Change in the Conduct of the Prince of Wales. others, to get their names inrolled as belonging to the fuite of a foreign Ambaffador, in order to protect them from arrefts, and other proceffes at law. 12. This day his Majefty went in ftate to the House of Peers, and being feated on the throne, the Commons were fent for, and being at the bar with their Speaker, his Majefty gave the royal affent to several bills. After which his Majefty made the following moft gracious Speech from the throne: "My Lords and Gentlemen, "I cannot close this feffion of Parlia ment without expreffing the particular fatisfaction with which I have obferved your diligent attention to the public bu finefs, and the measures you have a dopted for improving the refources of the country. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "I thank you for the fupplies which you have granted for the fervice of the current year, and for the provision you have made for discharging the incumbrances on the revenue applicable to the ufes of my civil government. The most falutary effects are to be expected from the plan adopted for the reduction of the national debt; an object which I confider as infeparably connected with the effential interests of the public. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "The affurances which I continue to receive from abroad promise the continuance of general tranquillity. "The happy effects of peace have already appeared in the extenfion of the national commerce; and no meafures fhall be wanting, on my part, which can tend to confirm the fe advantages, and to give additional encouragement to the manufactures and industry of my people. Then the Earl Bathurst, by his Majefty's command, faid: "My Lords and Gentlemen, "It is his Majefty's royal will and pleasure, that this Parliament be prorogued to Thurfday the 14th day of September next, to be then heré holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the 14th day of September next *." 31. A change has lately happened in the conduct of the Prince of Wales that will probably be handed down to pofterity as one of the most extraordinary events that is to be met with in the annals of Royalty. Pretending to no other information than what is to be gather ed from the public papers, we fhall endeavour to collect, with our ufual im 451 partiality, thofe particulars relative there to that appear to us the most authentic. The Prince, finding his affairs embarraffed by the fmallnefs of his income, applied to his Majefty for assistance; affuring his Majefty, that if any part of his conduct was thought improper, he would, upon its being made known to him, alter the fame, and conform to his Majefty's wishes in every thing that was becoming a gentleman. The King ordered a state of the Prince's affairs to be laid before him. A ftate of the Prince's debts was made out, amounting in the whole to about two hundred and thirty thousand pounds, to which was added twenty-four thousand pounds for compleating Carlton-houfe, making in the whole two hundred and fifty. thousand pounds; which account was laid before his Majefty. On the 4th inftant, in the evening, Lord Southampton received his Majesty's anfwer, which was a direct and pofitive refufal. His Royal Highness, upon being informed of this anfwer, took his refolution to retire to a private station. In confequence of this determination in his Highne fs, letters were on the 7th written to the gentlemen of his household, stating, that their fervices would for the prefent be difpenfed with. The conduct of Lord Southampton, during the whole of the negociation, has been exceedingly honourable and correct. The meffages which paffed between his Majefty and the Prince were all in writing, and the noble Lord conducted the business in the most impartial manner: The four gentlemen whom his Highnefs has chosen to retain in his household, and to whom the management of the funds to be fet apart for the payment of his debts is intrufted, are Col. Hotham, Col. Hulfe, Col. Lake, and Henry Lyte, Efq. Tatterfal, the auctioneer, received orders to go to New-market, and take inventories of the horfes which make up his Highness's ftud, together with his carriages, &c. and to bring the whole to the hammer with all convenient speed; which was accordingly done on the 24th and 25th inftant, when