British pelled their king to acquiefce in the terms The place of mayor was now filled by a of accommodation which they propofed. nobleman called Claude, of great abilities, and unshaken integrity. In spite of all. Brunehaut's arts and intereft, he perfuadmanberge, daughter to Viteric, king of ed his prince to demand in marriage ErSpain, who readily embraced the propofal. The princess was fent to the court of Burgundy; but by the intrigues Theudclane, the marriage was postponed, of Brunehaut, feconded by the king's fifter difguft, that he sent back Ermanberge to and Thierry's mind fo poifoned with portion. Viteric, incenfed at this injury her father, tho' he refused to restore her and affront, engaged in a league with Cloof the Lopbards; and all their forces thaire, Theodobert, and Agilulphus king joining, threatened deftruction to the king of Burgundy; but the storm was averted, and the confederacy broke by the artifice counfels had brought her grandfon to and dexterity of her, whofe pernicious the verge of ruin. 370 Compendious Hiftory of France. detached a body of forces under duke Landri, to undertake the fiege of Orleans. This enterprize, however, he relinquished, and retired at the approach of Thierry, who followed him to Etampes, with a confiderable army under the immediate direction of Berthoalde, who, though degraded from his poft of mayor of the palace, was ftill employed as the ableft commander in the kingdom. The two armies being divided by a little river and a defile, this nobleman paffed both, in fpite of a very warm oppofition, and maintained his ground with the van, until the rest of the army had made good the paffage. Having thus afcertained his loyalty and kill, he threw himself into the hottest part of the battle, where he loft that life which he difdained any longer to retain. Nevertheless, Landri was totally defeated, and Thierry marching directly for Paris, was received and acknowledged as fovereign by the inhabitants, who had of late frequently changed their masters. Mean while, Theodobert king of Auftrafia, having advanced against Clothaire, who was at the head of another army at Compeigne, had juft refolved to give battle, when he received the tidings of Thierry's victory over Landri. Instead of rejoicing at this event, he began to be jealous, and uneafy at his brother's reputation and power, and forthwith concluded a peace with the prince, whom he had determined to attack. dation was likewife effected by his mediaAn accommotion, between Clothaire and the king of Burgundy. rea [An. 602.] Peace being thus re-eftablished, Brunehaut and her minion had recourse again to their inflammatory practices. They dropped infinuations, invented calumnies, circulated flanders, and at length perfuaded Thierry that Theodobert was not his brother, but a fuppofititious fon impofed upon the late king Childebert. This report he the more dily believed, as it gratified his ambition, and furnished him with a pretence for feizing the kingdom of Auftrafia. He accordingly declared war, and took the field against Theodubert: but the nobles or chiefs were fo exasperated to find themfelves thus made the tools of Brunebaut's perfidy and ambition, that inftead of acting against the Australians, they entered the tent of Protade her favourite, and having affaffinated him on the fpot, com tion arofe between the two brothers, and [An.610.] In a few years, a fresh contenTheodobert invaded Alfatia, which he from the kingdom of Auftrafia. Thierry faid his father had unjustly dismembred being unprepared for this attack, proposed promised; and they agreed to have an inthat the dispute should be amicably comterview in the town of Seltz, upon the cherously befet his brother, and compelled Rhine. Here, however, Theodobert treapofed. Two years the king of Burgunhim to accept fuch terms as he prody diffembled his fenfe of this injury, but, neutrality with Clothaire, in consideration in the mean time, negotiated a treaty of prince the restoration of the dutchy of of which he promised to procure for that Dentelenus, lying between the Seine and the Oife. Having thus fecured himself on into Auftrafia, and defeated his brother in the fide of Soiffons, he made an irruption two fucceffive pitched battles. bert himself being taken with his young fon Merovée, this laft was cruelly murderand Brunehaut glutted her revenge ignominiously stripped of all marks of the upon the father. She ordered him to be royal dignity; then fhaved; and finally ftabbed to death with poignards. Thierry rendered infolent by his fuccefs, and this great augmentation of power, refused to perform ed; Theodo perform his promife to the king of Soiffons, who, nevertheless, had taken poffeffion of the dutchy, without waiting for his confent. The Burgundian required him to withdraw