Gloucefter.

Birmingh.

SUPPLEMENT

TO THE

Gentleman's Magazine;

For the YEAR 1756.

CONTAINING

(Befides proper Indexes to the Volume, General Title, Preface, and Frontifpieces a Curious Plan of the Fort and Harbour of Geriah, communicated by Sir Peter Thompson.)

Trial of Admiral Byng
599, &c.
Fatal catastrophe of Adam Fitz Adam 603
Narrative of an old gentleman's misfortunes:
A political allegory
604
Genuine letter from a Frenchman at Bourdeaux
to his brother at Guardaloupe, on the con-
duct of the English and French miniftry 607
Candid and fenfible obfervations on the rifings
of the people on account of the high price
of corn

608
Reafons for the mifconduct and miscarriages of
the navy
609 to 616

་

Curious articles in the Phil. Tranf. epit. 617
The phænomenon of the horizontal moon ac-
counted for
618

Genuine hiftory of Angria, and of the siege of
Geriab

619 622

624

ib.

Means for leffening the price of corn
Remarks on trials by court martials
Eclipfes of Jupiter's fatellites for 1757
Queries concerning the ufefulness of the Briti
diftillery

B-K-TS in Dec. 1756
Bills of mortality

635

ib.

626

the articles exibited against him were read; to which, in a fhort decent fpeech of two or three minutes, he faid, he thought himfelf happy in his prefent fituation to have his conduct enquired into by gentlemen of their well known abilities and candour, and from thence hoped to anfwer for himself with honour.

The following Paragraphs relating to the Trial of Mr Byng bave been tranfmitted to the Prefs at different Times, perhaps by Perfons very remote from the firft reporter, who might bimfelf either bear them imperfectly, or relate them baftily; for thefe reasons they must neceffarily be defective, and probably in many par ticulars incorrect; however, as no better intelligence as yet can be obtained, we barve inferted them to gratify the curiofity of the publick, which is too impatient to wait for an authentic account when fuch an account can be obthey would complete his examination that

tained we shall communicate it to our readers
with all poffible accuracy,

St George, in Portsmouth harbour, Dec. 27.

{worn.

Jack in the mizen Throuds was hoifted as figital for a court-martial; about 9 a gun fired for all eaptains in the harbour to come on board, the commiffion was read, and members of the court were

Tuesday, 28. Adm. Byng was brought to the bar (a place fitted up to the right of the prefident for his fitting or ftanding) with his clerks and writers, the commiffion, with

Wedn. 29. Rear Adm. Wet was fworn and examined 'till near 5 in the evening : when the court was adjourning he begged

night, because he was going out upon an expedition of great importance, by the king's fpecial order; but as the court and Mr Byng had many questions to afk him, the court informed him they fhould be glad to go thro' but that there was not time, and then the court adjourned till next morning.

Trial of Admiral Byng.

anfwered, he knew no impediment to the
contrary, but that he would not be under-
ftood to mean there was none. How the
wind and weather was? He replied, very
calm and fine. Whether he could keep his,
lower ports open? he replied, yes; and A
that he knew bet of one ship which could
not, and that was the Deptford, who occafi-
onally lowered her ports, How many men
he had killed and wounded? he replied 3
killed and 7 wounded. What damage he
received in his hull, mafts, yards and rig-
ging for an anfwer to which he referred
them to a written account he had delive- B
red into court thereof. He was asked
in what condition the fleet was in, in re-
gard to men, on the 20th of May, the morn-
ing of the engagement? he replied, in very
good. Whether he faw any fire from the
admiral's fhip during the engagement? he
faid, that when he was looking towards the
Intrepid, which was in distress a stern of her, C
he did fee fome fmoke, which probably
might be from the admiral's fhip, or fome.
of his divifion, but he could not difcover at
what fhip it was directed. Whether on the
24 of May, the day of the council of war,
his fhip was repaired fit for a fecond engage-
ment? he aufwered, yes: before that.
When? he answered, the very next night
after the engagement. Mr Byng afked him,
whether it was not in the power of the ene-
my to decline coming to a clofe engage-
ment, as the 2 fleets were fituated? he repli-
ed, yes; but as they lay to for our fleet, he
apprehended they intended to fight. Whe-
ther he was of opinion that the forces on
board the fleet could have, relieved Minor-
ca? He faid, he believed not. Whether E
fome of the hips were not deficient in their
complement of men; fome of the ships
out of repair; and whether not deficient in
point of force with the enemy? To which
he answered in the affirmative.

