The Virginia gazette (Williamsburg [Va.]), 1772-07-23 00:00:00

VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
With the freshest ADVICES,
FOREIGN and DOMESTICK.
IN CIVITATE LIBERA LINGUAM MENTEMQUE
LIBERAS ESSE DEBERE. Suet. in Tib. S. 28.
Printed by ALEX. PURDIE, and JOHN DIXON, at the POST OFFICE.
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BEING strictly enjoined by my late Instructions to enforce the punctual Payment of his Majesty's Quitrents, it is expected, for the future, that every Sheriff should settle with the Auditor, and pay the Money into the Receiver's Office, on or before the Day appointed by Law; and all Sheriffs who are yet in Arrear to this Revenue cannot expect any farther Indulgence. RICHARD CORBIN, D. R. G.
WARSAW, April 19.
We are very anxious here to know whether the Circumstances mentioned in a Letter from Petricau, dated the 14th Instant, have any Foundation. This Letter informs us, that Marshal Zaremba had been three Days with the Prussian General, at his Head Quarters at Kalisch, with whom he had several Conferences. In the mean Time the Prussians seize all the Conferences that fall in their Way, and extend themselves farther and farther into the Palatinates of Kalisch, Posen, Inowraclaw, and Cujavia. The general Opinion is, that the Prussians have Views on Polish Prussia, and we are not without Fears of that Sort here; and what helps to confirm our Fears is a Letter handed about, dated Koningsberg, March 21st, mentioning the following Particulars relating to the intended Claims, namely, that it is proposed that Polish Prussia should be regarded hereafter as Part of the Kingdom of Prussia, in the same Manner as in the Times of the Teutonic Knights; that the Bishoprick of Warmia shall be secularized, and the Bishop and Chapter receive Pensions; that Danzick and Thorn shall be declared free Cities; that Religion shall be regulated in the same Manner as in Prussian Silesia; and that thirty Thousand Prussian Troops shall be always cantoned in the said Province.
We have received Advice that a Body of Confederates has found Means to pierce the Prussian Cordon of Troops near Kalisch, and had fallen in with a Convoy of three Hundred Carriages, laden with Grain, which the Prussians had collected in Poland; and that, after breaking the Carriages to Pieces, and destroying the Corn, they made their Escape.
PETERSBURG, April 14. Accounts were received on Saturday last, from Marshal Romanzow, that the Porte had agreed to a Cessation of Arms and Congress, and had named Ismael Beg (the Reis Effendi) and Osman Beg (who was formerly his Reis Effendi) to be their Ambassadors Plenipotentiary. Her Imperial Majesty has appointed Count Gregory Orloff, and M. Obrescow, to be her Ambassadors Plenipotentiary.
Her Imperial Majesty was graciously pleased, on Sunday last, to make a Present of Sixty Thousand Roubles to M. Obrescow, and of thirty Thousand to M. Levashoff, as a Mark of her Favour, and in Consideration of the Services and Sufferings of those Ministers.
FLORENCE, April 25. His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester arrived yesterday in perfect Health, and was received by the Great Duke and Dutchess with every Mark of Politeness and Attention.
BERLIN, May 2. This Morning his Prussian Majesty reviewed two Regiments of Infantry, and all the Cavalry of the Garrison, except the Hussars. It is expected that the general Review will take Place before the 22d Instant.
ROME, April 8. The Duke of Gloucester continues to enjoy a good State of Health. His Royal Highness went last Monday to Albano, Riccia, Genzano, Castel Gondolfo, and Marino, and returned in the Evening, after having visited the antique Monuments that are preferred there, and which bring to Remembrance the Splendour of ancient Rome.
April 18. The Reason for the Departure of Prince Stuart was to meet his Spouse at Macerata, where he was to receive the nuptial Benediction from the Bishop. On this Marriage taking Place, the Courts of France and Spain are said to have settled a grand Apnannage on him; and it is added, that the Princess brings with her a Portion of five Hundred Thousand Crowns.
NAPLES, April 7. The following melancholy Accident happened here lately. A Drummer of the Regiment of Farnese having bought some Mushrooms, dined on them with the rest of his Family; and in twenty four Hours the Father, Mother, three Children, a Cousin, and a Soldier who dined there by Chance, were all killed by them.
HAGUE, April 17. Letters from Petersburg, of the 24th of March, mention that the Inhabitants of Moscow have received Orders to quit that City, and that the Court intends shutting it up to prevent the spreading of the Plague, which is expected to break out with the Return of the Spring, when the most rigorous Precautions will be taken to stop it.
LONDON, May 2.
THEY write from Naples that there has not been so bad a Show of Grain in the Fields, all over the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as at present; the Corn having been in many Places entirely destroyed by a black Bug, which has made its Appearance ever since sowing Time.
The Forts and Forcifications on the Coast of Great Britain will be reviewed by proper Officers, who are to order such Reports as may be necessary.
Lord Mansfield still scrupulously adheres to his Regulation of ordering the Counsel to Bar precisely at twelve o'Clock, by which Means the judicial Business of the House of Lords is amazingly expedited. Should the above Regulation be adopted in future, it will be of the most signal Service to all Parties who may have Appeals depending before the House of Lords.
The House of Commons have resolved, and made it a standing Order, that no Bill relating to Religion, or the Alteration of the Laws concerning Religion, be brought into this House until the Proposition shall have been first considered upon by a Committee of the whole House, and agreed unto by the House.
Extract of a Letter from Berlin, April 14.
The English Chargé des Affaires, Mr. Burnet, returned yesterday from Potsdam, where he has been to take Leave of his Majesty, and is to return to London in a few Days. On the 10th of June the French Refugees will hold their Jubilee, as it will be just a Hundred Years since they had Permission to settle in the Prussian Dominions and exercise their Religion. The King has declared, that as long as he lives he will grant them his Protection. A Medal is struck upon this Occasion, with the Inscription "Anglie donné, à la foi par la Charité."
A Foreigner, of great chymical Knowledge, has within these few Days applied to the Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, for a Reward for making potash Gold; a Discovery which, it is apprehended, will turn out greatly to the Benefit of Mankind.
May 4. Friday last Lord North in the House of Commons opened the Budget, and it is now known that the Treasury are to pay off one Million five Hundred Thousand Pounds at two Instalments, namely, seven Hundred and fifty Thousand Pounds on Midsummer Day, and the like Sum on Michaelmas Day, all in the three per Cents. No Person is allowed to subscribe a greater Sum than ten Thousand Pounds, and every subscribing Creditor is to be paid eighty six Pounds for every Hundred
Pound-three per Cents, and to be indulged with a Douceur of four Lottery Tickets. His Lordship declared, that, so far as he could obtain any Lights into the present System of the different Courts in Europe, all was Peace, and Nothing seemed to hinder this so general a Peace from continuing ten Years; which, if it did, and he should continue at the Head of the Treasury, he proved, from uncontrovertible Computations, that he should, within that Period, pay off Seventeen Millions six Hundred Thousand Pounds of the national Debt; and farther, that, when this Sum should be thus paid off, the clear neat Revenue of this Kingdom would amount to Six Millions annually, which would be a Sum equal to the Undertaking of any War, whether naval or military, or both, with all the combined Powers of Europe. His Lordship observed, that the King of France was equally solicitous for a Peace; and that although many British Officers, both in the Navy and Army, might very naturally wish for War in Order to signalize their superior Courage and Abilities, yet it was the special Duty and Province of a first Lord of the Treasury to consider the Event, either of Peace or War, not in a partial but in a general Light; adding, that he had considered it in the latter Point of View, and though he was as highly sensible of the Abilities of his Majesty's naval and military Forces as any Person in the Kingdom, yet, upon a comprehensive and general View of Things, he was clearly convinced that it was the Advantage of this Kingdom not to go into War unless absolutely compelled to do so, which had not yet been the Case, since, whenever his Majesty thought the Honour of his Crown any Ways insulted, the Insulters had always made ample Acknowledgment and Condescension.
Saturday Night, as their Majesties were coming out of the Opera House in the Haymarket, her Majesty lost one of her Diamonds.
The Report of his Majesty's intending to make the Tour of England is entirely void of Foundation.
Advice is received that the Jacob's Well, Theremin, after an obstinate Fight of four Hours, was taken by a small Spanish Guarda Costa in Glover's Reef, near the Bay of Honduras, the 6th of March last, and carried into Campeachy, where the Crew are imprisoned; the Captain died by ill Usage.
The Honourable East India Company have resolved to send a large Quantity of Ammunition, and a Reinforcement of eight Thousand Men, for the Defence of their Settlements in India.
