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mills were much damaged, large trees and hedges carried away, and walls thrown down by the torrent; some had thirty tons of coal washed away, others their furnaces carried out of the stacks, and a bridge called Dodbridge, was forced up; the damage was computed at several thousand pounds.

Sept. 22. Ratifications of a treaty ofsub sidy concluded with the elector of Bavaria were exchanged at Hanover by the British, Austrian, Dutch, and Bavarian ministers. The substance of this treaty, which was to last six years, was that the maritime powers pay the Elector an annual subsidy of 40,0001. for which the Elector was to keep in readiness a body of 6000 foot for the service of the maritime powers whenever demanded, provided that they were not employed against the Emperor or empire, As the design of the maritime powers tended to the advantage of the empire, his electoral highness engaged to second the efforts of his Britannic Majesty in the diet, and in the electoral college; which efforts were for electing the archduke king of the Romans. If the elector should be attacked on account of this treaty, the maritime powers were to assist him, and procure him satisfaction for any damage received.

In Norfolk and Suffolk, about the beginning of this month, was a very great scarcity of water.

Sept. 29. Francis Cockayne, esq. alderman of Cornhill ward, was elected Lord Mayor.

Sept. 30. A little after noon was felt at Northampton, and many miles round it, a violent shock of an earthquake, much stronger than that felt in London, and lasting near a minute: it threw down part of an old wall in College Lane: at Kelmarsh, a gentlewoman sitting in a chair was thrown down, and the people ran out of the church. At Bourne, Lincolnshire, some people at dinner at the Bell inn ran into the street expecting the house to fall. The shock was also felt at Spalding, Halbech, Wisbech, Rugby, Lutterworth, Stamford, Oakham, Peterborough, and the adjacent parts. At Leicester it was attended with a rushing noise, the houses tottered, and seemed to heave up and down, the people ran out of churches and houses, but no damage ensued, only the falling of some slates, part of a chimney, and some drinking glasses from the shelves. At Burton Overy, seven miles from Leicester, a child was shook out of a chair into the fire. It extended northward as far as

the south end of Derby, where it was but weak.

Oct. 18. The lords justices ordered the Parliament to be prorogued from the 25th instant to November 22.

Oct. 23. Leave was granted to Dr. Crow, and other petitioners, to purchase a lease of a spot of ground near Windmill-hill, known by the name of the Foundery, to build thereon an hospital for lunatics.

Oct. 24. One of his Majesty's messengers arrived from Hanover, at his grace the duke of Bedford's office, with the treaty signed at Madrid on the 5th by Benjamin Keene, esq. his Britannic Majesty's minister plenipotentiary, and Don Joseph Carvajal, his Catholic Majesty's minister of state, &c. and directions were given by their excellencies the lords justices for preparing the ratifications for his Majesty's royal signature upon his arrival in England.

Oct. 25. At a general court of the Bank of England, it was resolved to lend the government a sum of money at three per cent. to pay off all the unsubscribed bank annuities, and the money borrowed on wrought plate, the whole amounting to 1,032,300 and odd pounds, which the bank was to be paid out of the first surplus from the sinking fund, and this to be secured by an act of Parliament, or a clause in some act for that purpose.

Oct. 29. Francis Cockayne, the new Lord Mayor, was sworn into his office in the court of Exchequer.

Nov. 4. Ilis Majesty, who embarked on the 3d, at Helvoetsluys, landed about two o'clock at Harwich, and at eleven at night came to St. James's.

Great disturbances happened in Leicester-shire, and the adjacent parts, by a humour that prevailed among the populace of destroying rabbits, so that in several places they ruined warrens, some of which produced 1007. per annum, profit; but on attempting the same in the estate of a person of distinction, an order was procured, for the march of some soldiers from Loughborough, who dispersed the rabble, and apprehended the ringleaders, of whom twenty-eight were imprisoned.

Nov. 8. The Lord Mayor, aldermen, and commons, waited on his Majesty at St. James's, to congratulate him on his happy return, and the birth of a prince.

