nerally crowned
with success. In the month of November, captain Lockhart, a young
gentleman who had already rendered himself a terror to the enemy as
commander of a small frigate, now added considerably to his reputation
by reducing the Melampe, a French privateer of Bayonne, greatly superior
to his own ship in number of men and weight of metal. This exploit
was seconded by another of the same nature, in his conquest of another
French adventurer, called the Countess of Gramont; and a third large
privateer of Bayonne was taken by captain Saumarez, commander of the
Antelope. In a word, the narrow seas were so well guarded, that in a
little time scarce a French ship durst appear in the English channel,
which the British traders navigated without molestation.

SESSION OPENED.

On the first day of December, the king of Great Britain opened the
session of parliament with a speech from the throne, which seemed
calculated to prepare the nation for the expense of maintaining a new
war on the continent of Europe. His majesty graciously declared that it
would have given him a most sensible pleasure to acquaint them, at the
opening of the session, that his success in carrying on the war had
been equal to the justice of his cause, and the extent and vigour of the
measures formed for that purpose. He expressed the firmest confidence,
that the spirit and bravery of the nation, so renowned in all times,
which had formerly surmounted so many difficulties, were not to be
abated by a few disappointments, which, he trusted, might be retrieved
by the blessing of God, and the zeal and ardour of his parliament for
his majesty's honour and the advantage of their country. He said it was
his determined resolution to apply his utmost efforts for the security
of his kingdoms, and for the recovery and protection of the possessions
and rights of his crown and subjects in America and elsewhere, as well
by the strongest exertion of his naval force, as by all other methods.
He signified, that another great object which he had at heart, was the
preservation of the protestant religion and the liberties of Europe;
and, in that case, to encourage and adhere to his allies. For this
cause, he assured them, he would decline no inconveniencies, and in
this cause he earnestly solicited their hearty concurrence and vigorous
assistance. He observed, that the late signal success in Germany
had given a happy turn to affairs, which it was incumbent on them to