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pretext whatever: confequently they act with more impartiality between the merchants and natives. The Vice Conful is a check upon the Conful, and if his behaviour is liable to reproach, it is his indifpenfible duty to inform the Chamber of Commerce,

The reverfe is practifed by the English. -Confuls are fent out with fmall falaries, and fome without any. They are permitted to trade; their office gives them creHit, and protects their perfons from arreft; they are liable, by misfortunes in pufinefs, and often, by mifconduct, to become bankrupts. This hurts the dignity of the nation, and makes it a proach in foreign countries. In the courfe of very few years feveral British Confuls have become bankrupts, and, making moft fhameful dividends to their creditors, have been pointed at, as they went through the streets, with there goes the bankrupt Conful."

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The English Conful appoints his Vice Conful, who has a very poor pittance arif ing from perquifites and other fmall fees of office; and as he is liable to be difmiffed by his fuperior on the moft trifling occafion, can be no manner of check on the Conful.

As an Englishman, jealous of my country's honour, I fhould be happy to fee thefe matters under fome better regulation, being perfuaded if they are not, the little trade remaining to us in the Mediterranean and Levant, will, in a fhort time be loft. The British nation formerly poffeffed a great fhare of this trade, but it is now dwindled to a fhadow; and, I may venture to fay, by bad management alone. On my return to England I was extremely concerned to find the board of trade abolifhed; an inftitution, if well directed, effentially neceffary to a country like ours: I am of opinion if it was again established, and proper perfons, well acquainted with commerce, to prefide, it would be attended with great advantages, particularly at this time, when new fyftems of trade are forming, which will in a great meafure change the face of commercial affairs, not only in the eaft, but in many other parts of the world.

I beg leave to add, for the information of fuch of my readers who have not vifited Marfeilles, that from eight hundred to one thousand veffels are employed from this port, in the Mediterranean and Levant trade, making feveral voyages in the year.

It is imagined that France gains more by this trade than by any other branch of her commerce; the quantities of woollen cloth fhipped from Marfeilles are fcarcely credible, the whole Levant being clothed by the French.

Their local fituation, it must be confef. fed, gives them very great advantages over the English; but thefe have been ftrengthened by proper attentions paid to their articles, particularly to the colours of their cloths, which are in great esteem among the Turks.

They import to Tunis, Spanish wool, coffee, fugar, fpices, cloths, linens, and a great variety of other goods: Exporting corn, oil, wax, hides, filk, and other commodities the produce of the country. I am forry to fay, that there is not an English commercial houfe, of any degree of note, from Algiers to Alexandria in Egypt.

The Spanish wool is worked up into Berretti, or small fcull caps, by the Tunis cap makers, who fupply the whole Levant with this article; which indeed makes one of their principal staple manufactures: the blankets, hykes, burnoofes, and other woollens, being chiefly made at Sufa, Sfax, and along the eastern coaft.

There are looms for filks, velvets, &c. but as thefe articles are not made in fufficient quantities for their own confumption they are chiefly fupplied from France.

The kingdom of Tunis is fupposed to be one hundred and eighty miles in length, and two hundred and fifty in breadth; fituated in a fine whole fome air and fertile foil, faturated with faline particles of fo loofe a contexture, that very little labour is required in the cultivation of it; a yoke of oxen being fufficient to plough an acre in a day. It produces corn of all kinds, except oats, in the greatest abundance. After the firft rains, which generally fall about the tenth of October, and continue, with great violence, for eight or ten days, they begin to fow wheat, and barley a month later; the harveft falling the latter end of May, or the beginning of June. If it rains for two or three days in the be ginning of April, the crops are generally fecure, and the harveft plentiful; but failing of fuch fefonable fhowers, which fometimes happens for two or three years together, great diftrefs enfues; no magazines of any kind being provided. The entire fubmiffion which they pay to the will of God, and their firm reliance on his providence, make them imagine fuch

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precautions altogether ufelefs, and even pious.

About the middle of this century, the harvests in the neighbouring kingdom of Tripoly having failed, for five or fix years fucceffively, for want of thefe latter rains, the inhabitants werę reduced to the greatest extremity, and obliged to emigrate in fuch numbers, that the country was almoft depopulated; upwards of fixty thousand having fettled in the kingdom of Tunis.

