Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

1791.

THE

Conftantinople-Valenciennes, &c.

FOREIGN

JANUARY 1.
Conflaminople, U. 6.

HE Captain Pacha and his fquadron arrived here on the 4th inftant, and foon after his arrival waited on his Highness, who, after he had given him an audience, cloathed him with a rich peliffe, and prefeated him with a turban, ornamented with plume of diamonds. The Vice-Admiral and Rear-Admiral alfo received a golden plume, and a prefent of 3000 piaftres; and the other Captains and Officers were rewarded according to their rank. His Highness has alfo given penfions to the widows and children of thofe who died on board his fleet in the Black Sea, and has distributed a confiderable fum among the tet of the foldiers and failors.

The Porte's Drugoman, or interpreter, wasted lately on the English and Dutch Ambafadors, to invite them on the part of his Highnels to be prefent at the Congrefs which is to be held at Siftovia, and to reque them to ule their mediation to accomplish a foon as poffible, the business for which the conferences are to be carried on. Viciennes, Dec. 5. Since the counterrition has begun to effect itfelf a great umber of the infurgents flock here daily ham Brabant or Flanders; they are however difarmed at the gates, and after pafbg through the city, are obliged to depart

the oppofite fide. General Schoenfield arrived here on the 30th of November, and atends to remain here for fome time. Previcus to his arrival on the French territory he was arrested near Mons by the peasants, but the States of Hainault being informed

ordered him to be liberated, and left at liberty to retire where he chofe. During hserreft his fervants and horfes were taken to Mons, and his baggage, in confequence, Tan a great hazard of being pillaged by the people, who were furious with the idea that this General had betrayed his nation. He was accused of having (when he faw the Impenal troops mafters of Namur) demanded hs difmiffal, and afterwards abandoned the remainder of the troops who were marching to Bruffes Major-General Khoeler, fecond it command in the Belgie army, purfued a furent conduct; he immediately retreated Moni, and with 6000 men and 72 can2005 (befides 18 thirty-fix pounders, which he left behind fpiked in his camp) would bave defended that capital of Auftrian Hain

t; but the States would not comply with be withes, and ordered him to quit Mons, and march to Bruffels with his corps, where, der joining the wrecks of the main army, A was to continue it's march for Flanders

NEWS.

to be disbanded and dismissed.

49

The States

of Flanders have declared, that all who were wounded or maimed during the troubles fhall find an asylum in the different Convents in their country, each community t, take charge of a certain number of invalids according to their abilities.

Naffau, Nov. 5. The climate of the Bahamas has generally been looked upon as remarkably dry; we have, however, lately experienced a woeful reverfe; for during the laft three months we have had inceffant rains, and have fcarcely enjoyed a fingle day without more or lefs.

Laft Saturday a matter of great importance was laid before the National Affembly. The difcovery of a plan to effect a counter-revolution. M. Mirabeau read two letters from the Magistrates of Lyons, in which the par ticulars are ftated at a great length! but the refult is, fhortly, that a club in the city, compofed of the Nobles and the Clergy, have employed every art to make converts to their caufe. The body of the people, however, it appears, refifted fuch vile machinations; and the confequence has been that two violent partizans of defpotifm and aristocracy have fallen victims to the fury and enthu fiafm of an ungovernable people. They were first imprisoned, and afterwards taken from thence by the people, and doomed to the Lanterne.

The Affembly came to no final refolution upon this fubject; but M. de la Fayette and M. Barnave, and other the most decided friends to the new Conftitution, concurred in opinion that a decree fhould be passed to oblige the Princes of the Blood, and all abfentees of rank to take the civic oath, under pain of being deprived of the pensons of every kind they at prefent receive from the bounty or the nation.

The grand Sultan is about to fend a very grandembafly, composed of 15 perfons, to the Court of Berlin. In order to accommodate them in their journey, the Pruffian Minitter at Vienna has requested the Emperor's permiffion that they may pass through Austria, and be exempted from performing quarantine, which requests have been granted.

The late ft accounts from Boraay-Bay in form us, that the fettlers fut.cred very fevere hardships from the lofs of the Guardian frigate, having been put to very short allow ance; and that the Sirius floop of war was wrecked off Norfolk land. There are hopes, however, that store-fhips had arrived before their feanty pittance of provifions was exhausted. Fith is caught in abundance. Governor Phillip's exertions are fpoken of in the warmest terms of gratitude.

