their officers, and subscribed 6000l. towards the charge of sending ministers to instruct the Indians.

This days foreign post says, that prince Eugene had sent a detachment towards Parma, and was building bridges over the Oglio.

That the Dutch have publisht a manifesto of their reasons for a war, and ordered their minister at Brussells to demand of the Spanish ambassador the debts due to them from that

crown.

Thursday, 26 Febr.-Last night the committee of elections finisht that for Norwich, upon the petition of Mr. Thacker against Mr. Davy the sitting member, and without dividing, carried it for the latter.

This day the lords read a bill to encourage farmers to keep armes and shoot at butts; and past and sent to the commons the bill to allow the quakers solemn affirmation instead of an oath for 11 years.

We hear Dr. Young will be made dean of Sarum, in the room of Dr. Woodward, deceased, who was prolocutor to the lower house of convocation.

The lord high admiral has appointed capt. Dove, in the Warwick, to goe commodore of a squadron of 5 men of war to the West Indies, to cruize as guard ships for 7 months; and col. Dudley goes with him in the Centurion, to his government of New England.

The fleet designed for the Streights will be victualled for 8 months at full allowance.

Yesterday died Mr. Wiseman, a noted surgeon in Long Acre, and left an only daughter, worth 30,000l.

One Hollingsworth, some time since of the university of Oxford, being committed to Newgate for coining, has poisoned himself.

Foreign letters say that prince Eugene has so posted his army that no provision can get into Cremona, and that he has cut off all communication between that place and Millain.

This day the commons read the land tax bill, and ordered it a 2nd reading.

And that an addresse be made to his majestic, that the arrears due to the half pay officers may be paid.

And then went into a committee upon their rights and pri

viledges; several learned speeches were made thereupon, and about 9 at night 'twas carried by 14, 235 against 221, to this effect, That the commons had right done them last session by the lords in discharging the impeachments; that 'twas the undoubted right of the subjects of England to petition the king for dissolving or sitting of parliaments: and that persons impeach't ought to be speedily tried in order to conviction or acquittall.

Saturday, 28 Febr. - Yesterday the commons were in a committee upon the supply, there being 300,000l. yet to raise ; several propositions were made, as 6d. per gallon more on wine; a poll for quality, and that every person worth 500l. per ann. pay 41. a year to his majestie; that the crown lands be sold for good of the publick; but the committee came only to this resolution, that the house be moved that a clause be added to some bill to prevent the alienation of any crown lands.

This day his majestie sent a message to the house of lords by the duke of Somerset, to acquaint them with his earnest desire that they would consider of a union between England and Scotland; and their lordships ordered it to be taken into consideration next Monday.

Mr. secretary Vernon presented a message to the commons from the king to the same effect, which they agreed to debate on Thursday; after which they releived 3 of the Irish petitioners, and to proceed further thereon next week.

Yesterday, his majestie, who has not been out of his chamber since the fall from his horse, signed 200 commissions for the half pay officers who are to have commands in the army.

The same day, the regiments of horse of Schonberg, Lumley, and Windham embark'd for Holland; capt. Sully of the first, being on shipboard at Deptford, fell into the hold and broke his neck.

Coll. Wood's regiment is to embark about 8 days hence.

Our merchants have advice that admiral Bembow was goeing from Jamaica to cruise on the coast of the Spanish West Indies.

The 13 men of war designed for reinforcing him are near ready to sail hence.

The sessions of oyer and terminer for London and Middlesex

began at the Old Baily the 25th instant, and held the 26th and 27th: where several criminals were tryed, of which 4 received sentence of death, 17 were burnt in the hand, 8 ordered to be whipt, 3 ordered into his majesties service at sea and 7 at land, and 2 were fined; and the next sessions ordered to begin the 15th of April next.

Tuesday, 3 March.-Yesterday the lord keeper, dukes of Somerset and Devonshire, earls of Pembroke, Carlisle, Jersey, and Manchester, by a special commission from his majestie, sent for the commons to the house of peers, and gave the royal assent to the bills for attainting the pretended prince of Wales, for punishing mutineers and deserters, continueing the bill in favour of the quakers, and one private bill: the. like was done in king Charles the 2nds reign in 1663 and 1669.

This day the commons read a second time and committed the land tax bill.

That for laying a duty on malt, that for qualifying justices of peace, and that for better preventing bribery at elections. And afterwards agreed to the lords amendments to the abjuration bill.

