30. At Blickling-hall in Norfolk, "the Countess of Buckinghamshire. 30. At Pennyland, in Caithnefs, Mr James Murray. 31. At Edinburgh, Mrs Jean Mercer, fpouse of Mr David Alves in Quebeck. PREFER MEN T S. The King has been pleased, Dec. 5. to appoint Samuel Mead, Edward Hooper, Henry Pelham, John Frede rick, Henry Bankes, Efqs, Sir William Mufgrave, Bt, Corbyn Morris and James Jeffreys, Efqs, together with Thomas Boone, Efq; in the room of Sir Jofeph Pennington, Bt, refigned, to be the Commissioners of the Customs in England. 9 to recommend John Hinchliffe, D. D. to be elected Bishop of Peterborough, in the room of Dr Robert Lamb, deceased. 19. to appoint Lewis Devifme, A. M. late fecretary to the embaffy in Ruffia, Mi nifter-Plenipotentiary to the Elector of Bavaria, and Minifter to the diet at Ratisbon, in the room of Fulke Greville, Efq; refigned. 23. to appoint William Earl of Dunmore to be Captain-General and Governor in Chief of his Majefty's province of New York, in Amerita. ift (or royal) reg. of dragoons: Henry George Liddell, Gent. is appointed to be Cornet, vice Richard Parry; by purchase. 15th reg. of dragoons: Capt.-Lieut. Edward Hamilton to be Captain, vice John Tonyn; by purchase. Ditto: Lieut. George Parkins to be Captain-Lieutenant, vice Edward Hamilton; by purchafe. Ditto: Corn. John Pritchard to be Lieutenant, vice George Parkins; by purchase. Ditto Jonadian Thomas, Gent. to be Cornet, vice John Pritchard; by purchase. Coldftream reg. of foot-guards: John Delap Halliday, Gent. to be Enfign, vice James O'Hara; by purchase. 17th reg. of foot: Enf. William John Darby to be Lieutenant, vice John Bridges Schaw, preferred; by purchase. to be Ditto James Wolfeley, Gent. Enfign, vice William John Darby; by pur chafe. 3 ft reg. of foot: Enf. Charles Green to be Lieutenant, vice John Darell, who refigns. Ditto: Capt.-Lieut. Edward Crofton to be Captain, vice Francis Vignoles, deceafed. Ditto: Lieut. Alexander Nefbitt to be Captain-Lieutenant, vice Edward Crofton. Ditto Enf. Hugh Watfon to be Lieute nant, vice Alexander Nefbitt. Royal American reg. of foot: Lt-Col. Auguftus Prevoft to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Lt-Col. Gabriel Christie. Prices of grain at Haddington, Jan. 12. 1770. Oats, Pease, Edinburgh, fan. 19. Oat-meal, 11 d. Bearmeal, 7 d. 2 f. Pease-meal, 7 d. 2 f. The Edinburgh bill of burials for December 1769. Within the Males 42 city Fem. 40S In the Weftkirk-yard Between 82 Males 25 134.Incr.26. Fem. 27 5/24 THE SCOTS M MAGAZINE. APPENDIX, 1769. CON T General TITLE-PAGE for the volume". The fentences against Mr WILKES affirmed the juftness of the decifion recommended 676. The fpeech of the Lord Prefident 677. and of the Lord Juftice-Clerk 688. State of the vote and voters in the court of feflion 699. The fpeech of the Lord Cr C-n 699. Lords protest 713. Lamentable effects of the diftemper among the HORNED CATTLE in the United Provinces 713. • Prefixed to Jan. Mag. in the binding. Ε NT S. HISTORICAL AFFAIRS. An ifland difcovered in the South feas by the Sieur Bougainville 714. The Pope thrown from his horfe in a folemn proceflion ib. A prefent from a Nabob ib. Paoli arrives in London ib. A Ruffian flect on the English coaft ib. Murder of Capt. Henderion ib. Trial of the murderers ib. Maflacre of Capt. O'Hara, &c. 715. Importation of hides prohibited ib. and of hay and ftraw 715. Judgement in a cafe of literary property ib. Judgements for bribery and riots at elections ib. A fecond bi!! found against M'Quirk ib. Fiel ding's advertisement to country-magiftrates ib. Marine fociety's compliment to Mr Hanway 717. The Runy-Mead articles of 1215 prefented to the British Mufeum ib. Annual MORTALITY BILLS 718. INDEX to the Eflays, Extracts, Books, Hiftorical Affairs, &c. to the Poetry. to the Marriages, Births, Deaths, and Preferments. The King's Speech to both houses of Par liament, on Tuesday, Jan. 9. 