1769 DEPOSITIONS, &c. ean hand, with fome rum, and then fet out fer home; that in coming home the deceafed complained of his being faint; that they called at a public-houfe on Turnham-Green, and with Richard Beale, had a quartern of brandy together, and from thence came directly to Mary bone, where the deceased's bead was dreffed, and that they all three went to the Queen's-head at Marybone; that the deceased, at Mr. Horne's, informed the witness and Richard Beale, that he had been knocked down with a short stick or bludgeon, by some ruthan whom he knew n't, which he has frequently repeated; that he faw him Friday laft and he was very bad, and on the Saturday worse, when he was blooded, nor did he appear better on the Sunday, but Monday in the evening he was in body worfe, and all in a fweat; that on the Sunday the deceafed declared to the witness that he was forty he had been at Brentford, for he was of opinion the blow would be his death; that the witness, alfo Richard Beale, and the deceased, were all very fober; hath known the deceased about three years laft palt, and never knew him fubject to drink, and was well in health before he was at the huftings. WILLIAM BEALE. Richard Beale, of Mary bone, peruke maker, faith, That he was at Brentford on the 8th of December, with William Beale and others, where he went with the deceafed to the buftings between two and three o'clock, when a mob and riot enfued; that he did not fee the deceafed knocked down, but faw him down, or was down with his hands towards the ground; that after they met at the Three Pigeons yard, from thence they went to Parfon Horne's, and went thro' the yard of his house into the church yard, and went over a wall, being afraid of their lives; that from thence theywent to Inleworth, the deceafed being ftill bleeding; that William Beale lent the deceased a handkerchief to hide the blood which came from a wound from the top of the head, which was then bathed with rum by Mr. William Beale; that in coming home he complained of his head and being faint, and at TurnhamGreen they had a quartern of brandy; that after they came to Marybone to Mr. William Beale's, where the decealed faid he had received a blow at Brentford, which greatly pained him, but that he knew not from whom; that there was a great mob and riot at Brentford, and that they were glad to get away to fave their lives; that he hath not feen the deceafed fince, alive; that he hath known the decealed about three years, and never knew him fubject to drink, and was well in bealth before he was at the huftings. R CHARD BEALF. Henry Francis, of Marylone, coal merthant, faith, that on the 3th of December, He was not at the election at Brentford, but 215 in the evening of the fame day he was at the Queen's-Head, at Marybone, in company with the deceafed, the two Beales, and others, where the deceafed complained he had been very ill ofed at Brentford, and had been knocked down there with a flick or bludgeon, and then pulled off his hat which was bloody, also a white rag in the hat and the bandkerchief about his neck, and the fhirt and coat, were very bloody; that the witnefs had the curiofity to take a candle and examine the wound on the top of the deceafed's head, when the head appeared much fwollen, and the hair clotted with the blood; that he fat next him, that the deceafed often faid his head was very bad, and that he muit go home, and wished he was in bed. HENRY FRANCIS. Thomas Crosby, of Mary bone, coachman to Mrs. Hufler, faith, that about five o'clock on Monday in the evening he faw the decealed in bed ill; that he faid with him about an hour and an half, in which time he appeared fometimes fenfible and fometimes upon the flighty order; fays the deceafed faid nothing to him otherwife than Tom or Thomas, when he was fenfible, when he was infenfible he would mutter out Brentford election, and I fhall die to night; that during the time he was infenfible he twitched at the fheets and pulled one of them out, and would have flung it away. That he sat up with him all night on Monday night last, during which time he was infenfible. THOMAS CROSBY. All ferally taken. &c. Saint Mary-le-bone, WelbeckStreet, December 15, 1768, Thefe are to certify that I have examined the body of Mr. George Clarke, and found a wound on the upper part of the head with the fcalp much bruised; on opening the head there appeared a quantity of extravafated blood under the dura mater, and the