the whole ftud, confifting of Brood Mares, Horfes in Training, Yearling Colts, Yearling Fillies, Hunters and Hacks, and Coach Horfes, fold for the fut of feven thou fand two hundred and twenty-five guineas. The grand rooms, the furniture, &c. of Carlton-house, were cafed, 3 L 2 * It was then and afterwards prorogued to the 23d of January 1787. and and the whole locked up, except two or three small apartments for his Highness's use when he may occafionally come to town. The expence of his Royal Highness has been chiefly confined to his building and his ftud; the latter of which coft him 30,0001. per annum. The household of the Prince is now to be reduced from 25 to 5,000 1. per annum; and it will amount to this fum in confequence of his Highness having fettled fmall penfions on a number of old domeftics who depended upon him for fubfiftence. His ftables, instead of 30,000l. will not now coft him more than 2,000l. per annum. His table, which was always managed with great economy, and which, notwithstanding his fuperb entertainments, never coft more than between 9 and 10,000l. per annum, will be now confined within 2 or 3,000 1. The conduct of the Royal Father on the prefent occafion has been governed by the emergencies of the times; that of the fon proves the felicity of a fubmillion to the dictates of his fuperior. The former, being convinced that his fubjects were already fufficiently burthened by an unavoidable impofition of numerous taxes, was very naturally induced to advife his fon to adopt the moft eligible plans of economy relating to his expenditure. The latter, feeling the propriety of the admonition, has very readily acquiefced; and, in confequence, the various retrenchments in his houfehold establishment have taken place. No language can fufficiently praife the motives of the father; and every panegyric is inadequate to the honourable principles of the fom. SCOTLAND. July 10. At a Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures at Edinburgh, the royal charter was produced, with the great feal appended to it. In terms of the charter, the meeting then proceeded to the election of a chairman, two deputychairmen, treasurer and fecretaries, and thirty directors. The following are the airman, the deputy-chairmen, treafurer, and fecretary. David Steuart, banker, Edinburgh, chairman; --Alexander Sheriff, merchant, Leith, and Thomas Edington, Cramond, deputyChairmen-James Mansfield, banker, Edinburgh, treafurer;-James Morrifon, jun. merchant, Leith, and William Creech, bookfeller, Edinburgh, fecre taries. 13. The Royal Boroughs of Scot land, at their annual convention at Edinburgh, unanimously voted a piece of plate, value one hundred guineas, to George Dempfter, Efq. of Dunnichen, for his unremitting attention to the trade and manufactures, and fisheries of this country, and for his patriotic exertions for its welfare and profperity. Fife.Seals.Buts. 4 24 109 of Leith, Ditto, 3 1260 113 Ditto, 4 370 90 Ditto, 4 430 80 Dunb. clean Ditto, 5 65 Ditto, 5 430 I14 The following is as full a lift of the Scots Greenland fhips employed in the whale fishery this feafon, and of their fuccefs, as could be collected from the news-papers. Ships. Friendship, Royal Bounty, Grampus, Raith, Eaft Lothian, Blessed Endeav. Princess of Wal. Lord Hood, Rodney, Aberdeen, Latona, Little Fanny, Eliza Swan, Dundee, Tay, Caledonia, Leviathan, Perfeverance, Satisfaction, Finlay, Paisley, Ditto, Anne," Ditto, Countefs Hopet. Queensfer. 6 38 130 It has been juftly obferved, that Scotland is greatly indebted to the Dunbar Greenland Company.-They have carried on the whale-fishery for a long period of years from that place, and perfevered when all the other adventurers in Scotland, either through misfortune or misconduct, gave it up; and now, when the spirit of that trade is again revived, the fundry ports are furnished with fkilful hands bred under them, fuch as mafters, harpooners, &c. by which the country faves the expence and disgrace of employing foreigners. Marriages, Births, and Deaths, in July. Thomas's Hofpital, to Mifs Gardner, 17. At Glasgow, Mr Richard Dennifton, merchant, to Mifs Chriftian Alfton, daughter of the deceafed Mr James Alffon, merchant. 20. At Leith, Mr George Brown, merchant, to Mifs Balfour, daughter of Henry Balfour, Efq. 21. At Edinburgh, Mr John Gordon, jun. clerk to the fignet, to Mifs Shairp, daughter of the late Thomas Shairp, Efq. of Houston. 