The air all along the coaft is pure and wholefome. The hot weather generally fets in the beginning of June, and lafts until the middle of September, being tempered by the conftant fea breeze, that blows from nine in the morning till near fun fet.

Winter, if it may be fo called, continues only from the middle of December, to the tenth or twelfth of January; the heavy rains at that feafon rendering the air chilly and raw.

Sometimes in the month of July and Auguft, the wind from the Sahara, or Defart, begins to blow, bringing with it clouds of fine fand, which darken the air, and penetrate into the moft fecret receffes. The effects of this burning wind, which may be justly compared to the heat iffuing from the mouth of an oven, are truly dif trefsful. The ufual remedy is to fhut the windows and doors, and to sprinkle the floors with vinegar and water. I had the misfortune to experience it during four days. Was it to laft much longer, nature muft fink under this calamity. I expofed a roll of hard pomatum to the air, which, in the courfe of two hours, melted down, as if held before a fire.

This is the Sirocco defcribed by Mr. Brydone in his tour to Sicily and Malta. I have felt it in Palermo and several parts of Italy; but not to be compared with the fame fiery wind on the continent, as

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it lofes confiderably of its heat and fuffocating quality in paffing the fea. The Arabs are aware of its approach by a fulphureous fiell, and by the redness of the air in the point it blows from; they usually throw themselves on the ground when they perceive it coming, to preserve thera from the first blaft, which they reckon most noxious; faying, Nature has taught the brutes to keep their heads clofe to the earth when they feel its approach: it is often mortal when fuch precaution is not taken; and many inftances have hap. pened where great numbers in a caravan have perifhed. It is faid to have no ill effect, until two feet above the ground.

The Arabs recount many marvelous ftories concerning this wind; but as they are remarkable for the wonderful and fabulous, little faith is to be given to their narratives.

An ufeful horfe may be had from three to fix or feven pounds fterling, but the preference for riding is given to mules, thofe of this country having fine delicate limbs, and going at a great rate with 'motion particularly eafy, a recommendation of the first importance in a warm climate. When you wish to travel fafter, the cuftom is to pull the bridle, and they go off on a pace with amazing speed.

The Tunifeans have alfo a breed of affes much larger and more fpirited than most in Europe, many of them fourteen hands high. Horfes and mules are dear or cheap in proportion to the barley harveft, as they are fed only with barley and its ftraw, no oats growing here.

Hints to Perfons travelling

IRST. There is no fuch thing to be had in Paris, or any other part of France, as ready-furnished lodgings. There are indeed hotels meublees and chambres garnies; but neither of these correfpond to what is meant in London by ready-furnished lodgings. Lodgings

To conclude, the whole coaft of Barbary, from the entrance of the ftraits of Gibraltar, to the confines of Tripoly is one of the finest and most fertile countries in the world, abounding with every neceffary of life, and if in the hands of proper cultivators, capable of being made a granary for Europe.

from Britain to France.

Secondly. To board in a genteel family is impoffible. The meaning of the word genteel varies with the rank of perfons. Now what is meant is, that no

perfons

For reafons which reflect little honour on the understanding or morals of the prefent

of that kind a fingle perfon, and fill lefs generation of Englishmen, it has become fasha family must not expect to find.

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perfon in France will admit as boarder, a perlon who holds the fame rank in BriCain which he himself holds in France. A perfon of an inferior rank in France will with difficulty, and only with a view to a high board admit as boarder a perfon of much fuperior rank.

