103, of foundlings 309, and decrease in buhals 11: 28. We learn from Warfaw, that Brigadier Apraxin, at the head of 600 diagoons of the regiment he commands, attacked upwards of 3000 Tartars, who, by their rapid march, had already patfed through Cuban, and were marching to the Ruhan colonies; he defeated them, a great number were killed, and the Haded, and finding themfelves purfued by the victor, they left fome prifoners and fome cattle behind them. Colone! Nagel, at the head of two thousand foot and fome hofe, beyond the Tereck, vanquished the falfe prophet at the head of between seven and eight thou fand men, who fought on foot, rolling before them some machines, which were proof against the bollers; but the bayonet and the bravery of the Ruffian grenadiers overcame every oblacle. They made a great flaughter of the rebels, and the prophet wounded, fled to the Tranquilly is now reftored. Thefe rebel nations have implored the clemency of the Empress, which will, no doubt, be extended to the diffurbers of the peace of her empire. mounta ns. Spain bids fair to be fuddenly difabled in her power and refources, by the alarming troubles in South America; which are daily gathering to a head, and without a speedy and effectual cure, will inevitably rife to fuch a pitch of Arength and aggravation, as to bid defiance to the most potent efforts of the Dons. Extract of a Letter from Berlin, Jan. 16. "The convocation of the powers who have confederated to preferve inviolate the conflitotion of the Germanic body, is not yet finifhed; the Envoys from Hanover, Drefden, &c. meet fill daily. If the Emperor proceeds in his intention to exchange the Auftrian Flanders for Bavaria, a war cannot be avoided. The troops of the confederacy amount to upwards of 200,000 men, independant of auxiliaries that may be had from allied powers." Extract of a private letter from an English Gentleman, an Officer in the Ruffian detachment that is gone from Petersburgh "on a fcheme of penetrating to Kamfehatka by land, dated at Moscow, Dec. 18, 1785. “Our detachment, which confits of 630 perfont, arrived here the roth inftant, in five weeks from St. Peterburgh, without the lofs or abfence of a fingle individual, and hitherto our cattle that drew the baggage, as well as our men, are all healthy and well. How long we shall continue, is at prefent uncertain, as we wait the fecond detachment, which is expected every day, as it left Peterburgh, we fuppofe, a few days after ourselves, and, without fome uncommon accident, mut foon arrive. Welhall then fet off dired ly for Cafan, to which place we must be conveyed down the Wolga in craft, of which there are a number collected here by order of the Emprefs for our accommodation. The diftance is about 350 or 400 British miles. At this place we are to reit again, and, if the weather is against our travelling, to continue till the arrival of spring. From thence, leaving the Cafpian fea on our right, we thall journey nearly due Eaft till we come to Saiungoude, where we are to make another halt, and from thence we go fome thing more to the north. This is a tract oẾ 1400 miles, great part of which is as yet unexplored, except by the Savages. What fuccels will at length attend this expedition, or what advantages may finally refult from it, is as yet in the womb of time; but neither care nor expence are ipared to make it fuccessful. Great part of our travelling will be by compafs, for which purpofe we have fome most experienced aftronomers, &c. Great part of my labours is in keeping a journal of every occurrence. Now farewell! Nor muft you expect to hear again for several months.” Advices from Madrid of the 17th inftant mention, that an Ambaffador from the Catho lic King to the Court of Great Britain is moft affuredly refolved upon; and that Don Phil lippe, Count of Maladine, was expected to be intended for his Catholic Majefty's reprefentative. The Ambassador from the Bey of Tripoli, lately arrived in London, is come over for the purpofe of concluding a treaty of perpetual amity between the Court of Great Britain and the Regency of that place. Extract of a Letter from Stockholm, Jan. 5. "France is on the eve of reviving all her treaties with Sweden. Mr. Wroughton, his Britannic Majelly's Ambaffador, has had the addrefs, notwithstanding, of bringing to z conclufion a commercial treaty between the two powers, which may be of mutual benefit, if properly improved by both their subjects.” Madrid, Jan. 4. The King, in order to prevent the continual rifques to which navigators are expofed by the grievous errors that abound in most of the charts of the Spanish coatis, published by foreigners, has ordered new ones to be prepared. In this important undertaking Dou Vincent Tofinode St. Michael, Brigadier of the naval forces, and Director of the three Academies of Marine Guards, has been affiduoufly and fuccessfully employed ever fince the year 1783. In the courfe of that period, he has reconnoitered, and fully and accurately delineated the whole coaft from Cape St. Vincent to the streights of Gibraltar, and from thence to the Cape de Creux, on the coaft of Catalonia including, the adjacent iflands, and a párt of the coast of Barbary. Thefe charts are not yet made public. It is expected, however, that they will foon appear; and in the mean time this