which was inftantly followed by the other. The Lord Howe then fired a broadfide both of his large and small arms, (the mounts 6 carriage-guns, and fome fwivels); which was as brifkly returned on the other fide; and they all continued their fire very fmart, for a long time, and the smallest cutter was continually attempting to board the Lord Howe on the fide the was not engaged on by the other cutter; but they beat them off every time with great lofs; and the wind dving away, they all three continued clofe abreaft each other, and lay in that posture two hours and a half, engaging as brifk as poffible. At laft, the Lord Howe laid the largest cutter on her fide, her firing ceafed, and they all judged fhe was Ginking; but in a few minutes the renewed the action with as much vigour as ever; when a breeze forung up, and they endeavoured to get off; but being difabled from making much fail, the Lord Howe kept up with them, each continuing her fire, till the wind frefhened, when the fmuggler set more fail, and the action ended in a running fight. At Jaft, the fmugglers, by their good failing, got off. The engagement began at funfet, and lafted four hours; two and a half of which the Lord Howe lay be tween the two cutters as close as pollible, and was engaged on both fides by them. The Lord Howe chafed them great part of the night, and towards the morning loft fight of them. The next day they renewed their chace, and got fight of them again; and the moment the fmugglers faw the Lord Howe, they fteered another way on which the Lord Howe made all the fail the poffibly could, and chafed them all night; when the wind increased, and at last blew a very stiff gale, and they loft fight of them. The Lord Howe's mafts, fails, and rigging, were much shattered; but they lost very few men. Tis imagined the fmugglers must have loft at least half their comple. ment of men in each veffel. The Lord Howe has gained-great applaufe here, and the fmugglers fince have threatened vengeance against the Captain, who is gone in quest of them again. They have carried on this illicit trade in a most daring manner for fome time, defying all the officers belonging to the revenue in thefe parts. They had a very valuable cargo on board of brandy and filks at the time of the engagement, a great deal of which they have been obliged to throw overboard." "London, O&. 27. The following account of a gang of pirates and murderers (fome of whom have been lately taken) is faid to be authentic. A fet of daring fellows, most of whom lived at Hastings in Suffex, have for feven years paft board. ed and robbed feveral ships coming up the Channel, and in particular boarded a Dutch hip homeward bound, plunder. ed her, murdered all the crew, and then funk her. At laft, they were discovered, by their bragging to one another how the Dutchman wriggled about when they had cut him on the back-bone with an axe. Upon this, information was given to the government; who immediately ordered a detachment of 200 foldiers to march from London for Hastings, with ftriat charge not to let the leaft word transpire of what they came for; and alfo, if any disturbance fhould happen in the town, not to interfere therein. Upon their arrival there, or the day after, the mayor of Haftings was walking in the town, when he was interrogated by one of the gang, (as they went by the name of Ruxey's crew, or gang), what the foldiers came for? The mayor anfwered him, he could not tell. Upon which they affaulted him; and he called the foldiers to affift him. They having orders not to intermeddle in any disturbance, refused their affistance; but upon their officers appearing, they immediately feized three of the gang; who, toge ther with feveral others, have been fent to London." "Whitehall, Aug. 27. Whereas it has been humbly reprefented to his Majefty, That on Tuesday evening last, Aug. 23. a body of failors [329.], to the number of 5 or 600, being riotoufly and tumultuoufly aflembled, came down to Limehoute, and then fent off ten of their number in a boat to the ship Middleton, Henry Clark commander, having felons on board, fentenced to be transported to his Majefty's plantations in America; which faid ten perfons forcibly boarded and entered the faid fhip, declaring, they would hinder her proceeding on her voy age, as alfo every other outward-bound veffel in the river Thames, unless their masters entered into articles with their men for advanced wages; and for this purpose carried away the chief mate of the faid thip against his will, and at the fame time extorted money from the mafter of the faid fhip, for their boat-hire, by threatening to ftrip the ship of all her Figgings rigging, and to turn the felons on And whereas information has been "London, June 7. Tuesday last the Lord Mayor and Aldermen held a court at Guildhall; when Sir James Langham paid into their bands 6000l. Sterling, pursuant to the will of the late Sir John Langham, as a fund for the relief of diftreffed foldiers and feamen." A fire broke out, Aug. 6. in the King'sarms tavern yard, near Holburn bridge, London, which was attended with the moft melancholy confequences. Mr Green, at whofe house it broke out, faved his life by jumping out of a window; but his wife, his child, and fifter, perifhed in the flames. His neighbour jumped out of a window feemingly unhurt, but died in less than