of 60,000 Ruffians from Pomerania that way. Very foon after the depolition and death of Peter, the Ruflians retired. and continued their retrograde motion towards their own country. About the middle of Auguft, the Danes alfo fell back into the dominions of their own mafter. A refolution was taken at Petersburg, to let the difputes relating to Holstein remain undecided, till Paul Petrowitz, Grand Duke of Ruflia, and at the fame time now Duke of Holftein-Gottorp, might come to be of age. Notwithstanding fuch lenity on that fide, a new fubject of altercation caft up. The King of Denmark claimed to be adminiftrator of Ruflian Holstein, during the Grand Duke Paul's minority, jointly with the Emprefs his mother. His Danith Majefty went fo far, as to appoint adminiftrators to act in his name, and to caule placarts, intimating their commitiion for that purpofe, to be fixed up in the most public places of Kiel, capital of that duchy. These placarts were torn down by order of the Emprefs of Rullia; but nxed up again by the Danish commiffaries. Towards the end of the year, that fubje& of difpute was likewife removed; the King of Denmark having entirely defifted from his claim, and Pr. George, Peter late Emperor of Rulia's brother, being appointed fole Stadtholder by the Em prefs. Upon what particular grounds this adjustment was fo peaceably made, wo have not been able to learn. It has been fuggefted by fome, that the King's finan ces being still disproportioned to the expences of a war with a powerful nation, and Catharine not being yet firmly ettablifhed on the Rufiian throne, the might poflibly give him fome gratification fufficient to make him foftly drop his pretenfions.

ago, when the branch of the ancient Dukes of Holstein on the throne of Denmark, being poffeffed of fuperior power, made feveral incroachments on the branch called Holftein-Gottorp. From the time that Peter, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, was declared apparent heir to the crown of Ruffia, Denmark fhewed more regard to his complaints and reprefentations, than had been formerly to thofe of his predeceffors. Negotiations were at different times fet on foot, and several expedients were propofed, for adjusting matters; but fill without effect. Peter coming to be Emperor of Ruffia in the beginning of last year, and a great body of Ruflian troops being then in Brandenburg Pomerania, his Danish Majefty began to be under ferious apprehenfions from their proximity. He therefore gave orders for putting both his marine and land forces on a refpectable footing. Part of the latter filed off the 20th of March, towards Lubeck, and were followed by the reft. To avoid every thing that might look like an aggreffion, he caused them to fetch a compats of fome leagues, fo as they might not touch the tertitories of Ruflian Holftein. That monarch's coffers not being well filled with the fupplies neceffary for a war, he extorted from the city of Hamburg a loan of 250,000 1. fterling, probably not intending to repay. Whether the Kings of Denmark have any kind of rightful fuperiority over that city, has been long difputed; but they have often decided the point in their own fayour by force. We were told, that the city of Lubeck alfo furnished a loan pri vately, without having waited for the ppearance of compulfion. A fresh negotiation for adjufting differences with repeat to Holftein was fet on foot, under the mediation of their Britannic and Pruffian Majefties, to have been carried en at Berlin. Many were furprised that the King of Denmark did not difcover greater earnestness for getting it brought to a speedy iffue; efpecially as France, to which he had applied for afliftance in cafe of a rupture, had plenty of work other wife on her hands. From the conduct he actually obferved, it was afterwards fup. poled, that he had been informed of the meafures taking at Petersburg, fome time before the effects of them appeared. The Danish troops, reckoned to be about $5,000, entered the duchy of Mecklenburg, and advanced on both fides of Schwerin, in order to oppofe the march

We now proceed to the affairs of GERMANY. At the beginning of last year, the King of Prullia appeared to be in a fituation irretrievably bad The Ruffians had then lately made themselves masters of the ftrong fortreis of Colberg, on the fouth fide of the Baltick, by means of polfelling which, provifions, ftores, and reinforcements, could be expeditiously fent, by fea, to the troops of that nation fpread throughout a great part of Pomerania. Nothing could be feen to hinder them, when the feafon for action fhould come on, from advancing to Berlin, and at the fame time laying, fiege to Stettin. The Auftrians, strengthened by an auxiliary corps of about 16,000 Rullians, under

