We would advise him in future not to draw back the time fo much. "When thou tookeft upon thee to deliver man," employed the powers of Mr. Kelly; but whether his not being accustomed to fing in fo large a place, or before fo full an audience, had any influence upon his fpirits, we know not: it is certain, that though he deferves refpectable mention, the expectation which his repute had excited, was not thoroughly gratified.-Meffrs. Saville, Knyvitt, Norris, and Harrison, difplayed confiderable merit in their respective parts through this act; but we lamented that the latter had not a more distinct scope for his interesting powers. The grand funeral anthem led on the fecond part, and nothing can be conceived more affectingly folemn. During the firit chous, fome inaccuracy happened refpecting the time; but whether this arofe from the tenórs, or fome other principal inftruments, we were not near enough to difcover. In this act, the chorus from Samfon, "Hear Jacob's God, Jehovah hear!" was most prominently excellent. Signora Storace fung, "Every day will I give thanks to thee," with great correctness; but we must declare, which we do without any partial bias, that her voice is really not calculated for the requifite ftyle of finging. It wants that energy and fullness fo neceffary to imprefs the feelings, particularly in fo large a place. The firft grand concerto introduced the third act. Rubinelli followed with the recitative," Jehovah crowned with glory bright," from Efther, which he delivered with an uncommon degree of expreffion. His voice, which may be deemed the fineft contralto in this country, entirely filled the abbey, and was wonderfully touching. The grand chorus, "He comes, he comes, to end our woes!" was indefcribably excellent.-Harrifon, in "O come, let us worship," from the anthems, fully exerted all that charming and pathetic tate for which he is justly diftinguifhed; and after the intermediate choruffes, Rubinelli expreffed with most beautiful effect, "Return, O God of Hofts ?" from Samfon. To Mara, only one fong, "Pious orgies, pious airs," was affigned, and the manner in which the fung it was indeed fo exquifitely charming, that it is totally beyond. defcription. This fong immediately fucceeded the grand chorus from Samfon, Samfon, "Fix'd in his everlafting feat," which was peculiarly fublime; but the great powers of Mara totally effaced its impreffions, and arrefted the mind as much as if it had been the first time of her performing. The whole terminated with the grand chorus from Samfon, "Oh God, who in thy heavenly hand," which was executed with fuch auguft force, that the audience was wrapped in a kind of ecftafy, that wholly abforbed every faculty. The choice of the mufic deferves great approbation, and it is hardly poffible to do juftice to Mr. Bates, who poffeffes a fort of animation in his mode of conducting a band, that produces an ardent fympathy in the performers; though it must be owned, that his zeal was not fufficiently rewarded yesterday, as many of them were not fo alert as they fhould have been in rifing to their parts, and fome 'of the place, by indecently prattling with each other. The place was most largely attended. Their majefties, with all the royal family, except the prince of Wales, were prefent, and most of the rank and fashion of the country. The duke of Cumberland fat in the fame place with the directors. fome indeed violated the decorum the bills fo difcounted. The evidence on the part of the plaintiff was J. M. Millea, who is at prefent, it appeared, a prifoner in the King's Bench, but who fome time fince had tranfacted bufinefs to a large amount at the bank of the defendants. In the month of May, 1786, he applied for the purpose of discounting three feveral bills to the amount of 5000 1. being the acceptance of Mr. Cazalet, a merchant in the city, at four, five, and fix months date. They complied with his request; but instead of the cash which he was entitled to receive, as having paid the full discount, they paid him with their own acceptances at fixty days fight; and this it was contended was an overcharge, to the amount of these two months intereft on the fum discounted. We understand there was de mand from the public of five hune dred more tickets, which was rejected, in order that the company might enjoy the most perfect accommodation. ift. JUNE. A very capital fhip is under repair at the king's yard at Deptford, for the intended voyage to the Society Islands, for the purpofe of transporting the bread-fruit trees to the West Indies. A large fpace is prepared between the decks to receive the trees with their native foil. A room is alfo to be fitted up for an aftronomer, who will go out under the patronage of his majefty, to make obfervations on the comet that is expected to appear in the year 1788. 