Foreign and domeftic Intelligence. el, his now wife, and to enable him to marry again. The bill for diffolving the marriage of George Collier, Efq; with Christiana Gwynn, his now wife, and to enable him to marry again. The bill for naturalizing Henry Francis Sellon. The bill for naturalizing John Bofquet. The bill for naturalizing Lovis Portales. The bill for maintaining and preferving the harbour of Ayr, The bill for maintaining and enlarging the harbour of Ramfgate, and preferving the Haven of Sandwich. The bill for paving, watching, lighting, and cleaning the streets in the town of Chatham, in the county of Kent. And to feveral road, inclosure, and fuch other bills as were ready. Saturday April 18. We have authority to affure the public, that Sir Fletcher, Norton was much piqued at not being at all confulted in the hatching of the late Royal Marriage Bill, that he has often fince declared in company that all he wished for, on that event, was an equality of voices, that he might show a proper refentment to Miniftry, by giving an official vote against it. They write from Paris, that the Duke of Fitz-James, an Officer in the French fervice, acted as proxy there for the Chevalier Edward Stuart, in his late marriage with the Princefs of Stolberg; and that there were rejoicings for three whole days in that capital on the occaCon Monday April 20. A few nights ago a mob affembled at Chelmsford and went to Mr. Bullen, the miller's, and feized a cart load of flour that was going off for London, and made him take it to the Market-crofs, where they obliged him to fell it out at as. 6d. per peck; they then went to the reft of the neighbouring millers, and obliged them to bring what meal they chose to the cross, and fell it out at the aforefaid price. Afterwards they went to the farmers about, and likewife ftopt feveral loads of wheat upon the road, and brought them all up to the Crofs, where they fold it out to the millers at 91 per load, upon $59 condition that they fhould grind it, and fell out the flour to the poor at is. 6d. per peck. They likewife ftopped some carts with pork and veal, that were go ing to the London markets, and brought them back and fold the meat at 3 d. per pound. After a great deal of perfuafion, and promifes that every thing fhould be had at reafonable prices, they on Tuelday night difperfed, and went peaceably to their habitations. Fifteen men belonging to the Hening. ham mob, went to Mr. Simplon's, a farmer, and demanded him to fell out his corn at 4s. per bushel, and upon his refufing, they took the horfes from the plough; but Mr. Simpfon and two or three of his neighbours making a refolute defence, took five out of fifteen, and carried them before a magiftrate, who committed them to Chelmsford goal.” Tuefday April 21, Sunday afternoon, between two and three o'clock, a gentleman's fervant drove a chariot and a pair of Horfes into the river at Pilkington's wharf, Canon-row, Westminster, and in advancing too far, the chariot was overfet by the ftream, and both the horfes were drowned; the driver with dif ficulty faved his life. Tranflation of a Letter from Copenhagen, dated April 3. "All letters from Copenhagen directed either to Holland or England, are now examined at our Poft-Office, therefore this is conveyed to you by the way of Bruffels. The Minister of France still continues to prefide over the private Junto of the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager's emiffaries have, within thefe last three days, diftributed eight thousand rixdollars among the Officers of the guards. She has fettled a penfion c twelve hundred rixdollars upon the King's Body Phyficians for private fervices, never to be known. Their game is defperate. They are determined to affaffinate the King fooner than defift. "With England the Queen Dowager thinks her terms fecure, as long as the Queen Regnant remains in her power. She is determined, by the advice of the French Minifter, as foon as an English fleet anchors off the Citadel, the popu lace of Copenhagen fhall affemble, furround the Palace, revile the Kng for the miferies 160 Foreign and domeftic Intelligence. miferies of a bombardment, and during the tumult his Majefty fhall be affaffinated; and that the Bastard shall then be declared King, with the style and title of Chriftian the Eighth, the avenger of the national indignities of Denmark; and the offspring of Chriftian the Seventh immediately declared illegitimate. Friday April 24. On Friday evening laft Mr. Heardfon, of the Borough, ha ving fome duck eggs boiled for fupper, on opening one of them, to his very great furprize difcovered another complete egg inclofed in the middle of the yolk of the exterior: this lufus naturæ has been thewn to fome learned naturalifts, by whom it is pronounced a very rare curiofity; they likewife add, that it is the fecond ever heard of in the world: The firft being depofited in the Museum of the Royal Society. On Tuesday laft as fome labourers were digging on Datchet Common, near Windfor, they found, about a foot and a half under ground, a bag which was full of crown and half crown pieces, to the value of 841. which was divided among them. Saturday, April 25. The 9th inst. Thomas Theobald and Philip Page were executed on Penenden-Heath, in Kent, for robbing the Tunbridge Mail. Theobald acknowledged that he took the Tunbridge bag from the poftboy; but Page would not make the leaft confeflion. Thomas Hanscomb, Page's accomplice, died the night before their execution. Alexander Clubb is refpited in order for tranfporation. A great number of hands are now employed in building the new lodge at Richmond. Counfellors Uldahl and Bang, but it was not ended that day. Counts Struenfee