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with the obedience of the officers of the grand chamber of my parliament, and I exhort them to continue in it; but I can. not grant them what they request, because I still look upon as vacant the offices of the inquefts and requests, who have given me their demiffion." Thofe gentlemen having immediately repaired to Paris, affembled to deliberate on this answer; and it is affured, that the majority of them refolved to refign their employments alfo, if the King fhould perfift in refufing to grant the reunion of all the members of the parliament. They write from Paris, that four princes of the blood have been laid under arreft, for their remonftrances against the ftep taken by his Majesty in the late bed of juftice.

A wicked and daring attempt has been made on the life of his Moft Chriftian Majefty. We give three articles concerning it from the London gazette, viz.

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Bruffels, Jan. 11. On Saturday evening a courier arrived here from Paris, with the account of an attempt made, on the 5th inftant, on the French King's life; the particulars of which are as follow. On the above-mentioned day, the King went from Trianon to Versailles, to vifit Ma, dame Victoire. About fix in the evening, as his Majefty was juft ftepping into his coach to return to Trianon, a man who had concealed himself between the hind wheels, rushed forward, with his hat on, made his way to the King's perfon, through the guards, (one of whom he even shoved against the Dauphin), and struck his Majefty in the right fide; of which, however, the King only complained, by faying, "That man has given me a violent blow; he must be either mad, or drunk." But having perceived that his hand, which he clapped to his fide, was bloody, he faid, “I am wounded; seize that fellow, but do not kill him." His Majefty was immediately carried to his apartment. The wound (which from the very first was not thought dangerous) was given with a fharp-pointed knife, which glanced upwards between the fourth and fifth rib, and is not of any confiderable depth. And, at the

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first dreffing, it was even judged that the cure would be fpeedy. That night the King flept an hour and a quarter. The villain who committed this attempt, is named Damien, and is a native of Arras. The weapon he made use of was found upon him, and proves to be a common clafp-knife with two blades. At first it was feared it might have been poisoned, but he affured the contrary; and the experiments that have fince been made with it on feveral animals, have made good his affertion. Another French courier arrived here on Sunday night, with an account, that the wound was fo flight, that his Majefty had been able to affift, on Saturday morning, at a council that was held at Versailles."

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Bruffels, Jan. 14. All the advices received from Paris confirm, that the French King is past all manner of danger from the wound that was given him on the 5th inftant. Upon fearching the villain who perpetrated this horrid fact, there were found in his pockets, a copy of the New Teftament, and twenty louis d'or, nineteen of which were in gold, and the other in filver. So confiderable a fum, for a man who had no other trade but that of felling powders to take spots out of cloaths, gives fome reason to fufpect, that there are other accomplices concerned in the plot. The parliament (who fince the laft bed of justice had cea fed all functions) has met again upon this occafion: but a particular commiffion has been appointed by the King, for inquiring into this affair, and trying the affaffin.'

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"Bruffels, Jan. 18. The French King is faid to be very near perfectly recovered of his wound. But the letters from Paris inform us, that they were still entirely in the dark as to the motives that could induce the affaffin to commit fo execrable an attempt upon his Majefty's life."

The following further particulars relating to that wicked affair we have taken from the other public papers. The Dauphin being charged with the adminiftration of the kingdom, and prefiding in the council of ftate during the King's illness, on the 7th of January the firft

prefident

prefident of the parliament of Paris demanded of him the reaffembling of the chambers of inquefts and requests, purfuant to the defire of the members of thofe chambers. But his Royal Highnefs made anfwer, that the matter was of too much importance for him to decide it, and on the other hand the King 'was in fuch a condition as did not admit of troubling him with any bufinefs. Some days after, the Dauphin wrote to the first prefident; who immediately repaired to Verfailles, with feveral other prefidents and counfellors. Next day all the presidents and counfellors of the parliament, as well thofe who had refigned, as thofe of the two fuppreffed chambers, affembled, and deliberated on the events that had happened, and in the evening carried their deliberations to Verfailles. It was the grand chamber of the parlia

ment to whom the trial of the affaffin was committed. He was put to the torture, in order to force a difcovery of his accomplices. Whatever he faid, a good many perfons were foon taken up, and committed to the Baftile. His wife and daughter were alfo fecured, in hopes that through their means fome difcoveries might be made. A letter from Paris, dated Jan 14. fays, the King was then fo well recovered, that he had refumed the reins of government.