affiduous officer is engaged in finthing charts of the Spanish coats upon the ocean. On the 4th of January, an Ordinance was actually published, impofing an additional dury of three per cent. on our hard wares; and on the 6th, another O dinance followed, by which a new duty of 130 florins each, is laid upon musical inftruments; an article of ear exports to Germany little lefs lucrative than our most advantageous commodity. Feb. Feb. 2, The King of France has published an arret for the encouragement of foreign merchants and manufacturers to fettle in his dominions, of which the following is the fub#tance: The King having been informed that a umber of foreign merchants and manufacturers, who formerly fed to import and vend divers merchand z.s, the introduction of which his Majefty, in order to favour the national commerce, has prohibited, were defrous of filing in France, in order to establish the Same manufactures, if his Majesty would be pleafed to grant then the fame privileges they enjoy in their native country, as well as the Hiberty of returning after a certain number of years; his Majesty, thinking thofe demands conformable to his views; grants them the following privileges: "1. He permits merchants and foreiga manufactures of every kind in his dominious, particularly mufins, white and printed linen, Slks, fluffs and draperies of all forts, on condition that they make his country their abode, and fix their perfonal refidence in it at the ance of at leaft feven leagues from the Frontiers, and that they eppene before the Intendant of the Province to effectuate their fet dement in the fpace of a year. 2. On these conditions his Majefty grants an exemption from all duties on the importation of raw materials, fuch as cotton, hread, ingredients for dying, copper, tin, machines and inftruments neceffary for their Business, as well as their houthold furniture, within the aforefaid time, 3. His Majesty further grants them and their workmen an exemption from all perfonal duties for three years." Feb. 4. Hy letter from Paris, we learn, that a few days fince, a jeweller of eminence waited upon his Majefty with fome curious fnuff-boxes a young nobleman of confiderable yank in the regiment of Monfieur, who was then in conference with the King, joined in commendation of the beauty and workmanthip of the boxes, till watching an opportunity, he concealed one in the fleeve of his uniform. This being perceived by his Majefty, he demanded of the jeweller" whether he bad all his boxes Yes, Sire."-" Count them," repeated the King; which being done, the box was miffed." It is not loft," cried the King," that officer can rettore it;" and flepping forward, his Majesty truck him with his fill. The difgrace that follows will of courfe be perpetual. His commiffion is to be recalled and cancelled, and fuch other marks of odium fixed on him, as the nature of the enormity admits. Norway, Jan. 1. This country fill groans ander the preffure of the heaviest calamities. The hurricane which happened on the 20th of November laft, has been attended with the moft dreadful confequences; it lafted a full hour and an half, with unbated violence, and raged, not only along the coaft, but in the faterior parts of the country where the damage was incredible. The cathedral church of Bergen was entirely uncooled, the windows thattered to pieces, all the ornatnents, chandeliers, &c, dathed about in feveral parts of the church. A veffel bound to Davis's Streight was fwallowed up within four leagues of Bergen Harbour. Several others riding af anchor to different roads were cat on there, where most of them went to pieces. A letter from the Hague, dated Jan. 27, fays, "We hear the King of Sweden has wraten to their High Might ineffes a lener, in which he declares, that out of confiderati. on of the friendthip and good underbanding which has ever reigned between the Republic of the United Provinces and Swedeu, and of the alliances formed between their High Mightineffes and his predeceffors, he is will ing to give a fresh proof of his good will, by renewing an alliance with the Republic; and that he expects a speedy answer to this intimation, that he may proceed to conclude the bufinefs." Feb. 8. A law has lately been paffed by the States of Brabant, and, after their example, by the other provinces, limiting farms at their utmofl extent, to 150 acres. The land is cultivated by the industrions hands who reap its fruits, who beltow an attention to every corner of their fields, employing the spade and boe in cultivating foots inacceffible to the plough. Population has thus been prodigioutly increafed in the Netherlands, and fill cou tinues to increase. Eafy taxes, perfect liber-" ty, and fecurity of property, with abundance of all things, at low prices, neceffary to life, render the Netherlands a icepe fit for all the' mechanical arts. Peterburgh, Dec. 21. A lift is circulated about, containing an estimate of the land and fea forces of this empire; though it cannot be looked upon as entirely conclufive, fince it is not fanctioned by any official teftimony, we nevertheless give it here as we find it, exclufive of 100,000 light troops, the armies com puted at 260,000 effective men; the navy is therein rated at 48 fail of the line, frigates, and others, including the twelve thips of war