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At Chelmsford affizes, a caufe was tried before Mr. Baron Smythe, wherein Mr. Dines, of Althorn, was plaintiff, and an inhabitant of Margaret Roothing, defendant. The plaintiff had engaged to marry the defendant's daughter Sarah, at the repeated inftances of her father, on his promifing a portion of 5col. to be paid on the day of marriage. In confequence of this promife, the plaintiff married the faid Sarah on the 6th of Auguft, 1766; and previous to the marriage, the defendant promifed to make his daughter worth 1000 l. or as much as the plaintiff's father fhould give to him. Soon after the marriage, the plaintiff's father put his fon into the poffeffion of two farms, and gave him stock upon the fame worth at least 1000 l. standing which the defendant refufed to fulfil his promifes. On the 5th of April 1768, the defendant being at the plaintiff's houfe, in company with divers other perfons, and obferving a child walking about the room, faid, "he wifhed he could fee fome of the plaintiff's children." The latter anfwered, that "He was furprized he fhould be glad to fee any of his, er to fee his houfe filled with children, when he had not made good any one of his promifes, or given any thing towards bringing up a family:" The defendant replied, " he would be d-d if he did not give him 500l. on the birth of his first child, whether a boy or girl, and would ftand godfather to the child," and being asked to give a note or fome other fecurity for the fulfilling of his promife, he defired the plaintiff to write a note, which he accordingly did, and

read it to the defendant, who likewife read it himself, and figned it in the prefence of four witneffes, who fubfcribed their names to it. The defendant added, "I'll be dd if I don't ftand to this, if I never ftand to any thing elfe as long as I live." On the 7th of July 1769, the plaintiff's wife was delivered of a fon; but the defendant refufed either to ftand godfather to the child, or to pay the faid fum of 500l. It was alledged in his defence, that he was not fober when he figned the note; but the contrary being fully proved, the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff for 500 1.

two were

At Stafford affizes, capitally convicted, but were both reprieved.

At Warwick affizes, three were capitally convicted.

At Shrewsbury affizes, 31 prifoners were tried, fix of whom were capitally convicted.

At the affizes at Carlisle, two were capitally convicted, but were reprieved, and ordered for tranfportation.

At the affizes at Buckingham, Jofeph Dobbs was tried for breaking open the ftables of James Bailey, Efq; of Langleybroom, and cutting the finews of a horfe's leg in fuch a manner, that he bled to death. He was found guilty, and fentenced to be hanged; but at the interceffion of the profecutor he was reprieved for tranfportation.

At Winchester affizes, two were capitally convicted.

At Salisbury affizes, three were capitally convicted, but were reprieved for transportation.

At this affizes a remarkable trial came on, wherein a farmer was 3 plaintiff,

At the affizes at Dorchester only one prisoner was capitally convicted, a man 76 years of age, for horfe-ftealing; but before the judge left the town he was ordered for transportation, which he at firft refufed, but afterwards accepted

of the clement offer.

Robert Bartlett, for the murder of his brother, was brought in man-flaughter, and burnt in the hand.

At the affizes for the county of Devon, Mary Quarram, aged upwards of 64, for the murder of her grandfon, an infant about a year and a quarter old, by drowning him, received fentence of death, but was refpited; John Haggot, John Batting, and John Wilfon, for robbing John Royal near Plymouth, of a filver watch, 2 s. &c. James Matthews, for robbing John Cooksley on the highway of a filver watch, &c. and William Hallet, for houfebreaking, received fentence of death; but are all reprieved.

A cause came on to be tried at these affizes, in which an attorney of Plymouth was plaintiff, and Stephen Drew of the fame place, Efq; defendant. Upon the trial it appeared, that the attorney had first given Mr. Drew the lie, and on his refufing to afk pardon, or give fatisfaction, the defendant had fpit in his face, and trod upon his toe. The jury brought in a verdict for

At the affizes for the county of Somerfet, at Bridgewater, three perfons were condemned, viz. George Shepherd, for feloniously carrying away apwards of 1000 1.

in money, and feveral medals, &c. the property of Meffrs. Harris, at Taunton; John Moor, for stealing two oxen; and James Morgan, for ftealing a linen handkerchief. Shepherd was left for execution, but Moor and Morgan were reprieved for feven years tranfportation. John Tidball, charged with breaking into the Custom-house at Minehead, was acquitted.

