Dreadful alternative! for in a fhort time, from the numbers below, and being deprived of all air, many became delirious, and fo frantic, as to rob and maim each other. But here the tale of dif trefs does not ftop, which humanity hudders to relate.-On opening the hatches next morning, after the gale had fubfided, 52 miserable disfigured victims to fuffocation and rage prefented them felves to the unhappy fuffering furvivors. Those who read this catastrophe, and bear in remembrance the fate of the unfortunate prifoners in the hole at Calcutta, may find fome parallel in the excefs of human wretchednefs. This, cha rity induces us to believe, arose from indiferetion and ignorance alone. The mafter of the vefiel has made an affidavit of the fact, before the collector and comptroller of the customs, at Cowes. The Duke of Portland has tranfmitted copies of the agreement entered into by both Houses of Parliament, for reducing the confumption of wheat, to all Sheriffs, Magiftrates, &c. throughout the kingdom, requesting them to take the most active means for giving effect to the fame. 6. Dispatches were received at the India Houfe, brought by the Lafcelles from Bengal, arrived at Milford, which announce the very important intelligence of the capture of Trincomale, the principal port in the Dutch ifland of Ceylon, the richeft and fineft in the Eaftern world, by the Suffolk and Centurion men of war, affifted by the Royal Admiral and and Lafcelles Indiamen, on the 16th of of September laft. For particulars of this important news, vide Lond Gaz. The emigrants lately fhipwrecked on the French coaft, near Calais are not to fuffer death; but the tribunal by which they were tried has not decided whether they fhall be kept in prifon in France, or fhall be permitted to take their departure for this country. The tribunal has referred the decifion on this point to the French government. In confequence of a difpute which took place the 2d inft. at the opera, be twee and Captain Watfon of the goth Major Sweetman of the indepen regiment, thefe gentlemen, attended by their feconds, met near Cobham, when the former gentleman was thot through the head, and almoft inftantly expired: the latter gentleman received a wound through the upper part of the thigh, but is now thought out of danger. The difference in the temperature of the atmosphere on the 26th of December, 1794, and the 26th of December, 1795, is remarkable. On that day, 1794, the Thermometer was 10 degrees above nullo by Feirnheit's fcale. On the fame day, 1795, the Themometer was at 41 degrees-fame scale. It is matter of regret that this country ftill fuffers the reproach of being guilty of the barbarous cuftom of plundering thofe veffels which have the miffortune of being wrecked on its coafts. Lately the Hercules of New York, a large veffel of 500 tons burden, was wrecked on the Cornwall coaft, when the countrymen instantly flocked down to feize their prey. It required the utmoft vigilance of the magiftrates and military to prevent thefe difgraceful depredations. The fhip, by the dashing of the waves, parted in two, when the tinners got on board, and with their axes and hammers, began ripping her to pieces, expofing their lives, for the fake of a bolt or a nail, to the moft im- : minent danger. 7. The tower guns were fired. The event thus announced, was that of the birth of a Princefs, (at twenty minutes paft nine in the morning) the firft fruit of the marriage of their Royal Highneffes the Prince and Princefs of Wales. It ftands upon record, that this happy union took place on the eighth of April 1795, as it does that the birth was ther feventh of January 1796-During thes temporary indifpofition of his amiable confort, the Prince difcovered an anx→→ iety of mind on the occafion, which did great honour to his feelings. He was in conftant attendance at the Palace.. Meffengers were dispatched with the i news to Brunswick, and the foreign Courts. 15. In a court of common council, i conveened by the Lord Mayor, he in-› formed them, it was for the purpose of prefenting an addrefs to the throne on the Princess of Wales, and the birth of a Princefs, which was agreed to unani-.. mously. His Majefty's Commiffioners for the affairs of India, have refused to adopt} the refolution of the Court of Directors and Court of Proprietors, for refunding to Mr Haftings the law expences on his impeachment. 