liek will now impartially judge, whether this conduct does not bear much the fame complexion which his majefty's council exprefsly declared of the feizure of the faid hoop, namely to occafion a tumult, and thereby give the fame colouring for a neceffity of quartering the troops contrary to act of parliament in the body of the town, inftead of the barracks at Caftle-ifland, that was originally given for their being ordered here. Extract of a Letter from Stockholm, Dec. 20. "For about this week past there have been very great movements in this capital, which Revertheless are, at prefent, confiderably diminished, and may now be looked upon as over. These movements were occafioned by a contest which arofe between the king and the fenate, on account of the anticipated convocation of the four orders which compofe the diet of the kingdom. His majesty was of opinion, that this meeting of the ftates ought to take place, as being neceffary, and the only remedy for the public evils, but the fenate would not confent to it.

"On the 12th of this month, the king ordered a writing to be entered, in his prefence, into the registers of the fenate, in which his majesty declares at the conclufion, that if the college continued to oppofe this convocation of the ftates, he would abdicate the crown.

"The fame day, after the king had retired, the fenate took into confideration his majefty's declaration. At the iffue of this confultation, the fenators Friefendorf and Riblaing, went to court to entreat the king to defife from his demand; but his majesty declared he would not, and that he defired a categorical anfwer immediately from the femate. Six other fenatours came to entreat the king to grant the fenate a delay of four days to confider of it. His majefty lofing then all patience, told them that he looked upon this demand as a refufal; that he renounced, from that inftant, the government, till the states should be affembled, forbid the fenate from iffeing any thing in his name, and defired that the feals might be delivered to him.

"The next day the king ordered the prince royal to go to the feveral colleges, and read to them the following declaration, We order, by these prefents, our dear fon the prince royal, to make known to the colleges of ftate, that thinking it neceffary to convoke the states of this kingdom, we had prefumed the fenate would by this have confented to it; but that not having done fo, we cannot but look on their delay as a refufal, confequently we find ourselves under the neceffity of abdicating the government, till the faid

The prince royal went directly to the colleges of the chancery, read there with a loud voice the above order, and demanded that the feal with the royal arms fhould be delivered up to him; but the keeper of it being abfent, this requeft of his royal highness could not be complied with. The prince, however, fignified to the members of the college, that they should answer it to his majesty and the states, if they continued to make use of the feal.

"From this college the prince royal went fucceffively to the others. The streets were filled with crouds of people, impatient to learn the iffuse of a fcene fo extraordinary and critical.

"While his royal highnefs was making this tour of the colleges, the fenate continued affembled, and sent a third deputation to the king, praying him to change his refolution. This attempt having alfo proved as fruitlefs as the two preceding, the fenators. Friefendorf, Hierne, Horn, Lagerbielke, Walwick and Funck, came to a refolution of conforming to the king's intentions, and confenting to the convocation of the states; their voices joined to his majesty's formed a majority.

"Immediately after the declaration of these fix fenators, two fecretaries of state were deputed to the prince royal, to pray him to ftop the tour he was making to the colleges, as the convocation of the ftates was now a thing agreed on; but his highness. having already been in all the colleges, except that of the Mines, thought it proper alfo, to go there.

"The fenators Kalling, Ribbing, and de Geer, required time to make their declara-, tion, and others, who are ill, will be defired to give in their fuffrages at their own houses.

"During this ferment the magistracy of the city were affembled, by order of the king, together with the grand governor. The prince royal had alfo propofed to ask of them, whether it was not neceffary that the order of burgeffes fhould be convened; but his highnefs, on being informed that the fix fenators had conformed to the king's intentions, thought it unneceffary to fulfill this defign.

"This intricate affair having taken fo happy turn, all the city have teftified the greatest fatisfaction at it. The most unhappy confequences were apprehended, and accord ingly measures were taken, in cafe of need, for bringing the regiments of Upland and Sudermaliand into the city. The king had

likewife.

likewife addreffed circular orders to the governors of the provinces, enjoining them to watch over the maintenance of the publick repofe in their respective districts."

Monday, Jan. 16. On Sunday a woman flung her own female child, 18 months old, in the New-river facing Sadler's wells, and afterwards made a voluntary confeffion of what he had done; the body was dragged for yefterday, and taken up near the fame place, in the presence of the mother, who was fecured.

