not depart from his preceding declaration, it was because he thought this claim had no foundation in the treaties fubfifting between him and the republic. Besides, thould the perfons concerned in this trade even be able to wreft the fenfe of treaties fo as to deceive their friends, and make the obtructing of it by England pafs for a grie. vance; ftill his Majefty is perfuaded that their High Mightineffes will fee with plea fure that his Majefty fets afide the difcuffion of that treaty, which is connected with fo many others, and fets himself wholly to do the fubjects of his ancient allies all the fervice, and to grant them every favour that fhall not notably prejudice the welfare and fafety of his people. It is in this light that his Majefty confiders the trade, directly or indirectly, to the French colonies in Ame rica. His Majefty is at war with the Moft Chriftian King: He cannot hope to get out of it with fafety, or obtain a fpeedy and lafting peace, which is his Majefty's fole aim, if the Princes who have declared themfelves neuter, instead of contenting themfelves with trading as ufual, without any rifk, affume a right of carrying on that trade of the King's enemies, which is not allowed them in time of peace. The injuftice of this proceeding is too apparent to require more to be faid on it: One may venture to appeal to your High Mightineffes own conduct, in the like cafe: A trade of this nature was never fuffered by you; and it has been oppofed by the falus populi in all countries, in like circumftances. His Majefty fees with pleasure the trade of his neighbours flourish, and would behold its increase with fatisfaction, if its profperity were not repugnant to this primary law. But he likewife perfuades himfelf, that never, for the fake of fome tranfient profit to individuals, will his ancient allies be the first to injure England in this effential part. Confidering the thing in this light, I cannot doubt but that your High Mightineffes will give the King the pleafure to hear that they, for their fubjects, have honestly abandoned it, and that this tumbling-block is for ever removed. In fettling this point, his Majesty commands me to include in it the change, commonly called overfcheepen, which is made of a French veffel into a Dutch veffel, when the former dares not continue her courfe; and endeavours to fave herself by carrying neutral colours, in order to avoid feizure at fea by the King's fhips. Your High Mightinelles, while you acknowledge the juftice of my firft demand, cannot refuse the fecond; fince that would be to declare, that you treat with good faith, whilft, at the fame time, a more dangerous door would be left for fraud. Such a conduct is unworthy of the equity of your High Mightineffes, especially in the prefent cafe, when the question is the prevention of any subject of future difpute, and the restoration of harmony and good neighbourhood between the two powers. The laft point of my inftructions, which relates to the amicable demands made by his Majefty to your High Mightineffes, requires a more minute confideration. I cannot enter upon that fubje&t yet, but referve it till afterwards. I muft, nevertheless, obferve to you, that the King has feen, not without pain, yet without giving them any moleftation, a great number of Dutch ships pafs by his harbours, fince the commencement of the war, laden with all forts of materials for building and repairing the enemy's fleet. His Majefty afks that certain articles of naval ftores may be comprehended in the clafs of contraband: But he will fo fettle it with your High Mighti neffes, as that the inoffenfive trade of your fubjects to the north of Europe (if I may ufe that term) fhall not be involved in this article. Your High Mightineffes, who are yourfelves a maritime power, and know how to contend for and defend your prero gatives as fuch, muft always allow, that, the prefent war against France, it is both the King's intereft, and his duty, not only to hinder the marine of his enemy from becoming too formidable, but also to employ all means to weaken it. Can it be dif puted that naval stores are not, in this view, as prejudicial as balls and gunpowder ? Let France be without fhips, and her warlike ftores will never make England uneafy. The importance of this article is fo evident, that the King ventures to refer it to the judgment of your High Mightineffes. Thefe, my Lords, are my intruc tions with regard to the fatisfaction which the King would think himself intitled to require from the friendship and justice of the republic, if he had no other foundation for his claim. But I have already informed you, that it is his Majefty's fincere defire to unite his own fafety with the convenience of your High Mightineffes; which makes it unneceffary for me to enlarge on this head. In this reprefentation