Star.
London, England, 1801-04-30 00:00:00

WEST INDIA PRIZE COURTS.

Sir WILLIAM SCOTT laid, he rote in purfuance
of the Notice he had given to move for leave to
bring in a Bill for the better regulation of His Ma-
jelly's Prize Courts in the Weft Indies. On the
importance of this fubjed it was unneceffary for
him to trouble the Houfe, neither was it neceffary
for him to enforce the propriety of adopting the
beft regulations fur the Government of thefe
Courts, becaufe he was fure the Houfe would feel
that while we were enforcing our own Rights, we
ought to refped thole of other Nations. When
the Courts to which he alluded were firft eflablifh-
ed, our Commerce in that quarter of the world
was very trifling. America, at that time, corn.
pofed a part of the Britifh Empire, but the was
now an Independent and Neutral State, whole
friendfliip Was of great importance to this Coon-.
try: - -She pained a great Commerce, and there-
fore, it was neceffary to attend more particularly
to the deciaon of Prize Caules in that part of the
World. The defies which experience had proved
to exift in the Conftitution of thofe Courts, ren-
dered it an indifpenable duty upon this Country to
• make fome alteration in them. But when he faid
this, he begged to enter a flrong Proteft againft
in opinion which had been circulated, that it was
.he Errors of tbofe Courts which had led to that
hoflile Confederacy which had been formed againft
us. The Decitions of tbefe Courts could not have
4een the caufe of that Confederacy, becaufe, in
fad, the Commerce of thofe Powers by whom i•
was compofed, was but very little affected by them.
Therrade of Denmark and Sweden, in that part
of the World, was extremely (mall. The Tract(
of Prulfia was infignificance itfelf, and that of
Ruffia abfolutely nothing. The only Power who
had any reafon to complain of the Decifion of
thofe Courts, was America, and fhe did not be-
long to the Confederacy. He thought himfelf
bound in juflice- to his Majefty's late Minifters, to
Rate, that they had, upon, all occallons, manifest-
ed the greaten deftre to remove every juft eaufe of
complaint. It was, however, of great import-
ance, that fome alteration thould take place in the
nature of the Jurifdidions, and that inftead of the
numerous Courts now calling in the Weft Indies,
there fhould be but two; the one in Jamaica, the
other in Martinique, and one on the Continent of
America, in Halifax. This reduction, he hoped,
would produce the molt favourable areas, be-
eaufe it could not be denied but that it &onetimes
happened,- that Perfons were appointed to prefide
in them who werenot altogether fit for the fituation.
He did not with to throw out any indifcriminate
cenfure, becaufe many of thofe Perfons ought to be
fpoken of with great refped. But it was to be re.
collected, that their emoluments depended entirely
upon the quantity of bufinefs they had in thole
Courts, and that they had nothing whatever to do
in time cf Peace; it was not very furprifing that
they mould be rather unprepared at the commence-
ment of a War, and he had, in general, finind,-
that the talents that were to be purcbafed cheaply
were feldom worth much. As the profits of there
Courts depended upon the quantity• of hufinefs
which they had, and as Crnizers had a right to
take their Prizes to what Court they pleated, it I
undoubtedly might lead to an undue facility of
condemnation, which it was the object of this Bill

to prevent. Another benefit that would refult frow
this meafure was, that when the number of Court:
were reduced, there would be leis danger.of elud.
ing this procefs, by removing from one Mind tc
another. Befides, there was reafon to hope, that
after this regulation, the Courts would be attended
by a mote refpeetable.Bar of Advocates, for it now
' appeared, that Suitors were fometimes obliged to
bring Advocates from one Ifland to another. It
was alfo an objet of great importance, that the
Regifters and other Offices lhould be placed he.
yond the reach of corruption. If there princi.
pies were fupported by regulations that would
give them due energy, he had nn doubt but that
every ground of complaint would be done away.
In the firft flace, it would be neceifary that th:
perfons appointed to prefide in thefe Courts,
Mould be men of knowledge and experience in this
kind of band's, and alfo men of unqueftionable
charader ; and it would remain for Parliament to
decide what falary they ought to have : undoubt-
edly it ought to be one that would place them out
of the reach of corruption. There were fome other
regulations which this Bill would contain, fuclras
arrangements in cafes where his Majefty's
being ilationed, might not be able to go to the
Maas where the Courts were. Another regula-
tion was to enable the Judge to difpatch the. car •
goes to Europe to be fold, becaufe, by felling' them
in the Weft Indies, they did not bring half their
*vane: He concluded with moving fur leave tit
bring.in a Bailor the better regulation of hi; Ma,
jelly's Prize Courts in America, and the Weft h.-
dies, and for giving a more fpeedy execution to
the decrees of the Lords Commifiloners of Appeal..
The CHANCILLOIt of the Exert yEt feconded•
the motion.

