ENGLAND. Buckingham houfe is purchased by the King, and is for the future to be called the Queen's palace, and Buckingham gate is to be called the Queen's gate. The King and Queen flept in this palace for the first time on Saturday May 22. but the court was ftill kept at St James's. In the morning of May 11. was opened in Westminster abbey, a monument, erected to the memory of JAMES THOM SON, author of the Seafons, and other poetical works [253.]. It is fituated between Shakespear's and Rowe's, and executed by Michael Henry Spang, statuary, after a defign of Mr Adam, architect to his Majesty. There is a figure of Mr Thomfon fitting, who leans his left arm upon a pedestal, and holds a book with the cap of Liberty in his other hand. Upon the pedestal is carved a bas-relief of the Seafons, to which a boy points, offering him a laurel crown as the reward of his genius. At the feet of the figure, is the tragic mask, and ancient harp. The whole is fupported by a projecting pedeftal; and on a pannel, is the following infcription. JAMES THOMSON, well stocked with various forts of merchandise, the foil well cultivated, and the inhabitants very numerous, being a kind of Moors, though they differ much in their language and manners. What is most remarkable, we had people on board who spoke all the European languages, but not one understood a fyllable they fpoke. To be better informed of their trade and customs, we brought one on board, in order to teach him English, and bring him home: but he took care to jump overboard, and got fafe afhore, though he had a great way to swim." The Marquis of Granby, who came to England from Germany about the middle of December, took his leave of the King on the 17th of May, and fet out foon after, with feveral other officers, on his return for that country. In the end of May, Pr. Erneft, the Queen's third brother, and the Count of Lippe Buckeburg, arrived at London from Germany. P. S. The King gave the royal affent, June 2. to the following bills. An act for granting to his Majesty a certain fum of money out of the finking fund; and for applying certain monies, remaining in the exchequer, for the fervice of the year 1762; and for fettling and fecuring a certain annuity for the use of the Rt Hon. Arthur Onflow, fpeaker of the house of Commons in the loft five parliaments. [xxiii. 224.] An alt for enabling his Majesty to raise This monument was erected 1762. the fum of one million, for the ufes and purWe learn from Naples, that Mr Strange poses therein mentioned; and for further ap meets with all the honours and encou-propriating the supplies granted in this fefragement there which his best friends fion of parliament; and for allowing time could wifh, and fuch as he has already for the payment of the stamp-duties omitted. received in other parts of Italy. On his to be paid upon admissions into corporations arrival at Naples, he applied, by the Bri- or companies, and appointments to offices tifh envoy, for leave to make a drawing therein; and for the relief of William Earl, from a celebrated picture by Skedoni: but in respect of a quantity of white falt loft this method of application not proving by the wreck of a ship near the harbour of fuccessful, Mr Strange's works were fhew- Dublin. 'ed to the King's governor (Prince St Allicandre); and then liberty was immediately granted him, not only to make a drawing from that picture, but from as many others of the famous Parma collection as he fhould chule; and an apartment in the palace was ordered to be fitted up for him directly, with every accommodation. [xxiii. 405.] The Warwick Eaft-Indiaman, lately arrived from China, has found two iflands, very far to the fouthward, not difcovered before- ——" One of these islands," fays a letter, dated, Plymouth, May 30. "is An act for better fecuring the payment of the fums of money directed by an act 32° Geo. II. to be applied in augmentation of the falaries of the puifne judges in the court of king'sbench, the judges in the court of common pleas, the barons of the coif in the court of exchequer, at Westminster, and the justices of Chester, and the great feffions for the coun-` ties in Wales, for the time being. [xxi. 284-] An act for applying the money granted in‹ this feffion of parliament, towards defraying the charge of the pay of the militia of that part of G. Britain called England, when embodied, and of the cloathing of the part. Acts paffed, and the King's fpeech. May 1762. An act for vefting certain lands, tenements, and hereditaments, upon the fea-coafts, in the counties of Kent, Suffex, and Southampton, on which forts and batteries have been erected for the defence of the faidcoafts, in trustees, for certain uses, and for other purposes therein mentioned. An alt for importing falt, from Europe, into the colony of Nova Scotia in America. An act for making perpetual an act for the better regulation and government of feamen in the merchants fervice, and for extending the provisions thereof to his Majesty's colonies in America. An act for naturalizing fuch foreign Proteftants as have ferved, or fall ferve, for the time therein mentioned, as officers or foldiers in his Majesty's Royal American regiment, or as engineers in America. An act to amend fo much of an at 1° Ja. I. intitled, An act for the better execution of the intent and meaning of former ftatutes, made against fhooting in guns, and for the prefervation of the game of pheasants and partridges, and against the destroying of hares with hare. pipes, and tracing hares in the fnow, as relates to the prefervation of houfe doves and pigeons, by making the manner of convicting