of the points on which I have orders to infit with your High Mightinefies, I have endeavoured to follow the method which you yourselves have begun begun to put in practice; that is to fay, firit to ftate the claim, and afterwards propofe the expedients. I come now to the articles of your refolutions of the 25th of September laft. 1. As to the demand contained in the firt article, I must oblerve to your High Mightineffes, that this very treaty, which you fo ftrongly infit on, prefcribes the manner of proceeding in cafe of feizure or detention; and that you cannot claim the exercife of an extrajudicial power by his Majefty, whofe hands are tied, with regard to his own fubjects, by the laws, and, with regard to foreigners, by treaties. If there have been any irregular fentences, either the Judge must have been inifled by appearances at the hearing of the caufe, or delays were made, of which there was just reafon to complain. The fupreme Court, eltablished for judging in the last refort, hath always been ready to revife and correct abuses, if at any time any could be difcovered, in the fentences of the inferior Courts, But your High Mightineffes will give me leave to obferve, that it is very extraordinary, that not one appeal hath yet been thrown in, notwithfanding the affurances given to your High Mightineffes by many perfons. This is a fact at which every body in England is aftonished; and, doubtlefs, had the appellants been defirous to be heard, the number of complaints would have been greatly diminished. Mean while, to affift and relieve the fubjects of your High Mightineffes as much as poffible, and to avoid confounding the innocent with the guilty, his Majefty hath just now ordered an exact lift to be delivered to him of all the Dutch veffels detained in his harbours, in order to call thofe to an account who may have brought them in on frivolous pretences; to oblige them to releafe them, and to hatten the finishing of the trials in general. If there remains any thing more to be done, for the farther facility and fecurity of the navigation of the republic, it will readily be agreed to by his Majefty. The nation is defirous to fecond the King's good intentions on this head. I flatter myself, that thefe affurances will be fufficient to diffipate thofe ill-grounded fears which poffefs certain perfons in thefe Provinces. A mutual confidence, and a defire to avoid any fubject of animofity, are highly requifite in treating of matters of fuch importance, and of fuch a complicated nature. II. As to the fecond article of the faid refolution, I almoft dare venture to affure your High Mightineffes, that, if you cordially intereft yourfelves in his Majefty's fituation in the prefent war, and discover a a readiness to grant the points which he thinks he hath a right to require of you, you will receive all poffible fatisfaction and fecurity. It is his Majefty's intention, that the fubjects of your High Mightineffes fhould fully enjoy all the privileges and immunities refulting from the treaty of 1674. fo far as the tenor of it is not derogated from by the prefent accommodation. III. As to the third article, as foon as your High Mightineffes fhall have agreed with his Majefly on the points which I have mentioned in his name, it will be easily fettled. IV. The fourth article contains complaints, for which perhaps there is too much foundation, by the violences committed by English privateers, or velfels pretending to be fuch. His Majefty is fincerely grieved, that fuch diforders fhould have been com mitted, to the difgrace of his fubjects. The whole nation join with the King in endea vouring to fupprefs thofe robberies. I take the liberty to communicate to you the orders iffued by the Admiralty of Great Bri tain against fuch honour of the and, for the of London, I must add the advertisement, published by them, offering a reward for difcovering the offenders. His Majefty intreats your High Mightineffes to affift him on this occafion, by exhorting your fubjects to bring to juftice the authors of thofe offences; in which they may depend on the utmost protection and encouragement. As to the reft, the King is aftonifhed, that, after fo many ap plications made here for obtaining proofs of the facts alledged, not one, notwithstanding the reward offered, has gone over to England to give evidence. I take the liberty to refer to the content of my first article, for an answer to the fifth refolution of your High Mightineffes; only adding, that his Majelty will with pleature agree to any method that thall be proposed to him, for authenticating the genuineness of hip papers, in which point too many abules have been committed. A Propofal for laying a TAX on BATCHELORS." THO HOUGH a propofal to tax batchelors above a certain age may at first fight appear ludicrous, yet a clofer atten