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Schweidnitz. On the 21ft of that month the King of Prullia attacked the right of. the Auftrians, and drove it from an advantageous poft, taking above 1000 prifoners, and 14 pieces of cannon, with the lofs of about 300 men on his fide. It was refolved to make another attack next day, towards the left of M. Daun's army; but it was found that he had moved off in the night. Part of his troops retired towards Branau in Bohemia, and the reft into the county of Glatz. In the mean time he had left a garrison of near 10,000 men in Schweidnitz. Immediately after this, the Ruffians marched off, to return to their own country, in confequence of orders occafioned by the revolution that had happened there. It can scarcely be doubted, but that his Prullian Majefty was, for fome time, under apprehenfions that the Rullians might again change fides; but in that refpect, happily for him, found matters turn out more favourably. The troops under his own immediate command being confiderably weakened by the feparation of his late auxiliaries, he thought it proper to recall thofe he had in Moravia, and the Austrian part of Sileña, in order that he might be able to form and cover the fiege of Schweidnitz; the recovery of which was, in the first place, the chief object of his views. The trench es were opened before that important for trefs in the night between the 7th and 8th of Auguft. Great diligence was ufed in carrying on the approaches; and a very obftinate defence was made. On the 16th of that month, one of the Pruffian corps, pofted at some distance, was vigorously attacked; but the aggreffors were obliged to retire, with the lofs of many killed, and above 1500 made prifoners. After this, the garrison of Schweidnitz was forced to trust only to its own bravery, and fuch other obftacles as the advanced feafon might oppofe to the befiegers; no further attempt having been made for its relief. Gen. Guafco, governor of the place, offered, at different times, to capitulate, on condition that his troops might be allowed to march off with the honours of war. His Pruffian Majefty would agree to no other terms, than that they should remain prifoners. Such terms were at length fubmitted to, on the 9th of October. Thus did it coft the work of a whole campaign in that country, to recover what had been loft in less than two hours. It was expected that the Empress-Queen would, as foon as poffible,

get the garrifon exchanged, in particular confideration of the gallant defence it had made; but this the declined, from an imagination that his Pruffian Majefty raised recruits with more difficulty than the did?

Pr. Henry for several months maintain→ ed an undoubted fuperiority in Saxony! M. Daun having defpaired of being able to raife the fiege of Schweidnitz, after the unfortunate attempt on the 16th of Auguft, detached about 20,000 men to reinforce the Auftrians in this electorate and Gen. Haddick was fent to take the command instead of Serbelloni. On the 27th and 28th of September, Pr. Henry's advanced ports were attacked and obliged to retire The 29th Gen. Haddick at tacked the Prince's left wing, and a post in the front of a feparate corps command ed by Gen. Hullen; but was repulsed with fuperior lofs. Notwithstanding this, his R. Highness, confidering the great fuperiority of numbers against him, retreated very early next morning to Freyberg. The Auftrian army under Gené Haddick, joined by that of the Empire? attacked the Pruffians again the 15th of October, and gained a confiderable ad vantage. Pr. Henry loft near 1000 mers killed and wounded, with eight pieces of cannon; and thought proper to retire in the night. Immediately after the furrender of Schweidnitz, the Pruffian monarch de tached twenty-fix battalions and feventy fquadrons, to reinforce his brother; but they could not arrive in time to prevent his difafter just related, and were too late to diminish the honour which he and the troops under his command foota after gained. On the 29th of that month, at day-break, his R. Highnels attacked the combined army of the Imperialists and Auftrians, then under the Prince of Stolberg, Gen. Haddick being gone to Drefden; drove it from Freyberg; and took 4432 prifoners, with 27 pieces of cannon, and trophies in proportion. We were told, that the Auftrians, who appeared to be acknowledging the real truth, reckoned their whole lofs one way and another, on this occafion, at about 10,000 men'; and that the Pruflians loft above 1400. The Pruffian reinforcement from Silefia arriving within a few days after this action, Pr. Henry gained fome more advantages, and the Auftrians found themselves under the neceflity of retiring ftill farther.