Thirdly. It is extremely difficult to get iaro gente company. By genteel company in France is meant, the company of perfons rich, or at least in eafy circumftances. Of a reputable family, and who have seen the world. Such company is called donne compagnie. As the ladies in France give the tow, a young maa must be ufbered into company by the ladies. Now the ladies in France, at least in Paris, and provincial towns, copy after Paris, may be divided into four claffes. The first, in point of antiquity, and therefore they are here named in the finit place, are the dames dentes; the fecond confifts of the dames who either have, or profefs to have religion; the third of the dames who are given to gallantry, but a decent kind of gallantry, that produces no eclat; and thole ladies if they are not chatte, are at leaft cautious. The fourth confits of fuch ladies as keep within no bounds,

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ionable for certain profeffions to be ambition of appearing to the world rather under any character than their own. By fuch prepotte rous affectation, many travelling governors of my acquaintance (men in other refpects highly timable) have expofed themfelves to the ridicule and contempt of foreigners. As men of quality and fathion, they had doubtless no pretention to be admitted into polite circles: bar, as men of letters, they might have been received into the best company, not only in France, but in every civilized country in Europe. Should any ducheffe or marquife be fo filly as to that her door against a stranger of merit, (who is avowed by the King's Mi nifter, and received as a gentleman by his own countrymen) because he has not fixteen quarters, the young lord whom he accompa nies will follain no lofs by declining to frequent fuch a houfe until the mittrefs becomes more reafonable.

Let a

and have, as the French expreßs it, juutë lew bonnet par dejus leurs detās.

A Britishi fubject who is introduced by a dame devote, mutt take care not to be feen in the company of a dame qui a jottê fon bonnet, otherwife he will never be admitted to his introdu&trice, or her focielé, The first, fecond, and even third clafs of ladies, frequent one anos ther's company, and therefore a British gentleman may frequent fuch ladies and their feciete. But there is no reconciling the first and last class; and whoever wihts either the one or other, must never think of uniting them as perfons he may want upon, and be received by.

"In no part of Europe do people of the firft rank and breeding anxioutly inquire into the birth or profeffion of those whofe manners and converfation are agreeable to them. governor demean himself properly and modeftly, and he will be civilly received in every company from which his pupil can reap any benefit. But when he makes parade of qualities which he does not poffefs, and affects a character which he knows does not belong to him, it is neither furprifing nor unjust that his vanity fhould meet with perpetual mor sifications."

It inuft likewife be remembered, that though the company of the first and chind clafs is compatible, that is to fav, & gee eleman may with thefe two claffes of fe

males without breaking with either, fa

there is little intercourfe betwixt them. They speak to one another when they meet; but meet by accident, and never vifit but at the new year.

Fourthly keeping good company is attended with force expence. A man must game, he must keep a carriage, and he muft drefs according to the fashion, NorthBritons with to get into good company; but do not wish to spend their money idly, either becaufe they have it not to spend, or because they wish to make a better ule of it. There is only one advice to be given theft gentlemen; they must either refolve to part freely with their money, or keep out of good company.

The South-Britons are quite the reverfe of their northern brethren; they spend much more than is necellary, and would fpend all they have in order to make a ri diculous figure in good company. I call it a ridiculous tigure, because in a very hort time it appears they have not a fortune equal to their expence; betides by that extravagance, they infult the com pany they frequent.

Fifthly. The French, though a fenfible people, have fome range notions. They intruft their lives, their fortunes, the education of their children, to perfons whom they do not confider as proper to be their own friends or companions. The des enfans, the lawyer are profullions unphyfician, the furgeon, the gouverneur becoming a man well-born, bien ne, that is to fay a gentleman by birth. A British fubject who comes into France under any of thefe denominations, is inadmiffible into the bonne compagnie as above deferit ed, The lawyer, however, muft be er

cepted

cepted, as the robe Jurvenante (to ufe a French expreffion) does not degrade the gentleman. It is a difagreeable truth, and yet it is a truth, that no gentleman in France will either be a phyfician, furgeon, or travelling, or refidentiary governor to a young gentleman. Here is a fecond exception to be made. A clergyman or officer of a good family may, without any dishonour to himself, be governor, either in a travelling or residentiary capacity, to a young gentleman or nobleman, his relation. In this case, the governor is fuppofed to act upon principles of generosity, and very often has no other motive. The great man, his pupil, feldom makes any other return for his redation's trouble, than the formality of a fine fpeech.

Sixthly. When a British fubject, a nobleman or gentleman by birth, comes to France, he should either have no governor, or he should have for a governor fome one of his own relations.