Mr. Joirarrox laid, that after the very full and
able manner in which the Learned Gentleman had
treated this fubjea, he would only trouble the
Houfe with a few obfervations. It appeared to
him that the mifeondua of thefe Courts was greater
than had been (fated, and as a proof of his affer.
tion, he begged to refer to the papers which had
been laid upon the table. If Gentlemen would
examine thefe papers, they would fee, that out of
three-hundred and eighteen caufes, not above
• thirty-five had been-confirmed by the Court of
Appeal in England ; a very great number of
caufes remained for hearing, and fuppofing the
number of reverfals were in the proportion he had
before !laud, then it would follow that there mull
have been an immenfe quantity ofneutral property
unjufily detained by .this country. He was far
from throwing any blame upon the Courts in this
country, but even by reverfing the decrees of the
Courts abroad they could not do ample juftice to
the parties, becaufe when the cargo was fold in
the Weft Indies, the party could not recover above
half the value. He lamented that Minifters, who
mull have known of the improper conduit of thefe
Courts,-fliould have fuffered it to continue fo long
without attempting to propofe fome remedy. The
conduit adopted by this country was certainly one
that fhe would not have fubmitted to in other,
and it fhould be ref ollefted that in the reign of
Queen Elizabeth, we maintained the very propo-
fition for which the Northern Powers were row
contending, viz. that freebottoms madcfree goods,
and therefore it was obvious that 'the Northern-
Powers were ailing exaaly as we fhould have done.
It had been Paid, that America did not form a part
of the Confederacy againft us, but he wifhed to
die, whether the had not adopted the conduawhich
theft Powers adopted before they entered into the
Confederacy, viz. fending their veffels under a con-
voy ?—lf any of our cruizers had, under thefe cir-
cumstances, attempted to fearch them, it might
have driven them into the Confederacy. There
was an eftablifirment which had been made at the
ifland of Ceylon, where there had never been an
eflablifhment of a Prize Court fince that ifland had
been in the poffeflion of Europeans. There had
been Judges, Begifters, &c. appointed, with very
large (alarms. He was, however, glad to find that
Government were now difpofed to as upon theft
principles of moderation which the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had manifefled upon a former ix-
canon, and he hoped that lonic regulation.. would
be made in order to accelerate the proceedings is
the Courts of Appeal.
DR. LAWRENCE Paid, that as there was no dif-
ference of opinion upon thia queftion, it would not
e neceffary for him to trefpafs long upon the
:attention of the Houk. Many ofthe obfervations
which had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman arofe
from his being-unacquainted with the nature of
the bufinefs, and it warimpoffibte that he should
acquire full information from the Papers which
were laid before the Houfe. The Hon. Gentle-
man teemed to think that nothing had been done
to remedy the inconvenience arifing from the
abufes which exiled, bet in point of fart, orders
had been fent out calculated as much as poffible to
counteraa them, but cafes were conflantly ari.
ring which no human prudence could forefee. The
clecifions which took place at the commencement
of the War were fuch as were confiftent with the
regulations previoully exiling, and the 6rl (weep
of Condemnations took place before the orders
fent from this Country reached the Weft Indies;
and it certainly was neceffary to take fome time
for confederation, before a change was made in
the whole fyllem upon which we had hitherto
afted. As to the delay which had taken place,
the Honourable Gentleman fhould recoiled, that
a confiderable time mull neceifarily elapfe before
the Appeals could come over to this Country, and
before all the neeeffary Papers and Documents
could be brought over. If the Honourable Gen-
tleman could fuggeft any means by which deci-
lions could be accelerated, it would give him great
pleafure t but he was fate, that no court in this
Country had proceeded more indefatigably than
the one in queftion, and .that not the (manta un-
necelfary delay had taken place. He perfealy
agreed, that the abufes which might have hap-
pened in the Weft Indies, could have had very lit-
tle effea in producing the Northern Confederacy.
becaufe their commerce was butvery little affeeted
by it. But it had been flitted, that America, like
the other Powers, had appointed Convoys; that,
however, was at a time when America was in-
volved is a difpute with France, and orders