1770. My Lords, and Gentlemen, I Tis with much concern that I find myfelf obliged to open this feffion of parliament with acquainting you, that the distemper among the horned cattle has lately broke out in this kingdom, notwithstanding every precaution that could be used for preventing the infection from foreign parts. Upon the first notice of its actual appearance, my next attention was, to endeavour to stop, if pofiible, its farther progrefs; and as the fuccels of thofe endeavours muft, in all probability, have been entirely defeated by any the leaft degree of delay in the application of them, I thought it abfolutely neceflary, VOL. XXXI. with the advice of my privy council, to give immediate directions for every step to be taken, that appeared most capable of checking the initant danger of the fpreading of the infection, until I could have an opportunity of confulting my parliament upon fome more permanent meafures, for fecuring us against to great a calamity: And to your immediate and ferious confideration I earnefly recommend this very important obje&. I have given my parliament repeated afurances, that it has always been me fixed purpose to preferve the general tranquillity; maintaining, at the fame time, the dignity and honour of my rest, 10gether with the just rights and interefts of my people. The uncommon burthens, which my fubjects have to me to chearfully, 42 in in order to bring the late war to a happy conclufion, must be an additional motive to make me vigilant to prevent the prefent disturbances in Europe from extending to any part, where the fecurity, ho nour, or intereft of this nation may make it neceffary for my crown to become a party. The affurances which I receive from the other great powers, afford me reafon to believe, that my endeavours will continue to be fuccessful. I fhall ftill make the general interefts of Europe the object of my attention; and, while I fteadily fupport my own rights, I fhall be equally careful not to acknowledge the claims of any other powers contrary to the limita tions of the late treaties of peace. It is needlefs for me to recommend to the serious attention of my parliament the state of my government in America. I have endeavoured, on my part, by every means, to bring back my fubjects there to their duty, and to a due fenfe of lawful authority. It gives me much concern to inform you, that the fuccefs of my endeavours has not anfwered my expectations; and that, in fome of my coJonies, many perfons have imbarked in measures highly unwarrantable, and calculated to deftroy the commercial connection between them and the mothercountry. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have ordered the proper estimates for the fervice of the current year to be laid before you. I am perfuaded that your affection for my perfon and government, and your zeal for the public good, will induce you to grant fuch supplies as are neceffary; and you may be affured, that, on my part, they fhall be managed with the ftricteft oeconomy. My Lords, and Gentlemen, As the welfare and profperity of my people have always been the object of my withes, and the rule of my actions; fo I am perfuaded, from my experience of your conduct, that you will be governed in your proceedings by the fame principles. My ready concurrence and fupport, in eve ry measure that may ferve to promote those ends, you may always depend upon. Op you it will be now, more than ever. incumbent, most carefully to avoid all heats and animofities amongst yourselves; and to cultivate that fpirit of harmony which becomes those who have but one common object in their view, and which may be most likely to give authority and efficacy to the refult of your delibera tions. Such a condu& on your part will, above all things, contribute to maintain in their proper luftre, the ftrength, the reputation, and the profperity of this country; to strengthen the attachment of my fubjects to that excellent conftitution of government from which they derive fuch diftinguifhed advantages; and to cause the firm reliance and confidence which I have in the wisdom of my parliament, as well as in their zeal for the true interest of my people, to be justified and approved both at home and abroad. Poftponed Hiftorical Articles. An appeal was entered by Mr Wilkes, from the judgements pronounced against him in the court of king's-bench [xxx. 374.]. After a full hearing, the opinion of the judges having been asked, Sir John Eardly Wilmot, Lord Chief Juftice of the court of Common Pleas, delivered himfelf to the following effect: That if either he, or any of the other judges, had entertained the least doubt, they would have delayed giving any opinion at this time; but as they were all unanimous, he would deliver it now; which was, That they found, that all the proceedings against Mr Wilkes in the court of king's-bench were regular and legal. So both judgements were affirmed by the house of Lords on the 16th of January 1769. Two other articles relating to this gentleman fall to be recorded, as they are the grounds of the proceedings a gainst him. The first is, his introduction to the copy of Lord Weymouth's letter to Justice Ponton, publifhed in the St James's Chronicle of Saturday, Dec. 10. 