At Hereford affizes, two were capitally convicted, but were both reprieved.

Capt. Marmaduke Bowen, Lewis Bowen his fon, and John Williams, the murderer, were brought to the bar, and feverally arraigned; the first as an acceffary before the fact, the two others as acceffaries after the fact, in the murder of Mr. Powell; when a motion was made to put off their trials to the next affizes, which was agreed to.

At Monmouth affizes, one was capitally convicted, but afterwards reprieved.

Florence, July 31. We hear from Montemignaio, that a hermit, who died lately there, aged 77, after having led a folitary and exemplary life in his hermitage during 42 years, a few moments before his death, declared to his confeffor, that he was Count Cæfar Solari of Turin; that having lived in the married state five years, he had a fon; and that afterwards he quitted his eftate at Villanouva, and turned Anchorite. The pa

pers

pers found in his retirement, confirmed his confeffion, and, in confequence, he was interred in a manner fuitable to his birth.

Rome, July 28. We are affured that the Emperor of Japan died lately in his capital, aged 92 years. He did not marry till 75, with a woman of common rank, by whom he had a fon, now 15 years of age.

Leeds, Auguft 21. The account of the inhabitants of New-York having agreed to the importation of goods from England, was received here by our American merchants with great pleafure; fince which great quanties of cloth have been fent down to Hull, in order to be shipped for the above place. Edinburgh, Aug. 18. At the late quarterly meeting of the proprietors of the Forth and Clyde navigation, held here, the new line of direction of the Great Canal, from Inch-belly-bridge weftward, propofed by Mr. M'Kell, and approved of by Mr. Smeaton, engineers, was unanimoufly agreed to; by this new course, the canal will be brought to within two miles northweft of Glasgow.

A woman meanly dreffed 23d. found her way up the backftairs to the Queen's private apartments, and entered the room where her Majefty was fitting with the Duchefs of Ancafter. The woman took a furvey of the room with great compofure, her Majefty and the Duchefs being too much frighted at first to interrupt her : at length the Duchefs had the prefence of mind to ring the bell, which brought up the page in waiting, who with difficulty turned the intruder down ftairs.

This morning the poftboy carrying the Chester 24th. Mail, was robbed at the foot of Highgate Hill by a fingle highwayman, who took out of the cart a fmall mail, containing twelve bags. 2001. reward are offered for the difcovery of the robber.

His Majefty has been pleased to grant his free pardon to Thomas Phillips the elder, and Thomas Phillips the younger, and William Phillips, George Phillips, Thomas Knight, and Richard Hide, who were convicted at a feffion of the High Court of Admiralty, for plundering divers Dutch veffels on the high feas, off the coast of Suffex.

Some workmen employed to clean a large vault in Arlingtonftreet, difcovered a spring of water, and one of the men putting down a lighted candle to take a fuller view of it, the foul air took fire, and it was with difficulty extinguished.

In the garden of Mr. Burrowes of Stepney, has been dug up a large iron pot full of filver Commonwealth money, which it is thought will fetch a large fum. A bank note of 100l. has been fent from New25th. caftle to the fecretary of the fociety of the Bill of Rights, for the fervice of Mr. Wilkes.

An exprefs arrived at St. James's, with an account of her royal highnefs the princefs of Brunfwick being fafely delivered of a prince the

18th inft.

This morning their Majesties honoured the regiment of artillery with their prefence in the warren at Woolwich His Majefty came purpofely to fee fome experiments

tried. Their Majefties were firft taken to the royal laboratory, attended by Col. Defaguliers, and went through the different rooms there, where all kinds of military ftores were preparing; which took them up about an hour. They then proceeded to the water-fide, where several shot were fired from an iron gun, by means of a lock being fixed to the vent: A sea fervice thirteen inch mortar was next fired three or four times, entirely filled with pound fhot, which had a very good effect. Their Majefties next faw a heavy twelve pounder brafs gun filled twenty three times with hot in a minute, fpunging between each fire, and loading with the greatest fafety, which furprized every spectator, having far furpaffed any quick firing ever yet practifed. The method is entirely new, and fuppofed to be the invention of Col. Defaguliers. Previous to their Majesties coming to the warren, they stopped on Woolwich common, where they faw feveral fhells fired from mortars and howitzers.

