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A very common toast among the lovers of their country is, "An everlafting union between the Thames and the Baltic.

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Saturday 15. The bishop of Bangor pointed to the fee of Litchfield and Coventry, vacant by the promotion of Dr. Cornwallis to the archiepifcopal fee of Canterbury.

Tuesday the rev. Dr. Wetherell, mafter of Univerfity college, and vice-chancellor of the univerfity of Oxford, together with Dr. Durell, pipal of Hertford college, had the honour of being admitted to his Danish majefty at St. James's, and prefented the diploma of his degree of doctor of civil law. His majefty was pleafed to receive them very graciously, and exprefied his entire fatisfaction with this additional mark of attention from the univerfity. The feal annexed to the inftrument, was inclofed in a gold box of curious workmanship.

Yesterday morning died, at his houfe at Chiswick, the right hon. James Douglas, earl of Morton, one of the fixteen peers and lord regifter of Scotland, knight of the most noble order of the thistle, and prefident of the royal fociety. His lordship was fuddenly taken ill the preceding day in his charios.

According to advices from Corfica, the lofs of the French, in the late action, amounts to 3000 killed, 700 wounded, and 400 prifoners. Monday 17. According to letters from Leghorn, general Paoli had, immediately after his late victory, difpofed of his army in fo advantageous a manner, that it was thought they would be able to refift the attacks of four times the number of the enemy then on the island.

Tucfday 18. Laft Thurfday night, about nine o'clock, the king of Denmark arrived at Dover, and fupped and lay at Mefirs. Minet and Fector's. At half past eleven o'clock on Friday, his majefty left his apartments, and proceeded on board the yatcht, which failed immediately for Calais, where his majesty arrived in the evening in perfect health.

Friday 21. Wednesday the earl of Shelburne refigned his place as fecretary of ftate for the fouthern department, and is fucceeded by the earl of Rochford.

Saturday 22. The earl of Harcourt is nominated to go ambaflador to France.

On Tuesday laft died, at Pirgo in Effex, Thomas Archer, lord Archer, baron of Umberflade, recorder of Coventry.

Monday 24. Saturday the feffions ended at the Old Bailey, when the eight following perfons received fentence of death, viz. Robert Singer, for ftealing a gelding, the property of farmer Barnham, at Ifleworth; which he kept till a reward was advertised, and then brought home to the owner.-Patrick Hanlow and William Miller, for robbing Mrs. Sarah Rogers on the highway, at the end of Fig-lane, on the 20th of July, of a guinea,

a crown-piece, a dollar, and fome filver.John Parfingham, alias Parfons, for ftealing a bay mare, the property of John Wells.John Urquhart, for aflaulting and robbing Dr. Francis Piggot on the highway, between Hounflow and Brentford-bridge, of a metal watch, two gold feals, and two half guineas.-John Davis, for burglariously breaking into the fhop of Mr. Davenport, a poulterer, in Tyler's Court, Carnaby-Market, with intent to steal his goods.-Edward Williams, for returning from transportation before the expiration of his time. John M'Cloud, for the wilful murder of William Stoddart, late keeper of Clerkenwell Bridewell, for which he was executed this day. Twenty-three were fentenced to be tranfported for seven years, two for fourteen years, and three were privately whipped. Gad Shepherd, for defrauding Thomas Wife, a farmer, of a fum of money, by hiding under the hat, was fentenced to pay a fine of five pounds, and be imprisoned one year, and find fureties for his good behaviour. Nine were difcharged in default of profecution. The feffion of the peace was adjourned to Wednefday next at Guildhall, and the feffion of goaldelivery until the 7th of December at the Old Bailey.

Friday 28. The council of the royal fociety having been fummoned to meet yesterday for the election of a prefident, according to their ftatutes, in the place of the late earl of Morton, the fuffrages of the members present were taken and fummed up; when it appeared, that James Burrow, efq; late vice prefident, was elected by a great majority; and he was declared prefident to hold the faid office till St. Andrew's day next, according to the forms of the fociety.

On Wednesday the leafe for 21 years of the place of one of the fifteen coal-meters of this city, was purchafed by Sir James Efdaile for 65201. and the leafe of one of the late corn-meters places, by Mr. Burdett for 3300).

The fame day at the adjourned feffions at Guildhall, the journeymen taylors petition was difmiffed, the court being of opinion, that their prefent wages of two fhillings and feven-pence halfpenny per day, was sufficient, as the price of provifions was lowering.