JAN

5o

JANUARY 3. Martinico, which has for a long time paft been the prey of it's internal quarrels, has now a hope of a speedy accommodation. Letters dated the 23d of October announce, that propofals for an adjustment of differences have paffed between the contending parties, and that the long diffentions which have debilitated that Colony appear likely to come to a happy conclufion.

The King of France has at length given his fanction to the decree for the Civil Conftitution of the Clergy.

The return of the Belgians to their duty, without the effufion of blood, was a circum. ftance highly gratifying to the benevolent and gentle foul of Leopold. When he was told, that Van-der-Noot had efcaped, he replied, with an unaffected fmile of complacency, So much the better-there will be fewer to punish."

The late riots at Rome have already had the good effect of producing fome regulations which have very much increafed the fupply of provifions. His holiness has returned to the Vatican for the winter.

Letter from Boulogne, Dec. 21.

"I was walking with a party on the ram"Good God! parts, when a lady exclaimed, there is a veffel just off land." We had only time to view her, for in an instant, fo high were the wind and fea, the was out of fight again. About dusk, however, news was brought that the fame veilel was perining just off land; I mounted my horfe, and ode to fee, what I with never to fee again, or relate. She was a large brig, from. Rochelle, in Brittany, laden with falt; the ftruck, and, as you may, fuppofe, from the mature of her cargo, they could not lighten her.

[ocr errors]

"It was one of thofe terrible nights, about two hours before ebb, within a mile Their cries were horrible; or two of hore. feven of the crew were foon washed overboard, and had it not been for the intrepidity of fome Folkstone men, who galiantly went in an open boat to their relief, the Cartain and his boy, and nephew, would have There has fhared the fame unhappy fate. been a collection among the English for our gailant countrymen; for not a Frenchman would wet his fhoes."

JANUARY 4.

The dreadful earthAlgiers, Nov. 10. quake which in the night between the 8th and 9th of October destroyed the greatest part of the town of Oran, and overwhelmed a great number of the officers and foldiers of the garrifon, with the Governor and all his Boufe, in the ruins, made the Bey of Mafcara conceive a defign of feizing upon that town. The Dey or Chief of the Algerine Covernment countenanced his intentions, but would grant him up Turkish foldiers to

2

affift him. However, the Bey of Mafcara purfued his project, and towards the middle of October attacked Oran, at the head of 60,000 men, but was very much difap. pointed in his expectations. Thofe in Oran, reinforced by fome troops fent to their af fiftance by the Governor of Carthagena, waited till the affailants had got within reach of their cannon, and then played all their artillery on them, and in fine gave them fo vigorous a reception, that above 3000 Moors were killed on the spot; and though they have fince felt a number of fhocks at Oran, which have deftroyed more of the inhabitants, the Bey of Mafcara has never repeated his attack, nor does he seem inclined to do it.

By Letters from Leyden, dated Dec. 27, it appears, that foon after the attack made by the people of Liege on the Executive Troops, on the 10th of December, the Chamber of Wetzlar paffed a decree requiring the Emperor, as a member of the ancient circle of Bourgogne, to affift in executing the former decrees against the inforrection.

The Emperor, in quality of Duke de Bourgogne, accepted of this commiffion; the people of Liege fubmitted, and ten thoufand of the Imperial troops from Namur, Brabant and Limbourg, entered their terr ritory without oppofition. They were expected to be joined by the troops of Mayence from Mayfeyck.

These arrangements the Prince Bishop announced to his people in a Manifefto fo truly paftoral, fo full of general profeffions of forgiveness, and fo clear of all exprefs ftipulations in their favour, as to leave him at full liberty to punish or to pardon, as he may find himfeli difpofed when reftored to power.

After afcribing all the afflictions of himfelt and his people to the just wrath of the Almighty, who, instead of war, peftilence and famine, now makes revolutions bis iz. Aruments of vengeance, he adds, "People of Liege, fee an example of this in the people of France, and the abyfs of misfortune into which they are piunged. Did they not become the contempt and the horror of the univerie, at the moment they became the conquerors of their King? &c. &c. He informs them, that the Chief of the Empre has fworn to reduce them to obedience; laments that their blindness renders neceffary the application of this infallible remedy; and concludes, with offering them the falutation and benediction of their Patto and their Prince.

