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hearing, and your approbation of my conduct, which it will ever be my ftudy to "preferve."

When Mr. Fox had finifhed his Addrefs, (which was received with great approbation, at the conclufion of every fentence,) he retired from the window to his carriage, from which the horfes were taken, and he was drawn by the populace up Parliament-street, round the ftatute of Charles at Charing-crofs through Cockipur-ftreet, along Pall-mall, St. James's, and Piccadilly, to the Duke of Devonfhire's houfe, amidft the acclamations of near ten thousand people, who expreffed their difapprobation as they paffed the Treafury, Lord Temple's, &c. &c. At Carlton Houfe were repeatedly given regular huzzas, and at Lord Temple's, a wag held up a key tied to a ftick, hung round with crape, which he called the Secret Influence Key in mourning. The whole, on Mr. Fox's fide, was conducted with the utmoft regularity, and no mifchief was done, except a window broke at Lord Temple's, occafioned by the impudence of fome of his Lordship's female fervants, who threw fomething from the upper ftory upon the people. At Devonshire House Mr. Fox addreffed the Electors to the following effect:

Gentlemen,

"I thank you for the trouble you have taken in conducting me here, and as I am "much fatigued, I hope you will leave me here, as I am as much at home as at my "own houfe. I hope I fhall always have your support against the attacks of fecret ❝ influence.

"I beg leave to propofe what I mentioned in Westminster Hall, which, from the op"pofition of a hired mob, I believe was not heard, to propofe an Addrefs, expreffing "your fatisfaction at the manly, difinterefted conduct of the Houfe of Commons agamit the attacks of fecret influence."

The Addrefs was then propofed, and agreed to without the difapprobation of a fingle voice. After which the multitude retired.

Lord Surrey and Major Stanhope rode on the coach-box of Mr. Fox's carriage.

ADVERTISEMENT.

WESTMINSTER

MEEETING.

February 14.] At a very numerous and moft refpectable meeting of the Electors of Westminster, held this day at Westminster Hall, the huftings that had been ill erected by the friends of Mr. Fox, near the fteps of the Court of Common Pleas, broke down, which prevented the Chair being taken fo foon as otherwife it would have been.

Lord Mahon was then carried in triumph to the oppofite fide of the Hall, on the fhoulders of the Electors, where his Lordship moved the following Refolution, which being printed in very large capitals, on a wide fheet of parchment, was held up by him, and was diftinctly feen from every part of the Hall. The Refolution was as follows, and, being feconded, was carried by a prodigious majority, viz.

Refolved,

"That this meeting do adopt all the proceedings of the public meeting held at the "Court of Requefts, on Tuesday laft."

Lord Mahon was then carried (as above) to the steps leading to the Courts of Chancery and King's Bench, where the faid Refolutions was again moved by his Lordship, feconded, and carried by a ftill more confiderable majority.

Sir Cecil Wray was then called to the Chair at the laft-mentioned place, and the following Refolutions were then moved, feconded, and all carried, with very few diffentients. The fecond, third, and fourth Refolutions, were moved by Dr. Jebb, and feconded by Lord Mountmorres.

Refolved,

First, That this meeting do approve of and confirm the Addrefs to his Majefty, which was agreed upon in the Court of Requests, Westminster Hall, on Tuesday laft.

Secondly, That the Coalition formed between the Right Honourable Charles James "Fox, and the Right Honourable Frederick Lord North, was injurious to the cause "of Freedom and of Public Virtue, and that the conduct of the confequent Admini❝ftration was highly detrimental to the interefts of Great Britain and Ireland.

"Thirdly, That it is effential to the caufe of Public Freedom, that all ranks and "orders of men fhould UNITE and ASSOCIATE in favour of a substantial Reform in "the Representation of the Commons; and that this, or any Administration, will de"ferve the fupport and confidence of the country, in proportion to the zeal with which "they fhall bring forward, and endeavour to carry into effect, that falutary measure. "Fourthly, That the parliamentary conduct of Sir Cecil Wray, Bart. has ever been "honourable to himself, as well as beneficial to his country---that he is entitled to the "warmest gratitude of his constituents, and in the highest degree deserving of their fu"ture confidence and support.

"Fifthly, On the motion of the Right Honourable Lord Ongley (which was feconded by the Right Honourable Lord Mountmorres) it was unanimoufly refolved, "That those men who fhall, at this period, endeavour to obftruct the neceffary bufi"ness of the nation, ought to be confidered as enemies to their country.

"Sixthly, Refolved, (with very few diffentients) That the thanks of this meeting "be given to Lord Mahon, Lord Mountmorres, and Dr. Jebb.

"Seventhly, Refolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Gentlemen "who compofe the Committee for conducting the bufinefs of the Addrefs of Thanks "to his Majefty for difmiffing his late unpopular Minifters.

