t to pieces, ditto our rudder and stern, and
mainmast, and everything; but, thank good, I am here safe, though there
was more shot at my quarters than any other part of the ship. We are
now at anchor, but expect to go to Gibraltar every day. I hope in good
you are all in health: I was never better in all my life. My comp^{ts}
to all friends [&c. ...] and my dear father and mother.

I am
Your affectionate brother,
(Signed) CHARLES REID.

You must excuse this letter, as half our hands are on board our prize,
and have had no time. I have been two days writing this; five minutes
one time and ten minutes another time, and so on. We are just getting
under way for Gibraltar.

Now for the French and Spanish ships taken, burnt, run on shore, &c.
&c.:

Bucentaure, 80, taken. French.
Santiss' Trinidada, 130, sunk. Spanish.
Santa, taken, but afterwards got into Cadiz.
Rayo, 110, sunk. French.
Bahama, 74, taken. French.
Argonauta, 80, sunk and burnt.
Neptuna, 90, on shore.
San Ildifonzo, 80, taken by the Defence.
Algazeras, 74, on shore; Swiftsure, 74, Gib.; Berwick, 74, Gib. All
English ships taken by the French last war.
Intrepid, 74, burnt.
Aigle, 80, on shore.
Tonguer, 80, on shore [MS. uncertain].
De ..., 74, Gibraltar [ditto].
Argonauta, 74, Gib.
Redoubtable, 74, sunk.
Achell, 74, burnt.
Manareo, 74, on shore.
San Augustino, 74, Gibraltar.

There is not one English ship lost, but a number lost their masts.
(Signed) C. R.

The writer had a brother, Andrew Reid, who bore a commission in the ships
of Captain Parry in the first Arctic expedition.

G. N.

* * * * *

HERALDIC ANOMALY.

I beg to call the attention of the heraldic readers of "N. & Q." to a
singular custom of displaying their coats of arms, peculiar to the Knights
of St. John, of the venerable Language of England.

It is well known that the members of this valiant brotherhood, throughout
Europe, bear their paternal shield alone, surmounted, as the badge of their
profession, with the particular device of the order, that is, On a chief,
gules, a cross argent. The English knights, with their paternal coat, bore
also, party-per-pale, that of their mothers, with the chief of the order
over both, a strange heraldic anomaly!

I have som