9th. A trial of a fingular nature took place at the court of King's Bench, Westminster, before Mr. Juftice Buller, and a fpecial jury. An action was brought by Ann Pigeon against Meffrs. Hammerfly and Moreland, bankers, Pall Mall, for an ufurious contract in taking more than five per cent. difcount, contrary to the ftatute. The action was laid for fifteen thousand pounds, being treble the value of In reply, it was proved on the part of the defendants, that the evidence, on being asked how he would be paid, had made choice of thefe acceptances in preference to cafh; and that he himself had antedated the checks, to make it appear as if they had been tranfmitted from Dublin; and it was urged, that thefe acceptances were equivalent to cafh, as if they had been prefented at any time, even within the fixty days, he would immediately have been paid the full amount." Exceptions were also taken to the credibility of Millea as a party interefted in the caufe, it being fully proved that the plaintiff now cohabited with him in prison, and that previous to his confinement they had been generally received as man and wife. From these confiderations the jury, with the fulleft approbation of the court, inftantly found a verdict for the defendants. At • Your most obedient humble fervant, (L.S.) WALTER STIRLING. To George Peters, Efq. Accepted, • Bank of England.' Geo. Peters. • Indorfed-John Moffat, now furgeon of the Scipio guardship at Sheernefs.' names and places of abode of the perfons to whom, or to whose order, the fame fhall be made payable; and that every indorsement thereon fhall specify the name and place of abode of the payer; and that both the figning and indorsement of fuch bill shall be attefted by one fubfcribing witnefs.'-A doubt was therefore conceived by Mr. Recorder, whether this indictment could be fupported, as for forging a bill of exchange, which upon the face of it, by the express directions of the ftatute, was void. He therefore recorded the verdict guilty, but refpited the judgment until the opinion of the judges was had upon this point. And at the laft feffion, Mr. Juftice Afhhurft delivered the opinion of the judges, that the indictment could not be maintained. 18th. Arrived with his fuit, in perfect health, at Portsmouth, Upon the evidence, the guilt of from Gibraltar, Sir George Augufthe prifoner was clearly established ; tus Elliot. On his coming on fhore but upon infpection of the bill, it he was faluted with the guns of the was found to be drawn upon paper feveral batteries, and honoured with with only a two-penny ftamp; every teftimony of public gratitude. whereas by 23 Geo. III. c. 49, At night there was a general illuupon all paper on which any bill of mination, and every demonstration exchange fhall be drawn for less than of joy. He was accommodated at 501. there fhall be paid a ftamp- the house of the commiffioner, and duty of fix-pence. It was therefore arrived in town the 20th. objected, that as this was not a legal Oxford, June 18 bill of exchange, it not being properly ftamped, it could not become the fubject of an indictment for forgery. But upon the authority of the cafe of the king verfus Hawkefwood, the objection was over ruled. How ever, in looking over the acts of parliament relating to bills of exchange, it was found to be enacted by 17 Geo. III. c. 30, • That all negotiable bills of exchange above zos. and under 51. fhall specify the One of the greatest efforts in walking that has been known was this day performed by a fawyer of this place in Port Meadow; he walked fifty miles in nine hours and an half. At eight in the morning he started, walked till one, when he dined, and at half after five won his wager. He was allowed ten hours to do it in, but went over his ground with eafe in nine hours and an half, and was fo little fatigued with his expedition, that 1 that he refused a carriage, and walked into town two miles from the field, amidst the acclamations of numbers who occafionally accompanied him in the course of the day. Andrew Robinfon Bowes, 26th. Efq; Edward Lucas, Francis Peacock, Mark Provoft, and Henry Bourn, were, pursuant to order, brought into the court of King's Bench to receive judgment for a confpiracy, of which they were convicted in April laft, against Lady Strathmore. The reading of the feveral affidavits took up almost four hours. After the counfel on both fides had concluded, Judge Afhurft pronounced the fentence of the court as follows; viz. "That Andrew Robinson Bowes, Efq; do pay a fine of 300l. to his majefty; that he be imprisoned in, his majefty's prifon of the King's Bench for three years, and at the expiration of the faid term, he find fecurity for 14 years, himself in 10,000l. and two fureties of 5,000l. each." "That Edward Lucas (the conftable) do pay a fine of 501. and be imprisoned in