as well as his bed kindied, when he awoke. By using every means poffible with wet dung, snow,

&c.

&c. (for the water pipes were then frozen up,) and at the risk of his life, he prevented it from extending further till affiftance came, when it was fuppreffed. He loft all his cloathes, books, 18 guineas in notes, and fome bills. The premifes being infured in the Phoenix Fire Office, they very readily paid the damages, and generously gave the garden er ten pounds, in confideration of his lofs and exertions to prevent the burning of the whole fquare.

St Andrew's Church, Edinburgh.

1797. Jan. 2. It being reprefented to the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers, remaining affembled after divine fervice, that by the attempts now making from France to land a confiderable force in Ireland, with a powerful fleet, or fome other like emergency, it may be deemed expedient by Government to march the regiment which garrisons the Caftle of Edinburgh to a distant part of the Country; and it being certified by the laft returns of the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers, that the Corps at prefent reckons above 700 effective rank and file.-It was unanimously refolved, That it is proper the Corps fhould, on this occafion, make a tender of their services, and offer (on its being found neceffary at any time to march out the troops quartered in the garrifon,) to take charge of Edinburgh Caftle, and do fuch duty as is ufually performed by the Regiments ftationed in that fortrefs, fo far as it relates to the garrifon itself, and the guards requifite for the different parts of the city and fuburbs of Edinburgh.

Refolved, That Lieut. Colonel Aytoun be authorised to subscribe the foregoing refolution, in name of the Corps, and that the Right Hon. the Lord Provoft, Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edin burgh, their Colonel, be requefted to tranfmit the fame to his Excellency General Lord Adam Gordon, Commander in Chief for Scotland, and to Field Marfhal his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, for being laid before his Majesty.

Roger Aytoun, Lt. Col. R. E. V. The Royal Glasgow Volunteers, with their usual spirit, have made an offer to the Commander in Chief, of doing the duty of that Town, in cate, in the prefent crifis, it fhall be neceffary to withdraw the regular troops. Similar offers have been made by the Volunteers of Leith, Perth, Dundee, and Aberdeen.

Farmers of Mid-Lothian.

Jan. 6. It is with much fatisfaction that we can ftate, that a number of the Farmers in the vicinity of Edinburgh, have this day come forward with an offer of their horfes and carts to affift Government without any expence, to convey troops, baggage, &c. to where their fervices may be wanted, when required by his Excellency Lord Adam Gordon, Commander in Chief in Scotland.

It is fuppofed that foldiers may, in this manner be conveyed at the proportion of five men to one horfe in a cart, fuppofing them to ride and walk by turns, and at the rate of four miles in an hour, and thus 40 or 50 miles in a day, a celerity which may have the most important effects in cafe of invafion. It is to be hoped that this judicious, patriotic, and well-timed expreffion of attachment to the interefts of their country in the Mid Lothian Farmers, will be imitated in every county in the kingdom.

Their offer for service is conveyed in the following terms:

"We, the under fubfcribers, defirous of teftifying our zeal for the public fervice, hereby agree, that in the event of an invafion taking place in any part of Great Britain or Ireland, we will have the number of carts affixed to our refpective names, ready, when required by his Excellency Lord Adam Gordon, Commander in Chief of his Majefty's forces in Scotland, for the purpose of conveying Troops, Baggage, &c. through the County of Mid-Lothian, and to, or from, the firft ftage beyond its limits."

The Dalkeith Farmer Society, and the Farmers in Eaft-Lothian, have come to fimilar refolutions.

13. This morning, at an early hour, the bakehoufe of George Gillespie, Leith, was difcovered to be on fire. Upon the firft alarm, the engines were got out, and the Magiftrates, Leith Volunteers, Sutherland Fencibles, with a great body of the failors and inhabitants affifted, by whofe exertions the fire was prevented from spreading to the houses adjoining. The bakehoufe was burnt to the ground, together with the ftock and utenfils therein, which happily were insured in the Sun Fire Office.

