21 César, from Pondicherry. the fire of London in 1666. The flames in a few minutes spread themselves three different ways, and before noon, consumed, according to the best computation that could be made, very near one hundred houses, about twenty of which fronted Cornhill, and the rest were in Birchin-lane, By admirals Anson Exchange-alley, George-yard, and all the avenues thereabouts, all the bankers house in Lombard-street, and their ef fects, were preserved. No public office was burnt, except the London Assurance, who had time to save all their effects, and suffered only in the loss of their houses. and Warren, May 1747. 30 Vigilante, 22 guns. 31 Modeste, 22 guns. The last six out- 2 Marquis d'Antin, 24 guns, 450 tons, ditto. 8 Notre Dame de Deliverance, 22 guns, taken August 1745. 4 Superbe, outward bound, 36 guns, and 136 men, April 1747. 5 The Hector, 28 guns, 56 men, 600 tons, taken by the Viper sloop, Aug. 1747. 6 The Eagle, outward bound, 30 guns, 150 men, Sept. 1745. N. B.-Several of the dates are not the precise time of capture, but when the advice was received. Garraway's, the Jerusalem and Jonathan's coffee-houses, the Swan tavern, Mr. Young's a woollen-draper, with the rest of the houses in Change-alley, were fee-houses, which were greatly damaged. destroyed, except Baker's and Sam's cof The flames extended themselves into Corn hill, and burnt down the houses of Mr. ner, a stationer; Tom's and the Rainbow Mr. Eldridge, his wife and two daughters, and a journeyman perished in the flames; Mr. Cooke, a merchant, who lodged in the house, jumped out of a two pair of stairs window, broke his back, and died soon after. March 31. About eight at night seven prisoners in Newgate for smuggling, on the turnkeys opening the door of their apartment, rushed on them with pistols and broomsticks, and knocking them down ran out of the prison taking different ways; but an alarm being spread, five of them were retaken in the neighhbouring streets, and carried back to Newgate. Thomas Kemp, and William Gray got clear off; for the taking of either of whom a reward of 501, was promised by the Keeper of Newgate, and 1001. by the commissioners Brought forward 93,818 4 2 ... ..... ....... .... ... ....... ..... Earl of Cassilis ......... ...... John Hay, esq... Heriot's hospital in Edinburgh. Sir James Lockhart Roderick M'Leod William Maxwell, esq... 1,800 0 4,200 0 0 600 0 0 321 90 1,000 0 0 800 0 0 2,675 5 9 2,400 0 0 1,084 19 4 1,000 0 3,418 4 5 30000 450 0 0 2,186 9 3 4,568 16 1 52 18 4 134 12 6 200 0 0 1,200 0 0 101 13 7 4,000 0 0 262 15 3 82 2 1 215 0 0 243 13 8 2,000 0 83 16 4 2,000 0 0 187 11 11 633 6 8 1,666 13 4 400 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 900 00 500 0 0 25 9 10 6,621 8 5 523 4 1 John Murray, jun, esq.... John Ogilvie, esq. 4,000 0 0 2,800 0 0 4,023 19 0 5,578 18 4 George Sinclair, esq...... David Smith, esq. 3,189 0 0 2,100 0 0 William Urquhart.... 350 0 0 50 19 1 2,672 7 0 T. Bisset, clerk of the rolls, 3,000 0 0 5,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 1,200 0 0 1,000 0 0 6,268 16 0 7,240 2 0 7,800 0 0 £93,318 4 2 W. Black, clerk of the regality of Dumferline.... Gilbert Clark, clerk of the regality Brughton..... Halkerston, clerk of the regality of Culross..... Claud. Hamilton, clerk of the Within these few days 30,000 quarters of wheat were brought up for exportation. His Majesty in council, declaring his intention of going out of the kingdom for a short time, nominated lords justices for the administration of the government during his Majesty's absence. The amount of the expence of building the Mansion House for the lord mayors of London (including the sum of 39001. paid for purchasing of houses) was 426381. 18s. 8d. May 13. At noon his Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the following bills, viz. The bill for granting one million out of the sinking fund.-Bill to rectify a mistake in the mutiny act.-Bill to amend and enforce the window light act.-Bill for the more effectual disarming the Highlands.-Bill to regulate trials for high treason in the Highlands for Scotland.-Bill for rendering more effectual an act for relief of such loyal subjects in Scotland, whose title deeds were destroyed in the rebellion.Bill to regulate courts-martial in the sea service, and for extending the discipline of the navy to the crews of his Majesty's ships wrecked, lost, or taken, &c.-Bill for allowing the exportation of tea to Ireland and the plantations, duty free; and for enlarging the time for some of the payments to be made on a subscription of 6,300,000/-Bill to amend and enforce an act for prohibiting the wearing and im portation of cambrics or French lawns. Bill for encouraging the growth and importation of indigo from his Majesty's plantations in America.-Bill for amending and continuing several laws near expiring. Bill to explain and amend two acts for the preservation of the public roads -Bill to continue the duty of 6d. per chaldron on coals, for the relief of the orphans of the city of London.-Bill for relief of insolvent debtors.