Lord Blakeney fworn. In the courfe of
his examination he informed the court
of the time the Brinfe fleet was difcovered F
by the garrison, and the time of its difap-
pearing, that upon fight of them he wrote
a letter to be carried by Mr Boyd, his store-
keeper, and aid-de-camp to Col. Jefferys, to
The admiral of his fituation, E. a

h letter he had in his hand, and
it be read but Mr Byg ob-
as it was only

litwas not re
måned, there

* thought the
reed vary
fatine

Whe

pedition of confequence carried into execua tion, but what was attended with some danger; but that of the all expeditions he ever knew, this was the worst. Mr Byng afk'd whether the French had not a caftle at the point, which might have prevented their landing? the general answered, Not on the 20 of May; and said, that the enemy were then in fuch diftrefs for amunition, that they fired ftones at the garrifon. Mr Byng afk'd the general, whether he thought the officers and few men he had on board the fleet could have been of any great service to the garrifon? he anfwered, yes, very great fervice, for that he was obliged at that time to fet fome of his men to plaifter the breaches.

Fryday, 31. Mr Boyd fworn. In the course of his examination, it appeared, that he was fent off with a letter, in a boat, to deliver to the admiral, but could not be particular to the time; that he kept out as long as he thought it probable to reach the admiral; but when he found it impracticable for him to close the admiral, as he was then going to the fouthward, he returned without delivering the letter. Mr Byng afked him, how long he waited before the boat was ready to bring him off? He could not recollect ; but remembered he waited for it till he was very impatient. Whether he in the boat did not pafs thro' fome firings of the enemy? answered, there was fome fraggling fire of fmall arms, and about 3 or 4 cannen shot. Whether it did not do them fome damage? he answered, no; he did not know that one of them fo much as touched the boat. How long he might be off in the boat? About an hour and a half. Whether there was not a breeze of wind ? answered, when he got from the land he found a breeze. Whether he thought the admiral could fee the boat ? answered, no; he believed not at that distance, and folate in the evening.

Capt. Everit appeared, and defired to hear the articles of the charge, he not happening to be in court when they were formerly read, which was objected to by Mr Lyng, as contrary to the cuftom of the court; but the captain requesting it, the fame were read. Capt. Everitt being sworn, and having fome papers in his hand, was asked what they were. He ahfwered, they were minutes he had taken from the ship's log book and his own journal, to refresh his and G memory to the ufing of which Mr Byng objected, the lag-book not being proper teftimony, wherenpen the court was cleaned to deliberate upon the point. Upon the court's being opened again, their opinion was, that these minutes might be used to refrey his memory upon fuch points only fell immediately under his own obferva m. In the course of his examination it ared, that there was ale poffible dife gemade, and no unneceffary delay in ling of the fleet from St. Helens to

and from thence to Mieben; that the

Trial of Admiral Byng.

B

the Buckingham's men were healthy, having
but two incapable of coming to their quar-
ters; that they had about go or roo tuns
of water on board; that they got fight of
the island of Minorca about 6 in the morn- A
ing of the 19 of May; that about 11 in the
forenoon they were two leagues diftant
from St Philip's Cafile, and believed that was
the neareft diftance he was to it; that a-
bout two in the afternoon the French fleet
was feen diftin&tly, standing to the west-
ward, but could not fay at what distance;
that our fleet was standing to the S. E. the
wind at S. S. W. moderate fine weather;
that on the 20 of May, about 8 in the morn-
ing, they faw the French fleet preparing for
engagement. The like queftions were pro-
pofed to him as to rear Adm. Weft; and
in his answers, was of opinion, that the ad-
miral's divifion might have carried all their
fail, and thereby affifted the van and pre-
vented them from receiving fo much fire C
from the enemy's rear. Mr Byng was ask'd
whether he chofe to ask Capt. Everitt any
questions; to which he replied, he had no
questions to propose then, but should have
occafion to ask him fome hereafter, therefore
defired he might be kept in the way for
that purpose. Capt. Everitt faid he thould
have been very glad if thofe queftions could D
then be asked, as he was under failing.or-
ders with Adm. Weft. Mr Byng answered,
he could not propofe them at that time, but
would as foon as poffible; upon which
Capt. Everitt was ordered to attend the
court. Mr Byng then informed the court
that he wanted to afk Ld Blakeney Come
queftions; wherefore the general was or-
dered to attend next morning at 9 o'clock,
to which time the court then adjourned.