At the Masquerade last Thursday Night, at the Pantheon, the most remarkable Figures were: The Dutchess of Richmond, in the Character of Zobeide, was a striking Maque; Beauty, Elegance, and Grace, were happily blended in her Grace's Figure without Affection. Lady Margaret For—e, in the Dress of Queen Elizabeth, appeared infinitely more charming than any Idea we can form of the fair Queen Bess. Many Ladies of Rank and Beauty chose to adopt the male Dress in Domino, and appeared as masculine as many of the delicate Maccaroni. Things we see swarming every Where, to the Disgrace of our noble ancient British Race. The most distinguished of these Belles, clad en homme, were the Dutchess of Ancestre, Lady Me—n, Lady B—n B—n, the Honourable Mrs. John D—er, Mrs. Hod—s, and Miss B—ke.—Miss Dix—e, in the Turkish Stile of Dress, was perfectly angelick; Grace, Elegance, Size, and Beauty, were united in the Person of this belle Maque.—The Hor—k Family made a charming Groupe; dressed alike, in a Fancy dancing female Dress, the two beautiful Sisters, and their smart young Brother, they might (notwithstanding his Sex) have passed for the three Graces. The Honourable Mrs. Bou—e, in the Character of a Spanish Nun, might have tempted a Saint to Sin.—The Bella Donna, the Marquise Le—i, was associate with the charming Religieuse. A Maque in the Dress of a Penitent, and a Nun her Friend, watched the fair Italian. It is supposed, but not certain, that the unfortunate Penitent was the Countess P—y. A Lord Chalkstone was very lively, well dressed, and happy in the Performance of his Character; though unmasked, he remains unknown.—A Jew Pedlar talking German and broken English, very clever and droll, Sir Francis Cl—ke.—An old Maque, dressed partly like a Man, with a Woman's Head Dress, and a huge clerical Hat, calling herself La Fille d'Archvêque, was very lively and smart; though happy in finding out other People in their Disguise, this Daughter of the Church was not discovered; she spoke mostly good French, and affected to speak bad English, with good Success. Mr. Ban—es was a very singular and odd Maque, in the Dress of a Georgian, called a Hoity-toity.—There was a great many Newmarket Jockies, well dressed, and tight knowing Figures; but their whole Wit lay in their Boots.—A Vestal Virgin personated by Lady Grosvenor.—A Scotch Gentleman, at least six Feet three or four Inches high, appeared in the Dress of the Grand Turk.—The Honourable Mrs. Ham—en, in the Dress of a Venetian Pæfana, was Grace and Beauty itself.—The Honourable Bob Con—y appeared in the real Character of an English Giant.—The celebrated and beautiful Miss Bet. C—x assumed a male Character; Lady Gid—on, a Spinning Girl; Mrs. B—n—ry, a Dancer.—Duke of Grafton, in a Domino; and Sir J. Reynolds, in a Domino. Mr. Craddock, and Doctor Goldsmith, in two Old English Dresses.—Mr. Nelthorpe, in Turkish Robes.—Honourable Mr. Montague, in Shylock.—Lady Archer, Flora. So happy were some of the Company, and unwilling to depart, that they breakfasted on the Remains of Supper, and drank large Libations to the Goddesses that had honoured the Pantheon with their bright Appearance. On the Whole, this late Spectacle is allowed, by People of Taste and Bon Ton, to be unrivalled by all former Exhibitions of this Nature, foreign Countries not excepted.
May 5. Notwithstanding the Precaution the Ministry are said to have taken, so as not to appear in the Characters of Brokers or Bribers in the Distribution of the one Million five Hundred Thousand Pounds, which was subscribed in at the Bank yesterday, it is incontestibly evident that every Farthing of this Loan was subscribed for by particular Persons, long before the Books were opened. Never was there known, in the Memory of the oldest Alley Broker, so great a Concourse of People as were assembled yesterday, even three Hours before eleven o'Clock in the Morning, which was the precise Hour appointed for opening the Books at the Bank; yet no Person whatever could be permitted to subscribe, certain Friends only excepted. Before the Hour of twelve upwards of ten Millions might have been subscribed, had such a Sum been wanted, so eager were they to intrust their Money in the Hands of Government.
By a Letter received at Amsterdam, dated April 21st, it is authenticated that a Spanish Frigate which arrived the Week before at Ferrol, from Buenos Ayres, brought Advice that the Portuguese Subjects who settled at Rio de Janeiro, finding no Redress to their Grievances, and that Nothing but one Oppression was to succeed another, bravely took the Resolution to do that Justice to themselves which they could not obtain either of the King of Portugal or of his Viceroy; and that when this Frigate left the Continent of the Brazils the Subjects at Rio de Janeiro had Recourse to Arms, and that this dangerous Insurrection, it was thought, would not easily be quelled, at least not without first sacrificing the Viceroy, as a Victim to the enraged and exasperated Insurgents.
"I do not blame you for defending the Queen Matilda; you are an Englishman: But if you are in earnest, and really believe she is innocent, then I must tell you, that, had you yourself but known a tenth Part of the heinous Circumstances laid to her Charge, you would have condemned her yourself, though you were the best Friend to the House of Hanover; for the Truth is, her Conduct has been so glaringly culpable that even the common People could not avoid passing the same censorious Reflections upon her here as the common People did upon her late Mother in London. You can form no Idea of the Execration in which the whole British Nation is held here, entirely upon her Account;
seeing the common People conclude that all the English, whom they measure by this Queen's imprudent Conduct, are equally bad and vicious. This young Woman, who is called here the Messalina of Denmark, if perchance she had not been Struenæe for twenty four Hours, would be sending for him all over the Town of Copenhagen, Messenger after Messenger, and sometimes twenty of them in a Day. So great was her Jealousy that she forbid many Ladies of Distinction the Court, upon the most groundless Suspicion of their being great with Struenæe. As an Instance of her Weakness, as well as Want of common Prudence, I must tell you that last Christmas Day she made Struenæe a Present of a Piece of new fashioned English Silk to make him a Bed Gown; but Struenæe, who it seems had a greater Passion for a favourite Italian Actress than for the young Queen, made a present of this English manufactured Silk to the Actress. She, proud and vain of her Conquest, had it immediately made up, and appeared in all the publick Walks. The Queen happening one Day to see her walking in the Streets in this new acquired Dress, stung with Rage and Jealousy at her fair Rival's superior Charms, instantly despatched some of her Domestic with Orders to tear the Gown from off her Back. The royal Orders were immediately carried into Execution, and the lovely Actress was accordingly stripped stark naked in the publick Streets, in the Presence of a Thousand Spectators. I leave you, Sir, to make your own Comments on this true Story, and am persuaded you cannot but think the whole Danish Nation are happy in getting rid of her."
Letters from Gibraltar, dated March 20th, give an Account of the most dreadful Weather for some Weeks together. Many Vessels are lost between Cadiz and the Straits Mouth. In a violent Storm, two Danish Ships of War of the Line were drove from their Anchors in Gibraltar Bay, one of them on Shore, and would have been entirely lost, but by the Assistance given them by the Trident English Man of War she was happily got off, and is now in the Mole under Repair. The same Letter adds, that a Dutch Man of War was thought to be lost on Malaga, and that many Vessels then at Gibraltar had been detained there above three Months by contrary Winds.
They write from Paris that four Camps are just formed, in Order to preserve Peace and good Order; one at Alsace, one at Mentz, one in Franche Comte, and the last in French Flanders.
By a Letter from Selby, in Yorkshire, we hear that a loose Woman was lately delivered in that Village of four Children, two of whom had neither Arms nor Feet.
Sunday Night four Villains robbed a Man and his Wife in Stepney Fields. They afterwards ravished the Woman; and on her Husband's endeavouring to hinder them, they beat him in so terrible a Manner that it is thought he cannot recover.
May 6. Letters from Hamburg, dated April 26th, remark that several Merchants there had received different Commissions from the British Court to furnish the Parish at Zell immediately with the richest and most magnificent Furniture of all Sorts for the Reception of the young Queen Matilda; and the same Correspondent adds, that it is known of a Certainty at Hamburg that his Prussian Majesty has negotiated a Treaty of Marriage between his Niece Philippina Augusta Amelia and his present Danish Majesty. This Princess is in her twenty seventh Year, and is Daughter to Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg Schwedt. The other Sister of this Princess is married to Prince Ferdinand of Prussia.
Zell, the Palace talked of for the Residence of the Queen of Denmark, is the Capital of a Dutchy of that Name, situated on the River Aller, in Germany, where the Fulde falls into it, thirty five Miles south from Lünenburg, twenty eight Miles north from Hanover, and twenty five Miles north east from Brunswick. The Palace is a square Building, adorned with pleasant Gardens, Orchards, and Grottoes, is moated round, and was built in 1485.
The present Luxury of the Times may be easily estimated from the Masquerade of last Thursday Evening. Two Thousand Persons, at two Guineas each, make four Thousand Guineas; and if we rate the Prices of all the various Dresses at three Guineas each (the Money demanded at Tavistock Street for the Use only of a Domino) we shall immediately see that ten Thousand Guineas, besides the Expense of Chair and Coach Hire, were lavished on the Entertainment of a single Night, while our Poor are absolutely perishing for Bread in various Parts of the Kingdom.
We are informed that yesterday Morning his Excellency the Russian Ambassador notified, in Form, to our Court, that a Suspension of Arms has actually taken Place between the Turks and Russians, and that a Congress is already begun.
A Gentleman who arrived on Sunday Night last from Paris brings Advice that the French King has been attacked with a sudden Illness, from which it is thought he cannot recover.
May 7. A well known Baronet applied on Saturday for Leave to subscribe for five Hundred Lottery Tickets, to whom the Premier returned the following Answer: "If you are a publick Creditor in the Loan intended to be paid off, you have a Right to subscribe without my Consent; if you are not, the Consent of the Treasury can do you no Service on this Occasion."