vell-is of the pia mater and brain were turgid with b'ood and ruptured; from thefe appearances (I do verily believe to the best of my judgment) that his death was owing to the aforefaid wound. Sworn, &c. JOHN FOOT, Surgeon. Wilful murder by fome perfon or It is here proper to mention, that after the "If it fhould be asked why my evidence at the Old Barley was not fuller, and more technical; I anfwer, that I was freaking to a jury, and thought it my duty to be intel ligible ligible rather than feientific. I anfwer that the judges and the jury were thoroughly fatisfied that Clarke died of the blow. I anfwer, that this point was admitted even by the prifoners' own numerous, ingenious, and induftrious counfel; who, on application made to them, declined to ask me any farther questions. On Friday, February 3, Mr. Bromfield fent a meffage to my house, that he defired to fee me in Conduit-ftreet. I immediately waited on him. He asked me the particulars refpecting the appearances I found in the head of the deceased Mr. Clarke. I minutely informed him. After which he said that he fuppofed he was loft for want of care, adding that he fuppofed the apothecary had com mitted an error with Mr. Clarke in treating a concuffion of the brain as if it had been a nervous fever. I replied that it might be fo. I acquainted him how much I had wished that he had been prefent at the time of opening the head; and told him that I was informed that he fuppofed it would be attended with many inconveniences, as it might fubject him to be fubpoena'd on the trial; which he acknowledged. We proceeded to talk of the particular circumftances attending the riot at Brentford. Mr. Bromfield exculpated Sir William Beauchamp Proctor; and faid that a party of men hired by Serjeant Glynn, with Sir William Beauchamp Proctor's labels in their hats, making a regular attack on the huftings, and crying Proctor for ever, was a piece of great generalfhip in the Serjeant; I replied that I could not think fo, becaufe Serjeant Davy in the fheriff's room had told me, during the trial, that he should bring the clearest proof in the world that Mr. Glynn had hired them; and as he produced no proof whatever of that fort, I concluded he could not, and that it was not fo." On the 1th of February Mr. Foot, by defire of Mr. Bromfield, went to Mr. Haw kins's to meet Meff. Ranby and Middleton. After fome converfation with Mr. Ranby on the improper treatment of the cafe, and Mr. Ranby declaring it would be an act of real humanity to the two malefactors, for Mr. Foot to specify these fentiments in writing to be laid before his majesty, he drew up the following and figned it. April The beforementioned is a true copy of the paper delivered by Mr. Foot to us. Witness M. RANEY, D. MIDDLETON, W. BROMFIELD. Mr. Ranby then returned me many thanks, declared it was a humane, generous act, and that it did not invalidate in the leaft my former teftimony. Mr. Ranby invited me to ine with him, which I declined. After I had left thele gentlemen, it ftruck me that there was fomething very extraordinary in all this. I could as little comprehend their earnestness as their compliments. It began to make me uneafy left there fhould be fomething more in it than I was aware of. I therefore went the fame afternoon to Mr. Ranby at Chelsea, and told him my uneafine's and apprehenfion, left any improper ufe fhould be made of what I bad written. I told him that as I disclaimed all party, and had no connections with either, fhould be very forry even to appear to be influenced. Mr. Ranby affured me on his honour that no improper ufe should be made of the paper; that it should be feen only by the Duke of Grafton and Lord Rochford, and that he fhould efteem me for what I had done as long as he lived. Mr. Bromfield, whom I found at Mr. Ranby's at Chelsea, promifed me the fame; and told me that he would introduce me to Lord Rochford the next day, that I might have the fame affurances from his lordinip. About three days afterwards Mr. Bromfield feat to me, and I went with him to Lord Rochford's. His lordship was at dinner. I did not fee Lord Rochford, but Mr. Bromfield told me, that his lordship fent his compliments to me by him, with affurances, that no ufe fhould be made of the paper, but what Meffieurs Bromfield and Ranby had before engaged. He added that his words were-I might be very easy, I should come into no fcrape. Very foon after a report was industriously fpread, that