Such perfon or perfons as shall offend there in more eafy and expeditious. An act to prevent the committing of thefts and frauds by perfons navigating bum-boats, and other boats, upon the river Thames. An act for the keeping regular, uniform, and annual registers, of all parish poor in fants, under a certain age, within the bills of mortality. An act for allowing further time for inrollments of deeds and wills made by Papifts, and for relief of Proteftant purchafers. An act to indemnify fuch as have omitted to qualify themselves for offices and employ ments; and to indemnify juftices of the peace, deputy-lieutenants, and officers of the militia, or others, who have omitted to register, or deliver in their qualifications, within the time limited by law; and for giving further time for thofe purposes; and for the making and filing of affidavits of articles of clerk foip. An act for enabling the judges of the court of feffion, in Scotland, to make an adjournment of the faid court, for fuch time, betwixt the twentieth day of December and the fifteenth day of January yearly, as they all judge moft convenient, not exceeding enty days. xiv. 604. xvi. 594.1 273 Twenty-three bills concerning roads and other matters of police, and thirty private bills, all which relate to England only. [Of the private bills paffed this feffion, only one related to Scotland, viz. An act for naturalizing Henrietta Frederique, Vif countess Stormont, wife of the Rt Hon. David Lord Viscount Stormont [112.], one of thofe to which the royal affent was given March 24.1 bills, the King made the following speech After giving the royal affent to the to both houses of parliament. My Lords, and Gentlemen, THE public bufinefs for which you were aflembled, being now happily con cluded, the advanced feafon of the year calls upon me to put an end to this feffion of parliament; which I cannot do, without exprelling the highest approbation of the zeal, unanimity, and dispatch, which have fo fignally appeared in the courfe of your proceedings. At the opening of this feffion I informed you, that it had been my earnest wish to restore the bleflings of peace to my people; but that it was my fixed refolution, with your concurrence and fupport, to carry on the war in the most effectual manner, till that defireable object could be obtained upon equitable and honourable conditions. My fentiments in both these refpects continue invariably the fame; and I have the fatisfaction to find them confirmed by the unanimous voice of my parliament. The declaration, which motives of hu manity have engaged the Emperor of Ruf fia to make to all the courts in that alliance [150.], and the great and happy change in the fituation of my ally the King of Pruffia, give us just reason to hope, that the other belligerent powers may be induced to entertain the fame pacific difpofitions. On the other hand, our rupture with Spain, notwithstanding my utmost endeavours to prevent it, and the violent and unprovoked attack with which the dominions of my ancient ally the King of Portugal are threatened, fufficiently evince, the wifdom and neceffity of that firmness and refolution in my parliament, which have enabled me to continue our military operations without the leaft interruption or delay; and confiderably to augment my fleets and armies in thofe parts in which our enemies can be moft fenfibly diftrefled. The fignal fuccefs fuccefs of my arms in the conqueft of Martinico, and the acquifition of many other valuable fettlements in the Weft Indies, have, under the bleffing of God, been the happy confequences of thefe measures. I trust in the divine providence that they will be attended with still farther advan. tages, until the powers at war with us fhall be difpofed to fuch terms of accommodation, as the dignity and just rights of my crown, the future fecurity and commercial interests of my subjects, will permit me to accept. Gentlemen of the house of Commons, When I confider the ample fupplies which you have granted, I cannot but lament the heavy burdens, which the neceffities of the public fervice have obliged you to impole upon my people. From this confideration, I have endeavoured, in every inftance, to restrain my demands within as narrow bounds, as the difficulties in which I found myfelf involved would allow. From the fame motive, my utmost care Thall be employed to exert the most exact economy, confiftent with the safety of my kingdoms, and the good faith and honour of my crown. I return you my particular thanks, for the proof which you have given of your regard to me and to my family, in the ample provifion you have made for the Queen; whofe virtues, and affection to this country, will, I am confident, be found to deferve it. My Lords, and Gentlemen, I have the fulleft perfuafion, that you will continue to diffufe, in your feveral counties, that fpirit of concord, which you have yourfelves fo fteadily exerted in parliament: And you may be affured, that I will, on my part, return your zeal and affection for my perfon and government, by a conftant attention to whatever may contribute to the ease of my fubjects; and that it is my ardent wifh, to found the glories of my reign on the union of my people, and on the welfare and profperity of these my kingdoms. Then the parliament was prorogued, SCOTLA N' D. The general affembly of the church of Scotland met at Edinburgh on the 2cth of May [xxiii. 