A Letter from Gottingen, March 24th, says: "A Beggar who had a very voracious Appetite, and accustomed himself to swallow, after his Victuals, Flints, Felts, and other Things, died not long since suddenly at Ihlefeld. The Judge of the Place being desirous to know the Effect of this very singular Case, ordered the Body to be opened in the Presence of several of the Faculty. The Stomach was very spacious, and capable of containing ten Pounds of Water; and they found Pieces of Meat undigested, and several Flint Stones and other Things in his Inside. This Man used to eat thirteen Pounds of Beef, and drink twelve Measures of Wine, without being disorderd."
May 8. Yesterday Part of the Baggage of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester arrived at Gloucester House; his Highness is expected in England on the 27th of this Month.
The same Morning early a Messenger arrived at St. James's, with some Despatches from the Earl of Harcourt at Paris; he waited about an Hour, and then set out on his Return.
Extract of a Letter from Kingston, in Jamaica, February 1.
"We hear that on the Arrival of the Marquis de Torres at the Havannah an Express was sent to Cuba to put themselves in a Posture of Defence, and Orders for the Guarda Costas to repair as soon as possible to the Havannah."
Yesterday Morning a Messenger was sent off Express to the Lords of the Regency of the Electorate of Hanover, and another to the King of Prussia.
The write from Holland that the Dutch East India Company have presented to the States General an ample Memorial, in which they complain of the Encroachments and unfair Practices of the English in that Part of the Globe.
Letters from Spain say that the black Vomit was broke out at Cadiz, which carried off great Numbers of People.
They write from Brussels that the Alarm of the Plague had begun again, and that the Troops which formed the Line in those Countries last Summer, and had been recalled to join their several Regiments, were ordered to the same Station again, in Order to prevent bad Consequences.
A Letter from Newfoundland says that a French Vessel has lately been seized there, and carried into St. John's, for carrying on an illicit Trade in the Fisheries there.
The Brazil Fleet, consisting of sixteen Ships, under Convoy of two Men of War, arrived at Lisbon the 11th of last Month, with rich Cargoes of two Hundred and fifty Ounces of Diamonds, and upwards of five Millions of Gold in Crusades.

Extract of a Letter from Amsterdam, April 30.
The East India Company has received Advice by the Hoolwerf, arrived at Goree the 24th Instant (which is the first Ship of the Fleet expected this Year from the Indies) that at her Departure from the Cape of Good Hope many more of our Ships were arrived; besides which there were eight French Ships at Anchor, from the Indies, for Europe. And Letters received by the above Ship advise that the French are equipping in the Indies a considerable Number of Ships for the Island Mauritius, and that they had actually between four and five Thousand regular Troops there.
Extract of a Letter received out of Cornwall.
If ever the Soul or Man is excited to lend an Ear to the Miserable, they must at this Juncture; for, believe me, there are many Score of poor People in this Country that have neither Meat nor Clothes. Industry, now a Days, cannot be said to support Mankind; for, by some unknown Means, the Price of every Thing is so raised that a decent Living is scarce to be scraped. How many poor Individuals do we daily see emaciated with Hunger! O! a dreadful Spectacle! This must lie deep at the Heart of every thinking Man, but I must conclude this dreadful Narrative with my best Wishes for an immediate Redress.
They advise from Lisbon that forty Jesuits, said to be concerned in the Attempt on his Faithful Majesty's Life, were executed there the 23d of March last.
The Masquerade Ball last Night at Mrs. Cornely's was, we are assured, by much the most elegant ever yet given at her House, the Company numerous, and the Dresses magnificent.
It is said that a Set of Gentlemen intend to try hard for reviving the Jubilee at Ranelagh this Summer; having found, by Experience, that Masquerades are the Life and Soul of Existence.
It is a melancholy Circumstance, observes a Correspondent, that whilst one Part of the Publick are revelling the other should be on the Point of perishing; yet such are the Distresses of the Poor, from the still extravagant Price of Provisions, that the Dinner of many Families is only their Tears, and the Supper their unavailing Lamentations.
By Letters from Paris we are informed that the greatest Part of our Nobility is expected there during the approaching Recess of Parliament, being marked down for Men of too much Taste and Spirit to be capable of spending their Money in England, when they have it in their Power to follow their own Inclinations.
It is now said that no Change whatever will take Place in the Ministry until the re-assembling of Parliament.
Our good Neighbours the Dutch are, it is supposed, planning some Schemes of Advantage to their Safety, by the Secrecy of their present Assemblies, and the scheming Importance of their Deliberations.
We hear that a certain Ambassador has confessed himself so little satisfied with the Conduct of our Ministers that he impatiently waits his Recall to his own Court.
The Square intended to be built in the City, by the Proprietors of the Adelphi, will, it is said, be the most magnificent Place in this Kingdom.
May 9. The following is a remarkable Instance of the pedantick Use of certain favourite Words in Vogue amongst the polite and fashionable World, by an honourable Maccaroni, in his Address to a young Lady: Sweet Lady, said Macc, I have waited with great Ardor when your Person would be offensible , that I might annex my Passion for you.
All the Maccaroni Bon Ton at Ranelagh now is, a Nofegay as round and as large as the End of a Mop.
It is scarcely credible, but it is true, that a certain Maccaroni Lord at this Time pays, by Agreement, to a Gardener, five Guineas a Day for Nofegays for his Lady, himself, and his Footmen.
A few Days ago one of those contemptible Creatures (who are a Disgrace to our Species) called a Maccaroni, went to a Hatter's at the west End of the Town and bespoke a Hat, and was very particular as to the Cut and Cock of it. One Side of the Brim he would have no wider than a Shilling, behind a considerable Breadth, so as to be much higher than the Crown. "I suppose, Sir (said the Hatter) you would have it in the Tip of the Blade ." "O (said he) I would have it in the Mode preposterous !"
The Author of Love in a Village, and Love in the City, has just finished a Piece called Love at Whitehall; but we hear it is intended only for private Exhibition.
Extract of a Letter from Copenhagen, dated April 28.
Saturday last, early in the Forenoon, the Committee of Inquiry pronounced Sentence against John Frederick Struensee and Enevold Brandt, which was accordingly presented to the Privy Council, without his Majesty's Attendance. In the Afternoon the Privy Council met again; in the Evening, towards seven o'Clock, the King arrived from Charlottenburg, and presided at the Council Board, when, after confirming the Sentence, he went directly to the Italian Opera.
Same Day, at twelve at Noon, both the Prisoners were acquainted, by their Counsellors, with their Sentences. Struensee received and read it with extraordinary Composure, which naturally astonished all those present, to whom he observed, they ought, as he did, to impute it to his constant "Apprehensions and his long Preparation for his unhappy Fate." His Un easiness appeared much greater when he found Brandt's Sentence equal to his own. Brandt also seemed tolerably resigned on hearing his Sentence; but the following Morning his Spirits totally sunk, there being no Barber sent him, as usual, to be shaved. Messrs. Munter and Hee have been, since Saturday, seldom absent from Struensee and Brandt. Both Prisoners delivered into their Counsellors Hands, on their leaving them on Saturday last, two Letters, one for the King, and one for the Committee of Inquiry. Yesterday they both took the Holy Sacrament.
Struensee's Sentence takes up five full Sheets of Paper. Among the Charges therein contained against him are, his having assumed too great a Power to himself; his injuring the King's Treasure for more than fifteen Tuns of Gold; his forging (or falsifying) a Draught; his discharging the Guards; the suspicious Arrangements he had been ordering within the Walls of this Place, &c.
Brandt's Sentence expressly says, that on Account of his Designs, agitated immediately against the sacred Person of his Majesty, the Exceptions he made could not be admitted, and therefore declared guilty and condemned. Towards the Conclusion of their Sentence is added, in Virtue of the Danish Law Book, Book 6th, Chapter 4th, Article 1st, both Count John Frederick Struensee, and Count Enevold Brandt, having made themselves guilty, and as an Example to others, stand justly condemned to forfeit their Honours, Lives, and Property, and are entirely degraded from the Dignities belonging to their Titles of Earls; their Earls Coats of Arms is to be broken by the Hands of the common Hangman; this being done, their right Hand will be cut off, next their Heads, then will their Bodies be quartered and laid upon the Wheel, and their Heads and Hands fixed upon Iron Spikes.
The aforesaid dead Warrants were this Morning executed in a Field without the eastern Gate; a Scaffold was erected of nine Yards in Height and eight Yards square, whither both the Prisoners were carried in Hackney Coaches. In the first went the Attorney Gen. and some Attendants. Brandt appeared first on the Scaffold; he had on a Gold laced Hat, a green Suit of Clothes, with Gold Binding, and Boots; he spoke for some little Time to his Clergyman, Mr. Hee, after which the Sentence was read and executed. His Head was several Times exposed to the View of an immense Crowd of Spectators. Next appeared Struensee on the Scaffold, accompanied by Doctor Munter, having his Hat in his Hand, and dressed in a blue superfine Suit; he spoke to Doctor Munter. When done, his Sentence was executed in every Shape like the foregoing One. Their Corpses were carried to the usual Place of Execution, to be there exposed. Struensee behaved very penitently; but this cannot be said of Brandt, for his whole Conduct was remarkably bold. Several Files of Soldiers and Sailors guarded the Scaffold, and the Town Guards were also reinforced. Though immense Numbers were, for Want of Room, disappointed of seeing this Execution, and all seeming for a While in a violent Ferment, yet the Whole went off undisturbed and quietly.
