a hill, and attacking the Swedes in flank with 5000 dragoons, at a time when victory had well nigh declared in their favour. [iii. 427.] He likewife, by a ftratagem, difpoffeffed them of the ifles of Aland in the Baltic, though the garrifon there had been reinforced by troops from Stockholm. After the peace of Abo, in the year 1743, he was fent by the Empress of Ruffia ambassador-extraordinary to the court of Sweden, to compliment the King on the election of a fucceffor to the crown and though this choice had been made contrary to the inclination of his Majefty, who was entirely in the intereft of his nephew the Prince of Heffe-Caffel; yet he received the Ruf fian ambaffador with his ufual politenefs, and took pleasure in converfing with him in private upon the moft ferious affairs. The King had commanded the Dutch forces upon the Po, from the year 1705 till 1709; both were extremely well acquainted with the country, and both were capable of making the moft judicious obfervations. The General's method was, to difguife himfelf in the habit of a peafant, and in that dress to vifit the feveral villages of the country wherein he served. In this manner he travelled over France, Italy, Spain, Savoy, and Switzerland, and vifited the different provinces of Ruffia. The fplendor in which he appeared at Stockholm, not only exhausted his allowance, but the money which he himfelf had acquired during a fervice of eighteen years; fo that he was obliged to pledge his jewels to maintain his ftate. On his return he was honoured with a Marshal's ftaff; but the pay in the Ruffian army being small, and his fame being great, he was invited into the Pruffian dominions, where a penfion was allowed him. The King of Pruffia treated him with all honours due to his birth and merit, and honoured him fo far with his confidence, as to travel over a great part of Germany, Poland, and Hungary, with him, in difguife. His Majefty in this manner has been in moft cities of Europe: Holland is as well known to him as Pruffia, France as Brandenburg, and London and Paris as well as Prague or Berlin. Keith entered Saxony in the month of September 1756, as Field-Marfhal in the Pruffian army. Gent. Mag. The MONITOR, Aug. 27. Extract of a fecond letter from on board the OLD ENGLAND man of war at fea. [135-1 with our fears that the Cap Concluded my laft, of April the 9th tain was refolved to take the ship out of the hands of our favourite WILL, and once more to commit her to the management of a fet of officers who had railed themselves in his esteem by keeping company, and running all lengths, with the old cabal; and were therefore fufpected of refuming thofe had measures which had brought us into so much hazard and difgrace, preferred the courage of the Lafcars to our own crew, and kept us out in rocky and tempestuous feas, where nothing could be expected but certain fhipwreck; while our guns, tackle, ballaft, and our very pay and provifions, were secretly, or under divers frivolous pretences, applied to support them in idleness, and to enrich their country. A Our fears were not altogether ground. lefs. The old clan had, feized the opportunity to fhut the cabin-door once more upon the Captain while WILL was furveying between decks, and en. couraging the crew and midshipmen in their duty; and fo perplexed him with fresh reports of his other fhip, in the Lafcar country, being in danger of fall. ing a prey to the Morattoes, except part of the Old England's crew was im mediately ordered to its relief, that he ... refolved to difplace every officer that [fhould] oppofe any motion for turning them over... [though]...our own ship... was already fo weakened in its hands, by desertion, and the new regulations for abridging our pay, fhortening our allowance, and preventing our exercife and ufe of finall arms, that it was impoffible for us to defend ourfelves, unless WILL's endeavours to raise money without oppreffion, and to recruit our complement without preffing too too hard upon the common men, and to teach every man the art of defence, were allowed to take place. However, those friends of the La fcars were fo well acquainted with the interest WILL maintained with the whole fhip's crew, by his upright and impartial behaviour, and conftant application to the business of our ship, that they durft not venture to stay, and fee the iffue of the Captain's refolution: but while he called about him for WILL the pilot, they flunk away, and attempted to corrupt fome of the ambitious, leaft fenfible and experienced midshipmen, by promifing them pofts, which they themselves were afraid to refume. 