Often a duke, earl, or lord's fon, travels into France with a Swifs, a clergyman or preceptor of fome university. These perfons may be men of learning and merit; but if they are not relations of the young traveller, the doors of every genteel houfe will be fhut upon them in France, The confequence is, that the governor either not being admitted, or admitted only through the means of his pupil, and difregarded when

admitted, difgufts his pupil against such company, or the pupil defpifes him upon feeing him defpifed. The pupil fees no good company becaufe his governor is not admitted into it, or is not efteemed by it; or the pupil defpifes his governor, and pays no regard to him in matters where his advice is neceffary. Hence it is, that people of the first rank in Britain under fuch governors either quarrel with them in a fhort time, or run over the continent, and come home to Britain as ill-informed, and as ill-bred as they went away. The tutors, or parents complain of the pupil or governor for all the money they have spent to fo little purpofe, when in reality they have no right to complain of either the one or the other.

Seventhly. The English very often, if rich, pride themselves on keeping an opera girl in Paris. It is however to be remembered, that no man that wishes to fee good company fhould go to any place of public refort with an opera girl, or any other girl of the fame ftamp. French noblemen have their miftreffes, but they never go about openly with their miftreffes. No woman of any character will receive a man that has been feen publickly with his mistress. Englishmen fhould remember, that more delicacy is expected from them than from the na、 tives..

A genuine Account of the Trial of George Robert Fitzgerald, Efq. and his Affociates, at Caftlebar, in the County of Mayo, (Ireland) for the Murder of Patrick Randal M'Donnell, Efq.

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R. Fitzgerald was brought to the bar at half after eight o'clock in the morning of Friday, June 9, and given in charge to the Jury, but not arraigned, he having pleaded not guilty, in April last. He challenged fifteen of the Jury peremptorily, and the Right Hon. the Attorney General alfo challenged fuch of the Jury as he was informed flood in any degree of relationship to the deceased; an honourable and uncommon proof of his defire to fee juftice administered, without the partiality of prejudice.

The Jury being fworn, the younger Counfel on behalf of the profecution, fpoke briefly to the matters of the indictment, when the Attorney General rofe, and delivered himself to the following effect:

"My Lords, and Gentlemen of the Jury,' "The awful period is a length arrived, in which you are called upon to investigate a

crime of the most horrid and blackest dye that was ever agitated in a court of criminal juftice. The chain of circumftances which it unhappily falls to my duty to lay before you, is a fpecies of fuch uncommon barbarity, that there is not a man who hears it, but meft fhudder at the bare recital. If the crime of *murder, fimply confidered, and carried into execution with a peculiar feature of cruelty, is the groffeft violation of thofe focial bands which unite men together, that can pofiibly be devifed, what muft it be, when aggra vated by the most deadly premeditation, spite, and malevolence-the most wanton cruelty,

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Murder is in Ireland a much more hein. ous offence in the eye of the law than it is in England; for in the former, it has long fince been by ftatute made high treason.

the most confummate artifice, and the moft infidious confpiracy, that ever was planned by the moft depraved and moft malignant heart? "And, here, give me leave to premife, that what you hear from me this day, unlefs proved to your fatisfaction by the unerring teftimony of concordant witneffes, ought not, and I trust in God will not, make the fmalleft impreffion on your minds.

The Trial by Jury is the glorious bulwark of our conftitution; in criminal cafes, it is the great equipoife between the crown and the fubject; and, in all matters that come under their confideration, it is their indifpenfable duty to act with the strictest impartiality, and the most unprejudiced minds; and if any reports of the circumstances of the prefent enquiry and tranfaction, which found this trial, thould make any impreffion upon your minds, I conjure you, by the obligatory oath you have now taken to God and to your country, to lay them afide! Let this be the first day the fubject ever came under your cognizance, and with impartial, deliberate, and unprejudiced minds, difcharge your important daty juftiy and fairly, between the accufed and the public juftice of your country.