Laurence Balfe and Edward Quirk, capitally convicted of wilful murder on Saturday, moved by council for an arreft of judgment, which was argued fix hours, but was overruled by the court, and they received fentence to be executed on Wednesday, and their bodies to be diffected and anatomized.

Fourteen prifoners were tried at the Old Bailey; nine of whom were caft for tranportation, and five acquitted.

The trial of Fisher, against whom several indictments have been found for forgery, is put off till next feffion.

The writs of error brought by Mr. Wilkes against the two verdicts, for which he is now a prifoner, are not allowed, but both the judgements are confirmed.

Tuesday, Jan. 17. An order was fent to the fheriffs to refpite, for a week, the execution of the two chairmen, who were to have died for the murder of Mr. Clarke, in the riot at Brentford.

This day the feffions ended at the Old Bailey, when eight prifoners were tried, five of whom were caft for transportation, one fined and imprisoned, and two acquitted. Sixtyfix prifoners were tried at this feffions, 10 capitally convicted, one to be tranfported for 14 years, 28 for seven years, two whipped, and one branded.

The next feffion is to begin on Monday the 20th of February at Guildhall, and on Wednefday the 22d at the Old Bailey.

Wednesday, Jan. 18. At a court of aldermen held at Guildhall, to confider in what manner they should act with respect to the election of an alderman for Farringdon without; it appeared, that, cafting up the poll after an adjournment had been mentioned, and declaring the candidate, who had the majority after the other candidate had declined, was an undue election; and a city officer obferved, that if the court of aldermen confirmed that election they would fubject themfelves to a Mandamus from the King's-Bench. Thursday, Jan. 9. Quantities of tin (a circumstance never known before) are now fhipped for the East Indies, together with colours of all kinds, which formerly we had from them.

Friday, Jan. 20. A letter from Abingdon mentions, that Mr. Alder, who got the

39

2000ol. in the late lottery, has caufed a quantity of bread and beef to be distributed among the poor inhabitants of that place, and a farther diftribution among the publicans whofe families are in diftrefs, on account of their having lost their licences.

Saturday, Jan. 21. A gentleman of fortune, has made a propofition to a publican, that he will build him a cave, in which he fhall continue feven years, without fpeaking to any one whatever, except the perfon appointed to attend him: In confideration of which, the hermit is to receive a fufficiency of meat and drink for himself during his immurement, his wife and children are to be allowed 12s. per week during fuch his voluntary hermitage, with a further provifo, that fhould he furvixe the fame, the fum of 100l. per ann. fhould be conftantly paid to him, and the cell be his and his family's property for ever; all which articles are ratified on both fides, and the hermitage abfolutely began to be built, upon the above ridiculous terms. There are other articles, of which the two following are to be most strictly obferved, namely, that he is not to have any change of apparel, not to cut his nails, nor to converfe with his attendant, otherwife than for neceffaries, nor to be fhaved, though his beard at prefent is more than a twelvemonth's growth, and makes a frightful appearance.

Extract of a Letter from Legborn, Dec. 23..

"General Paoli continues to harraís the French, and has lately made feveral attacks on them in their winter quarters, and has killed them 300 men. It is this morning reported, that two Corfican xebecs have taken two large French barks, laden with powder and warlike ftores, and a large fum of money defigned to pay their troops."

Your

Paris, Jan. 9. "The day before yesterday the first prefident of the parliament reported to the chambers affembled, that the king made the following anfwer to the deputies that were fent to make remonftrances to him. remonftrances cannot make me alter my opinion, for reafons which were fufficiently explained by my anfwer of the 24th of December laft. I order that my edicts and my declaration be registered to-morrow, and on this account I have fent letters of command to my parliament.'

"As foon as this report was ended, the king's attorney general entered and delivered three letters of command, upon each of which a refolution was made in the following terms:

The court has refolved that it cannot obey thefe letters of command, and that therefore the king fhall be most humbly entreated to withdraw his edicts, Declarations, and letters of command.'

"The

The three orders of the fates of Britany have united in order to befeech his majefty to restore the parliament of that province and recall its exiled members."