1 WILL, who, the very night before, had parted with the Captain in an abundance of feeming contentment with his proceedings for the preservation and credit of the fhip, was ftruck with amazement at his entrance into the cabin. The Captain upbraided him with obftinacy and prefumption, for pretending to have more knowledge and honesty than his difplaced officers... and concluded with proteftations, that no body should ferve under him, who would not implicitly fubmit to fuch conditions as he might think fit to impose. Such an alteration in fo fhort a time convinced the pilot, that there muft have been a great deal of art and inalice to work the Captain up to this refolution. He therefore, after frequent at tempts to undeceive him, and to convince him that if he should order any part of his crew to man his other fhip m the Lafcars country, the Old England would inevitably fall a prey to the Morattoes, or be disabled from ever get ting fafe into port, left him deaf to all remonftrances, and breathing his difpleasure against every one that dared to oppofe his inclinations; and, in his return to the steerage, was informed, that a round robin had been handed about fecretly, in which the mutineers had engaged the first lieutenant; who was going to offer his fervice in defence of the Captain's other fhip, on condition that he might have leave to draw off the best men from the Old England. And as the faction were afraid of WILL's integrity, which would never yield to any proposals for difabling their own ship, it was refolved to force him from the helm, and to replace their laft pilot, who had devoted himself entirely to the will of the first lieutenant, and had never given himfelf any concern about the Old Eng❤ land, otherwise than to debauch the crew, and to inftil into them a too great regard for the Lascars. The weaning affection which the Cap❤ tain always bore for his firft lieutenant disposed him to receive any scheme from his faction; and this coinciding with his own defires, he precipitately cashiered WILL, and all his fubalterns. But behold, there was not a man amongst them that had courage to take hold of the helm: and when the fhip's company found that they were adrift, that their favourite was removed, and that they were to be under the direction of a new fet of officers, who had made themselves obnoxious, either by their former mifbe haviour towards them, or by seeking for promotion in a way that could give them no good idea of their abilities and honesty, the clamour became univerfal: not only the common men, but all the Captain's best friends, and those of the greatest property and difcretion, who ferved him as voluntiers, could not remain filent at this crifis; which threatened them with final destruction, at a time they were expecting daily to weather their former disappointments, and to be in a condition to make reprisals upon their enemies. In the midst of this confufion,' WILL however preferved an even and a forgiving temper; a temper that endeavoured to prevent mutiny, and to engage the crew not to defert their stations, but to remain on their guard against the common enemy; while in the cabin there reigned nothing but faction and diftraction; every one perfuading the Captain to violent measures, and yet none of them daring to put them in execution. At laft the want of a purfer and of a pilot, and the inconftancy of their counfels in the cabin, determined 3 N 2 the the fecretary alfo to declare against the intended innovations, as destructive to the Captain, and his good fhip the Old England. In the mean time the crew refolved to express their approbation and gratitude towards their difgraced pilot, for his steady attachment to the true in terest of their Captain, and the real fervices he had done to their fhip and company. As for money, they could come at Bone. Their pay was ftopt. Befides, they knew that WILL was no lover of money he had no avaricious appetite; nor the everlasting wants of a gamefter. Their reward therefore was, that when ever they faw him in the gangway, they faluted him with three cheers; when they heard his name, they honoured it with three cheers; and because the purfer had behaved with equal regard to their intereft and fafety, each mess refolved to invite them both to partake of their freedom and allowance, and drank their healths with three cheers and the belt flip they could get in fuch defperate circumftances. Thefe proceedings fore and aft in favour of the difplaced pilot and purfer, and the freedom with which thofe gentlemen voluntiers, who had got their ALL on board, reafoned with the Cap tain against the factious counfels which had thrown the ship into fo much confufion and the report of the watch, who from the main-top defcried an approaching enemy, ftruck a panic into the cabin; and as their own prefervation gained the afcendant of their political intereft, in a private view, it was wifely concluded, that fomething fhould be done immediately to appeafe the clamours of the crew, and to put the fhip into