Sat: Jan. 1. Ed Blakeney appeared in court, in confequence of Mr Byrg's request, when the admiral propofed a queftion, the fubftance of which, and the answers, were as follow: Whether if the admiral had landed the troops it could have faved St Philip's from falling into the hands of the enemy? his lordship faid, it was impoffible for him to answer that question with any certainty; but was of opinion that had they been landed, he should have been able to have held out the fiege till Sir Edzo. Hawke had come to his relief.

Then the four firft lieutenants of the

E

Buckingham Capt. Everitt, Adm. Wel's own G ship, were examined, and all agreed that they knew of no impediment to hinder the admiral and his divition from coming to the affiftance of the van, which was closely engaged, and råked by the enemy's rear as they came up, and that the admiral was not feen by them to go to a clofe engagement with the enemy, agreeable to his own fignais.

Monday, Jan. 3. Capt. Everitt was crossexamined by the court and Mr Byg, and being asked how many guns the ships in the van

H

бог

of the enemy carried; answered, that the fides of thofe next the Buckingham had 14 on the lower deck, all the others 13. Of what rate they were? answered, one a 74 gun fhip, the others 64, and fix in number. Whether, af Adm. Byng had come to a clofe engagement, a complete victory might have been obtained? anfwer, There was all the reafon in the world to expect it, it being well known that Adm. We beat off two fhips, tho' he had but 5 fhips to their 6, and ours fmaller fhips than theirs, and their metal heavier. How the wind? anfwer, as fair a

gale as could be wifhed for. Whether he had too much or two little answer, Just enough and no more. What fall had Mr Byng anfwer, his lower courfes, top and top-gallant-fails full; but his main fail, main-top-fail, and top-gallant-fail, aback.

The court then asked Mr Byng if he should have occafion to ask Capt. Everitt, or any of the Buckingham's people, any more quef tions; and being answered in the negative, the captain and the reft of the officers of the Buckingham were difcharged from any further attendance on the court, and were informed they might repair on board their fhips.

Capt. Glekrift fworn. He acquainted the admiral on the 20th of May, to repeat figcourt, that he was fituated opolite the rear

nals. In the course of his examination he faid, every fhip did not bear down at a proder dittance to attack the enemy, according to fignals thrown out for that purpofc by the admiral, about half an hour past two o'clock; but that the rear admiral and his divifion hore down right before the wind, and hauled up oppofite to their proper ships, and attacked the enemy, except the Defi ance, which appeared to be rather a-head; that the thips in the rear were in a line of battle a head; upon which the Defiance threw all a-back, and fell down upon her proper hip, the headmost ship of the onemy; that the admiral did not bear down before the wind upon the enemy, nor any of his divifion; that the French feet, at the time of the signal for engaging, were all lying to with their maintopfails to the matts; and that our van was in the fame pofition: he could not take upon him to fay whether the admiral ever engaged at a proper diftance, on account of the finoke from the firings of the Revenge, Pis Lonifa, and Trident, agreed that the wind, weather, and fituation of the enemy's fleet, was fuch as to enable them to engage at a proper diftance; that the thips in the rear did not make all the fail they could to clofe with the enemy, from the time the fignal was given for battle till the action was over; but, that in the latter part of the action, Mr Byng fet all his fail, except the top-gallantfails; that the wind and weather was fuch that he could have carried all the fail in the ship that he commanded, and knew of no reaton

602

Expences of building Fifty New Churches.

reafon why they could not do the fame ;
that the van of our fleet was engaged about
an hour and a quarter; that the admiral
did not continue in the fame pofition, but
kept lafking away, angling from the ene-
my; that he faw the Ramillies fire; that A

the distance of fome of the rear divifion from
the van feemed to be about three miles;
that he made no doubt if the rear had car-
ried fail, all along, but they might have pre-
vented the enemy's rear from pouring fome
of their fire into our van; and that the dif-
tance between our rear and their van was
occafioned by our rear throwing their top-
fails a back when they began to fire.