277... Charles Lord Cathcart was the King's Commiffioner, and Dr Robert Traill, profeflor of divinity in the university of Glasgow, was chofen moderator. His Majesty's letter to this affembly, which was given in by the Commiflioner immediately after his Grace's commiffion was read, and ordered to be recorded, is as follows. To the Rt Rev. and Well-beloved, the Moderator, Minifters, and Elders, of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland. GEORGE R. Ight Reverend and Well-beloved, we R greet you well. Experience has ftrengthened and confirmed in us those faof Scotland, of which we gave affurances vourable difpofitions towards the church to the last General Affembly; we are happy, therefore, in this opportunity of repeating our fixed refolution to fupport it, as by law established, in all its rights and privileges. fent reprefentatives of that church, that, We confide in you, who are the preby the prudence of your conduct, you will afford us reason to increase our affection towards it; and that, avoiding all unneceffary debates and contentions, you will apply yourselves, with temper and moderation, to promote the good ends for ment of religion, and the service of Alwhich you are affembled, the advancemighty God; and you may be affured, that your laudable endeavours, in these refpects, fhall not want our steady concurrence and fupport. We doubt not but you will agree with us, that we ought, in the present moment, to pay a more than ordinary attention to our refpective religious duties. The bleffings with which providence has of late, in fo wonderful a manner, diftinguifhed these our kingdoms, require of us, and our fubjects, that, by a conduct fuitable to the occafion, we fhould fhew a due fenfe of gratitude for them. truft, therefore, that you will infufe into the minds of our people committed to your charge, fuch a zeal for the interefts of religion, and fuch a spirit of piety and devotion, as can alone make us worthy of thofe favours which the Almighty has been pleased to beftow upon us, and may contribute to the continuance of them. We We have appointed our Right Trufty and Well beloved Charles Lord Cathcart, to represent our royal perfon in this af fembly, being well fatisfied with his loyalty, integrity, and zeal for our fervice; and we have reafon to believe, that our choice of him will be most agreeable to you, 1 May 1762. Proceedings of the general affembly. you, as you have already had fo frequent experience of his abilities for the difcharge of the important truft we now confer on him, and fuch repeated proofs of his particular affection for the church of Scotland, and his concern for its profperity. There is nothing more remaining, but to exprefs our hopes, that by proceeding in the bufinefs before you with that chafarity, brotherly love, and unanimity, which we have recommended to you, you may bring this meeting to as happy a conclufion as that of any former affembly. And fo we bid you heartily farewell. This letter was read with due respect, and ordered to be recorded. Then the Commiffioner made a speech to the affembly, and gave in the following extract from it in writing, viz. "I am to inform this Venerable Meeting, That in confequence of the laft affembly's requeft, I had the honour to lay before the King the papers committed to my care [xxiii. 270.] for that purpose, containing the report of Dr Hyndman, and others, appointed by the general affembly of the year 1760, to vifit the highlands and islands, and the places where itinerants and catechifts are employed; as alfo the report of the committee appointed thereupon by the last general affembly, together with the refolution of the faid affembly upon the faid report: and I have it particularly in coinmand to acquaint you, That his Majesty entirely approves of the zeal you have fhown, on this occafion, for the better obfervance of religious duties in thofe parts of his dominions where proper opportunities have hitherto been wanting for that purpose; that his Majefty, animated by fentiments of the fame true religion and piety, will not fail to fhow the greatest attention to this object, and that you will in due time be informed of fuch refolutions as his Majefty may think proper to come to upon it. In the mean while, as it appears that fome of the principal defects complained of by the report of the visitors, may be remedied by yourfelves, by virtue of that authority which the law has placed in you, it is his Majefty's royal pleasure, that I recommend to you the proper discharge of your own du 275 ties in these respects; and particularly, that you will make use of the powers you have by the ftatute law of Scotland, to oblige heritors, in fuch parithes where kirks and manfes are fallen down, or out of repair, to contribute, by an equal affeffinent, according to the fituation of their lands, to rebuild and repair them; and in fuch parifhes where schools are not properly established or kept up, to affefs themfelves according to law to fupply fuch defects: And this I accordingly do moft seriously recommend to the immediate confideration of this general affembly." To this fpeech, the moderator, in the name of the affembly, made a proper re turn. At this first federunt three committees were appointed; one, to draw up an anfwer to the King's letter; another, to draw up addreffes to the King and the Queen, on their marriage, (which were this day moved for, and unanimously agreed to; as was, next day, an addrefs to the Princefs-dowager of Wales, on the marriage of the King her fon, to be drawn up by the fame committee); and a third, to confider of that part of the Commiffioner's fpeech which related to the building and repairing of kirks and manfes, and to the establishing of fchools in parishes where they are wanting.