18. Her Majefty's birth-day was obe ri ...d ferved, ferved as ufual. There was a drawing room at Court, which, from a variety of aufes, was neither so numerous or bril. cant as on former occafions. It begun za quarter past two o'clock, and was ar foon after five. DRESSES. Majelly-As ufual on her Majef burth-day, was very elegantly drefd. His coat was a dark bottle green broad cloth, lined with pale blue fattin, Ad very richly embroidered in gold. The waistcoat of blue fattin, neatly covered with a beautiful gold embroidery. The petticoats were moftly of embroidered crapes with velvet trains. The moft fashionable colour was maroon and black. Tippets were generally worn, trimmed with fine blond, and fome with fiver. The caps were in the turban fashion, with a profufion of high oftrich feathers, and gold ornaments. Many Ladies wore embroidered bandeaus, and branches of leaves intermixed with filver. The hair was dreffed rather high, turning up quite clofe behind, and the ends falling down the neck in curls. The waifts were so short, that the Ladies had hardIr room to move their arms. Pearl ear-rings and necklaces were worn, as ufual, mixed with matled gold in various forms; but coral and corneHan ear-rings and necklaces were the moft in fashion, in the form of acorns, and had a very pretty appearance. The Court fashion was very little altered in the waift or head. 24. This morning, at a quarter before nine, the powder mills belonging to Mr Hill, at Hanmer, à mile and a half from Hounflow, and twelve from town, were blown up, owing, it is faid, to the fevere friction occafioned by the iron-works not being properly oiled. The flames communicated to a lighter in the mill riVer, containing thirty barrels of powder, which alfo went off with a most tremendaous fhock. The concuffions were diftinctly felt throughout the whole of Weltminster and St George's Fields, the force of which actually fhook many perfons in their beds, and ftaggered others who were walking in the streets. The number of lives loft on this dreadful occation is not yet correctly afcertained; but four men are known to have perished. The lofs of property fuftained by this explofion is eftimated at fince the near 20,000l. About 20 years Mr Fox's birth day was, this feafon, doubly celebrated by two dinners, one at the Crown and Anchor, the other at the London Tavern.-At the former Mr Erfkine, at the latter his Grace the Duke of Bedford prefided. Toafts and fpeeches, fuited to the occafion, exhilirated the hearts of the company; among whom, at the former place, were Meflis Thelwall and Jones! Mr Erskine was fupported by Mr Grey; and the Duke of Bedford by the Earls of Lauderdale and Derby. Mr Fox, on Sunday, entered into the 48th year of his age. EDINBURGH. On the 27th December laft, about five minutes before ten o'clock, there was observed in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, a most beautiful prifmatic arch or rainbow of confiderable extent, in the north-weft quarter of the horrizon, directly oppofite to the moon, then two days paft full, and thinning very dazzingly from the fouth-eaft, through cold flormy flying clouds or fhowers. The thermometer ftood about 39 deg. and the barometer, which had been falling rapidly, about 29 inches. YO Jan. 1. This day the Royal Edinburgh Volunteers attended divine fervice in St. Andrew's Church, and heard an excellent difcourfe delivered by the Rev. Mrs David Ritchie, their Deputy Chaplain, from Pfalms cxxvii. 1. The congrega tion was numerous and genteel, feveral perfons of the firft diftinction being prefent. The collection, which is to be applied for the relief of the poor, amounted to L. 85, 28. The Glafgow bill of mortality for last year exhibits two inftances of longevity unexampled in the kingdom. The deaths of two perfons, one hundred and four years of age each. It is remarkable that no Scots Peer nor no member of parliament from Scotland died last year, which altogether a mount to 130 perfons.jpg Tumor oila The following affray happened at Ari magh on the 22d ult, "As three men belonging to Riches Hill, were going home to Armagh, in pafling by a notorious defender' houfe, they they were fired upon, and one of them wounded in the arm. Twenty men of the 2d bat. of the Rothfay and Caithnefs fencibles were ordered to proceed to take them prifoners. Upon their coming to the house, Enfign Laing called for admittance, which was refufed; they anfwered him that they would not furrender to him that they were Defenders, and as fuch they would die.. On faying which, they fired through holes they had in the door. The balls went through Mr Laing's great-coat, and the ferjeant's troufe. The party immediately fired at the door, &c. and thofe in the houfe continued the fire, which wounded fome of the Rich Hill people, who followed the foldiers. After firing several rounds to no effect, the fencibles forced open the door, killed five, and took ten prifoners with them to Rich-Hill, among whom was the chief of the party, who had his thigh broke by a ball. They after. wards brought the fe prifoners into Armagh jail, affifted by twenty dragoons. Two of the fencibles are flightly wound. ed by cutlaffes. On the 5th inft. his Majesty's juftices of the peace for thecounty of Edinburgh, convicted two perfons, found within their jurifdiction, of the offence of diftilling fpirits contrary to the prohibition, forfeited their ftills, utensils, and materials, and fined each of them in the fum of one hundred pounds. 