ten minutes. A porter belonging to the inn, having loft his wife and child, died raving mad. A clerk to a merchant in Bread-street, after faving his wife and child, returned for a box in which was money and writings belonging to his master; but not being able to reach it, only faid, Lord have mercy upon me! and expired. Of those who endeavoured to efcape by jumping out of windows, three were killed upon the fpot. The fhrieks of those who were burnt were piercing. In fhort, a more horrible scene was never beheld. "London, Sept. 6. On Thursday a gentleman of Gray's inn received a letter, inclosing a 50 l. bank-note, and a hint, that he was robbed of above 301. by the writer, a few years ago, and that principal and intereft now amounted to about 50 l." The drawing of the ftate-lottery 1768 [642.] began, at Guildhall, London, on the 14th of November, and ended on the 3d of January. We here infert the fcheme of it,,which differs from that of the preceding year [xxix. 321.]. 2 prizes of L. 20000 — is L. 40000 40000 60000 tickets at L. 1o each is L. 600000 A calculation has been made, that the expence of the late election for members of parliament exceeded the fum of two millions. There have been for fome time past warm debates in the Eaft-India company's courts.-The following queftion was decided by ballot on the 8th of July, viz. "That orders be forthwith fent to the Governor and council of Bengal, for the immediate payment, out of the revenues of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, of what remains unpaid of the reftitutionmoney of Meer Jaffier, to the feveral perfons to whom it is due, according to their claims, as admitted by the committee formerly appointed for that purpose, whether fuch claims are found to arife from loffes in trade of falt, beetle-nut, or tobacco, or not?" and the numbers were, for the question 115, against it 223. On the 29th of the fame month the court of directors came to the following refolutions, viz. ". As the most effectual method to prevent the fale of the command of fhips in the company's fervice, That from and after the 25th of March next, upon the death of a commander of any fhip, employed or to be employed in the company's fervice, on whenever whenever there fhall be a vacancy of a 'commander by refignation, incapacity, or otherwife, another commander fhall be chofen by the court of directors, to fupply fuch vacancy, out of perfons who have commanded a fhip in the company's fervice, or who have performed at least one voyage in the capacity of chief or fecond mate, to the East Indies; and that fuch choice or appointment fhall be made by ballot and that from and after the faid 25th of March next, no fhip be tendered for the company's fervice but fubject to the laid regulations. 2. That from and after the 25th of March next, no fhip fhall be built in the room of any ship worn out or loft in the company's fervice, without the leave of the court of directors first had and obtained." Soon after the following charge against the directors, figned TENERIFFE, appeared in the papers. "A very extraor. dinary refolution of the directors for the Eaft-India company was made on the 29th day of July laft, to difpofe of more than one million Sterling of gentlemens property, without their acquiefcence, or even fo much as any intimation previous thereto. As this concerns many families of fortune, by printing these righteous and equitable refolutions, gentlemen immediately concerned will be judges how much they are indebted to the prefent fet of directors." The refolutions are fubjoined. An answer appeared, figned A. B. viz. "A letter having appeared, figned TENERIFFE, tending to mislead and prejudice you against your directors, I beg leave to fhew the falfity of this charge. The whole bufinefs of the fhipping has hitherto been carried on by about ten or twelve men called ship-hufbands, who have hitherto ufurped the appointment of the captains and other officers, and fold their commiffions to the best bidders. The price for captains has been gradually ri fing from 15c0l. to 6cool. The general confequence of this practice, and the ufual method of borrowing on refpondentia, is, the entering into a most Icandalous illicit trade, injurious to the company, fraudulent to government, and directly oppofite to the oath they are obliged to take; of which a very recent example has appeared in a general court. Another confequence of this monopoly is, that the company must give whatever freight the husbands pleale to afk; and there is no doubt, from the calculation of freights, they now pay 3 or 4 1. a-tun more than they would if they took up their hips as other merchants do, which is a lots to the proprietors of upwards of 60,000l. a-year. From these facts it appears, the direc tors, fo far from violating public faith, have been remarkably tender, perhaps more fo than they can be strictly justified in, by making these regulations not take place, relative to the captains, till after their decease or refignation; and relative to the fhips, till after the completion of their four voyages, the time they are contracted for.” A reply to this has appeared; in which fome of the facts are denied, particular ly that it is the caufe of the increase of freight, but without proof. "London, Dec. 22. At a general court held yesterday, it appeared, that a very