Saturday 29. Yefterday, at a numerous court of common-council, the much-expected matter relative to the wording and registering of the minute against a certain member, never came on at all, the complaint (if any) not be̟ing cognifable in that court, and no fuch minute having been entered. The member, in a fhort, but fpirited fpeech, called upon the lord mayor to give up the betrayer of private converfation (whom, at the fame time, he moft feverely, but defervedly, rebuked) which his lordfhip declined, as it had not been asked of him at the last court,

Yefterday

Fresh Advices from America.

Yefterday being the birth-day of John Wilkes, efq; the fame was, celebrated with the greatest demonftrations of joy throughout London, Weftminster, and Southwark. In the evening the houses were finely illuminated; and at one house in the city, 45 gentlemen met and gave the following toafts:

1. The king..-2. The queen, and all the royal family.3, The hurch and conftitution.-4. Mr. Wilkes, with three huzzas.. 5. The king of Denmark.-6. The lord chancellor.-7. The duke of Newcastle. 8. The duke of Devonshire.-9. The duke of Portland.-10. The duke of Montague.11. Earl Temple.-12. The marquis of Gran by.-13. Earl of Lincoln.-14. All the worthies of the family of Pelham.-15. Lord Lyttelton.-16. General Conway.-17. Sir Jeffery Amherst.-18. Admiral Pocock.19. The follicitor-general.-20. Mr. Edmund Bourke, a most worthy member of the houfe of commons.-21. Sir John Aftley, a member in many parliaments, and always conftitutional.-22. Succefs to ferjeant Glynn in his election.-23. To the parfon of Brentford.24. All the British worthies.-25. To the independent freeholders of Middlefex.-26.To the independent livery of London.-27. Succefs to trade.-28. Profperity to the city of London.-29. The fons of liberty in America. -30. May the Scotchman be obliged to wear

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wooden fhoes, and fent to the baftile for life, -31, Wisdom and fteadiness in the British councils; then, and not till then, will trade flourish, and the people be happy.32. The repeal of the bounty act, to lead the way to reduce the high price of provifions→ 33. To the total abolition of foreftallers and regrators, the pefts of fociety.-34, May a ftop be put to the inclofing of commons, for the benefit of poor cottagers.-35. May the monopolizing of farms fall under the serious confideration of parliament.-36. To the decay of lotteries, thereby to promote a better circulation of money in trade.—37. To a speedy reduction of the national debt, as a means to reduce our taxes.-38. To the happy fettling of a wife administration.—39. May the king always confider that his fecurity confifts in the love of his fubjects.-40. May every device against the British frate fall to nought.— 41. Succefs to the British arms whenever called forth for the good of their country.-42. May our colonies be bound to their allegiance by reciprocal benefits rather than compulfion,43. Succefs to Paoli, and his brave Corficans; may the God of armies go forth with them, as no earthly potentate will or dares affia them.-44. May peace, plenty, and unanimity, be always found in the British dominions.-FORTY-FIVE. WILKES, with all true friends to Liberty, with fix huzzas,

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THE petition of a confiderable number of

the refpectable inhabitants to the selectmen dated the 8th inftant, praying that the town might be forthwith legally convened, to enquire of his excellency the governor, the grounds and reafons of iundry declarations made by him, that three regiments may be daily expected, two of them to be quartered in this town, and one at Caftle-William; as alfo to confider of the moft wife, conftitutional, loyal, and falutary meatures to be adopted on fuch an occafion, was read,-whereupon the following vote was pafled.

FROM

AMERICA.

Whereas it has been reported in this town meeting, that his excellency the governor has intimated his apprehenfions, that one or more regimeuts of his majefty's troops are daily to be expected here:

Voted, That the Hon. Thomas Cufhing, Efq; Mr. Samuel Adams, Richard Dana, Efq; Benj. Kent, Efq; and Dr. Jofeph Warren, to be a committee to wait upon his excellency, if in town, humbly requefting that he would be pleased to communicate to the town the grounds and affurances he may have thereof.

Upon a motion made and feconded.

Voted, That the following petition be prefented to his excellency the governor, and a committee was appointed for that purpofe, who were directed humbly to request his excellency to favour the town with an immediate anfwer.

To his excellency Francis Bernard, Efq;
governor, &c.

May it please your excellency,
THE inhabitants of the town of Bofton le-

gally affembled, taking into confideration the critical ftate of the publick affairs, more efpecially the prefent precarious fituation of

our

our invaluable rights and privileges, civil and religious, most humbly request that your excellency would be pleafed forthwith to iffue precepts for a general affembly, to be convened with the utmost speed, in order that fuch meafures may be taken as in their wisdom they may think proper for the prefervation of eur faid rights and privileges.