tion may, perhaps, difcover in it both propriety and advantage. Celibacy, in men, is one of the growing evils evils of the age; productive of vice of almoft every fpecies; injurious in many cafes to the party; and a living act of injustice to the other fex, to the ftate, and to pofterity. Every fingle woman becomes intrinfically more valuable, the more women are married: Confequently, Fewer will be exposed to feduction, the profpect of being married being thereby increased. And, as fingle men neither contribute their proper fhare, in a lawful manner, to the raising subjects, nor are burthened with families, yet are capable of enjoying all places of honour, profit, or truft, equally with married men; they feem, on the prefent exigency of affairs, very proper to be called upon to discharge some part of a debt they owe to the public. It is not apprehended that a 'moderate tax, and such only is propofed, will induce many to marry. But a kind of infamy, that will be insenfibly affixed to thofe who rather chufe to pay than to marry, will operate very strongly upon many, and induce them to get over little difficulties, rather than subject themfelves to the ridicule that will inevitably be difpenfed with great liberality by the fex, the married people, and perhaps from year to year by the Collectors. The articles of convenience and pleasure have, at least many of them, been fubjected to proper taxes: The landed and trading intereft bear as heavy fhares of the burthen as they can, confiftent with the national good. It is therefore humbly propofed, That a tax be laid upon all unmarried men above the age of twenty-five, those in the army and navy excepted. In order to the more easy affeffment, let the whole be divided into fix claffes : It, Noblemen, of the first rank to be affeffed at 20 pounds per annum. 2d, Great and opulent Commoners, 10 pounds per annum. 3d, People of the firft eminence in law, phyfic, and merchandise; and all places in church and ftate, of 500 l. per annum, or upwards, at 5 pounds per annum. 4th, Common Gentlemen, the head of the yeomanry, and all places in church and ftate, above hool. per annum, at 2 pounds per annum. 5th, Common farmers, tradefmen, and inferior places in church or fate, at 10 fhillings per annum. 6th, Day-labourers, artificers, and mechanics, at 4 fhillings per annum. This tax to be laid by the Affeffors of the land-tax and windows, and gathered by the Collectors of land tax and windowmoney, who are to have the fame poundage, upon the tax propofed, as the other. The Surveyors of windows for the Crown to infpect this tax, and make surcharge, if neceffary. Each perfon to be taxed in fome of the above ranks, and may appeal to the Commiffioners of the above taxes: No appellant to obtain relief, but by degrading himfelf to a lower rank. No new Officers are propofed, but a large fum raised without any additional expence, fave a small falary to the Surveyor of windows. This tax will be much eafier upon the taxed, than the expence of families, and not an equivalent to the public for the effects of their celibacy. Whoever finds himfelf aggrieved by it, hath his remedy at hand; marry. Thofe too old will object; but it is high time for fuch to begin to pay a debt they have long owed their country. It is generally allowed this kingdom contains about nine millions of people, and, if we admit that every eighteenth perfon comes within the defcription, the number of taxables will be half a million; this eftimate in reality is much below the truth. If we place the medium of the tax at 40 s. per head, the amount will be one million, which it seems very probable would accrue from it; no contemptible fum, and to be raised from perfons who cannot but be able, and ought to be made willing, to pay it. *If there be eight millions of people in England, and we fuppofe every 32d perfon is a fingle man above the age of twenty-five, there will be 250,000 taxables. If we rate these upon an average at 40 s. per head, the amount will be 500,000l. per ann. But it is prefumed, that fcarce twenty perfons can any where be counted, as they occur, but there will be one or more taxables amongst them, in which cafe the amount will be increafed in proportion. The Political State of EUROPE, &c. From the GAZETTE, December 30. Florence, Dec. 9. N the first inftant, by the violent rains that we had for fome days paít, the Arno fwelled fo much, that it overflowed the lower part of the town, by which feveral houfes received confiderable damage, and great quantities of provifions were deftroyed; but the damage has been fill greater in the country, where whole diftricts have been laid under water. The Emperor Emperor, as an encouragement to people, to fettle in the fuburbs of Leghorn, has caused an edit to be published, by which many privileges and exemptions are