B

Capt Hervy, of the Phenix, fworn. He was itationed a-breaft the admiral to repeat fignals; that about 43 minutes after two, fignal was made for the Deptford to quit the Line; and about 50 minutes after 2, the Ra-, millies began to fire upon the enemy, having before that received the fire of the3 ftern-C moft fhips of the enemy for about 10 or 12 minutes, in which time he obferved fome of the enemy's fhot to fall between the RemilLies and his fhip the Phenix; about the fame time he obferved the Intrepid's foretop to be loft; he obferved then, that the quick motion of the Intrepid in bearing down, had›, occafioned her to be raked by the enemy, to lofe her topmaft, and run the risk of fal ling on board the admiral, who was then engaged, and might not fee them time enough to prevent it. Some time after the Ramilies ceafed fire, the 11th fhip in the enemy's line bore away from the Ramillic fire, as was concluded by the people on board; that the Culloden fired but a few times, and at a greater diftance than the Ramilies; that the whole fire ceafed about five in the afternoon; that the enemy feemed to go off from the fire of our van, fome of them not damaged.

Tuesday, Jan. 4. Capt Hervey re-examined till near two, with very little variation from the narrative he had given the court the day before.

Capt Ambar was examined, which lasted a long time, and he and all the officers that have yet been examined, acquit the admiral of any unneceflary delays; but could net fpeak potitively as to the admiral's conduct during the engagement.

D

E

F

An Account of the Expences of Fifty New
Churches, built in Londen, by Sir CHRIS-
TOPHER WREN, communicated by JOSEPH
AMES, F. R. S.

1

3. d. 730732 2 3 5641 9 9 3348 7

1 St Paul's Cathedral
2 All Hallows the great
3 All Hallows Bread Street
4 All Hallows Lombard
Street

St Alban's Wood Street-
6 St Ann and St Agnes

7 St Andrew's Wardrobe
8 St Andrew's Holborne
9 St Antholin's
10 St Auftin's

8058 15 6 3165 08 2448 0 10 7060 16 11 9000 0 o

-5685 5 101 3145 3 10 11 St Bennet's Grace-Church 3583 9 5 12 St Benner's Paul's Wharf 3328 18 10 13 St Bennet Fink 14. St Brides

15 St Bartholemew's
16 Chrift's Church

17 St Clement's Eaft Cheap
18 St Clement's Danes
19 St Dionis Back Church
20 St Edmund the King
21 St George Botolph-lane
22 St James Garlick Hill
23 St James Westminster
24 St Lawrence Jewry
25 St Michael Bafing-Hall
26 St Michael Royal
27 St Michael Queen Hithe
28 St Michael Wood-ftreet
29 St Michael Crooked-
Lane

30 St Martin's Ludgate
31 St Matthew's Friday.
Street

32 St Michael's Cornhill
33 St Margaret's Lothbury
34 St Margaret's Pattens
35 St Mary Ab-church

4129 16 10

11430 5 11 5077 I. I 11778 9 6 4365 3 4 8786 17

$737 10 8

5207 II o

36 St Mary Magdalane

4291 12

༣༡ St Mary Somerset

6579 18

38 St Mary At-hill

39 St Mary Alderman-Bury
40 St Mary le Bow

3980 12

The steeple of it

41 St Nicholas Cole Abby
42 St Olave's Jewry

44 St Swithin's Cannon
Street

Wedn. Jan. 5. Mr Loyd, a Lieutenant, G 43 St Peter's Cornhil and Mr Philipe, a volunteer on board the fleet, but now a captain, were examined; in whofe examination nothing particular appeared, further than has been already noted.

Thursday, Jan. 6. The lieutenant of the Lancuffor was examined, and then a gentleman who was a volunteer on board; their evidence feemed very clear and certain as to fenie particular fans which fell immediate- H lv under their obfervation, and which feem not thich to be in favour of the admiral. [To be continued.}