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ably blended in the mass of the moul- been authorized by law, as a fupreme

dering stone.

From the several periods of the fixteenth century, when, in the changes of government, the fluctuating councils of administration more or lefs countenanced the Prefbyterian plea for a reform of the religious institutions are to be dated various peculiar revolutions of property, which took place as the interests of Epifcopacy role or fell in the politi

cal scale.

While it was in agitation, that the hierarchy of the epifcopal communion should be abrogated in Scotland, the extenfive territories which had been devoted by princes and nobles to the church, opened a spacious field of interest in the reform, where the ambition of numbers failed not to regale their hopes of acquiring additional fortunes, by the supreffion of the dignified clergy. Many of the barons, therefore, readily catched the spirit of the prevailing zeal, and warmly espoused the expediency of reducing religion to a fimpler form than was found in the expensfive esta blishment of cathedrals and collegiate churches: accordingly, during the minority of James VI. we find the schemes of the facrilegious avarice nearly completed; and while the infatiable Morton directed the councils of administration, the greatest part of the revenues of the church were alienated to fecular purposes, and to indulge the wishes of his favourites. It is true, that when the above monarch afcended the throne of these united kingdoms, and saw how far the stability of his crown was to be maintained by the influence of the spiritual lords, by royal authority the lands and revenues of the church were to be restored, and the Bishops of Scotland ordained to refume their feats iu Parliament, as fome balance to the turbulent spirit and encreasing power of the barons. The General Assembly, which had

council for consulting the interests of religion, joined their voice of approbation to the decrees of the king, and concurred in the expediency of these measures: but the barons, who had once tasted the comfort of enjoying the ecclefiaftical emoluments, and thereby finding their fortunes more unembarrassed and free, reluctantly gave up their claim to the possession, foon profited anew of the opportunities which the succeeding distractions of government offered them, and favoured the popular remonstrances of the hardships they fuffered from the alledged tyranny of the bishops.

Laurence the fourth Lord Oliphant, who served heir to his father in 1566, is represented in memorials of the times as a man of fingular merit, a great loyalist, adhering firm. ly to the interests of Queen Mary during all the time of the civil wars. His son married a daughter of the Earl of Morton. Few families had made a greater figure in Caledonian story than his. The race is traced up to a Noble Dane, who came over in the reign of Donald VI. One of the defcendants is found witness to a charter of a priory granted by King David II. Another, a man of great interest and power, inarried Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of the immortal King Robert.

Charles the seventh Lord Oliphant, who, in the end of last century, married a young lady of the family of Ogilvie of Miltown, built this castle, which still retains his name. Their only fon died when young; and their lands in the barony of Keith were recognized, by adjudication, to be then the property of the Earls of Findlater. They had been of old in the possession of that family; and after various fortune restored, continue annexed to the extenfive territories, which constitute their present so valuable estate.

SHORT

5

SHORT RECAPITULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS

OF 1795.

Dec. 30. 1794. PARLIAMENT with 31 fail of the line and 11 Frigates. Returns to port without meeting an enemy.

meets. The address on his Majesty's speech carried in the House of Lords, 107 to 12;-in the Commons 246 to 73.

Jan. 4. 1795. Earl Fitzwilliam, being appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, arrives at Dublin.

16. Intelligence received that the French had crossed the Waal, and were rapidly advancing into Holland. As they proceed, the different towns are surrendered to them without opposition. The British army, unable to cope with a force so infinitely superior in numbers, retreats slowly into Germany, encountering many hardships, in their march, from the inclemency of the weather, &c.

La Pique French frigate of 38 guns, taken, in the West Indies, by the Blanche, Capt. Faulknor, who is killed in the action. The boats, being staved, Mr Milne the second Lieutenant gallantly swims on board to take poffefsion of the prize.

18. The Exchange and Councilroom at Liverpool destroyed by fire. 19. The Stadtholder, the princess of Orange, and their family, landed at Yarmouth. Apartments provided for them at Hampton-Court palace. Their treasure and baggage were brought to town in fourteen waggons.

22. The snow which had been falling for several days preceding, so deep as to interrupt travelling, and in many places to stop all communication.

25. An embargo laid on all Dutch hipping in British ports.

29. Liberal subscriptions made in every part to relieve the indigentAt no period were the benevolence and humanity of the inhabitants of Edinburgh more confpicuous. The thermometer, this day, at 13 deg.

Lord Howe fails from Spithead

Immense mischief done in England by the sudden thaw-A number of bridges, &c. carried away. In Scotland the frost still continues.

Feb. 4. Mr Pitt brought down a message from his Majesty respecting the Austrian loan. On the address in answer to this, an amendment was moved by Mr Fox, which was negatived, 173 to 58.

12. The snow lies excessively deep in the streets of Edinburgh and in the neighbourhood-Three hundred foldiers and labourers employed by the Magistrates to clear the roads to the coal-hills-14. A gentle thaw commences, the thermometer from 34 to 40 deg. this however is foon again succeeded by froft.