It would feem the account in our laft of two French fquadrons having failed from Breft was premature; for according to later advices they were fill in that port. M. Perrier de Salvert is returned to Breft from the Weft Indies, with his fquadron, confifting of four fhips of the line and two frigates.

Private advices from HOLLAND fay, that M. d'Affry, minifter from France to the States-General, has publicly declared, that the King his mafter has found it neceffary to have an army of obfervation on foot next fummer, which will af. femble on the frontiers of the republic.

We have had no other news of importance from any of the PLANTATIONS, than that at length both Lord Loudon and the French in North America went

into winter-quarters, without any action having happened between them.

ENGLAND.

The King gave the royal affent to the following bills, Jan. 19.

An act for granting an aid to his Majefty by a land-tax [4 s. in the pound] to be raised in G. Britain, for the fervice of the year 1757; and for discharging certain arrears of land taxes infor the more effectual collecting of arrears for the inture.

curred before the time therein mentioned; and

An act for continuing and granting to his Majefty, certain duties upon malt, mum, cyder, and perry, for the fervice of the year 1757; and concerning the intereft to be paid for moneys to be borrowed, as well on the credit of this act,

as on the credit of an act of this feffion of parlament, for granting an aid to his Majesty by a land tax.

To two name-bills, and two naturalization-bills. Adm. Hawke, in the Ramillies, with part of his fquadron from Gibraltar, arrived at Spithead, Jan. 15. The Admiral was much indifpofed, and came to his houfe in London on the 20th.

Adm. Weft failed from Spithead, Jan. 16. with eleven men of war of the line, and was to be joined by four more off Plymouth. This fquadron was put back once or twice, and failed again on the 30th.

The Commons refolved, Jan. 24. that towards raifing the fupplies, a fum not exceeding 1,050,005 1. 5 s. be raised by way of lottery, the tickets to be a guinea each, and one half of the amount of the value of them to be divided into prizes, for the benefit of the proprietors of the fortunate tickets, and paid on or at any time after Jan. 20. 1758, without any deduction whatfoever. So the other half goes to the public.

By an advertisement, dated, Admiraltyoffice, Jan. 12. fuch navy lieutenants as were then unemployed, were required forthwith to tranfmit to that office their refpective places of abode, with their reasons for not offering to ferve at this time. Whoever did not comply on or before the 31ft, were to be ftruck off the lift.

Adm. Byng's trial [xviii. 618.] is now finished, but no authentic copy of it is yet publifhed. The following is faid to be an exact copy of the fentence.

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which it was his duty to havé affifted; and do therefore unanimously agree, that he falls under part of the 12th article of an act of parliament of the 22d year of his prefent Majefty, for amending, explaining, and reducing into one act of parliament, the laws relating to the government of his Majefty's fhips, veffels, and forces by fea; and as that article pofitively prefcribes death, without any alternative left to the discretion of the court, under any variation of circumstances, the court do therefore hereby unanimously adjudge the said Admiral John Byng to be fhot to death, at fuch time, and on board fuch fhip, as the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty fhall direct.

But as it appears, by the evidence of Lord Robert Bertie, Lt-Col. Smith, Capt. Gardiner, and other officers of the fhip, who were near the perfon of the Admiral, that they did not perceive any backwardness in him during the action, or any marks of fear, or confufion, either from his countenance, or behaviour, but that he feemed to give his orders coolly and diftinctly, and did not seem wanting in perfonal courage, and from other circumftances, the court do not believe that his mifconduct arose either from cowardice or difaffection; and do therefore unanimously think it their duty, moft earnestly to recommend him as a proper object of mercy.

