With penalties on him who shall be found

Illegally to rifk his being drown'd;
And heavy fines on all the lawless dames
With unftampt cork who venture on the
Thames.

That pow'r, whose bleft poffeffors may with

ease

Animal magnetism, its aid impart ;

ΤΗ

QUEEN's

power lies,

Let him but view his lovely neighbour's eyes.

Hurfday, Feb. 9, being appropriated to the celebration of her Majefty's birth-day, the fame was obferved at St. James's with the ufual folemnities. The morning was ufhered in with the ringing of bells; and at noon the Park and Tower guns were fired. Their Majesties, the Princelles, and feveral of the younger branches of the family, arrived foon after. An elegant Court early affembled to pay the ufual marks of loyalty and affection. Among thefe were the Foreign Minifters, the Bishops, the great Officers of State, and a numerous meeting of the nobility and fashionable world.

The King was dreffed in brown velvet, richly embroidered with gold and filver. His Majefty feemed highly chearful.

The Queen appeared in very good fpirits, both at the Drawing-room and in the evening. Her Majefty was drelfed in a beautiful laurel-green fattin, trimmed with a rich embroidered crape, in coloured foils, &c. which appeared to be executed in a file truly fuperb and elegant.

The Prince of Wales was in a rich dress of filver on a garter-blue ground, of a very curious manufacture; the feams were ornaimented with an embroidery that appeared like thread-lace, and gave a beautiful relief to the brilliancy of the fuit.

The Princess Royal's drefs was a robe of lemon fattin, with the body of the fame, the petticoat trimmed with gold gauze, placed around in large puffs, with fome few flowers; her head ornamented with white feathers, and one black, on which were placed a number of diamonds in the moft elegant manner.

The Princess Augufta was dreffed like her fifter, except in the trimming of her coat, which was plaited in ftripes, and had a moft

beautiful effect.

The Hon. Mifs Townshend's was the most elegant and beft fancied diefs among the

ledies that appeared in the Ball-room; the

train and fleeves of the gown were coloured and fpotted like the leopard's fkin; the body black velvet; and the coat, which was of white fattin, clegantly intermixed and bordered with ribbons of the fame as the train, and different fprigs of laurel leaves haid on the coat. The head-drefs intermixed

with rolls of ribbon to match the robe, ornamented with feathers and diamonds.

Though the Prince of Wales was dressed in one of the most captivating and fuperb fuits that perhaps ever decorated the human figure, yet, excepting his Royal Highness's drefs, few of the nobles were fo fine as they have appeared on former occafions of a fimilar nature. The ladies, in general, far outfhone them in appearance, as far as appearance depends on outward ornament. Their cloaths were rich, but more gay and light in their effect than has been ufually the cafe on a winter birth-day. The decorations of their heads were chicfly feathers and flowers, and their petticoats were beautifully hung with gold and filver fpotted gauzes, muflins, and crapes, and gracefully adorned with fcolloped-edged ribbons, chains, wreaths, borders and taffels of fine Drefden, Mechlin, real Lace, and gold and filver, and fancy fprigs of elegant flowrets. A fcolloped ribbon, in the Vandyke ftyle, was obfervable as an effential conflituent of feveral of their ornaments, and it gave the look of those who had adopted that species of decoration an elegant and beautiful oup d'oeil.

BALL.

In the evening the Ball-room was highly fplendid, and exhibited a difplay of fine women, fuch as no Court in the univerfe can equal. The Prince made his appearance a little before nine o'clock, and converfed with feveral ladies with all that grace and affability which make his Highness's character; Lady Augufta Campbell in particular was honoured by his attention. Their Majefties and Princeffes, preceded by Lord Salisbury, and attended with all the forma of State, entered foon after. The King and Queen feparately addreffed every Lady within the circle affigned to the dancers, during which period a prelude was played, compofed by Mr. Stanley, and fome alfo of Mr. Handel's mufic.

As foon as their Majefties were feated, the minuets commenced, and were danced in the following order:

Mifs Tyrell Mifs Gideon

Mifs Dundas

Lord Galway

Lord St. Asaph

Lord Stopford

Ho. Mr. Edgcumbe

Mr. Edwards

Earl of Morton

} Lord Galway

On the conclufion of the minuets, fix couple ftood up to country dances, in the following order: Prince of Wales, Lord Morton, Mr. Edwards, Lord St. Afaph, Lord Stopford, Hn. Mr. Edgcumbe,

Princess Royal. Princefs Augufta. Lady A. Campbell. Hn. Mifs Townshend. Han. Mifs Thynne. Hon Mifs Howe. The ball terminated between twelve and one, after which their Majefties and the Princeffes retired. The Prince remained fome little time in converfation with the ladies, and on his withdrawing, the company began immediately to depart; but it was not till near three next morning that the Court was entirely cleared.