Versailles, Jan. 11. The king having thought proper to have several edicts and declarations registered, fent for his parliament to come here this day, to be prefent at the bed of justice which his majefty held in the usual manner. Accordingly the parliament atrived here at ten o'clock in the morning. At half paft eleven the bed of justice was opened, and his majefty ordered two edicts and a declaration to be regiftered, by which certain impofitions are ordered to be prolonged, and 4000000 livres to be raifed upon life annuites.

BANKRUPT

S.

Edward Bennet, of Lombard-ftreet, London, jeweller and goldsmith. Eleanor Haydan, of Stoke Damerell, Devonshire, haberJafher of fmall wares. Jofeph Holland, of Nottingham, hofier and woolcomber. Thomas Chapman, of Croydon, Surry, miller. George Graham, of Norton Falgate, Middlefex, grocer. John Riding, of the parish of St. George in the Eaft, Middlefex, lighterman, and dealer in coals. William Haigh, of Nottingham, tanner. Robert Rift, of Cogglefhall, in Effex, bays-maker. Robert, otherwife Robart Diplock, of the parish of East Greenwich, Kent, dealer. Benjamin Smith, late of Birmingham, Warwickshire, and fince of Yeovil, Somerfetfhire, (now or late co-partner with John Onion, of Birmingham aforefaid) ironmonger: William Wenlock, of Great Bromley, Effex, higler. Robert Learmond, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, linen-draper. James Copeland, of upper Thames-ftreet, London, cheesemonger. Charles Runnington, late of fronmongerlane. Timothy Lewis, of Drury-lane, man's mercer, and button feller. Hannah Appleby, of Sabridgeworth, Hertfordshire, Mofes Maffias, of Prescot-ftreet, Goodman's helds, Middlefex, merchant. James White, of the parish of Lincome and Widcome, Somerfet fhire, miller and mealman. John Crouch, of London, mariner. William Stitt, late of Burton, Somerfetfhire, linen-draper. John Bowyer, of the parifb of St. Botolph without Bishopfgate, London, wine cooper. Robert Chefhire, late of Leverpoole, in Lancafhire, druggift. Thomas Hay, now or late of Loxley, in Warwickshire, dealer. Abraham Harrys, of Birmingham, in Warwickshire, pencil maker. John Harris, late of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, laceman. Chriftopher Bufhel, late of Tower-hill, in the parish of Allhallows Barkin, London, dealer. John Popplewell and Thomas Hanmer, of Cannon-ftreet, London, brokers and partners. William Prentice, late of Wrenhapa, in Suffolk, opkeeper. William

grocer.

Dreffer, of Shackleton. in Yorkshire, flax dreffer. Ambrofe Beckwith the younger, of the city of York, goldfmith and jeweller, Jofeph Elam, now or late of Leeds, Yorkhire, merchant. William Ward, of Addingham, Yorkshire, dealer. Jofeph de Mages, of Oxford-market, Middlefex, wine merchant. Edward Wales, of the parish of St. Mary le Bone, Middlefex, carpenter and builder. Charles Muller, of Bafinghall-ftreet, London, merchant. John Matthews, of St. Leonard Shoreditch, haberdasher. Amos Avery, of the Poultry, London, watchmaker. Highman Palatine, of Red Lyonftreet, Whitechapel, filverfmith. John England, of Cornhill, London, hofier.

DEATHS.

At his houfe at Fulham, Sir Francis Gofling, Knt. alderman of Farringdon ward without. The Right Hon- Lord Arundel, Baron of Trerice, in Cornwall. Lady Sewel, wife of the Right Hon. the mafter of the rolls. Thomas Broderick, Efq; vice admiral of the white. At his houfe in St. James's-ftreet, the most noble Charles Sackville, duke and earl Dorfet, earl of Middlefex, lord-lieutenant, vice-admiral, and cuftos rotulorum of the county of Kent, and city of Canterbury, high-fteward of Stratford-upon-Avon, and one of his majesty's moft hon. privy-council. At her house in Red-Lion-court, by St. Sepulchre's church, Mrs. Mead, mother-in-law to Mr. alderman Wilkes. Wednesday, at his feat at Wateringbury in Kent, Sir Thomas Style, Bart. Friday, at his houfe in Ormond-ftreet, in the 100th year of his age, Jonathan Pulleyn, Efq; who had been many years a commander in the Eaft-India company's fervice. his feat at Houghton in Gloucestershire, Patton, Efq;

BIRT H.