6. This afternoon, about two o'clock, his Royal Highnefs Monfieur, Compte d'Artois, &c. landed at Leith, from on board his Majefty's frigate Jafon, C. Stirling commander. On the frigate's coming to anchor in the roads, his Royal Highnefs was faluted with twenty-one guns from Leith battery, and with the like number on his landing at Leith, where he was received from the boat by Lord Adam Gordon and a part of his fuite, and conducted in his Lordship's carriage to an apartment in his Majefty's palace of Holyroodhoufe, fitted in hafte, for his reception, and as he entered the palace his Royal Highnefs was faluted with twenty-one guns from Edinburgh Caftle. The Windfor foreflers, and Hopetoun fencibles, were in readinefs to line his approach to the palace; but his Royal Highnefs chufing to land in a private manner, and with as little ceremony as poflible, that was difpenfed with. The noblemen in his Royal Highnefs's suite followed in carriages provided for that purpose, and were conducted from the outer gate of the palace, by the commander in chief, to their apartments. Charles Philip Count d' Artois was born Oct. 9. 1757, married 1773 to Maria Therefa, daughter of the King of Sardinia, by whom he has two fons. The Duc d'Angoulefme, his eldest son, born 1775, is to accompany his Royal Highness to this city. Next day his Royal highness L'Comte D'Artois had a levee at his apartments in Hollyroodhouse, at which his Grace the Duke of Buccleugh, Lord Dalkeith, Lord Adam Gordon, and all the officers of the Hopetoun fencibles, and of the Staff in North Britain, attended, and were prefented, as alfo the Sheriff-depute of Mid-Lothian, and several other gentlemen. His Royal Highness, it is understood, means to fee company every Monday and Thursday. 11. This day his Royal Highness the Cote D'Artois held a levee at the Abbey, at which the Lord Prefident, the Lord Advocate, the Lord Provost and Magiftrates, and feveral civil and military gentlemen attended, and were prefented to his Royal Highness. After the levee ended, his Royal Highnefs, accompanied by his fuite, by Lord Ada:n Gordon, the Lord Advocate, and Sir James Stirling, visited the fuite of royal apartments in the palace, which, we underftand, are ordered to be fitted up, and furnished with all expedition for the reception of his Royal Highness and his fon the Duke of Angouletme, who is expected here foon from England. 12. This day caine on the election of the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. The candidates were, the Right Hon. Robert Dundas of Arnifton, his Majef ty's Advocate for Scotland, and the Hon. Henry Erfkine of Newhall, the former Dean; when the Lord Advocate was elected by a majority of 85, there hav ing voted for his Lordship 123, and for Mr Erfkine 38. 12. This morning about five o'clock, a dreadful fire broke out in the fhop of Mr Bowman, goldfmith, in the Parliament Clofe Edinburgh. It had got to a great height before it was discovered, and trom the fituation of it was particularly alarming. In the fame tenement is the Goldfmiths-Hall, the Affay Office, and fome fhops. It has a narrow lane on 2 or one fide, which feparates it from Giles' and the adjoining churches, the Parliament House, the Advocates Library, and the Council Chamber, are immediatedoining. The wind was pretty high. Ty the firft alarm, the magiftrates, the Burgh Volunteers, the city guard, tether with the firemen and engines diately attended; but the fire had two fuch a height, that it was in vain hink of faving the building in which egan. Their attention was therefare directed to preserve the valuable ening buildings, which, by the most gorous and judicious exertions, was rappily effected, though at one time the Ras had reached the windows of one of the churches. The whole tenement, conting of the Goldfmiths Hall, with ther records, papers, &c. the Affay of tor, the thops of Mr Bowman, Mr Dow Pie, &e, were totally confumed, with eter thing they contained. The lofs is vy confiderable. The greateft praife is e to the gentlemen, the foldiers, the fremen, &c. for their spirited exertions, which one of the most alarming fires that has happened in Edinburgh for maTy years was extinguished in lefs than twy hours. 13. The officers of the Royal Edinbergh Volunteers, this day waited upon Royal Highness Compte D'Artois. 21. This day his Royal Highnefs the Duke D'Angoulefime, eideft fon to Monfeur, arrived at the Abbey of Holyroodhoule. 