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pofed her ladyfhip took a book, and while reading by the fire, her clothes caught. She ran to the bed, in order probably to fave her child, but the curtains alfo took fire. She then fell, and perifted in the flames. The fhrieks of the poor child alarmed the fervants, as they did alfo Mr. Brodie, who flept in the room over lady Margaret. The fervants, however, happily got out the child unhurt, but Mr. Brodie was much burnt in dragging out of the flames the burnt body of his wife.

5. Yesterday came on the election of a governor and deputy gover nor of the Bank of England for the year enfuing, when George Peters, eq. was chofen governor, and Edward Darell, efq. deputygovernor. And this day came on the election of 24 directors, when the following gentlemen were chofen: Samuel Beachcroft, efq. Daniel Booth, efq. T. Boddington, efq. Roger Boehm, efq. Samuel Bofan quer, efq. Lyde Browne, efq. Richard Clay, efq. William Cooke, efq. Bignel Coney, efq. Thomas Dea, efq. William Ewer, efq. Peter Gauffen, efq. Daniel Giles, efq. John Harriton, efq. T. Scott Jackfon, efq. Richard Neave, efq. Edward Payne, efq. Chriftopher Puller, efq. Thomas Raikes, efq. Godfrey Thornton, efq. Samuel Thornton, efq. Mark Weyland, efq. Benjamin Winthrop, ciq. Benjamin Whitmore, jun. efq.

Gloucefter, April 3. On Sunday the 26th of March two young women, and three young men, of the neighbourhood of Westbury, in fpite of the admonitions of their friends, determined to take pleafure on the Severn, instead of going to church, and whilft they were failing down the stream, a fudden fquall of wind overfet the boat.

The two women and one of the men were instantly drowned. The other two men got upon the bottom of the boat, and were toffed to and fro upon the river till four o'clock the next morning, when they grounded on a fand bank, and with the utmost difficulty and hazard got to fhore, nearly starved to death.

12. Came on the ballot for fix directors of the Eaft-India company, at the clofe of which the numbers were,

755

754

746

648

647

628

444

417

For Jofeph Sparkes, efq. Richard Hall, etq. William Bentley, efq. John Hunter, efq. John Smith, efq. John Travers, efq. George Tatem, efq. John Lewis, efq. Whereupon the firft fix gentlemen were declared duly elected.

John Michie and John Motteaux, efqrs. are elected chairman and deputy-chairman of the EaftIndia company.

The court of directors made the following arrangement of their fervants at Bengal and Madrafs, in confequence of the new India bill having received the royal affent, viz. earl Cornwallis is appointed governor-general and commander in chief. General Sloper recalled, and to receive an annuity of 1500l. for life. The Bengal council to confist of earl Cornwallis, Meff. Macpherson, Stables, and Stuart; and Mr. John Shore to fucceed to the first vacancy in the fupreme council. The fyftem of uniting the chief civil and military authority to take place at each prefidency; of courfe, governor fir Archibald Campbell is appointed governor and commander in chief at Madrafs. General Dalling alfo recalled, with an annuity of 1ooot.

for

for life. The Madrafs council to confist of fir Archibald Camp. bel', Meff. Daniel, Davidton, and Caflamajor.

The directors alfo granted an annuity of 150ol. per ann. to lord Macartney, as a contideration for the unexampled integrity and ability difplayed by that nobleman during his adminiftration at Fort St. George.

Carthagena, March 18. The beginning of this month an Algerine bark, of 26 guns, took a Neapolitan armed fettee within three hours fail of this port, after a bloody conteit. The next day the bark, with her prize, fell in with two Portugucle frigates and an armed polacre, and a moit defperate battle enfued, for upwards of three hours, till at lat the bark's mals, with most of her rigging, were cut to pieces, her rudder fhot away, and fhe in a ver ry leaky condition; yet fhe and her prize kept firing fuch inceflant howers of grape-fhot into the queen's fhips skilled and wounded a vast number of people; the men of war alfo kept a continual and well directed cannonading into the pirates, till they funk the bark, and retook the fettee; but as foon as the Portuguefe came to beard and take poffeflion of the prize, the Algerines fet fire to her in three places, and her captain, together with all the crew, jumped into the fea, and were drowned; when the inftantly blew up, and the prizemafter and all his people on board perifhed.