ftationed in different ports on the Black Sea, The qumber of inhabitants is calculated at 1,000,000, nor does this appear an exaggeration, if we advert to the extent of the empire to the north of Afia. The revenues of the crown, according to the fame estimate, amount to 40,000,000 of rubles, the annual expendi ture to 35,000,000, fo that there remains a furplufage of 5,000,000 yearly to provide for unforeseen difbursements. Extract of a letter from Paris, Feb. 4. "A Bathaw of three tails is just arrived here, on a public commiffion from the Sublime Poret; he came in the Plotone frigate to Marfeilles, and from thence by land hither; fome difficulty is likely to take place with refpect to his reception, as he has demanded to be received in rank before the Ambaffadors of all Chriflian Powers." DOMESTIC DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. THE Jan. 10. HE weather last week was perhaps the most extraordinary.for the fealon that this part of Europe has ever been witness to Thunder and lightening, at the time of frost and heavy fnow, are phenomena in this our itland; yet these abfolutely happened at one and the fame time. The Thithe frigate, which carried Lord Kepale to Italy, on her retorn met with the fame form at the chops of the channel, which proved fo fatal to the Halfewell. At. St. Ives in Cornwall, the lightening and thunder were terrible; but they preceded the foow, which was afterwards remarkably heavy for feveral hours. In mount Bay feveral veffels were drove on thore. The damages at Falmooth and Plymouth have already been mentioned. On the East coaft it was felt, bot without thunder, and much less violent. 17 The body of the unfortunate Capt. Pierce has been found at Chrift Church, nearly twenty miles from Purbeck, where fome part of the wreck hath at fo floated on thore. The dow, at the time of receiving the ocking intelhgence, which was imparted in the most tender mammer by Capt. Hammer, was fuckling her youngest daughter, and had juft time and recollection fufficient to give the infant to an attendant 'ere the funk lifelets on the Boar: the has remained ever fince in a fituatia too dreadful for defeription. The unfortunate. Mrs. Pierce has not been able in quit her bed fince the melancholy tale has been unfolded to her; at prefent there is hitle hope of her furviving this thock of Pro. vidence. She has five infants around her, the oldelt not ten year of age, and the youngest bat fix months. We fincerely with that the fame heroic virtue which induced the father to perith with his daughters, may roufe the unhappy mother to this great charge. Extract of a letter from Oxford, fan. 14. "The fate fudden thaw, attended by exeeeding heavy rains, has occafioned a more general inundation in this part of the country than we have remembered for many years. At Witney, in this county, the windroth was fwelled fo immoderately, that the bridge at that place was in imminent danger of being carried away, whilft the inhabitants in the lower part of the town were confined to their shper rooms, and the water was fo deep in Areets as well as houfes, that they were obliged to be relieved by the help of boats. 18 The Flora, Druitt, from the coaft of Guimea, is fafe arrived in the River. She is one of the fmall verfels that ga every year to the Gold Coaft, where, from their being able to go up the navigable rivers, they bring valuable cargoes that die in little compass, and with Emall rifk, the danger of the fea excepted: and even there they have the advantage, by being light and right veffels, of rifing at the top of every ware. Extract of a Letter from Plymouth, Jan. 13-1 The damage done at this place by the late form, appears to be much greater than had at firt been expected. The calculation on the farvey for repairs is made at 10,000l. The Swedith frow that was on thore near Caufand Bay, will be faved, as the was light when drove gut. Several hips are arrived in thế found, from which fome perfons have come on thore, who give accounts of the form being felt upwards of roo leagues to the S. W The workmen in the dock yards are now pay ing," The Odinary of the Navy, as it appeared by the accounts from the commitbons and builders at the King's Yards on the fit infant was as follows: At Deptford, 72 frigates, and fix floops. At Woolwich, two thips of the line, 19 frigates, and nine tloops. At Chatham 26 farl of the line, five of ze guns, 20 frigates, and fix floops. At Sheernets, four thips of the line, two of 50 guns, 12 frigates and fix floops. At Portfmouth, 50 thips of the line, two of 50 guns, 28 frigates and nine loops. At Plymouth, 36 thips of the line, two of 50 guns, 12 frigates, and fix (loops. Total Ordinary on the 31st of December. 