So numerous was the company who went to the Ball-room, that the apartment was crowded before the King and Queen entered, and foon afterwards Lord Aylesford found it neceffary to give directions that no more perfons fhould be admitted, and that the door fhould be locked. This novel order was obeyed in a most uncourtly manner by fome of the yeomen, who pushed the gentlemen back, that happened not to have come in time, with great rudeness,

The most remarka-le perfon at the ball was the Amballador from Tripoli, attended by his Page of Honour and Secretary; all of them were dreiled in the habits of their country, and appeared much delighted and aftonished at the crowd of beautics that furpounded them; nor were they less objects of

wonder to our fair countrywomen, who be held with admiration the venerable beard of this great Plenipo.

Scarce a lady appeared in the Court Ballroom who did not difplay a beautiful bouquet. The Princeffes were the leaders in this appendage of drefs.

CARRIAGES.

A general fpirit of economy feems prevalent at prefent throughout the nation, even in the article of Carriages, for we never remember to have feen fo few as were sported to-day.

The Prince of Wales's was without exception the most magnificent of the whole exhibition, viz. a blue-grounded landaulet, with red, carmelite, ftone, and ftraw colour ftripes, a fky blue and orange border and plated edging, carriage garter blue with red, and ftraw-coloured mouldings and gilt edging; the hammercloth garter blue, richly trimmed with fcarlet, filk and gold fringe, gold emboffed taffels, and bound with a broad gold lace, the handles of the hind carriage fluted and painted in spaces.

The Duke of Marlborough launched a new coach, as did Sir George Howard, the Hon. Mr. Pratt, and a variety of other perfons; but as they were chiefly on the mode of neatnefs, it will not be material to mention them.

Admiral Darby's carriage, with himself and two ladies in it, were overturned near the Palace; but fortunately no other injury was done than foiling the ladies drelles.

Towards night the streets in the neighbourhood of the Court were illuminated: St. James's-freet was chiefly to be diftinguifhed all the fubfcription houses were illuminated, but Weltjie's in particular deferves attention. It difplayed an expanfe of various coloured lamps over the front, in the centre of which the diadem was formed, and on the fides C. R. appeared en lamps of a leffer fize. All her Majefty's tradefmen, the Opera-houfe, Theatres, Manfionhoufe, and other public buildings, united in this proof of respect,

$ 2

at

A letter from Chefter, dated Jan. 12, fays, About twelve months ago a perfon came here for the purpose of refiding in this part of the country, and took a houfe at Childer Thornton, a village on the Liverpool road, a few miles from this city, which he furnished in a moderate itile, and engaged a woman of this place to ferve him in the capacity of a houfekeeper: He had not been in this fituation more than nine months, before he was attacked by a violent indifpofition, which carried him off in about thirty days. Immediately on the approach of fick nefs he made his will, and left the whole of his perfonal property to his faid houfekeeper, although an entire ftranger to him. fhort time after his decease the woman came to this city, and very properly lodged 14 bank-notes (amounting to 640l.) in the hands

A

133

of an eminent banker, for the fecurity of which the gentleman gave her his note: It happened not many days after, one of the notes, value 100l. reached London for payment, when a letter was directly fent down, requesting immediate information from whom the faid note was received, which being duly forwarded, with other particulars, it appears, that the deceafed had lately been clerk to a capital hop-factor in London, and about 13 months ago, availing himself of the abfence of his maiter, he eloped with notes and cash to the amount of 1200k and notwithstanding repeated advertisements, has never been till this time heard of. More than 5ool. it seems has been diffipated; and thus, by an act of Providence, the remaine der will, it is hoped, revert to the hands of the owner. Seven weeks have now expired fince the body of the fuppofed culprit has been committed to the earth; and on Wednefday laft a gentleman arrived here from London, who had been many years particu larly acquainted with him, for the purpose of having him taken out of the grave, in order, it poffible, to prove the identity of his perfon, and yellerday he fet out for Bromborough, the place of the interment, to go through the difagreeable part of the buinefs. It feems that he had changed his name, and his hand-writing of the fignature of the will, as teftator, is lo much altered, that the gentleman cannot fwear to it.

Extract of a letter from Chefler, Jan. 24. "Friday lall the body of the man who fome time ago died at Childer Thornton (and who was faid to have eloped from London, with property belonging to his matter, an eminent hop-factor, to the amount of 1,2001) was taken out of the grave, and pofitively fworn to by a perfoa who came for that purpose."

JAN. 21.

THE Sellions of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, for the Admiralty, was held at the Old-Bailey, when two prifoners were tried, viz. William Shaw Hines, for piratically feizing, taking, and failing away with a cutter or veffel called the Swift, in the fervice of the Cuftoms, on the 6th of March, 1781. It appeared on the trial, that the prifoner belonged to a fmuggling yawl, commanded by one Knight, and being deferied by the Switt cruizer, in the Mullet, about three leagues from the coaft of Effex, gave chace, came up with and hailed the maiter on board: the Swift proceeded to take the cargo of the yawl on board, when Hines finding that the crew of the yawl were fuperior to thofs in the Swift, but had con

cealed themselves, called all hands from the

yawl, which lay along-fide, to the number of about twelve, armed with pistols and cutlaffes, feized the mafter and crew of the Swift, took them out to fea, and putting them in a boat, left them to fhilt for themfelves. Immediately after his trial he received fentence of death.