a condition to face the enemy. So that on their own mere motion WILL was again proposed to take the helm: and as he had a natural averfion to the finell of a Fox, which the Captain had been perfuaded to keep in his cabin to cure him of the vapours, they ordered the animal to be removed before he was called. WILL was taking an observation, and fetched a heavy figh at the prefent fituation and course of the ship, which had loft much way, and was threatened with a violent storm, at the time a meffenger brought an order for him to repair immediately to the Captain's cabin. But before he got thither, through the crouds, big with expectations of his recal, and intreating him to accept of the helm upon any terms but fuch as manifeftly tended to their deftruction, the hip grazed against a rock. Confufion appeared in every face. The Captain himself cries out," Helm a lee, hardy weather;" and whatever diftrefs and irrefolution could fuggeft. And as foon as the fhip got in deep water, he, in the midst of his difconfolate friends, dreading the fatal effects of being thus toft about in the fight of an enemy, and amongst rocks, opened his mind in this manner. My friends, wife men ne'er fit ftill and wail their lofs, But chearly feek how to redress their harms And half the failors fwallow'd in the flood? Or bemoan the hip driving on the rocks, Senfible of th' honour, in duty bound, Did we not almost founder under him? wreck. This plain honeft fpeech was not very acceptable. However, after long debate in favour of the Captain's privilege to nominate his own officers, and upon the decency of paying fome regard to his pleasure; and WILL recollecting the intreaties of the fober part of the crew, to make the best agreement he could, but not to refufe the helm when offered to him again; the alarm alfo of the enemy's near approach being confirmed; he was at laft prevailed upon to resume his former charge, and confent to the reftoring of fome of the cabal to their honours and places of profit; but not to any power over the crew, or to interrupt him in his duty; provided the compafs, the logbook, the ftores, and the chief command of the hip, were committed to him, and to officers of his recommendation. This accommodation was received with much joy of the crew and the moment WILL put the fhip about in her right courfe, the enemy, who before was preparing to attack her, toft about like a difabled hull, crouded all their fail to get clear. Nevertheless, there appeared a fort of gloom in the counte nances of many, who not knowing the conditions of this compromife, were a fraid of coming again under the command or influence of the men who had formerly reduced them to the laft extremity. But WILL's uniform conduct a gainst all measures that had hitherto drawn the Captain's attention from the real intereft of his good fhip the Old England, and furnished the officers with pretences to opprefs and plunder the crew, and difabled them from completing our cruife with honour and fafety; and his continual application to restore discipline and good economy, and to put us into a capacity, not only to main tain the dominion of the fea, and the refpect due to our flag, but to carry our refentment and vengeance into our enemies country, has delivered us from thofe jealoufies which arife from a good man's affociating with bad companions, and convinced us that he will never confent that any of us fhall be turned over to ferve our Captain in the Lafcar country, nor be any more obliged to live upon fhort allowance to feed them in idle nefs aboard of the Old England. And he has often declared, that he would rather retire to the forecastle, and be reduced to mess with the lowest man in the fhip, than maintain his footing upon the quarterdeck by confenting to, or conniving at, any incroachment upon our rights and liberties, or at any frauds, which have been heretofore practifed to raise immenfe fortunes out of our wages, provifions, and ammunition, or at any measures, which deprive us of the means to protect our trade and navigation, and to force our enemies to an honourable and lasting peace. An affecting account of the wonderful prefervation of three perfons buried above five weeks in fnow. By Dr Jofeph Bruni, Prafeffor of Philofophy at Turin. From the Philof. Trans. vol. 49. part 2. for 1756, published in July 1757⋅ A called Bergemoletto, near Demonte, Small cluster of houfes at a place in the upper valley of Stura, was, on the 19th of March 1755, entirely overwhelmed by two vaft bodies of fnow that tumbled down from a neighbouring mountain. All the inhabitants were then within doors, except one Jofeph Rochia, a man of about fifty, and his fon, a lad of fifteen, who were on the roof of their houfe clearing away the fnow, which had fallen for three days inceffantly. A prieft going by to