Twenty-two perfons have been maffacred by the mob at Arles, in Provence, and without any of thofe provocations which the Ariftocratic party ale too often ready to

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

1791.]

Boxing Match.

HOME NEWS.

JANUARY 4.

Norwich, Jan. 1.

N offerce the most heinous we have

A heard of in this part of the country

was committed near this city on Tuesday night by a female incendiary, of which thefe are the particulars:

Between the hours of ten and eleven on the above night, Mr. Thomas Burgefs, an emment farmer, at Banbury, was alarmed by the cry of "Fire!" On going to his door, he had the melancholy profpect of his hay-ricks, his ftables, cow-house, pig-stye, cart-shed, and barns, all on fire at the fame time, and the flames raging with fuch rapidity, as excluded all hopes of faving any part of his property. The hay and buildings were all con fumed, and with them a number of calves, pigs, and poultry, a cart, waggon, and fix very capital horfes, valued at thirty pounds each.

The diftance of the out-buildings from each other, and their being all on fire at the fame time, made it clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that the premises, &c. had been wilfully and maliciously fet on fire. A woman, who had lived with Mr. Burgess for many years, but whom about three weeks previously to this unfortunate affair he had for fome reafons discharged, having been heard often to declare at her lodgings, which were in St. Stephen's in this city, that the would be revenged on Mr. Burgess the first opportunity the had, was fufpected of having perpetrated this diabolical act; feveral perfons therefore went immediately in purfuit of her, and overtook her, in company with another woman, her neighbour, before the reached this city. Her name is Mary Adams, alias Mary Burgefs; on fearching her, a flint and iteel were taken out of her pocket. They were both se. sured for that night, and the next morning taken before John Paterfon, and Robert Harvey, Efars. when they underwent a long examination, and it appeared that Mary Bond, the companion of Adams, was induced to go to the premifes of Mr. Burgess, not knowing of the wicked intent of the other prifoner; when the faw the place on fire, fhe asked Adams what he had been doing, the replied, "Nothing that would hurt her;" adding, "now I am in my glory, nor should I care if I was in the middle of the flames, with a shift of pitch on,

I have got my mind." Mary Bond is admitted an evidence for the profecution, and Mary Adams is fully committed for trial,

JANUARY 18. BOXING.

51

Notwithstanding the expected oppofition of the Magiftrates, the battle between Big Ben and Johnson took place yesterday at Wrotham, in Kent.

A fort of walled orchard had been chofen for the place of conteft, and in this a railed ftage of 14 feet fquare was erected. Halfa-guinea was demanded for admiffion into the ground; but after about fifty guineas had been thus taken, the impatience of the populace prevailed, the wall was in many places pulled down, and those who would have paid, rushed in gratis, with those who would not.

As a prelude to the main battle, a match was made between Maddock, one of Mendoza's pupils, and a man from the neighbourhood, which lafted about 20 minutes, and was then drawn.

About one o'clock, Johnfon came upon the stage, with Joe Ward as his fecond, and Mendoza as his bottle-holder. Big Ben, with Will Ward and Humphries, appeared foon after. Both the champions had the ufual affectation of chearfulness, and, as may be expected, fomething more than the ufual degree of animefity.

While they ftripped, the odds of three to one were repeatedly offered in large fums, but very feldom taken. All the fpectators feemed to be impreffed with an opinion of Johnfon's fuperiority, and to have more curiofity about the manner, than the event of the fight.

In the first round, which was much fhorter and more violent than first rounds ufually are, Johnfon fell by a dreadful blow upon the forehead, just above the nofe; and from the effects of this, as he afterwards confeffed, he did not intirely recover in any part of the battle.

In the fecond round, he alfo fell with a blow; but in the third he knocked his antagonist down. There was then fome increafe of the odds in his favour.

Big Ben, however, immediately afterwards refumed his advantage, and kept it, with very little variation, to the end The knock-down blows were in his favour about three to one. His wind was very little. worfe than Johnfon's, and his temper was

better.