453 26. At Muirtown, Mrs Scott, wife of David Scott, Efq; of Nether Benholm. July 3. At her apartments in Shakefpeare Square, Edinburgh, Mrs Baddeley, lately of the Theatre-Royal there, and formerly a principal performer in the Theatre-Royal, Drury Lane. Mrs Baddeley, we are informed, made her first appearance on the stage in the character of Ophelia, in the tragedy of Hamlet, and her performance was pronounced inimitable. Mr Garrick, whofe judgment no one can call in question, always gave the moft ample teftimony to her merits. As a finger, wherever pathetic expreffion was neceffary, fhe stood unrivalled. Her Inter. 17 and 18. The Infanta Donna manner of finging the fong of "Sweet Mariana of Portugal, (married laft year "Willy O!" in the Jubilee, put many to the Infant Don Gabriel,) of a prince, pounds into the purfes of the managers, christened Peter Charles Anthony Ra- and will long be remembered by those phael Jofeph January Francis John Ne-, who faw and heard her when the above pomucene Thomas Mark Marceline entertainment was firft exhibited in LonVincent Raymont Nonat Peter of Alcantara Ferdinand. Lond. Gaz. BIRTHS.-June 20th. The Lady of Sir William Maxwell of Monreith, Baronet, of a daughter. July 8. At Lainfhaw, Mrs Cuninghame of Lainfhaw, of a daughter. 8. The wife of a woolcomber in Aberdeen, of four children, two of whom are fince dead. ro. At Edinburgh, Lady Haddo, of a fon. 16. The Lady of the Rt. Hon. Sir James Hunter-Blair, Bt. Lord Provoft of Edinburgh, of a fon. 19. At Haymount, Mrs Hay of Mountblairy, of a daughter. The Lady of Alexander Campbell, Efq; of Balcardine, of a fon. 22. At Edinburgh, Lady Pringle of Stitchel, of a fon. don. She was not confined to finging. In the fofter characters of both tragedy and comedy, she had few, if any, fuperiors. In the part of Fanny, in the Clandef tine Marriage, the beauty of her perfon, and the elegant fimplicity of her. performance, were extremely confpicuous, and fo much attracted his Majefty's notice, that he commanded a picture to be taken of Fanny's principal scene with Lord Ogleby in the fourth act; for which purpose, Mrs Baddeley, and that excellent comedian, Mr King, fet to Zoffani, the painter. One of Mrs Baddeley's moft admired performances in Tragedy was Mrs Beverly, in the Gamefter; her first appearance in which was occafioned by Mrs Barry (now Mrs 25. At Glafferton, near Dumfries, the Crawford) being prevented by indifpoLady of the Hon. Keith Stewart, of a fon. fition from performing that character, 30. Mrs Colquhoun of Lufs, of a fon. as ufual, on a benefit night. About this DEATHS.-Belem, May 25. His Moft time fhe performed feveral other chaFaithful Majefty Don Pedro Clement racters in tragedy of equal confequence, Peter III. King of Portugal, in his 69th and with equal fuccefs; when, owing to year, of an apoplexy. Lond. Gaz. He fome private motives, fhe unexpectedly was brother to the late King, and mar- quitted London for an engagement in ried his niece Maria Frances Ifabella, Dublin; from which time her theatrical daughter of the late King, by whom he career feems to have been checked by had iffue, Jofeph Francis Xavier, Prince misfortune. For fome years past she of Brazil, now King of Portugal, who laboured under a nervous diforder, that married his aunt, Maria Francifca Be- during the last winter prevented her nedicta, third daughter of the before- from making any theatrical engagement; mentioned late King. The Queen-Dow- from which time, until her death, fhe ager, (for fo the muft now be called,), was fupported by a fubfcription, which in confequence of the death of her hufband, has retired to a convent. Her Majefty's fon and fifter are now King and Queen of Portugal. His Majefty. Peter III. was F. R. S. June 25. At Muffelburgh, William Ramfay, Ef aged 87. was regularly paid her as a weekly falary. Mrs Baddeley died in the 37th year. of her age. 4. Lady Elifabeth Villiers. She was daughter and fole heir to John Villiers Lord Viscount Parbeck, who fucceeded to the titles of Earl of Buckingham, Viscount Viscount Villiers, Baron of Whaddon, on the death of George Villiers Duke of Buckingham, in 1687. King William, in 1699, exemplified these titles under the great feal of England. His Lordship died Aug. 10. 