o:

r:

he
be.
ild

ad
ad
he

his
he
to

de
of
Id
ch

were given to her Convoy to permit Engiifh Crui-
sers to fearch. He concluded with hating that
he highly approved of this meafure, becaufe, if
ultimately we were driven to appeal to the GOD
of Battles, in fupport of Right, it was proper
ghat we lhould have the Goo of Juflice on our fide.
Lord HAWICESIVICY faid, he felt there was
fume ground of complaint refpeEting the abides
which ekilled, and that it was therefore neceffary
to apply a remedy to them ; at the fame time
be agreed with his Learned Friend, that the States
snoft aggrieved were not thofe with whom we
had been on the eve of a conteft ; and he be-
lieved in point of fact, that no perfons had been
more aggrieved by the decisions of thole Courts
than his Majefly's SubjeBs. The Honourable
Gentleman however feemed to infer that the pre.
fent difpute mull have originated in Come abufes of
this kind, but he would pofitively alien, that
whatever complaints were made, full and -ample
fatisfaEtion was offered, and that Isis Majelly's
Minitlers were ready to liften to every reprcfenta-
tion, and to give every redrefs. Even at the very
time when they were exprefling their determina-
tion to fupport thofe principles which they cont
ceived effential to the intereft and dignity of this
country, they profeffed and declared their willing.
ads to adopt any regulations which thole States
might think Ids galling and inconvenient, provided
they were not inconfiftent with the great princi-
ples for which they were contending. He thought
it right to explain himfelf thus much, becaufe
though the abufes might be exaggerated, there
certainly was Tome ground of complaint. It was
nothis intention now to go into the circumftanccs
winch led to the prefent dfpute, but in answer to
the obfervation that the Houle had been called
won to fanCtion the conduEt of Minifters, without
having fuflicient evidence before them, he begged
to late that the Houle was not called upon to
give any opinion upon the condutl of Minitlers;
the only queftion which the Houfe was called up-
on to decide was, whether the principle for which
they were contending was one which it was the
duty and intereft of Parliament to maintain ? As
to any communication upon this fubjeCt at the
'relent moment, be would nate his fentiments to
the Houle. He fhould not have the fmalleft 0b..1
ttion to all the information being laid before
PParliament, becaufe he was Cure it would be con-
vinced that no blame could be attached to the
King's Minifters. His only reafon for oppofutg
its produEtion now, was, that as a Negotiation of
great importance was pending, and as there was
great reafon to hope that it might put an end to
the difpute between this Country and all thole
Powers, he left it to the Houfe to confider, whe-
ther under thefe circumftances it would be right to
bring forward thefe communications now, and to
enter into all the neceffary difcuflions and explan-
ations ?—This was his only obje&ion to laying them
before the Houfe ; the day would come when the
conduit of Minifters might be examined into,
and when it did come, it would, he was lure,
appear that Minifters had faithfully performed
their duty.
-tdr.Nicitotts was of opinion, that the conduit
dour Vice-Admiralty Courts abroad had conui-
butitimore than any thing befide to render the
Maritime Right which we infifted on, odious to
Foreign Nations. He believed that the Ameri-
cans had been difgulled on the fame account, for
be had heard, that when their veffels were detain-
ed, during the early period of the War, that they
rather chofe to abandon making any claims, than
to fubmit to the delay, expence, and vexation of
snaking them in our Courts. Now that the fub-
jell was brought forward, he hoped that the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman would confider the need.
fity of reviling the whole fyftem of Prize Caufes,
fo as to prevent Foreign Nations from having any
core of complaint, and he would fuggell the
neeeffity of determining that no Judge in any of
the Vice-Admiralty Courts lhould derive any
emolument from the condemnation of prize Teets,

