Paid off from 31st Dec. 1751, to 31st December, 1752 · Amount on 31st December, 1752 stract of the articles it contained; and desired that Mr. James Empson, who had 1,341,110 15 2 taken care of the museum, for many years past, by Sir Hans Sloane's order should read the abstract, and explain the articles - 75,368,451 15 1 that should be asked, which he did accordingly, and was appointed their secretary by the trustees. Sir George Littleton, then moved, and Mr. West seconded, that a memorial should be presented to his Majesty relating to this matter; and a committee was appointed to draw up the said memorial, and to lay the same before a general meeting of the trustees. Jan. 13. The House of Commons waited on the king with their address for his most gracious speech. Sir Richard Adams, knight, recorder of London, made a baron of the Exchequer, in the room of Mr. baron Clive, made a judge in the court of Common-pleas, in the room of Sir Thomas Burnet, deceased. Jan. 27. The lord Cadogan and the other executors of the late Sir Hans Sloane, bart. having desired the trustees, who were appointed by Sir Hans to take care and keep together his museum, to meet at the manor house of Chelsea, at ten in the morning above forty met there accordingly. Lord Cadogan was there, and received them in the politest manner; and having caused the galleries, libraries, and all the other apartments, to be shewn, they assembled in the great room, where his lordship produced Sir Hans will, and ac quainted the trustees with the codicils, which contained Sir Hans disposition for continuing his collection together at Chelsea, and to give small part of the value thereof to his family; and for that purpose, to make an offer of the said museum to the King, or Parliament of England, for 20,000l. to be paid to the family and in case the same was accepted and continued at Chelsea, to give the manor-house at Chelsea, with the museum, as it is now disposed, which would save the expence and hazard of removing the same, and to be kept open at proper hours for the access of the studious and curious. Then Mr. Sloane acquainted the trustees, that the executors being apprehensive of danger, the medals, of which there were great quantities of gold and silver, besides a series of curious copper ones, and the precious stones, such as pearls, rubies, emeralds, &c. and the vases of gems, &c. had been removed for safety to the Bank of England, and that two of the executors had seen them all packed up. The earl of Macclesfield, having been desired by the trustees to take the chair, the will and codicils were read. Lieutenant-general Oglethorpe gave an account of the intention of Sir Hans, of the nature and the value of the museum, and produced an ab Feb. 7. A copy of a treaty concluded at Cape Coast Castle, between England and the Fantee nation. "We the Braffoe and Curranteers, the priests and people of Fantee, do declare, that our fathers, under the conduct of their Braffoe Imorah, were brought by the English from the country now Arcania, and by them furnished with arms, ammunition, and money, not only to take possession of the land now inhabited by us, but likewise to conquer all those states around us, at present subject to our dominion. "And whereas we are certainly informed, that within these ten years past several subjects of the French king have been endeavouring by bribes of various kinds not only to dissolve that close connection between the English and Fantee nations, which we look upon as our greatest security, but likewise to procure to themselves some of that ground which was conquered at the English expence; which, besides the natural injustice of the thing, can have no other tendency than to introduce jarring interests and divisions amongst us, and thereby deliver us up an easy prey to our enemies. "For these reasons, and to recognize the right of the English nation in the most solemn and authentic manner, and to cut off all claims and pretensions of any other nation whatsoever: We, the whole people of Fantee, did on the 26th of October last, assembled at Munnin, and there unanimous ly passed the following law, which we hereby declare to be constitutional; and publicly, according to the wonted form of our ancestors, denounce a curse upon ourselves, or any of our posterity, who shall attempt, either directly or indirectly, to break through it. Which law is as follows: "Be it known to all the people of Fantee, and to all under their obedience, that we the Braffoe and Curranteers, the priests and people of Fantee, do enact and ordain, That no subject of the French king shall ever be permitted to settle any where, either by building forts, or otherwise, between queen Anne's point and James fort, Accra; and that whoever attempts to harbour them in his house shall, on the proof of the fact, be adjudged guilty of treason against his country, and punished accordingly." tion to Parliament was read and agreed to, for improving and amending the act and charter, whereby the society was established. Then Mr. alderman Bethell, the president, acquainted the court, that there had been caught and cured the last year 9627 barrels, and all disposed of. YEAR. "And as a farther proof and testimony of the