granted to thefe who fhould fix there. Hamburg, Dec. 22. Count Dohna arrived at Mirou, a town in the dutchy of Mecklemburg Strelitz, on the 17th inftant, with a very confiderable body of men. He is to join General Manteuffel's corps, and purfue further operations against the Swedes, who are retreating in hafte towards Stralfund. The greatest part of the Ruffian army is retired back as far as royal Prafia; the reft will winter in the environs of Thorn, Marienwerder, and the banks of the Viftula. January 13. Petersburg, Dec. 8. Wednesday laft, being the anniversary of the Emprefs's acceffion to the throne, there was a very numerous Court in the morning, and at night her Majesty supped with her life-guard; there was a fupper likewife in the great Duke's apartment for the foreign Minifters, and the perfons of the first two claffes. Upon that occafion her Majefty was pleased to give the blue ribband of Ruffia to the three Generals in chief, Soltikow, Fermor, and Brown; of which the firft only was prefent, and the order of St. Alexander Newski was conferred on the Lieutenant-generals, Glebow, Weieykow, and Prince of Georgia; and M. Glebow, Procureur of the Semate, had the order of St. Anne given him by the great Duke. Hamburg, Jan. 5. Count Dohna has advanced with the Pruffian army under his command, through the dutchy of Mecklenburg into Swedish Pomerania, and, as it is reported, had taken poffeffion of the town of Damgarden, after a refiftance of fome hours. January 16. Lisbon, Dec. 30. A moft dangerous and wicked confpiracy against the life of his Moft Faithful Majefty having been happily discovered, a confiderable number of perfons have been arrefted by the King's order, of whom the following are the principal, viz. Whitehall, Jan. 20. Yesterday a mail arrived from New York, which brings an account of the fuccefs of his Majefty's arms on the river Ohio; and the following extract of a letter from Brigadier-general Forbes to the Commander in chief of his Majefty's forces in North-America, dated from Fort Du Quefne, November the 26th and 30th, contains the only particulars as yet received of that important event. 'I have the pleasure of acquainting you with the fignal fuccefs of his Majefty's arms over all his enemies on the Ohio, by having obliged them to burn and abandon their Fort Du Quefne, which they effectuated upon the 24th inftant, and of which I took poffeffion with my light troops the fame evening, and with my little army the next day.The enemy made their efcape down the river, part in boats, and part by land, to their forts and fettlements upon the Miffifippi, having been abandoned, or, at least, not feconded by their friends the Indians, whom we had previously engaged to act a neutral part, after thoroughly convincing them in feveral fkirmishes, that all their attempts upon our advanced pofte, in order to cut off our communica tion, were vain, and to no purpose; so they now feem all willing, and well difpofed to embrace his Majefty's most gracious protection. Give me leave therefore to congratulate you upon this important event, of having expelled the French from Fort Du Quefne, and this prodigious tract of fine rich country; and of having in a manner reconciled the various tribes, and nations of Indians, inhabiting it, to his Majefty's Government.' So far I had wrote you the 26th, but being feized with an inflammation in my ftomach and liver, the fharpest and most severe of all diftempers, I could proceed no farther; and, as I have a thousand things to fay, have ordered Major Halkett down the country, in order to explain the motives upon which I proceeded, and the various and almost infurmountable difficulties I had to grapple with. I fhall leave this place as foon as I am able to ftand, but God knows when, or if ever, I reach Philadelphia.' I expect the heads of all the Indians in here to-morrow, when I hope very foon to finish with them.' land were extraordinarily affembled; and, upon the notification of this event being made to them, they proceeded to confirm the regulations that had been made for the minority of the Stadtholder; and his Highness Prince Lewis of Brunfwic was invited to affift in the Affembly of Holland, where he was received and feated with all the refpect poffible, and took the oaths, as reprefenting the Captain-general of the Union. After which, his Highness communicated to the Affembly the act of her Royal Highness, by which he was appointed Guardian of her children; and that, in confequence of it, he had taken care of their perfons, and would provide for every thing belonging to them. This ceremony being over, Prince Lewis was likewife invited to the Affembly of the States-general. A refolution was prepared and taken by their High Mightineffes, whereby they acknowledge and agree to the refolution of Holland, relative to Prince