1768, addressed, To the Printer of the St James's Chronicle, and dated, December 10. 1768, which was feverely censured by the house of Commons [339], viz. "SIR, I fend you the following authentic state-paper, the date of which, prior by more than three weeks to the fatal 10th of May, fhews how long the horrid maffacre in St George's fields had been planned and determined upon, before it was carried into execution, and how long a hellish project can be brooded over by fome infer nal fpirits, without one moment's remorfe.". The letter thus characterifed has been already inferted. [352.] The next is bis fpeech in the houfe of Commons, Feb, 2, 1769, after Mr Speak 2 er had read the charge [339], viz, "Mr SPEAKER, I acknowledge that I tranfmitted to the prefs the letter of the fecretary of state, and that I wrote and publifhed the prefatory remarks to it; hand, Sir, whenever a secretary of state fhall dare to write fo bloody a fcroll, I will through life dare to write such prefatory remarks, as well as to make my appeal to the nation on the occafion. I ask pardon, Sir, that I made ufe of too mild and gentle expreffions, when I mentioned so wicked, so inhuman, so coward. ly a maffàcre, as that in St George's fields on the 10th of May. I pledge myself to the house, that whenever a day fhall be appointed to make this important inquiry, I will bring evidence here to prove the truth of every word I have afferted. I hope the house, Sir, will fend for Mr Ponton, and examine him, whether he did or did not receive that letter from the secretary of state. If he answers in the affirmative, I am fure, from the virtue of this house, that they will immediately order an impeachment against the fecretary to be carried up to the bar of the house of Peers."Mr Wilkes was ordered to withdraw. He defired the indulgence of the house to be in the gallery; which was refused. He withdrew. He was called in. Mr Wood, a member, said, “I have compared the printed letter with the draught of letters in the secretary of state's office, and it is the fame as Lord Weymouth writ to Mr Ponton. It is very faithfully and accurately copied. Mr Ponton acknowledged the receipt of the letter the day after." Mr Onflow told the house, that Mr Ponton had acknowledged the receipt of it to him. Mr Wilkes then "pledged himself to the house, to produce evidence at the bar in fupport of the charge respecting the maffacre in St George's fields, whenever the house would please to go into that inquiry, which he faid he hoped would be very speedily, in order to quiet the minds of the people."-He was directed to withdraw. The house proceeded to the bearing of the matter. Mr Wilkes was brought in. Mr Speaker acquainted him, That the charge was founded upon the evidence of Henry Baldwin and Jolin Swan, who were examined at the bar of the house upon the 19th of December last, and were now attending at the door, and were ready to be again examined in the prefence of Mr Wilkes. Whereupon Mr Wilkes " a second time acknowledged to the house, that he tranfmitted to the press the letter mentioned in the charge, and that he wrote the introduction to the copy of the faid letter; and offered again to bring evidence to the bar to prove the truth of the charge of the late maffacre." He was directed to withdraw. The refolu tion of the house has been already inferted. [339.] "London, Oct. 27. Lord Bute is gone for a few days to Luton to fettle his affairs, and then he will fet out for Bareges again. His Lordthip is in a very bad ftate of health, has a violent and conftant pain across his ftomach, and labours under a total loss of appetite. Ever fince his return to England [444.] he has lived on vegetables." He let out accordingly in a fhort time after. The curious have been engaged this year by the appearance of a new comet. "Paris, Aug. 21. The Sieur Meffieur, aftronomer to the navy, made a difcovery of a new comet the 8th inftant, about eleven o'clock at night. This is the tenth comet that this aftronomer has difcovered within thefe ten years. It appeared in the constellation of the Ram, between the 24th, 29th, and 31st stars of that conftellation, according to the British catalogue. In the night of the 14th inftant, it was feen again very diftinctly with the naked eye; and its tail appeared to be about fix degrees in length. London, Aug. 30. Yesterday mor ning the comet was obferved by Mr Duns, and found to be within nine degrees and a quarter of Aldebaran, and fourteen degrees and an half of the Pleiades, in the fouthern part of Taurus. Its nucleus and coma are remarkably well defined, and the whole extent of its tail more than fourteen degrees, reaching beyond Mencar in the jaw of the Whale, and lying in a direct oppofition to the fun, and it feems to be proceeding to its perihelion.” "Lees, near Coldfream, Aug. 29. lat. 55. 