ballotted on the 23d. The minute of Treafury is nearly in the following words. "My Lords can fee no reason to alter their former opinion with regard to the propofitions that were communicated to them from the court of directors; therefore, however willing they might have been to have concurred with the company in any reasonable qualification of any of the articles which are mentioned in the minutes of the board of the 15th day of December last, as proper to be made part of fuch agreement, in. which light they confider the propofition, that whenever the company's dividends fhall be reduced to 6 per cent. the payment to the public fhall be difcontinued; yet they can not give the court of directors any encouragement to expect, that this board will think themselves at liberty to recommend it to parliament to accept of any fuch propofal as fhall leave any of thofe articles wholly unprovided for." After which the court debated, till past four o'clock, when not coming to a determipation, they adjourned to that day fe'ennight.

On the 25th the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Worcester, Salisbury, Norwich, Oxford, and St Da. vid's, in their convocation-robes, attended by the Dean of Arches, the Civilians and Proctors, with many of the Clergy, went in proceffion from the Chapter houfe to St Paul's; where the Bishop of St David's read the Litany in Latin. Afterwards Dr Markham, Dean of Christ church, preached an elegant Latin fermon. Which being ended, the Archbishop, Bifhops, &c. returned to the Chapter house; and having fent a me 1age to the Lower House of Convocation, who were waiting in the Cathedral to chufe a Prolocutor, the Rev. Dr Thomas, Dean of Westminster, was elected, and approved of by their Lordships.

On Sunday, Jan. 22. Dr Hard preached at Lincoln's-inn chapel, the first fernon of a new leâure, inftituted by the Balop of Gloucefter, in defence of Chrifranty from the evidence arifing from the prophecies of the Old and New Teftament, chiefly as they are fuppofed to relate to the church of Rome. His Lordthip, we hear, has appropriated the fum of 500l. for the fupport of this lecture, which is to confift of four fermons in the year. The Sundays appointed for this purpose are thofe immediately preceding the terms. The preacher is to be nominated by the fociety of Lincoln's-inn,

Norwood in Surry, Dec. 23. We ha two fools in our neighbourhood, perhar worthy of notice for the oddity of th fubject-matter. A gentleman of fortur has made a propofition to a publican (1 neighbour), that he will build him a cav in which he fhall continue feven year without speaking to any perfon whateve except the perfon appointed to atten him. In confideration of which, the her mit is to receive a fufficiency of meat an drink for himself during his immurement his wife and children are to be allowe 12 s. per week during fuch his volunta bermitage, with a further provifo, th fhould he furvive the fame, the fum 100 l. per ann. fhould be conftantly pa to him, and the cell be his and his fam ly's property for ever; all which aṛtic are ratified on both fides, and the he mitage abfolutely began to be built, u on the above ridiculous (not to say pr fumptuous) terms. There are other a ticles, of which the two following are be most strictly observed; namely, th he is not to have any change of appare nor to cut his nails, nor to converte wi his attendant, otherwife than for nece faries, nor to be shaved, though his bea at prefent is more than a twelvemonth growth, and makes a frightful appea ance."

On the 18th of January, an Ekimau woman and her fon, lately brought ov b Com. Palifer, fom the Labrador coa North America, where they were take in the woods, cloathed in seal skins,

-hew

thewn to their Majefties at St James's. "Leeds, Jan. 17. By a gentleman juft come from Scarborough, we have the following remarkable intelligence. In the beginning of 1767, an eminent tradefman of that place, and in the 74th year of his age, married a young woman of little more than twenty, by whom the fame year he had a child. On Saturday the th inftant, fhe was again brought to bed, and, what is a little uncommon, yeflerday fen'night another child was born, and last Tuesday a third. Two of the children are fince dead; and, to add to the affliction, the mother, who was univerfally refpected, expired in a few hours after the laft child was brought into the world."