Thursday last his Excellency the Honourable Michael Franklin, Esquire, with a large Retinue, set out for Portsmouth, in Order there to embark for his Government of Nova Scotia; and it is said his Excellency takes out with him upwards of three Hundred and forty wealthy Families, to settle upon his various fine and useful Estates in that Part of the World. His Excellency, we hear, takes his Passage in the St. John's Schooner, bound for Halifax, the Metropolis of his Government.
M. Pignerelli, a Neapolitan Gentleman, was beheaded at Rome the 11th ult. for his satirical Writings against the Holy See.
The drawing of the Lottery is fixed by the Commissioners to begin on Monday the 16th of November next.
May 11. Thursday Morning last a young Lady, daughter to a wealthy Commoner in Place, with a Fortune of thirty Thousand Pounds at her own Disposal, set out for France with her Father's Valet de Chambre.
Extract of a Letter from Peterburg, April 10, to a Merchant in London. Our illustrious Empress is not less attentive to the great Concerns of Commerce than she is to those of Arms. The new Manufacture of Beaver Hats, which has been established here under the Auspices and Protection of her Imperial Majesty, goes on with rapid and surprising Success. Her Majesty has most munificently rewarded the Inventors, or rather the Introducers, of that new Manufacture into the Russian Empire. If we continue to go on with the same rapid Success, we shall soon
monopolize the whole European Trade in this Article, as we make these Hats full as good as the English Hatters do, if not better, and actually sell them one Hundred and fifty per Cent. cheaper than the English Merchants do, notwithstanding we purchase two Thirds of our Beaver from England."
On Friday Night, between eleven and twelve o'Clock, a terrible Fire broke out at Mr. Jefferies's, a Russia Merchant, in Throgmorton Street, which, owing to the Want of Water for near two Hours, raged with great Violence; the Flames communicated to the opposite Side of the Street, and destroyed several Houses. The Loss is inconceivable. Mr. Jefferies's Stock of Linens alone, it is said, amounts to thirty Thousand Pounds; and most of the Sufferers are Men of Opulence. A Coachman to one of the Sufferers lost his Life by the Fall of the Wall of Mr. Augustine's House, though he had Warning given of his Danger several Times by the Firemen; and a Man and Maid Servant are missing. Mr. Jefferies and his Lady were gone out of Town, after burying their Child. An Iron Chest which contained a considerable Sum of Money is missing, and is supposed to have been conveyed away by some Villains.
Between ten and eleven, on Saturday Morning, another Fire broke out at a House in Wild Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. Two Men jumped out of a two Pair of Stairs Window; but there being a great Quantity of Mortar Duff in the Street, they happily received no Hurt; the Fire was soon extinguished.
Saturday Morning, about two o'Clock, a Fire broke out at a Gingerbread Baker's in Cumberland Court, Southwark, which entirely consumed the same.
The same Morning the Front of a House in Newgate Street fell quite down, with two Labourers on it, both of whom escaped unhurt.
Saturday the general Court Martial was dissolved, and the Sentence laid against the King. It is said the General must pay the Regiment for the Clothing.
May 12. Accounts from Copenhagen, of the 28th ult. confirm those brought over by the last Mail relative to the Fate of Struensee and Brandt; and say, that Orders have been issued for discontinuing the usual Form of publick Prayer, by omitting the Name of Queen Matilda. This Ordinance has already taken Place in the Churches of that City.
Mr. Ramus, and two other Gentlemen of his Majesty's Household, are gone in the Seaford to attend the Queen of Denmark.
Major Rogers, who was so serviceable in the Command of a Body of Irregulars last War in America, has just obtained a Commission from his Majesty for finding out the north west Passage in that Quarter. He is to be allowed three Pounds a Day for himself, and four Shillings each for fifty Companions of his own choosing. From the intimate Acquaintance this Gentleman hath with the Country, his Knowledge of the Indian Language, and, above all, having the Object much at Heart, the Scheme seems to promise a very successful Issue.
On Saturday several Officers of the Ordnance Board set off to inspect the Condition of the Forts on the west Coast of Scotland.
Letters from Bristol mention that Britain now discovers Disposition of Repentance, and to prepare for that awful Change he must soon undergo.
May 13. Notwithstanding all the Preparations at Zell, for the Reception of her Danish Majesty, we have received a Letter from Copenhagen, of very good Authority, dated the 5th Instant, which assures us that the Queen Matilda is so unfortunatly that she has absolutely and finally declared she will upon no Consideration whatever be separated from the King, and that she persists in protesting against the conditional Decree of April the 6th, by which she was sentenced to be divorced from her Royal Consort. She still resolutely insists, and persists, that she is either guilty or innocent: If the former, then she demands the same Punishment that has been inflicted upon Struensee and Brandt; if the latter, then she demands, as a Matter of Right, an ample Restitution of her Honour and royal Dignity. This Resolution has greatly embarrassed the Court of Copenhagen, and the Result of it remains as yet a Mystery of State.
Our Letters from Hamburg inform that as soon as the Commissioners of Inquiry had published both the Sentence and the Defence of Struensee the Ministry planted their Spies in all the Coffeehouses, and other Places of publick Resort, in the Town of Copenhagen; in Consequence of which Espionage every Person who had publicly spoken in Favour either of Struensee, Brandt, or the Queen Matilda, were the next Day taken up on Suspicion, and are severally to undergo their respective Examinations before the said Commissioners of Inquiry.
The same Letters furnish us with a very extraordinary Article of Intelligence, relative to the Execution of Count Brandt, which has not yet transpired through any of the foreign Prints. According to this Account, the Clergyman who attended Count Brandt in Prison undertook to give this State Prisoner a Dose of Poison at the Time he should administer the Holy Sacrament to him; but this Clergyman, it seems, failed to perform his Promise, so that Brandt, having mounted the fatal Scaffold, and this Clergyman advancing towards him, in Order to suck his Brains , under Presence of giving him holy Comfort, the Count very unexpectedly, but with great Composure of Mind, decently bid him retire from him, adding, the Poison of the Clergy of that Country had been in a great Measure the Cause, not only of his coming to so disagreeable an End, but also of involving the whole Kingdom in its present Troubles. "Retire from me, therefore (says he) good Mr. Doctor, and be assured that as I never lived so will I never die a Hypocrite; and you can affirm yourself that I never would have consented to take the Sacrament the Day before yesterday had not you promised me, as a Gentleman, and as a Christian, that you would convey a sufficient Quantity of Poison in the Eucharistical Cup. However, this Breach of your private Word of Honour to me has had this good Effect, namely, that the numerous Crowd now before me may know that I declare, in the Words of a dying Man, that when my Story shall be impartially told, and known beyond the narrow Walls of Copenhagen, there will be more Scaffolds erected in Europe than that on which I now fall a devoted Victim."
Extract of a Letter from Lisbon, April 7.
Sunday, at Midnight, two violent Shocks of Earthquakes happened here, which lasted two Minutes, and alarmed all Lisbon. I was in Company with about twenty Persons of both Sexes, at Supper, in the House of a Hamburg Merchant. This Earthquake was preceded by the Howling of Dogs, and the melancholy Crowing of Cocks. The Inhabitants of the Country are well acquainted with this Kind of Preamble. All the Company turned pale, and immediately we heard a subterranean Noise, with Howlings and Whistlings as in a great Storm. This was immediately followed by a horizontal Shock, which moved every Thing in the Room. We ran towards the Door, when another Shock still stronger had like to have thrown us all down. The Stairs by which we descended shook for two Minutes, which is a long Time under such Circumstances. We have not yet heard of any Damage done by this Earthquake; but as the chief Force of it was in the Country, there has not yet been Time for the News to come."
A Letter from Cracow, dated April 24th, says: "The Commander of the Castle, M. Choisi, capitulated this Day; the Garrison surrendered at Discretion, and will march out the Day after to-morrow."
We learn from Copenhagen that the two Dungeons lately vacated in the Castle will be occupied by General Falkenschiold and Lieutenant Heffelberg, the former of whom it is feared will be condemned to a severe Fate.
On Saturday Night last some of the Dometicks of his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester arrived in Town with Part of his Baggage, and brought an Account that his Royal Highness would be in Town, if possible, before the Birthday.
Two Houses contiguous to Kew House are fitted up, one for the Reception of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Bishop of Osnabrug, with their Household, and the other for some of the younger Princes and Princesses.
By a Vessel from Antigua there is Advice that a Fire had consumed above one Hundred Warehouses of Sugar, Coffee, and European Goods, at Martinico. The Damage is computed at twelve Millions of French Livres.
On Saturday last came on in the King's Bench, before Lord Mansfield, and the rest of the Judges of that Court, the much talked of Cause of Somerset, the Black, against Charles Stuart, Esquire, his Master, which was, by mutual Consent, put off from the last Term. Mr. Mansfield, Counsel for the Plaintiff, went very spiritedly into the natural Rights and Privileges of Mankind, particularly of those subject to the Laws of Great Britain, whom he proved to be peculiarly protected in the uncontrolled Exercise of their Freedom. He observed, that perpetual Service was not even the Idea of French Government, and instance a Case of a Slave's escaping from Germany to France, where he was immediately emancipated, and protected. He likewise observed, in the Case of Galley Slaves, those, who by similar Crimes are here punished with Death, should they by any Means escape, they never are obliged to reaffume their Slavery, but are entitled to the Benefits of Liberty. Has there ever been an Instance (continued Mr. Mansfield) of a Merchant bringing over a Number of Slaves directly from Africa here, and selling them in open Market? No, the meanest Briton would take Fire at such a Sight. Where then is the mighty Magick of the Air of the West Indies, that, by transplanting them for a While there, they should become our absolute Property here? The Counsel on the same Side not being well enough to attend, the final Hearing of this important Cause is farther postponed until the latter End of this Week.