He feemed to use both hands with equal force; but Johnson had one hand frequently open, and when he ftruck with it his blows did not tell.-Johnfon's attempts to overleap his guard were generally unfuccessful, and when he thus failed, Ben always received him with fome very powerful blow. G 2 After

After the first knock-down blow, Johnfon attempted to shift, but Ben very feldom advanced towards him, and when he did, the former had not room to manœuvre. When a few rounds had been fought, both combatants feemed to lay afide their skill, and rely wholly upon their strength and courage.

In this manner, the battle had continued about 20 minutes, when Johnlon, having aimed a very violent blow at Ben, ftruck the rail, and broke the middle finger of his right hand. But, though he was thus dif. abled, his fpirits feemed good, and his friends were still not fo much doubtful of the event of the battle, as furprized at it's length; two blows from Ben foon afterwards decided the contest. Of these, one ftruck Johnfon upon the ribs, and the other cut open his lip, fo that he was almott choaked with blood. Johnfon fought one or two rounds in this fituation, and would have fought more, but that his friends pre. vented him.

It was remarkable, that when the conteft was decided, the fpectators feemed loft in furprize, and no fhouts of joy faluted the victor. Indeed, during the whole fight, though Johnfon appeared to have so much the difadvantage, the odds in betting were never against him, till the last three or four rounds, and the very little money was laid.

Thus ended one of those brutal exhibitions, by which a confiderable part of the public, the lower orders efpecially, have of fate been fo much interested. The general character of the battle was very different from that of most that have been lately feen, and particularly of thofe in which Johnton has been engaged.

[ocr errors]

There was very little fhifting, or other difplay of the art. The combatants feemed to be inflamed by animofity, and to forget their trade. They fought fometimes with the utmost fury; and one of the rounds is mentioned by amateurs as the finest that ever was feen, for the number and violence of the blows ftruck. This was about the middle of the battle.

Once alfo Johnfon feized Ben by the hair, and ftruck at the fame time'; but the repetition of this was prevented by Ward, who immediately cut off the locks of his champion.

A battle between Johnfon's brother and the Ruffian fucceeded this. The former was the conqueror. They fought for about fifteen minutes, in which time they beat each other as fast as pollible, never stopping or avoiding a blow. At the end of the battle they were both covered with blood, and even the amateurs were difgufted at the fight.

OLD BAILEY INTELLIGENCE.

TRIAL of Lord D.

Yesterday came on before Baron Thompfon, and a very crouded Court, the trial of Lord Viscount D, who was capitally indicted for privately stealing from the perfon of Elizabeth Weldon three guineas and an half.

Mr. Conft opened the indictment; and Mr. Knowlys itated the cafe with that candour and liberality for which he is diftia. guifhed.

Elizabeth Weldon faid, that on Wednef, day night last the was at Covent-Garden Theatre, and fat in one of the front boxes; The went thither in a hackney-coach from her own houfe in Rathbone-Place, and. had in her pocket one thilling and half a crown in filver, and alfo three guineas and an half in gold; before the fet off the looked at her money, and feparated the filver from the gold with a view to apply the former to the payment of the coach-hire, and her admiffion to the boxes at half-price. While he was at the playhouse the entered into converfation with Lord D, who, at the conclufion of the play, afked permiffion to fee her home, to which the confented; he accordingly handed her to a coach, into which they both entered. As foon as the was feated in the coach, the put her hand into her pocket, with a defign to give some filver to one of the numbered linkmen who had called the hackney-coach, when the found the had no filver, but felt the three guineas and an half; the defendant placed himfelf on the fide of her, and, in a fhort time, the felt his hand about her pockethole, and he afterwards put his arm round her waist; the afked him what he was about, and told him not to do to, or to that effect; he then far on the oppofite fide of the coach, and the obferved him feeling about his waistcoat-pocket, which raifed a fufpicion in her mind, in confequence of which the put her hand into her pocket, and faid, “Į have had my pocket picked;" to this the noble lord made no answer. While the coach was stopping at her door, the accused him of healing her money, upon which he offered her, as foon as they got out of the coach, a guinea to let him go; the answered he thould not, and added, if he offered to go away, he would call out top thief; he then ran off, the purfued him, called out watch; and stop thief; in confequence of which, he was taken to the watch-house, where The charged him with the felony in question.

