firmed to him. The better, however, to carry on the deception, the officer is afked, if he will have the goodness to reduce it to writing? He confents to it. He is then afked, with all imaginary gravity, if he will put his name to it? He condefcends even to this; and the Envoy difpatches it by express to Versailles, with his humble excufes for prefuming to wait for further orders in fo critical a conjoncture, and confiding in the Royal goodness to pardon his not proceeding on his journey. His excufes are of courte accepted, The extreme concern and excefive diappointment of the Court of Verfailles are made known to the French faction in Holland by private letters: the Count de St. Prief is confequently ordered to return to Paris; and the Dutch, by this well-concerted and not well-executed farce, were laughed at, betrayed, and abandoned. This stroke, worthy of Machiavel himfelf, enabled the French to keep one foot in Holland; and they would infallibly have had both, but for the fpirited conduct of the British Ministry, and the great military talents of the Duke of Brunswick.

Hague, Jan. 8 M. le Comte de Merode, his Imperial Majefty's Envoy Extraordinary, has had a conference with the Prefident of the Great and Noble Powers, to whom his Excellency delivered his credential letters.

Baron de Alvenfloben, who fucceeds Baron Therlemeyer in capacity of his Prufian Majetty's Envoy Extraordinary, is arrived in this city.

WEST INDIA INTELLIGENCE. Bay of Honduras, Sept. 23. Between the hours of four and five in the morning, a gale commenced from N N W. At eight it came to blow at W. N. W. with great violence, attended with rain. At eight the fky became obfcured, and it blew a hurricane. At this period the houses began to give way on both fides the river Balize, the limbs of the trees to be torn off, the inhabitants with fear and confternation to be running about for refuge, and the rain pouring inceffantly upon their heads in full torrents. About 10 the wind fhifted to S. W. and blew, if poffible, with redoubled violence. At that inftant the fea began to risc, and, contending with the land floods, every where overflowed the low lands. The cries of the women and children, and the floating of the dead bodies promilcusully among the logs of mahogany, exhibited fuch a scene of human mifery and diftrefs as no pen can defcribe, nor was the horror in the leaft diminithed when the hurricane abated, and the waters fubfided—a melancholy feene prefented itself to the unfortunate furvivors not a fingle houfe, hut, or habitation of any kind, on either fide the Balize, ftanding; not less than spo of different,conAructions having been blown down, and with their furniture reduced to a heap of rubbish, The dead bodies of many who had perifhed in endeavouring to gain the heights, the 3

carcafes of hogs, goats, and cattle, all ferved to heighten the calamity. Out of 15 fquarerigged veffels, befides fchooners, small craft, and other veffels, eleven of them were totally loft, and more than 100 perfons perished, Such a deplorable catastrophe never befell any fettlement in the West Indies before.

Jamaica, Nov. 10. In the course of the laft month feveral parts of this island have felt a tremulous motion of the earth; but fcarce any damage has been fustained by the concuffion, except at Port Royal, where a young gentleman, who was ftanding on the draw-bridge which connected a houfe with a ftone wall, built in General Cambell's adminiftration, had his leg broke by the falling of the bridge. The veffels in the harbour were fenfible of the agitation,

During the form the air was exceedingly cold, and the wind was varied fo faft between the N. N. E. that it was impoffible for any fhip to answer the veerings of it. The backs of the hips broke, and the mafts were carried away by the board before they could hand a fail.

AMERICA,

The Indian war, fo long threatened, has at length taken place on the back fettlements of the Province of Georgia,

On the 21 of September laft, a body of Indians, who had made an incurfion into the Province, and had way-laid a small party of provincials under Col. Butler, and had killed three of the number, wounded others, among them their Colonel, and pursued by General Clarke, who after trailing them upon feveral tracks, at last came up with them encamped and cooking upon an eminence, at a fmall diflance from a cane brake, through which they had just passed. The General inftantly drew up his men (about 130 in all) in three divifions, and endeavoured to furround-them; in which, however, he does not feem to have fucceeded; tho' he dislodged them from their encampment, and feized their baggage. They betook themselves to the Cane brake, of which they kept poffeffion; and the General, with his little army, were forced to return when night came on for want of provifions, and to take care of his wounded, which amounted to eleven, and fix killed. The General thinks that, if he could have ftayed all night, he fhould have found 40 or 50 of the enemy dead. This the General would reprefent as a victory but by its effect it appears a compleat defeat. The enemy continues their incurfions, and have feized 30 horfes from Baruett's Fort; have burnt Lander's Fort, Philips's, Fitzpatrick's, and Greenborough, with all the houfes within the vicinity of that place, and with many of thofe near the river.