CECIL WRAY, Chairman.

ADVERTISEMENT.

ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER.

February 14, 1784.] The Electors of this parifh are refpectfully acquainted, that the Addrefs agreed upon at the meeting held on Tuesday the 10th inftant, in the Court of Requests, and confirmed in Westminster Hall on Saturday the 14th inftant, thanking his Majefty for the difmiffion of his late Minifters, is left at the Court of Requests, Vine-street, and at Mr. Stockdale's, oppofite Burlington House, Piccadilly, for the fignature of fuch of the householders as fhall approve of it.

ADVERTISEMENT.

General Meeting of the Electors of Westminster.

Feb. 14.] At a moft numerous meeting of the Electors of Westminster, held this day in Westminster Hall,

The Right Hon. CHARLES JAMES FOX having been called to the Chair, The following Refolutions and Addrefs were carried upon a fhew of hands, by a majority of at leaft fix to one.

K

Refolved

Refolved,

"That this meeting will unremittingly perfevere in all legal and conftitutional en"deavours to obtain a more adequate reprefentation of the people in the Commons "House of Parliament, which important branch of the legislature the people must "ever regard as the natural guardian of their unalienable rights, and the independence "of which is abfolutely effential to the prefervation of the Conftitution, as eftablished "at the glorious Revolution.

Refolved,

"That the following Addrefs be prefented to his Majesty by the Honourable Mr. "Fox.

"We, your Majey's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Electors of the City of "Westminster, whote names are hereunto fubfcribed, beg leave to approach your "Throne, with the moft unfeigned attachment to your facred perfon, and to the in-"tereft of your Royal Family.

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"To affure your Majefty, that we will ufe our utmoft endeavours to promote that "unanimity fo effential to the public welfare in the prefent critical fituation of affairs. "And as we have always regarded the Commons Houfe of Parliament, as the natural guardian of our unalienable rights, we humbly hope that whatever Minifters your Majefty may, in your wifdom, call to the high pofts of government, they will hold the "fenfe of that Houfe in the fame refpect as their predeceffors in office have done from "the æra of the glorious Revolution to the prefent period.

"That your Majesty may long reign in the hearts of a happy and united people, is "the prayer of your faithful fubjects."

Refolved,

"That this meeting do now adjourn."

C. J. FOX, Chairman. The Addrefs was left for fignature at Mr. Houfe's, Pall-mall; Mr. Hall's, Long-acre; Mr. Chaplin's, Bridges-ftreet, Covent-garden; and Mr. Debrett's, Bookfeller, Piccadilly.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TO THE PUBLIC.

King's Arms Tavern, Palace Yard, Weminfier, February 17. The Committee appointed to conduct the bufinefs of the Addrefs of Thanks to his Majefty for difmiffing his late Minifters, having feen in the public prints an advertisement figned C. J. Fox, ftating, that at a General Meeting of the Electors of Weftminster, held in Weftminster Hall on Saturday laft, the Refolutions and Address therein inferted, were carried by a majority of at least fix to one.

This Committee think proper to apprife the public, that feveral members of the faid Committee do pofitively affert, (and are ready, when properly called upon, to atteft) that they were clofe to the Huftings the whole time Mr. Fox was in the Hall, and that fo great was the noife and tumult during the period in that part of the Hall, that they were not able to hear any thing that fell either from Mr. Fox, or from any of his.

friends.

The public will therefore judge whether it were poffible for fo many thoufand Electors as were there affembled, to have affented to, or diffented from, propofitions then and there afferted to have been made, from the utter impoffibility of hearing or understand-. ing the purport of them.

JOHN CHURCHILL, Chairman.

CONSTITUTIONAL GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.

Copy of a letter from Admiral Fox, Commander of a fquadron of fhips in the fervice of the public, ftationed on the coaft of Freedom, to Prerogative Goofequill, Efq. Secretary of the Admiralty, received in the Montgolfier's pacquet, and dated off Liberty Hall, Sunday morning, 15th Feb. at 10 P. M.

SIR,

Conftitution at Sea, Feb. 14, 1784.

I beg you will be pleafed to communicate to their Lordships, that after the action of the 10th, in the Bay of Requests (though it was no way decifive), the enemy's fleet haftily fled under the advantage of a very favourable wind into the port of Bute, where they anchored in fafety within the Rocks of Corruption, and Shoals of fecret influence, which lay at the entrance of the harbour, and make it totally inacceffible to an enemy.

!

Under thefe circumftances, I had no poffible means of bringing the enemy's fleet to a fecond action; but by fairly offering them battle, for which purpose I cruized with the fquadron under my command off the mouth of the harbour, but without effect.