1723, leaving this Lady his only daughter, by whofe death the family of Villiers of the Buckingham line is become extinct. 6. At Paris, the Earl of Northington, Baron Henley, &c. one of the Tellers of the Exchequer, Mafter of the Hanaper, and Knight of the Thistle. His Lordship dying a bachelor, and being the only fon of the late Earl, his titles are become extinct. By his death Lord Thurlow obtains a Tellership of the Exchequer, worth 4000 1. per annum. 7. At Bath, Thomas Wilkie fon of Chefterhall, Efq; merchant in London. 8. At Melrofe, in an advanced age, Mrs Ifabel Wilkie fon, daughter of Mr John Humbie, and relict of Mr Alexander Wilkieson, writer in Edinburgh. 11. In a very advanced age, the Rev. Dr William Wallace, minifter at Drummelzier, in the county of Peebles. 16. At Palermo, in Sicily, Michael Bruce, Efq; third son of Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse, Bt. 17. At Edinburgh, Willhelmina Lady Glenorchy, widow of John Lord Glenorchy. 20. At Putney, Thomas Lord Grantham, K. B. and F. R. and A. S. S. late ambaffador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the court of Spain till the war 1779. He married Lady Mary Jemima Yorke, fecond daughter of Philip Earl of Hardwicke, by whom he left iffue three fons, Thomas, Frederit, and Philip. 22. At his houfe of Clerkfton, John Livingston of Parkhall, Efq. 23. At Edinburgh, Anne Hilton, relict of Mansfield Cardonnel, Efq; Commiffioner of the Cuftoms in Scotland. 24. At Edinburgh, Mr Alexander Pirie, writer. 26. At London, Mr William Rae, furgeon and dentist to his Majesty. 28. At Calderhall, Andrew Houfton, Efq; of Calderhall. 29. At Edinburgh, in the 71st year of his age, Mr David Lindsay, writer. ་་་་་ AUGUST. Madrid, July 3. The King, being defirous that the accounts given by the different Navigators of the Straits of Magellan fhould be examined and cor rected, fome time ago caused the frigate Santa Maria to be fitted out at Cadiz for that purpose. Notwithstanding the difficulties and dangers of the expedition, Don Antonio perfectly fucceeded, and has brought home a Chart of the Streight, in which all the Capes, Bays, Promontories, and other remarkable objects on both coafts, are laid down; with their longitudes, latitudes, and refpective distances, from astronomical obfervations. The officers, while in the Straits of Magellan, had several interviews with the natives of Patagonia, whom they describe as of a peaceful difpofition. They are copper-coloured, and have whitish hair.--They are not of a gigantic ftature, as was fuppofed, but they are corpulent, and generally about fix feet high, as was eftimated on an average of about too of them affembled. The Spaniards measured one who was feven feet one inch high, and remarked others who seemed from three to four inches taller. Leghorn, July 24. Forty-fix European veffels vifited Canton in China, in the courfe of last year, namely, 18 English from Europe, and nine from different ports of India; four Swedish, four Dutch, three Danish, one French, one Pruffian, one Imperial, and four Spanish from Manilla. The following is a lift of the ships of the feveral nations employed in the whale fishery, with the number of fish taken. 57 fhips Dutch, have taken 368 whales, Hambourgh 16 67 20 3 33 160 The firft Dutch veffel which came into Hamburgh with herrings fold her cargo for 8500 florins. By letters from Paris, we learn that an arret has just been published prohibiting all geographers, engravers, or other perfons whatever, from engraving, publishing, vending, or diftributing any map, chart, or geographical plan, without permiflion of the chancellor, or keeper of the feals, under a penalty of 600 livres, and the confifcation of the charts, plans, proof and plates. Orders have been iffued by her Imperial Majesty of Ruffia, for continuing to the British merchants till the first of January, 1787, the principal privileges and immunities fecured to them by the late treaty of commerce; the term of which expired on the 1ft of July. By the Hague Gazette, of the 11th, of Margaret Nicholson's Attempt to affaffinate the KING. of Auguft, we find, that on the first inft. the treaty of commerce between the King of Pruffia and the United States of America, which had fo long been in fufpence, was concluded between Baron Thulemeyer