Rygate, in Surry, Jan. 20. A woman was last week delivered of a female child at Red Hill, near this place, whole forehead is in the fhape of a cone, which Tens up twice the height of that of a common infant, and is covered with hair as low as the eye-brows. Its fingers of both hands adhere firmly to each other; and one continued undivided nail binds them all at the extremities. The toes of both its feet adhere together, exactly in the fame manner as its fingers."

On Thursday, Jan. 12. between one and two o'clock in the morning, a ball of fire fell on Towerhill. It feemed to come from S. E. and was attended with a noile refembling that of thunder. Befides this meteor a fiery meteor iffued from the atmosphere, which was feen by four waggoners coming over Finchley common. It had fo great an effect on the cattle, that it was with difficulty they could keep the horses in their gears. It directed its courfe from north to fouth. Loudon, Jan. 5. A gentleman of event fortune at the west end of the town, who lately made his will, has directed, that after his death his body fhall be given to an eminent furgeon to make akeleton of, which is to be prefented, with a valuable collection of books and Cities, to the university of Leyden." On the 4th of January, the fociety if arts agreed to offer a premium for the cultivating the greatelt quantity, and giving a detail of the manner of cul. fore, of that new and valuable acquifition to the farmer, the turnip-rooted cabbage. The advantages of this plant over any other of the Braffica tribe are, that it en Cures the most severe froft without injuty, continues vegetating during the whole

fpring, and confequently affords food for cattle at a time when food is most want. ed.

"London, Fan 23. On a late calcula tion it appears, that the fums collected in the feveral parithes of England for the maintenance of the poor, including the expence of infirmaries, amount to 600,000 l. Sterling per ann.”

SCOTLAND.

On the 5th of October laft, a man who lived at a fmall distance from Aberdeen, having gone in to that city to get a midwife for his wife, when riding up the Gallowgate, he was affaulted, and pulled off his horfe, and in the fall his fcull was fractured, of which he died next day, leaving a wife and four children. On the 23d of January, Alexander Aberdein, cooper in Aberdeen, was tried before the high court of justiciary at Edinburgh, as guilty of or acceflory to the murder. After learned pleadings on the relevancy, the court reftricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment. The examination of the witneffes for the profecution having been finished, and one of the exculpatory witnesses for the pannel examined, Mr Solicitor declared, That as he had failed in his proof, he would not put the court to the trouble of examining any more witneffes. Upon which the jury having inclosed, returned a verdict, unanimously finding the pannel not guilty. Where upon he was affoilzied, and difmiffed from the bar. Andrew Thomfon, against whom the criminal letters were likewife execu- ' ted, did not appear.

William Sinclair of Rattar, Efq; was ferved heir-male to Alexander late Earl of Caithness [xxvii. 671.], before the macers of the court of fethion, on the 28th of November [xxi. 272.].

Ecclefiaftical proceedings. [xxx. 670.]

Jan. 25. The prefbytery of Edinburgh met in their ordinary courfe. None of the three commiflioners from the oommittee of the fynod of Glasgow and Air were prefent. But an extract of the fentence of that fyund, conftituting and impowering that committee to fit as a court, and try Mr Ferguson, was produ• ced by a member of the prefbytery, and laid before them, to fupply the deficiency complained of at their former meeting [xxx. 670.]. On the other hand there was produced, and read, a letter from

G 2

the

the moderator of the prefbytery of Irvine, figned in name, prefence, and by ap pointment of that prefbytery, requesting the pr. fbytery of Edinburgh, not to examine any witne fles in confequence of the requifition of the committee; because the fentence of the fynod of Glasgow, from which their powers were derived, was founded on a vitiated extract of the record. of the prefbytery of Irvine; becaufe the committee itself was an unconftitu. tional court; and their procedure in this caufe had been already fifted by a regular appeal to the allembly.