Lewis's reprefenting the Captain-general. Every thing paffed with great order and tranquillity, and to the fatisfaction of the people. In the evening the different colleges of the government made formal deputations to the Prince of Orange and Princefs Caroline, who were af. fifted by Prince Lewis as their Guardian and Reprefentative, and who anfwered in their prefence for them both. Her Royal Highness was 49 years, 2 months, and ro days old, being born the 2d of November, 1709. The 25th of March, 1734, the was married to William-Charles-Henry-Frifo, Prince of Orange and Naffau, by whom he had two children; Prince William, hereditary Stadtholder of the United Provinces, born the 8th of March, 1748; and Princess Carolina, born the 28th of February, 1743. Her children have loft a most tender mother; the perfons of her court a mild and grateful miftrefs; the poor a liberal benefactor; and religion a model of piety and virtue. She preferved till the last an admirable prefence of mind, calmness, and magnanimity. She poffeffed the happy fecret to make herfelf univerfally beloved by all ranks of people, fo that her death is not only regretted by her family and friends, but by all good patriots. A little before the expired, the fent for the Prince and Princefs her children, embraced them with the utmoft tenderness; told them the was going to leave them for ever; but fhe hoped God would protect them: Then took her leave of them in the most moving manner. The day after her deceafe her will was opened, by which her Royal Highness has appointed. the King of Great Britain, her father, and the Princess Dowager of Orange and Naliau, mother of the late Prince her husband, to be honorary tutor and tutorefs of her children; and Prince Lewis of Brunfwic-Wolffenbuttle. Field-marthal of the Dutch forces (elder brother of Prince Ferdinand, who commands the Allied army) to be acting tutor and adminiftrator of the estates and effects of the Houfe of Orange, during the minority of the Prince. The tutelage, with regard to the Stadtholderhip of the feveral Provinces of the Union, is conferred by her will on the following perfons: For the province of Guelders, on Baron Schimmelpenning vander Oyen; for the fouth quarter of Holland, Baron Waffenaer, Lord of Catwyk ; and for the northern quarter, Mr. Abbekerk Crap, Burgomafter of the town of Hoorn; for Zealand, Baron Borffele; for the province of Utrecht, Baron Ablaing, Lord of Gieffenburg; for Frifeland, M. Burmania, Burgomafter of the town of Dockum ; for the province of Overyffel, Baron Heyde, Lord of Otmaffum; and for that of Groningen, M. Iddekinge. A little before her death fhe had afked, in writing, the confent of the States-general to the marriage of the Princefs Carolina with the Prince of Naffau Weilbourg. The Account of the Engagement (in the London Gazette of the 23d of January, 1759) that happened, the 3d of November, 1758, to the Leeward of Montferrat, between his Majesty's Ship Buckingham and three French Men of War, is little different from the Account in our Supplement, Vol. XXIII, Page 354, except in the following Particulars, delivered in a Letter from Captain Tyrrell to John Moore, Efq; Commander in Chief, &c. at the Leeward Inlands: Our men were very cool, took good aim, were under very good difcipline, and fought with a true English fpirit. An unlucky broadfide from the French made fome flaughter on my quarter-deck, in which I got wounded, lofing three fingers of my right hand, and a fmall wound over my right eye, which, by the effufion of blood, blinded me for a little while: I at the fame time got several contufions over my body by splinters; but I recovered immediately, and would not go off deck till the lofs of blood began to weaken me. The Mafter and Lieutenant of marines got dangerously wounded at the fame time. I called to my people to ftand by and do their duty, which they promifed with the greateft chearfulness. I just ran down and got the blood flopped, and ran upon deck again; but, finding the training made my wounds bleed afresh, I fent for my First Lieutenant, and told him to take the command of the deck for awhile. He answered me that he would, and run alongfide the Floriffant, yard-arm and yard-arm, and fight to the last gafp; upon which I made a fpeech to the men, exhorting them to do their utmoft, which they chearfully promifed, and gave three cheers. I went down a fecond time, much more easy than before. Poor Mr. Marshal was as good as his word; he got board and board with the Floriffant, and received a broadfide from her, which killed him as he was encouraging the men and thus he died, an honour to his country and the fervice. The Second Lieutenant then came upon deck, and fought the hip bravely, yardarm and yard-arm.-It is impoffible to describe the uproar and confufion the French were in. |