Nov. 10. Died Mr. Edward Bright, at Malden in Essex, aged thirty; he was supposed to be the largest man living, or perhaps that ever lived in this island: he weighed forty-two stone and a half, horse

man's weight; and not being very tall, his body was of an astonishing, bulk and legs were as big as a middling man's body. He was an active man till a year or two before his death, when his corpulency so overpowered his strength, that his life was a burthen, and his death a deliverance. His coffin was three feet six inches over the shoulders, six feet seven inches long, and three feet deep; a way was cut through the wall and stair-case, to let the corpse down into the shop; it was drawn upon a carriage to the church, and let down into the vault by the help of a slider and pulleys. He left a widow pregnant with her sixth child.

Nov. 14. Being the day appointed to be kept for the King's birth-day, there was a very brilliant appearance at court, of nobility, foreign ministers, and gentry, to compliment his Majesty,

Nov. 16. His Prussian majesty paid off 88,0001. sterling on the Silesian loan.

The new bridge at Westminster was opened at twelve o'clock at night with a procession of several gentlemen of that city, the chief artificers of the work, and a crowd of spectators, preceded by trumpets, kettle-drums, &c. with guns firing during the ceremony. The first stone of this bridge was laid January 29, 1738-9.

As soon as it was resolved to have a bridge built at Westminster, it was immediately and without the least hesitation, resolved to have it done at the public expence, and that the bridge should be a free bridge, not only for carriages, but for horses, coaches, &c.; and this was done at an expence of 426,6507.

Nov. 22. The Parliament was further prorogued to the 22d of January.

A distemper prevailed this month among the horses both in London, and all over the country.

An order was made at the war office, that all foreign garrisons should be reliev ed once in five years.

The distemper among the horned cattle raged this month in the isle of Ely and some part of Suffolk.

Nov. 30. Much damage was done by a high wind on land and water. A Gravesend boat was run down by a French trader and twenty-nine persons were drowned; ten or eleven were saved by boats, but one woman died soon after.

The principal persons among the Roman Catholics of Ireland, both clergy and laity, represented to the Pope, the great numbers of mendicant or begging friars which swarmed in that country with their

scandalous lives and behaviour, and demanded a remedy against this grievance his holiness remitted the examination of their complaint to the congregation de propaganda fide; which, after mature deliberation, made a decree to forbid the receiving such friars hereafter in Ireland.

Dec. 3. By the high winds and tide, an estate of near 2001. per annum, near Axbridge, Somersetshire, was ruined by the high waters which broke down a great fence wall, and destroyed a whole warren of rabbits. About Chepstow in Monmouthshire, and Berkley in Gloucestershire, great numbers of sheep were drowned by the breaking of the sea banks.

The distemper among the cattle having again broke out in Holland, both the States General, and the States of the province of Holland, probibited the importation of any cattle from foreign parts; and they prohibited the importation of horses from England, on account of the late distemper among them.

A court-martial was held at Chatham, vice-admiral Hawke, president, for the trial of rear-admiral Griffin, in relation to his conduct in the East Indies, and passed sentence on him as follows, viz. That he fell under the twenty-seventh article in the thirteenth of Charles II. viz., negligently performing the duty imposed on him; for which reason they adjudged him to be suspended from his rank as a flag-officer during his Majesty's pleasure,

Dec. 9. Captain Barrington, in the SeaHorse, who sailed the 7th instant for Tetuan bay, in order to bring over the British slaves, returned to Gibraltar with Mr. Latton, and twenty-seven captives; and Mr. Pettigrew prepared to set out with a handsome retinue for Fez, to have an interview with the emperor of Morocco, in order to procure the renewal of all former treaties, and to receive all British captives who were at Fez.

Dec. 11. Last week arrived at Philadelphia, captain Haselwood from Holland, which make fourteen ships from thence this year, on board of which had been brought 4317 Germans; there arrived also 1000 passengers and servants from England and Ireland.