I had altered my opinion, and had figned a paper which contradicted my former evidence. It was likewife rumoured, that the court of Examiners of the Surgeons company were to meet, by the fecretary of ftate's order, to give their judgment concerning the death of Clarke, and my evidence and abilities in my proteffion. In confequence of this report I waited on Mr. Bromfield on Saturday the 25th of February, and told him, I had reafon to fuppofe that a very difingehuous ufe had been made of the paper I figned. He faid we ought not to credit reports, and that no such thing had been done. I defired to know whether I might credit another report, of the meeting of examining furgeons, at their theatre in the Old Bailey, on the Monday following? He faid it was very true, and fhewed me the fua.mons 1769. The MONTHLY CHRONOLOGER. Which he did. 217 Foot, after this, makes many "warm reflexions on the bufinefs of the furgical examination and the pardon of the malefactorsbut as we have already given fo much from the pamphlet, we must refer thofe who are defirous of feeing what he fays on thefe points to the immediate publication. THE MONTHLY CHRONOLOGER. WEDNESDAY, March 29. Ta general court of the EaftIndia company a dividend of 5 per cent. was agreed to, for the half year ending at Midfummer next. THURSDAY, 30. Came on, at the Eaft India court, a queftion refpecting the juftness and propriety of gco,ocol. deductions which had been made from the annual account 1768, in the private committee of accounts, without the knowledge of the directors;-fome alledged, that it had been done with a view of keeping down the dividend; and others, that it had been done only with a view of preventing government from squeezing the company; but it was admitted by all, that it might in the end prove of the most dangerous confequences to the company. The queftion was fimply this-Whether the company ought to take any credit for their fortifications, and other military expences, diburfed on account of the king's fhips and troops in making the territorial acquifitions, or not? It was infifted the company should either take credit for the value of thofe acquifitions, whatever they might be estimated it, or ftate at leaft fuch charges layed out in acquiring them, as government ought to pay, in cafe the fhould take the acquifitions from the company. Arguments running hard against the directors, they took an opportunity of moving the queftion of adjournment, when moft of the principal proprietors were gone to dinner, which was carried 106 to 85. FRIDAY, 31. A court of proprietors of India Stock was held at the defire of Mr. Sullivan, when, notwithstanding letters written to request atattendance, a majority thought the matter propofed fo frivolous that they would not fuffer a queftion thereon to be put; but on amction to adjourn, the fame was refolved in the affirmative 106 to 85. The five indictments preferred at the New-Guildhall, Westminster, against the rioters taken in cuftody at St. James's (See P. 168.) were all returned Ignoramus, by the grand-jury, whereupon the prifoners were difcharged. April, 1769, MONDAY, April 3. One-hundred and forty-one of the common-council of the city of London met, as ufual, previous to any important city bufinefs at a tavern in Cheapfide. The converfation being on the propriety of an address to his majefty, from the corporation of. London, fo great a majority of the gentlemen prefent highly difapproved of this meafure, that there were found only twenty-two of the whole number who attempted to patronize it. In confequence of this meeting, an addrefs was not fo much as propofed at Guildhall; the time was principally spent in paying fome courtly compliments to our prefent worthy chief magitrate; and fuch was the good fenfe and patriot honefty of the common council of London, that not more than fifteen or twenty out of two hundred oppofed the motion of returning thanks to his lordship for his upright and fpirited behaviour. This was accordingly done, an in fuch terms as do themfelves and his lordship equal honour; and, it is fuppofed, that the disgrace with which this minifterial attempt was attended, will effectually prevent any further applications of the like kind. TURNER, Mayor. A common council, holden in the chamber of the Guildhall of the city of London, on Tuefday the 4th day of April, 1769, and in the ninth year of the reign of King George the Third, of Great Britain, &c. "A motion was made, and queftion put, that it is the opinion of th's court, that the Right Honourable SAMUEL TURN R, Efq; lord mayor of this city, has, ever fince he entered upon that high and important office, acted as an upright, able, and judi cious magiftrate, and in every inftance conducted himself with candour, feadiness, and prudence, and to the fatisfaction of this court: the fame was refolved in the affirmative.” 