I therefore proceeded into Loyalty Sound, in order to repair the damages which the fleet had fuftained in the late fkirmish, leaving the Liberty, Captain S. Houfe, and the Butler, Captain G. Boulton, to cruize off the entrance of the harbour, that I might receive the earliest intelligence of the motions of the enemy.

On the morning of the 13th, Captain House arrived in Loyalty Sound, and brought in pofitive information of the enemy's fleet having put to fea, in order to join a detachment which had been fent them under Captain Robinton of the Renegado. The fignal was inftantly made to cut and flip, and though the Liberty only came to an anchor at feven A. M. the whole of the fquadron were under weigh, and had a good offing by ten.

Having ftrong reafons to fufpect that the enemy's intention on their junction was to proceed to Westminster harbour, for the purpose of making an attack on fome fair traders and unarmed tranfports, which I had previously ordered to rendezvous there, with provifions, &c. for fupplying the fquadron, I crouded every rag of fail for that port, and on making Cape Common Pleas at eleven A. M. the following day, plainly perceived the enemy's fleet to be at anchor in the Bay.

Having detached the Active, Captain Byng, to reconnoitre the force and fituation of the enemy, I immediately made the fignal for the line of battle a-breaft, and proceeded down upon them under an eafy fail. On our approaching them they appeared to be in the most evident confufion, but prefuming on the reinforcement they had received in the Renegado fquadron, and a fupply of men, finugglers, and mutineers (with which I am forry to fay Weftminster harbour is too much infected) they feemed determined to wait

the event of an attack.

Having come within piftol-fhot of the enemy, and made the fignal for the line of battle-a-head, the action began by a vigorous inceffant fire of great guns and finall arms from the Privilege and Reform, who readily opposed themselves to the Incendiary and Apoftate, and by a moft fpirited judicious behaviour, aided by a well-directed fire, in which every gun feemed to do execution, obliged these fhips to quit the enemy's line, and away to leeward.

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The cannonading now became general, and it is impoffible to do juftice to the zeal and alacrity which feemed to animate every officer in the difcharge of his duty.

Notwithstanding the very great advantages the enemy derived from having Springs upon their cables, and being in every other refpect prepared for the attack, they were obliged to give way to the fuperior courage and good conduct of the fquadron I had the honour to command.

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I am happy in having it in my power to congratulate their Lordships upon the capture of the Incendiary, after a warm action with the Privilege; her crew feems to have confifted of a fet of defperate and difaffected miscreants, that have come into her from different quarters. She fuftained a heavy lofs in her crew, and the damages fhe received in the action were fo material, that I found myfelf compelled to order her being burnt, which has fince been carried into execution. Her commander, Captain Mahon, was killed in the beginning of the action by a fire-pot, which he had prepared to throw into the Conftitution, but which, fortunately taking fire fooner than he expected, ended in his own deftruction.

I was in hopes to have been able to give their Lordships a good account of the Prerogative. She warmly attacked the Conftitution, which fhe much damaged in her rigging and upper works, and taking inftant advantage of a favourable change of wind, got clear of the land, and from the course the steered has no doubt taken fhelter in Pitt's Bay, in the Ifle of Bute. Her lofs in killed and wounded, it is imagined, must be very

confiderable.

The enemy's fhip, the Bufybody, Captain R-------h, was prevented from engaging, occafioned, as we are told, by her decks being lumbered with a quantity of candles and tallow, which, to the difgrace of the fervice, he had taken on board, to the great injury of the revenue, not having paid the duties.

The Captain will, no doubt, be brought to a Court-martial for fuch an un-officer-like conduct.

The reft of the enemy's fleet ftood different ways in the utmost fear and confufion, and as I am now in purfuit of these stragglers, I have great hopes I fhall pick fome of them up.

To mention the merits of any particular officer under my command, would appear invidious; I will only fay, that a most unexampled degree of bravery and fpirited emulation feemed to pervade the breaft of every officer concerned in this glorious action, and therefore recommended them all as moft deferving objects of the public favour.

The victory, I beg you will affure their Lordfhips, has proved fo complete, that it is impoffible the enemy can recover the blow for fome time to come, and no exertion fhall be wanting on my part to improve it.

Captain Byng will have the honour of delivering you thefe difpatches, whom I beg leave to mention to their Lordships as a meritorious, fpirited officer.

I propofe to fend home, in a few days, the Zealous, Valiant, and Vigilant, which fhips having been much expofed to the enemy's fire, ftand in need of confiderable re

pairs.

I have annexed for their Lordships information the line of battle of the fquadron under my command, and a lift of the enemy's fhips, with their state and condition, as accurate as I have been able to attain amidst the confufion infeparable from so warm an engagement. I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

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