The magnificent seat of William Wharton, esq. of Gillingwood, near Richmond, Yorkshire, was consumed by fire.

The duke of Marlborough purchased the earl of Clarendon's estate in Oxfordshire, for 70,000l.

Dec. 21. The wardens and court of as

sistants of Fishmongers company, went in procession, from their hall in Thames-street, to Leicester-house; to present his royal highness the prince of Wales, with the freedom of their company. The prime warden presented it to his royal highness, who was seated and surrounded by the young princes and the lords of his court.

Hants, Sir William Gardiner, bart. Hertfordshire, Thomas Whittewronge,

esq.

Herefordshire, Thomas Gwilliam, esq.
Kent, James Best, esq.
Leicestershire, Samuel Phillips, esq.
Lincolnshire, Sir John Thorold, bart.
Monmouthshire, Evan Jones, esq.
Northamptonshire, Ambrose Dickens, esq.
Norfolk, Robert Knopwood, esq.
Northumberland, William Bigge, esq.

A GENERAL BILL OF CHRISTENINGS AND Nottinghamshire, John Borlace Warren,

BURIALS WITHIN THE BILLS OF MOR

TALITY, FROM DECEMBER 12, 1749,
TO DECEMBER 11, 1750.

11,742

Christened.

Males

Females

Buried.
7394 Males
7151 Females - 11,985

In all 14,548

In all 23,727

Increase in the burials this year 1789.

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8024

esq.

Oxfordshire, Francis Clerke, esq.
Rutlandshire, Thomas Ridlington, esq.
Shropshire, Sir Richard Acton, bart.
Somerstshire, Sir T. Dyke Acland, bart.
Staffordshire, Henry Vernon, esq.
Suffolk, George Goody esq.
Surrey, John Smith, esq.
Sussex, Robert Bull, esq.

Warwickshire, Edmund Chambers, esq.
Wiltshire, Charles Penruddock, esq.
Worcestershire, George Holland, esq.
Yorkshire, Sir Griffith Boynton, bart.
WALES.

1533 Anglesea, John Lloyd, esq.
709 Brecon, Henry Rumsey, esq.

746 Caermarthenshire, Richard Cony Jones, 2031 esq. 2542 Cardiganshire, William Williams, esq. 2708 Caernarvon, Charles Evans, esq. 2107 Denbighshire, John Holland, esq. 1728 Flintshire, Sir John Glynne, bart. 1038 Glamorganshire, William Evans, esq. 475 Merionethshire, Maesmer Morris, esq. So Montgomeryshire, Pryce Jones, esq. 1 Pembrokeshire, John Owen, esq. 3 Radnorshire, Francis Walker, esq.

1

1751, Jan. 4. The earl of Pomfret, was appointed ranger and keeper of St. James's and Hyde parks, in the room of lord Wey

SHERIFFS APPOINTED FOR THE YEAR mouth, deceased.

ENSUING.

Berkshire, Alexander Walker, esq.
Bedfordshire, Harry Johnson, esq.
Buckinghamshire, Henry Lovibond, esq.
Cumberland, George Irton, esq.
Cheshire, Sir William Duckenfield Daniel,

bart.

Camb. and Hunt. John Sumpter, esq.
Devonshire, John Woolcombe, esq.
Dorsetshire, Swayne Harbin, esq.
Derbyshire, Sir Thomas Griesly, bart.
Essex, Peter Leffebore, esq.
Gloucestershire, Richard Hill, esq.