extraordinary ftep had been taken, in order to conceal the prefent brilliant state of the company's affairs, viz. the fecreting the fum of 1,200,000), from the annual account of the company, made up to June laft. This manoeuvre, when difcovered, afforded no fmall diversion to the proprietors, especially as the excufe made for this pious fraud was, that it was done with the best intention possible, that of not letting government into the true state of the company's affairs, lest they should squeeze the company. - The truth however came out; which, in few words, is, that (notwithstanding common-place complaints of bad sales, fimple-contract debts, &c.) the company has been going on for three years paft in the accumulation of one million three hundred thousand pounds per ann. exclufive of the fums paid to government, and the augmentation of dividend; to that the proprietors have this confolation at leaft, that if they have not been allowed two and a half per cent. more than their prefent dividend, they have nevertheless been laying up ever fince the acquisition of the dewannee fo per cent. per ann. an accumulation which, in the twelve unexpired years of the charter, would leave the company the trifling capital of twenty millions. It is faid, that from what paffed at this court, it appears, that the company have already profited by their territorial acquifitions more than five millions Sterling: for they have discharged in Bengal bond-debts to the amount of 700,000 1.; they they have allowed increase of their annual accounts 1,600,000 l.; they have remaining in the different treafuries of Bengal 800 ocol.; they have at Madrass 140,000 ; they have 200,000!. in China; they have paid off in England 1,000,000l.; total 5,640,000l. Exclufive of this, they have their warehouses full of goods, their homeward and outward bound ships (richly laden, and they have juft acquired the de wannee of the Myfore country and Balagat Carnatic; an acquifition which is variously represented, fome ftating it at three millions annually, and others at no more than two." "London, Dec. 28. A general court of the East-India company was held laft Wednefday, to confider of fome advices of the itate of their concerns in several parts of the company's fettlements, and alfo the confideration of fome propofals made by the directors to the board of Treafury, and the answers of that board to them. The principal matters were, an offer of 400,000 l. for five years, in consideration of waving any claim to the territorial revenues of the company in Afia, and on an implied condition, that the restriction on the dividend fhould be enlarged to twelve and an halt per cent. with the limitation, that no more than one per cent. advance be made in one year. The fense of the court, as far as could be gathered from the debates, and other appearances, seemed to be against concurring with the propofals; but the farther confideration was adjourned till that day fortnight. The term of two years, for which the company paid the government 800 000 1. to avoid any difcuffion of the claim of the crown to the revenue accruing from their Aɓatic dominions, being expired, there is great reafon to believe, that their affairs will occafion great fpeculation and difpute. Their negotiations with the ministry wiil not only be attended with great difficulty; but, befides, the two parties are struggling for the directorfhip; and the directors themselves are now engaged in warm disputes refpecting their measures." The officers in the Eaft-India company's fervice who were difmiffed by Lord Clive, for writing a letter to Sir Robert Fletcher, expreffing their attachment to that gentleman, are restored by the directors. By an order of council of March 23. 1768, the East-India company were appointed to pay, as a contideration for the military and naval stores taken at Pondi cherry, and other places on the coast of Coromandel, 30,000l. to the officers and companies of his Majesty's (hips, and thẹ armed fhips of the East India company, and the like fum to the officers and fol diers of his Majesty's artillery, land-forces, and marines, and the troops of the. Eaft-India company, who were actually prefent at the reduction of Pondicherry, Jan. 17. 1761. The payment of one moiety of thele fums began, at London, to the feamen on the 29th of August, and to the land-forces on the 5th of September; every private feaman's fhare a-' mounting to 14 s. 5 d. i f. and every private foldier, to 16 s. 2 d. 1 f. The executors of the officers and feamen who belonged to his Majesty's thips Duke of Aquitaine and Sunderland, at the time thefe fhips foundered off Pondicherry, were intitled to claim their fhares as if they had been prefent. "London, June 2. Tuesday came on to be heard before the privy council, two appeals from Quebec, Lt-Col. Christie appellant, and Francis Noble Knipe and John Le Quefne of Quebec refpondents, in suits which had been brought by the refpondents against the appellant, for impreffing labourers and artificers into his Majefty's fervice, during the late war with France and the Indians; when the judgements which had been given at Quebec against the appellant were reverfed, and both actions were difiniffed." Guildford, July 19. The quarterfeffions ended on Friday laft. Many perfons were to be tried for riots in St George's fields and Southwark [330.]; moft