1785, which clotes the year's account, 178 men of war, of which 114 are of the line 11 of 50 guns; 111 frigates from 44 to 24 guns; and 42 floops and cutters from to to 20 guns. Yesterday morning a waggon load of tranfports from Briftol paffed over Black-finis bridge, in their way to Portsmouth, in order to be put on board the halks lying there. The Proteus, after whom the bank directors for near four tedious years kept up a fruitiels chace, was taken in the roll at the momear he fondly hoped the honters had lot the fcent-vanity was the rock on which he splic. It was his cuftom at times to give entertainments to a select party, and in order to avoid the plate race, to borrow the fplendid articles of the fideboard at a pawn broker's, depofiting bank notes as fecurity. The pawnbroker happening to offer one at the bank, was topped, and ou relating how he came by it, with ail the circumftances, proper people were fent to the shop. This modern Volpone came to return the plate, and was immediately taken into cuftody. Extract of a letter from Exeter, Jan. 4. « We hear from different parts of the country, that the Commiffioners of the landtax, at their ref ective meetings for the parpofe of hearing the appeals on the horse duty, were greatly infulted. At Holdsworthy, a mob affumbled, and began with shouting " ao horfe tax!" they then broke the windows of the room where the Commiffioners were fitting, and getting up stairs, busk open the door 156 Riotous Behaviour in the Weft of Engl. Advices from the Eaft Indies doo; but on the gentlemen telling them no Notwithstanding the late fevere duty laid upon all wheel carriages imported into France from England, our coach-makers are able to inform the world, that the operation of the Ordinance is almost entirely defeated, their export trade, through fome medium or other, continuing as valuable as ever. Extract of a letter from Newcafile, Jan. 7. "We hear from Kirkleatham, that the Smuggling trade is Atill continued to be carried on upon the Yorkshire coafts, near Staiths, Saltburn, Mark, &c. with great avidity: There is a company of Imugglers, fome of whom refide in England, and others in Holland and Flanders, that employ feveral vetfels folely for this trade. Thefe veffels come upon the Yorkshire coast as regularly as wind and weather will permit, and they no fooner arrive in fight, than the perfons employed on this fide of the water, difpatch meffengers to thofe connected with them in the neighbouring towns and villages, who quickly affemble and convey the goods to different parts. 26. The commercial Treaty between this country and Ruffa, is fettled and figned. This treaty is highly advantageous to England, though not fo much as the former, fince Ruffia has also concluded a treaty with France, by which her merchants are to have the fame privileges in Ruffia as the English. Formerly we engroffed their markets, and had fuch peculiar advantages there, that France fent her manufactures to England, to be transported to Ruffia. According to the late order of the Admiralty Board, the guardships, which are now only nineteen, are to be encreafed at the exchange in the formg to twenty-four fail of the line, by the addition of five ships, two at Plymouth two at Portsmouth, and one at Sheerness. Thefe will employ upwards of threefcore officers, and 2000 teamen, befides marines, fo that there can be no further reduétion in the naval expences this year; but the vote and allowance will be for the fame rumber of feamen and marines as were barne for the last year 1785. The Governors of the Bank are in poffeffion of all the circumftances refpe&ting the forgeries, arts, impofitions, and evasions, with which the decealed Price was accufed, and which most certainly would have fubpreted him to the frict hand of juffice, had he had fortitude enough to have faced a legal tribunal. It appears by those circumitances, thai he was the maft extraordinary perion that ever practifed impofition on the public. He has been, it seems, a perfect Proteus, afluming changes of drefs, deportment, &c. &c. with fecurity and unparalleled fuccefs, fo as to elude the most vigilant and circumfpect pursuits, There is the beft reason for expecting a confiderable increase of revenue to the Prince of Wales, from the Cornish mines, and the Principality of Wales. The managers of this part of his Royal Highnefs's bulinets have done their duty with the best affiduity and fkill. About ten days or a fortnight fince, as Mr. Pye, member for Berkshire, was riding home to his feat, near Farringdon, from a ne gh• bouring villa, one of the Mail coaches came up with him, and driving furioutly on, Mr. Pye called to the coachman and turned his horfe to the hedge as near as poilible, in order to let the carriage país, when the guard, without ceremony, filed his blunderbufs, the bullets it was charged with, very fortunately miffed Mr. Pye and his horse. Genuine extracts from a letter from Mr. M Pherfon to the Court of Directors, dated 30th July, 1783. "In the Carnatic, your late orders have been carried into fome effect. The general ruin which that country has undergone from the devaftation of war, will keep your affairs in that quarter a long time in diftrefs. "I must at the fame time regret that the progrefs made in this falutary work (reform) is not equal to my withes, nor has it, in any very alleviating degree relieved your diltrelles." From the returns to the tax office it appears that the houses, containing from one to ten windows, are 520,02 From ten to twen ty-five windows, 161.051-Exceeding twen ty-five windows, 31,835. The houfes having 50 windows and upwards are ftated at no more than 5385. Of houfes in Scotland returned to the Tax "A very melancholly accident happened at Patterdale, in this county, a few days af ter the late fevere froft fet in.