FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

The introduction of the British Ambaffador, and the favourable reception he met with from the Firft Conful, noticed in our laft, have not been followed with any marked fymptoms of more amicable difpofitions towards this country. We do not fee that any commercial treaty is likely to be adjufted foon; and the differences faid to have arisen regarding our evacuating Malta, and withdrawing our troops from Egypt, are ftill obftacles to a cordial agreement. The interior of France appears to be pretty tranquil, though, it is faid, the augmentation of the military does not go well down. The finances are in a miferable ftate, and new taxes must be feverely felt. There can neither be any fecurity in property, nor the due motives to exertion in the acquifition of it, while their fyftem of jurifprudence, bad as it is, is fo wretchedly administered. Leclerc's death, and the difafters in St Domingo, will probably aid the opening of their eyes to the abufes of arbitrary power, if the real ftate of matters can be made known to the country at large. New levies from Holland, and a forced loan of money will not long varnish the evil. Paris continues to be the resort of a confiderable uumber of our fafbionables. Lord Whitworth gave a grand dinner on the 18th, the anniversary of our Queen's birth-day; and the Dutchefs of Gordon gave a magnificent ball and entertainment in the evening in honour of the fame occafion.

SWITZERLAND.

Though all the cantons of this once happy republic do not appear to be

fubjected to the views of the French, yet a temporary quiet prevails. The lateft accounts fay, that the French troops have received confiderable reinforcements; and that it is the inten tion of the Firft Conful to unite the cantons of Leman and BaЛle to France.

SWEDEN.

Dec. 22. A dreadful fire broke out at Gottenburgh about two in the morning of the 20th, which continued burning twenty hours, and confumed almost a fourth part of the town. The middle and fineft part of the town is laid in afhes, as are the Free-mafon's Lodge, and the houses of the Directors of the Eaft India Company; but the warehoufes of the Company have efcaped. About 300 families are burned out; but the greater part of the houfes, it is faid, is infured by a London Infurance Company. Fortunately no lives were loft. The damage occafioned by this difaftrous event is estimated at nearly two millions of dollars.

TURKEY.

The first reports of the damages done by the earthquakes in October last appear to have been exaggerated; the greater part of the houses, however, in the vicinity of the feraglio, and the houses and mofques in the fuburbs of Galata was destroyed. The Grand Seignior, with an immenfe number of people, took refuge in the mofque of St Sophia, from a fuperfti tious opinion, that it is indeftructible. Accounts from various quarters agree in ftating, that the Turkish troops have been completely defeated by the Beys in Egypt.

GLB

The fecond battalion of the Royals having made too free with liquor (in confequence of having their balances paid them,) on the evening of the 24th of December, forced open the barrack gates, and feizing their arms, vowed vengeance on the Adjutant, who had ordered that they fhould not be fuffered to go into the town. To this officer, it appears, they had an inveterate hatred; not finding him, they ran to the barracks of the 25th regiment, and endeavoured to per fuade that corps to join them. Failing in this attempt, they fent a large party to the 54th regiment, where they were received by the grenadier company of that corps with a pretty fmart and galling fire, which wounded five of them. In less than an hour all was quiet, and the next day they appeared f perfectly contrite, that his Royal Highness the Governor, after animadverting forcibly upon the enormity of their conduct, forgave it. But on the 26th of December, the 25th regiment (which had behaved fo well on the 24th of the month,) having now received their balances, and having got drunk, behaved in the fame manner as the Royals had done on the 24th. A party of the artillery, in firing upon fome of them, who were diforderly and mutinous, unfortunately hit a detachment of the Royals, who were approaching to affift the artillery in quelling the mutiny, killed one man, and wounded five; befides killing two of the 25th regiment. On the 27th of December, thirteen of the ring-leaders were taken up in order to be tried for mutiny. The garrifon was then perfectly quiet, and a general fentiment of abhorrence for what had paffed feemed to prevail.

The riotous conduct of the 25th regiment when they got their balances, was brought about by the infinuations of a number of difcontented foreigners, who have found a place in its

ranks.

ST DOMINGO.

Since the death of General Leclerc, who died after a few days illness, the French, it is faid, have acted altogether upon the defenfive. General Rochambeau, who is in the confidence of

But

We are forry to fee accounts of fome difturbances in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Munfter, and Lime. rick. Some depredations have taken place, and feveral robberies have been committed. The mail-coach has been feveral times attacked. Meetings of the gentlemen of thefe counties have been held to devife proper plans for their protection. The following quotation from Mr BARON GEORGE to the Grand Jury at Clonmel on the 11th inft. has a marked reference to the ftate of the country.— "He, who would fleep quietly in his bed, ought, in times like thefe, to prove that his bed was defended, and ftep forth in fupport of the laws by which he and his country, and the fafety of both were identified. this is not to be done by two or three, much less can it be effected by individual, unconnected exiftence :-The Gentlemen of the country, to enfure its peace, fhould unite in its caufe every man who has character or property to value. As long, faid he, as you fupport yourselves in the maintainance of order, with the arm of a regular, mild, and firm government at your backs-if ye will ufe your own ftrength in fuch a caufe, I know not what ye have to fear. To do this with effect, review your police, and fee that every man around you fupports the law of the land-determine yourselves to set your faces against every criminal of eve. ry kind, and the populace round you, and the tenantry under you, will cover you with their bleffings for faving them from deftruction."