his forces, and declared war against him, because he refused to comply with this demand. In the fpring he took the field, but in paffing through Metz, was seized with a dyfentery, and expired in the twenty-fixth year of his age. Such was the fate of two worthlefs princes, whofe reigns had been productive of manifold calamities to their fubjects. Brunehaut was no fooner apprized of her grandfon's death, than the caufed Sigebert, the eldest of his four fons, to be proclaimed king of Auftrafia and Burgundy ; but the majority of the chiefs detefted her perfon, and were resolved to renounce her influence; fo that when the fent an army against Clothaire, the generals, instead of fighting, disbanded their army, and contracted engagements with the king of Soiffons. Brunehaut finding herself thus betrayed, fled to the other fide of Mount Jura; and one of Thierry's fons also escaped, tho' he never appeared in the fequel. The other three fell into the hands of Clothaire, who butchered the two eldeft, but spared the life of Merovée, to whom he had flood godfather. His next care was to set on foot a diligent fearch after Brunehaut, who being found in the town of Orbie, between the lake of Geneva and Mount Jura, was brought to him at a place called Reonava, upon the Novigenne, a small river that runs into the Saone. Here he perfonally upbraided her with her enormous crimes, accufing her, among other particulars, of having procured the death of ten royal perfonages; then she was delivered to the common executioners, with inftructions to torture her to death. [An. 613.] After having fuftained a variety of torments, he was placed upon a camel, and conveyed through the camp, amidst the fcoffs and brutal infults of the foldiery: then she was tied to the tail of a wild horfe, to be dragged among rocks, where a period was foon put to her miferable existence; finally, her body was burned to ashes by the exasperated people. Thus perished the famous Brunehaut, who has been fo differently recorded by different hiftorians. 'That the was ambitious, cruel, and perfidious, cannot be denied. Thefe were the royal vices of the times in which he lived. At the fame time it must be owned, that he was a generous benefactrefs to the church; that the founded a great many hofpitals and monafteries; and erected causeways and public works, which denoted a liberal turn of mind, and a tafte for magnificence *. [To be continued.] 406 The tomb of Brunehaut is ftill fhewn in the abbey of St. Martin, which the founded at Autun: when it was opened, in the year 1632, nothing appeared but afhes, burned bones, and the rowel of a spur, which was fixed to the fide of the horse, ufed in the execution; a method practifed to render those animals more furious. His Majesty's Declaration of his Refolution to demand in Marriage the Princess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz.. His Majefty being this day present in council, was pleased to make the following declaration, viz. "Having nothing fo much at heart, as to procure the welfare, and happiness of my people, and to render the same stable and permanent to pofterity, I have, ever fince my acceffion to the throne, turned my thoughts towards the choice of a Princess for my confort; and I now, with great fatisfaction, acquaint you, that, after the fulleft information, and mature deliberation, I am come to a refolution to demand in marriage the Princess Charlotte, of Mecklenburg Strelitz,a princess distinguished by every eminent virtue, and amiable endow ment, whofe illustrious line has conftantly fhewn the firmeft zeal for the proteftant religion, and a particular attachment to my family. I have judged proper to com Viscount Royston Lord Berkeley of Stratton Lord Sandys Lord Anfon Lord Lyttelton Lord Melcombe Mr. Vice Chamberlain Charles Townshend, Efq; Sir Francis Dashwood. municate to you these my intentions, in order that you may be fully apprized of a matter fo highly important to me, and to my kingdoms, and which, I perfuade myself, will be most acceptable to all my loving subjects." Whereupon all the privy counsellors prefent, made it their humble request to his Majefty, that this his Majesty's most gracious declaration to them might be made public; which his Majesty was pleased to order accordingly. W. SHARPE. [The princefs Charlotte, of Mecklenburg, the intended confort of our moft gracious Sovereign, was born the 16th of May 1744, and is fecond fifter to Adolphus Frederick, the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz.] A Tranflation of the Speech which M. de Boreel, the Dutch Ambafador, made on the 20th ult. to the King, when he had a private Audience to deliver bis Credentials. SIRE, THEIR High Mightineffes my Lords and masters have fo many motives to intereft themselves in the fate of thefe