-The an fwer to the King's letter was given in on the 22d, as were the addreffes on the 26th; all were approved of, and have been presented." On the 21st, the following minifters were appointed to preach before the Commillioner, viz. Meff. Thomas Blacklock [xxiii. 274] at Kirkcudbright, and Henry Grieve at Twynholm, on Sunday, May 23. and Michael Grinlaw at Creich, and John Dryfdale at Kirklifton, on Sunday May 30. Which they did accordingly. A petition was prefented to the affembly for the established fchoolmasters in Scotland; fetting forth, That a scheme had been prepared by the Rev. Dr Webfter, for establishing a fund for a fmall provifion for their widows, (fimilar to the eftablishment made near twenty years ago, for the widows and children of minifters in the church and profeffors in the univerfities), founded on an annual tax to be paid by fchoolmasters out of their fa laries, of 15 S or 30 s. or 45 s.; their widows to draw correfponding annuities, of 31. or 61. or 91: That they could not fpare fo much out of their fmall in comes Proceedings of the comes as would be neceffary to procure an act of parliament: and therefore pray. ing the affembly to appoint a general collection to be made for that purpose through all the parishes of Scotland; to which it was not doubted many perfons in the country would be ready to contriBute, if an opportunity were afforded them. After reafoning on this petition, the affembly, May 24. remitted it to the committee on kirks and manses; recommending to the committee to confider, if any other method could be fallen upon, more effectually to relieve the petitioners, than that proposed in their petition. This committee reported, on the 25th, as their opinion, That the affembly ought to injoin the feveral prefbyteries, forthwith to carry into execution the acts of parliament for building and repairing kirks and manfes, and fettling fchools, in the feveral parishes within their bounds; that a committee of the affembly fhould be appointed, to whom prefbyteries might apply for directions, as occafion fhould require; that the prefbyteries fhould report their proceedings to the next affembly; and that the procurator and agent for the church fhould be appointed to carry on fuch proceffes as fhould be neceffary for the above purpofes, at the public charge.- -With refpect to the fchoolmafters petition, the committee reported, That they had good reafon to believe, that above one third of the schoolmasters do not enjoy, including their falaries and emoluments, 12 l. Sterling per annum; and that therefore, as the fcheme prepared by Dr Webster, at the defire of the commiffion of the last affembly, proceeds upon an annual tax to be paid out of the fchoolmasters falaries, the committee were unanimoufly of opinion, that the carrying the fcheme, into immediate execution, would bring a burden upon future fchoolmasters greater than their circumftances could bear; but the committee, being fully fenfible of the importance of that order of men, and deeply affected with their prefent fituation, humbly moved to the Venerable embly, that they would re prefent, in the Commiffioner's fpeech which relates to the erecting of fchools, that the prefent falary of 100 merks is too fmall, fubmitting it to his Majefty, what relief he in his royal wisdom fhall think proper to grant. The affembly approved of the frit part of the report; but delayed the enacting part of it, the naming the committee propofed, and likewife the confideration of the latter part of the report; and recommended to the committee to prepare the proper form of a return to that part of the Commiffioner's speech. On overtures from the fynods of Gal loway and Angus and Mearns, and the prefbyteries of Haddington and Dalkeith, relative to the window tax [xxii. 262.], which were tranfimitted to the affembly by the committee for overtures on the 26th, with their opinion, That they deferved the immediate and serious attention of the aflembly, being a matter of the greatest importance, the affembly áppointed a committee to confider them, and to report their opinion next day.This report was accordingly given in on the 27th, bearing, That the affembly fhould appoint a committee, with full powers, to apply to parliament, in name of the affembly, for an exemption from the window tax, if they fhall fee caufe; to take all fuch preparatory fteps as fhall be prudent or neceffary in order to carry that application into execution; and to report their diligence to the next affembly. The affembly unanimoufly approved of this report, and appointed the committee propoled, confifting of twenty-four minifters and twenty-eight ruling elders, of whom three ministers and two ruling elders to be a quorum. The report of the committee on kirks, manfes, and fchools, was given in on the 29th. It was unanimoufly approved of; and agreeably to the opinion of the committee, the affembly referred to the window-tax committee, to correfpond with and give directions to prefbyteries, as occafion may require, in executing the acts of parliament for building and repairing kirks and manfes, and fettling fchools in the feveral parishes. Then the moderator, turning to the Commiffioner, addreffed his Grace, in the affembly's name, as follows. [This reprefentation was prepared by the committee, and given in with their report.] May it pleafe your Grace, I Am appointed by this Venerable Af fembly, to return your Grace their humble and fincere thanks, for laying before his Majefty the inquiries and refolutions of the affemblies 1760 and 1761, with regard to the ftate of religion in the highlands and iflands, and for reprefenting these to his Majesty in that favourable manner which your well-known zeal |