reality of our intentions, and to secure, as far as in us lies, the English interest in this country, and to engage them, SHERIFFS APPOINTED FOR THE PRESENT by our candid behaviour, to continue to us that protection which by long experience we have found so beneficial, we the aforesaid Braffoe and Curranteers, the priests and people of Fantee, have adjudged it proper and necessary to send the following persons (Imorah son of Aduafor, &c. &c.) duly and fully authorized to Cape Coast Castle, and there in presence of the president and council, to swear allegiance and fealty to the English nation, and to deliver the following hostages, viz. Cudjoe Annooma, sister's son to the Braffoe of Fantee, from the said Braffoe and Curranteers; likewise Quabino, Sahi, Quacco, and Coffee, into their hands, to remain as pledges of our punctual observance of the above law. "We the aforenamed persons, deputies from the Braffoe and Curranteers, the priests and people of Fantee, being duly and fully authorized, have, according to the custom of our country and the form prescribed by our religion, as likewise according to the custom of the English and the form prescribed by their religion, sworn to the due performance of the aforesaid law, and have in consequence set our marks to two originals of this recognition, being first read and interpreted to us, in the presence of the said president and council, on February 6, 1753, according to the white men's manner of computation in Europe. "The above recognition was executed at Cape Coast Castle, by the persons therein mentioned, the day and year above written. "GEORGE COCK BURNE, captain of his Majesty's ship Glory. "THOMAS MELVIN, governor. "JOSEPH HARMER, accountant. "MATTHEW MACKAILL, Surgeon. "CHRISTOPHER WHYTTELS, secretary. "JOHN WILLIAMS, lieutenant of the Glory. "WILLIAM LILLE, surgeon of ditto." Feb. 7. A general court of the free British herring fishery was held, when a peti Berkshire, Humph. Adams, esq. SOUTH WALES. Anglesea, Bodychen Sparrow, esq. [A. D. 1753.] GEORGE II. Feb. 8. Vertue Hall, a servant to one Mrs. Wells, who kept a house of ill fame near Enfield-wash, was taken into custody, by virtue of a warrant from justice Fielding: after a very strict examination, she acknowledged that Elizabeth Canning, a young woman, who had been robbed by two fellows in Moorfields, about ten in the evening last New year's day, was afterwards brought to Mrs. Wells's house, and confined there near a month, and that were made use of to several menaces induce her to become a common prostitute; but that she would not comply. After so long confinement, the said Elizabeth Canning took an opportunity of pulling down some boards, which were nailed before a window, and made her escape, and came in a very miserable, naked condition, and almost deprived of her senses, to her mother, a poor widow, who lived in Aldermanbury postern. An old gipsy in Mrs. Wells's house stript her of her stays, and during her confinement she had no other subsistence than about a quartern loaf and Mrs. Wells and the a gallon of water. gipsy had been apprehended before and committed to prison. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the malt tax bill. The magistrates and inhabitants of Edinburgh, being desirous to improve that city, by widening the streets and avenues, and erecting an exchange and other public buildings, applied to Parliament for leave to purchase lands and houses, and such other powers as were necessary for executing their design. Feb. 26, The sessions ended at the OldBailey, when Mary Squires, the gipsy, for robbing Elizabeth Canning of a pair of stays in the dwelling house of Susannah Wells, at Enfield-wash, received sentence of death. Mrs. Wells, as an accessary to the gipsy after the fact, was branded, and ordered to be imprisoned six months. March 8. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the following bills, An act for granting an aid to his Majesty by a land tax to be raised in Great Britain for 1753, at 2s. in the pound. An act to continue the duties on salt. An act for punishing mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army and their quarters. An act for enforcing the laws for the Two road, and several private bills. VOL. II. 49 against Mrs. Wells, and Mary Squires, March 9. The right hon. the Lord Mayor, attended by some of the aldermen, was at Mr. Akerman's house in Newgatestreet near two hours, to examine Susannah Wells of Enfield-wash, concerning the robbery of Elizabeth Canning, when the said Wells declared her innocence, and that she had never seen Elizabeth Canning, till the time she, the said Wells, with others. were taken into custody, and carried before justice Tashmaker, of Edmonton. March 13. Four of the gentlemen who were concerned in carrying on the prosecution, in behalf of Elizabeth Canning, against Mary Squires and Susannah Wells, appeared before the right hon. the Lord Mayor, and entered into a recognizance of 501. each, for the appearance of the said Elizabeth Canning at the next sessions at the Old Bailey. The rev. Dr. Edward Young, of Welwyn in Hertfordshire, long known to the world by his poetical and other works, gave the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, the