rbitello, under the convoy of the
united squadrons of France and Spain. While admiral Haddock, with twelve
ships of the line, lay at anchor in the bay of Gibraltar, the Spanish
fleet passed the straits in the night, and was joined by the French
squadron from Toulon. The British admiral sailing from Gibraltar, fell
in with them in a few days, and found both squadrons drawn up in line of
battle. As he bore down upon the Spanish fleet, the French admiral sent
a flag of truce, to inform him that as the French and Spaniards were
engaged in a joint expedition, he should be obliged to act in concert
with his master's allies. This interposition prevented an engagement.
The combined fleets amounting to double the number of the English
squadron, admiral Haddock was obliged to desist; and proceeded to
Port-Mahon, leaving the enemy to prosecute their voyage without
molestation. The people of England were incensed at this transaction,
and did not scruple to affirm that the hands of the British admiral were
tied up by the neutrality of Hanover.*

* In the month of July, two ships of Haddock's squadron
falling In with three French ships of war, captain Barnet,
the English commodore, supposing them to be Spanish register
ships, fired a shot in order to bring them to; and they
refusing to comply with this signal, a sharp engagement
ensued; after they had fought several hours, the French
commander ceased firing, and thought proper to come to an
explanation, when he and Barnet parted with mutual
apologies.

In the course of this year a dangerous conspiracy was discovered at New
York, in North America. One Hewson, a low publican, had engaged several
negroes in a design to destroy the town, and massacre the people.
Fire was set to several parts of the city; nine or ten negroes were
apprehended, convicted, and burned alive. Hewson, with his wife, and
a servant maid privy to the plot, were found guilty and hanged, though
they died protesting their innocence.

INACTIVITY OF THE NAVAL POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN.

The court of Madrid seemed to have shaken off that indolence and phlegm
which had formerly disgraced the councils of Spain. They no sooner
learned the destination of commodore Anson, who had sailed from Spithead
in the course of the preceding year, than they sent Don Pizzaro with a
more powerful squadron upon the same voyage, to defeat his design. He
accordingly steered the same cours