624 A. D. 1778. 



A projier harbour on the fouth fide of the Murray tirth being much 

 wanted for the protection of veflels navigating the northern feas, and 

 the mouth of the River Findhorn being efleemed a commodious place 

 for that purpofe, Mr. Munro of Novar undertook to erect and main- 

 tain the neceflary buildings, on being empowered by parUament to re- 

 ceive a fmall duty from vefTels ufmg the harbour, and goods landed in 

 it. [18 Geo. HI, c. 70.] 



June 23'' — In the light-houfe at Ipfwich a trial was made of a new 

 improvement in the manner of conftruding lights for the benefit of 

 veflcls at fea, which confifis in reflecting the light of a great aflemblage 

 of lamps from about a thoufand fmall mirrors; and it was foimd to 

 produce the appearance of a vaft globe of fire, when obferved at fea in 

 the night. 



The Eaft-India company raifed their annual dividend to eight per cent, 

 at which rate the Midfummer dividend was paid. 



The moft anxious apprehenfions were entertained for the fafety of 

 two fleets of Eafl-India fhips, which could not pofllbly be fufficiently 

 prepared for war, and alfo of two fleets of Wefl:-India fliips, now on 

 their way home, which together confl:ituted a great proportion of the 

 Britifli trade, were of a prodigious value, and were all now in danger 

 of running into the arms of the enemy ; for the Channel was at this 

 time covered by a French fleet, the frigates of which were very numer- 

 ous beyond the ufual proportion, and very widely difperfed ; while the 

 Britifli fleet, commanded by Admiral Keppel, was placed between them 

 and the coafl: of France. This pofition of the two fleets, and the preval- 

 ence of the wefterly winds, might have enabled the French frigates to 

 pick up our fhips, even in fight of the Britifli admiral, who would have 

 been unable to go to their afliftance. But happily all thofe apprehen- 

 fions were removed by the confequences of the engagement between the 

 two fleets, after which the French immediately retreated in the night to 

 the harbour of Breft (July 27'") : and though they afterwards jjut to fea 

 again, they fliill evaded coming to adtion, and fpent the feafon in cruif- 

 ing on the coafl of Spain to no vifible purpofe. In the meantime Ad- 

 miral Keppel, having lefi: two fhips of the line to protect the homeward- 

 bound trade while he refitted his fleet at Plymouth, was very foon at 

 fea again, and rode triumphant in the Channel during the remainder of 

 the feafon, whereby the fiiuation of the floating property of the two 

 countries was entirely reverfed. All the Britifli fliips from every quar- 

 ter of the world arrived in perfedt fafety ; and a very great number of 

 the French fliips fell into the hands of our cruifers *. Thus the adHon 

 of the 27"'' of July, though not decifive with refpedl to the contending 



* The damage fuffcred by the French commerce on this occaflon is eftimated by Raynal at 

 from 80 to 100 millions of livres. \_HiJl. phU. tt polit. V. ix, f. 216.] - 