LONDON.

It is probable, that in the course of next month, fomething will transpire regarding our political fituation with refpect to the continental powers. Our miniftry have not ordered the troops home from Egypt, nor have they evacuated Malta, It is faid, that the First Conful of France has refused to give affurances, that he will not fend troops to either of thefe places, the treaty of Amiens being filent upon that fubject. He alfo refufes to treat with the Court of St James's, regarding the German Indemnities, the fettlement of Italy, or indeed upon the affairs of the continent at all. Several accounts agree in ftating, that the Spaniards have given the British subjects, in the Bay of Honduras, and parts adjacent, a fudden notice to quit their fettlements without delay, under certification of being expelled by

force.

We are truly concerned to ftate the lofs of the Hindoftan Eaft Indiaman, on the 11th inftant, in Queen's Channel, Margate Roads. It is reported that about thirty have perished, including three Midshipmen and a Cadet. Most of them were loft in a raft which they had constructed, and a few more were frozen to death in the rigging. The Hindoftan was 1248 tuns burden. She was deftined to Madras and China; it was her fourth voyage, and the first of her Commander, Captain Balfton. She had on board private bullion, to the amount of 75,000 ounces. She was one of the fineft fhips in the service.

17. Yefterday being the anniversary of the feftival in honour of her Majesty, who completed the 56th year of her age on the 19th of May laft, the fame was obferved with the ufual fplendour and magnificence.

The new carriages were numerous, and many of them difplayed great tafte and elegance. The Court broke up at a quarter before five o'clock, when their Majefties returned to Buckingham-houfe to dinner. There was no ball at the Palace, or Buckinghamhouse. The illuminations were, as ufual, confined to the public places, fubfcription houses, and the refidences of her Majefty's trades-people.

On the 19th, a meeting was held at VOL. LXV.

the London Tavern, the great object of which is the extermination of the fmall pox. A large and very respectable body of gentlemen affembled on this occafion. The Lord Mayor, by his very able conduct and polite attention in the chair, contributed effential. ly to the general effect. A very liberal fubfcription was entered into, in purfuance of the defign.

Yesterday being the day appointed for opening the Special Commiflion, for the trial of Colonel Despard and his affociates; about half past eleven, Lord Ellenborough, Mr Juftice Le Blanc, Mr Baron Thomson, and Mr Juftice Chambre, came in proceffion to the Court. After Lord Ellenborough had concluded his charge, the Grand Jury immediately withdrew. About half-paft feven o'clock in the evening, the Grand Jury returned a true bill for high treafon, against the thirteen following perfons:

thanking him for the great fervices done by him, both to his country and native city, and congratulating him on the honour fo defervedly conferred on him by his Sovereign.

Mr Dundas's promotion to the Peerage is a tribute juftly due to his long, abie, and faithful fervices in the caufe of his country. His great attention, while Treafurer of the Navy, in correcting many of the abufes and impofitions to long practifed upon our gallant famen, and the facility with which they, their families, and relations now receive their pay and prize money, entitle him to the greateft praife. His great attention to the affairs of India, and by his wife councils having raifed the British power and influence in that country to an unparalelled elevation and profperity, mark in a diflinguifhed manner the vigour of his mind. When Mr Dundas came into the management in 1784, India bonds were at 5 per cent. difcount, but in March 1801, when he retired, they were at one orly. The Proprietors and Directors of the Company, fully fenfible of the advantages they had derived from Mr Duncas's labour, embraced the opportunity, when he withdrew from his oftenfible fituation in that department, to exprefs in ftrong terms their fenfe of the obligations under which the Company lay to him for his very judicious conduct, and voted refolutions of pecuniany rewards during his life, but which Mr Dundas, in part politely declined accepting. With regard to Scotland, Mr Dundas brought forward many humane and falutary laws, which have been of the greatet utility.-Among others that may be mentioned were, the act for reftoring the forfeited effates, and the act for fupplying the Highlands with coals carried coaft wife at a cheap

rate.

The following anfwer from Lord Melville, was tranfmited to the Lord Provent.

"My Lord,

on the high honour conferred on you by his Majefty. But we cannot allow the parliamentary connection between us to be diffolved, without exprefling to you our feelings on this occafion.