his majesty's gaol of Newgate for the term of three years.' "That Francis Peacock do pay a fine of 100l. and be imprisoned in the King's Bench prison for two years That Mark Provoft be imprifoned in the gaol of Newgate for one year. -No fine." "That Henry Bourn do pay a fine of 501. and be imprisoned in the gaol of Newgate for fix months." Lucas, Peacock, and Provoft, were already under bail, by order of the court of King's Bench, themselves in 500l. together with two fureties in the fum of 2501. each, for keeping the peace towards Lady Strathmore for fourteen years. Extract of a letter from Utrecht, June 28, Nine o'clock in the evening. "We have this inftant received accounts that this day at noon the Princess of Orange, with two of the princes, her fons, together with the well-known Chevalier Bentinck, were arrefted by a detachment of burghers of Gouda, between Schoonhoven and Oudewater. Early intelligence had been received that a great perfonage would pass that way, and the detachment of burghers above named was placed on purpose to intercept her paffage. The garrifon of Woerden is drawn out on purpose to bring the above personages into that place." We are informed from refpectable authority, that the French ministry laft week difpatched two private memorials; one to the British, another to the court of Berlin, to the following purpose: That in the prefent commotions in Holland, it is their fixed and decided determination not to intermeddle, except feparately or conjunctively called upon as mediators; but if any power in Europe fhall take up arms either for or against the republic, they no longer hold themfelves pledged to this determination; but fhall confider themselves at liberty to act, as the exigencies of affairs may require." M. de Calonne being ftripped by the king of France of his ribband, has difpofed of his whole eftate, his [0] beautiful beautiful feat of Halonville, in Lorraine, and all his other fixed property, and has retired from France for ever. DIED. Mr. Abel, the celebrated composer, after three days illnefs. This great character expired on the zoth inftant without pain, and with him a genius that was an honour to the science he profeffed. His various compofitions are the progeny of knowledge, tafte, and feeling, and will be held in admiration as long as mufic has any influence over the paffions of mankind. Nor was he only diftinguished as a compofer; as a performer he realized those beautiful conceptions which his works abundantly involve. The Viola di Gamba is not an inftrument in general ufe, and will perhaps die with him; but his performance rendered it exquifitely charming. JULY. Extract of a letter from Bury, in Lancashire, July 5. "I am forry to acquaint you with a moft dreadful accident which has happened in this town. The theatre here being crowded, and the people in the gallery very riotous, on a fudden the whole gave way, and the walls, roof, and every part fell in, by which myself, wife, two brothers, and a fifter, with upwards of three hundred perfons, were buried in the ruins. I believe I was the firft who got out. The fpectacle now was very fhocking, the cries of the wounded pierced the ear. Happily, out of fo great a number, only five perfons were killed on the fpot, amongst whom I have to regret the lofs of one of my brothers and fifter. Many more, however, are dangerously wounded; and eight or ten past all hopes of recovery. In fhort, our little town is all in forrow on the occafion. When it is confidered that the heavy timbers in the roof, the flate, the walls, and all fell in, it is next to a miracle that one escaped." The ftates of Holland, in full affembly at the Hague, published an edict the 30th ult. ftrictly forbid. ding all perfons whatever from quitting the province, or going into other ftates with their effects, under pretence of flying for fafety; the ftates being themselves of fufficient ability to protect their fubjects: adding thereto, that in time of public difafter it was the duty of every good citizen to continue at home, and ufe his endeavours in the defence of his country. John Elliot was tried upon an indictment on the black 20th. act, with wilfully and maliciously discharging two pistols, loaded with powder and divers balls, at the perfon of Mifs Mary Boydell. The fecond count charged him with firing one piftol, loaded with powder and one or more bullets, at the faid Miss Boydell. The evidence produced for the profecution was as follows: Mr. George Nicol, bookfeller to his majefty, fwore, that in walking up Princes-ftreet in company with Mifs Boydell, he heard the loud explofion of a piftol clofe to his ear. It was fo near, and the concuflion of the air fo ftrong, that it ftruck his ear like a blow. He turned round, and feeing the prifoner quite close to him with a pistol in his hand, |