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dier who may view the fubject in the fame ferious point of light, to add his beft endeavours to thofe of his worthy fellow-citizens, towards effecting these great and valuable purposes, on which our very existence as a nation fo materially depends.

The commander in chief conceives little is now wanting to enable the foldier to change the military character into that of a citizen, but that fteady and decent tenour of behaviour, which has generally diftinguifhed not only the army under his immediate command, but the different detachments and feparate armies, through the courfe of the war. From their good fenfe and prudence he anticipated the happieft confequences and while he congratulates them on the glorious occafion which renders their fervices in the field no longer neceffary, he wishes to exprefs the ftrong obligations he feels himself under for the affiftance he has received from every clafs, and in every instance. He prefents his thanks, in the moft ferious and affectionate manner, to the general officers, as well for their counfel on many interefting occafions, as for their ardour in promoting the fuccefs of the plans he had adopted; to the commandants of regiments and corps, and to the officers for their zeal and attention in carrying his orders promptly into execution; to the ftaff, for their alacrity and exactnefs in performing the duties of their feveral departments; and to the non-commiffioned officers and private foldiers, for

cible fortitude in action. To various branches of the army the general takes this laft and folemn opportunity of profeffing his inviolable attachment and friendfhip.-He wishes more than bare profeflions were in his power, that he was really able to be ufeful to them all in future life.-He flatters himself, however, they will do him the juftice to believe, that whatever could with propriety be attempted by him, has been done. And being now to conclude thefe his laft public orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a fhort time, of the military character,-and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has fo long had the honour to command, he can only again offer, in their behalf, his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayers to the God of armies.-May ample juftice be done them here, and may the choiceft of heaven's favours, both here and hereafter, attend those who, under the divine aufpices, have fecured innumerable bleffings for others! With thefe wifhes, and this benediction, the commander in chief is about to retire from fervice.The curtain of feparation will foon be drawn-and the military fcene to him will be closed for

ever.

EDW. HAND, Adjutant-general.

The Addrefs of his Officers to his Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America.

E, the officers of the part of the army remaining on

their extraordinary patience in WE,

fuffering, as well as their invin- the banks of the Hudfon, have

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Commod. King Charles Hughes Rob. Montague Hon. T. Lumley Peter Rainier 74 James Watt

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Burford
Sultan
Superb
Sir Edw. Hughes
74 Dunb. M'Clellan
Monarca 68 John Gell
Worcester 64 Charles Wood
Monmouth 64 James Alms
Eagle 64 Amb. Reddall.
Magnanime64 Charles Wolfely.

Account of the Capture of the Solitaire, a French 64 Gun Ship, by the Ruby.

Admiralty-Office, Feb. 2, 1783. ADMIRAL Pigot, commander

in chief of his majefty's fhips at Barbadoes and the Leeward Iflands, by his letter to Mr. Stephens, dated at Barbadoes on the 9th of December, gives an account,

That he arrived at that ifland on the 21st of November, with the fquadron under his command, from New York; and that rear Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, joined him on the 8th of December, with the fhips under his orders, accompanied by the Solitaire, a French fhip of war of 64 guns, and a fmall frigate of. 24, captured on the 6th, 40 leagues to windward of Barbadoes.

Captain Collins, of his majefty's fhip Ruby, by fuperior failing, got up with the Solitaire, about twelve minutes paft one in the afternoon, and the action continued 41 minutes, when the latter ftruck.

The rear admiral mentions the 'fire of the Ruby to have been greatly fuperior to that of the French fhip, and that the condition of the two fhips proved it fully; the Ruby having two men flightly wounded, with her foremaft, rigging and fails damaged; and the Solitaire having loft her mizen-maft, being in every respect very much beat (almost a wreck) with 20 or 25 men killed, and about 35 wounded, as near as could be ascertained; among whom were the second captain, mafter, and boatswain. She was commanded by the Chevalier de Borda, and had been ten days from Martinique, cruifing in expectation of falling in with one of our convoys from England.

The admiral adds, that too much could not be faid of the very gallant behaviour of Capt. Collins, his officers, and men, upon that occafion.

Extract of a Letter from Admiraı Pigot to Mr. Stephens, dated the 3d of March, 1783.

CAP

APTAIN Payne, who I had appointed to the command of the Leander, and fent to convoy a cartel fhip to the northward of the islands, acquaints me, that he had, on the night of the 18th of January, fallen in with and engaged a large fhip; I have not a doubt of her being at least of 74 guns, having seen and examined feveral of the fhot that were lodged in the Leander. I fhould not do juftice to Captain Payne, his officers and fhip's company, if I did not acquaint their lordships, that, from every enquiry as to the action, it appears to have been

con.

nefs of a few will not fully the reputation, the honour, and dignity, of the great and refpectable majority of the fiates.

We are happy in the opportunity just pretented of congratulating your excellency on the cer

Ceremonial of the Introduction of his Royal Highness George Auguftus Frederick Prince of Wales, into the House of Peers, at the Meeting of Parliament on Tuesday November 11, 1783.

IS royal highness having

tain conciufion of the definitive H been, by letters patent, dated

treaty of peace. Relieved at length from long fufpence, our warmeft with is to return to the bofom of our country, to refume the character of citizens; and it will be our highest ambition to become useful ones. To your excellency this great event must be peculiarly pleafing: for while at the head of her armies, urged by patriot virtues and magnanimity, you perfevered, under the preffure of every poffible difficulty and difcouragement, in the purfuit of the great objects of the war-the freedom and fafety of your country;-your heart panted for the tranquil enjoyments of peace. We cordially rejoice with you that the period of indulging them has arrived fo foon. templating the bleflings of liberty and independence, the rich prize of eight years hardy adventure, paft fufferings will be forgotten; or if remembered, the recollection will ferve to heighten the relifh of prefent happinefs. We fincerely pray God this happiness may long be your's; and that when you quit the ftage of human life, you may receive from the unerring Judge, the rewards of valour exerted to fave the oppreffed, of patriotifm and difinterested virtue.