Jan. 10. At a general court of the South Sea company, it was resolved to address his Majesty, that he would be pleased to continue to be their governor, and that he would take into his royal consideration the state of the company in relation to the late treaty with Spain. A proposal was laid before the court, tending to shew the advantage that would accrue to the company, by putting their unsubscribed stock on the same footing with the subscribed; and after some time it was agreed that the said proposal should be printed, and sent to each proprietor. This proposal was—

That upon the government's continuing to the company an interest of four per cent. per annum, on their present capital 3,662,7841. 8s. 6d. for seven years, and then to be reduced to three per cent. per annum; the company would undertake to pay off 2,325,0231. 7s. 11d. old and new South Sea annuities unsubscribed; 1,220,9281. 28. 10d. whereof to carry an interest at three and a half per cent. per annum, for five years, and then to be reduced to three per cent,, and the remainder, being 1,104,0951. 5s. Id. at an interest of three per cent. until paid off, out of such monies as shall be applied by Parliament for discharge of the national debt, after payment of 1,100,000l. or thereabouts, lately agreed to be advanced by the bank of England; and in case they shall not receive the first monies that shall be applied by Parliament, then the South Sea company are to be paid the said 1,104,0951. 5s. Id. in any sums not less than 100,000l. at any one time.

A dividend of two per cent. for the half year's interest due at Christmas last on the capital stock of the said company, was declared payable February 13, next.

Jan. 17. Was exhibited before the Royal Society, a method of making artificial magnets much stronger than the best load stones, with the assistance only of a common poker and tongs; by John Canton, A.M. and F.R.S.

His Majesty went to the House of Peers and opened the session of Parliament with a speech from the throne; the Lords and Commons severally voted addresses to his Majesty, which were graciously received.

February. Justice Fielding having received information of a rendezvous of gamesters in the Strand, procured a strong party of guards, who seized forty-five at the tables, which were broke to pieces, and carried the gamesters before the justice, who committed thirty-nine of them to the Gate-house prison.

Feb. 5. A proclamation from the King in council was published, in pursuance of addresses from both Houses of Parliament, concerning a seditious paper, entitled Constitutional Queries, &c. promising 10001. for the discovery of the author, 2001. for discovery of each of the printers, and 50%. for discovery of each publisher, to be paid upon conviction out of the royal treasury.

Feb. 7. This morning at five of the clock the honourable Alexander Murray, esq. brother to lord Elibank, was, by order of the House of Commons, (for some matters

relating to the Westminster election, sent to Newgate,

Was closed the subscription to the Free British Fishery, the sum of which amounted to about 200,0001. Six busses for the ensuing season were ordered to be immediately built.

The sheriffs of London, pursuant to an order of the Common Council the day be fore, presented a petition to the House of Commons against the naturalizing foreign protestants.

The lords of the Admiralty gave orders for working double tides in the yards of Deptford, Woolwich and Chatham, to fit out a fleet of ten men of war of the line with all expedition. Ordered also the cleansing and opening the several ¡docks, guts, and drains of all his Majesty's yards in the kingdom.

The seamen voted for this year were 8000; land forces 18,857; the land tax 3s. in the pound.

The sum to be raised for paying off the unsubscribed South Sea annuities was 2,100,000l. the remainder, which was 225,0231. 17s. 11d. being to be paid out of the sinking fund.

The duty laid on the British distillery from 1740 to January 1750, amounted on an average one year with another, to 676,2561. which is above 100,000. a year more than before that term.

Feb. 25. A bill was brought into the House of Lords for altering our style, and strongly recommended by the noble earl (Chesterfield) who moved for it, and also by another nobleman (Macclesfield) of well known learning and abilities. The bill was ordered to be read a second time on Monday se'nnight, and to be printed,

The turbulent weather did great damage to edifices in several parts in England. On the 27th a storm of thunder and lightning almost ruined the churches of St. Etham and Ladock, near Truro in Cornwall. At Oxford the high wind on the 26th so damaged the steeple of St. Mary's that it was expected to fall; at Litchfield the gilt ball on one of the spires of the cathedral was blown down the vane on another spire, and the glass and stone work of one of the windows greatly suffered. At Worcester two prebendal houses near the cathedral were quite demolished, large stacks of chimnies blown down, and a multitude of windows shattered to pieces. At Bromyard, Herefordshire, a chimney fell upon an adjacent school, where the mistress was sitting in a chair with a child in her arms, with several scholars, who were all buried