sum of 1000 guineas:-A noble benefaction. March 17. A meeting of justices was held at the Fleece, at Edmonton, to examine into the affair at Enfield-wash; when twenty-three persons of credit in and about that neighbourhood made affidavits, that Mary Squires the gipsy was at and near that place at the time the robbery was said to be committed. March 22. Sir John Phillips, bart. presented to his Majesty the memorial of many of the proprietors of estates and inhabitants in the several places adjacent to Richmond new park; setting forth their right to highways through the same for horses, cattle, and all manner of carriages; to stiles and ladders for foot passengers; to the liberty of digging gravel there to mend the roads ; to the free use of the water and watercourses there; and to the liberty of cutting furzes, and gathering underwood, for the use of the poor of the said parishes; complaining that they had of late been obstructed in, and totally deprived of the enjoyment of their said ancient rights and privileges; and praying a redress of these their grievances. The said memorial was signed by above 300 persons. March 30. A chapter of the most ancient order of the Thistle was held, when the right hon. John earl of Rothes, and William lord de Brook were elected knights companions of that order. Seventy thousand pounds was ordered to be raised by way of lottery, 20,0007., of which to be applied to the purchase of Sir Hans Sloane's curiosities; 10,000l. for the valuable collection of manuscripts of the late lord Oxford; the remaining 40,000l. together with 7000!. bequeathed some time since towards rebuilding the Cottonian library, to be laid out in erecting a public building, to serve as a repository for this valuable collection, and for the payment of the salaries of proper persons to take care of them. April 1. There was a grand drawing room at St. James's, where the nobility, and gentry were very numerous, when his Majesty was pleased to give the title of duke of Cornwall to his royal highness the prince of Wales, which had been vacant ever since the death of the late Prince. His Majesty went to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to, An act to explain, amend, and render more effectual, an act for the encouragement of the British white herring fishery, and for regulating the said fishery according to the calendar now in use, and for other purposes therein mentioned. To twenty-two road bills, and to eleven private bills. April 30. A fire happened at Tarvin in Cheshire, which burnt down above forty dwelling houses, besides barns and other out buildings, with several stacks of corn and hay. May 15. A great number of the Jew merchants attended the House of Commons about their naturalization bill, which had passed the Lords, and was then depending there. His Majesty went with the usual state to the House of Peers and gave the royal assent to the following bills: An act for more effectually punishing persons who shall steal or detain ship wrecked goods, &c. An act for more effectually preventing the fraudulent removal of tobacco by land or water, and for the ease of the fair trader in tobacco; and for ascertaining the rates payable for the postage of certain letters, and for amending and explaining the laws relating to the sale of spirituous liquors by retail. An act to prevent wines imported into any of the out ports being brought to London without paying the London duty. An act for regulating the trade to the Levant sea. An act for encouraging the silk manufactures of this kingdom. An act for ascertaining the fees to be taken by clerks to justices of the peace. An act for encouraging the linen manufacture in the Highlands of Scotland. An act for levying the duties on windows in Scotland. To several other public acts, twenty road acts, and thirteen private bills. • Arrived at Portsmouth, captain Tagget, in the new Cascoe sloop, from Nova Scotia, with an express from governor Hopson, giving an account, that the French at Louisbourg had sent down a party of their Indians, in order to distress that colony, and to fall upon the friendly Indians, that had lately made peace with governor Hopson. In their way towards Halifax they met a schooner, which put into one of the islands near Cansoe, and the men going ashore, were surrounded by the French Indians and taken. Two of the four men were put to death, and scalped; the other two were carried over to the continent; but they had the good fortune to escape. May 21. At a court of common council at Guildhall, it was moved and resolved, to present a petition to the House of Commons against the bill for naturalizing the Jews. A committee was appointed to draw up the said petition, which being agreed to, the sheriffs were instructed to present it directly. The same day a cabinet council was held at Kensington, when the report of the Attorney and Solicitor General, in relation to Mary Squires, for the supposed robbery of Elizabeth Canning, was laid before his Majesty, and agreeable thereto his Majesty was pleased to grant her his royal pardon. The city of Bristol was put into a great consternation, by the rising of some hundreds of colliers and other country people, on account of the dearness of corn. They