218 The MONTHLY CHRONOLOGER. Samuel Beachcroft, Daniel Booth, Lyde Browne, Barth. Burton, hilip de la Haize, George Drake, Wm Ewer, John Fisher, Chrif. Hake, George Hayter, Benj. Hop kins, Robert Marth, Tho. Piumer, James Sperling, Thomas Thomas, Mark Weyland, Roger Boehm, Guftavus Brander, Matthew Clarmont, John Cornwall, Peter Gauffen, Matthew Howard, Ja. H. Langfton, Henry Plant, Efqrs. WEDNESDAY, 5. At fix o'clock, in the afternoon, the ballot for Eaft-India directors was clofed, at Merchant-Taylors-hall, THURSDAY, 6. 921 812 799 On cafting up the forementioned ballot, SATURDAY, 3. 833 London Tavern. SUPPORTERS of THE BILL OF RIGHTS. SIR JOSEPH MAWBEY, Bart. in the Chair. RDERED, That the fum of fix hundred pounds be paid into the hands of Mr. Wilkes; and that Mr. Reynolds be defired to convey the fame. C A falfe, malicious and fcandalous libel having appeared in the Gazette of the 8th inftant, under the title of an addrefs from the gentlemen, clergy, traders, and principal inhabitants of the city of Coventry, charging the fupporters of the Bill of Rights with being "the patrons, from whofe leffons of fedition the meer inftruments of our prefent confufions, have been tempted to exhibit their improvements in the detestable fcience of licentioufnefs, even before the gates of the royal palace;" and reprefenting them as men for ever to be regarded as ene mies to monarchy, fubverters of all legal government, pretended guardians of the April conftitution, and real difturbers of it's repofe;" Refolved, That it would be unpardonable in this fociety to pafs over in filence fo unmerited and infamous a charge (and that too published by authority), confcious as they are that his majefty has not fubjects more loyal and faithful to his facred perfen, more attached to his illuftrious family, more devoted to our happy conftitution, nos more zealous for the peace, profperity, and liberty of the people. And therefore refolved, That a committee be appointed to take the aforefaid libel into confideration, and to report their opinion at the next general meeting, to be held on Tuesday the 25th inftant, when Sir FRANCIS BLAKE DELAVAL, knight of the Bath, will be in the chair. WEDNESDAY, 12. Sir John Fielding's fubfcription, for apprenticing vagrant boys, was clofed. From its commencement on Feb. 12. (See p. 224.) boys have been clothed, and apprenticed to the merchants fervice, to their own prefer. vation and the benefit of their country: and from the commencement to the conclufion, 22831. 17 s. 2 d. has been paid into the hands of Meffrs. Coutts, of which 19281, 6 s. 8 d. has been already expended, and 3551 10s. 6 d. now remains in their hands, in order to continue occafionally to apprentice fuch diftreffed boys as may from time to time arife in the courfe of this year. At the prefenting an addrefs (in the modern ftrain) from the county of Surry, the king knighted Richard Hotham, of Merton, and Timothy Waldo, of Clapham, Efqrs; THURSDAY, 13. About half paft nine the election for At four in the afternoon the poll was Mr. Roache 1143 296 5 The laft gentleman was nominated by Mr. Martin and Mr. Jones, but at twelve o'clock the fheriffs received a letter from Mr. Roache, declining being a candidate, not chufing to take the oaths neceffary on the occafion. Soon after which he came on the Huftings: There was not one perfon polled for either of the candidates after three o'clock. [The proceffion of the different bodies of freeholders on horseback, thro' Charingcrofs, Pall-mall, Piccadilly, &c. lafted twe hours. Some bodies confifted of several hundreds each, all with mufick playing, colours flying, and their hats decorated with blue ribbands, infcribed with the words Magna 1769. The MONTHLY CHRONOLOGER. Magna Charta and Bill of Rights, &c. One parry confifted of near 600 perions, remarkbly well mounted. The freeholders, and other friends to liberty, began to move from London, Weftminster, and other parts of the county, as early as half an hour after five in the morning, having blue