as well as that no one who had not taien a degree
in our Courts of Civil Law, or been admitted- to
the Bar in the Englith Courts, (hould prefide in
thefe Courts.
Mr. Hosmooss did not think that the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman who had made the prefcnt
Motion, had fatisfadorily accounted for the long
delay of calling the attention of the Hoare, and of
the Public, to a fiibjed of fo great importance ; it
was not brought forward till after nine years of
war.—lt was ufing too mild a term to call the
grofs abufes which had been prodired in the Vice-
Admiralty Courts, by the name of Errors. From
the facility with which prizes had been con-
demned in the Weft India Iflands, he verily be-
lieved that the Judges there were corrupt, that
they had !hares of property in the cruisers, and
that when veffels were brought in, they were
rather difpofed to condemn than to rellore them
to the owners. This he inferred from the great
number of [ententes which had been reverfed upon.
appeals to this country. For one Caufe which
bad been affirmed, twenty had been reverfed.—
The wrong decifions in thefe Courts, together
with the expence and delay attending caufes of ap.
peal, he believed had had their (hare, along with
other caufes, of producing the Northern Confedcr-
Ey. Mr. Hobhoufe then proceeded to fpcak
highly in praife of the talents, impartiality, and at-
liduity of the Learned Judge of Admiralty (Sir
W. Scott). With regard to what the Noble Lord
had faid as to the offers made to Foreign Powers,
cfcorreding there decifions of the Vice-Admiralty
Courts, he believed that fuch offers were not made
till our fleet had proceeded to the attack of Co-
Penhagen.
Sir W. SCOTT fpoke in explanation. He raid
he did not believe that abufes had exiftcd to the
extent that was fuppofed. The number of [ententes
reverfed, was by no means a kill criterion by
which to judge of fuch abufes. With regard to
the delay, he declared that it was the intention of
his Majefty's former Minifters to bring the fubjed
forward ; and fo far as it relied with him, Gentle-
men might not be aware how difficult a matter it
was to bring forward fuch alterations as could be
1),!t into execution, and in a matter wherein the
king's Prerogative was concerned.
Wissiavonci vindicated the Admiralty.

Court in this Countrf, with regard to the expenee
and delay attending Caufes in that Court. The
Learned Judge (Sir W. Scott) who prefided, had
got through a great mail of bufinefs aftet entering
into office, which fcarcely any other man could
have done, and Which would fcrve to promote the
fpeedicr decifion of eludes in future.
Mr. MARTIN faid a few words, and Mr. WIL-
BERFORCE explained.
Leave was then given to bring in a Bill.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The Houfe then went into a C'ontnnittee of Ways
and Means.

The CHANCELLOR of the EICCHEOSIER moved,
that it was the opinion of the CoMmittee that the
charge of the Pay and Cloathing of the Militia for
England, for one year, from the 25th March,
r Bor, and alfo the Allowance to certain Subaltern
Officers, and to the Adjutants, Serjeant-Majors,
and Serjeants of Militia difbanded, be paid out of
the Monies arifing from the Land• Tax granted
for the fervice of iBot.

Mr. CORRY obferved, that by the At of Union;
a Countervailing Duty was to be put upon Spirits
Milled in this country, and imported into Ire-
land ; it became neceffary, therefore, to put the
Diflillers in this country upon an equal footing
with the Dillillers in Ireland; he therefore moved,
that it was the opinion of this Committee that an
additional Countervailing Duty of as. per gallon
be charged on every gallon of wine-meafure of
Spirits Milled from Wall; in Ireland, and im-•
ported into England.
The Refolunons were agreed to, and the Houle
being rcfumed, the Report was ordered to be re-
ceived to-morrow.

The Committees on the IrifL Sugar Dillillery
Bill, and the Committee of Supply, were deferred
till Friday.
The Elephant-oil Au&ion Duty Exemption Bill,
was read a fecond time, and committed for to-
morrow. _ _ _

Mr. CORRY at the Bar Rated, that his Majelly
had been waited upon with the Addrefs of the
Houle, relative to the Account of Offices of Profit
and Emolument in Ireland, as they are aftually
holden by Members of the Houk of Commons,
and that he had been gracioufly pleafed to, give di-
reaions that fuch Account be prepared accord.
ingly. Mr. Corry afterwards brought up Paid Ac-
count, which was ordered to lie on the Table.
The Foreign Hop Irifh Importation Bill was
read a firft time, and ordered to be read a fecond
time to-morrow.

..... _ _
Mr. VANSITTAILT brought up an Account rela-
tive to the Expenditure of Monies iffued from the
Exchequer.
The Committee of Supply was deferred till
Friday.
At half-pafk fix, the Houfe adjourned till to-
morrow.

LONDON.

THURSDAY, APRIL 33.