The following comes this Moment from a capital Quarter. All the Letters this Day from Peterburg (April 30th) bring the following positive
Advice: The Grand Seigneur having left the Place of Congress to the Choice of the Empress of Russia, she has fixed the same to be held at Bucharest. The Plenipotentiaries on the Part of Russia are, the Master of Ordnance, Count Orlow, and the Privy Counsellor Obrescow: On the Part of the Grand Seigneur are, Osman Effendi, Reis Effendi, Ismael Bey. The Suspension of Arms will be settled."
The Theatre Royal at Edinburgh has met with uncommon Encouragement this Season, Messrs. Diggs and Bland having, it is affirmed, cleared near one Thousand Pounds each; while, on the other Hand, the Theatres in Dublin, the last Winter, have been almost totally neglected, and the Actors reduced to the greatest Distress, from the Managers not being able to pay them the Salaries they contracted for.
A Messenger was despatched yesterday from St. James's to Copenhagen with two Packets, one of which he is expressly ordered to deliver into the Hands of the King himself; the other is for Sir Robert Murray Keith.
It is said that a Restitution of Part of the Portion of a certain Queen will be insisted upon.
It is reported that some very recent Insults have been offered to the British Flag in the Mediterranean.
A Resolution has been taken that no Foreigner shall be admitted into any Dockyard, Fort, &c. without previous Leave obtained from the Governors.
Mr. Dowdeswell's Speech in Answer to that of Lord North, at the Opening of the Budget, concludes in Words to the following Purport. "The noble Lord has given us a Picture of a great Minister; let me be indulged with Liberty to throw out my Ideas on the same Subject. In my Opinion, a great Minister does not show his Firmness so much in despising the Clamours of his Fellow Citizens as the Threats of his Country's Enemies. A great Minister will not suffer his Majesty's Dominions to be seized, nor the British Flag to be insulted with Impunity. He will not see the Nation put, by an Enemy, to an enormous Expense in warlike Preparations, and require no Indemnification. He will have a Head to plan, and a Heart to execute, Measures of his own, and not be the mere Instrument of another. He will not one Day give Orders for a naval Armament, and in five Days, a Space of Time too short for receiving a more favourable Answer from the Continent, countermand those Orders. The Fleet I allude to was intended, as is evident from its being to rendezvous in the Downs, against some northern Power. Could any fresh Despatches have arrived from any northern Court in five Days? What then was the Object of this Fleet? Can any One tell us? After such a recent and unaccountable Fluctuation of Councils, does not the Minister talk with a peculiar Grace of Manliness, Steadiness, and Firmness, and other Roman Virtues?"
The House of Commons have come to a Resolution that a Sum not exceeding five Thousand Pounds should be granted to his Majesty, to be paid to Mr. Charles Irwin for his Invention of a Machine by which Salt Water can be made fresh and wholesome.
May 14. This Day their Majesties and the Royal Family took up their Residence at Richmond, for the Summer Season.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has sent over, as a Present to the Prince of Wales, a Set of little Ponies, to draw his Royal Highness in a Pheton; they were purchased in Italy, and are judged the smallest and most curious Horses ever seen in England.
Several capital Paintings, some curious Engravings, and several fine Buffs, which were made a Present to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester by the Pope, on Tuesday landed at the Customhouse from Italy.
Extract of a Letter from the Frontiers of Turkey, dated April 1.
Marschal Romanzow, after receiving Instructions from his Court relative to the Manner in which he was to conclude the Preliminaries of Peace, sent a Person of Consequence to the Ottoman Camp, accompanied by forty Lords, and escorted by two Hundred Horse Grenadiers. On their Way they were met by a numerous Body of Janizaries, with their Muskets, and were saluted by the Discharge of the Artillery. The principal Turkish Officers came to meet him, and placing the Russian Plenipotentiary between them, they conducted him to the Grand Vizier's Tent, who received him with great Ceremony and Distinction, treated him magnificently for three Days, according to the Ottoman Custom, and made him rich Presents. There was a Conference in the Night, which lasted a long Time. After having executed his Commission, this Lord took Leave of the Grand Vizier, and returned to Moldavia, but left one of the Officers of his Suite, who was sent to Constantinople the next Day with four Turkish Officers. As soon as he arrived he went to the Kaimacan, to whom he notified that he came from the Ottoman Camp. He stayed three Days in that Capital, and was sent back to the Grand Vizier with other Despatches; from whence he is to go to Moldavia, to give Account of his Commission to Count Romanzow. It is not yet known what has passed in this Negotiation, but it is hoped that we shall soon be informed of it."
Extract of a Letter from the Hague, May 5.
The Governor of Surinam has represented to the Directors of that Colony that unhappily the Natives of the Country have invaded and demolished some of the distant Plantations; and that, for Want of Troops, he was not able to quell them. This News has occasioned a great Deal of Consternation, and the Directors are taking the necessary Measures to remedy the Evil complained of."
In the Month of February last we announced the Failure of Mr. Giral Keost, a great Bankrupt of Augsburg in Germany; he failed for one Million two Hundred Thousand Guilders (each Guilder is valued at twenty eight Pence English Money) ever since which Time a civil Guard has been planted Night and Day before his House. But our Letters from this Imperial Town, of the 20th of April last, remark, that, notwithstanding such Guard, he escaped the 30th of March, at nine o'Clock in the Morning, from his own House, into the Bishop's Palace there. This Palace, it seems, has the Privilege of Sanctuary, or a Right of protecting all Criminals that take Refuge in it. Our Correspondent, who favours us with this Intelligence, adds, that Mr. Keost took with him Jews of very great Value, besides Bills of Exchange and other Papers to a very considerable Amount. But one of Mr. Keost's false Friends, who visited him every Day in the Precincts of this Episcopal Palace, over-persuaded him that he was in imminent Danger of being given up, by Means of a large Sum of Money properly applied; and therefore advised him, by all Means, to withdraw himself from this suspicious Place of Refuge, and to retire instantly to England, where he might reside in absolute Safety, and live in all the Splendour of a British Nobleman. Mr. Keost, unhappily for him, gave into this Snare, and last Night his false Friend undertook to conduct him out of the Bishop's Palace by a private Passage; but no sooner had Mr. Keost set Foot on unprivileged Ground than he was taken into Custody, and instantly conveyed to Prison. On searching his Pockets, and strong Chest, there was found in Value upwards of five Hundred Thousand Guilders.
Orders are given for shipping a Quantity of Goods in the Panther Man of War, on Board of which Commodore Shuldham is to hoist his Flag, to be distributed to the Chiefs of the Indian Tribes in Alliance with Great Britain.
Twenty two more Vessels have failed from the River for Greenland this Season than in any preceding Year, owing to the late increase of Bounty by Government.
May 15. Preparations are now making for an intended Tour of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Bishop of Osnabrug round Great Britain, under the Protection of the Earls of Holderness and Huntingdon.
It is reported that among other foreign Curiosities and valuable Relicks from Rome, lately landed at the Customhouse, are two Hogheads of Holy Water, for the Family Use.
Yesterday came on in the Court of King's Bench, before Lord Mansfield, and the rest of the Judges, the very interesting Trial between Mr. Stuart and his Negro Servant. Mr. Wallis, who was Counsel on the Part of the former, made Use of many able and learned Arguments, and threw various new and important Lights on the Question. When he had finished, Lord Mansfield interrogated him closely on certain Positions he had advanced, particularly on that of contending that the Relation between a Negro and his Owner might be well maintained on the Ground of a Contract between Master and Servant, which was incontrovertibly known to be binding, by the established Usages and Statute Laws of the Land; his Lordship remarking, at the same Time, that the Nature of the Proceedings contradicted this Assertion in the strongest Terms, and was utterly repugnant and destructive of every Idea of a Contract between the Parties. Judge Aston read an Opinion of the Lords Hardwicke and Northington; the one when Attorney General, and the other when Solicitor General, where they decided against the Slave in Favour of the Owner, and likewise reported the Sentiments of the Bishop of London to the same Effect, that Baptism made no Sort of Change in the political State of a Negro. Lord Mansfield then farther asked the Counsel if he meant to support the Proposition in its full Extent, "that the Plantation Laws relative to Slaves bound them in Great Britain and Ireland, or intended to draw a positive Line between them, so as to separate and distinguish in what particular Instances they ought to operate, and concluded by expressing his Wishes that (if the Object in Question was of such high Importance as now argued) a Law might be framed by the Legislature in Order to remedy the Evil; however, that, for his own Part, though he had a Power to declare the Law, he had none to make or create one on the present Occasion. The Cause was then deferred for final Determination till next Thursday; Mr. Dunning, the other Counsel, not being able to attend sooner.

On Wednesday Morning a Linen Draper's Daughter, not far from the Royal Exchange, thought proper to elope with her Father's youngest Apprentice, a Youth about eighteen; the young Lady is already entitled to four Thousand Pounds, by the Death of an Aunt.