mais, advised them to come down, having just before obferved a body of fnow tum bling not far diftant. The man imagi ning this small mass would be followed by larger ones, got down from the roof with great precipitation, and filed with his fon, he knew not whither; but fcarce had he gone thirty or forty steps, before. his fon, who followed him, fell down; on which looking back, he faw his own and his neighbours houses, in which were twenty-two perfons in all, covered with a high mountain of now. He lifted up his fon; and reflecting that his wife, his fifter, two children, and all his effects, were thus buried, he fainted away; but foon reviving, got safe to a friend's houfe at fome diftance. The fnow was fixty English feet in height; height; and many men who were or dered to give thefe unhappy people all poffible affiftance, defpaired of being able to do them the leaft fervice. After five days, Jofeph being perfectly recovered, got upon the fnow, with his fon, and two of his wife's brothers, to try if he could find the exact place where his house stood; but, after many open ings made in the fnow, they could not discover it. The month of April proving hot, and the fnow beginning to foften, he again ufed his utmost endea vours to recover his effects, and to bury, as he thought, the remains of his family. He made new openings, and threw in earth, to melt the fnow; and on the 24th of April it was greatly diminished. He broke through ice fix English feet thick, with iron bars; thrust down a long pole, and touched the ground; but evening coming on, he defifted. His wife's brother, who lived at Demonte, dreamed that night, that his fifter was still alive, and begged him to help her. The man, affected by his dream, rose early in the morning, and went to Bergemoletto, where Jofeph was; and, after refting himself a little, went with him to work upon the fnow; where they made another opening, which led them to the house they searched for: but finding no dead bodies in its ruins, they fought for the ftable, which was about 240 English feet diftant; which having found, they heard a cry of, "Help, my dear brother." Being greatly furprised, as well as encouraged, by these words, they laboured with all diligence, till they had made a large opening; through which the brother who had the dream, immediately went down; where the fifter, with an agonizing and feeble voice, told him, "I have always trufted in God and you, that you would not forfake me." The other brother and the husband then went down ; and found,, ftill alive, the wife about forty-five, the fifter about thirty-five, and a daughter about thirteen years old. These they raised on their fhoulders to men above; who pull ed them up as it were from the grave, and carried them to a neighbouring house. They were unable to walk, and fo wafted, that they appeared like mere skeletons. They were immediately put to bed, and gruel of rye-flour and a little butter was given to recover them. Some days after, the intendant came to see them, and found the wife still unable to rife from her bed, or use her feet, from the intense cold she had endured, and the uneafy posture she had been in ; the fifter, whofe legs had been bathed with hot wine, could walk with fome difficulty; and the daughter needed no further remedies. On the intendant's interrogating the women, they told him, That on the morning of the 19th of March they were in the stable, with a boy of fix years old and a girl about thirteen. In the fame ftable were fix goats; one of which ha ving brought forth two dead kids the night before, they went to carry her a fmall veffel of rye-flour gruel. There were alfo an afs, and five or fix fowls. They were fheltering themselves in a warm corner of the stable till the churchbell fhould ring, intending to attend the fervice. The wife related, that, wanting to go out of the ftable to kindle a fire in the house for her husband, who was clearing away the fnow from the top of it, the perceived a mass of fnow breaking down towards the east ; upon which fhe went back into the stable, shut the door, and told her fifter of it. In less than three minutes they heard the roof break over their heads, and also part of the ceiling. The fifter advised to get into the rack and manger; which they did. The afs was tied to the manger, but got loofe by kicking and struggling, and threw down the little veffel, which they found, and afterwards used to hold the melted fnow, which ferved them for drink. Very fortunately the manger was under the main prop of the stable, and fo refifted the weight of the fnow. Their first care was, to know what they had to eat. The fifter faid. fhe had fifteen chefnuts in her pocket; the children faid they had breakfasted, and should want no more that day. They remem bered there were thirty or forty cakes |