PRICE 07 STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK:

Confola 601 I— 4W. sg—New 5 per Cent. 93} 94—
Old 5 per C. 94 9s—Ornnium 8 If 4 f.
PRICE Or STOCKS YESTERDAY_I_ _

Bank Stock 165 164 9 Cent. 1-01. 931.1
3 per Cent. Red.3l _ Long Ann. a z713-167S 1-76
3 per Cent. Co.. S 6off Short Ann. S r-16
4 Pee Cent. 771 1 Omntum 6/ 7 84 8
S per C Nan Conf. fur May r9f 601

Yeflerday, after our Paper was at Prefs, the
Hamburgh mail, which was due in the morning,
arrived, and brought intelligence that M. Le-
cAsEwITCH had received orders from the Court of
Ruffia to acquaint Admiral PARAEIt that the Est- i
tEllolt was difpofed to adjuff, in an amicable man-
ner, the differences between Ruffia and Great i
Britain. A fwift ailing veffel had been difpatch-
ed after Admiral PARKIN. with this intelligence,
to prevent the confequences of a meeting with the
Ruffian fquadron, which was at fea, and had been
feen off Deland.

By the fame Packet a blefrenger arrived with
moR important Government difpatchcs from Ber-
lin and Copenhagen. The fubilance of which was
immediately notified to the Public by the follow.
ing Letter addrelled to the LORD Maroa :
" LOAM, "Downing-amt. April 29. tgot.

" I have great fatiafatlion in informing you, that by letters
received this day from Lord Came sro r and Sir James
CRAWFORD, the Courts of Berlin and Copenhagen have de-
termined to re-open the rivers of the North of Germany, and
that all 'tetra' whatever will be allowed to navigate thofe Rivers
without moldtation.

• I beg your Lordthip win tun the goodnefs to make this
intelligence a+ public as poilltde In the City.
• I have the Honour to be, &e. &c. &e.

O

" NAWRIUMM"

Further difpatches hare, it is faid, been received
from Egypt, and feveral reports are in confequence
afloat refpeiting our lofs. One account Rates the
total killed and wounded up to the 'aft date of
Lord KEITH'S difpatches at 350 killed, and 750
wounded; another at 350 killed in landing, and
750 killed in the nest ation, which was on the
13th of March. Others give the whole killed and
wounded, up to the 14th, at 1 too, being 350
killed and 750 wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel
Theism', of the 42d regiment, is killed; Ma-
ijor OGLE, of the 58th, killed; Major Vtcoasuz,
of the 9oth, killed; Lieutenant Walsall, of the
Guards (only fon of Sir J. B. WARM), killed;
Lieutenant-Colonel EasxlYP, of the 92d, has loft
a leg. Government, we underhand, have received
a lift of the killed and wounded, which they do not
publith from etiquette, it having been tranfmitted
by Lord Kama, and not by Sir R. Assacloseatr.
The Gazette account mentions that Lord Kure
fuppofed a general attack to have Likes place oa

the 44th, but the French fay there wits nothing
but demnnilrations, excepting die attack on Abou-
kir, the refult of which the enemy have tint Rated.
It is alio reported that the difpatehei bring ac-
counts of otir army being in poffelnoil of Aboukir.

Some reports even went to far as to Rate, that
the whole of Mrnnv's army had capittilited; but
we have not been able to trace them td any au-
thentic fource. •

An overland difpatch from the Eait Indieihrings
advice, that eleven thoufand European and Native
troops failed from Bombal., on the 2 oth of Deccan-
the Red Sea, in order to cooperate .with
Sir RALPH ASILICROMBir. They were efcorted by
Admiral BLANKET'S fquadron.
This morning we received Palls Journals of the
26th infant. Their contents which are not of
much importance, will be found in a preceding
column.

Her MAJESTY and the PRINCESSES took an air-
ing yefterday morning in their can•iages to Rich-
mond Park.

...-..- -
The KING after being engaged in Lis library
reading difpatches, walked in Kew Gardens till
dinner time.