Yesterday Morning early a young Lady of Fleet Street, who has three Thousand Pounds Fortune at her own Disposal, was going to be married to the Head Waiter of a Coffeehouse near Mitre Court; but her Father being alarmed, by some Accident, soon overtook the happy Couple, just as they were going to Church, and prevented the Nuptials, to their great Sorrow.
We hear from Newmarket that on Monday last the great Sweepstakes of one Thousand eight Hundred Guineas was run for by the Horses of the Duke of Grafton, Duke of Ancafer, Marquis of Rockingham, Lord Bolingbroke, Lord Grosvenor, Captain O'Kelly, &c. which was won by Captain O'Kelly's Horse Sod, got by Matchem.
Yesterday came on the Continuation of the Argument in Westminster Hall on the Negro Cause. Counsellor Hargrave opened it. He entered deeply and learnedly into the ancient and modern State of Slavery in this and other Countries. He proved that the Law of England had constantly discountenanced Slavery, even in the established Form of Villanage, until it was totally abolished; that it constantly guarded against the Admission of every new Species of Slavery, and therefore could never be supposed to warrant this which was now contended for. Counsellor Alleyne supported his Argument very ably and eloquently. He laid it down, as an unimpeachable Proposition, that all municipal Relations which were repugnant to natural Laws ceased to operate the Moment the Persons affected by them were out of the State in which they were made; that Slavery was a municipal Relation between Master and Slave, which violated the natural Rights of the Slave; and therefore, that, however it might be established by the Laws of Virginia, it could not subsist by Force of those Laws out of that Colony. He concluded with hoping that Mr. Stewart, and every other Man who arrogated such an unjust, inhuman, and dangerous Dominion over a Man when in this Country, would be told that the Laws of England would not endure it, nor suffer the free Air of this Realm to be contaminated with the Breath of a Slave. Counsellor Wallace replied in Support of the Master's Claim. He contented himself with affirming, what was never denied, in advancing Arguments which had been already stated and fully refuted; and finished with talking about the Nature of Contracts, when no Contract was alleged or existed. The farther Hearing of the Cause was adjourned to Monday next, when Mr. Dunning will continue the Argument.
Another Account says, yesterday Morning came on before the Court of King's Bench the farther Hearing of the Negro Cause, when, after very learned and eloquent Arguments offered on Behalf of the Black by Mess. Hargrave and Alleyne, and a Speech from Mr. Wallace on the other Side, the farther Hearing was adjourned to next Week: however, it is thought the Matter will be compromised, as Lord Mansfield strongly recommended it to the West Indian Merchants to apply to Parliament for the present Laws be not sufficient to protect their Property in their Slaves.
A Correspondent says, that immediately after the Birthday Lord North will resign both his most important Posts in the Government; his Lordship is to be succeeded as first Lord of the Treasury by Earl Cowper, and as Chancellor of the Exchequer by Mr. Rigby; the Duke of Grafton to be President of the Council, in the Room of Earl Gower; Lord Weymouth to succeed the former as Lord Privy Seal, and the Honourable Mr. Charles Fox to succeed Mr. Rigby as Paymaster of the Forces.
We hear that if the Court of King's Bench should refuse to release Somerset, the Black, that it is determined, under the Protection of the Duke of Richmond, and other worthy Persons, to appeal to the House of Lords, as the Principle on which the Question must be determined concerns the whole British Nation.
As the Execution of Struenfee and Brandt has not yet been notified by Authority in the Gazette, many People seem to consider the Accounts which have been received of it as highly-problematical, especially as the Ministry can have no Reason for concealing such an Event, since it cannot possibly do the least Service to the Queen of Denmark's Reputation.
We can assure our Readers that the Attention of the best Men in the Kingdom is drawn toward the Decision of the very interesting Cause of Somerset, the Negro; and that a Bill will be brought into Parliament, next Session, to regulate the African Trade, by a worthy Baronet, who means to employ his Pen, as well as his Eloquence, on this Subject.
We hear that a new Regulation of the Coin is adopted, and that in Consequence thereof a new Coinage of Silver will soon take Place.
May 16. Letters by yesterday's Holland Mail bring the following melancholy Account. On Monday Evening last, just before the Beginning of the Flemish Opera at the Theatre in Amsterdam, a small Rope belonging to some of the Machinery took Fire, owing to a Candle having been by Accident placed immediately under it, which communicated itself to the Boxes with such Rapidity that in a very few Minutes the whole House was in Flames. The Smoke and Confusion was so great, that, though many escaped out of the House, a large Number, amounting to near three Hundred Persons, are sorry to inform the Publick, perished in the Flames. Among them were many of the first Families in Holland. Husband and Wife, Mother and Daughter, were burnt together. In short, when the Mail came away, so great was the Confusion, owing to the above dreadful Calamity, that scarce Half the Business was conducted by the Merchants in Person. Eight or nine Houses were likewise burnt down by the said Fire.
Letters from Switzerland advise that many People who went from that Country to inhabit the British Colonies of Carolina and Georgia are returning from thence, the Climate not agreeing with them.
Mr. S—tho-e, who was so entertaining, in the Character of a Butcher, at the Masquerade at the Pantheon, among the rest accosted Mr. Ste—F—, who was sitting by Lady Mary, more than Half asleep. The Butcher, handling his Carcase in his Life; and that he would fain buy him, but dared not venture. I can't find out how old he is, said the Butcher, turning to Lady Mary, for the Beast has no Horns.
If I was Counsel for Somerset the Negro, (says a Correspondent) I would take up the Matter higher than any of his Counsel have yet done. I would urge, and I think I could prove, that he neither now is, nor ever was, the Property of his Master; that the original Vendor had no Right to sell, nor the original Purchaser to buy him; that all Mankind, as they are born, ought to live, equally free; and that the Slave Trade, whatever the mercantile World may urge to the contrary, is an infamous bartering of human Flesh and Blood, an accursed Violation of the most sacred Right of human Nature.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 23. At Oporto, the 20th of March, died the Reverend and Honourable JAMES HORROCKS , Counsellor of State to his Majesty for Virginia, Commissary to the Bishop of London, President of William & Mary College, and Rector of Bruton; a Gentleman well versed in several Branches of sound Learning, particularly the Mathematicks, and eminently possessed of those Virtues which increase in Value as they are farthest from Orientation. The Rising Sun, Captain Peterson, from London, is arrived in York River.
We hear that on Thursday last two Men, fishing in a Canoe in York River, were lost in a Squall of Wind. [DEATHS.] Colonel HARTWELL COCKE , one of the Representatives for Surry, of a lingering Illness.
Many of our Customers, with much Justice, will, no Doubt, expect an Apology from us for the Irregularity of the Post that goes to Halifax Town in North Carolina; and although we have repeatedly complained, by Letter, to the Gentleman who conducts that Business for us, we have never been able, until last Week, to procure an Answer, owing to the Boy's keeping up the Letters. In future, we can assure them they may rely on that Punctuality in the Rider which their good Payments have so well merited.
Advertisements.
IN the Subscriber's Store, at Portsmouth, a CASK of PEWTER marked N T, which the Owner may have on paying Charges and proving his Property. Also four Barrels of GUN-POWDER, imported in the Ship Nelly , Captain Galbraith , which were sent up James River , but no Person would receive them; to be delivered, on paying Charges, by JOHN GOODRICH.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 23, 1772. THE Ship Neptune, Jonathan Punderfson Commander, now lying off Colonel Corbin's , in Mattapony River , and bound for London , having the best Part of her Cargo engaged, will certainly sail by the 15th of next Month; and in the mean Time will take in, on Liberty, about a Hundred Hogheads, to complete her Loading. She has likewise good Accommodations for Passengers. Those inclinable to ship Tobacco, or go in the said Ship, may speak with the Captain while the Merchants are in Town, afterwards on Board the Ship.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 23, 1772. TOBACCO NOTE of Mr. Joseph Tur- ner's, on Gray's Creek Warehouse , for a Hogshead of Tobacco marked No. 549; Gross Weight 1226, Tare 123, Net 1103, was found a few Days ago in this City, which the Owner may have at the Post Office, on paying for this Advertisement.
WHEREAS, on or about the 11th of last February , I purchased four Negroes of Mr. John Wormeley , for which I paid sixty two Pounds six Shillings immediately, and gave my Bond, with Isaac Peed Security, for the farther Sum of ninety two Pounds fourteen Shillings, payable to the said John Wormeley on or before the 1st of October next, I hereby forewarn any Person from taking an Assignment of the said Bond, as I am determined not to pay it till the said John Wormeley makes me a good Right to all the aforesaid Negroes, and fully complies with the Bargain in his Behalf made, which hitherto he has failed to do. RICHARD NUTT.
ALL Persons indebted to the Estate of John Baylor , Esquire, deceased, are hereby requested to make Payment to Mr. Edmund Pendleton , Junior, and those who have any Demands against it are desired to make them known to him, being empowered to transact the Business of that Estate by JOHN ARMISTEAD, NATHANIEL BURWELL, } Executors.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 20, 1772. IT is requested that all Persons who have any Claim against the Estate of Mr. John Lane , deceased, will immediately make them known to Mr. John Prentis , that they may be admitted, as well such Debts as his Estate may be liable for during his Continuance in the Office of Sergeant of this City as on his own private Account. As I shall not think myself answerable for any Claims made after April next, I hope those concerned will not fail to render their Accounts. JAMES HOLDcroft , Executor.