24. This evening a fire broke out at Mr Haig's Distillery at Loch Rind, but by the timely affiftance of the fire engines and the exertions of the people at the work, it was happily got under without doing any material damage.

Execution

Execution of James M'Kaen. Glasgow, Jan. 25. This being the day fixed for the execution of James M'Kaen, for the murder of James Buchanan, the Lanark Carrier, vaft crowds of people came from all parts of the neighbour hood, and even from very diftant parts of the country, particularly the town of Lanark and its vicinity, to witness the awful ceremony. At two the Magiftrates attended in the Courthall, and the unhappy man was brought in, accompanied by the Rev. Alexander Pirie and James Dun, minifters of the gofpel. Having fat down with amazing composure and drank a glass of wine, the 130th Pfalm was fung by his defire; after which Mr Pirie prayed with great fervour.-MacKaen joined in finging the pfalm, and did not appear to be in a great degree affected during the prayer, although he was attentive. When the prayer was finished, Mr Pirie, turning to M'Kaen, endeavoured to impress him with an idea of his awful fituation, and repeatedly orged him, if he had any thing particular to mention, or if any part of the printed narrative of his life was not true, to explain accordingly. M'Kaen, how. ever, without much emotion, contented bimself with answering, that he had already mentioned every thing he had to fate in his printed narrative, and that he had nothing further to fay; then tak ing a glass of wine, he drank to the Magiftrates, thanking them for their good ulage to him while in jail: and alfo drank to the audience.

After prayers by Mr Jas. Dun, another pfalm was fung, and both clergymen urged him, if he had any thing to fay to the Magiftrates or audience, to mention it; and particularly he was told, that the circumflances attending his mother's untimely death had made a ftrong impreflion on the public mind, and was defired to declare whether he perfifted in maintaining that he was innocent of her alledged murder. To this he answered fhortly, that he had faid every thing which he wifhed to fay on that head in his printed narrative. About ten minutes past three, he went from the Court-houfe to the fcaffold, and addreffing himself to the multitude, produced a paper, saying, "This is my fpeech, which I wish may be read to the public." It was accordingly, by his defire, read by one of the town officers. The fubftance of it was, "He acknowledged the juftnefs of his fentence, and entertained a due fenfe of the enormity of the crimes for which he

was about to fuffer; that at that moment it was impoffible to defcribe the horrors of his mind, when locking forward to his approaching diffolution; that many reports had been circulated regarding him, but of these he would not then take particular notice, referring the public to the narrative of his life; and that he committed himself to God, trusting that, although he was on the brink of eternity, and had committed the atrocious crimes for which he was condemned, he might leave this world with fome hopes of falvation, through the merits of Jelus Chrift." With fingular apathy he obferved to those who flood around, that it was unpleasant to ftand in the rain.After fome interval spent in converfing with the magiftrates and other persons near him, he mounted the drop, and about twenty-four minutes past three, upon the fignal of dropping his handkerchief, (which he gave with aftonishing firmness,) was launched into eternity.— About four, his body was put into a coffin, and fent to the Anatomy-Hall for diffection, in terms of the fentence.

The crowd of spectators was immenfe. It is fupposed to have amounted to near 80,000, and to have exceeded by twenty or thirty thousand any concourfe of fpectators on the like occafion within the memory of man. Every person was furprifed at the compofure and apparent indifference of the miferable sufferer.

[In the narrative above alluded to, which is of a confiderable length, he denies being acceffory in any refpect to the death of his mother, and contradicts a variety of reports refpecting his former life. He confeffes the murder of Buchanan, but denies that it was premeditated. He fays he had an old grudge at Buchanan, and he committed the atrocious deed from a fudden and violent guft of paffion, which he says he was lubject to all his life.]

vice, to Mifs Janet Henrietta Rankine, daughter of John Rankine of Duchope, Efq.

Dec. 26. At Glasgow, Mr James Taylor, merchant, to Marion Erskine, daughter of the late Mr Michael Erfkine.