kingdoms, that your majesty's acceffion to the crown gave them the highest pleasure; of which I am commanded to inform your majesty, and at the fame time to affure you of their respectful and inviolable attachment to your royal perfon, and of the fincerity of their wishes for the duration and profperity of a reign which you have fo happi ly begun. The gracious affurance which your majefty hath already given, of your friendship to the republic, excited the warmest gratitude. Nothing couldhavegiven greater confolation under the lofs of the king your majesty's grandfather. The republic will always regret in him not only a faithful ally, but a true friend, whose affection never varied, and who added to the qualities of a great prince that integrity which would have done honour to a private man, What a high fatisfaction is it for their High Mightinesses to find in your maintain and strengthen it. Being charged majesty's perfon all thofe qualities, which, by them to give your majefty affurances of whilft they fo gloriously distinguished your this, and filled with the fame fentiments illuftrious ancestors, made their people myself, I shall do my utmost to answer the happy, and strongly attached the republic to choice they have condefcended to make of them. What great reason have their High me, and to merit the continuance of that Mightineffes to promise themselves the favour with which your majefty honoured most intimate union between two nations, me before you afcended the throne. I flatwho are bound by so many common inte- ter myself that the gratitude with which refts to concur mutually in each other's it infpired me will appear, from the whole advantage, and to despise the suggestions of my conduct, to be equal to my profound of a mistaken jealoufy? As their High respect for your majesty's perfon and your Mightineffes are fully fenfible of the value eminent qualities." of this union, they most ardently defire to An ACCOUNT of the Surrender of PONDICHERRY. Whiteball, July 20, 1761. THIS morning arrived the hon. capt. Monckton from India, with the following letter from col. Coote to the right hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt. Head Quarters at Oulgaret, Feb. 3. 1761. SIR, "In my laft, per the Shaftesbury Indiaman, I had the honour to transmit to you an account of my proceedings with the army to the 15th of laft October. On the 23d, admiral Steevens failed from Trincamaley to refit the squadron, leaving five fail of the line, under the command of captain Haldane, to continue the blockade of Pondicherry by sea, which place began to be greatly distressed for want of provifions. On the 9th of November, I ordered a Ricochet battery for four pieces of cannon to be erected to the northward, at about 1400 yards from the town, more with a defign to harrass the enemy, than any damage we could think of doing to the works at fo great a distance. On the 10th, we began to land our stores, and to prepare every thing for the carrying on the fiege with vigour. The rains being over by the 26th, I imagined the diftreffes of the enemy might be much augmented, and garrison duty rendered very fatiguing, if some batteries were erected on different quarters of the town: I therefore gave directions to the engineers to pitch on proper places, at fuch distances, and in fuch fituations, that the fhot from them might enfilade the works of the garrison, and our men and guns not exposed to any certain fire of the enemy. Accordingly, the following batteries were traced out, one (called the prince of Wales's) for four guns, near the beach on the north fide, to enfilade the great freet, which runs north and fouth through the White Town : one for four guns and two mortars, to the north weft quarter, at 1000 yards distance, to enfilade the north face of a large counterguard, before the north west bastion, called the Duke of Cumberland's: a third called prince Edward's, for two guns, to the fouthward, at 1200 yards distance, to enfilade the streets from fouth to north, fo as to cross the fire from the northern battery; and a fourth to the south west, called prince William's, for two guns and one mortar, at 11000 yards distance, in order to destroy the guns in St. Thomas's redoubt, and to ruin the veffels and boats near it. On the 8th, at midnight, they were all opened together, and continued firing till day-light. On the 9th, the enemy kept up a warm fire on our batteries, without doing much damage to them. This day one gunner and a Subedar of Seapoys were killed. On the 25th, admiral Steevens, with four ships of the line, arrived off Pondicherry, having parted company with admiral Cornish and his division, on the 16th inft. in blowing weather. On the 29th, a battery, called the Hanover, was begun, for ten guns and three mortars, to the