PURSUANT to a Decree of the Honourable the General Court, we shall, on the 25th of August , on the Premises, sell, at publick Auction, the LANDS of Francis Willis , Esquire, in Glooucester County , to wit: Eight Hundred Acres, more or less, called Du-Val's and Couper's , and five Hundred Acres, or thereabouts, called Cocke's , with sundry Slaves, Stocks, and Household Furniture. And on the 23th of the same Month, about twelve Hundred of Land at Shimmo , on York River , in York County , with some Slaves and Stock, will be sold; the Lands at eighteen Months Credit, and twelve Months for the Slaves and personal Estate, the Purchasers giving Bond, with sufficient Security. Possession of the said Lands and Slaves to be delivered up at Christmas next. We shall also attend at Glooucester Courthouse on the 6th of that Month, it being Court Day, to receive and state the Demands of Mr. Willis's Creditors, who are desired to produce and prove them before us. JOHN PAGE, THOMAS NELSON, Junior, } Commissioners. DAVID KER,
WILLIAMSBURG, July 23, 1772.
ROBERT AGNEW, late an Apothecary in London , being desirous to see the Colonies in America , undertook the Journey last March , and arrived at Norfolk , in Virginia , the 14th of May following. I have imported a large Quantity of PATENT MEDICINES, with the Drugs necessary for my own Practice during my Stay in the Colonies. I considered these Patent Medicines to be very proper for Planters, and Gentlemen who live at a Distance from the Faculty, to keep in their Families, as I know them to be extremely useful. The proper Manner of applying them to the respective Disorders for which they are intended are so clearly shown that any Person may, with Respect to them, be his own Physician. I received Intelligence from several Gentlemen in Norfolk , and from Captain Edward Wright near Nansemond , of some being cured of the Jaundice and intermitting Fevers; showing, at the same Time, the great Quantities of saline bilious Humours which flowed from the Stomach, by using the Sugar Cakes.
Were I to cite the Quantities of Worms, or their Size, discharged from some Individuals (as given by the said judicious Authors) the Cures of the Toothache, and Scurvy in the Gums, it might stagger the Faith of some; so shall let Time and Opportunity prove it.
In Conformity to the Solicitations of the People who have experienced the salutary Effects of these Medicines, I left a large Quantity with Mr. Henry Flemming , Merchant in Norfolk ; so that the Publick may be served by him occasionally.
The Medicines are as follows: The Worm Sugar Cakes; the Royal Imperial Golden Snuff; Turlington's Balsam of Life ; Tinctura Odon-tolia , an Antidote against the Toothache and Scurvy in the Gums, and will make the Teeth a beautiful White from first using it; an excellent Eye Water; a beautiful Lip Salve, from first using of which the Lips will become soft and smooth, and is good for sucking Women's Nipples; Auderjon's genuine Pills; a new invented Scheme for curing the Scurvy, Itch, or any cutaneous Eruption, by rubbing an Ointment betwixt the Hands, and smelling them. This Ointment will cure Scald Heads, Ring-worms, &c. Likewise a fine Preparation of Drops for purifying the Blood.
I intend to set out from my present Lodgings in this City (which are at Mr. Robert Nicolson's ) on my intended Journey to Orange County , in North Carolina , on Monday next.
YORK Town, July 22, 1772.
ON Thursday the 30th Instant will be sold by publick Auction, at the late Dwellinghouse of James Mitchell , deceased, the Remainder of his Estate; for which the Purchasers will have Credit, for all Sums above twenty Shillings, until December next, upon giving Bond and Security to JANET MITCHELL , Executrix.
To be SOLD, SIX Hundred Acres of exceeding rich level LAND on Nottoway River , between Bolling's and Sword's Bridges, in Suffex County , one Hundred of which is fine low Grounds, produces good Wheat and Corn, and is capable of being made as good a Pasture as can be wished, without the Advantage of Salt Water as well as fresh. The other Part is good for Tobacco, and would produce exceeding good Grain of any Kind in great Abundance. It is also very good and convenient for making Indigo, and in Order to work six or eight Hands. The Land may be seen at any Time by applying to Mr. Green , in the Neighbourhood. Those inclinable to purchase are desired to meet on the Premises, on Friday the 21st of August , when the Terms may be agreed on. JOHN HOLT.
To be SOLD, A TRACT of LAND, consisting of eight Hundred and forty five Acres by a late Survey, on the north Side of Tanner's Creek , very well timbered, and fine Landings for a Master Builder of Ships. I will sell it very cheap for Cash. For Terms apply to me in Warwick County . WILLIAM HARWOOD, Junior.
For SALE, ABOUT four Hundred Acres of rich broken LAND upon Otter River , Bedford County , at the Mouth of Falling Creek , with a new over-shot Mill, which is fixed upon a Rock, out of the Way of Freshes, about thirty Yards below a perpendicular Fall of twelve or fourteen Feet; at the Head of the Fall the Rocks project in such a Manner that a sufficient Dam has been made which could not cost above seven Shillings and Sixpence, and which no Fresh can carry away; it never wants Water, stands in a good Place for Custom, and its Wheels and Stones are well fixed and in good Order, but its natural are superior to its artificial Conveniencies. The Terms may be known by applying to JAMES DONALD.
For SALE, A PLANTATION containing a Hundred and seventy five Acres, on the north Fork of Otter River , Bedford County , of which there are about forty Acres cleared. It has a tolerable Peach and Apple Orchard, with a very good Meadow, a pretty good Log Dwellinghouse, and a double Log Barn. Whoever inclines to purchase may know the Terms, and be shown the Land, by the Subscriber, who lives upon it. A good Title will be made by Mr. James Donald , to whom it is conveyed in Trust. ANDREW EVINS.
To be SOLD, A TRACT of LAND, containing about a Thousand Acres, in Norfolk County , North Carolina . It is exceedingly rich, beautifully situated between Piney Lookout and Smith's Point , and commands a pleasant Prospect of Chesapeake Bay . There are some Gentlemen who pretend to claim a Right in the said Land; but as it was determined by Northumberland Court in Favour of the present Possessors, and their Decree was determined by the General Court, and left such a Report may be prejudicial to the Sale of the Land, I will give Bond and Security to make a good and indefeasible Right and Title. Any Gentleman inclinable to purchase may hear farther Particulars by applying to GRANVILLE, June 10, 1772. JOHN GORDON.
COMMITTED to the Jail of Charles City, on Wednesday the 15th Instant ( July ) a Negro Fellow named HARRY ; he says he was sold, some Time past, by Captain John Atkinson , but cannot tell his Master's Name, as he ran off in the Night of the same Day his Master purchased him. The Owner is desired to take him away, and pay Charges. JAMES EPPES , Jailer.
COMMITTED to the Jail of Dinwiddie, a small Negro Fellow named NED , who cannot, or will not, declare the Name of his Owner. He has on a double breasted red Jacket, and an old Negro Cotton One over it died yellow, a Pair of Drill Breeches, an Osnaburg Shirt, and a Hat. The Owner is desired to pay Charges and take him away. MATTHEW MAYES , Jailer.
RUN away from the Ship THORNTON, John Kid Commander, now lying at Leeds Town , six Convicts, namely: WILLIAM NICHOLSON , aged about twenty one Years, five Feet four Inches high, pitted with the Smallpox, and wears his own short black Hair; WILLIAM SMITH , about twenty seven Years of Age, a short well made Man, and has had sore Legs; PETER KNIGHT , of a very dark Complexion, and about five Feet ten Inches high; PATRICK BURN , a very ill looking Fellow, and about six Feet high; JOSEPH WADE , a short well made Man, about forty Years of Age, wears his own gray Hair, has been transported four Times under as many different Names, and is Ringleader to the rest; the above five are Seamen; ALEXANDER CLUBB , a very likely well made Man, six Feet high, wears his own long black Hair, has been some Time in the Army, and is by Trade a Shoemaker. Whoever secures them so that they may be had again shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward for each, and his Expenses paid, or if brought to the Ship, the same Reward, besides what the Law allows. If they are taken up in Maryland , it is desired that they be delivered to Mr. William Russell , Merchant in Baltimore Town , who will give the same Reward. JOHN KID.
