The aforesaid Risen had given out that it is his intention to apply to the Swedish Ambassador here, but has not yet made his appearance. Those three ships which are homeward bound, will be able to give the most correct information of what has occurred. Letters have also been received from the city announcing the arrival of a frigate called the Namptwich, which, with a man-of-war named the Assurance, had, after conveying some merchantmen as far as the Latitude of the river of Lisbon, captured three French ships-of-war coming from the bay of Cascais. The Namptwich frigate being the best sailer, engaged the flagship of 30 guns, commanded by Collaert, who, previous to this, had been in the service of the King of Spain, at Dunkirk; and the Assurance, not being as good a sailer as the other two French ships, and knowing that the other frigate would have a difficult task, came to its assistance, whereupon Collaert being unwilling to surrender, the English sunk the ship, but he and 6 or 7 men were saved and brought to Plymouth. The ship the Assurance having lost her bowsprit and foremast, went into Lisbon for repairs. The above engagement took place before the publication of the Treaty, and consequently before the cessation of hostilities. A man-ofwar of 10 guns, commanded by one Captain Turner, under a commission from the Duke of York, was brought into the same harbor by one of the frigates belonging to this State. With

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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 579 these' exceptions we have not received any news here from sea since my last despatch. The Theologians who were appointed to give their opinion on the proposals submitted by Manasseh Ben Israel regarding the Jews, and had not yet spoken at the previous conference, pronounced their opinion on Tuesday last, and, as I am informed, were, for the most part, in favor of the Jews being admitted as Merchants, but considered the public toleration of their Synagogue to be of grave consequence.