committed great outrages, with stones and brickbats broke the windows of the council house, where the magistrates assembled, wounding several who were in it, and forcibly boarded a vessel laden with a great deal of corn for exportation; but as they began to plunder it, being unarmed, they were put to flight by a posse of constables with their staves; this was on Monday the 21st; and on Thursday about noon, a great number of them returned and assembled at Lawford's gate; the constables and the rest of the city guard advanc ing, the rioters pelted them with stones, when a skirmish ensued, and several of them were wounded and taken prisoners. At nine o'clock the gates were shut, and the guards patrolled the city. On Friday a troop of the Scotch greys arrived, and the alarm being given of the rioters coming, the drum beat to arms, the gates were shut, and the draw-bridge pulled up; but endeavouring notwithstanding to enter at another place, as soon as they had broken the gate, the guard came up, and firing a few pieces among them, made them fly divers ways; which occasioned several skirmishes in different parts of the city, wherein four were killed on the spot, and about thirty taken and committed to Newgate. June 2. In the evening, about six or seven, there were terrible storms of hail, thunder, and lightning, at Sherborne in Dorsetshire, Bridgewater in Somersetshire, and other parts thereabouts. At Sherborne the storm lasted near two hours, and some of the hailstones measured three inches round; they were in all shapes, round, long, and flat. At Bridgewater the storm was more violent, continuing abort an hour, many of the hailstones measuring from six to seven inches round, and falling with such force as broke the tiles and all the windows that were exposed to it. Almost all their fruit was beaten down, and a great deal of other damage done. June 7. At ten this morning Dr. Archibald Cameron was hanged at Tyburn for high treason. His Majesty went with the usual state to the House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to the following bills: An act to permit persons professing the Jewish religion to be naturalized by Parliament. An act for the better preventing of clandestine marriages, to take place on the 25th of March next. An act for the amendment and preservation of the public highways and turnpike roads of this kingdom. An act for purchasing the Museum or collection of Sir Hans Sloane, and also the Harleian collection of manuscripts; and for providing one general repository for the same and for the Cottonian library, by a lottery. An act for allowing further time for the inrollment of deeds and wills made by Papists, and for relief of Protestant purchasers, devisees, and lessees. An act to render more effectual an act made in the twelfth year of queen Anne, entitled, An act for providing a public re ward for such persons as should discover the longitude at sea. An act for regulating the manner of licensing ale-houses in England; and for the more easy convicting persons selling ale, and other liquors, without license. An act for continuing several laws relating to the punishment of persons going armed or disguised, in defiance of the laws of custom or excise, &c. An act to explain, amend, and continue the provisions made by two acts of Parliament, for the more effectual disarming the Highlands in Scotland, &c. An act to explain, amend, and continue the act relating to distempered cattle. And to some other public bills, road bills, and private bills. After which his Majesty made a most gracious speech to both Houses, wherein he informed them, that the season of the year was so far advanced, and the business before them so entirely finished, that it was necessary to put an end to this session of Parliament; that the zeal which they had shewn for his person and government in all their proceedings, called for his sincere thanks; and that the care and assiduity they had exerted, in making such provisions as might advance the commerce of his subjects; supply and extend their manufactures; and put a stop to some disorders that required reformation; were no less agreeable to him, than they were proofs of their prudence, in laying hold of this time of tranquillity to make domestic improvements. That the state of foreign affairs had received no material alteration since their meeting; and that they might depend on his steadily pursuing the same principles and ends, which he then declared to them; that to preserve the peace; to consult the real prosperity of his people; and, at the same time, to assert and maintain the honour and just rights of his crown and kingdoms; were the fixed objects of all his measures. Then he told the Commons, that in granting the supplies for the current year, they had equally shewn their concern for the public service, and their regard to the ease of their fellow subjects. He thanked them for both; as well as for providing with so much foresight, for the future augmentation of the sinking fund. The Parliament was prorogued to the 14th of August next. June 8. A very considerable shock of an earthquake was felt this night between eleven and twelve at several places in the north-west parts of England, as at Skipton |