13. This day a man was committed to the New Gaol, charged with a murder, at Godilowe, in Surry, attended with circumftances of the most vindictive cruelty. He was a pauper, who, under the falfe pretence of being a cripple, had long been a charge upon the pa

rifh; but being detected by Mr. Burt, a furgeen of that town, the villain vowed revenge; and this day he feized the opportunity to put his diabolical purpofe in execution. He had, as ufual, taken his ftand upon the road to beg alms, fupported by crutches; and on Mr. Burt's paffing from his own house to the poor-houfe, accompanied by his fon, a lad about ten years of of age, after exclaiming. "There " goes that rafcal Burt," he threw a bill at his legs, which fortunately miffed them, and then purfuing, and prefently overtaking him, by a blow from his crutch brought him to the ground; this was followed by a repetition of blows upon the head with his hand bill, till he actually buried the bill in Mr. Burt's fkull. Mr. Burt's band was fevered from the arm in endeavouring to fave his head. At this mo ment, the little boy, feizing the murcerer's crutch, ftruck him fuch a blow as to stagger him; but, fearing his father's fave, ran to call affiance; and in the mean while the villain made off; but was foon after found hid in a copfe. On his being feized, he lamented that the overfeers had efcaped his vengeance. Had he DONE for them, he should have died contented. What he was not able to effect, his wife has threatened to perpetrate, if her husband is hurt.

Mrs. Burt, who had only a month to go in her pregnancy with her feventh child, is reduced to the moft deplorable fituation by this dreadful calamity, which has likewife greatly affected the health and fpirits of the poor child that was a witnefs of it. [The humanity of the public was greatly interested in this unhappy affair; and a fubfcription being fet on foot by the benevolent Dr. Hawes, very liberal contributions were

procured

-

procured for the future fupport of the unfortunate widow and her children.] -Yesterday twelve malefactors were executed before Newgate. The morning preceding the execution, major Arabin, called in Newgate upon Thomas Burdett (who was to be executed next day, for breaking open the houfe of Mr. Chanceller, at Holywell Mount), and afked whether he knew any thing of the robbery of his houfe, on the 7th of March laft. (See Vol. VI. page 21) To this Burdet anfwered in the affirmative. The major then defired to know if he had any accomplices, and if they were fill at large; to which Burdett replied, "You, Major, I fuppofe, call yourfelf.a man of honour!"-"Yes."-" So do I." "Have you any hopes of a pardon?""No; nor would I make the defired difcovery to procure it and my immediate enlargement. I have long been a wicked man; I deferve the punishment I am going to fuffer, and am perfectly refigned " Hereford, April 17. This evening, the west tower of our church unfortunately fell down.-For a bout nine days before the tower fell, the stone work of the infide roof kept falling, but nobody fufpected the tower itself to fall till between fix and feven this evening, when all that beautiful and magnificent ftructure fell down; and with it part of the body of the church. There was a great number of people in the church-yard, but none were hurt.

This tower was esteemed one of the most beautiful and majestic remains of Gothic architecture that were to be found in the kingdom. The height of it was 125 feet. It was erected in the 12th century by Giles de Bruce, then bishop of Hereford,

24. The Society of Antiquaries met at their apartments in Somerfet Place, and elected the following noblemen and gentlemen as Council and Officers for the year enfuing.

OLD COUNCIL. The earl of Leicester, F. R. S. Thomas Aitle, efq. F. R. S. Sir Jofeph Banks, bart. P. R. S. The Rev. John Brand, M. A. Owen Salufbury Brereton, F. R. S. Edward Bridgen, efq. F. R S. Richard Gough, efq. F. R S. Michael Lort, D. D. F. R. S. Rev. William Norris, M. A, John Peachy, efq. F. R. S. John Topham, efq. F. R. S.

NEW COUNCIL, George lord Arden, F. R. S. John lord bishop of Bangor, F. R.S. Guftavus Brander, efq. F. R. S. John lord Cardiff. Rev. John Douglas, D. D. F. RS. R. Banks Hodgkinfon, F. R. S. Richard Jackion, efq. George duke of Montagu, F. R.S. Sir William Mufgrave, bart. F. RS. Richard Warren, M. D. F. R. S. OFFICERS.

The earl of Leicester, President. Edward Bridgen, efq. Treaturer. Richard Gough, efq. Director. William Norris, M. A. Secretary. John Brand, M. A. ditto.

After which the. Prefident appointed the following Gentlemen Vice-Presidents:

Owen Salufbury Brereton, efq,

The rev. Dr. Loit.
Sir William Musgrave, bart.
John Douglas, D. D.

25. It has been obferved, that, though robbery is lefs frequent in France than in England, yet murder with robbery is much more prevalent. Of this the following is a melancholy and very recent instance.

Capt. Roberts, of Shoreham, in returning

returning from Paris to Dieppe, having occafion to change his horfe, flopped at a houfe on the road for that purpose, at a time when no hoife happened to be at home. Rather than wait the return of one, he chose to walk forward, defiring, at the fame time, if one fhould return foon, that it might be fent after him; he accordingly fet out, but had not been gone long before a horse came home, which, agreeable to his defire, was immediately fent after him by a fervant, who, overtaking the captain, alighted for him to mount, which he was a bout to do, when the villain, tak ing advantage of his pofture, drew out a long knife, and gave him three ftabs in the back, of which he inftantly died on the spot. The affaffin the robbed him of what money he had, and having dragged the body to fome diftance out of the road, remounted his master's horfe and rode home, faying, on his return, that he could not overtake the gentleman. He had not been at home long before fufpicions fell on the perpetrator, who, it was remarked, was unufually flufh of money, and not being able to give an account how he came by it, he was taken up, and confeffed the fact.