And your petitioners as in duty bound, &c. Upon a motion made and feconded, a com-. mittee was appointed to take the state of our publick affairs into confideration, and report at the adjournment the measures they apprehend most falutary to be taken in the prefent emergency.

Adjourned till the next day ten o'clock, A M.
Tuesday, the 13th of September. ten o'clock,

A. M. met accordingly.

THE committee appointed yesterday to wait upon his excellency with the petition and requeft of the town, reported from his excellency the following answer in writing.

GENTLEMEN,

MY apprehenfions that some of his majefty's trooops are to be expected in • Boston, arise from information of a private nature: I have received no publick letters, < notifying to me the coming of fuch troops, and requiring quarter for them; whenever I do, I fhall communicate them to his majefty's council.

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The bufinefs of calling another affembly for this year, is now before the king, and I can do nothing in it, until I receive his majefty's commands.

'FRA. BERNARD.' Upon a motion made and feconded, the following vote was paffed by a very great majority, viz.

WHEREAS by an act of parliament of the

first of king William and queen Mary,. it is declared, That the fubjects being protef tants, may have arms for their defence: It is the opinion of this town, that the faid declaration is founded in nature, reafon and found policy, and is well adapted for the neceflary defence of the community.

And forafmuch, as by a good and wholefome law of this province, every lifted foldier and other houfholder (except troopers, who by

To our

law are otherwife to be provided) fhall be al ways provided with a well-fixed firelock, mufket, accoutrements and ammunition, as is in faid law particularly mentioned, to the fasisfaction of the commiffion officers of the com→ pany: And as there is at this time a prevailing apprehenfion in the minds of many of an approaching war with France; in order that the inhabitants of this town may be prepared in cafe of fudden danger: Voted, That thofe of the faid inhabitants, who may at present be unprovided, be and hereby are requested duly to obferve the faid law at this time.

The Hon. Thomas Cufhing, Efq; communicated to the town a letter received from a committee of the merchants in the city of New-York, acquainting him with their agreement relative to a non-importation of British goods: Whereupon the town by a vote expreffed their highest fatisfaction therein.

The town taking into ferioua confideration the prefent aspect of their publick affairs, and being of opinion that it greatly behoves a people profeffing godliness to address the fupreme ruler of the world, on all important occafions, for that wisdom which is profitable to direct;

Voted unanimously, That the selectmen be a committee to wait on the feveral minifters of the gospel within this town, defiring that the next Tuesday may be fet apart as a day of fafting and prayer.

Ordered, That the votes and proceedings of the town in their present meeting, be published in the feveral news-papers.

The town voted their thanks to the moderator for his good fervices, and then the meeting was diffolved.

Atteft WILLIAM COOPER; Town-Clerk.

It is faid that orders for troops to be quartered in this province, are in confequence of letters wrote here on the 19th of March laft.

Thursday next there will be a general mufter of the regiment in this town, and we hear a critical view of the arms of the foldiers.

A very elegant and polite answer to the letter fent from hence, by a number of gentle men well attached to the caufe of liberty, was received yesterday from Mr. Wilkes, by Capt. Bruce.

CORRESPONDENTS.

OUR beft thanks are due to Cruphios, and Jonathan Eyebright, efq; their favours fhall be inferted in our next. The poem by Thomas Warboys, and another figned J. R. fall be duly attended to. The epifle figned Philos Juftitia, the fpeech of a learned orator at Newcastle-uponTyne, the abufe of the Sabbath, Mr. J. B. Afhton of Lincoln, the epifle of Philomathes, &c. fhall be inferted. William Sewell's favour is ingenious, but bis fubject is too confined. We hope R. S. will readily excufe us from inferting his poem: he appears to be and young, may, perhaps, bereafter furnish us with a better piece. The letter from Southwell, though ingenious, is of to private a nature to be entertaining to the public. The poem on lady Charlotte Cranfield and child, fhall certainly appear in our next. All the favours of our other correfpondents shall be particularly attended to.

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The Oxford Magazine;

For

NOVEMBER, 1768.