Jan. 7. At London, Jas. Colquhoun, Efq. of South-Street, Finsbury, merchant, to Mifs Colquhoun, daughter of the late Provoft Colquhoun of Dumbar

ton.

9. At Lainfhaw, Mr John Haldane writer in Edinburgh, to Mifs Elifabeth Cuninghame, daughter of William Cunninghame, Efq. of Lainfhaw.

DEATHS.

Lately, at the quarters of the corps in the island of Jamaica, Lieutenant Thos. Edgar, of Major-General Keppel's regiment, and second ton of Major Thomas Edgar.

in the Weft Indies, Jas. Blair, Efq. of Dominica.

At Hurworth, in the county of Durham, of the fcarlet fever, two fons and a daughter of Major Colling, of the North York militia. The father left them all in perfect health a few days before to rejoin his regiment at Colchester. On receiving the account of the death of the firft, he immediately fet off for the north; but before he reached home, he received the melancholy information of the decease of the other two. They were all interred together on Chriftmas day.

At her house, St James's fquare, London, the Lady Marchioness De Grey, Baronefs Lucas, of Credwell, in the county of Effex. Her Ladyfhip was the grand daughter of Henry, laft Duke of Kent, daughter of John, third Earl of Breadalbane, and widow of Philip, the fecond Earl of Hardwicke, by whom he has left two daughters, the Ladies Arabel Polwarth, widow of Lord Polwarth, and Grantham, widow of Lord Grantham, to the eldest of whom defcend the eftates belonging to the Duke of Kent, and the title of Baronefs Lucas.

At Drummond Lodge, Weftmoreland, in the island of Jamaica, upon the 25th Auguft laft, John Spalding, fecond fon, and on the 28th of September preceding, died at Cherry Garden eftate, parish of St Andrew, alfo in Jamaica, Andrew Spalding, the third fon, of Geo. Spalding, Elq. of Glenkiry.

In September laft, by Norfolk in Virginia, Mr Gilbert Dickfon, fon of the

27. In the Weft Indies, Brigadier-General Robert Riddel, Lieut. Col. of the 44th regiment of foot.

Nov. laft off St Chriftopher's, the Hon. Capt. Dunbar Douglas, of the Royal Navy, fon to the Earl of Selkirk..

Dec.to. At Skirling, the Rev. Mr William Howe, minifter of the gospel. 13. At Williamsfield, Wm. Duthie, Efq. late of Jamaica.

14. At Holm, in Orkney, the Rev. Mr James Allison, minifter of Holme, in the 65th year of his age, and 40th of his miniftry.

16. In his houfe of Thurston Mains, Mr Robert Aitchison, deeply lamented by a numerous family.

18. Robert Fall, Efq. late merchant in Dunbar.

19. At his houfe at Knock, in the 83d year of his age, Mr Stronach, fen.

21. At her houfe in Queen's Street, Mrs Drummond, widow of the deceafed James Drummond, Efq. of Croftnappock.

22. At Crookedholme, parish of Kilmarnock, the Rev. William Steven, minifter of the Reformed Prefbytery.

23. At Leith, Mr John Sime, fhipbuilder there.

At Ayr, Mrs Katharine Forsyth, widow of Mr Alexander Forfyth, writer. 24. At Dundee, Mr William Brown, preacher, and one of the mafters of the grammar fchool.

At Glasgow, Mrs Elifabeth Findlay, widow of the late Mr Thomas Armftrong, merchant.

At Edinburgh, John M'Laurin, Efq. of Dreghorn, one of the Senators of the College of Juftice.

25. At Edinburgh, Wm. Hay, Efq. writer to the fignet.

ton.

Mrs Margaret Scott, of Brother

26. At Aberfeyle, Finlay Blair, fexton and bellman of that parish, aged 102 years.

Mrs Janet Buncle, spouse of Geo. Clapperton, writer to the fignet.