Yellerday Sir WILLIAM COCKBURN had an in-
terview with the PRINCE of IVALi.s at Carlton-
Haute, and delivered to his Royal Highncfs dif-
patches from the NABOB of Arcot, and the Car-
natic. _ _ _

Yeflerday the &II regiment of Royal EaR-India
Volunteers had a grand field-day in the Company's
ground at Iflington. The troops compofing the
three regiments have been furnifhed with new caps,
fimilar to thole worn by the Guards, with the dif-
ference of the Company's arms in the center. The
recruits are expeaed lhortly to pratice firing with
ball cartridge.
It appears by the accounts on the table of the
Houle of Commons, that the expence of colleding
the Income Tax amounts to 152,0°01. per annum,
fomething lets than 6-td. in the pound ; and that
the Hop I)uty for lall year amounted to 73,0001.
Sir HYDE PARKER, it is now confidently Rated,
has been re-called from the command of the Baltic
Fleet,- and Lord NELSON has been appointed to the
Chief Command. His Lordihip had, we believe,
entertained a wills to return to England; and ac-
counts from Copenhagen, received yefterday, !late,
Ithat he had requefted Pakports from the Court of
Denmark for Hamburgh, but we prcfume the new
arrangement which has been made will change his
Lordlhip's deft ination. The Sr. G °ROE, of 98
guns, his Lordlhip's Flag Ship, was the only Line
of Battle flap remaining off Copenhagen, after the
departure of Sir HYDE. PARKER for the Baltic,
which took place on the evening of the 16th.
Many circumftances are fpoken of refpeaing the
condo& of the Baltic Fleet, which we deem of too
delicate a nature to be publicly Rated at prefent.
Private accounts from Paris Rate, that the ut-
moft difcontent prevailed there at the condud of
Rear-Admiral GARTH E•UME, in confequence of his
not having perfilled in his attempt to get to Egypt.
Upon the intelligence being received of his having
put into Toulon, Bow APAKTE tent off a courier im-
mediately, ordering him to put to lea the moment
he received thefe orders. Gas THsAussa did not
obey till come days afterwards (the 19th ult.) al-
ledging the bad condition of his !hips, and the da-
mage they had fullained in the voyage from Breft ;
ancirequefted an examination into his condud.—
It was reported at Paris, when the account was
brought, that GAIITNEAUSIs had returned to Tou-
lon, which he did two or three days after his fail-
ing, that the CHIEF CONSUL had immediately fo-
perfeded him by the appointment of Admiral
BRUI Xto the command. Sir JOHN WARREN had
tailed from Naples on the 19th, the day Gas-
TN EAU ME left Toulon, and was cruifing for him
off Sardinia.
The new Government of Turcany, finding it im-
poffible to make an adequate provifion for the Re-
publican army, have, with the permiffion of Ge-
neral MURAT, reigned their offices.
A Letter from Hamburgh Rates the following
circumßances ref ding the death of Palm I. :
44 A few days before his death, Pain I. tent to his
Senate two Ukafes, &firing them to pals and in-
fen them in the Code of Laws. The object of thofe
decrees was to banifh the now EM PILE Dowager
and her
Grandchildren to Siberia, with the exception
„
OE Duke L.ONSTANTIN VAULOWITSCH,
the EMPEROR'S favourite. Decrees to barbarous
and unnatural revolted the feelings of the Senate
to filch a degree, that it was refolved unanimoully
to declare the EMPEROR HON comps Ntfltal, to com-
pel him to abdicate the throne, and to keep him
in fate cuftody in tome fortrefs for the remainder
of his life. At the fame time it was agreed upon
to proclaim his eldeß fon ALEXANDER I. as his fuc-
ceffor, making him fign previoufly the Ukafes
which have fince appeared, and' exacting a pro-
mile that he fhould govern the Empire according
to the spirit of the laws enacted by his grandmo-
ther, CATHERINE the Great.
" PAUL appeared as 111421 in the Senate, in ex-
peaation of finding the ratification of his man-
dates ; but lnftead of that, the a& of abdication
was propofed to him for his fignature. Inflamed
with rage, he loaded the Senate with execrations,
and was going to attack Come of the Members
with favage ferocity, when he was forcibly re-
(trained, and fuffocated in the fcuffie. Some re-
ports fay, that one of the Senators, during the
ftruggle, came from behind, and ftrangleci him
with his own fcarf.
44 ALEXANDER, the new Emperor, was imme-
diately called, and acquainted with the caufe of
his father's death, and his cruel decrees- againft
himfelf, mother, and family. After fume hefita-
dOli ALEXANDER fined the inftruments and writ-
ings laid before him, and was proclaimed Em-
peror of all the Ruffias."
Of the truth of fuck reports as thefe, it is im-
poffitilc to (peak with certainty ; but if the general
fads be true, tome of the particulars are Dot ithrly
•
ever to be divulged.