-Two brothers of the name of Watfon, (fons of a reputable Yeoman Yeoman in that place) returning early in the evening, from a neighbour's houfe, where they had been spending the day, intended to fhorten their walk by cruffing a lake called Beber Water, which was frozen over, and had afforded them a safe paffage in the morn10g. Their father, who had been out in the helds, and faw them entering upon the ice, mide what fignals he could, to deter them from coming forward, a flight thaw having taken place in the afternoon. But the young mea, either not underflanding him, or relying on the look of the ice, kept on their courfe and got to about the centre of the lake, when on a fadden, the flippery platform gave way, and the unfortunate youths ditappeared. What the fituation of the unhappy parent must have been, cannot be defcribed. Their bodies were found next day. -They were very promifing young men, the eldest 19 years of age, was brought up to husbandry, and the younger about 16, was educating for the church, by the Rev. Mr. Wilfon of Kelwick, from whofe fchool he was then abfent, at the Christmas vacation. It is faid in tha neighbourhood, Brother Water is fo called, from a fatal accident of the fame kind which happened fone centuries ago." This is Orders have been fent officially to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, for a complete farvey of each of them to be made the enfuing Spring, and a report made thereof. fuppofed to be preparatory to fome new works at fome one or other of them, as the French are fo trenoufluy endeavouring at compleat ng two new harbours in the Channel, opposite our Coalt. 27. The new ambaffador from Tripoli was at the levee at St. James's and delivered his credentials; at the fame time prefented his Majelly with a very fuperb taddle and bridle; the firrups were made of beaten gold, and the holfers were fo richly ornamented as to attract the admiration of every beholder. A led horfe, with the trappings on was brought into the garden of St. James's palace, for the purpofe of atording a better view of the preLent. The Prince of Wales will refide occafionally next fummer at Hampton-Court-Palace, where a whole foite of apartments have, been repaired, beautified, and new furnished, for the purpofe of accommodating any of the royal family. The Ganges, Captain Schutt, a Dutch Eaft Indiaman, drove into Padflow, almost a total wreck, all her mails, bowtprit, and rudder gone, and quitted by the crew, after plundering her of dollars to an amazing amount; there are great hopes of faving the fhip and cargo, if the weather proves moderate. By an account lat-ly obtained by Government, it appears, that the whole fum of money cellected for fupport of the poor throughout Great Britain, on a medium of twenty years lat, is two millions one hundred and feventythree pounds annually; half of this expence POL, MAG. VOL. X. FEB. 1786. would fupport a greater number of real poor, and the remainder might go to the public expence. At any Tate, Government ought to difburthen the public of an expence that lies fo heavy in fome parishes, where the poors rate nearly doubles the land tax. 30. About fix o'clock, a fervant-maid be longing to a butcher, at the corner of Newport market, tumbled out of a three pair of ftairs window. On examination it was found, that her throat had been cut prior to the ejectment from the window; therefore strong fofpicions are naturally formed against fome perfon or perfons as yet unknown, having perpe trated the murder. Feb. 2. It is a no less fingular than happy circumftance for this kingdom, whofe existence depends to much on commerce, that there has never been a forgery of any confequence, but detection has followed the impotition, and a premature death put a period to the existence of the artful defigner. It is a fpecies of fraud which requires talents of no common fort to give it a chance of fuccefs, but of which the moft confummate abilities have been found in adequate to prevent a discovery. If there needed an argument to fubftanti. : ate the above pofition, we might refer back to Matthews, who poffeffed the fecret of putting the water-mark on paper, to refemble Bank bills, in addition to the talent of fo clofely applying the Cathier's name, that the writer could not tell the real from the counterfeit. Ryland is a proof of the failure of profeffional abilities; and from the detection of Price, it is plain that an accomplice is not neceflary to effect a difcovery, for we underftand that he not only engraved his own plates, but that he made his own paper, with the water-marks, and printed them himself; befides being the negociator of them, thus con fining the fecret folely within himself, and yet even he had no means of eluding justice, bot by adding to his crimes the act of felfflaughter. 4. By the laft mails we are informed, that the Emperor, by an edit, dated Jan. 4, 1786, laid an additional duty of three per cent, on iron and feel works, imported into his do minions, and on mutical instruments, which the Gazette writers of Bruffels inform us, appear to be the caufe of the alarm which they underflood to be raifed in England, on the fuppofition that his Majefty's edict was abfolutely prohibitory. The following is an exact flatement of the whole army in this kingdom at prefent, or belonging therein. Two troops of horse grenadier goards. It is remarkable in the distressful cafe of X |