situation, now threaten destruction; in fine, the measure of the people's wretchedness seems to be filled up. Deputies have been sent to the Hague, for the purpose of representing to government the unhappy situation of the department of Zealand. The most melancholy accounts have been received of the destruction occasioned by the late inundations of the Rhine and Ill. Every where the inhabitants were obliged to take refuge in their upper stories. At Gomersheim, the Rhine has burst through the dykes, and laid a tract of the most fertile ground completely under water. The inundation has also done considerable damage in the vicinity of Strasburgh. The loaf of four pounds weight costs, at Paris, 221⁄2 sous, near a shilling; an immense price in France, where the money and price of labour bear no proportion to that rate. The cause of this high price is stated to be the damage done by the overflowing of the rivers, by which the destruction of corn in its various depots, as barns, granaries, stacks, &c. was not the only mischief sustained, for the roads, being completely cut up, have prevented the arrival in the capital of the grain which has escaped. In many parts of Paris, the quays and streets contiguous to the river were under water to the ground floors. The cellars indeed, in every part of the city were inundated. The frequent inundations which have done so much injury in the course of the autumn, in the southern provinces of France, and the north of Italy, have been attributed to the great prevalence of the southerly and the south-east winds. These tempests have continued so incessantly, as to occasion a most extraordinary fall of snow, as well in the Pyrenees as in the Alps. The district of Arles, which owes its uncommon fertility to the slimy manure deposited annually by the waters, has suffered excessively this year in consequence of the above. Forged notes to the amount of 80,000 francs, upon the Bank of Commerce, at Paris, were nearly ready for circulation, when they were lately scized by order of the minister of general police. Others had been previously is sued; but the minister observes, in his letter on the subject to the First Consul, that only eighteen of 500 francs each, were actually in circulation. Two persons principally concerned in the business have been taken up, and measures have been adopted to apprehend their accomplices, who are at Lyons. All the accounts received from Amiens, mention the splendor of Marquis Cornwallis's equipages, and the magnificence of his table. The allowances for his embassy are indeed altogether different to any that had preceded it; and so is the attention that has been paid to him in France. As a proof of the lively interest which the French people take in his residence among them, his Excellency was no sooner settled at Amiens, than all the constituted authorities for forty miles round repaired to the seat of congress, to offer him their congratulations, and to express their joy at the return of peace between the two countries. Some of the addresses are marked with as much fervency, as if they had been intended for the Chief Consul himself. The French public are in general extremely uneasy on account of the delay of the publication of the Concordatum; meanwhile the office of citizen Portalis, at whose disposal are all clerical benefices under the new system, is besieged by claimants of every description. The Chief Consul is eagerly expected at Lyons; and the utmost magnificence of adulation is displayed for his reception. The Hotel de Ville and its superb saloon, which had been considerably injured by violence during the siege or other revolutionary calamities of the city, have been repaired upon this occasion; and the military and constituted authorities are held in constant requisition, to move upon a signal, in order to meet him upon the road, and anticipate his arrival with addresses and panegyrics. No less than four hundred and twenty-five deputies, and thirty prefects, have already reached Lyons; and the letters from thence positively announce, that the Consulta of the Cisalpine Republic is about to be opened without delay, and that the First Consul is to be present at the meeting. The Spanish Gazettes have published a royal proclamation, relative to the new French weights and measures; and the Mercantile Almanack for the year 1801, for the first time, contains the French Calendar, and a comparison of the Spanish weights and measures with those of the French. The details which appeared in the public prints, relative to the late inundations in Italy, far from being exaggerated, fell short of the truth. The whole of the Mantuan territory was literally laid under water, and the inhabitants of Mantua were obliged to seek safety in their upper stories. The damage done by the swelling of the Po is almost incalculable. The violent and excessive rains that prevailed from the 27th ult. to the third inst. and those which have succeeded since at intervals, produced a rise of 20 inches beyond that which took place the beginning of the last century. The three Borgos of Mezanci, situated between the river of Parma and the Po, have been 12 fect under water. The mortality occasioned by the yellow fever in most of the West India islands, as well as in Surinam, Demarara, &c. is alarming in the highest degree. At Martinique the military has been so reduced, as to be insufficient to the ordinary duty