T

Efay on the National Debt, with an Anecdote of Henry VIII. HOUGH nothing is more difficult to understand than politics, yet the prefs feems to fhew us that no fubject is more eafy to write upon. The ftate of the nation is better understood by every man, than that of his own family: and he who cannot pay his own debts, thinks he can eafily put the ministry into the way of difcharging thofe of the nation. Some gentlemen, who figured away in the last parliament, have indeed been at great pains to convince us, that the payment of the national debt is impoffible; and have plunged us as much into the flough of defpondence, as the others have elevated us on the pinions of hope. Thanks to them both, we are neither so bad as to become the slaves of defpondence, nor fo happy as not to perceive that our disease cannot eafily be cured. The vast fums that are raifed to fupport the calls of the public, fhew us that we are not poor: and the increase of luxury, whether in drefs, diet, or attendants, fhews, us that there are riches enough in the hands of individuals to make the nation rich likewife. When a private man finds that his expences exceed his income, he has no other way of preventing his ruin, but that of retrenching. Should he increafe in extravagance in fuch a fituation, VOL. I

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he will immediately be branded as a
fool, a knave, or a madman. But
what muft we think of a commer-
cial nation, which feels its public
debts already too heavy, and yet
adds to them every year? The plain
mechanic, when he finds his beast
finking under its load, would rather
lighten, than increase it. But ftatef
men know nothing of lightening, and
ftudy only how to increase. Ruat
cælum, fiat-is the maxim by which
they regulate their conduct; and,
like the ancient of infamous memory,
they feek for immortality, by destroy-
ing an edifice which they have not
fkill enough either to erect or to pre-
ferve. Cheapnefs is the bafis of
commerce; when this ceafes, com-
merce ceases too. We need not be in-
formed, that the price of food must
heighten or lower the price of la-
bour; and that the price of labour
muft have the fame effect upon the
commodities, which our commerce
confifts in. The intereft of a large
national debt is raised by taxes on
the neceffaries of life; and the poor,
on whom this tax falls, raise ano-
ther tax in their own defence, and
this they do by neceffity; because
they must either ftarve or increase
the price of their labour, in
tion to the increafed value of the
neceffaries of life. To leffen the

Y

national

national debt, is in effect to leffen the price of provifions, the only means of enabling us to fell cheap at foreign markets, and fecuring the trade, which would be ftolen from us by those who could underfell us.

To pretend that fcarcity is the melancholy cause of the high price of provifions, is putting the faddle upon the wrong horfe. If we could decreafe the intereft and principal of the national debt, we fhould not only be convinced of this, but fhould likewife feel and rejoice at it. If we cannot fave one way, we fhould endeavour to do it in another: if we cannot avoid neceffary expences, we fhould not incur thofe that are unneceflary. The frequent changes of the fupreme perfonage in the law, and thofe in the adminiftration, who hardly ever refign without a penfion, is an excess of extravagance; it is drawing out the vital blood from a fubject, which is already exhausted by too frequent bleeding. If the other great officers who compofe the m , must be changed to prevent their becoming defpotic, I fee no reafon for the refignation of him, who is at the head department of the law; and much lefs affigning him a penfion, when he is to be laid afide as a piece of useless lumber. I would conceive his knowledge in the law was the fource of his preferment; and it is a great injury to the nation, to difplace a perfon, fo qualified, for one of lefs abilities, only becaufe the perfons joined with him in the adminiftration fhould prove either kor f. To turn a man of integrity out of any of the departments of government, is to do an injury to the kingdom in general; to affign him a penfion for doing nothing, is faddling the nation with an additional load, though it cannot fuftain that which it is burthened with at prefent. A good man, when he retires from public business, would

be contented with the consciousnets of having done his duty, while in office; but when a bad man refigns, he neither deserves, nor should he be allowed to expect any reward for his errors or his iniquities. Instead of expecting a reward, I think that every perfon who refigns, thould be affefled in proportion to what he fhall have raised from his appointment: and when that fum is fucceflively applied to difcharge the national debt, the good minilter will have the double fatisfaction, that he has notonly saved his country when in power, but likewife that when he refigned, he contributed to relieve her. And even the bad minifter will have this palliative for his former faults, that on his laying down his staff, he made fome expiation for the crimes he committed, while he was in poffeffion of it; as he that can give most fhould be obliged to do fo, is required both by juftice and equity. But as affairs are now established, the rich are exempted from burthens, but the poor are obliged to bear them. The fuperfluities of luxury are free from taxation, but the neceffaries of life are loaded with them. What can be the reafon of this folecism in government? What, but this? That taxes are established by the rich, but not by the poor.

The most defpotic monarchs that England has feen, have endeavoured to remedy this evil: no one more so than Henry VIII. This will be evident from an anecdote preferved by Sir Francis Bacon, with which I fhall conclude thefe remarks." There remaineth to this day," fays his lordfhip, a report, that the king was, on a time, entertained by the earl of Oxford, his principal fervant both for war and peace, nobly and fumptuoufly, at his cattle at Hemingham; and at the king's going away, the earl's fervants ftood in their livery coats, with cognizances, ranged on

both

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