The King of Pruffia himself, leaving the command of his army in Silefia to the Prince of Brunswick-Bevern, had before

this time fet out from thence, with fifteen choice battalions, as an additional reinforcement, for Saxony; from which it, might be eafily learned, that he had fome enterprise on that fide in view. Hearing on the road of what had happened there the 29th of October, he left the corps of troops to march on with their conveniency, and within a few days had the pleasure of feeing his brother Pr. Henry; whofe great fervices he rewarded with the prefent of a very handfome estate, during his own life, with reversion to his Princefs. A ceflation of hoftilities between the respective armies, in both Silefia and Saxony, during the winter, was agreed on.

This did not hinder the King of Pruf fia from perfifting in a defign he had formed, for obliging the eftates of the Empire to withdraw their troops from the Emprefs-Queen's afliftance. A large Pruffan corps accordingly fpread over all Franconia, raifing heavy contributions. Some of their parties alfo entered the circle of Swabia, and caused an alarm as far as Ulm and Heilborn. We were afterwards told, that some eftates had promised to his Pruffian Majesty, to obferve a neutrality with refpect to the house of Auftria and him; and that others were treating on the fubject. Mean while we must leave the state of those transactions, at the end of last year, to be more certainly and diftinctly learned, from a comparison of the various accounts which ar rived fome time after the commencement of this current, and of others which may yet arrive. [To be continued.]

Filial piety exemplified and rewarded. IN a great fea-port, in one of the most diftant provinces in France, there lived a merchant, who had carried on trade with equal honour and profperity, until he was turned of fifty years of age; and then, by a fudden feries of unexpected and unavoidable lofies, found himself unable to comply with his engagements, and his wife and children, in whom he placed his principal happiness, reduced into fuch a fituation as doubled his diftrefs.

His fole refource in this fad fituation, was the reflection, that upon the firicteft review of his own conduct, nothing either of iniquity or imprudence appeared. He thought it best therefore to repair to Paris, in order to lay a true ftate of his affairs before his creditors, that being

convinced of his honefty, they might be induced to pity his misfortunes, and allow him a reasonable space of time to fettle his affairs. He was very kindly received by fome, and very civilly by all; from whence he conceived great hopes; which he communicated to his family. But these were speedily dafhed, by the cruelty of his principal creditor, who caufed him to be seized, and fent to a gaol.

At

As foon as this melancholy event was known in the country, his eldest fon, who was turned of nineteen, listening only to the dictates of filial piety, came poft to Paris, and threw himself at the feet of the obdurate creditor, to whom he painted the diftrefs of the family, in the moft pathetic terms; but without effect. length, in the greatest agony of mind, he faid, "Sir, fince you think nothing can compenfate for your lofs, but a victim, let your refentment devolve upon me. Let me fuffer inftead of my father, and the miseries of a prifon will feem light, in procuring the liberty of a parent, to confole the forrows of the distracted and dejected family that I have left behind me. Thus, Sir, you will fatisfy your vengeance, without fealing their irretrievable ruin!" And there his tears and fighs stopped his utterance.

His father's creditor beheld him upon his knees in this condition, for a full quarter of an hour. He then sternly bid him rife, and fit down; which be obeyed. The gentleman then walked from one corner of the room to the other, in great agitation of mind, for about the fame space of time. At length, throwing his arms about the young man's neck, "I find," faid he," there is yet fomething more valuable than money. I have an only daughter, for whofe fate I have the utmost anxiety. I am refolved to fix it; in marrying you, the muft be happy. Go, carry your father's difcharge, afk his confent, bring him inftantly hither, and let us bury in the joy of this alliance, all remembrance of what has formerly happened." Thus the generous gratitude of the fon relieved the calamity of the worthy father. The man who had confidered wealth and happiness as fynonymous terms, was freed from that fatal error; and Providence vindicated the manner of its proceeding, by thus bringing light out of darkness, end through a fort cene of mifery, rewarded a virtuous family with fafting peace, in the enjoyment of that prosperity which they fo well deferved., Lond. Mag.

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