This morning early the 26th. boy carrying the Chefter mail was attacked near Brown's Wells on Finchley common by three foot-pads; but the bags of letters being in one of the new-invented carriages, they could not get at them, and ordered the boy to unlock it; but he telling them he had no key, they damn'd him, and bid him drive on.

The cafe that was fome time ago published in the London papers, faid to be the cafe of Capt. Prefton, is like to prove of very bad confequence to that unfortunate gentleman. On its arrival at Bofton, a committee of the town

up

was ordered to wait upon the Captain, to know if he was the author. He acknowledged he had drawn his cafe, but that it had paffed through different hands, and had been altered at different times; and finally, that the publication in the papers was variant from that which he fent home as his own. Being interrogated as to particular parts of it, he declined answering that question, and faid, That the alterations were made by perfons, who, he believed, might aim at ferving him, though he feared they might have a contrary effect, and that his discriminating parts, which were his own, from those which had been altered by others, might difpleafe his friends at a time when he might ftand in need of their effential fervice.'

Died lately, in the Eaft Indies, Lieut. Armstrong, in the East India company's fervice. He was ftruck dead with lightning as he ftood under a Tamarind tree, with his horfe's bridle under his arm. fteel hilted broad-fword, is fuppofed to have attracted the lightning by which he was killed. His horfe was killed with the fame flafh.

His

Mr. Muzere, aged 90, many years an eminent piece-broker, who never trufted any money out at intereft, but put it into an iron cheft, in which was found, at his death, about 9000l.

At Peckham, in the 105th year of his age, Mr. Ramfay, formerly a pawnbroker in the Mint.

At Whitchurch in Shropshire, in the 107th year of her age, one Jane Hammond.

One Patrick Blewet, aged 120, in the north of Ireland. He never was known to be a week fick all the time, and retained his memory

and

and understanding to the laft. He was gardener to a family for eight generations past.

At Reigate, in Surry, one Mary Gold, aged 111 years, who had her eye-fight, and was hearty till within an hour of her death.

At his houfe in Berwick-ftreet, Soho, John Vickers, Efq; aged 95, who bore a commiffion under King William, and greatly diftinguished himself at the battle of the Boyne.

Mary Johan, of Arlon in Luxemburgh, relict of Louis de Villeneuve, Knight of St. Louis, and Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment of Nice, killed in 1734 at the fiege of Philipfburg, died at Thionville the 6th of June laft, aged 108 years. She retained her memory and fenfes to the laft, and had never feen any phyficians in her life.

ift.

SEPTEMBER.

Charles Saing, a paper maker at Galfton, in Scotland, has invented an engine for cutting rags, which will cut more in one day than eight men can do in the fame time.

Mr. Rainsfort, High Conftable of Westminster, attended by Mr. Flanagan his affiftant, were obftructed in the execution of their office by a corporal and centinel in the first troop of horfe-grenadier-guards, who instead of affifting the civil power, confined the officiating officers in the guard room. In this confinement they continued all night, the ferjeant refufing to disturb the commanding officer till his ufual hour of rifing in the morning. Upon

complaint being made to Sir John Fielding, the corporal and centi nel were fent for and examined, and both committed to Tothill fields Bridewell.

Lochgilpead, near Inverary, Aug. 21. This afternoon the following melancholy accident happened at this place:

As the pacquet yaul was carrying on board paffengers to go from this to Greenock, fhe was run foul of by the pacquet, and overfet; of 14 people who were on board, feven only could be faved.

:

On Friday morning one of the powder-mills, at Oore near Feverfham, belonging to Mr. Gruebar, was blown up one man and a horse were killed, and two other men were very much hurt; one of the workmen with amazing courage, went into an adjoining magazine and rolled out a barrel of gunpowder; after which the whole quantity, confifting of 30 barrels, were faved, and the terrible confequences prevented.

Laft Friday a Custom-house-officer was brought before the Magiftrates, at the rotation-office on St. Margaret's-hill, for firing a loaded piftol at a young man, who refufed to let him take away his bundle, without he would produce his authority for fo doing, or go with him into a neighbouring house, and have his bundle fearched; there being no contraband goods in it, the Magiftrates obliged the Officer to find fureties for his appearance, and the young man to profecute at the next affizes. The fame Officer, about two months fince, ftopped a young woman, as fhe was going from fervice to her mother, and took out of her bundle an old filk handkerchief,

that