TUESDAY, Jan. 24,
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Constantinople, Dec. 3.

THE Ruffo-Greeks continue still to infest the Archipelago. They particularly attack Ships carrying the French Flag, one of which, from Alexandria for this Capital, they lately seized and pillaged, after which they maffacred the Crew, and funk the Vessel. The Principal of these Pirates are Albinians, who, during the War, served on board the Ruffian Fleet, and have five or fix Gallots among them.

Venice, Dec. 28. By Letters from Constantinople, the four favourite Sultanas, with the Grand Signor's Permission, sent Mr. Renier, our Minister to the Porte, when he made his Entry into that Capital, each of them a Purse, containing 100 Sultanines, with the following Note: "A Present from the Sultana to the Ambassador of Venice, as an Acknowledgement of his Magnificence." The Interpreters who introduced the Minister first to the Grand Vizir, and then to his Highness were superbly regaled. The Captains of the Ships which brought him had each of them a Purse, containing 100 Piastres, and were paid for the Powder they expended in Salutes. When Mr. Renier dined with the Grand Vizir, he eat but little, which being noticed, and he faying the Chocolate which he had in the Morning, had taken away his Appetite, the Grand Vizir expressed his Desire to taste it, and the next Day some was sent to him, with which he was so much pleased, that he gave those that brought it to him 100 Piastres.

COUNTRY NEWS.

Salisbury, Jan. 23. Last Week a Post-Boy employed to carry the Mail from Bath to Devizes, was taken up for having in his Possession a Bath Bank Bill of Exchange, Value 641. Upon his Examination before the Mayor of Devizes, he confessed to have taken a Bill out of a Letter which was given him at Bath, to carry to Devizes, and brought after the Mail was made up; and that he afterwards threw the Letter into the Necessary at the Bear Inn. He was therefore committed to Devizes Bridewell, and will take his Trial at our next Assizes.

On the 15th instant, in the Evening, a Man went to the House of Mrs. Brookes, a principal Shopkeeper at Calne in this County, and got Admittance by shewing a Letter, which he said came from a Gentleman in the Neighbourhood. As soon as the Door was shut, he produced a Blunderbuf, and held out to Mrs. Brookes a Paper, on which was written, "I demand a Hundred Pounds, or your Life." Mrs. Brookes, without speaking a word, told him he should have the Money,

To the PUBLIC.

DR. JOHNSON having asserted, in his late
Publication, that the Translator of Oflian's Poems
never could shew the Original, nor can it be shewn by any
other," I hereby declare that the Originals of Fingal and other
Poems of Offian, lay in my Shop, for many Months, in the
Year 1762, for the Inspection of the Curious. The Public
were not only apprized of their lying there, for Inspection,
but even Propofals for publithing the Originals of the Poems
of Offian were dispersed through the Kingdom, and advertised
in the News Papers. Upon finding that a Number of Sub-
scribers sufficient to bear the Expences, were not likely to
appear, I returned the Manuscripts to the Proprietor, in whose
Hands they still remain.

Adelphi, Jan. 19, 1775.

THOMAS BECKET.

LONDON: Printed for H. BAI

C1074