on the part of the Pruffian Monarch, Doctor Franklin, with Meff. Adams and Jefferson, on that of the Congrefs. The general purport of the above treaty is fimilar to moft others of a commercial nature, but there are fome provifoes in it highly worthy the attention of mankind. The contracting parties agree, that in cafe any power goes to war with either, they fhall continue a free commerce with the enemies of each; but shall not act, either by commiffion or letter of marque, in favour of fuch enemies, under the penalty of being treated as pirates. There is another claufe in this new compact which does honour to humanity. It is agreed by both parties, that in cafe of any unforeseen rupture between them, which may hereafter produce hoftilities, "that all women, children, men of letters, farmers, artifans, or fishermen, who are not found in arms; and thofe who live in unfortified cities, towns, and villages; in fhort, all thofe whofe vocations tend to the fubfiftence and general good of the human race, fhall have liberty to continue their respective profeffions, and remain unmolested in their perfons and property." "But if, as it may fometimes happen in carrying on the barbarous trade of war, any houfes or goods belonging to perfons of the above defcription fhould be burnt, or otherwife deftroyed by the enemy, or their fields ravaged, or they should be obliged from neceffity to give up any part of their property, the full value of it shall be repaid them, upon a claim being made upon the State whofe troops or feamen were reduced to adopt fuch inimical measure." A third article, equally benevolent, obliges the contracting powers to protect all merchant fhips not employed in carrying ammunition, &c. fhould a war happen between them; and that nothing fhould be done on either fide to deftroy or even interrupt the freedom of com merce. Philadelphia, April 15. The laws which the American legislature passed last year, 455 laying an additional tonnage on British vefels, and impofing extra duties on merchandize imported in them, are now repealed; and all veffels have now full liberty to trade there on equal terms with those of the United States. His Excellency Governor Carlton of New Brunswick has revoked, by his proclamation, dated June 2, 1786, the permiflion granted to the loyalists residing in the United States, to transport themfelves to that province in any veffels: and has given notice, that for the future any veffel whatever, unfurnished with a legal register, or not navigated according to law, will be liable to forfeiture, and feized accordingly. Narrative of MARGARET NICHOLSON'S Attempt to affaffinate the KING. LONDON. Auguft 2. This morning, as his Majefty was alighting from his carriage, at the gate of the palace, a woman who was waiting there, under pretence of prefenting a petition, ftruck at his Majefty with a knife, but providentially his Majefty received no injury. The woman was immediately taken into cuftody, and upon examination appears to be infane. Lond. Gaz. Extr. His Majefty arrived at 12 o'clock at St James's, from Windfor, and was stepping out of his poft chariot at the garden entrance to St James's, near Marlborough wall, when the attack was made upon his life. The woman by whom the defperate attempt was made, had been obferved waiting the King's arrival for fome time, and previous to the appearance of the carriage, took her fituation between two gentlewomen,who were unknown to her, with whom the entered into a flight conversation. On the carriage approaching, fhe begged, with some earneftness, that they would not impede her in an attempt to deliver a memorial to his Majefty. As the door of the carriage was opened, and the King was in the act of alighting, she started forward, and held a paper towards his Majesty, which he received with gracious condefcenfion. At the fame inftant a knife, which the held in her hand, and which was concealed under the memorial, was directed against the breast of the King; the ftroke was happily avoided, by his Majefty bowing as he took the paper; fhe made a second stroke, but the attendant* Yeoman * The Earl of Salisbury ordered a gratuity to the Yeoman of the guard, and the King's Footman, who firft fecured Mrs Nicholson, after her attempt upon the King: the rewards are, 100l. to the firft, and 501. to the other. |