This news alarmed Congrefs; and on the 20th of December a fufficient number of Reprefentatives being affembled at New York, refolved, that the Secretary Wat ar

deliver

jefy George III. was improper and illegal, and therefore fined him in the fum of 51. fierling to the poor of the parish of Jedburgh, and found him liable in fuch expences as the Procurator fifcal fhall depone he laid out previous to the date of his interlocutor (which was afterwards modified by the Lord Ordinary to 16. fterling), and in the expence extract." The refpondent Mr. Billerwell gave in a reclaiming petition against this decifion; but the Court refufed the fame, ard adhered to their interlocutor, which afcer tains this point, fo important to the retail iraders in this country."

Edinburgh, Jan. 8. This day a general meeting of the Highland Society was held here, agreeable to Royal Charter. In the abfence of the D. of Argyle, the Hon. Henry Erfkine, one of the V-ce Prefidents, took the chair; when after a ballot, as the laws of the Society direct, the Rt. Hon. Ld. Haddo, Cl. Wemyfs of Wemyfs, Lewis Grant, Efq. junior, of Grantully, Col. Alex. Murray, late of India, and feveral other refpectable candidates, were admitted members. The Society then proceeded to elect the Prefident, Vice Prefident, and other officers, for the prefent year, when his Grace of Argyle was contigued.

Edinburgh, Jan. 10. This day came on, at the Palace of Holyrood-houfe, the election of one of the Sixteen Peers, in the room of the late Earl of Dalhousie. The candidates were the Earl of Dumfries and Lord Cathcart, when Ld. Cathcart was chofen by a majority of ONE, the numbers being 28 to 27. Sevecal protests were taken; and a more particular account of this Election will be given when it comes before the House of Peers to be decided, as there are many protests.

A difcovery, which has lately taken place in a noble family in this country, and which has occafioned much idle talk among people of fathion, is, it is faid, to be fettled by conTent of parties in the proper courts. The E. of E-gn has, on this occafion, behaved with becoming fpirit and fenfibility; and the Noble Duke and Countefs, who have been the occafion of fo much over-officious medding, are equally to be commended for the propriety of their late conduct.

The Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Eglington are at prefent in oppofite intereft Edinburgh, Jan. 15. The Court of Seffion met for the difpatch of bufinefs; when the Hon. Tho. Miller of Glenlee was fworn in, and took the chair as Ld. Prefident; what he faid, on the occafion, was nearly in thefe words:

"My Lords, Thofe who know well, will readily believe, that at this time many things are labouring in my mind; but I will follow the example of my Predeceffor, and will make no fpeech. I fhall thereby avoid the danger of faying too little in his praife, and faying too much to difparage the choice which the King has been pleated to make of

me as his Succeffor. If I cannot bring to this Chair his shining abilities, I hope, and I know, that I bring with me his independency of mind, his regard to truth, and his love of juftice; and if to thefe I can add my utmost endeavours to carry on and dispatch the business of the Court, then I may hope, that, if I cannot repair, 1 may at least alleviate the lofs which your Lordships and the Court have fuftained by the death of your late Prefident.

His Majesty's letter was then read, appointing John Maclaurin, Efq, one of Coun cil and Seffion; and, after the ufual oaths, he took his feat on the Bench, by the title of Ld. Dreghorn.

The fame day Ld. Braxfield took the oaths and bis feat, as Ld. Juftice Clerk, vice Rr. Hon. Tho. Miller; as did Ld. Swinton, as one of the Commishioners of Justiciary, viceLd. Braxfield.

COUNTRY NEWS.

Liverpool, Dec. 23. This morning, at sever o'clock, four men entered the houfe of Mrs. Graham; one of them ftayed below, while three, armed with pifols and knives, went into the different lodging-rooms, and, with horrid imprecations in cafe of refiftance, tied the perfons in their beds, and robbed them of nineteen guineas, fome filver, one bill of go another of 10l. feveral fecond third, and fourth fets of bills of exchange, for different fumt, none under 1001. and none exceeding 300l. and many other aris cles. Two of the villaine, Patrick Burne and Sylvefter Dowling, on Monday the 7th of January, were fortunately apprehended at Bristol, by means of an anonymous letres directed to the Mayor of Liverpool. They were embarking for Dublin, and bills of exchange, to the amount of col. with other property belonging to Mrs. Graham, were found in their packages on board the veffel. Dowling would have efcaped from the officer who took him, but that the officer's dog purfued him and held him by the jeg.

Colebroke, Dec. 30. A fire broke out at the feat of Ld. Berkeley in this neighbourhood, by which the whole of that elegant building was burnt to the ground.

Savanjea, Jan, 13. This morning, about three o'clock, a fire broke out at Gellyber, the manfion-houfe of Gabriel Powell, Elg The house was all in Bames before it was difcovered, and burnt fo fiercely that hardly any thing could be faved. The lofs is com puted at more than cool. and nothing en fured.

Lewes, Jan 14. In a field near Wadhurst, in this county, a spring of water burst forth about ten days ago, with an explofion that was heard at a great diftance, and which railed a mount of at least a hundred load of earth by the rife.