of the garrison; and black troops have been called in from such of the neighbouring islands as could spare them. At Surinam, &c. some loaded vessels are stated to have been detained, having lost all their hands. Victor Hugues has brought the French colony of Cayenne to a most flourishing state. Its exports this year exceeded those of any other within the last seventeen years by 580,000 francs, and surpassed the imports by 56,000 francs. All the public edifices have been rebuilt, and considerable canals constructed. The Spanish governments in South America have recently become extremely vigilant, to prevent an extension of the intercourse of foreigners with their settlements. The viceroy of Lima some months since ordered the seizure of all vessels on the coast, having goods on board for trade above the value of 100 dollars. Several Americans (one of which, belonging to New York; bad 150,000 dollars in specie on board) have in consequence been captured and condemned at Lima and Calio. The ships engaged in the whale fishery continue, however, to receive a polite reception. Private letters from the Cape of Good Hope, dated October 18, by the Star Packet, mention, that the troops there still remained in their encampment, where they were expected to continue till the beginning of December: the troops in general were in good health, and were tolerably well supplied with provisions, and at a moderate rate: they had the day before heard of the capture of Madeira, and the landing there of the 85th regiment, and of Sir James Saumarez's action with the Spaniards. The news was brought by a vessel on a voyage of discovery. The Dutch settlers seem to have caught the idea of revolution, and are in consequence very troublesome indeed there was a prospect of its breaking out with great violence, if some very strong measures of precaution were not made use of, as near 500 of the insurgents had assembled near Swettendam, about 400 miles from Cape Town, where several of the Caffrees had joined them, and a number more were collecting. The light infantry of the corps encamped, were formed into a battalion, and expected daily to receive orders to march against them. In consequence of a number of Irish rebels having been transported and sent to Botanybay, and there attempting to subvert the government, by various acts of disorder and tumult, that colony became in a state of insurrection, and at Norfolk Island they would have succeeded but for the manly and spirited conduct of Governor King, and Lieut. Gov. Patterson, who caused the principal ringleaders to be secured, some of whom were executed. This spirit of insurrection was in some degree revived by the arrival of the Lady Ann transport, in March last, bringing with her one hundred and fifty more miscreants, of every description, but, by a timely check it was soon overturned. The military force there behaved throughout with much commendable firmness and spirit; though at the same time we lament that the present force seems by no means adequate to so dangerous and arduous an undertaking. IV. CHRONICLE OF DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. LONDON. A General Bill of all the Christenings and Bu- Christened in the 17 Parishes without the Christened in the 23 Out-Parishes in Middlesex and Surrey, 8373.-Buried, 8977. Christened in the 10 Parishes in the City and Liberties of Westminster, 4102-Buried, 5119. In all 17,814. In all 19,374. Surrey, 23; of which number (11 only) have been reported to be buried (as such) within the Bills of Mortality. A monument is now erecting in the south transcept of St. Paul's Cathedral, to the memory of Captain BURGESS, who was killed in the engagement with the Dutch fleet. Though this celebrated edifice cannot boast any antique monuments, there is no doubt but it will, in a few years, rival Westminster Abbey in those of a modern date. We understand it will shortly be enriched with the monuments of Earl HowE, General ABERCROMBY, and Captains MORSE and RIOU; and that stations are already allotted for that purpose. DEC. 29. An undertaking of considerable magnitude, was crowned with complete success, at Mr. SMITH's yard, Limehouse-hold- 5395 The DOMINICA WEST INDIAMAN, 400 tons, 2063 R. DALE sole owner, was hove up out of the 843 water on an inclined plane, prepared for the 639 purpose, of 180 feet long, and 10 feet wide, at - 1481 right angles to the surface of the water oppo1924 site. The Dominica had been in Dock in or2128 der to put two planes under her bottom, one 1817 on each side of the keel, to correspond with - 1482 that on shore, on which she was to be hove 1047 upon the preparation for this great undertak. 