sex, was sold for 73,0507, viz. the manor for 13,4001. the demesne lands for 40,570l. and the great tithes for 19,080. By accounts from Barbadoes, it appeared the French had attempted to settle the neutral islands. The right honourable lord Bathurst was appointed captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners, in the room of the earl of Buckinghamshire. Nov. 6. The King was pleased to appoint Robert Henley esq. to be his Majesty's attorney-general, and to confer on him the honour of knighthood. The honourable Charles Yorke, esq. to be his Majesty's solicitor-general. Arrived at Plymouth, the Renommè, from Quebec, having 384 officers and soldiers of the garrison of Oswego on board to exchange for French prisoners. Nov. 9. Marshe Dickinson, esq. Lord Mayor elect, was sworn into that high office, at Westminster, with the usual ceremonies. Nov. 11. The great price of corn haying almost starved the common people in Shropshire, Warwickshire, and parts adjacent, who had lived several days on salt and grains; in conjunction with the colliers, rose and committed great disorders, at Much-Wenlock, Shiffnal, Wellington, and several other places. Nov. 13. Vice-admiral Knowles sailed in the Essex, to take the command of the fleet off Brest. Nov. 16. The King was pleased to appoint the duke of Devonshire, the right honourable Henry Legge, Robert Nugent, esq. the lord viscount Duncannon, and the honourable James Grenville, to be his Majesty's commissioners for executing the office of treasurer of his Majesty's Exchequer. The King was pleased to grant to the right honourable Henry Legge, the offices of chancellor and under-treasurer of his Majesty's Exchequer. Nov. 18. About ten minutes before twelve o'clock at night a shock of an earthquake was felt at Inverhallen, in Argyleshire, which lasted twenty seconds. At Rothsay it was so sensible, that the chamber bells in some houses were rung, and it was preceded by a rumbling noise, like thunder at a distance. Nov. 19. Arrived at Spithead the Colchester and Deptford men of war, having on board the brave general Blakeney, and the witnesses pro and con in Byng's affair, and under their convoy nineteen transports, with the remains of the garrison of Mi norca. The general was welcomed to Portsmouth by loud acclamations, ringing of bells, illuminations, &c. He went to the assembly on the night of his arrival, danced a minuet with a young lady, and afterwards played at cards. His Majesty having constituted chief justice Willes, Mr. baron Smythe, and Mr. justice Wilmot, lords commissioners for the custody of the great seal, was this day pleased, in council, to deliver to them the great seal of Great Britain. Nov. 23. General Blakeney arrived in town, and waited on his Majesty and the duke of Cumberland, and was most graciously received. Nov. 27. Between five and six in the morning, two sets of chambers, in Staple's Inn, Holborn, were consumed by fire, and a young lady, two children, and their nurse, unfortunately perished in the flames. The inhabitants of Whitby sustained more than a common share of the calamity arising from a storm, four of their best ships being lost. The amount of their whole loss at that single town, was 20,000l. An embargo was laid upon the exportation of all kinds of grain in Ireland. His Majesty's ships the Sutherland and Kennington sailed from Cork, having under their convoy fourteen transports with general O'Farrel's regiment of foot, the additional companies, and a great quantity of stores, bound for America, The New Yorkers, who had fitted out twenty stout privateers, had very great success, their captures amounted to above 60,0007. At a chapter of the Bath, lieutenant general William Blakeney was created a knight of that most honourable order. Dec. 2. His Majesty went with the usual state, to the House of Peers, and opened the session with a most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament. Both Houses of Parliament presented addresses to his Majesty, which were most favourably received. Dec. 4. The King was pleased to appoint the right honourable William Pitt, esq. to be one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, in the room of the right honourable Henry Fox. Dec. 5. Three regiments more of the Hanoverian auxiliaries embarked on board the transports at Chatham, in order to return to Germany. Dec. 11. The colliers of Cumberland rose on account of the dearness of provisions, but were dispersed before they could do much mischief. The tinners in Cornwall also about the same time plundered the town of Padstow of corn, &c. and then dispersed. The colliers in the forest of Dean, with ethers, seized several vessels laden with barley, &c. going down the river Wye to Bristol, and plundered several mills in those parts, carrying off near 3000 bushels of grain of all sorts. Proclamations were published for a general fast to be observed in Scotland on February 10th next, and in