of whom appearing to have been bound over for the moft trivial offences, were discharged. But john Truckle, who was feized one evening in St George's fields, was ordered to be imprisoned nine months, and to find furety for good behaviour; and John Percival, being convicted of marking No 45. on the back of Richard Capel, Efq; one of the juftices, was ordered to be imprifoned two years, and to find fureties for his good behaviour for seven years after." Among the remarkable trials at the Old Baily in July laft, thofe of William Hawkins, and Jofeph Wild, for riotoufly affembling, with many others, near the Manfion-house, affaulting and wounding one or two of the Lord Mayor's fervants, and for other unlawful acts against the peace, &c. [330.], must not be omitted. The The principal evidence against Hawkins was Mr Way, a gentleman who accidentally paffing by, faw a croud of people carrying a gibbet, on which hung a boot and petticoat, and making a stand at the Manfion-boule, he faw my Lord Mayor come out, and rufh among the people who fupported the gibbet; on which a fray began; and he prefently heard the words, Knock him down! Knock him down! Teveral times repeated: at the fame inftant the obferved the prifoner Hawkins laying about him with a stick, which he after wards found to be ftuck with nails, and faw him ftrike one or two people, who proved to be his Lordship's fervants. They had feized the prifoner Hawkins, and were dragging him towards the Manfionhouse; but the mob rescued him, and he was making off, when the witness collared him, and, with the affiftance of the wounded fervants, fecured him in the Manfion-house. Philip Pyle faid, that being in waiting upon the Lord Mayor the night of the riot (May 9.), he obferved a great mob advancing with a gibbet, a boot, and a petticoat hanging upon it; and being ordered by his Lordship to feize it, he gave it a thake, which obliged the mob to quit it; that he was pulling it along, when a man, who he believed was the prifoner, catched a flambeau out of his hand, and broke his head with it in feveral places. Dropping the gibbet, he fays, he recovered his flambeau, made a ftroke at the affailants, (for there were now two or three ftriking at him), and was endeavouring to retreat for fear of falling, (in which cafe, he said, he must undoubtedly have been murdered), when he received feveral blows on his head with a flick ftuck full of nails, which bappily flew out of the prifoner's hand, and his fellow-fervant fnatched it up. The prifoner then endeavoured to defend himself with his hands, but the witness fays, he dragged him in his rage near twenty yards through the mob; but when he had got him within ten yards of the Manfion house, the mob rescued him, and he was making off, when Mr Way collared him, and brought him back. Thomas Woodward, another fervant of his Lordflip, confirmed the former e vidences; adding, that had it not been for the flick before mentioned, the prifoner Hawkins would have been again refcued from his fellow fervant and Way: one or two of the refcuers, he faid, he knocked down, and one he laid flat is the kennel. As to Wild, no pofitive evidence of his being active in the fray was produced, only Edward Stinton, a third fervant of hi Lordship, heard him repeat the words, Knock him down! Knock him down! which Wild, in his defence, acknowledged he did fay; but that having but just joined the mob, and being told that the caufe of the tumult was a pick-pocket, he repeated the words after others, and really thought that they were meant only a gainst the thief. He was acquitted, and Hawkins found guilty. Thomas Woodcock was tried on a feparate indictment, for riotoufly affembling on the night of the roth of May, breaking the lamps belonging to the Manfion-house, and otherwise disturbing the peace, &c.-The chief evidence againft him was George Hales, who feeing the windows and lamps of the Manfion-house 'much shattered, and a great mob affembled, determined to mix among the croud, in order to discover who com mitted the outrage. He says, that for half an hour he ftood behind the prifoser, and faw him take a ftone out of his pocket every now and then, and look at it, and one in particular he faw him throw at the fecond lamp, which he kept his eye upon part of the way, and inftantly heard the lamp break. He fays, that after this, he applied to the constables; but the conftables declined apprehending the prisoner for fear of the mob. He fays, the tumult increased; the mob began to demand money of the coaches; Wilkes and Liberty! was the cry; and the croud and the noife grew more and more alarming. In about half an hour, however, the witness fays, we took him. But Edward Stinton, the fervant of my Lord already mentioned, gives another account. He fays, That having changed his cloaths, and mixing among the mob, the prifoner being near him, wifhed fome good fellows would join him, and then, faid he, we may break the back windows before any body can come to oppofe us The witness immediately faid, Here an feveral of us, but what ball we do for Stones? The prifoner replied, I have a pocket-full. That having in this manner decoyed him from the mob, his fellowfervant and himself seized and fecured him; that on fearching his pockets four ftones were found upon him, which were produced in court. He made no defence, and |