At

Lady viscountefs Townfhend, lady of his excellency the lord lieut. of Ireland, was fafely delivered of a fon the 6th inftant at the caftle of Leixlip, near Dublin.

PROMOTION S.

Sir George Macartney, to be chief fe cretary to the lord lieutenant of Ireland, in the room of lord Frederick Campbell, who has refigned. Dr. Ewer, tranflated from the fee of Llandaff to that of Bangor. Shipley dean of Winchefter, to be bishop of Llandaff. Jeremiah Dyfon, Efq; one of the lords commiffioners of the treasury.

MARRIAGES.

Dr.

At St. George's church, Hanover-square, the Right Hon. Lord Brownlow Bertie, brother to his Grace the Duke of Ancaster, to mifs Ann Layard, of King-ftreet, Coventgarden. Thomas Heyfham, Efq; of New Bond-ftreet, at St. George's church, Hanover-fquure, to mifs Elizabeth Page, of Upper Grofvener-street,

have preferved their profeffion and its profeffors from being profaned by thofe fervices, which have rendered both fo obnoxious to reproach. There were two perfons of that profeffion, and of that time, by whofe feveral and diftinct conftitutions (the one knowing nothing of, nor caring for the court, the other knowing, or caring for nothing elfe) thofe mifchiefs were introduced; Mr. Noy the attorney-general, and Sir John Finch firft lord chief juftice of the common pleas, aud then lord-keeper of the great feal of England.

"The first upon the great fame of his ability and learning (and he was very able and learned) was, by great industry and importunity from court, perfuaded to accept that place, for which all other men laboured (being the best for profit that profeffion is capable of) and fo he fuffered himfelf to be made the king's attorneygeneral, The court made no impreffion upon his manners, upon his mind it did. And though he wore about him an affected morofity, which made him unapt to flatter other men, yet even that morofity and pride rendered him the moft liable to be flattered himself, that can be imagined. And by this means the great perfons, who fteered the public affairs, by admiring his parts, and extolling his judgment, as well to his face, as behind his back, wrought upon him, by degrees, for the eminence of the fervice, to be the inftrument in all their defigns; thinking that he could not give a clearer teftimony, that his knowlege in the law was greater than all other mens, than by making that law, which all other men believed not to be fo. In a word, he was an unanswerable inftance, how much a good education and knowledge of men is to make a wife man, at leaft a man fit for bufinefs.

"Sir John Finch had much that the other wanted; but nothing that the other had. Having led a free

life in a reftrained fortune, and ħaving fet up upon the stock of a good wit, and natural parts, without the fuperftructure of much knowlege in the profeffion by which he was to grow, he was willing to ufe thofe weapons in which he had most skill, and fo (being not unseen in the affections of the court, but not having reputation enough to guide or reform them) he took up fhip-money where Mr. Noy left it; and being a Judge, carried it up to that pinnacle, from whence he almost broke his own neck; having in his journey thither, had too much influence on his brethren to induce them to concur in a judgment they had all caufe to repent. To which his declaration, after he was keeper of the great feal of England, muft be added, upon a demurrer put in to a bill before him, which had no other equity in it, than an order of the lords of the council; "That whilft he was keeper, no man fhould be fo faucy as to difpute thofe orders; but that the wisdom of that board fhould always be ground enough for him to make a degree in Chancery."

Such were the lengths to which the great lawyers could go in the reign of Charles II. But, alas! great lawyers have gone more afto. nifhing lengths in other reigns fince, For fear I fhould be thought to quint at the prefent times, which are fcarce worth my notice, I beg leave to explain myself, and to profefs that I mean only the reigns of Charles II. and James II. The name of Jefferies is too well known to be mentioned on this occafion; and as his name is better known thap his actions, I think it will neither be unfeasonable nor unentertaining to give you his memoirs. I fhall not give myself the trouble to trace his life backwards to his childhood, but fhall begin my narrative with thofe actions which introduced him to public notice.

The