20. An embargo laid on the shipping, till the different quotas of men (required by the new bill for manning the navy) are furnished.

23. Mr Pitt opens the Budget. The loan 18 millions, 6 of which are for the Emperor. The new taxes on wine, spirits, tea, coffee, infurances, hair powder, and limitation of franking.

26. Observed as a day of humiliation and prayer in Scotland, in consequence of his Majesty's proclamation.

March. 3. A complete thaw commences, the frost having lasted 51 days.

4. Richard Brothers, a pretended political prophet, taken into cuftody, and fent to a mad house.

16. Admiral Hotham defeats the French fleet in the Mediterranean, and captures the Ca Ira of 80, and Cenfeur of 74 guns.

31. Earl Fitzwilliam having been fuperfeded in the Viceroyalty of Ireland, Lord Camden, his successor, arrives in Dublin.

April April. 7. Princess Caroline of Brunswick landed at Greenwich, and proceeded to St James's palace, where on the evening of the next day, the was married to the Prince of Wales, with every poffible splendour.

9. The King of Pruffia concludes a peace with the French Republic.

14. The trial of Mr Hastings concluded. The Lords feverally gave their folemn decision, and he was acquitted of all the charges of impeachmeat brought against him by the Commons. This trial commenced Feb. 12. 1788, and from that period to its close fat 149 days.

18. Two French frigates of 40 guns each (La Gentille and La Gloire) taken by Admiral Colpoy's squadron.

23. The trial of the Rev, Mr Jackfon for high treason came on at Dublin. He was found guilty, but recommended to mercy. On being brought up a week afterwards, to receive fentence, he dropped down, and almost instantly expired, in confequence, it is supposed, of poison.

30. The fleet of transports of 140 fail, with the British infantry from the continent on board, arrive off the coaft of Northumberland.

May. 1. The campaign between the Auftrians and French opened by a bloody action before Mentz, in which the former were completely victorious.

The Boyne man of war, of 98 guns, burnt by accident at Spithead.

15. The court martial held at Portsmouth on Captain Molloy, for not having ufed his utmost endeavours, in the engagement of May 29. and June 1. 1794, closed, after fitting fixteen days. His fentence was, that he be dismissed from his Majesty's ship the Cæfer.

19. An insurrection takes place at Paris, excited principally by the fearcity of bread, and by the intrigues of the Jacobins, in which Ferrand, one of the Deputies, is massacred.

27. Mr Wilberforce brings for ward a motion respecting peace, which is negatived, 201 to 86.

June 1. Admiral Cornwallis, with five fail of the line and two frigates, fell in with the French fleet off Ushant, of 13 fail of the line and 12 frigates, which, after maintaining a running fight, he outfailed by fuperior feamanship; the enemy, notwithstanding their great fuperiority, shewing little inclination to engage.

5. A dreadful fire broke out at Copenhagen, which consumed about 57 streets, and 1200 or 1500 houses.

24. The new Constitution of France presented by the Committee of Eleven to the Convention.

Lord Bridport attacks the French squadron off L'Orient, and captures the Alexander, Formidable, and Tigre, ships of the line,

27. Parliament rifes-The royal affent is given to the bills arranging the Prince of Wale's debts-and for the establishment of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess's Household.

The Senate of the United States of America ratifies the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, with Great Britain.

July 3. A body of French emi grants, about 7000 in number, hava ing been formed into regiments upon British pay, were landed on the French coaft, and took poffeffion of the peninsula of Quiberon and Fort Penthievre; e; but on the night of the 21st, in confequence of treachery among themselves, they were surprised by the Republican army. About 900 of the troops, and 1500 Royalifts who had joined them, escaped on board the fleet; the rest were either killed or taken prisoners.

14. An engagement takes place between Admiral Hotham's and the French fleet in the Mediterranean, in which the Alcide a French 74 ftruck; but was afterwardsaccidentally blown up.

17. The

1

July 17. The Ville de Paris of 120 guns, the finest ship ever built in England, launched at Chatham.

22. Twenty-four fail of East-Indiamen arrive safe at Portsmouth.

23. Mr York, alias Redhead, convicted at York afsizes of a confpiracy and uttering feditious words. He was afterwards sentenced to be imprisoned two years.

Aug. 4. The French Convention ratified a treaty of peace with Spain. 13. A fevere storm of thunder and lightning, the effects of which were almost general in England and Scotland. In Perthshire, confiderable damage was done by the swelling of the rivers.

Sept. 6. The French army of the Sambre and Meuse crossed the Rhine at Duffeldorff.

14. Letters of marque issued authorffing the capture of Dutch veffels.

17. The church of St Paul, Covent-Garden, built by Inigo Jones, and highly admired for its fimple elegance, confumed by fire.