38. 30. N. long. 2. 24. W. of Greenwich. A comet was oblerved here the night before laft. This morning, at half an hour after one, a. m. I meafured the distance of the nucleus of the comet from the following flars, with a Hadley's fextant of nine-inch radius; which were as follows, without being cleared from refraction. From Aldebaran, 9 deg. 3 min. 30 fec. From the bright far in the Pleiades, comet's distance from Lyra was 52 deg. 28 min. and from the brightest star in A. quila 56 deg. 7 min. refraction included; therefore it is near the Equator, on the left fide of Serpentarius. From the time of its difappearance, Sept. 15. it has been purfuing its former course, paffing a little north of the Hydra's Heart, through the northern part of the brim of Crator, and palling by Spica Virginis, and through the northern part of the Balance, and through the Serpent to Serpentarius, purfues its courfe eastward, at the rate of a degree per day. To the author of the SCOTS MAGAZINE. "London, Sep. 14. The comet continues its former courfe through the heavens, at the rate of about five degrees and a quarter per day. Yesterday morning, before the beginning of twilight, it was observed to be a little fouth of the Equator, and its tail more than 42 deg. ftretching through the girdle of Orion. At this time the distance of the comet from the fun is 57,000,000 miles, the co-ed two or three of the speeches of the met's distance from our earth 40,000,000 miles, the comet's distance from its perihelion 70,000,000 miles, the length of its whole tail 30,000,000 miles; it moves now per day 4,500,000 miles; it will move in its perihelion per day 8,000,000 miles, and in its perihelion will be thirtyfive times as hot as the heat of the fun at the equinoctial line on our earth. "London, Sept. 18. The comet could not be seen later than laft Friday morning. It is now purfuing its former courfe through the heavens, but rifes and fets fo nearly with fun-beams, that it is at prefent obfcured and invisible to almost all parts of the habitable world. About a fortnight hence, in the evening, it may be looked for between Spica Virginis and the Balance, in its course towards Serpentarius and Pegafus, till towards the end of October." “ London, Oct. 26. On Monday night the comet was observed again, between fix and seven, at the Royal observatory at Greenwich; when it was in 18 deg. 30 min. of Scorpio, and in 17 deg. N. lat. with a fhort, broad, faint tail." 66 London, Oct. 30. The comet, which fix weeks ago disappeared, hath, during that time, been pursuing its vaft track round the fun, and having in thefe fix weeks time moved 220 million miles, appears again. Oct. 26. & 28. in the evening, between fix and seven o'clock, Mr Dunn faw it, and obferves thereon as follows. Oct. 28. at 6 h. 28 min. the judges: and I fubmit it to your confide ration, whether you should not still do this before you conclude the volume for the year in which that great cause was finally determined. [ro8.] As every method competent for obtaining juftice has been used, a cordial acquiefcence in the juftness of this decifion may reasonably be expected. The judges who voted against Mr Douglas, expressed their regret for being obliged in confcience to do fo; it will therefore give them pleasure to find their opinion finally over-ruled; for what we wish to be true, we easily believe.I am, &c. E. R. [We are entirely of Mr E. R.'s opinion. The Speeches of the two judges of higheft rank in both parts of the united kingdom, would, we prefume, be a fufficient specimen. -Thofe of the Scottish judges were taken very accurately by Mr William Anderson, and published (as we believe may be properly enough faid) by authority. We therefore infert two [peeches from Mr Anderson; to which full credit may be given.-Šo much, however, cannot be faid for the fpeeches of the English judges; of which we have feen different copies. One of them we infert, from the best copy we have seen of it. The other we defer, in hopes we may procure a more correct copy than we have yet feen : and any gentlemen poffeffed of copies of it, are requested to favour us with a fight of them, that our readers may get the bell that can be had.] The |