The court, purfuant to an order from the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, to Vice-Admiral Smith, dated. Dec. 14. 1756, proceeded to inquire into the conduct of the Hon. John Byng, Admiral of the Blue fquadron of his Majefty's fleet, and to try him, upon a charge, That, during the engagement between his Majefty's fleet, under his command, and the fleet of the French King, on the 20th of May laft, he did withdraw or keep back, and did not do his utmost to take, feize, and deftroy the fhips of the French King, which it was his duty to have engaged; and to affift fuch of his Majesty's fhips as were engaged in fight with the French fhips, which it was his duty to have affifted; and for that he did not do his utmost to relieve St Philip's caftle in his Majesty's island of Minorca, then befieged by the forces of the French King; but acted contrary to, and in breach of his Majefty's command: And having heard the evidence, and the prifoner's defence, and very maturely and thoroughly confidered the fame, they are unanimoufly of opinion, That he did not do his utmoft to relieve St Philip's caftle; and alfo, that, during the engagement between his Majefty's fleet under his command, and the fleet of the French King, on the 20th of May laft, he did not do his utmost to take, feize, and deftroy the fhips of the French King, which it was his duty to have engaged; and to affift fuch of his Majefty's fhips as were engaged in fight with the French fhips, VOL. XIX.

with the following reprefentation.
The above fentence was accompanied
To the Right Hon. the Lords Commiffioners
for executing the office of Lord High Ad-
miral of G. Britain, &c.

WE

JE the under-written, the prefident and members of the court-martial affembled for the trial of Adm. Byng, believe it unneceffary to inform your Lordships, that, in the whole courfe of this long trial, we have done our utmost endeavours to come at truths, and to do the strictest justice to our country and the prisoner; but we cannot help laying the diftreffes of our minds before your Lordships on this occafion, in finding ourfelves under à neceffity of condemning a man to death, from the great seve

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rity

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Twelfth article of war, 13° Car. II.

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Every captain, and all other officers, mariners, and foldiers, of every fhip, frigate, or veffel of war, that shall, in time of any fight or engagement, withdraw or keep back, or not come into the fight, and engage, and do his utmost to take, fire, kill, and endamage the enemy, pirate, or rebels, and affift and relieve all and every of his Majefty's fhips, fhall, for fuch offence of cowardice or difaffection, be tried, and fuffer pains of death, or other punishment, as the circumftances of the offence fhall deserve, and the court-martial fhall judge fit."

Twelfth article of war, 22° Geo. II.

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Every perfon in the fleet, who, through cowardice, negligence, or difaffection, fhall, in time of action, withdraw or keep back, or not come into the fight or engagement, or shall not do his utmost to take or destroy every fhip which it fhall be his duty to engage, and to affift and relieve all and every of his Majesty's fhips, or those of his allies, which it shall be his duty to affift and relieve; every fuch perfon fo offending, and being convicted thereof, by the fentence of a courtmartial, fhall fuffer DEATH."

The omiffion of the words in Italics in the former, and the addition of the word in Italic in the latter, feem to have been the occafion of the diftreffes of mind prefented in the letter above.

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According to a letter from Portfmouth, of Jan. 25. Adm. Smith received two letters from one of the fecretaries of state, two days before the date, for Mr Byng; which were delivered to him.- -The letters follow, taken from the Gentleman's Magazine. The firft is an original, the laft a tranflation.

Aux delices pres de Geneve.

S 1 R,

Jan. 2. 1757. Though I am almoft unknown to you, I think it is my duty to fend you the copy of the letter which I have juft received from the Marshal Duke of Richlieu. Honour, humanity, and equity, order me to convey it into your hands. This noble and unexpected teftimony from one of the most candid, as well as the most generous of my countrymen, makes me prefume your judges will do you the fame justice.—I am, &c. To the Hon. John Byng, Efq;

SIR,

VOLTAIRE.

Paris, Dec. 26. 1756. Am very fenfibly concerned for Adm. Byng. I do affure you, whatever I have feen or heard of him, does him honour. After having done all that man could reafonably expect from him, he ought not to be cenfured for fuffering a defeat. When two commanders contend for victory, though both are equally men of honour, yet one must neceffarily be worsted; and there is nothing against Mr Byng but his being worsted; for his whole conduct was that of an able seaman, and is justly worthy of admiration. The ftrength of the two fleets was at leaft equal; the English had thirteen ships, and we twelve, much better equipped and much cleaner. Fortune, that prefides over all battles, and especially those that are fought at fea, was more favourable to us than to our adversaries, by making our balls take place in the tackling of their fhips. I am perfuaded, and it is the generally-received opinion, that if the English had obftinately continued the engagement, their whole fleet would have been destroyed.