487 ing, shewed much skill and judgment. At 64 one o'clock the ropes were attached to the 1 ship, and the persons engaged for the occasion, were placed at their several stations-as soon as the power applied began to act, the ship, as it were, appeared to walk up, out of the water, till she was high and dry on the launch, amidst 5 1 A hundred and two the acclamations of upwards of 4,000 persons, assembled as spectators. An elegant supper was given on the occasion by Mr. DALE. The ship is cut in half, and is to be lengthened 20 feet in midships, and launched in eight weeks. DEC. 30. A fire broke out about two o'clock in the afternoon, at LADY PEMBROKE's house, in Cavendish Square, which reduced the whole house to a mere shell, the lower apartments excepted. It was occasioned by one of the servants leaving the room where a large charcoal fire was placed, with the beds and linen close to it. JAN. 12. The first division of the Coldstream Guards, lately returned from Egypt, under the command of Lord CORK, with the following Officers, Col. MACKERNNON, Captains STIRLING, THOMPSON, DALLING and BROTHERTON; Ensign VECHEL, and 200 men, marched into Knightsbridge barracks. A little way beyond Kensington they were met by the band, who struck up, God save the King. The colours of the regiment were displayed; and the shattered appearance they presented, instantly drew the loudest burst of applause from thousands, who came to welcome these gallant troops; considering the great fatigues and hardships they have undergone, and the vicissitudes of climate they have experienced, they looked surprisingly well, still preserving some little tinge of their Egyptian hue.-On Wednesday, the remaining part of the regiment, under command of Col. PEACOCKE, with Captains HAMILTON and BECKET, and Ensigns RITCHISON and PARKER, with near 150 men, arrived in town, and were received with the same testimonies of regard, and welcomed to their barracks with loud huzzas. JAN. 16. Sudden change of the Weather.This morning, at two o'clock, the Thermometer, in the open air, was at 13 degrees, 19 below freezing, being then colder than at any time this winter; at four o'clock it was 13 1-4, and kept from that time to rise gradually till nine o'clock, when it was at 19; at ten o'clock at night, it was at 35 degrees, 3 above freezing, so that in about 20 hours, it had risen 22 degrees. On Sunday it was generally at 37. JAN. 19. About three o'clock in the morning, an alarming fire broke out at the house of Mr. CHILVERS, Surgeon, in Great Marlborough Street. The fire was first discovered by the Watchman; but it had previously consumed the ground apartments, and made its way through the parlour floor; the ball was likewise in flames. Mr. CHILVERS went down stairs at the first alarm, with a view to open the street door for the family to escape that way but finding it impossible, returned, and providentially the family and himself, escaped over the parapet unhurt. Mr. CHILVERS' house fell in before the engines began to play; and the adjoining house, belonging to a Mrs. Kennet, was likewise on fire, and was burnt to the ground. Same day About half past five o'clock, a terrible fire broke out in the large range of warehouses, chiefly used as a depot for coffee and cotton, belonging to Mr. PUGH, in Thames Christ. Observ. No. 1. Street, the corner of Dowgate-hill. The whole inside of these extensive buildings was burnt, together with all the produce in them, which cannot yet be estimated. JAN. 20. A waggon, containing fifteen hundred pieces of India handkerchiefs, together with one hundred tubs of Holland's gin, was seized by some Excise Officers on the Whitechapel Road. It appears the goods were brought from the coast of Essex on the preceding night, and the Smugglers had chosen the middle of the day to arrive in town, as the most likely to escape suspicion. The loss occasioned to the Smugglers by this seizure, will amount to upwards of 3000Z. JAN. 20. The Special Commission sat this morning for the trial of Governor WALL, charged with the murder of BENJAMIN ARMSTRONG, Serjeant in the African Corps, by causing him to be flogged with a cord on the 10th of July, 1782, of which flogging he lan guished for several days, and then died. The Court was opened a little before ten o'clock, when the prisoner, JOSEPH WALL, was put to the bar and arraigned. He plead ed, Not Guilty. LORD CHIEF BARON MACDONALD, Mr. JUSTICE ROOKE, and Mr. JUSTICE LAWRENCE, presided on the Bench.. There MR. ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the case for the prosecution. He observed, that the prisoner at the bar was formerly Governor of Goree, on the coast of Africa, and stood charged with the heinous crime of murder. The unfortunate person who had met with his death, in consequence of the extreme rigour which the prisoner had exercised towards him, was a Serjeant in the African corps, stationed at Goree, in the month of July, 1782. He had for some offence been sentenced to receive eight hundred lashes with a cord, and this had been by order of the Governor, without bringing the man before a Court-Martial, which was the regular mode of proceeding in cases of mutiny, or disobedience of orders. were two species of Courts-Martial, Regimen-tal and Regular. Neither of these had been instituted, nor was there the least shadow of a trial; no charge had been notified to the unfortunate man, and therein the prisoner had been guilty of a direct violation of duty. The question for the Jury to consider was, whether the death of the unhappy man was occa. sioned by the orders of the prisoner: the prisoner therefore was bound to shew the existence of a crime which called for immediate punishment. He must also give a substantial reason why he withdrew himself from the proceedings which were had against him in the beginning of the year 1784; if he was innocent of the crime laid to his charge, then was the most proper time for him to take his trial, when the officers, who he now alleged were agreeing with him in the punishment, were living, and whose testimony would have corroborated his own. The evidence was exceedingly contradictory, and the trial occupied the