-And to several road and private bills. After which his Majesty made a speech, stating, that preliminaries of peace had been signed between his minister and the king of France, and the United Provinces, on the basis of a general restitution of conquests on both sides; and trusting that his allies to whom he had acted with the most unreserved confidence, would see the propriety and necessity of acceding to the preliminary articles and thanking the Commons for the liberal supplies for the current year; he proro gued the Parliament to the 30th June next. About four in the afternoon, his Majesty set out from St. James's to embark for Holland, in order to proceed for his German dominions. May 16. This night a messenger arrived from the earl of Sandwich, his Majesty minister plenipotentiary at Aix-laChapelle, with the ratifications of the preliminary articles, which were exchanged on the 21st instant, between the ministers of his Britannic Majesty, the most Christian King, and the States General of the United Provinces. May 20. Mr. Dick, one of his Majesty's messengers, arrived at his grace the duke of Newcastle's office, with the act of accession of the empress queen of Hungary to the preliminary articles which were signed at Aix-la-Chapelle by count Kaunitz the 25th instant. May 28. A messenger arrived from the earl of Sandwich at Aix-la-Chapelle, with the acts of accession of the king of Sardinia, and his most serene highness the duke of Mondena, to the preliminary articles. June 2. The King arrived at Herenhau sen. June 9. His grace the duke of Newcastle, one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, embarked for Holland in his way to Hanover. June 11. A special free pardon was granted to John Murray, of Broughton, esq. and Hugh Frazer, gent. of all treasons, misprison of treasons, committed by themselves alone, or either of them, on or before the 6th day of May, 1748. June 12. There was a violent storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied with hail of an extraordinary size in some places; particularly at Addington Place, in Surrey, where the hail storm lasted about twenty minutes; the smallest hail stones were as large as middling walnuts, not round, but of an irregular form; many of them were seven inches in circumference, and fell on the ground with such force that they rebounded above two feet; all the gardens round about were entirely covered with the hail, which lay in shady places full two hours before it was dissolved. There were also melancholy accounts from several parts of the country, of the great hurt done by the thunder and lightning: at Streatham in Surrey, it beat in a chimney next door to the Black Bull, and knocked down a servant maid who was just called from the window to avoid it, but did her no considerable damage; but what is more remarkable, at the next door to that, it singed the painting off a landscape, which hung over the chimney piece, and likewise the gilding off the frame, but did no farther mischief. At Springfield, near Chelmsford, two boys were instantly killed in the church during the time of divine service. June 23. The Parliament which stood prorogued to the 30th instant, was further prorogued to Aug. 30. June 24. Edward Ironside esq. alderman and goldsmith, and Thomas Rawlinson, esq. alderman and grocer, were elected sheriffs of London and Middlesex for the year ensuing. June 30. A petition, signed by a great number of eminent merchants were presented to the lords of the regency, praying, that leave might be given to open a trade with the kingdom of Spain. And, soon after, a number of bills were posted up at the Royal Exchange, for ships bound to Spain. By the paying off several men of war, the wages fell in the merchant's service from 50s. to 258. per month. The right honourable lord Anson presented the account of his voyage round the world to the Royal Society, for which he received their thanks. July 2. Arrived from Hanover his Majesty's ratification of his acceptance of the accession of the court of Spain, and the republic of Genoa, to the preliminary articles signed at Aix-la-Chapelle, the 28th of June, 1748. July 14. Was the famous solar eclipse. The quantity eclipsed was about ten digits; and, according to observations made by a Bamber of ingenious gentlemen near St. Paul's, the beginning was at three minutes fifty-three seconds past nine in the morning, and the end at nine minutes thirteen seconds past twelve, as near as could be judged, by reason of clouds interposing; which times were as near the truth as could be expected: for one observed the appulse of the moon's limb to that of the sun, through a good refracting astronomical telescope, whose object glass was polished exceedingly well, and defined the objects very distinctly; while another proclaimed each second, measured by a curious regulator, with a compound pendulum, whose weight was four times greater than that which kept the machine in motion; and this was again corrected by a mathematical instrument, placed purposely for observing the moment of the sun's passing over our meridian. During the time of the eclipse, Venus made a beautiful appearance through the telescopes, in form of a crescent or new moon. July 27. A mail arrived from France, the first since the commencement of the war with that nation. Aug. 4. The Board of Works surveyed the roof of Westminster-hall, and found it to be very ruinous and decayed; whereupon they ordered several new spars to be made, and affixed to the roof, and large iron bolts to be driven into the arches, and riveted; for the better support of the said roof. A pardon granted to Sir James Kinloch, and James Stewart, of all treasons, misprisons of treason, &c. by them, or either of them committed on or before the 13th of April, 1748. Before a great shower of rain fell on the 4th, at night, some gentlemen, near St.James's, observing many unusual clouds, discovered, by the help of optic glasses, that they were swarms of locusts, a great number of which were next