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Brunsw- wick , a Mulatto Fellow named BARNABY , about twenty five Years old, of a low Stature, well made, very sensible, and flutters a good Deal in his Speech; he had on, when he went away, a white Linen Shirt, black Breeches, a white Russia Sheet Coat and Jacket, and a black Velvet Cap, but as he carried other Clothes with him it is probable he may change them. He formerly belonged to Mr. Augustine Smith , in Middlesex , and I imagine will make towards there. Whoever brings the said Negro to me shall have FIVE POUNDS Reward. THOMAS CRAUFURD.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 16, 1772. LAST Saturday, at a Court of Common Hall, a bye Law was passed for constituting a WATCH, to consist of four sober and discreet People, who are to patrol the Streets of this City from ten o'Clock every Night until Daylight the next Morning, to cry the Hours, and use their best Endeavours to preserve Peace and good Order, by apprehending and bringing to Justice all disorderly People, Slaves, as well as others. They are likewise to have the Care of the FIRE ENGINES, and to be ready, in Cases of Accidents by Fire, to give their Assistance towards extinguishing the same. For which Services each Person is to receive a Salary of thirty Pounds a Year. This Regulation, it is hoped, may prove extremely beneficial, not only to this City, but to the Neighbourhood in general. But as much will depend on those to be employed as Watchmen, such only as will answer the above Description (to which must be added Honesty and Diligence) need apply; and they are to give in their Names, with the necessary Certificates, to the Mayor, to be laid before the Common Hall to be held on the first Tuesday in next Month, when the Watch will be appointed.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 16, 1772. JOHN BAKER, SURGEON DENTIST, begs Leave to inform the Publick, and his Friends in particular, that he is now in Williamsburg , where he performs all Operations upon the Teeth, Gums, and Sockets, as usual; likewise has a Quantity of his ANTI-SCOR BUTICK DENTIFRICE, for preserving the Teeth and Gums.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 11, 1772. WE, the Executors of Mr. William Hunter, late of this City, Printer, deceased, having long since paid all Debts appearing against his Estate, and near all his Legacies, intend in a few Months to make a final Settlement of the Estate, and so conclude our Administration. Should any other Demands remain unadjusted, we desire they may be immediately made known to us, otherwise we shall not, after the Settlement, look upon ourselves obliged to pay them; and as several old Accounts remain open on his Books, we shall esteem it an Act of Generosity, as well as of Justice, in the Debtors to discharge them. BEN: WALLER. THOMAS EVERARD.
ALL Persons concerned are desired to take Notice that the Collection of the Debts due to Mess. McCall & Ellis of Glasgow , for Dealings had with the Subscriber, at Todd's Warehouse , are now transferred to Mr. Robert McCandlish , who is duly authorised to receive and give Discharges for the same. The Subscriber proposes to sell the Plantation whereon he lives, lying about a Mile and a Half from Todd's Warehouse , containing six Hundred and fifty seven Acres, under a good Fence, with good Apple and Peach Orchards; the Dwelling and other Houses have been built about four Years. Any One who chooses to purchase may know the Terms by applying to. ROBINSON DAINGERFIELD.
ABOUT forty Thousand Pounds of Trans- fer TOBACCO will be sold to the highest Bidder, on Thursday the 20th of August , for ready Money, at Suffex Courthouse , being Court Day, for the Benefit of the said County and Albemarle Parish .
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on Saturday the 8th of August, on the Premises,
A TRACT of LAND belonging to the Subscriber, near Captain Henry Lyne's , in King & Queen , containing about three Hundred and fifty Acres, on which are two small Plantations, and will be sold together, or divided into two Lots, as may suit the Purchasers. The Terms of Payment will be declared at the Sale, and the Money to be paid, or Security given, to Mr. Edmund Pendleton . Any Person may be shown the Land by applying to JOHN BURNS.
FREDERICKSBURG, July 8, 1772. STRAYED, or STOLEN, from the Sub- scriber, about the 24th of June , a likely dark bay HORSE about fifteen Hands high, with a hanging Mane and Switch Tail, a Star in his Forehead, trots and gallops, was shod all round, and has a small Knot on one of his Buttocks, but no Brand that can be remembered. Whoever delivers him to me shall have FORTY SHILLINGS Reward. HENRY MITCHELL.
COMMITTED to James City Prison, on Saturday the 11th Instant ( July ) a Negro Woman who says her Name is MOLLY , and that she is the Property of the Honourable William Byrd ; she is of a yellow Complexion, about forty Years of Age, of the middle Stature, well made, has an Osnaburg Waistcoat, Coat, Shift, and Petticoat, and a Virginia Yarn Ditto, with white Warp and blue Filling. The Owner is desired to take her away, and pay the necessary Charges. JOHN CONNELLY , Jailer.

POETS CORNER.
THE MASQUERADE.
ASET of Maskers got together, No Matter when, no Matter whither, Slaves of dear Dissimulation;
GENERAL POST OFFICE, New York, November 1, 1772.
NOTICE is hereby given, that on Account of the new Regulation of the Post from Canada, which is to arrive every Tuesday Evening at this Office...
By Command of the Deputy Postmaster General. ALEXANDER COLDEN, Secretary.
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Middlesex, about the Beginning of June last, a Negro Man named GABRIEL, about twenty two Years old...
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Chesterfield, about forty Years of Age, of the middle Stature, with straight Hair. I expect he will endeavour to pass for a Freeman.
PRINCE GEORGE, June 22, 1772.
CAME to my Plantation, on the 20th Instant, a likely outlandish Negro Fellow about five Feet six Inches high...
TAKEN up, in Orange, a black and white COW marked with a Crop and Hole in each Ear. Posted, and appraised to forty five Shillings.
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on the second Day of next August Augusta Court, at the Courthouse, FIVE Hundred and fifty five Acres of very good level LAND...
CAROLINE, July 1, 1772.
WHEREAS my Wife ELIZABETH has, without the least Provocation, absconded from me, and declared she will not return to her Duty...
WILLIAMSBURG, July 6, 1772.
SOME Persons having misunderstood my Advertisement, as if I intended to make myself liable for all my Brother's Debts...
MIDDLESEX, June 29, 1772.
THE Subscriber intends to leave the Colony. JOHN BAGOT.
Just IMPORTED from London, and to be SOLD by the Subscriber, in Williamsburg,
A COMPLETE Assortment of MILLINERY, &c. Paste Necklaces and Earrings; Marcassite Ditto; Wax Ditto set round with Marcassite...
Cloaks, Bonnets, and Hats made in the newest Fashion; also Fans neatly mounted.
TWO Bales of German OSNABRUGS, containing about sixteen Hundred Ells, damaged on Board the Thomas & Mary...
JUST arrived from Africa, the Snow Nancy, James E. Colly Commander, with about two Hundred and fifty fine healthy WINDWARD and GOLD COAST SLAVES...
To be SOLD for ready Money, on Thursday the 11th of August, at Prince George Courthouse,
ONE Third Part of the SNOW Prince George, now lying in Appomattox River, Burthen two Hundred Hogheads of Tobacco...
To be SOLD by the Subscriber, in HALIFAX Town, NORTH CAROLINA,
TWO Lots in the said Town, adjoining the Courthouse and Jail, well situated for Tavern keeping. There is one House forty four Feet long...
N. B. All the Houses have good Brick Chimneys, and are well plastered and whitewashed.
CAROLINE, June 30, 1772.
STOLEN from the Subscriber, in the Night of the 13th Instant, a sorrel HORSE about four Feet ten Inches high...
To be SOLD to the highest Bidder, on the Premises, on Thursday the 6th of August, pursuant to the last Will and Testament of Captain JAMES JONES, deceased, in Sussex,
THE noted ORDINARY known by the Name of Burges's, situated about eight Miles from Petersburg, in the County of Dinwiddie...
RUN away from the Subscriber, in King and Queen, about a Fortnight ago, a NEGRO WOMAN about twenty one Years of Age...
RUN away from the Subscriber, in Dinwiddie, a Negro Fellow named ANTHONY, about twenty five Years old...
TAKEN up, in Chesterfield, a small bay HORSE about eight or nine Years old, branded on the near Buttock C...
ALL Persons having Demands against the Estate of Roger Dixon, late of Frederickburg, deceased, are desired to make them known...
W A N T E D,
A MILLER that understands the Management of a Merchant Mill; also one or two Journeyman SHIP CARPENTERS that can carry up the Side of a Ship.
DINWIDDIE, June 13, 1772.
STOLEN from the Subscriber, on Friday Night the 12th Instant, a bay HORSE about four Feet seven Inches high...
F O R S A L E,
TWO Thousand five Hundred and twenty Acres of LAND on Natoway River, in the Counties of Dinwiddie and Brunswick...
To be SOLD on the Premises, the last Thursday in July, pursuant to the Will of John Price, deceased,
A TRACT of LAND containing about three Hundred Acres, with good Improvements, and lies convenient to Churches, Grist Mills, and Leston's Inspection of Tobacco...
F O R S A L E,
THE following Tracts of LAND, in Pittsylvania, namely, four Hundred Acres on Banister River, seven Hundred and seventy on Beaver Creek...
THE Subscriber, at PITTENWEEM, just below the NEW DISTILLERY, near NORFOLK, has for Sale WEST INDIA RUM by the Hoghead...
To be SOLD by the Subscribers, Mortgagees of Mr. Peter Copland of Pittsylvania, and the said Mortgagees, in Parcels, for the Benefit of the Subscribers, and others,
SIX Thousand Acres of valuable LAND, lying on Smith's River, Beaver and Reedy Creeks. It is laid off in small Lots...
JAMES HALDANE, COPPER SMITH and BRASS FOUNDER from Philadelphia, in Church Street, near the Church, Norfolk,
MAKES and sells all Sorts of COPPER and BRASS WORK, namely, Stills, Brewing Coppers, Sugar Boilers, Fullers and Hatters Coppers...
All Orders from the Country will be punctually attended to. N. B. He deals for Cash, or Country Produce.
Those who have old Brass, Copper, Pewter, or Lead, to dispose of, are desired to apply to Mr. Joseph Kidd, in Williamsburg...
To be LET on LEASE,
A VERY large and commodious HOUSE in the Town of Petersburg, built for a Tavern, and well fitted for that Business...
ALL Persons may be supplied with this PAPER at 12s. 6d. a Year, and have ADVERTISEMENTS (of a moderate Length) inserted in it for 3s. the first Week, and 2s. each Week after. All Sorts of PRINTING WORK done at this Office in the neatest Manner, with Care and Expedition.