northward, at 450 yards distance from the town, against the north-weft counterguard and curtain. On the first of January, we had a very violent ftorm of wind and rain: it began at eight o'clock in the evening, and lafted lafted till between three and four the next morning. I gave directions for the repairing our batteries, which the ftorm had almost ruined, and the putting every thing into the best order our present situation would admit. On the 4th we had the agreeable fight of admiral Steevens in the Norfolk, who had had the good fortune to weather out the ftorm, without fuffering the least damage. On the 5th, I attacked a poft of very great confequence to the enemy, in which were 4 twenty-eight pounders, called St. Thomas's Redoubt, and carried it without any lofs. At daylight on the 6th, 300 of the enemy's grenadiers retook it, owing to the officer, commanding the redoubt, not being able to keep his feapoys together. This day admiral Cornish in the Lenox, with the York and Weymouth, arrived; and as moft of the ships, which had been disabled, were now refitted, the blockade of Pondicherry was as complete as ever. On the 12th, the Hanover battery being repaired, kept up a very brisk fire, and greatly damaged the counterguard of the baition, and made a breach in the curtain. On the 13th, in the evening, I ordered a working party of 700 Europeans and 400 Lafcars, with the pioneer's company, under the command of a major, to the northward, where the engineers had traced out a battery for 11 guns and 3 mortars. At eight o'clock they began a trench for introducing gabions of four feet high, which were to form the interior facing of the battery. At the fame time a parallel was begun, 90 yards in the rear, of 250 yards long, and an approach of 400 yards in length. Notwithstanding the moon fhone very bright, and the battery within 500 yards of the walls, every thing went on without the leaft difturbance from the enemy. By morning fix embrazures were in a condition to receive guns, and the reft far advanced. This was called the Royal battery. On the 14th, the Hanover battery kept up a conftant fire the whole day, which entirely ruined the weft face and flank of the north west baftion. the 15th the royal battery was opened, which, by eight o'clock in the morning, filenced the fire of the enemy, and gave us an opportunity of beginning a trench, to contain our royal mortars, and three guns, for the more speedy demolition of the demi-baftion and ravelin of Madras-gate. This evening colonel Durre, of the royal On artillery, the chief of the Jefuits, and two Civilians, were fent out by M. Lally, with proposals for the delivering up the garrifon, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose you, and my answer thereto. Also a copy of the feveral articles delivered me by the chief of the Jefuits, on behalf of the French Eaft-India company, to which I made no reply. On the 16th, at eight o'clock in the morning, the grenadiers of my regiment took poffeffion of the Villenour-gate; and, in the evening, those of Draper's of the citadel. The commiffaries were immediately ordered to take an account of all the military stores found in the garrison, and returns to be given in, of the numbers of officers, non-commiflioned and private, of the different corps, at the time the place furrendered, as well as the number of inhabitants; all of which I have now the honour to tranfmit to you, as well as a plan of the garrison, with the works carried, and intended to be carried on, against it. It is with the greatest pleasure I acquaint you, that during the whole time of the blockade, a perfect harmony subsisted between the navy and army, and all poffible affiftance given me by admiral Steveens. I should likewife do great injuftice to captain Haldane, if I omitted to mention his attention and affiduity for the public fervice, during his having the command of the fhips left on the coaft by Mr.. Steveens, and of his doing every thing that could be wished or expected from a good and gallant officer. I have the honour to be, &c. Eyre Coote." Tranflation of Mr. Lally's Proposals for the delivery of the Garrison. THE taking of Chandernagore, con trary to the faith of treaties, and of that neutrality which has always subsisted between all European nations, and namely between the two nations in this part of India; and that immediately after a signal fervice which the French nation had rendered the English, not only in taking no part against them with the Nabob of Bengal, but in receiving them in their fettlements, to give them time to recover from their firft loffes, (as appears by the letters of thanks from Mr. Pigot himself, and from the council of Madras to that of Pondicherry) added to the formal refufal of fulfilling the conditions of a cartel, agreed |