in the ruins, but very little hurt. At York, a pinnacle of the north-west tower of the Minster with the battlements, fell through the roof and two lofts, and broke the pavement, the damage above 5001. In the adjacent country and in Nottinghamshire, hurricanes did much mischief, unroofing many houses, blowing down some, dispersing stacks of corn and hay, and tearing up large trees by the roots, and throw ing down park pales. At Limerick in Ireland, in the hurricane, a Dutch dogger was beat to pieces, vessels forced on shore, and all the shipping damaged; many houses blown down, besides loss of cattle, and much damage to the banks on both sides the Shannon. The same hurricane did considerable mischief to the shipping in Dublin, and other ports of Ireland; also in the Thames.

March 4. The sheriffs of London presented a petition to the House of Commons for a bill to be brought in to prevent small fish being taken in the Thames, and to preserve the fry of fish therein.

A petition was presented by the Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of Lincoln, and another from the county, praying leave to bring in a bill for the recovery of small debts, on the same plan as Westminster and Southwark.

March 7. A great number of sea officers' widows attended the House of Commons, with petitions that their pensions might be better paid for the future.

March 12. The King went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the bill for raising a sum by lottery, &c. for paying off the unsubscribed annuities; to the malt bill, and a road bill.

It was affirmed that upwards of 4000 persons who sold spirituous liquors without licence, had been convicted of the penalty of 101. each, from January 1749, to January 1750; and according to a list of private gin shops, on the best calculation, they amounted to upwards of 17,000 in the bill of mortality. That the bill for preventing the consumption of cheap compound liquors, proposed an additional duty of St. per ton on all malt spirits, to commence from Lady-day 1751, that no compounder should make or sell any spirituous liquors, unless he had a still of 100 gallons in his dwelling-house, and served a legal apprenticeship; and that no distiller should have more than one apprentice at a time. The malt distillers were very busy, in order to increase their stock before the act for laying an additional duty, took place.

A proposal was delivered to both Houses

for purchasing of the duke of Athol, the isle of Man; in order to annex it to the crown; that island in its state of indepen dency serving as a storehouse to the French for wines, teas, &c. whence they ran to England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

March 20. Between ten and eleven at night died at Leicester house, the most illustrious Frederick, prince of Wales, by the breaking of an imposthume between the pericardium and diaphragm, which threw the matter contained in it upon the substance of the lungs. His Royal Highness caught a cold about three weeks before in Kew gardens, and increased it on the 12th instants, by coming very warm from the House of Lords with the windows of his chair down, soon after which he complained of pains which were thought to be pleu retic, and were attended with a fever. His Royal Highness had been in a declining state for some time; about two years before, he received a hurt in his breast by a fall, others say, by the stroke of a cricket ball, and was judged too weak to bear repeated bleeding; he was therefore blistered, and thought to be out of danger. About a quarter of an hour before his death, he told Dr. Wilmot, who had at tended him, and been up all the preceeding night, that he was much better, and advised the Doctor to go home; the Princess remained with him, to whom he soon after complained of a sudden pain, and an offensive smell, and immediately threw himself backward and expired. Her Royal Highness had sat up with him seven nights during his illness, though she was far advanced in her pregnancy. This excellent Prince, who was universally regretted, was born at Hanover, Jan. 20, 1707: created duke of Gloucester, Jan. 10, 1718; installed knight of the Garter, by proxy, April 30, 1718; created baron of Snowdon, viscount Launceston, earl of Eltham, marquis of Ely, and duke of Edinburgh, July 15, 1726; first landed at Harwich, Dec. 3, 1728; was introduced by the command of the King into the privy council the 18th: was created prince of Wales and earl of Chester, Jan. 9, 1729; received his summons to Parliament next day, and on April 27, 1736, was married to the princess Augusta, only surviving daughter of Frederic II. duke of Saxe Gotha, by whom he left issue five sons and three daughters.

The storms which happened in several parts of England about the latter end of last month, were still more violent abroad; particularly at Nantz. and its neighbourhood, where in the night a terrible hurricane began at S.W. and at three the next

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