out in several parts of the province called Weft Flanders; a few diftricts of which (viz. Courtray, Furnes, Bruges, and pres), annually fupply their neighbours with 60 or 70,000 head of black cattle, of which Lifle alone confumes 12 or 14,000. In the diftrict of Courtray feveral infected cattle have been already killed; and this week the diftemper has appeared at Sevecote and St Peter's-Capelle, two villages not above two leagues from this town, where fix infected beafts have been killed. Notwithstanding which, and the unremitting attention of the perfons appointed in the beginning of laft year to fuperintend every thing relative to this contagion, it is apprehended from the defultory manner of its appearing at places remote from each other, that it may again become general in these provinces. The military cordon, eftablished on this frontier towards French Flanders on the breaking out of the former contagion, has not been removed; fo that there is no reason to think that it has been introduced by infection: it feems rather to proceed from the influence of the air, and the quantity of rain with which thefe low pafture-grounds have been overflowed for thefe laft three months." Lond. gaz.

66

Oftend, Jan. 19. The diftemper among the horned cattle, and the laughter of the infected, ftill continue, in different parts of this province and neighbourhood; and to this mode of prevention the committee hitherto feem refolved to adhere." UNITED Melancholy accounts ftill continue to be received from Surinam [xxxv. 342. 607.]. They fay, that the revolted neoes and natives break into the plantations of that colony, and destroy every thing in the most cruel manner; that above half of the troops fent thither laft year are already destroyed; and that the Commander had wrote to the StatesGeneral, that without a very confiderable reinforcement he would not be able to preferve that fettlement.

PROVINCES.

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The troubles in Sicily have determined a great number of people, among others the Prince de Butero and the Duke de Pena Forno, to take refuge in this city. Letters from Naples advife, that the King had strictly forbidden to fpeak of thefe tumults; and that fome fresh troops had been fent off to Palermo, where the populace ftill continued to keep poffeffion of the caftle, and would hear of no compofition, unlefs all their demands are previously granted."

Hague, Jan. 7. The fmall pox has made very great ravage in this province for feveral months paft, and ftill confinues to carry off great numbers; notwithstanding which, the faculty of Leyden are not yet cured of their ancient prejudices againft inoculation, and confequently prevent numbers from profiting by its happy effects.” Lond, gaz.

"Naples, Dec. 28. We have accounts of the arrival of Count Corofa at Palermo, with two battalions confifting of about 700 men; and that he has been well received, and lodged in the city; but that the maestranza are not inclined to give admittance to the troops, fo that they are quartered in the fuburbs. It is faid that the burghers, unless compelled by force, will not give up their ancient privilege of guarding the city of Palermo, nor fuffer the Duke Fogliani's return thither. They continue to call loudly for ratification of the indulto granted them by the Archbishop [xxxv. 608.]; and as they are faid to amount to 20,000 armed men, it may require time to reduce them to obedience." Lond. gaz.

BARBARY.

"Algiers, Oct. 30. The Moors in the neighbourhood of this city having again revolted, a body of troops commanded by the Bey of Conftantine attacked and routed them. That Bey has juft fent to this capital 60 heads, 400 pair of ears, and 50 prisoners."

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. The tea exported to America by the Eaft-India company, in pursuance of an act of parliament paft laft feffions [xxxv. 264.], has already produced a ferment throughout that continent, and is likely to be attended with more alarming confequences [xxxv. 664.]. The following accounts are inferted to fhew the beginning of troubles.

"New-York, Nov. 29. Capt. Couper is arrived here from London, in which ship came Col. Chriftie, of the Royal Americans. Capt. Couper informs us, that ten days before him failed a fhip for Boston,

with

emptied every cheft of tea on board the three fhips, commanded by the Caps Hall, Bruce, and Coffin, amounting to 342 chefts, into the sea, without the leaft damage done to the ships, or any other property. The mafters and owners are well pleased that their ships are thus cleared, and the people are almost univerfally congratulating each other on this happy event.

Capt. Loring, in a brig from London for this place, having 58 chefts of the detefted tea on board, was caft afhore on the back of Cape Cod last Friday fe'nnight. 'Tis expected the Cape Indians will give us a good account of the tea against our

next.

We are positively informed, that the patriotic inhabitants of Lexington, at a late meeting, unanimously refolved a gainft the ufe of bohea tea of all forts, Dutch or English importation; and, to manifeft the fincerity of their refolution, they brought together every ounce contained in the town, and committed it to one common bonfire."

"Charlestown, Nv. 20. The tea-affair makes great noife here, but nothing is yet done; it will be prevented landing, without doubt.

An inflammatory hand-bill was a few days ago diftributed in Philadelphia, addreffed to the Delaware pilots, informing them, that a fhip loaded with tea was on her way to that port, being sent out for the purpose of enflaving and poisoning all the Americans; and as the cannot be brought to anchor before that city with out their affiftance, exhorting them to prevent her arrival; they cannot be at a los how to act. As they have proved fcourges to evil-doers, it is predicted of the pilots, that they will give a faithful and fatisfactory account of the tea-fhip, if they fhould meet with her.

In this hand-bill they fay, It is clear, that if the Americans buy any of this tea, they must pay the parliament's duty, and acknowledge their right to tax us as often and as high as they think proper; than which nothing can be more difgraceful and injurious to a free people.'

