# The Gentleman's Magazine/Volume 1/Issue 2/Foreign Affairs

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Constantinople.
IT has been agreed in a great divan to go on with the war in Persia; it being judg'd impracticable to restore to prince Thamas, the conquests of the porte in that kingdom, which have cost so much blood and treasure, without wounding the honour and dignity of the Ottoman empire. 'Tis thought the troubles, which are not yet entirely appeased in this capital, where the number of malecontents is increased since the late massacre of the ringleaders of the revolt, did not a little contribute to this resolution of the divan. The port has declared to the Emperor's resident, that his highness has nothing more at heart than to keep a good intelligence, with his imperial majesty, and that he has with this view sent a trusty officer to Vienna, with the character of his ambassador, to repeat these assurances in the strongest manner.
Paris Feb. 23. There is still the same uncertainty as to peace and war, and the distributing of the effects of the Flotilla, the delay whereof is a great prejudice to the merchants. 'Tis hop'd however that the grand point of peace or war, will be decided upon the return of an express that has been sent to Spain, with the answer of the allies of Seville to the declaration, which the marquess de Castellar made the 28th past, in the name of the king of Spain. ​Rome, Feb. 10. His holiness declared to cardinal Cinsuegos, that he would take the dutchess dowager of Parma into his protection, and assume the government of that dutchy and Placentia, 'till the differences between the emperor and the king of Spain are adjusted.
Vienna, Feb. 17. The emperor, having by his troops taken possession of Parma and Placentia, the pope threatens to excommunicate those troops; but the emperor says, he may turn the buckle of his girdle behind him.
The Substance of a Declaration deliver'd Jan. 28. In the name of the king of Spain, to the English, French and Dutch Ministers, by the Marquess de Castellar, setting forth,
THat immediately after the Emperor had refused his consent to the pacifick measures entered into by the allies for establishing Don Carlos in the estates of Tuscany and Parma, his catholick majesty might have obferv'd the irresolution of the allies in executing the treaty of Seville, but was willing to see their proceedings, and discover their real designs, before he would take his final resolution.
That the marquess was order'd by the king his master, to represent to the powers allied, that it was at last judged necessary to have recourse to arms, a thing so often promised since the alliance was sign'd and solemnly sworn to: To which purpose he had delivered in a memorial dated Oct. 30. and communicated to the said ministers, the last resolution of his majesty, and has since press'd for an answer, but to no purpose.
That for these and other reasons his majesty had positively commanded the Marques de Castellar formally to protest against proceedings so diametrically opposite to his royal dignity and honour, and destructive of the principal object of his alliance, nor to give place to longer delays.
That in this fix'd resolution his majesty declares, that from this time forward he is entirely free from all the engagements enter'd into on his part in the said treaty, with the confederated powers, and remains at full liberty to take such measures as he shall judge most conducive to his royal interests. In consequence whereof he further declares, that from hence forwards he withdraws from the negotiation which is upon the carpet, but waits to receive the further orders of the catholick king his master.
Extract of a Letter from Nantes. Feb. 24. N.S.
Yesterday we receiv'd advice, that the Queen of Angels had been engaged on the coast of Domingo, by two Spanish privateers, and after a long fight was taken. The captain and great part of the crew were killed in the action. The ship was carry'd to the isle of Cuba, with an English vessel richly laden, which they had lately taken: So that they have 3, 1 of which carries 104 Men. They sent the French ship (after taking out the goods) to St. Domingo, with the English crew.
Letters lately arriv'd from New-England, advise, that on the 29th of December his Excellency, Governor Belcher, made a speech to the general assembly, in which he declared, that he should be oblig'd to dissolve them, if his Majesty's 27th instruction, relating to settling a salary on the governor was not comply'd with: And accordingly on the 2d of Jan. he finding them inflexible, dissolv'd the said Court.
A misunderstanding seems likewise to have taken place between Henry Worsley, Esq; capt. general, ​and governor in chief of Barbadoes, and other the Caribbee islands, to windward of Gardeloupe, &c. and the council and assembly of those plantations, as appears by his excellency's speech made to them Nov. 17th last, and their address consequent upon it; wherein they seem to charge the governor with those evils which he had recommended them to remedy; and remonstrated that it was impossible for a people loaded with debts, to raise taxes, whilst the yearly tax of about 8000l. for seven years past, had been drain'd from them, and paid to his excellency, and that his excellency had receiv'd 45,000l. of the publick money of that island since his coming to the government: A proof of itself sufficient to evince the impoverishment of a small colony, at a time when upward of 20,000l. more were raised for publick uses, over and besides their constituted annual excise.
Extract of a Letter from Jamaica.
By a small vessel just arriv'd from Paita, we have the dreadful news of the loss of the kingdom of Chili, by an earthquake and inundation; the first lasted 27 days, wherein persons innumerable perished, with all the city of St. Jago; the inundation over flow'd the city of Conception, and even reached as far Calloo, where it mounted the walls, and fill'd the square with water. This flood was occasion'd by the earthquake.
A true Account of a new Colony about to be establish'd in America, by several Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Merchants.
THey petitioned the King in council for a grant of lands in South-Carolina, and liberty to lay out such charities as they themselves should give or receive from others, for carrying over and establishing unfortunate families in America: and that the charity collected may not determine in the persons first relieved, but may extend itself to the latest ages, they propose to reserve a certain proportion of land in every township, and a certain small proportion of labour from every Man within that township upon such land, and to apply all the produce of the reserved land and labour on the supporting of the Colony, in sending over and relieving more poor families.
His Majesty graciously receiv'd their petition, referr'd it to a committee of council, who approv'd of it and referr'd it to the consideration of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.
The petitioners undertake without any benefit to themselves, all the toil of solliciting charities, of cloathing, supplying, arming, establishing, and supporting a Colony of such persons as they judge to be most proper objects of charity.
The clerks of the council generously refus'd their fees for the passing of their office.
The secretary of the board for trade and plantations, in the same handsome manner, refused the acknowledgements offer'd him.
His Majesty hath been graciously pleased to order the attorney general to prepare a charter to incorporate the petitioners, who intend to establish Colonies in the manner of the old Romans, viz. liberty and property.
Among other wise precautions, to prevent future Impositions, they have desired, that they and their succeffors may be oblig'd by their charter to lay an annual account of all moneys or effects by them receiv'd or expended, for carrying on their said charitable design before the Ld Chancellor, the Ld Ch. Justice of the King's-bench, the master of the rolls, the Ld Ch J. of the common pleas, and the Ld. Ch. Baron of the Exchequer.