term of his own life, recommends it to the Houfe to confider of a proper method of extending, fecuring, and annexing the fame to the Earldom of Chatham, in fuch manner as fhall be thought moft effectual for the benefit of the family of the faid William Pitt, Earl of Chatham."

GEORGE R.

It was moved, That the faid meffage be referred to the committee of fupply; and unanimously agreed to. A bill was ordered in, which alfo paffed unanimously.

The following petition was prefented.

The humble Petition of the City of London, in Common Council affembled,

SHEWETH,

"That your petitioners humbly beg leave to return their grateful thanks to this honourable Houfe for the noble and generous teftimony which it has borne to the fervices and merits of the late William Pitt, Earl of Chatham.

"And your petitioners, with all humility, defire that their zeal may not seem unpleafing to this honourable House, or be interpreted as a wish in your petitioners to vary from the general fenfe of their country, as expreffed in the late votes of this honourable Houfe, by their requefting that the remains of the Earl of Chatham be depofited in the cathedral church of St. Paul, in the city of London.

"Your petitioners farther reprefent to this honourable House, that they entirely feel the delicacy of their fituation, in confequence of the feveral meafures taken by this honourable House, but hope that a favourable interprétation will be put upon any particular marks of gratitude and veneration which the first commercial city in the empire is earneft to exprefs towards the Statesman whofe vigour and counfels had fo much contributed to the protection and extenfion of its

commerce,

By order of the Court,

May 22.

No debate. Adjourned to the 25th.

May 25.

RIX."

Order of the day, for taking into confideration the papers respecting the Toulon fquadron.

Extract and Substance of several Papers and Letters received by his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, in relation to the Equipment of the French Fleet lately failed from Toulon, according to the Dates of their being received.

It is faid, that they have redoubled their work in the arsenal at Toulon; and that there is an intention of arming seventeen large fhips, and feven frigates, which are in the port, exclusive of fix fhips and four frigates in the road. Received Jan. 3, 1778.

The fix fhips and four frigates ftill continue in Toulon road. The works of the arfenal and port are going on briskly. The two frigates on the ftocks will be launched in the courfe of the month of January. Received Jan. 10.

The work at Toulon, which the advanced and inclement season of the year has hitherto interrupted, feems now to be again begun with activity. They are very bufy in careening the remaining fhips in that harbour; the Burgoigne has undergone a thorough repair; they are calling carpenters from al quarters; but their prefent employment confifts in the haftening on the finishing of the frigate they are building, upon which they work without any intermiffion. On the other hand, a great part of the failors belonging to the fix men of war, which compose their firft divifion, have obtained a congé for the Chriftmas holidays; but the four frigates in the road, two of which are under failing orders, have their full complement of men. Received Jan. 19.

Two frigates of twenty-fix guns, called the Magicienne and Precieufe, will foon be launched at Toulon. Received Jan. 25. I am informed, that orders are sent to Toulon for all the ships of the line to put to fea as foon as poffible. Received Jan. 25. My information is, that there will be a new armament of at leaft four fhips of the line at Toulon. Received Jan. 28.

The two new frigates, upon which they have been nore particularly employed at Toulon, are now almoft finished, and will be launched in a few days. Received Jan. 28.

Things remain in the fame ftate at Toulon, where they continue to work brifkly. Received Jan. 31.

I am informed, that a great quantity of corn has been bought up at Marseilles for the use of the arsenal at Toulon; and that numbers of workmen were daily arriving at that place, in order to build new fhips, as it is generally imagined that most of those in that harbour are actually unfit for service. Received Feb. 2.

Every

Every thing is in motion at Toulon. It is reported, that orders have been given to fit out eight more ships of the line and all the frigates immediately; and that four thousand failors are expected from the western coafts. Befides the corn lately purchased, they have bought up a large quantity of falt fish at Marseilles. They are beginning to levy failors in the ports along the Mediterranean; fome are fent from Antibes. It is certain they hardly ceafe working night or day, and that the ovens are in conftant employment. Received Feb. 6.

I am affured that twelve fhips of the line are to be armed at Toulon. Received Feb. 8.

Orders are faid to have been received at Toulon to fit out, with expedition, four fhips; four frigates, and four chebecks, to join the fquadron of fix fhips and four frigates in the road. It is talked that Monfieur de Coufage will command the whole. It is thought this new equipment will flacken the building of the three hips and two frigates. Received Feb. 9.

They are careening the twelve ships, which are to be fitted out immediately; and orders are received at Toulon to carry on the equipment with vigour. Four thousand feamen are expected there in a week. As there is a want of marines, three battalions of infantry are to be taken on board. Received Feb. 13.

The two new frigates are launched at Toulon. The men of war in that harbour are not in fo bad a state as may have been reprefented; they are certainly in a condition to go to fea. Received Feb. 13.

The equipment of four fhips of the line, four frigates, and four chebecks, at Toulon, goes on very brifkly. The commanders are as yet unknown. The crews of the fquadron in the road are completing. Received Feb. 18.