Then read a proposal from several persons for raising a million of money on the Irish forfeitures, and ordered it to lie on the table to be perused by the members.

Last night the committee of priviledges voted the election for Calne, between sir Charles Hedges and Mr. Baynton, to be void.

Sir John Elwayes, gent., usher to the late queen, and receiver general of the dutchy of Lancaster, is dead.

By a letter from mount Suratt we have advice, that commodore Whiston's squadron arrived there about the middle of January, with 2 regiments on board from Ireland; and that so soon as they had taken in fresh water would sail for Jamaica, to join the men of war under admiral Bembow; and that 3 ships of the squadron were missing, being seperated in

a storm.

The 2 East India companies are now absolutely united.

Thursday, 5 March.-Last night the committee of elections heard the petitions of sir Willoughby Hickman and Mr. Levintz against Mr. Thornhaugh and Mr. White, members for East Retford in Nottinghamshire; and after the witnesses

were heard, 'twas carried, without dividing, for the sitting members.

This day the commons heard the report of the malt bill, and added a clause for appropriation, and another for borrowing 500,000l. upon it, and another that brewers use no adulteration the colledges in each university to pay 48. per quarter, and not their tenants.

The consideration of the Scotch union is put off to Saturday. Our merchants have letters from Barbadoes, that the Betty frigat is arrived there from Guinea with negroes; that in their passage the negroes mutinied, kill'd the captain and all the ships crew except 7, who with their scimiters defended themselves, and forced the negroes into the hold, and brought the ship into Bridge town.

Sir Samuel Garrard is chose alderman of Aldersgate ward, in the room of sir Peter Floyer, deceased.

Major Liburgh of duke Schonbergs regiment arrived here yesterday the ship in which his troop was, being seperated from the rest in a storm as they were going for Holland, he was forc'd to throw over board about 30 horse to save the ship; but what are become of the other vessells he does not know.

His majestie has given the lord North and Gray and Mr. Sidney, brother to the lord Lisle, collonells Stanhope and Stringers companies of foot guards, they being advanc'd to regiments in the new levies.

Paris letters yesterday say, that the duke de Vendosm had sent a trumpeter to prince Eugene, that unlesse he agrees to a cartell for exchange of prisoners, will send all the Germans he shal take to the gallies.

Saturday, 7 March.-Yesterday, the commons, in a committee upon ways and means, debated a proposal for laying 167. per tun more upon wines, to be paid by the retailer, but rejected the same.

And afterwards resolved, that an aid be given out of all lands, benefits, pensions, annuities, and offices granted by the crown since the 29th of May 1660.

It was mentioned that those who have such lands should pay 5 years purchase, and confirm'd by act of parliament; but the further consideration thereof was deferred till Monday.

The lords read the malt bill, which is given for 600,000l.; in which is a clause of 20l. penalty upon all brewers who use any other ingredients then malt and hops.

Last night, his majestie, not being throughly recovered of the fall from his horse, was taken very ill with a vomiting and loosenesse, insomuch that a council mett this morning in his chamber; has been much better all this day, and sign'd a commission for the lord keeper, &c. to passe the malt and abjuration acts, which were past this evening about 7; after which, for fear of a relapse, both houses agreed to sit to morrow, being Sunday, and adjourned to 9 in the morning.

This day came in 3 Holland mails, which say, the pope has decided the difference between the elector Palatine and the dutchesse of Orleans, in favour of the first.

That the king of Sueden is advanc'd at the head of his army within 15 leagues of Warsaw.

That the emperor is sending a reinforcement of 20,000 men to Italy.

And that the 3 regiments of horse which sailed last from England were safe arrived in Holland, except the vessel mentioned in my last, which was forced into Harwich.

Tuesday, 10 March.-His majesties death and the princesse proclaim'd queen being mention'd in all the prints, I omit writing of it here; only on Saturday evening, before he dyed, he ask't a privy counsellor by him what the house of commons had done that day about an union with Scotland, and said that when he was in his grave, the people of England would have no reason to say that he aim'd at any thing but their good; he made a will, and gave most of his estate to the king of Prussia; several lands and jewells to the earls of Portland and Albemarl; to the last the barony of Breda, and desired to be interr'd by his queen without any pomp.

The earl of Marlborough goes to morrow for Holland, to acquaint the Dutch of the king's death, and her majesties coming to the crown; and to assure them of her assistance against the power of France.

Last night both lords and commons attended the queen with their addresses of condoleance for losse of the king; and to congratulate her majesties accession to the crown; that they