cockades, ftamped with "Magna Charta and the Bill of Rights," in letters of gold. Many ladies (freeholders) were among the friends of freedom, and diftinguished by. breaft-knots of blue and filver, with the motto above-mentioned.] The freeholders of Middlefex met at the Mile-End affembly room according to the advertisement for that purpose. The room was as full as it could be crowded, and is computed to hold about 2500. All the avenues to the houfe were thronged, and above five thousand people were aflembled in the road before it. At twelve John Sawbridge, Efq; member for Hythe in Kent, was called to the chair, and declared the intention of the meeting. James Townsend, Efq; member for Weftlooe in Cornwall, in a very elegant and animated fpeech deplored the neceffity of feeking out fome new remedy for a new grievance: A grievance which till this period no king, no minifter, no enemy, no power on earth, had ever laid upon this kingdom fince it received the name of England. With the greateft force and conviction from law, hiftory, and the natural rights of mankind, he afferted the privilege of reprefentation to the people. He declared himfelf ready to run every rifque and to undergo every fuffering to preferve this invaluable bleffing to his countrymen, and that he would never tamely fubmit to offer up his liberty at the fhrine of any minifter or earthly potentate or power. He concluded with a with, that fome freeholders would propofe a plan that might ferve to confirm to us the rights (if there are any) that ftill remain unviolated, and to recover thofe which have been violently and unjustly wrefted from us, efperially that important leading right on which all others depend, the right of election. The Rev. Mr. Horne then made a motion, That a committee of grievances and apprehenfions be appointed to take the fame into confideration, particularly the prefent alarming attack made on the right of election, and at the next general meeting to pro 219 pofe the proper conftitutional measures to be taken for redrefs. He fupported his motion by many strong and convincing arguments, and it was carried Nemine Con. The chairman in putting the queftion declared his entire approbation of it. -Adair, Efq;-Bellas Efq; and many others fpoke in fupport of the following motions, which were likewife carried Nemine Con. II. That the committee confift of one hundred freeholders. III. That Walpole Eyre, Efq; be chairman of the faid committee. IV. That George Bellas, Efq; be deputy chairman. V. That the future meetings of the committee and of the county be called by ad vertisement in the public papers, figned by the chairman or deputy-chairman. The thanks of the county were then unanimoutly ordered to be returned to the sheriff's of this county, for having acted according to law, and discharged their duty with honour and firmness. Thanks were likewife returned feparately to Mr. Sawbridge, Mr. Townfend, and Mr. Horne, for their able, active and fpirited conduct. The meeting was then adjourned, His majefty went to the Houfe of Peers, and gave the royal affent to A bill for carrying into execution propofals made by the India company for the payment of 400,000l. annually to the public for a limited time.To a bill for making perpetual an act of the firft of his prefent majefty to continue the duties for the encouragement of coinage of money. To a bill for the relief of infolvent debtors. To a bill for allowing liberty to carry rice from South Carolina and Georgia to America. To a bill to reduce into one act the laws relating to raifing and training the militia. To a bill to empower the high court of Chancery to lay out, upon government fecurities, a further fum of money, not exceeding a fum to be limited out of the general cash in the Bank of England belonging to the fuitors of the faid court, and to apply the intereft towards anfwering the charges of the office of accomptant general of the faid court. To a bill to enable he juftices of the peace in the general quarter feffions of their respective counties and divifions to repair the fhire hall, or other buildings, wherein the affizes or grand feffions are ufually held.To a bill for more effectually paving, cleanfing, lighting, and watching the streets, &c. in the town of Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln, and for laying a duty on all coals brought to the faid town to be fold. To a bill for making a navigable cut or canal from E e 2 Oxford |