Upon her cross-examination, the faid the was atraid to fecure him while they were in the coach together, for fear he should knock her down and get away; that she had ordered her fervant, Sarah Riley, on Wednesday lait, to go to a drawer and take three guineas and an half out of it and

2:

[blocks in formation]

to her, which the accordingly did; had ordered this money to be brought sim in order to discharge a bill, but the idot pay it, which was the reafon of her Laving the in her pocket when the money vt to the play; this Sarah Riley was her Per, although the acted in the capacity of dr's maid; the faid her real name was Weldon; when the firft came to London the set by the name of Smith; the then afLed the name of Trouton, being the name @arentleman to whom he was a mistress, and this name the went by at the prefent tise; there were other names the occafion

tock, and when the had occafion to put fignature to any writing, fhe made her mrk (not being able to write), which retuned to the name the affumed for the time teng; he had a fervant who always wrote for her, whose name was Afton; but this frant was her own fitter; the faid the had lved in diferent parts of London, where he had been visited by men; he had reAdd in Howland-street, Charles-ftreet, Safik-ftreet, Bream's-buildings, LombardArt, White-friars, East Harding-street,

For fome time after he had been a woman of the town, the affumed the charater of a young girl just come from the country, and got herself recommended to a Mr. Whitecroft, to learn mantua-making; but he continued with him little better than a week: when the left him he was a proftitute, and had been fo ever fince. She dened the was turned out of Mr. Justice Rred's little parlour, into which that magibrate, the faid, had defired her to go, in order to fettle the matter in queftion. alfo denied that he had abused or attempted to trike any perfon under the Piazzas, in Corest-garden, on Wednesday night. She fe denied that he threatened to charge the sach with Lord D, unless he went into the houfe with her.

She

Sarah Riley fwore, that she, by the defire of the profecutrix, took three guineas and a half out of the drawer, (of which the witnefs kept the key) and gave it to her miftrek, who was her fifter; the witness had free access to this drawer where the gold was kept.

Rebecca Leckman, who acted as cook to the profecutrix, faw the defendant run away when the coach ftopt at the door.

[blocks in formation]

53

"Whatever shame I ought to take, and do take to myfelf for the indifcretion which led me into the company of the person who has made, and endeavoured to fupport by perjury, an attack upon my life and honour, I cannot fuffer myself for a moment to fuppofe that any credit can be given to fo ftrange and improbable an accufation.-I am charged by the unconfirmed oath of a common prostitute, with an offence, which nothing but the lowest and worst habits of life and connectiors-the most abject basenefs of mind and contempt of character, urged by the most extreme neceffity, could poffibly prompt any man to commit. My fituation happily is the reverfe of this-I am not, nor have been, in any distress of circumstances, or want of credit. I am confcious that my conduct in life has ever been just and honourable; and that no action of mine has difgraced my own ftation, or reflected any difcredit upon those to whom I have the honour of being allied. It will, however, better become me to refer you, Gentlemen of the Jury, to the testimony of the witneffes who will be called to fpeak of my conduct and character, than to defire you to receive your information from my own report. Deeply as my mind feels and refents the unmerited difgrace of the imputation attempted to be thrown upon me, I fubmit chearfully to a trial by the laws of my country.-I know that those laws will not fuffer criminals of any rank to elude their justice; but I alfo know, and it is now my confolation and fecurity to know, that the punishments they inflict, can only fall upon the guilty head; and that innocence is fafe, protected by the wisdom and integrity of an English Judge and Jury. I have only to add my moft folemn denial of the charge-to request your attention to fuch evidence as the learned Gentlemen, with whofe council I am aflifted, shall think proper to lay before you; and to declare my intire confidence in the verdict of a Jury of my country, for the vindication of my honour, and the protection of my life, against an attack commenced with a view to extort money from me, and continued by malice and wickedness."

Several witneffes were called on behalf of his Lordship, in oppofition to the facts fworn by the profecutrix. Among these were the link-man and the coachman, who contradicted the evidence of the profecu trix in very material points, and rendered her teftimony of no avail.

Mr. Sheppard, the attorney for the defendant, alfo gave his evidence as to what paffed in the parlour of the Magiftrate, and alfo contradicted the teftimony of the profecutrix. This was confirmed by Mr. King,, the barrister.

Several other witneffes were alfo examine ed,

« AnteriorContinuar »