1805.] 
to time, of the actual ftate of the place, 
even with the names of the molt conlidera- 
ble perions who died of the contagion. 
The praétice of leaving the country for a 
long time in uncertainty, as to rumours, 
greatly affecting its tranquillity, is always 
cenfurable. and has of late grown into an 
enormous evil. The fituation of our new 
war in India is far from being accurately 
known ; while there are rumours on that 
dubjeét of a very alarming nature. 
Our Eatt India Company at home have 
been employed ina very laudable manner 
in further diftinguifhing Captain Dance, 
late commander of the fhip the Camden. 
At a general court of proprictors held 
on the 1gthof this month, The Hon. Wil- 
liam E}phinftone, chairman of the Court of 
Directors, moved that a penfion of zool. 
per annum be granted to that deferving 
officer, in purfuance of a refvlution of the 
Court of Directors, of the 26th of Septem- 
berlaft, Mr. Twining moved, as anamend- 
ment, that’ the penfion be soo]. per an 
num ; and) this amendment was warmly 
fupported, but {ome matter of form ftood 
in the way of its immediate adoption, and 
therefore a regula: notice, in writing, was 
given of the following motion :—‘* That 
this Court, fenfible of the great merit of 
Sir Nathaniel Dance, is defirous of confer- 
ring upon him a penfion of s5ool. per an- 
num; but, in conformity to the qth fec- 
tion of the 8th chapter of the Company’s 
Bye-laws, the court think it neceflary to 
adjourn the confideration of this queftion, 
till Friday the 4th of January next.” 
This propec rewatd, therefore, of the 
important fervices of this gallant’officer is 
now in effe&t voted. 
At the fame Court, the chairman fub- 
mitted a number of refolutions, for the 
appointment of different officers for the 
government of Prince of Wales’ Ifland; 
which were agreed to. 
Our fleet under the command of Admi- 
ral Cornwallis, having been compelled by 
the weather to return from Breft to Tor- 
bay, and the wind (on the night of the 
24th of November) having fhifted to a 
point favourable for their regaining their 
{tation off Breft, a fignal was made tor all 
the fquadron to put to fea, The Vexerable, 
Captain Hunter, in fifhing up her anchor, 
firuck upon a rock, near Paington, in the 
northern part of the bay ; and although 
every effort was made to fave ner, fhe went 
topieces. All the officers and crew, ex- 
cept feven men, were faved by the boats 
ot the Impetueux and Goliah. The 
men who perithed were feen looking out of 
fome of the port-holes ; but, notwithftand- 
ing the jolly-boat at that time hung to the 
State of Public Affairs, in December, 1804. 
541 
quarter, and every invitation was given 
the fufferers to lower the boat and quit the 
fhip, they remained in her; and) this, it 
is imagined, was owing to cheir having 
got to the liquor, on the fhip’s ftriking, 
and being too much intoxicated to com- 
prehend their fituation. Tne Venerable 
was Admiral Duncan’s flag fhip, in the - 
victory gained by him over the Dutch 
Jaft war. It appears that no blame could | 
be attached to any of the officers for the 
lofs of this fhip. — 
His Majefty’s fhip, the Romney, coms 
manded by the Hon. Captain Colvill, 
was lately wrecked on the coait of Hol- 
land. The conduét of the Dutch Admi- 
ral Kikkert, and his officers, to our offi- 
cers and men, whofe lives they faved by 
their exertions, was moft humace and ge- 
nerous, Captain Colvill, after retuming 
to England, with his officers, and Rear 
Admiral Ruffel (under whom he com- 
manded) have acknowledged the generous 
attention of the Dutch, im letters, which 
do them great honour, addrefled to the 
Dutch Admiral. 
The Duke of Clarence cutter, belong 
ing (o Sir J. Saumarez’s fquadron, was 
lott in chafing a French privateer off 
the coaft of France. The whole crew 
were faved, by boats, and carried into 
Guernfey. 
An attempt was lately made upon fome 
of the works of the harbour of Calais,and, 
as it appears, the effect of which 1s not ac- 
curately known. Lieutenant Stewart, 
and twelve men, in a very able and fpirit. 
ed manner, conducted one of thofe ma- 
chines, lately uled, againd Fort Rouge, at 
the mouth of the harbour; and, after they 
had difpofed of the machine, and retired, 
in fafety, the veffel exploded 
Captain Laroche, of the Melpsmene, 
in the fquadron before Havre, has captured 
a French privateer, from St. Vailery, and 
driven another into that port. 
FRANCE. 
Bonaparte is at Jength crowned Em- 
peror of the French. ‘The Paris papers 
affcét the delirium of joy on this occa- 
fion, and are filled with extravagant pic- 
tures of the external pomp, and moral 
dignity, of the fcene. Of the former we 
have n> doubt; for the French excel in 
thefe things. At beft, they are not worth 
detailing ; and we fhall barely give the 
outline of this memorable event. The Pope 
(without whofe prefence the whole would 
have faded in Bonaparte’s eyes) arrived 
at Fontainbleau on the 25th of November. 
Bonaparte was purfuing the pleafures of 
the chafe when his approach was an~ 
noune:d, and went to La Croix de St. He- 
FeMy- 