whole of the day. L Mr. Forbes, General Mackenzie, Rev. Mr. Clarke, &c. gave the prisoner an excellent character. See our Obituary for this month, for an af fecting circumstance that occurred during the trial. The CHIEF BARON having summed up the evidence, said, that he could give little assistance to the Jury in elucidating testimony so positive and so contradictory. Falsehood must be on one side or the other, he would leave it entirely to their own good sense to judge on which. The questions for them to decide were, those that the Attorney General had stated at the outset. His Lordship then went through the statement and distinctions, of the Attorney General, explaining them in a most masterly manner, and concluded with the usual recommendation, to lean to the side of mercy in case of doubt. The Jury retired, and after a deliberation of about half an hour, brought in their verdictGuilty. Mr. Wall is six feet four inches high, and of a genteel appearance. He behaved with great steadiness and composure during his long and painful trial, which lasted from nine in the morning until eleven at night. He is 65 years of age, but does not look so old. After being twice respited, his execution took place on the 28th instant, particulars of which will be given next month. BERKSHIRE. READING-On Sunday, Dec. 27, the day previous to the annual bull-baiting at Wokingham, Dr. Barry, of this place, preached a sermon in the church of that town, professedly on the subject. The Doctor displayed the disgraceful enormities of that custom, and earnestly conjured both the magistrates and the people, by their exertions to discontinue so barbarous a practice. It is a remarkable circumstance that by the register of burials belonging to the parish of St. Mary in Reading, there appear no funerals in the months of March and July of 1801, and only one in the month of October; as well as that the funerals of that parish in the whole year have not amounted, by above one-third, to the general average, which is about ninety, one year with another, whereas by the register the funerals of 1801 appear to have been under sixty. His Serene Highness the Margrave of Anspach, gave to the poor of the parish of Benham, a fat bullock, and 100 loaves of bread. The Rev. W. Fennell, of Watford, near Newbury, was awakened about two o'clock, by his chamber being filled with smoke; when, instantly rising, he found the house in flames. He took his wife in his arms, who was almost motionless with fright; and descended the stairs, that were already on fire. The nursery maid, who slept in the next room, being alarmed, followed him with his youngest boy, about five months old; but the flames were so rapid as to prevent him saving his eldest child, a fine girl near seven years of age; who, with the mother of Mrs. Fennell, upwards of eighty years of age, perished; while the unhappy parents were spectators, without being able to render any assistance, or save an article of property. As provisions of all kinds, particularly animal food, are at such an exorbitant price, every likely mode to remove the evil should be adopted; and from the following remarkable instance of fecundity, the increased breed of hogs will certainly produce a good effect.Mr. SMITH, a baker, at Easthampstead, has a sow, which on Jan. 29th last, farrowed 15 pigs, on June 15th, 20, and on Nov. 25th, 22; in the whole 57 pigs, in the space of 45 weeks, 26 pigs from the two first litters were brought to maturity. The sow is now in good order, and 14 pigs (that were preserved) in a fine and thriving condition. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. Lord EUSTON and Mr. PITT, accompanied by the Bishop of LINCOLN, lately visited this University; and an elegant entertainment was given to them by the members of Trinity-College. The Cambridge Chronicle states, that an epidemic fever rages in many parts of that county, and has in several instances, proved fatal. It recommends, what has been often mentioned, the administering of yeast or barm to those afflicted; which is a cheap and infallible remedy in all putrid cases. A table spoonful given every two hours, or oftener, in a little beer, water, or any liquid, will give speedy relief. DEVONSHIRE. A society is formed at Exeter, for the purchase of sheep, &c. which purchases, after defraying all incidental charges, are retailed to the members. Ten sheep were killed that had been fattened with much care, and more than ordinary cost; yet the expense to the subscribers was only 5 1-2d. per pound, being nearly 3d. per pound below the current price of the market. Wednesday night, JAN. 6, near Woodyatts, the Exeter mail-coach was overturned, by the snow having fallen deep and drifted into a pit. The guard and passengers escaped unhurt, but the coachman was kicked by a horse and nearly suffocated, and obliged to be left at the inn. The guard took one of the horses to forward the mail to Salisbury; but the snow falling fast, he could not see the road, and lost his way on the Downs, until a coach coming up with lamps, he made for it, and with it arrived at Salisbury. THE NEW MONSTER.