"New-York, Dec. 6. The following notice has been dispersed about this city. "Whereas our nation have lately been informed, that the fetters which have been forged for us by Great Britain, are hourly expected to arrive in a certain hip, belonging to or chartered by the Eat-India company; we do therefore VOL. XXXVI.

declare, that we are determined not to be enflaved by any power on earth; and that whofoever fhall aid or abet fo infamous a defign, or fhall prefume to let their ftore or ftores for the reception of the infernal chains, may depend upon it, that we are prepared, and shall not fail to pay them an unwelcome vifit, in which they fhall be treated as they deferve, by Nov. 29. 1773. THE MOHAWKS."

"Philadelphia, Dec. 27. At a public meeting of the inhabitants held at the ftate-houfe, Oct. 18. the fenfe of the city was expreffed in the following refolves.

1. That the difpofal of their own property is the inherent right of freemen; that there can be no property in that which another can of right take from us without our confent; that the claim of parliament to tax America is, in other words, a claim of right to levy contributions on us at pleasure.

2. That the duty impofed by parliament upon tea landed in America, is a tax on the Americans, or levying contributions on them without their confent.

3. That the refolution lately entered into by the Eaft-India company to fend out their tea to America, subject to duties on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce this minifterial plan, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America.

4. That it is the duty of every American to oppose this attempt.

5. That a committee be immediately chofen to wait on those gentlemen, who, it is reported, are appointed by the EaftIndia company to receive and fell the faid tea, and requeft them, from a regard to their own character, and the peace and good order of the city and province, immediately to refign their appointment.

In confequence of this appointment, the committee waited upon the gentlemen in this city who had been appointed confignees of the expected cargo. Some of the commiffioners refigned in a manner that gave general fatisfaction; others in fuch equivocal terms as required explanation: however, in a few days the refignation was complete.

At another fubfequent general meeting, it appeared to be the unanimous o pinion, that the entry of the fhip at the cuftomhoufe, or the landing any part of her cargo, would be attended with great danger and difficulty, and would directly tend to deftroy that peace and good or

G

der

der which ought to be preserved. An addition of twelve other gentlemen was then made to the former committee, and the general meeting adjourned till the arrival of the tea-fhip.

On Christmas-day in the evening, an exprefs came up from Chester, that the tea-fhip, commanded by Capt. Ayres, with her detefted cargo, was arrived there, having followed another fhip up the river fo far.

The committee met early the next morning; and being apprised of the arrival of Mr Gilbert Barclay, the other confignee, who came paffenger in the ship, they immediately went in a body to requeft his renunciation of the commiffion. Mr Barclay politely attended the committee at the firft requeft; and being made acquainted with the fentiments of the city, and the danger to which the public liberties of America were exposed by this meafure, he, after expreffing the particular hardship of his fituation, alfo refigned the commiffion, in a manner which affected every one prefent.

About two o'clock, the fhip having weighed anchor, fhe appeared in fight of Gloucefter point, where a number of inhabitants from the town had affembled with the gentlemen from the committee. As the paffed along, fhe was hailed, and the Captain requested not to proceed farther, but to come on fhore. This the Captain complied with, and was accordingly accompanied to town by a number of perfons. Upon an hour's notice this morning, a public meeting was called, and the state-houfe not being fufficient to hold the numbers affembled, they adjourned into the square.

1. Refolved, That the tea on board the hip Polly, Capt. Ayres, fhall not be landed.

2. That Capt. Ayres fhall neither enter nor report his veffel at the cuftomhoufe.

3. That Capt. Ayres fhall carry back the tea immediately."

"New York, No. 1. All America is in a flame on account of the tea-exportation. The New Yorkers, as well as the Boftonians and Philadelphians, are, it feems, determined that no tea fhall be landed. They have published a paper in numbers, called, The Alarm. It begins firft with "Dear countrymen," and then goes on exhorting them to open their eyes, and, like fons of liberty, throw off

all connection with the tyrant their mother-country. They have on this occafion raised a company of artillery, and every day almost are practifing at a target. Their independent companies are out at exercife every day. The minds of the lower people are inflamed by the examples of fome of their principals. They fwear that they will burn every ship that comes in; but I believe our fix and twelve pounders, with the Royal Welsh fusiliers, will prevent any thing of that

kind."

“New York; Dec. 1. All is in confufion about the tea-fhips, and the Governor has now declared that he expects a fhip with 400 chefts of tea. The artillery have orders to make up ball-cartridges, as have the troops. Yesterday orders were given for all foldiers to keep good flints in their firelocks, and every officer and foldier, as soon as any riot is in the town, (if there), to repair dire&ly to the barracks, and acquaint the commanding officer of it. General Haldiman has got two cohorns before his house, and the Governor a ftronger guard. The Swan floop of war is gone down to the watering-place to wait for the ship to bring her up, as they have threatened all the pilots to bring them to Liberty-tree, if they conduct the ship up."

ENGLAND.

The parliament met on Thursday, Jan. 13. The King opened the feffion with the following speech.

My Lords, and Gentlemen, THE unufual length of the last feffion

of parliament, made me defirous of giving you as long a recefs as the public fervice would admit. I have therefore been glad to find myfelf under no neceffity of calling you from your refpective counties at an earlier feafon; and I doubt not but you are now met together, in the beft difpofition for applying yourfelves to the dispatch of the public bufinefs.

You will, I am perfuaded, agree with me in regretting, that the peace, fo long expected, and fo very defirable, is not yet effected, between Ruffia and the Porte; but it is with real fatisfaction I can repeat, that other foreign powers continne fill to have the fame pacific difpofitions with myfelf. I can have no other with than to fee the general tranquillity reftored: for the establishment and fubfequent prefervation of which, no endea、