After this proof of his Majefty's approbation of your public conduct, we should only take from the effect of it, were we to pretend to exprefs our own opinion. We have already expreffed it in a manner the most honourable for you, by repeatedly re-electing you to Parliament during times when your public conduct was the subject of much difcuffion, and when the value of it was beft understood. You are now receiving, in part, the reward which is due to you; the reft you can only anticipate in the gratitude of pofterity, and in the reputation which will be attached to your name in the annals of Great Britain. With regard to ourfelves, we can with truth say, that we look back with much fatisfaction to the connection which this city formed with you fixteen years ago. We think it honourable for the metropolis of Scotland that we felected, as our Reprefentative, a man to whom Scotland is fo highly indebted.

While we regret that, amid the mu!tiplicity of your public duties, the bufinefs of this great city, has unavoidably given you much trouble, we muft acknowledge with gratitude, the ready accefs we have always had to you, the attention you have paid to our bufinefs, and the important fervices you have rendered to the city.

Although the more immediate connection between us is now diffolved, we hope, that you will permit us to refort to you, on all important occafions, on which we may with for the benefit of your abilities and experience.

We trust that you may long enjoy the honours, which your Sovereign has beftowed on you, and your country the advantage of your counsel.

We beg you to believe, that your intereft, and that of your family, can never be indifferent to us, and we have the vanity to flatter ourfelves, that your conftituents of Edinburgh, will continue to hold a diftinguifhed place in your remembrance. In the name of the Magiftrates and Council, I have the honour to be, with the greatest efteem and regard,

My

My Lord, your Lordship's moft obedient and faithful humble fervant, (Signed)

NEIL MACVICCAR, Provoft. January 1. Yesterday in purfuance of inftructions from the Magiftrates, a number of the carts with coals were examined and weighed, and, we are forry to say, that only one out of many was found juft. The magiftrates forfeited the coals in eight of the moft faulty, and fent them to the Charity Workhouse, and directed the names of the drivers to be published.

This is an abufe which calls loudly for amendment, and we are happy to fee those in power, now ferious in having it corrected. For many years paft, the Inhabitants have been moft fhamefully imposed upon in the weight of coals, and paid many hundred pounds annually, for coals which they never received.

On Wednesday, at a meeting of the Prefbytery of Edinburgh, there was laid before them a prefentation from his Majefty to the Rev. Mr David Dickfon, minifter of the chapel of Eafe, Kilmarnock, to be one of the minifters of St Cuthbert's or Weft Church, in room of the Rev. William Paul deceafed, with that Gentleman's letter of acceptance, both which were read, and unanimously fuftained. A call was ordered to be moderated on the 24th of February next, the Rev. Mr Anderfon, one of the minifters of this city to preach and prefide.

Invincible Standard.

A Glasgow paper publifhed yefterday, contains the following paragraph.

Forty Second Regiment.

We have the authority of an officer of rank, now in this city, who was an eye witnels and bore a part with the 42d regiment, in the engagement in which the Standard of the French Invincibles was taken, to contradict the report circulated in the English papers, that it was taken by one Lutz, a French emigrant, a private in the Queen's German regiment. The Invincibles were ali taken, killed, or destroyed, by the 42d regiment, a full quarter of an hour before the Queen's regiment came up. On Thuriday laft, the Senate of the University of Glasgow conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, on the Rev.

Alexander Stirling, minifter of Tillicoultry.

8. At a meeting of the Magiflrates, Lord Melville addreffed them nearly in the following words:

"My Lord Provost,

"I have been honoured by the receipt of your congratulatory letter, which your Lordship has addreffed to me in your own name and that of the Magifirates and Town Council of the city of Edinburgh. I would have inmediately acknowledged the receipt of it, if I had not thought it more respectful to wait the earlieft opportunity I could have of your being affembled together in Council, when I might be permitted to make my perfonal acknowledgments for the very flattering terms in which you have been pleased to address me, on the occafion of his Majelly's late mark of favour to me and to my family. I can affure you, with great truth, that the acquifition of a Peerage was never an object in my còntemplation with the view of gratifying any perfonal vanity of my own, nor could I have any wish to change the name I have hitherto borne, defcended as I am from a family which, for ages poft, has been diftinguilhed in the ef timation of its country, and in courle of that time has enjoyed many rignal proofs of the good will and attachment of its fellow tubjects. In my own per fon, I was, at a very early period of my life, felected by the partiality of my native county to be their reprefentative in Parliament, and their onginal choice was ratified by many fuc ceffive unanimous elections at a more advanced period of my public progref. I was, as you to obligingly obferve in your letter, fixteen years ago, Callesi upon by the metropolis of my native land to undertake the important trust of reprefenting them in Parliament, and in many fucceflive and unanimous elections, you have given public teltimony that no part of my conduct had drawn upon me your displeasure or difapprobation. Under thefe circumfiances, and with a perfect confciousnefs in my own breast, that however unavailing my exertions may at any time have been in the public fervice, there had been no want of zeal or anxiety on my part to discharge my duty; I was fully prepared, without further reward, to spend the remainder