-Instances of depravity have recently occurred at Exeter, at which human nature revolts, and principally directed towards defenceless females. As a girl about fifteen was passing a lane a few evenings since, she was pushed against by two young men genteely dressed, one of whom wounded her in the arm. Having reached the house of a relation, she fainted through the loss of blood; a surgeon was called in, who, after dressing the wound, declared it was made with a lanThe poor girl's recovery is doubtful. Many instances of a similar nature occurred cet. last week. A reward of 50%. has been offered by the Mayor on conviction of any concerned in these diabolical practices. HAMPSHIRE. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 6. A court martial was held on board the Gladiator, in the above harbour, for the trial of the mutineers, late of his Majesty's ship Temeraire. The following officers were appointed members of the Court:- Vice-Admiral Sir ANDREW MITCHELL, President; Vice-Admiral Pole, Rear-Admiral Collingwood, Rear-Admiral Holloway, Rear-Admiral Campbell, Captain Bertie, Captain Grindall, Captain Sir E. Nagle, Captain Wells, The following seamen were then brought in and put on their trial:—John Mayfield,late cap. tain of the forecastle; James Ward,belonging to ditto; James Chesterman, ditto; John Fitzgerald, captain of the foretop; Thomas Cross, belonging to ditto; James Lockier, belonging to the main-top; John Cummins, ditto; Christopher White, ditto; William Hillier, belonging to the foretop; James Collins, the ship's butcher; John Daly; Joseph Rowland, a carpenter; Thomas Jones, and William Cooke. The charges against them were— mutinous assemblies. Second-Uttering seditious expressions; and for concealing traitorous and seditious words spoken, and tending to the hinderance of his Majesty's service, and not revealing the same to their commanding officer. Third-Being present at such mutiny and sedition, and not using their utmost endea vours to suppress the same, between the 1st and 11th Day of December, 1801. JAN. 8. At nine o'clock, the signal for punishment was made on board his Majesty's ship Acasto, of 38 guns, Captain FELLOWES, at Spithead, and a flag hoisted for a boat from each ship to attend the execution of Thomas Drokin, a marine, who was tried on the 4th inst. and found guilty of making use of mutinous expressions, and throwing a quart bottle at the head of a corporal of marines. The court martial on the mutineers, having sat three days, again assembled at nine o'clock on Saturday morning, when the Prisoners were called upon for their defence, but they stated by their counsel, that they mere not completely prepared, they were indulged by the court with a further adjournment till twelve o'clock, when they severally delivered their defences in writing, which were read by the Judge Advocate. Witnesses were then called and examined on the part of the prisoners, and the court adjoured until nine on Monday 11th, when the following seamen were found guilty, and received sentence of death: John May field, James Ward, James Chesterman, John Fitzgerald, Thomas Cross, James Lockier, John Cummins, William Hillier, James Collins, John Daly, Joseph Rowland, Thomas Jones, and William Cooke. Christopher White was sentenced to receive 200 lashes. JAN. 15. This morning the yellow flags, the usual signals for punishment, were hoisted on board the Temeraire, Formidable, and Majestic, and the following prisoners, convicted by a court martial of mutiny, and sentenced to die, were brought out to suffer death; Chesterman, Collins, Hillier, and Fitzgerald, on board the Temeraire; Ward, on board the Majestic, and Mayfield, on board the Formidable. They appeared at the platform erected at the bows of the respective ships, deporting themselves with that apparent contrition and resignation which became them at a moment so awful. Their conduct during the whole period of their confinement had evinced the most perfect resignation to their fate, and con- ⚫ sciousness that their offence had merited it, they availed themselves of the assistance of the Rev. Mr. JONES, chaplain of the Temeraire. The manner in which they applied for his pious offices in their behalf will best shew the state of their minds, their humility and the calm composure with which they anticipated the dreadful hour. Their application was by letter, and in the following terms:Gladiator, Jan. 7, 1802. "Dear Sir, "We take the liberty of thus humbly begging you, in the name of the Lord our God, to attend us, and administer unto us poor and miserable sinners the word of our blessed Re deemer; as the state we are now in is of the most serious nature, our bodies not only being in danger, but our unprepared souls; therefore we humbly implore your assistance on this unfortunate occasion. Do pray not delay, as our time is now exceedingly precious; we therefore conclude, humbly begging your compliance, "Your's, with humility, "To the Rev. Mr. JONES. "His Majesty's ship Temeraire. "REV. SIR, "We are now ready to hear you open to us those treasures of wisdom, in whose divine Author we desire to place our supreme confidence, and in whose service we wish to be found." When they came upon the platform a paper was presented by one of them in the name of himself and his unhappy comrades, which was read aloud to the ship's company. It was as follows: "Remember your duty to God, and for his sake to your King and Country. You must be sensible what was the chief cause that brought on the fatal consequences which now end so unhappily for us, and with so much remorse to you, if you rightly consider how much you have contributed by your support and countenance to bring us to this untimely end. |