Upon this a long debate commenced. In fupport of the requifition of the committee, it was argued, That the prefbytery of Edinburgh had no proper or legal evidence before them, that any protefts or appeals had been entered against the fentence of the fynod of Glafgow; that the extract of that fentence lying before them, made no mention of any fuch appeals; and that the affertions of the prefbytery of Irvine in their letter were not intitled to equal regard: That fuppofing fuch an appeal had been made, it could not fift the procedure of the committee, but only the effect of their final fentence. The difference betwixt the form or mode of appeals in civil and ecclefiaftical courts, was accurately stated; and it was ar gued, that the greatest inconveniencies, in protracting proceffes, would, arife, from allowing appeals to have the fame effect in the laft as in the first.

In fupport of the expediency, and the conftitutional appointment of the committee, it was argued, That when a prefbytery were viably neglecting their dut, a fynod had no other way to compel them to it, but by appointing a compittee to a feparately from them, or in conjunction with them; that as the fynod could not fit long enough them felves to finish the tufinefs, there was a neceflity of granting power to their committee to do it: That at any rate it did not belong to the prefbytery of Edinburgh to enter into the merits of the cause, as it stood before the fynod: That requifitions of this kind, to examine witnefes extra fi nes, were made by one court to another every day, and always granted in com mon courfe: That bufinefs could never be ended, if they were refused, and the rea fons of refulal drawn from the merits of the caufe: That this might prejudicate the prefbytery when the caufe came to be tried in a higher court: and, That if

the merits of the caufe could not be jud ged of, the prefumption was evidently in favour of the court which had given judgement, and not of the party com plaining.

On the other hand, in oppofition to the requifition of the committee, it wa argued, That an appeal had been unque ftionably taken from that fentence of the fynod of Glasgow which appointed and impowered the committee to act; and that if no mention had been made of that appeal in the extract of the fentence be fore them, this extract was partial or de fective: That the committee, by proceed ing to execute a sentence which had beer appealed from, were acting contrary to the Form of Procefs, and the forms of al civil and ecclefiaftical courts; and the to grant their requifition, would be t affift and fupport them in this irregulari ty: That the protracting of proceßes b means of frivolous appeals, was a necef fary confequence of the fubordination o different courts: That the fentence o the fynod of Glasgow appeared ex ipfa fa cie unconftitutional, and contrary to tha moderation and caution prefcribed by th Form of Procels in herefy-causes! Tha the prefbytery of Edinburgh were no subject to the fynod of Glasgow, and un der no neceffity of affifting or concurrių with them in fuch a mealure: That the thing requested of them was a matter o favour, and not a matter of right: That they were at liberty to grant the favour. or refule it, according as appeared to them moft for edification: That to de cide in favour of the fynod, and againí the prefbytery, was to judge and decid upon the merits of the caule, as much a vice verfa: That the proper conduct o the prefbytery of Edinburgh, in this con troverted question, was, to remain neu ter, which was all that was asked by the prefbytery of Irvine: That granting the point doubtful, which of the two partie were in the right or in the wrong, the the confequences were more dangerou in joining iffue with the synod, and thei committee, fuppofing them in the wrong as this would expofe and hurt a minifter's character, than in yielding to the defire of the prefbytery, fuppofing them in the wrong, the worst confequence of which was, delaying the caufe for a few months.

This debate continued for fome hours; after which the question was put, "Grant the requifition of the committee, or Not?"

and

and it carried by a confiderable majority, "Not." The moderator was appointed to fignify this resolution by a letter to the committee.

Glasgow, Jan. 31. p. m. The fynod's committee met; prefent nine minifters two elders. Execution of fummons pro tertia was produced against the two witBelles refiding within the bounds of the prefbytery of Glasgow. Neither of them appeared. A letter was produced from one of them, fignifying, that though he did not take upon him to deny the legality of the court; yet as feveral diffents, protefts, and appeals, had been entered againft it; and as there was a numerous refpeftable body of clergymen on each Eide, neither of whom he wished to offend, be begged therefore to be excufed from appearing as a witnefs, till the appeals were difcuffed, and the legality of the court fully afcertained. This letter was allowed to be ingroffed into the minutes. The commithioners appointed to attend the prefbytery of Edinburgh were heard in excule for not having fulfilled this appointment, and their excufes fuftained. At the fame time information was given to the committee of the tranfmiffion of the extract of the fynod's fentence to the prefbytery of Edinburgh, and of the fate of their requifition there; which information was appointed to be ingroffed into the minutes.