Hertford, Jan. 16. One Judd, a fubftantial tarmer of Stockin Pelham, in this neighbourhood,

"I have attentively examined the reprefentations of my Parliament, and I have nothing farther to add to the answer I have already fent to the Members. My Parlia ment should not folicit from my justice what folely depends on my will."

The King then asked the Chief Prefident how far the Committee had proceeded in the Proteftant bill; and was answered, that they had quite finished, and that the bill was ready to lay before the Houfe. His Majefy expreffed an earnest defire for that edict's paffing as foon as poffible, and ordered them to fet about it immediately..

The following are the Refolutions regiftered by Parliament, on Friday, Jan. 4, 1788, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

"After examining the King's anfwer of the 27th ult. the Court feeing that his Majefty's intentions expreffed in his aufwer of the 14th of May, 1787, are fcarcely ever fulfilled; on the contrary, the Court cannot help perceiving that Lettres de Cachet are frequently employed to fatisfy particular views or prirevenge: The Court therefore cannot, and indeed ought not to recur to the King's goodnefs, in order to obtain the Duke of Orleans, and Meffis. Freteau and Sabbatier's liberty. Such a ftep would be as derogatory from the effential principles of the conftitution, and of public order, as it is from the generous fen timents of that august Prince, and the two worthy Magiftrates. The Court cannot help thinking, that their apprehenfions, manifefted in their arret of the 27th of laft Auguft, were too well founded; and that the French monarchy actually degenerates into defpo fm, fince the Miniftry abufe his Majesty's authority, by difpofing of individuals by Lettres de Cachet. The fame power that arbitrarily difpofes of the liberty of the Prince of the Blood, and of two Magiftrates, can certainly, with greater ease, attack that of all other citizens; and if the repeal of arbitrary orders is to depend on the goodness and pleasure of the Monarch, fuch a proceeding muft give fan&tion to the deed, and establish that dangerous principle, the use of Lettres de Cacher. Such a principle, no doubt, would tend to fubvert the moft facred laws of the conflitution; all his Majesty's fubjects, therefore, are interested in prevent ing the fad effects of it; and the Court cannot, nor even intend to make any difference between the Duke of Orleans and the two magiftrates caufe, and that of any other Citizen whatever. Parliament, therefore, will *never ceafe to demand the Prince's and the magiftrates liberty, or their impeachment; and thinking themfelves bound to employ the fame zeal, and the fame perfeverance, for the welfare of their fellow-citizens, they will intreat his Majefty to grant and infore to every Frenchman that perfonal fecurity which is facredly promifed by the laws, and due to them by the found principles of their conftitution. The Court unanimously agree,

therefore, to addrefs his Majefly with reiterated reprefentations on his anlwer given to the preceding ones, and to prefent at the fame time to the throne very humble and refpectful remonstrances on the fubject of Lettres de Cachet relatively confidered for every order of citizens.”

Among other changes at the Court of France, it is faid that M. Necker is to be again placed at the Head of the Financiers.' Intelligence has been received at Paris, that two of the caiffoons erected at Cher burgh have been deftroyed by an inundation of the fea, and two others much damaged. This news has fince been confirmed in England.

In Sweden there has lately been a new clafs of Knights of the Order of the Sera phims created, the number of whom is not to exceed three. They are to have the infpection and entire management of the hofpitals, and in fome manner to act as Deputies of the Order, to whom the fuperintendency of all the charitable foundations belong. Count Bunge, whom the King had defigned to be one of the Knights of this new clafs, has fince, on account of his age, declined that honour; and Count Duben has beea named in his room.

A letter written by the New Minister the Count de Tiauntmansdorff, and addreffed to the Council of Brabant, by order of the Emperor, has given great offence to that refpectable body; and has produced a fpirited remontirance, in which they complain of the violence offered to the free conftitution of Brabant, and infift on the revocation of the faid letter, founded in ignorance of the laws, and aiming at defpotifm. The minifter, on the receipt of this letter, was highly offended, and threatened to banish the coun cil if they proceeded to print it; and forth with took measures to prevent it, but withour effect.

On the 28th of Dec. at midnight, Mr. Mainiger, commiflary of provifions, was, by order of his Imperial Majefty, arrefted in his bed at Bruffels, and conducted to the barracks. The fame night, at the fame hour, the commiffary of provifions at Ghent, and the commiffary of Luxemburgh, were all arrefted; as would have been the commiffary of Mons; but he, fufpecting what was in agitation, very prudently withdrew.

The Emperor has opened a loan in the Low Countries; but, though very advan tageous, not a fingle penny has been fubfcribed.

By letters from Petersburg, her Imperial Majefty on the 6th of December, being the anniversary of the order of St. George, conferred the cross of the 4th clafs of that order upon feveral of her officers who have been five and twenty years in her terv c

On the 2d inftant, the ann veriary of her Majefty's name-day was celebrated at the Ruffian court with grand gala.

The