and Brandt have leave to make use of Pen, Ink, and Paper, and to number their papers. The Queen's houfhold is now entirely fettled, and the whole expence amounts to 40,000 dollars: her whole court confifts of 60 perfons. This day his Majesty, accompained by Prince Frederick, went in a flate coach to the New Holm, and faw two new 60 gun hips launched, one is called the Dannebrog, the other the Holftein; his Majefty and the Prince went afterwards and faw the machine for cleaning the harbour and were highly pleafed." Monday April 27. On Friday night Sir Jofeph York, his Majesty's Ambaffador at the Hague, arrived at the houfe of his brother the Earl of Hardwick, in St. James's Square, from that place; but he was not yesterday at Court. Tucfday April 28. Advices from Copenhagen, dated the 11th of this month, inform us, that Sir Robert Keith, the British Minifter, departed from that city on Thursday,' the 9th inftant, for Elf neur. Copenhagen, April 12. The Queen Carolina is condemned to perpetual imprifonment, and confequently her mar riage with the King our Sovereign is annulled. Tho' the Court has not yet thought proper to publish this fentence, it is neverthelefs true. Counsellor Bang read the accufations against the Queen, which feemed to be pretty numerous, as they filled four sheets of paper. The five following questions gave rife to the great debates among the Judges: ft, How the divorce was to be performed? zdly, Whe title the Queen thould have after the dif folution of the marriage? 3dly, How to act with refpect to the young Princefs? 4thly, What penfion fhould be allowed the Queen? sthly, What place fhould be fixed upon for the Queen's imprifonment: The three ladies who are to accompany the Queen in her imprisonment, which will probably be in the cattle of Aalbourg, are to engage by oath not to abfent themfelves from the prifon after eight o'clock in the evening in fummer, and fix in winter, The Oxford Magazine; For M A Y, 1772. For the OXFORD MAGAZINE. The ORATION of BOETIUS, an old noble Peer, to the Emperor THEODORICUS. I SIR, Am not ignorant, that we live at a time, wherein it is much easier to fly than to speak of the state of this Empire without offence, and that all discourse, will ever be fufpected by thofe, who have made even our thoughts criminal to your Majefty. Yet muft I needs fay, it is a matter very hard to be filent in fo great revolutions of affairs; fince nature hath not created us like crocodiles, who are faid to have eyes to weep, and not a tongue to complain. I perceive we lofe, as it were, all that which we have of Roman in us, and that in this univerfal difafter, where all the world should ftrengthen their arms against violence, men are contented to do as in thunder, every one prays the thunder-bolt might not fall upon his own houfe, without regarding the danger of his neighbour: fo likewife we fee many Senators, whose dignity ought to put into their mouths, good and forcible words for the defence of juftice, fatisfying themfelves and expecting fafety in common ruin. As for myfelf, I freely proteft, that being born of blood, which never learned to flatter any man; and feeing myself in a rank, where my filence may prove injurious to the public; fince I cannot uphold liberty already too much leaning to its ruin, I will at least support the image of it, and, in fo general a fervitude, fpeak fomething wherein I will either difcharge my confcience for the prefent, or confort my afhes for the time to come. VOL. VIII Alas Sir, when I behold you fitting upon the throne of glory, whereunto the hand of God feemeth to have raifed you by a miracle, fortified you with difcretion, and bleffed with fo you many profperities, I cannot chufe but remember, with the moft tender refentments of my heart, the calms of the firft years, when you took into your hand the helm of this large Empire. Who ever faw divers metals fo happily commixed, as we then beheld different nations united into one entire body under your authority? What confent in affections, what correfpondence in all orders, what vigour in laws, what obedience in fubjects, what agreement in the fenate, what applaufes among the people, what policy in cities, what good fortune in arms, what bleffing in all the fucefs of your affairs! O Sir! what is become of that golden face of your government? Who hath metamorphofed it into this leaden vifage? Perhaps, you thought it was a part of the greatnefs of your Majefty to keep a fenate under, to whom all the good Emperors have afcribed fo much, that they esteemed them as neceffary for their greatnefs, as leaves about a rose to set off its beauty. I could tell you, Sir, how much these counfels are pernicious, were it not that the experience of the years of your reign hath taught you more than all the malignity of men can deface. If you will be pleased to have recourfe to that wit and understanding, with which God X hath 162 The Oration of Boetius to hath replenished you; believe me, you fhall find this people is as the herb-BASI, which, as it is fan, rendereth a good favour when gently handled, but createth fcorpions when rudely chafed. Hold us in the estimation and condition wherein you have hitherto retained us, and you fhall fee nothing more tractable than the Roman people; but if you proceed with thefe violences, by which fome daily pervert your good nature, it is to be feared that this feverity will produce poifon, even for those who hope out of it to derive fweetnefs.----God knows, we have fo regarded royal authority, that though in unjust hands, and where it loft its luflre, yet we fuffered it not to lofe the fruit of our obedience.