State of Public Affairs. 
luable part of our national defence. With 
the advantage of this fupport, and after 
the diftinguifhed fuccefles which had al- 
ready attended his arms againft the rebels, 
he trufted that the time was faft ap- 
proaching, when thofe now feduced from 
their allegiance would be brought to a 
juit fenfe of the guilt they had incurred, 
aud, would intitle themfelves to forgive- 
nefs. That this temporary interruption 
of tranquillity, and all its attendant cala- 
mities, muft be attributed to thofe perni- 
* cious principles which had been fo induf- 
trioufly propagated in that kingdom. 
The capture of La Seine, by Captain 
STIRLING, off the coaft of France, claims 
particular notice, from the extraordinary 
defence made by the enemy. On the morn- 
ing of the 29th of May, Captain STir- 
LING, with three fhips ef war, gave chace 
to the French frigate La Seine, off the 
Saintes; one of his fhips, the Piquet 
brought her to aétion about eleven at 
night, and continued a running fight till 
the Jafon pafled between the two; at this 
inftant, the land near the Point de la 
Trench, was ieen clofe on the larboard 
bow of the Jafon, amd before the fhip 
could anfwer her helm, fhe took the ground 
clofe to the enemy, who had grounded al- 
fo; the Jafon f{wung with her ftern clofe 
to the enemy’s broadfide, who, although 
he was difmafted, took advantage of his 
happy pofition; but a well direSted fire 
was kept up by the Englith, and at half 
paft two fhe ftruck. She was commanded 
by Le Capiraine Brijyor; her force 
42 guns and 610 men, including troops ; 
fhe failed from L’Ifle de France three 
months before, bound to L’Orient. 
The Pique, as has been obferved, 
brought the enemy to aétion, but the 
main-top-maft being carried away, fhe 
was obliged to drop aftern; ardour urg- 
ing her on to renew the combat, fhe did 
not hear Captain STIRLING hail her to 
anchor, and fhe, therefore, grounded on 
the off-fide the Jafon, near enough to re- 
ceive the enemy’s fhot over the latter. 
The Pique, therefore, became bilged, and 
was ordered to be deitroyed the next 
morning. It was with great dithculty 
the prize was faved, even after throwing 
her guns, &c. overboard. The carnage 
on board La Seine was very great, 170 
men were killed, and about 100 wounded. 
Captain STiRLING’s thip, the Jafon, had 
not one maft or yard undamaged, nor a 
fhrowd or a rope, that was not cut. The 
lofs on board the Jafon was {even killed, 
and twelve wounded. The lofs on board 
the Pique, was one killed and nine 
Wounded, 
61 
{RELAND. 
In our faft number we left the infur- 
gents, in Wexford, in great force, and 
the king’s troops making approaghes to 
attackthem. The long expected engage- 
ment took place on thezift of June, but 
with much lefs flaughter and effeét than 
had been’ expected. On that morning, 
about feven o’clock, the rebel camp upon 
Vinegar Hill, was attacked and carried 
in about an hour and a half. General 
Lake commanded upon this occafion, 
and ordered the attack to be made in fe- 
veral columns, under Generals DUNDAS, 
JOHNSON, CusTace, Durr, and Lor- 
Tus. The rebels maintained their ground 
ob{tinately for the time above-mentioned; 
but, on perceiving the danger of being 
furrounded, they fled with great precipi- 
tation. General Lake faid their lofs 
could not then be afcertained, but it muft 
have been very confiderable. The rebels’ 
loft thirteen pieces of {mall ordnance, of 
various fizes. After this a¢tion the king’s 
troops entered the town of Wexford, and 
the infurgents retreated. General Moore 
entered fo opportunely, as to prevent it 
from being laid in afhes. Previous to the 
infurgents evacuating Wexford, they de- 
puted a Captain M’Manus, to inform 
the commander of the king’s troops,: that 
they were ready to deliver up the town 
without oppofition, lay down their arms, 
and return to their allegiance, provided 
their perfons and property were guaran- 
teed by him; General Lake returned for 
anfwer, that he could not attend to any 
terms offered by rebels in arms againit 
their fovereign. The infurgents, after the 
aftair at Wexford, affembled in great force 
in the mountains of Wicklow, and on the 
25th of June, feveral thoufands of them 
made an attack upon Hacketftown. Lieut. 
GARDINER, with the forces under him, 
took an advantageous pofition to endea- 
vour to prevent the rebels from gaining 
pofleffion of the town, but was foon 
obliged to retreat, to line the walls and 
windows of the barrack. A conteft con- 
tinued in the midft of flames (for the 
rebels {et fire to the town) for nine hours, 
when they were oblized to retreat. The 
infurgents muft have fuffered creatly, for 
thirty cart loads of killed and wounded 
were carried off by them in -their retreat. 
‘There were ten killed and twenty wound- 
ed of the king’s troops, upon this occafion. 
Notwithftanding thefe fuccefies, the re- 
bellion was far from being entirely fup- 
prefled. Large bodies of the infurgents 
made approaches towards Dublin, ttop- 
ping all the mail-coaches on the roads, 
amd 