Two days after, the body was difcovered by fome perfons of fafhion, who were led to it by their dogs. By fome papers found in the deceafed's pockets, his name and connexions were known.

The murderer had feen Capt. Roberts take out his purfe at his mafter's houfe, which, he faid, tempted him to the commiffion of the horrid crime.

2. This evening the daughter of the carl of Salisbury was chriftened at his lordship's house in Arlington-ftrect. Their Majefties, with the Princefs Royal, were fpon

fors. Every preparation was made to celebrate the ceremony with the utmost splendor. The Princefs Royal went first in her chair. The Queen next in her chair. The King last in his chair. Lady Salifbury fat up in her bed to receive them. The bed was of green da mafk, with flowers in feftoons, and lined with orange-coloured filk. The counterpane was white fattin. The queen was dreffed in dark green, coloured with filver gauze ; but ornamented with the greatest profufion of diamonds perhaps ever feen at one time. Her head was covered with diamonds; diamond ftomacher; diamond fleeve bows; diamond bouquet, &c. &c. The king was dreffed in fcarlet, moft fuperbly embroidered with gold; diamond George, diamond hatbuckle, &c. The Princefs Royal was in light green, covered with filver gauze. The company prefent were the earls of Hillsborough, Talbot, Exeter, Effex, Clarendon, Denbigh, Waldegrave, Aylesford, Aylesbury, marquis of Lothian, countefs Talbot, lord and lady Fairford, countefs of Effex, countefs of Clarendon, and Mrs. Strode. -The archbishop of Canterbury performed the fervice.-The queen received the child from lady Effex, and the archbishop received it from the queen, who named it, GEORGINA-CHARLOTTA-AUGUSTA. Their majefties ftaid about an hour and a half, during which time none of the company fit down. About ten o'clock their majesties, and the princeís roya, returned to the queen's house.

The prefent which his majesty gives on this occafion, is a piece of plate of one hundred and twenty ounces weight, which is infcribed with the name o. the child, the fponfors, &c.

MAY.

MAY

1. About fix o'clock there was a very fart fall of fnow for near 20 minutes; which was fucceeded by an intense froft, which proved fatal to the bloffoms wherever it was felt; and, between 10 and 11, were fome of the most luminous ap. pearances of the aurora borealis ever seen in this kingdom: the corrufcations were as vivid as the flafhes of lightning in the hottest season. Utrecht, April 30. The affembly of the Seventeen have addreffed an official letter to Mr. Pitt, minifter of ftate to his Britannic Majetty, thanking him for the generous affiftance he gave to the Verboorg Eaft Ind aman, while in the harbour of Dartmouth. [This fhip had put into the port of Dartmouth in great dift efs, a contagious diforder raging among the crew. The inhabitants not daring to admit them into the town, Mr. Pitt brought in a bill, which event rapidly through both Boufes, and received the royal affent, authorizing the immediate erection of pro er buildings on fhore, for the accommodation and recovery of the diftre fed feamen.]

8. Copy of a letter from Mr. Jenner, to the Right Hon. Lord George Gordon.

"My Lord,

"In anfwer to your lordship's letter, I acquaint you, that it is impoffible to hear the caule of Hendry against Kidd, with any fafety to my client, without your evidence; and though I would do every thing which propriety would admit of, to accommodate your lordship, I cannot facrifice the interest of my employers to the fcruples of others. It therefore only remains for me, in compliance with your lordship's request, to acquaint you, that if you do not obey the compulfory, by appearing and undergoing your 1786.

examination, the excommunication. will be published in the face of the church on Sunday next, forty days after which (your lordship fill perfifting in your refufal to undergo your examination), your contempt of the authority of the court will be fignified to his majesty, and (the ecclefiaftical cours having no farther power) the temporal courts will be applied to for a writ de excommunicato capiendo, by virtue of which you will be imprifoned till you comply with the order of the court.

I have only to add, that it is, aud has been, during the whole of this bufinefs, my earnest wish to fhew every refpect and attention to your Lordship's rank and fituation; and nothing but my indifpenfable duty to my clients could induce me to proceed to thefe extremities. "I am, my Lord, "Your Lordship's

"Moft obedient fervant, "R. JENNER. "Doctors Commons, May 5.

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Lord George Gordon was excommunicated yesterday from the parish church of St. Marie-le-bonne. The excommunication was very long, and took near twenty minutes to read it before the fermon.

On monday the 1ft inft. earl Cornwallis embarked on board the Swallow packet at Portsmouth, and failed immediately for the East In-. dies. After beating about the Ifle of Wight for fome days, the Swallow was obliged to return to Portfmouth.

His Majesty, previous to the departure of earl Cornwallis, conferred on him the honour of knighthood, as a preliminary to his having tranfmitted to him, and being invested in India with, the Blue Ribband.

The manner in which the king made known his intention of giving (B)

the

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