-- Allow, Sir, the liberty which hath ever been the moft precious inheritance of this empire: You have placed men over our heads, who, to become great, and unwilling to feem any thing lefs than what they are, feek to fmother in our miferies the bafencís of their own birth, and believe the means to juftify their own carriage is to take away eyes from thofe who have them, and to render tongues mute, left they may learn a truth. Now-a-days, to be born rich is to become a prey, and to arrive at government with fome fupereminencies of wit is to raife enemies; great actions are fufpected, and it fees, that to find fafety, we muft feek it either in ignorance or idleness. We have fo learned to obey, that we would not hitherto fo much as enter înto the confideration of the diftribution of your favours, leaving them more free than are the fun's rays; contented to honour the character of your majefty as well on rocks, as marbles and filver: But now, when we fee the precious intereft of the Kingdom in hands lefs pure than we with; what elfe can we do in fo public a calamity, but here humbly remonftrate against that which the fubtle diffemble, the milerable fuffer, the good deplore, and even the very ftones relate. Where is the time, Sir, when we heard thofe noble words proceed from your mouth; "That the flock may be feared, not flayed---that a body over"charged, finks to the ground---that "there was no tribute comparable to the "precious commodities derived from "the love of fubjc&ts." Now all the the Emperor Theodoricus. cities and countries bewail the rigorous concuffions they feel, to fatisfy with their fweat and blood the avarice of individuals, who are, notwithstanding, as greedy as fire, and more insatiable than the abyfs. I exafperate not our miseries by an amplification of words: I have, Sir, made you to fee, when you were pleased to hear me in your cabinet, the tears of provinces, which foftened your heart to compaflion, and opened your hands to liberality; fo that if your good affections are not altered by fome, you are capable enough to acquit heaven of all promifes it hath made us, by the happiness of your empire. Unfeal those eyes which you so often have opened for the comfort of your poor fubjects, and to what part foever you turn them, you fhall behold nothing but miferies. Shall the condition of flaves be fweetened by the gentle ufage of fome courteous mafters; and fhalt there be none but the people of Rome who yearly buy out their bondage---None but the people of Rome accountable for the goods pillaged from them, and tributary for the fhipwreck of their poverty? If we exclaim against witches who poifon fountains, how can we be filent when endeavours are ufing to envenom the foul of the prince, who is the source of all counfels, to the end we may hereafter find poifon, where we hoped for remedies? Only behold, Sir, and Imitate yourfelf; reaffume that fpirit which made you reign in our hearts, as well as in your provinces; diftinguish flatterers from true friends; hearken to thofe whofe loyalty you have known in your fuccefs and your profperities. Remember you were made to reign over men, not as a man, but as the law, to bear your fubjects in your bofom, not to trample them under foot; to teach by example, not to conftrain by force; to be a father of citizens, not a master of flaves. Remember, kings are given by heaven for the ufe of people, and that they ought not to have fo much regard to the extent of their power, as not to confider the measure of their obligations. Confider this matter fo, that the greathefs of your Majefty may appear in its goodness; and that the words you here tofore The Oration of Boetius to the Emperor Theodoricus. tofore had in vour mouth, may adhere eternally to your heart, when you faid, "a good Prince ought not to fear any "thing fo much, as to be too much feared." The confequence of this oration was, the emperor was offended at the from of it; and being fpurred on by his three mischievous favourites, Triquilla, Congiaftus, and Cyprianus, firft banished, 163 and afterwards murdered the wife and faithful Boetius, who had ferved lim many years with an entire and irreproachable loyalty; and foon after Theodoricus lúmfelf died diftracted; and the empire in a very few years was fnatched from bis fucceffor, by the victorious arms of Juftinian, emperor of Conftantinople. To the EDITOR of the OXFORD MAGAZINE. SIR. As I do not remember to have seen in any periodical productions an account of the many Herefies which have from time to time made their appearance in the world, I thought that a thort sketch of fuch part of ecclefiaftical history as relates to them, might prove neither difagreeable nor uninitructive to many of your readers; efpecially, as we are in danger, for aught I know, in a short time, of being of no Sect ourfelves, nor of any religion at all." I am, Sir, Your's &c. R. Oxford May 20. F Heretics there are two forts; fuch Os lead, and fuch as are led: the com mon Symptoms whereby both are known, are madnefs, folly, pride, infolence, arrogancy, affectation, peevishnefs, obftinacy, impudence, mixt with the utmost fcorn and contempt of every other feet or perfuafion in the world. They approve of nothing but what they first invented; allow no interpretation to be good but what their own infallible fpirits have dictated: they alone are wife; they only are learned. Scripture, fathers and councils muft fall before them: and, whatever thefe impoftors broach, a giddy multitude, with all its abfurdiries and falfhoods, will not hefitate to fwallow. Many of the leaders were men of underflanding in other matters, but in this, certainly Lunatics; having more occafion for hellebore, than the inhabitants of Bedlam. Heretics are addicted still Te their first principle---their will |