"I have afferted, that in the prefent cafe before you, there was the most deliberate fpite and malevolence; and to prove this it will appear to you in evidence, that this affaffination was in agitation by the perpetrators of it for eighteen months before the fatal catastrophe. The deceased was thot at from the houfe of the prifoner, Fitzgerald, at that distance of time; but the fcheme, at that time, did not anfwer-there must be more human blood fhed. Actuated by the fiend that poffeffed Otway's Renault, the ruling principle which operated upon the fanguinary mind of the contriver and abettor of this affaffination was

"Let me have blood enough." Hence you will find it turn out from evidence, that not only the defined victim, Mr. M'Donnell, muft fall, but even fome of Mr. Fitzgerald's own party; fome of them must fuffer, to give a colour of excufe for the affafpation contrived; "refcue" was called out, and one of Fitzgerald's own party was fhot, and three or four desperately wounded.

"Mr. Gallagher, though devoted as a victim to fall by a party of thofe confpirators, was preferved by the immediate act of Providence, as an inftrument to bring the perpetrators of this horrid deed to justice. From his teftimeny, it will appear to you, that Mr. Fitzgerald had laid many plans to defroy Mr. M'Donnell, that about eighteen months ago, a fhot om Mr. Fitzgerald's house wounded Mr. M'Donnell, the devoted facrifice, as he paffed it; this was the prelude to the tragical events which afterwards happened: that for the above affault a man had been tried and acquitted; that Mr. Fitzgerald finding himself fuccefsful in this acquittal, procured a Mr. O'Mealey, a magistrate of this county, to take examinations again Mr. M'Donnell, Mr. Hipfon, and the

witnefs himself, Mr. Gallagher, for a fuppofed affault; that on thofe examinations, warrants were granted; that Mr. M'Donnell, knowing but too well the implacable defperation of Fitzgerald, in whofe immediate neighbourhood he then lived, removed from his own houfe to a lodging in the town of Caftlebar for fafety; that on the 20th of February laft, Mr. Hipfon, and the witnefs, Mr. Gallagher, accompanied Mr. M'Donnell to his own houfe, whither he went in order to give di rections to his fervants concerning fome family matters; that Mr. Fitzgerald hearing of this, fent a party of his myrmidons to take thofe gentlemen into cuftody; that before Fitzgerald's party arrived, the gentlemen had left Mr. M'Donnel's houfe, on their return to Caftlebar, but finding themfelves purfued, they took fhelter in a houfe on the road, which was foon after furrounded by Fitzgerald's party, who fired feveral fhots into it, and at last burft open the door; that the witnefs, Mr. Gallagher, came out, and asked them the reafon of this outrage; that the party anfwered, that they had warrants against Mr. M'Donnell, Hipfon, and himself, which warrants, however, they refufed to produce; but were exceeding anxious to find Mr. M'Donnell. The witnefs told them, he had rode off, having previously taken the precau tion to conceal himfelf in a heap of malt, from whence, however, the party foon dragged him, and having fet him on horseback, (as he could not walk, on account of the wound in his leg) conducted him, as well as Hipfon and the witnefs, whom they tied to gether, to Fitzgerald's houfe, where they were kept close prifoners that night, and the next day a guard was prepared, confifting of chofen men, prone and ready for the most depraved acts, and headed by the prifoner, Mr. Fitzgerald, who had a blunderbufs flung under his coat.

"That the witness heard Mr. Fitzgerald give directions to Andrew Craig, (who will alfo be produced in evidence before you) to be fure to fecure his prifoners, and, if there thould be a refcue, to thoot them; that when they had been brought about two hundred yards, the truly Andrew Craig, in pursuance of his inftructions, and in order to fecure his prifoners, cried out "a rescue!" The scene of flaughter then commenced; a fhot was fired by the rear guard, which killed the devoted victim of Mr. Fitzgerald's party, who was allotted to fall a facrifice to the bloodthirty revenge of his leader; a general fire enfued; Hipfon, M'Donnell, and the witness, were all fired upon and wounded, in order to fecure them; the deceafed, Mr. M'Donnell, being wounded in the arm, his horfe took fright and was running on with him, but at a bridge he found a man stationed to prevent his efcape, and the trufty Andrew Craig fired a shot into his body, and with repeated blows perfectly fecured him, by the most barbarous murder!

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