Mr. secretary Lowndes this day acquainted the treasury, who have signifyed the same to his majestie.

The lord Haversham has resigned his place of one of the lords of the admiralty.

Tis said the earl of Carlisle will be made first commissioner of the treasury, in the room of the lord Godolphin, who lately resigned.

And, 'tis discours'd, there will be some alterations at court. Mead and others of the most noted quakers have presented an addresse to his majestie against the French king and the pretended prince of Wales.

The imperial and Venetian ambassadors are daily with his majestie; and, 'tis said, a treaty with the latter is very near concluded, by which that republick is to come into the gand alliance, on condition the English and Dutch send next summer a fleet of 50 men of war into the Mediterranean.

The clergy of the diocesse of Worcester have given instructions to their members for the convocation, to pay all obedience to the archbishop of Canterbury, and to chuse a prolocutor that will doe the same; and that they doe not consent to any intermediate adjournments, but what shal be intimated by his grace, and agree to whatever the king, as head of the church, shal propose.

Saturday, 20 Dec.-The substance of the Cornish addresse to their knights of the shire, viz. to take care of the preservation of the establish'd religion, the kings person and dignity; support him and his right against the French king and all other opposers; and being of opinion that the late parliament was entirely in the king and kingdoms interest, desired them to enquire who advised the dissolution in so critical a juncture; that the impeach't lords be brought to legal tryalls; to examine the accounts of those intrusted with parliamentary taxes granted for carrying on the war, and to enquire whither the debts the nation lies under proceed from a real deficiency of funds, or from private persons having inriched themselves at the expence of the publick, so that all those guilty of mismanagements may be punish'd for a terror to others.

Upon uniting of the 2 East India company's, the stock of the old is rose to 857., and that of the new to 1327.

Some letters this day from Paris say, that Villeroy, to pre

vent the Germans quartering in the dutchy of Modena, had demanded passage of the duke of Parma for some French troops to passe thro his territories, paying for what they have; that the 22 batallions which are to march for Italy are to be increased to 30; and that the king of Spain is to be there in person next spring.

But letters of a later date advise, that prince Comercy, with 20,000 men, in his way to Goito, was opposed by Villeroy, with 15,000, in which action the latter lost 2500 men, besides many prisoners, a confirmation of which we expect by the

next.

Tuesday, 23 Decemb.-Letters from Dublin say, that the earls of Meath and Mountalexander are made commissioners of the great seal of Ireland during the absence of the lord chancellor Methwin, who is coming for England; and that the archbishop of Dublin and lord Drogheda are made lords justices, in room of the earl of Rochester, who is expected here the 1st fair wind; and that the privy council of that kingdom having debated the many inconveniences of the protestant interest in that nation, occasioned by the reassumption of the forfeitures, requested his excellency to represent the same to his majestie, which he promised to doe.

Mr. Lowndes, jun. is made a commissioner of the wine licence office in room of Mr. Young, who has resigned.

Sir Francis Blake and Mr. Stote are chose knights of the shire for Northumberland; and sir Richard Sandford and Mr. Graham for Westmorland; sir John Thorold and Mr. Dymock for Lincolnshire; and sir Rowland Gwynn for Brecknockshire.

Next week the Venetian ambassador is to make his publick entry through this citty; the cloth and lace he brought with. him to make his liveries was seized at the custom house, and obliged to pay the duty for the same.

The duke of Shrewsbury is arrived at Rome to divert himself with the curiosities of that city.

This day his majestie came from Hampton Court to Kensington, where he designs to reside during the sitting of the parliament.

Tis generally beleived that either sir Thomas Littleton or Mr. Harley will be speaker.

We want two Dutch posts.

The earl of Carlisle is made 1st commissioner of the treasury in the room of the lord Godolphin.

This day 4 of the persons lately condemned at the Old Baily were executed at Tyburn; 3 of them for high treason in counterfeiting the coin of this kingdom, and one for robbing on the highway.

Thursday, 25 Decemb.-Yesterday, about 2 in the morning, a committee of 7 of the directors of the new company and as many of the old East India company, after a long debate, sign'd articles for an union between them; since which, old stock is advanced to gol., and new to 1441.

Same day we had a report that the earl of Torrington was likely to command the fleet next summer in the Mediter

ranean.