The moderator reported, That he had written, according to appointment, to the moderator of the prefbytery of Irvine, =requiring an extract of their prohibition on the witneffes; but that no answer had been as yet received: That he had written likewife, according to appointment, to the Reverend witnefs, and member of that prefbytery, who had not declined their authority; and had received a letter from him, which was read, and in groffed, inclofing the prohibitory deed of that prefbytery, and fignifying that he highly difapproved of it. The gentleman bimfelf being occafionally in town, thought it proper to wait upon the committee. Obferving him prefent, they were doubtful at firt whether to receive him as a judge or a witness, the members of his prefbytery being members of the committee; but he himself declining to fit in the former capacity, he was heard in fup. port of the reafons alledged in his letters, for not giving evidence in this caufe. He reprefented, That he had confidered him self as excufed from this, by the letter he

had received from the committee; and begged to be excused, as he was but a fingle witness, and had a particular con⚫ cern in the caufe. He represented the delicacy of his own peculiar fituation, the light in which any forward conduct in him would be viewed by the world, and the obedience due to his own prefbytery, the extract of whofe prohibition he had produced. The cominittee having confidered and debated on thefe reafons, unanimously agreed to over-rule them, and ordered this witness. to be fummoned pro fecundo to a meeting to-morrow forenoon. P. S. Feb. 1. a. mi. Prefent the fame members who were at the former meeting. Execution of fummons was produ ced against the witnefs; who being called, compeared. The letter in the Scots Magazine, figned A. B. was read to him. He deponed, That he had received a let ter fome time ago at the prefbytery-dinner in Irvine [xxix. 175.], directed to himself, nearly the fame in fubftance, and figned by Mr Ferguffon, with a few lines added at the end, which he believed to be his hand-writ: That the Appendix' was not fubjoined to this letter: That the letter, by his permiflion, was read to the company. He was afked by a mem➡ ber or two, If Mr Ferguffon's health was drunk on that occafion? and, after fome hesitation, answered in the affirmative; but that it was at his the deponent's de fire. This question was not adopted by the committee, nor inferted into the minutes. The letter itself being demanded, he delivered it up, with the direction on a feparate bit of paper; both of which were marked by the fubfcription of the moderator and clerk.

The committee finding many difficulties thrown in their way, by the non-compearance of the witneffes, the interdict of the prefbytery of Irvine, and the refufal of the prefbytery of Edinburgh to exa mine the witneffes in their bounds, agreed to proceed no further in this caufe; and declining to judge in it as a committee, referved to themfelves power of judgement elsewhere. They appointed their moderator to lay a fair copy of their proceedings before the next fynod at Air, together with the original letters and papers. in this process; and in the mean time prohibited their clerk from giving out extracts of their minutes to any perfon, even to Mr Ferguffon, who having declined their jurifdiction, was not to be confidered as a party before them.

MAR

MARRIAGES.

Jan. 1769. In Ireland, William Murray, Efq; to Mifs Catharine Hamilton, fecond daughter of the Viscount Boyne.

12. At London, Robert Campbell, Efq; of Afknish, advocate, to Mifs Yates, young. eft daughter of Mayle Yates, late of Mag hull in Lancashire, Efq; deceased, and niece to Sir Joseph Yates, one of the Judges of the court of King's-Bench.

19. At Edinburgh, Mr James Frafer, Writer to the Signet, to Mifs Spalding, daughter of Alexander Spalding, Efq; of Holm.

26. At London, Edwin Sandys, Efq; eldeft fon of Lord 8andys, and member for Westminster, to Mrs King, of Finfhamstead, Northamptonshire, a widow-lady.

ter.

BIRTHS.