Weft Point, 15th November, 1783,

In con

the 19th day of Auguft, in the fecond year of his majefty's reign, created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chefter, was in his robes, which with the collar and order of the garter he had put on in the earl marfhal's room, introduced into the Houfe of Peers in the following order.

Gentleman ufher of the black rod,
with his ftaff of office.
Earl of Surrey.
Deputy earl marshal of England.
Earl of Carlisle.
Lord privy feal.
Garter principal king of arms, in
his robe, with the fceptre, bear-
ing his royal highness's patent.
Sir Peter Burrell,
Deputy great chamberlain of
England.

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Viscount Stormont,
Lord prefident of the council.

The CORONET, On a crimfon velvet cushion, borne by Vifcount Lewisham, one of the gentlemen of his royal highnefs's bed chamber. His Royal Highnefs the PRINCE of WALES,

Carrying his writ of fummons, fupported by his uncle the Duke of Cumberland, and the Dukes of Richmond and Portland. And proceeding up the houfe with the ufual reverences, the writ and patent were delivered to the Earl of Mansfield, fpeaker, on the wool[S] 4

fack,

foon after began to fire her ftern chaces, and continued fo doing for about 15 minutes, when the Refiftance running along fide to Iceward, fhe ftruck the white rag, after difcharging her broadfide, and poffeffion was taken of the French king's frigate La Coquette, pierced for 28 guns, five of which had been left afhore at Turk's Ifland, and carrying zoo men, commanded by the Marquis de Graffe, a nephew to the celebrated Count de Graffe.-The Refiftance difcharged only a few guns, and had two of her officers wounded by the Frenchman's fire.

La Coquette and her confort, were two tranfports, failed from the Cape about three weeks before, with troops on board, bound on an expedition against Turk's Ifland, which they reduced and fortified, leaving a garrison of 530 men in the place. A day or two after the capture of La Coquette, the Refiftance fell in with his majefty's frigates Albemarle and Tartar, and the Drake and Barrington armed veffels, when it was refolved an attempt fhould be made to retake the ifland; for which purpofe 250 men were landed, under the command of Capt. Dixon, of the Drake; and the two brigs were ftationed oppofite the town, to cover the difembarkation, and to dislodge the enemy from the houses; but a battery of four 24 pounders, and five fix pounders, being unexpectedly opened against them, they were compelled to retire: the Drake having feven men wounded, and the Barrington two. Capt. Dixon, at the fame time, Anding it impoffible to diflodge

the enemy, who were advantageoufly pofted behind a ftrong work, and greatly fuperior in numbers, drew off his men, and re-embarked them without lofs. The following night the Tartar was drove off the bank, and went to fea with the lofs of an anchor. It was next determined upon to attack the battery with the large fhips; but the wind coming about to the weftward, and blowing hard, fo that it was with great difficulty the fhips could be cleared of the lee-fhore, the project was abandoned.

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of the adjacent islands, to the bleffings of a free government, I undertook this expedition at my own expence, and embarked my men, which did not exceed fixtyfive, and failed for Harbour Ifland, where I recruited for four or five days; from thence I fet fail for my object, which was the eastern fort on the island of Providence, and which I carried about daylight, with three of their formidable gallies, on the 14th. I immediately fummoned the grand fortrefs to furrender, which was about a mile from the fort I had taken; his excellency the governor evaded the purport of my flag, by giving me fome trifling informations, which I took in their true light. On the 16th I took poffeffion of two commanding hills, and erected a battery on each of them of twelve pounders. day-light on the 18th, my batteries being complete, the English colours were hoifted on each of them, which were within mufquet-fhot of their grand fortrefs. His excellency, finding his fhot and fhells of no effect, thought proper to capitulate, as you will fee by the inclofed articles. My force never at any time confifted of more than 220 men, and not above 150 of them had mufquets, not having it in my power to procure them at St. Auguftine.

At

I took on this occafion one fort, confifting of thirteen pieces of çannon, three gallies carrying twenty-four pounders, and about fifty men.

His excellency furrendered four batteries, with about feventy pieces of cannon, and four large gallies (brigs and fnows) which I have fent to the Havannah with

the troops as flags; I therefore ftand in need of your excellency's. advice and directions in my prefent fituation, and shall be exceedingly happy to receive them as foon as poffible.

I had letters, written for your excellency on this occafion, fince the middle of the laft month; but the veffel by which they were to have been conveyed, went off and left them; therefore hope your excellency will not think it my neglect, in not having the accounts before this.

I have the honour to be, Your excellency's most obedient and very humble fervant, (Signed) A. DEVEAUX. Colonel commandant of the Royal Forresters, New Providence. June 6, 1783.

Articles entered upon between Don Antonio Claraco y Sanz, Governor of the Bahama Ilands, &c. and his Honour Andrew Deveaux, Colonel and Commander in Chief of the Expedition, Sc.

I. THE government-house and public ftores to be delivered to his Britannic majesty.

II. The governor and garrifon under his command to march to the eastern fort, with all the honours of war; emaining with a piece of cannon and two fhots per day, in order to hoift his Catholic majefty's flag. Provifions for the troops, failors, and fick in the hofpital, to be made at his Britannic majefty's expence; as alfo veffels prepared to carry them to the Havannah, particularly a ves. fel to carry the governor to Europe.

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III. All

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