27. The Ambaffador from Tripoli was prefented to his Majefly, when he delivered his credentials, and was moft graciously received. He brought over with him as a prefent to the King, from the Bey his master, a very rich faddle, with ftirrups of steel double gilt, the breaft-plate of emboffed gold, and a bridle of curious workmanship.

Mr. Charles Price, alias Patch, late a Lottery-office keeper, formerly an attornev

V

who was apprehended on the 14th inftant at Mr. Aldus's, a pawnbroker in Berwickftreet, for forging the Bank of England's notes, hanged himself on the 24th in Tothilfields Bridewell, there being only ten days from his apprehenfion to his diffolution.When the keeper of the prifon cut him down, he found in his breast three letters; one addreffed to the Directors of the Bank, wherein he confelfed every thing concerning the forgery, as well as the manner of putting off the notes; another to his wife, written in a most affecting itle; and one to the keeper of the prifon, thanking him for the humanity he had fhewn him. The Coroner's Inquet brought in their verdict Self-Murder, and he was put into the ground in the fields, and a fake driven through his body, He was 52 years of age. His firit attack on the Bank was about the year 1780, when a forged note had been taken there, fo complete in all its parts, the engravings, the figmatures, the water-marks, &c. that it palled through various hands unfufpected, and was not difcovered till it came to a certain department in the routine of that office, and through which no forgery can pafs undifcovered. This occafioned a confiderable alarm, and notes upon notes flowed in about the Lottery and Christmas times, without the least poflibility of tracing out the first negotiator. Var ous confultations were held, various plans laid, and innumerable were the efforts of detection, but in vain-they were traced up to one man from every quarter, always difguifed, always inaccellible; and, we will venture to pronounce, the forger would have remained much longer a fecret but for the unwearied attention and cool collected plans of Mr. Clark, a public oficer at Bow-itreet. Mr. Price engraved his own plates; he made his own paper, with the water-marks, and he was his own negoriator, thereby confining a fecret to his own breaft, which he wifely deemed not fafe in the breaft of another; even Mrs. Price had not the least knowledge or fufpicion of his proceedings. The counterfeited copper-plates were found under ground, in a field near Tottenham-court-road, the turf being replaced upon the spot.

There were found in a box belonging to Price, two artificial nofes, very curiously executed in imitation of nature. Thefe, it is obvious, he occafionally wore as a part of the various modes of his difguife; and by which difguife he had moft aftonishingly, fuch a length of time, eluded juftice.

31. A debate took place on the 19th inft. in the Irish Houfe of Commons, upon a motion of amendment to the Addrefs of his Majefty, made by Mr. Flood; but Mr. Orde affuring the Houfe, that nothing in the Speech or Addrefs tended to revive the commercial refolutions, the original motion paffed without alteration; after which an

Addrefs was unanimoufly voted to his Grace the Lord Lieutenant.

A letter from Bofton, dated Dec. 1, fays, "Late last Friday evening, after a long debate, the Honourable the Senate negatived the Bill fent up from the Lower House, repealing all laws refpecting the Refugees of every defcription."

Feb. 3. This morning were taken from Newgate, 100 convicts under fentence of transportation (about 50 of whom had been capitally convicted, and received his Majetty's mercy on that condition), and being put in waggons, fet off on their journey to Portsmouth, where they are to be put on board the Firm.

7. About twenty minutes past three o'clock this morning, a fire was difcovered by a conftable on his duty at Aldermanbury watch-houfe; he immediately went into Bafinghall-ftreet, where he found the flames iffued from a part of Guildhall; he rung and knocked for fome time before he could roufe the watchmen, and on their opening the gates, it was difcovered that the Chamberlain's old dwelling-houfe (which was under repair) was burning. The fire caught the Chamberlain's office, which, together with the houfe, in a fhort time were totally confumed; and we are forry to add, but few of the Chamberlain's books are faved, Luckily the Treafury received no damage. The houfe of Mell, Wakefield and Bell received confiderable damrge.

The Guildhall of the City of London was first infured in the year 1776 for 5000l. and the Surveyors belonging to the Sun Fire Office, the next day made a report of the damages done by the fire amounting to 3000l.

The Chamberlain at a Court of Common Council aflured the Court, that nothing very material was loft in the above fire that respected the accounts of the City; but that the books of the entry of freemen were deftroyed, which may prove of great inconvenience, because they have frequently been admitted as evidence by Lord Mansfield and the Lord Chancellor.

Their High Mightinelles the States-General of the United Provinces have appointed March the 1ft to be observed over all their dominions as a day of falling and prayer. At the Court at St. James's. the 13th day of February, 1766, PRESENT, The KING's Moft Excellent Majefty in

Council. SHERIFFS appointed by his Majefty in Council for the Year 1786. Berkshire. William Poyntz, of Midgham, Efq. Bedfordshire. Matthew Rugely, of Potton, Efq.

Bucks. Thomas Wilkinson, of Westhorpe, Etq.

Oumber