Ireland on the 11th of the same month. A proclamation was issued for a general fast on Friday, Feb. 11. This day died at his lodgings in Chappel-street, Soho, aged sixty, Theodore baron Newhoff, some years since crowned king of Corsica. Dec. 15. His Majesty in council was pleased to declare his grace John duke of Bedford, lieutenant general and governor general of Ireland. The House of Lords being met, a message was sent to the House of Commons, acquainting them, that "the Lords authorized by virtue of his Majesty's commission for declaring his royal assent to the therein-mentioned acts, did require the attendance of that honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the commission read;" and the Commons being come thither, the said commission, empowering his royal highness the duke of Cumberland, the lord archbishop of Canterbury, and several other lords therein named, to declare and notify the royal assent to the said public acts, was read accordingly, and the royal assent was given to, An act to make provision for quartering the foreign troops in his Majesty's service now in this kingdom. Mr.Byng set out from Greenwich, under the guard of a troop of horse, for Ports mouth. The House of Lords adjourned to Jan. 11, and the Commons to the 7th of the same month. A proclamation was published in the Gazette, at the latter end of November, for pasting the laws in speedy and effectual execution against forestalling, regrating, and engrossing of corn. Also for a general fast on Friday Feb. 11. Dec. 27. Admiral Byng was brought to his trial, before the court-martial, ordered for that purpose on board the St. George, in Portsmouth harbour. A GENERAL BILL OF CHRISTENINGS AND Five and ten ........... the account of an attempt made on the 5th 1757. A courier arrived from Paris, with instant on the French king's life; the parabove-mentioned day the king went from ticulars of which were as follows: on the Trianon to Versailles, tovisit Madame Victoire. About six in the evening, as his Majesty was stepping into his coach to return to Trianon, a man who had concealed forward, with his hat on, and made his himself behind the hind wheels, rushed way to the King's person, through the guards, one of whom he even pushed against the Dauphin, and struck his Majesty in the right side, of which, however, the King only complained by saying, "That man has given me a violent blow, he must be either mad or drunk:" but having perceived that his hand, which he clapped to wounded, seize that fellow, but do not kill his side, was bloody, he said, "I am him." His Majesty was immediately carried to his apartment. The wound, which from the first was not thought dangerous, glanced upwards between the fourth and was given with a sharp pointed knife, which fifth rib, and not of any considerable depth; and, at the first dressing, it was even judged that the cure would be speedy. That night the King slept an hour and a quarter. The villain who committed this attempt was named Damien, and a native of Arras. The weapon he made use of was found up on him, and proved to be a common clasp knife with two blades. Jan. 11. This day between two and three o'clock in the morning, at Norwich they had a slight shock of an earthquake, preceded by a rumbling_noise in the air. It was likewise felt at Yarmouth, Diss, South Walsham, Loddon, Bungay, Easton, Sprowston, &c. at the same moment of time. Our cruisers and privateers continued to have great success against the enemy, and no less than sixteen of their privateers were taken within the last three months. him to be shot to death; but as it did not appear to the court, that it was through cowardice or disaffection, they unanimously recommended him to mercy." The two regiments raising in the Highlands were to consist of 1000 men each, to be commanded by colonel Fraser, son of the late lord Lovat, and major Montgomery, brother to the earl of Eglington; no Lowlanders were to be received in these regiments, but they were to be raised from the following clans, viz. the Campbells, the Mackenzies, the Frasers, the Macdonalds, and the Grants. Jan. 30. Calcutta was retaken by colonel Clive. Jan. 19. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the following bills; to the land tax bill; to the malt bill; to two naturalization bills ; to two name bills; and to several other SHERIFFS APPOINTED FOR THE PRESENT private bills. Jan. 22. Was held a general court of the Free British Fishery society, to take into consideration the state of the company's affairs; a very regular and exact account of which being laid before the proprietors, by the council, the court came to the following resolutions, nem. con. viz. 1. That it was the opinion of this general court to carry on the fishery. 