In the act past last session for limitation of the crown, pag. 14, is a clause, That no person who has an office or place of profit under the king, or receives a pension from the crown, shal be capable of serving as a member of the house of commons; and the words (that after the said limitation shal take effect) not being incerted, as are in the preceding and following clauses, tis said several members will, on Tuesday next, insist, and a division be thereon, that no member shall sitt in the house who receives any profit from the crown.

Christned this year within the weekly bills of mortality, 15,616, and buryed 20,471.

Yesterdays letters from Hamburgh say, that the king of Sueden with a body of men had, in favour of prince Sapieha, totally routed Oginsky's party, killing 5000, and taking all their baggage, and was possest of part of Lithuania; but declared he had no design against the republick of Poland.

Saturday, 27 Decemb.-Foreign letters say, that a French frigat is put into Brest, having left the count de Chasteau Renaud at the Maderas with his squadron, who designed to sail from thence towards the Spanish West Indies, to convoy the Plate fleet to Cadiz.

That the marquesse de Bedmar, now governer of the Spanish West Indies, is made viceroy of Sicily.

That the earl of Athlone is to command the troops which the states are to send to the assistance of the elector Palatine, who is threatned with an invasion from France.

That the kings of Poland and Prussia are both augmenting their troops.

That a conspiracy has been discovered against the king of Sueden, but the particulars not yet known.

That the Spaniards are taking up ships at Cadiz to transport 3000 men to Naples.

That the Germans have sent 400 French prisoners to Tyroll, from whence they are to be carried to Vienna, and used after the same manner as the Neopolitans, who took up arms for the emperor, shal be treated at Naples.

That the king of Denmark is raising 2 regiments for the Dutch and 2 for the emperor in Italy.

From Brussells, that the affair of Sas van Ghent is by the French king referred to a negotiation.

Tuesday, 30 Decemb.-Yesterday sir Charles Hedges, one of the secretaries of state, surrendred the seals of his office to his majestie, and also laid down his commission as judge of the high court of admiralty; some say the marquesse of Hartington is like to succeed him as secretary, and others the earl of Manchester.

This days Dutch post advises, that the Germans were preparing to form the seige of Goito, and afterwards to bombard the citty of Mantua.

That Dunamunder fort has at last capitulated, the garison, to the number of 200, marching out with colours flying, with their arms and other marks of honour, but the Saxon artillery to fall to the Swedes.

That the garison of Ghent has been reinforced with several French batallions, and orders given to prepare quarters for 15,000 men, and a train of artillery getting ready, as it's said, to bombard Sas van Ghent.

That there has been a new conspiracy at Maestrich, which magazine was to have been blown up the 1st of January, and the town fired in 4 several places; which being timely discovered, 25 of the conspirators were seized, and at the same time a body of French troops were in motion thereabout to countenance the design.

This day the parliament mett, and the commons being sent for by his majestie to the house of lords, where the lord keeper told them his majestie would have them return to their house,

chuse a speaker, and present him to morrow, when 'tis expected his majestie will make a speech; and they accordingly returned, and chose Robert Harley, esq. (their late speaker) again; he having 216 votes, and sir Thomas Littleton 212.

The convocation mett this day also, and Dr. Sherlock, dean of St. Pauls, preached before them, after which they chose Dr. Woodward, dean of Sarum, for their prolocutor.

Thursday,

1701-2.

Jan.-Tuesday last the archbishop of Canterbury adjourned the convocation to the 13th instant.

Yesterday the king came to the house of peers, where the commons presented to him Mr. Harley their speaker, whom his majestie approved of: then made a long speech tending to a warr, which being in the Gazet, I referr theretoo.

After which, the lords house being very full, they unanimously voted an addresse of thanks to his majestie for his speech, and that they would stand by and support him against the French king, the pretended prince of Wales, or any of their adherents.

The duke of Bedford, being of age, took his place in the house.

The commons spent the day in taking the oaths and signing the association, and according to the alphabet went as far as the letter F.

And this day finish't the same, and to morrow will enter upon businesse.

The lords heard the marquesse of Normanby report their addresse, which they agreed to, and ordered every peer to enter his name in the journal book under the said addresse.

This evening the lords went in a body to Kensington, where they presented their addresse to his majestie.

The earl of Carlisle, the present earl marshal of England, has displac'd Mr. Dale from being register of the Heralds office.

Saturday, 3 Januar.—Thursday night his majestie in council prick't sherifs for the several counties of England; the same time the earl of Radnor was sworn of the privy council, and the earl of Manchester was declar'd secretary of state, in the room of sir Charles Hedges.