23. The Theatre Royal opened for this feafon. The weather was very boiferous, nevertheless a numerous and faInouable audience attended. The chamatters were tolerably supported. The Hon. Mrs Twifleton, in the part of Cahia, gave general fatisfaction. The wind begun this afternoon, about four o'clock, to blow hard from 8. W. and continued with increafing violence till about eight o'clock, when blew a perfect hurricane, nor did it abate much during the whole night. It was exceedingly dangerous to walk the freet, by the failing of flates, ftones, &c. from the houfe tops. Several coaches and hackney chairs were overturned and much damaged; but we have not heard of any perfon being materially injured. Last night and this morning the wind was nearly as violent as on the precedng night, accompanied with feveral viflafbes of lighting. VOL. LVIII. The form on Saturday, the 23d, was uncommonly fevere on the weft coaft, accompanied with very high tides. At Greenock it was accompanied with a great deal of thunder and lightning; none of the fhipping, however, we are happy to fay, fuffered any damage. For two days previous, the tides were remarkably high, but on the 25th there was one of the highest ever remembered; all the queys and breafts were covered completely, and the dry-dock was filled by the overflow of the waters.-This form appears to have been more general, and to have extended its devaftations over a greater fpace, than any we have for a long time experienced. Accounts from all parts of the coaft mention its feverity. Even in London, many houfes were unroofed by it. The number of veffels arrived at the port of Leith, laft year, is 1904, being an increafe of 33 above the preceding year. 28. A felect party of the admirers of the principles and conduct of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, dined together at Fortune's tavern, in commemoration of the birth of that illuftrious statesman. John Francis Erskine of Marr, in the chair, during the abfence of the chair. man-the hon. Henry Erskine, who was detained profeffionally in the court of Exchequer, and did not join the company till a late hour in the evening.Major General Macleod of Macleod, M. P. croupier. Caleb Bannes Harman, Efq; brother to Lord Oxmantown, member of the Irish Parliament for the county of Longford, died on the 7th inft. in confequence of the wounds he received the preceding night, from a party of defend ers. Between eight and nine o'clock on Saturday night a number of the defenders entered Mr Harman's houfe at Bawn, in the county of Longford, by the kitchen door, which unfortunately lay open, and proceeding up the backfairs, rushed into the parlour where Mr and Mrs Harman were fitting. On their appearance, Mr Harman attempted to take up a gun which lay in a corner of the room, but in the attempt was fired on by one of the ruffians, and mortally wounded; he alfo received a froke on the head with the end of a piftol. The following is the general view of the extent of the island of Great Britain, and the proportion between the waste K and and uninclosed, and the cultivated part thereof, as ftated by Sir John Sinclair, Bart. Acres. Uncultivated. Cultivated. Total Extent. England and Wales 7,888,777 39,027,156 46,915,933 Scotland 14,218,224 12,151,471 26,369,695 22,107,001 51,178,627 73,285,628 THE weather has been uncommonly mild during the whole of this month, tho' windy; the ther. ftanding, in general, above 40°; it has been, however, fhowery. The city has been well fupplied with coals; the opennefs of the weather, and the great abundance of herrings ftill in the Firth, have rendered the fituation of the labouring people and the poor more comfortable than ufual at this season. Beft beef and mutton 44d. and 5d.; veal 8d.; fish of all kinds ufually to be had here in abundance; herrings 10 and 12 a-penny: they are so plenty in the Firth, that one morning, on the ebbing of the tide in the neighbourhood of Kincardine, upwards of L. 300 Sterling worth were caught with creels and baskets. ductive in all parts. Neither beans nor peafe, however, rise so abundantly, nor fo hard and dry as could be withed. The turnip counties complain much of their feed running already to feed, from the mildness of the winter; a loss which will be feverely felt in Smithfield, before Ladyday. THE report for England ftates, that from the bulk now threshed out, of the laft crop of wheat, in the districts, it has been too clearly ascertained, that, it is deficient in measure nearly one-fourth, and in weight alfo from 8 to 10 and even 12lb. per fack: Hence the increase of price at the feafon ufually affording the most plentiful fupplies. The recipe for inixing potatoes with wheaten flour, is exploded as fallacious in its principle, and contributing little or nothing to the general increase of bread-food. Barley flour, indeed, has been mixed with wheaten, and with fo much fuccefs, in many parts, that this compofition will, nb doubt, be fubftituted as the general bread of the island for fome time to come. The young plants of wheat, upon lands in their fair regular courfe of husbandry, and well got in, have, in general, a promising appearance; but where negligently covered, they are injured by the flug and worm, whofe depredations the long continuance of the moift seafon has too much favoured. The last year's wheat, and other etches, re-fown this, under the fanction of the Board of Agriculture, look unpromifingly, as might naturally be expected from fo injudicious a mode of culture. The oats and barleys are found highly pro |