2. That an humble application should be made to Parliament, representing the state of the society's affairs, and praying for such farther encouragement and assistance as should be thought proper, to enable them to carry on this great national undertaking, in such a manner as to answer the important purposes for which it was detained. And the council, with several other proprietors who were named for that purpose, were desired to prepare such petition. Jan. 24. A most dreadful fire happened at Morton Hampstead, in Devonshire, which spread so fast (most of the houses being thatched) that the inhabitants were terribly alarmed with the apprehension of the whole town being destroyed; but by the unwearied endeavours of the people in covering their houses with hides and other things, to prevent the flames catching the thatch, the fire was providentially extinguished, without more than six houses being entirely consumed. Jan. 28. An express arrived at the Admiralty from Portsmouth, which brought an account of the resolution of the courtmartial to the following purpose: .The court-martial were of opinion, that admiral Byng did not do his utmost to engage the enemy, and therefore were of opinion, that he had fallen under part of the twelfth article of war, and adjudged and sentenced YBAR. Berkshire, William Reynolds, esq. Hants, John Chute, esq. esq. Kent, William Glanville Evelyn, esq. bart. Northamptonshire, John Creed, esq. esq. Suffolk, Henry Moore, esq. Wiltshire, William Coles, esq. WALES. Anglesea, John Rowlands, esq. Feb. 4. About one o'clock, a fire broke out at Mrs. Binfield's, a milliner, near Racquet-court, Fleet-street, and burnt about an hour and a half, with great violence. Mrs. Binfeld's house was entirely consumed, and an oilman's ; Mr. Adams, a mathematical instrument maker, and Mr. Rutter's house backwards, were much damaged. A porter, belonging to the Union Fireoffice, brought down thirty pounds of gunpowder, out of the attic belonging to the oil shop while it was on fire. Feb. 5. The Nabob was defeated by colonel Clive, at the battle of Plassie. Feb. 11. Being the day appointed for a general fast, it was observed with the greatest devotion in all parts of this city of London and suburbs, and the places of public worship were remarkably full. The amount of the public debt in Jan. 1757 Annual interest-there £. 8. To the bill for the more speedy and effectual recruiting his Majesty's land forces and marines while on shore. To the bill to prohibit for a time limited the exportation of corn to the plantations. And to several other public and private bills. Feb. 17. A message was delivered by the King to Mr. Secretary Pitt, to the House of Commons, requesting an extraordinary supply, in consequence of the formidable preparations of France. Four independent companies of invalids were ordered to be raised in Ireland. The clerks in the offices of the secretaries of state, and of the Admiralty, were, by his Majesty's command, ordered to make copies of all intelligence received, from Jan. 1, 1755, to Aug. 1, 1756, concerning the equipment of a fleet at Toulon, or any other port, and of the march of troops to the sea coasts of France, and of the designs of the French on Minorca. The French king was so well recovered of the wound given by Damien, the assassin, that he resumed the reins of government. At Lamborne, in Berks, they had a very great flood, occasioned by the sudden thaw and melting of the snow on the neighbouring hills, which came down in such a torrent, that the inhabitants of several houses (that stood most exposed, and which were afterwards washed down) with difficulty saved their lives: a malt house was borne down, and three floors of malt entirely washed away: a carpenter had seven d. loads of timber, among which was one piece of fifty-five feet long, carried by the current some hundred yards from the place where it lay: Mr. Hippesley's park pales were laid level with the ground, and other considerable damage done in the town and neighbourhood. 74,780,866 8 2 2,673,140 7 11 Feb. 13. The lofty and beautiful steeple belonging to St. Francis's abbey, in the tity of Cashell, in Ireland, in the dead of the night, fell down, but without doing any other damage than terrifying such persons as were awake, with its great noise. It had stood above 500 years, and the base, or arch under it, had been mouldering for several years, which at last occasioned the fall of the superstructure. Feb. 15. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent,To the bill for granting to his Majesty a sum of money to be raised by way of lottery. VOL. II. There lately happened the most remarkable flood known in the memory of man at Imber, in Wiltshire, occasioned by the melting of the snow, which entirely threw down two cottages. Feb. 26. The following message was delivered to the House of Commons from his Majesty, to Mr. secretary Pitt. G. R. "His Majesty, agreeably to his royal word, for the sake of justice, and of example to the discipline of the navy, and for the safety and honour of the nation, was determined to have let the law take its course, with relation to admiral Byng, as upon Monday next; and resisted all solicitations to the contrary. M "But being informed, that a member of the House of Commons, who was a member of the court-martial, which tried the said admiral, had in his place, applied to the House, in behalf of himself, and several other members of the said court, praying the aid of Parliament to be released from the oath of secrecy imposed on courtsmartials, in order to disclose the grounds whereon sentence of death passed on the said admiral, the result of which discovery may shew the sentence to be improper; his Majesty has thought fit to respite the execution of the same, in order that there may be an opportunity of knowing, by the separate examination of the members of the said court, upon oath, what grounds there is for the above suggestion. "His Majesty is determined still to let this sentence be carried into execution, unless it shall appear, from the said examination, that admiral Byng was unjustly condemned.. G. R. Agreeable to which message Mr. Byng had a respite, and a motion was made in the House for a bill to indemnify the members of the said court-martial from the penalty of their oath of secrecy; which bill was accordingly prepared, and passed the House by a great majority, and was carried up to the Lords for their concur rence. March 11. The royal assent was given by Commission to, An act for the regulation of his Majesty's marine forces while on shore. To two road bills, and to two private bills. March 14. Orders being given for all the men at war at Spithead, to send their boats on Monday morning with the captains and all the officers of each ship, accompanied by a party of marines under arms, to attend the execution of Mr. Byng, they, in pursuance of that order, rowed from Spithead, and made the harbour a little after eleven o'clock with the utmost difficulty and danger, it blowing a very hard gale, the wind at W.N.W and ebbing water. It was still more difficult to get up so high as the Monarque lay, on board which ship the admiral suffered. Notwithstanding it blew so hard, and the sea ran very high, there was a great number of other boats round the ships on the outside of the men of war's boats, which last kept all others. No person was suffered to be on board the Monarque, except those belonging to the ship. But those ships which lay any way near her, were greatly crowded with spectators, all their shrouds and tops being full, although it was then difficult to see any thing on board the Monarque. Mr. Byng, accompanied by a clergyman, who attended him during his confinement, and two gentlemen, his relations, walked out of the great cabin to the quarter deck, where he suffered on the larboard-side, a few minute before twelve o'clock. He was dressed in a light-grey coat, white waistcoat, and white stockings, and a large white wig, and had in each hand a white handkerchief. He threw his hat on the deck, kneeled on a cushion, tied one handkerchief over his eyes, and dropped the other as a signal, on which a volley from six marines was fired, five of whose bullets went through him, and he was in an instant no more. He insisted on not having any thing before his face, till he was greatly pressed to it, and told, that it would not be decent to have his face uncovered, and that the marines might otherwise be intimidated from taking proper aim. From his coming out of the cabin it could not be two minutes, till he fell motionless on his left side. He died with great resolution and composure, not shewing the least sign of timidity. The moment the muskets went off, there was a blue pennant thrown out at the foretopmast-head, which continued flying about five minutes, and was then struck, on which all the men of war's boats repaired on board their respective ships. March 15. A high wind at west and north west, did great damage in and about London, particularly at Richmond, Ham, and Twickenham. At Cambridge many large trees were blown down, or torn up by the roots, and numbers of chimnies; and several barns, stacks of corn, hay ricks, &c. were levelled with the ground. Two people were killed near Bedford, one by blowing over of a cart, and the other by the fall of a barn as he was threshing. At Liverpool six outward bound foreigners were put ashore upon the rocks, and as many opposite to the town; one vessel ran through the middle of another, and several keel upwards; chimnies down in almost every street in the town, large buildings destroyed, numbers of people drowned, and many sadly hurt. Near twenty feet of St. Thomas's steeple blown down into the church. At Worcester, whilst Mr. justice Wilmot was sitting in the Nisi Prius court, a stack of chimnie of the town hall was blown down, which made its way through the ceiling into the court, and killed seven persons, among whom were Mr. Laws, cryer to Mr. justice Wilmot, and Mr. Chambers, plaintiff in the cause trying before the court: |