Dec. 15. At the palace of Noffa Senhora d'Ajuda, the Princefs of Brafil, of a daughThe chriftening was folemnized on the 21ft, at the palace of Ajuda; and the fponfors were, the Prince of Beira, and the Infanta Donna Marianna. The Cardinal Patriarch baptized the infant by the name of Marianna Victoria.

30. At his Lordship's houfe at Shellingford, Berkshire, the lady of Lord Afhbrook, of a fon.

Jan. 6. At the caftle of Leixlip, near Dublin, the Viscountess Townfhend, lady of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, of a fon.

12. At his Grace's houfe, London, the Duchefs of Athol, of a daughter.

18. At London, the lady of Col. Grant, of a daughter.

DEATHS.

Dec. 14. At Bath, Pryfe Campbell, Efq; a Lord of the Treafury, and member for Cardigan.

Jan. 1. Thomas Broderick, Efq; ViceAdmiral of the White, of a cancer in his face. 2. In Black Friars, Mrs Goodluck, aged 308 years.

3. Near the Weftgate, Newcastle, Anne Moulter, aged 103 years.

4. The Rev. Mr James Meyrick, known to the learned by his tranflation of Tryphiodorus, and his elaborate notes on that ancient author.

6. At London, Charles Sackville, Duke and Earl of Dorfet, Earl of Middlesex, P. C. His Grace was born Feb. 25. 1710-11, and in November 1744 married Mifs Boyle, onJy daughter and heir of the Vifcount Shannon in Ireland. His Grace is fucceeded in title and estate by his nephew, the Hon. John Frederick Sackville, fon of the late Lord John Philip Sackville, and the Lady

Frances his wife, daughter of the late Jol Earl Gower, whofe feat in parliament fo the county of Kent is thereby vacated.

10. At Duddingston, in the 86th year his age, Patrick Haldane of Gleneagles Efq;

12. At Dumfries, John Stewart, Efq; o Caftlestewart.

13. At London, in an advanced ag Archibald Dunbar of Newton, Esq;

14. Mrs Mead, mother-in-law to Joh Wilkes, Efq; By her death 100,000 1. de volves to Mrs Wilkes and her daughter.

16. At Edinburgh, Mrs Margaret Mur ray, daughter of the deceafed James Mur ray, Efq; of Philiphaugh, Lord Regifter o Scotland, and one of the Senators of th college of Justice.

At her houfe at Bodmin, in Cornwall Mrs Anne Richards, aged 103.

H

At Barcelona, Col. Butler, aged 95. was many years in the Imperial fervice and a relation of the late Duke of Ormond At Kilkenny, Mrs Catharine Motley, a ged 112 years.

At Dumerief, near Moffat, Mr John Wil liamson, the discoverer of Hartfield Spa. In Plunket-ftreet, Dublin, Bridget Toole aged 103 years.

19. Mrs Dreghorn, widow of Allan Dreg horn, Efq; of Ruchill.

20. At Edinburgh, of a few days illness, Mifs Jeanie Campbell of Shirvin.

25. At Newcastle, after a lingering illness, in the 81ft year of his age, Mr John White, printer, who, by clofe application to bufinefs, acquired a handfome fortune with a fair character. He was the oldest printer in England. He went from York to Newcafile in 1708, and was the first publisher of a news paper north of Trent, which he regularly continued under the title of the Newcoftle Courant to this time. In 1688-his father printed the Prince of Orange's manifefto in York, it having been refufed by all the printers in England, and for which he was fent a prifoner to Hull Caftle, where he was confined till the place furrendered. He was afterwards rewarded, by K. William's appointing him his Majefty's fole printer

for York and the five northern counties.

26. At Edinburgh, Mrs Either Jollie, widow of Mr George Cuningham, furgeon in Edinburgh.

29. Mr William Callender, merchant, and one of the prefent bailies of Edinburgh.

P. S. Feb. 2. At Edinburgh, Mr Peter Adie, furgeon in that city.

2. At his houfe at Stanmore in Middlefex, aged 82, Andrew Drummond, Efq; banker London.

3. At London, advanced in years, Ladydowager Litchfield, mother of the prefent Earl.