The levy of failors is carrying on with great activity all along the Mediterranean coaft; and they are draughting off thofe at Marseilles to fend them to Toulon. Received Feb. 23.

Express orders are received at Toulon to arm immediately fix fhips of the line, five frigates, and four chebecks. The Lion and Hardi, part of the fquadron in the road, are to be difarmed and careened. The fquadron continues in the fame ftate. The crews are completed. Received Feb. 23.

The armaments continue at Toulon without alteration. The commander in chief is ftill unknown. Nothing is now wanting at that port; and twelve battalions are expected there in a few days. Received Feb. 27.

Of the fhips which were in Toulon road, the Hector, the Provence, and the Fantafque, are returned into port, and dif

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armed for careening; and they are to be re-armed immediately after. When they are returned into the road, the three others, the Cæfar, the Lion, and the Hard, will enter for the like purposes. Received March 3.

The levy of failors continues with great activity on the coaft of Languedoc, and they are immediately fent to Toulon. Smiths, carpenters, painters, and all other workmen, who can be ufefully employed, are retained for the fervice of the fleet. They are bufy in fitting out four men of war, which, with four frigates and as many chebecks, are to be added to the fix now in the road. In fhort, every thing feems to be in motion, and every step to haften on the equipment of the fleet. Received March 5.

I am informed, that orders have been iffued to get ready the whole naval force, and fit out all the fhips whatever at Toulon. They work upon them without ceafing, and with fuch activity, that they have taken the men employed about the ships upon the stocks to affift in the equipment. Three men of war, compofing the first divifion, are returned into the harbour to undergo fome repair. The Cato, a new ship of fixty-four guns, is mafted; four frigates and four chebecks in the harbour are quite ready; as well as about nine or ten chaloupes, mounted with one gun, carrying ball of thirty-fix pounds weight. The bomb-veffels are not as yet begun upon. Daily additions making to their store of provifions, of which they have an abundance of all kinds. French Mediterranean coaft entirely ftripped of failors, and all their trading vessels detained for want of men. Received March 9.

Orders are received at Toulon to arm the Tonnant and Languedoc of eighty guns, and the Cato of fixty-four; the captains are not yet named. The fhips in the road are to be careened, and to return into the road as foon as they are ready. The fquadron will then confift of two fhips of eighty guns, fix of feventy-four, fix of fixty-four, and one of fifty; fix frigates, and four chebecks. Received March 13.

On the 15th the whole Toulon fleet, it is faid, will be in the road, and ready to fail. Received March 16.

Count d'Estaing does not fet out for Toulon till the middle of next week. He goes to take the command of at least ten fhips of the line; what number of frigates I do not yet know; and is to have under him two chefs d'efcadre, M. de Brugnon, and M. de Broves. Received March 17.

Count d'Estaing fets out for Toulon the feventeenth or eighteenth of March. The fleet which he is to command is

to

to confift of feventeen fail; ten, or perhaps twelve, fhips of the line, the reft frigates. Received March 19.

About eighty mafters of small ships and veffels have been taken at Marseilles, and conveyed to Toulon, to ferve in the` fleet as coafting pilots. The fame diligence is making use of, to complete the armament; and if they continue to work upon it as they have begun, there is little doubt, but the whole maritime force in that department will be ready to put to fea in the course of next month at fartheft. Received March 20.

Vice Admiral Count d'Eftaing is fetting out to take the command of the fquadron at Toulon. He will have under him. two commodores, Meffieurs de Brugnon and de Broves. Received March 26.*

Orders are sent to Toulon, for an additional equipment of four large fhips. The whole fquadron, amounting to twenty-five fail, will be in the road in three or four days. M. d'Estaing is expected to arrive at Toulon the 25th. The fquadron will be formed into two divifions; and it is believed that the Chevalier de Fabry will command the second divifion. Received March 27.

Notwithstanding the great preparations making in the fouth of France, the French have not as yet made any levies of failors out of their own provinces; the Mediterranean coast of Italy is able to furnish them with a confiderable number, the greatest part of which are generally at their command. From the most accurate accounts, the late extraordinary levies in the ports of France, Languedoc, and Provence, amount to upwards of seven thousand men, thofe of last year not included. Desertion is very frequent amongst them; as the failors in general, from the hardships with which they are treated, feem to have little inclination to continue in the fervice. Received March 28.

I am informed, that the preparations at Toulon are continued with the fame activity; and that the greateft part of the failors of several merchant-fhips, lately arrived at Marfeilles from the French colonies, have been fent to the general rendezvous. Received April 3.

I understand that the French are uncommonly active at Toulon. Some advices mention, that twelve men of war were in the road; but were thinly manned. The filence of those who are in a fituation to be much better and fooner informed, makes me give no credit to them. However expeditious they may be in fitting out the additional ships, it is fcarcely poffible to have given them the neceflary repairs in so fhort a time; but, on the other hand, in cafe they are ready,

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