"About an hour before the action with the Dutch Fleet, he assembled his men, and thus addressed them:--'You are a set of damned, blackguard, mutinous, rascals, and you know I think so of you all: we shall soon see whether you have any courage: I have only this to say to you, you see the Dutch ship that we shall soon be along-side: if you don't silence her in 40 minutes, I shall know what to think of you.--Now return to your quarters.' Turning to the Master, he said, 'Do you take care that these rascals, may not have to complain that they were not near enough.' In 20 minutes the Dutch ship struck her colours, and the 'Powerful' bore away to assist the 'Venerable.' After the action, the Captains of the fore-castle came aft, and asked Capt. Drury if he still considered them a rascally set? 'No,' said Capt. D., 'your behaviour has perfectly satisfied me.' 'Will you then shake hands?' said the men, which he did most heartily, and assured them that he should never reproach them again for what had passed, and would, on his part, entirely forget that anything had ever happened. They then gave him three cheers, and, now, Capt. Drury is almost idolized by the crew."--(_Times, Nov. 16, 1797._) * * * * * "The French Government has ordered 16 sail of the line, 18 frigates, and 12 ships of war of a smaller size to be built. Good news this for Old England! It saves us the trouble and expense of building them ourselves, as they are sure to find their way into our ports."--(_Times, Nov. 26, 1798._) * * * * * "Lord Camelford. "By the Leeward Island Mail, which arrived yesterday, we have received some very circumstantial advices of what passed in the West Indies, respecting Lord Camelford, who was tried by a Court Martial, on the 13th of January last, at Fort Royal Bay, for the murder of Lieut. Peterson, and acquitted. "Antigua, _January 23, 1798_.