20. Manheim furrenders to the French army, without making any defence.

23. The Scipio man of war, with transports under convoy, containing 3000 troops, arrived at Martinique, The Maroon negroes in Jamaica having evinced a rebellious spirit, and committed a variety of depredations, are reduced to subjection by the spirited and judicious measures of the Governor, Lord Balcarras.

27. The New Bridewell in Edinburgh, an important improvement in the police of that city, receives its first inhabitants.

28. Rear-Admiral Pringle's squadron arrived in Leith roads where it continued till Nov. 15.

A gold mine (or rather detached pieces of that metal) discovered in the county of Wicklow mountains in Ireland.

Oct. 7. The homeward-bound Me

diterranean fleet unfortunately fell in with a French squadron of superior force to their convoy, when the Cenfeur, of 74 guns, and a number of the merchantmen, were captured.

27. After a violent opposition from the sections of Paris, during which a number of lives were loft, the Convention succeeded in establishing the new constitution, and this day the New Legislature met for the first time, the Council of Five Hundred at the Thuilleries, that of the Elders, confifting of 250, at the Palais Bour-, bon,

29. Parliament meets A most daring outrage was committed on his Majesty in his passage through St James's Park to the House of Lords. A pebble, or bullet, thrown with great force, broke one of the windows in the carriage, but providentially his Majesty received no hurt. When his Majesty had delivered his speech, the Lords deferred the confideration of it till next day, and proceeded to examine several persons who had been apprehended as acceffory to the above attempt. Their Lordships concluded an address of congratulation to his Majesty on his fortunate escape.

In the Commons, an address on the speech was moved as usual, and an amendment proposed by Mr Fox, negatived 240 to 59.-An address on his Majesty's escape was also unanimously voted.

30. The address on the speech pafses, in the House of Lords, without a division.

On the 17th of this month, the French army in the neighbourhood of Manheim were defeated by the Austrian General Wurmser, with great loss; in consequence of which they retreat across the Rhine, purfued in every direction by the Auftrians.

On the 29th, Marshal Clairfait attacked the French in their entrenched camp before Mentz, and gained

a com

a complete victory. - The fiege of Mentz is of consequence raised, and the French retreat with precipitation.

Nov. 3. A felect committee appointed by the House of Commons to enquire into the searcity and high price of corn-The distilleries are flopt till Feb. 1797.

7. The Lord Provost and MagiArates of Edinburgh vote an address of congratulation to his Majesty on his escape from the daring attempt on his perfon.

Similar addresses were presented from every county, city, and public body, in the kingdom, all expressing their abhorrence at the outrage, and most of them recommending a law to to prevent fuch daring attempts in future.

6-10. Two bills were brought into Parliament, one for the prefervation of his Majesty's person, the other for fuppressing seditious meetings. During the pendency of these bills, the public mind was greatly agitated; petitions for and against them being presented from almost every quarter. In their different stages through Parliament, notwithstanding a most strenuous opposition, they were carried by very great majorities. After being confiderably modified and altered, they received the royal affent on the 18th December.

15. The powerful armament deftined for the West Indies, which for a confiderable time before had been in preparation, under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and efcorted by a squadron, commanded by Admiral Christian, fails from Portfmouth, but before they clear the Channel are encountered by a violent ftorm, which disperses the fleet, and compells them to return, with the loss of feveral transports.-Having repaired the damage, they again sail on December 9. and again unfortunately fuffer in a gale of wind which drives about 35 transports back; the main

body of the fleet, however, confifting of 183 transports, proceeds on its voyage.

18. An incessant and heavy rain takes place, by which the rivers are so greatly swelled as to do very great damage to mills, bridges, &c. The new bridge over the Clyde at Glafgow was swept away.

The shock of an earthquake felt at York, Sheffield, &c.

21. Manheim furrendered to the Austrian army.

25. The King of Poland figned the treaty of partition of Poland.

26. Intelligence received of the important capture of the Cape of Good Hope by his Majesty's forces commanded by Admiral Elphinstone, and Generals Clarke and Craig.

Dec. 1. Another engagement between the Austrians and French at Kreutzenach, in which the latter have the advantage.

7. Mr Pitt opens the BudgetThe loan 18 millions. Taxes on collateral fucceffion-tobacco-printed cottons-horses-10 per cent. on afsessed taxes-diminution of drawbacks on sugar and falt.

8. Mr Pitt brings down a message from his Majesty, intimating that the order of things in France at present was such as to induce his Majesty to meet any disposition to negociation on the part of the enemy.

10. The French Executive Directory having openly announced the ruined state of the finances, the Legiflature decrees a forced loan of 600 millions of livres.

11. An agreement respecting the quality and consumption of bread acceded to by the House of Com mons.

23. The Count D'Artois fails from Portsmouth in the Jason frigate for Leith. Apartments are prepared at the palace of Holyroodhouse, where the Prince is to reside.

24. Parliament adjourned to Feb,

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