In short, there can be no higher act of injuftice than what is now attempted against Adm. Byng; and all men of honour, and all gentlemen of the army, are particularly interefted in the event.

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SCOTLAND.

On the 12th of January, Mr White minifter of Liberton was called before the prefbytery of Edinburgh, of which he is a member, accused likewife of having been in the playhoufe. He owned the charge; but pleaded, by way of alleviation, that he had gone to the playhoufe only once, and endeavoured to conceal himself in a corner, to avoid gi ving offence; expreffing his deep forrow for what he had done, and firm refolution to be more circumfpect for the future. Some members moved, that the prefbytery, in refpect of these alleviating circumftances, fhould go no further than a folemn rebuke, to be given in open prefbytery. But others being of opinion, that thefe circumstances notwithstanding, it was neceffary, for fupporting the credit and promoting the usefulness of the holy ministry, and to deter others from fuch practices, to fufpend Mr White; a vote was stated, Rebuke or Sufpend? and carried Sufpend by a great majority. Mr White acquiefced; but requested that the fufpenfion might be limited to a certain time. Agreeable to which requeft, the prefbytery fufpended him only till the zd of February. The fentence was intimated from Liberton pulpit by Mr Warden, the moderator of the prefbytery; and it has been obtemperated.

The prefbytery of Edinburgh being credibly informed, that Mr Home, minifter at Athelftonford, had compofed, and brought upon the theatre in Edinburgh, a tragedy called Douglas; and that he, and fome of his brethren, viz. Meff. Carlyle at Inveresk, Home at Polwarth, Scot at Weftruther, Dyfart at Eccles, Cupples at Swinton, and Steel at Stair, were prefent when it was acted; the prefbytery ordered letters to be wrote to the prefbyteries of which thofe gen tlemen are members, acquainting them of the above facts, and of the bad tendency of a playhouse in this place; leaving it to them to take fuch measures as they fhould think proper, for fupporting the credit and promoting the ufefulness of the holy miniftry. [xviii. 623.]. The prefbytery of Haddington took the letter directed to them under confideration Jan. 4. Some members alledged, that this step taken by the prefbytery of Edinburgh was irregular and unprecedented, and that therefore the affair ought to be difmiffed. But others were of opinion, that the prefbytery of Edinburgh, as the offence was given within their bounds, might have tried the matter themselves, and confequently had a right, a fortiori, to lay it before the prefbytery where Mr Home of Athelstonford refided; that in fo doing they had fhewn, not only due attention to the interefts of religion, but refpect to the prefbytery of Haddington; and therefore moved, that the charge fhould be entered into their records, and the whole affair delayed till next meeting of prefbytery, in refpect of Mr Home's abfence: which was agreed to without a vote.- P. S. The prefbytery of Dalkeith met Feb. 1. Mr Car- P. S. On the 2d of February, the preflyle being abfent, they caused write to bytery of Glasgow came to the followhim to attend their next meeting; and ing refolution, and it was published in they fent a letter to the prefbytery of E- the new-papers, viz. "The prefbytery dinburgh, approving of their conduct, having feen a printed paper, intitled, and affuring them they would follow out An admonition and exhortation of the Refuch measures as were neceffary for fup- verend prefbytery of Edinburgh, which, aporting the interefts of religion.-mong other evils prevailing, laments None of the other prefbyteries who had been wrote to on this fubject, had met, when we received these accounts.

While the prefbytery of Edinburgh were thus employed, to reftrain perfons of the facred order from giving any countenance to dramatic entertainments, they were equally careful of their own flocks in this refpect. They drew up an admonition and exhortation on the fubject [18.], which was published foon after its date, and read from the pulpits Jan. 30.

the extraordinary and unprecedented countenance given of late to the playhouse in that city; and having good rea

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