day found in St. James's Park, St. James's-street, Pallmall, &c. They resembled the green grass-hopper, found in the corn fields in all parts of England about the time of harvest, except in the colour, which was in the body of a light brown, ribbed with white, with two large wings longer than the body, and they had fewer legs than the grasshopper, in their flight their wings made a buzzing noise, like that of the great black beetle. Aug. 10. The proclamation for a cessation of hostilities with the kingdom of Spain, and the republic of Genoa, was read at the Royal Exchange. Aug. 18. There happened a dreadful fire at Barkway in Hertfordshire, occasioned by a stack of hay being laid up too green, which took fire, and immediately communicated itself to the adjacent barns; and, in a few hours, laid in ashes thirteen dwelling houses, with all the ricks, stacks, barns, stables, &c. The damage done amounted to near 30007. From Hanover we heard, that his Majesty appointed Sir Thomas Robinson, to be joint plenipotentiary with the earl of Sandwich at Aix-la-Chapelle; for which last place Sir Thomas set out on the 19th inst. and carried along with him his Majesty's approbation of the definitive treaty of peace drawn up at Aix-la-Chapelle, a plan for which had been sent to Hanover for that purpose. A proclamation was issued by the lords justices for opening the commerce with Spain. Aug. 25. The Parliament, which stood prorogued to the 30th instant, was further prorogued to October 13. All the letters from France were full of the vast preparations they were making for restoring their marine. Ships were daily arriving, loaded with all sorts of naval stores; and the King had lately purchased of the duke of Chevreuse, at the rate of 1,500,000 livres, the forest of Chateaudun, in which there were great quantities of timber trees, proper for the royal navy. Sept. 1. The Pope conferred the order of priesthood upon cardinal Stuart, who celebrated his first mass on the Wednesday following in his own chapel, and gave the sacrament to the chevalier de St. George, his father, in presence of several persons who assisted thereat. Sept. 10. His royal highness the duke of Cumberland set out for St. James's for Harwich; from whence he sailed for Holland the next day, and on the 13th arrived at the head quarters of the allied army in Flanders. Sept. 13. The workmen finished the pulling down the scaffolding in Westminster-hall, erected for the trials of the rebel lords, which was sold to a builder for 4007. the perquisite of his grace the duke of Ancaster, as lord great chamberlain of England. Sept. 17. Orders were given by the lords of the Admiralty for the immediate manning of six twenty gun ships, to cruize off the coasts of Spain and Genoa. Sept. 28, Edward Ironside and Thomas Rawlinson, esqrs. aldermen, were sworn into the office of sheriffs of London and Middlesex, for the year ensuing, at Guildhall; and on Friday the 30th they were sworn in at Westminster. Sept. 29. Sir W. Calvert, knight, alderman of Portsoken ward, was chosen Lord Mayor of London for the year ensuing. Oct. 6. The Parliament which stood prorogued to the 13th instant, was further prorogued to Nov. 17. Oct. 18. Both houses of Parliament met at Westminster, and by virtue of his Majesty's commission, were further prorogued to Nov. 29, and a proclamation was issued by the lords justices for their meeting on that day, and sitting for the dispatch of business. Oct. 21. A courier arrived here from Aix-la-Chapelle with an account, that the plenipotentiaries of his Catholic majesty had acceded, on the 20th instant, to the definitive treaty of peace; those of the Empress queen on the 23d; the duke of Modena's on the 25th, and the accessions of the Sardinian and Genoese plenipotentiaries were soon expected. Oct. 25. An account was received of the Genoese plenipotentiary having acceded to the definitive treaty of peace. Oct. 29. Sir William Calvert. knt. the new lord mayor of London, was sworn in at Westminster with the usual solemnity. Nov. 5. An account was received from Aix-la-Chapelle, that the plenipotentiaries of his Sardinian Majesty had acceded, on the 7th instant, to the definitive treaty of peace. Nov. 9. A fire broke out in the Horn stable at Gravesend, adjoining to a warehouse, which contained a great quantity of pitch, tar, rosin, sea coal, all sorts of ironmongers goods, and about five half barrels of gunpowder, which blew up both the said buildings, and thereby prevented once more the town from becoming a heap of ruins. Many people were hurt by the explosion, but none killed. The damage was computed at about 10001. Nov. 19. The anniversary of the birth of the princess of Wales was celebrated, who then entered into the 29th year of her age. Nov. 23. His Majesty arrived about two o'clock in the morning, in good health, at St. James's, from hisGerman dominions. He embarked at Helvoetsluys about ten on Monday morning, and landed the next day between three and four in the afternoon at Kingsgate, two miles from Margate in Kent. Nov. 25. The right honourable the Lord Mayor and court of aldermen of the city of London waited on his Majesty to congratulate him on his safe return. Nov. 29. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and opened the session with a speech to both Houses, in which he acquainted them with the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace with France and the States General, to which the queen of Hungary, and the kings of Spain and Sardinia had acceded; and requesting the |