SONNET

To a LADY.

By Dr. WARWICK.

SONNET

To the Author of the DRAMATIC POEM of CARACTACUS.

By Dr. WARWICK.

O! at the Poet's call from ancient night

This myrtle-crown with rofes interleav'd-This, ftretch'd on yonder cliff, thy Poct weav'd,

Embower'd by rocks, by rifing breezes fann'd ;

Meantime his eye the boundless ocean fcann'd, Whole waves with paufing found his car reliev'd,

And fancy dwelt on naval palms atchiev'd By fea-girt Albion's tutelary band. Nor thou reject, however rudely twin'd, Those native emblems of thy face and mind,

Nor fcorn the verfe which honeft warmth infpires;

For well thou know'ft, that art can ill controul

The wild luxuriance of a British foul,

When freedom animates, and beauty fires.

brave,

Who bent on freedom, or a glorious

WE Catherine there and Autocratrice

E Catherine the Second, by the Grace

of all the Ruffias, of Mufcovy, Kiovia, Wolodomiria, Novogorod; Czarina of Cazan, Czarina of Aftrachan, Czarina of Siberia, Czarina of the Cherfonefus Taurica, Lady of Pfkof, and Great Duchefs of Smolensko, Duchefs of Eftonia, Livonia, Carelia, Twer, Ingoria, Permio, Viatkia, Bulgaria, and other places; Lady and Great Duchefs of the country of Lower Novogorod, Chernigof, Razan, Polofzk, Roftof, Jaroflof, Belofersk, Uderfk, Obdorfk, Coudinsk, Wityrk, Mftiflawfk, and Sovereign of all the northern coafts, Lady of the Twersky country, of the Carthalinian and Gruzinian Czars, of the country of Carbardinia; of the Princes of Circaffia, and thofe of the mountains, and of other countries, Heirefs, Lady, and Sovereign Ruler.

Our endeavours to increase the trade of Our fubjects, and of other nations through the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean, have

met with the wished-for fuccefs; the treaty of commerce, which we concluded with the Ottoman Porte on the 10th of June, 1783, having finally removed thofe impediments and difficulties, which, from the particular conftitution of the Turkish Government, had obftructed the faid trade in every step of its progrefs; and which can only be guarded against by the inftitution of proper laws, for the protection of commerce, and by granting it that entire freedom which its various fpeculations and turns fo indifpenfibly require. The principles of this unlimited freedom we have adopted, and followed from the earliest period of our Government, as is manifeft from the feveral edicts and regulations which have been iffued from our throne; and we now extend these edicts and regulations in their utmost latitude to the trade of the Black Sea. The fecurity and convenience of that commerce are now fully provided for by the annexation of the province of Taurica, and the neighbouring territories, to our other dominions

dominions; and we have opened therein 'divers fea-ports for the use of all perfons who will carry away from thence the produce of Ruffia, and bring thither the produce and manufactures of other countries.

It is well known that the last Turkish war (a war which during the laft fix years that it lafted was fignalized by fo many victories of our arms) was no fooner concluded, than we erected within the Government of Catherinoflaw, upon the river Dniper, and at a fhort diftance from its entrance, the city of Cherfon; it having appeared to us, that that fituation was particularly commodious, as well for exporting the produce of Ruffia as for importing, from other countries, fuch things as might be useful to us; and we fecured the trade thereof by the most effectual means of defence, encouraging it moreover by fuch helps as were beft fuited to it, and were not inconfiftent with the general principles of commerce.

This town, as alfo Sebaftopolis (formerly called Acht-iar) and Theodofia (formerly called Caffa), both which latter are fituated in the Province of Taurica, and are provided with excellent fea-ports; we have, on account of the commodioufnefs of their fituation, ordered to be opened to all nations living in amity with our empire, for the purpofes of their commercial intercourfe with our faithful fubjects. Accordingly we moft folemnly declare, by thefe prefents, that all fuch nations are at liberty to come to the faid ports, either in their own or hired vellels, and under their own colours, as alfo to repair thither by land; and they are like wife free to depart from thence at their pleafure, paying the duties of importation and exportation agreeable to the Tariffs eftablished in the respective custom-houses. Moreover all perfons, of what nations or countries foever, may remain in these towns as long as their bufinefs or inclinations may lead them, and enjoy the free exercife of their religion, agreeably to thofe laudable inftitutions which have been handed down to us from our anceftors, Sovereigns of Ruffia, and which we

ourselves have confirmed and augmented, permitting all ftrangers residing in Russia to worship the Almighty agreeably to the religion of their forefathers, offering prayers to him, together with our own fubjects, that he will encrease the welfare, and strengthen the power of our empire. We give leave to all and every one to carry on their trade with abfolute freedom, either fingly or in com panies, promifing by Our Imperial Word, that all foreigners fhall enjoy the fame privileges in thofe three towns as they enjoy in Our Imperial City of St. Petersbourg, and in Our Provincial Town of Archangel; and in cafe of a war every one shall be secured by the principles of that neutral fyftem which we have erected, and which, on our part, fhall be kept facred and inviolable. Finally, if any foreigners should wish to fettle in thefe or any other towns or places of our empire, and to become our fubjects, we will receive them moft graciously under our dominion, promifing that they fhall not only be allowed the free exercife of their religion, (as mentioned above) but the full enjoyment of all such privileges and exemptions with regard to trade and navigation, as have been granted to our other fubjects; as alfo to erect fabricks and manufactories, paying only fuch taxes as fhall be paid by our other fubjects of the fame condition with themfelves. All perfons, who fhall thus become our fubjects, fhall be at liberty, they and their defcendants, to remain under our Government as long as may be agreeable to them, or as their intereft may require; and in cafe they fhould afterwards chufe to withdraw from the fame, they shall be freely permitted fo to de, on paying the taxes that had been laid upon them for three years to come. The particular privileges which will be granted to the above-mentioned towns, will be fet forth in their respective charters, which are fpeedily to be published. Given at St. Petersbourg the 22d of February, 1784, and in the 22d year of our reign. The Original figned with her Imperial Majefty's own hand.

Definitive Articles aforefaid, did by a certain A&t under the feal of the United States, bearing date this 14th day of January 1784, approve, ratify, and confirm the fame, and every part and claufe thereof, engaging and promifing that we would fincerely and faithfully perform and obferve the fame, and never fuffer them to be violated by any one, or tranfgreffed in any manner as far as fhould be in our power: And being fincerely dif pofed to carry the faid articles into execution Rr 2

truly,

truly, honefly, and with good faith, according to the intent and meaning thereof, we have thought proper, by thefe prefents, to notify the premises to all the good citizens of these United States, hereby requiring and enjoining all bodies of Magiftracy, legiflative, executive, and judiciary, all perfons bearing office, civil or military, of whatever rank, degree, powers, and all others the good citizens of these States of every vocation and condition, that reverencing thofe ftipulations entered into on their behalf, under the authority of the federal bond by which their existence as an independent people is bound up together, and is known and acknowledged by the nations of the world, and with that good faith which is every man's fureft guide, within their feveral offices, jurifdictions, and vocations, they carry into effect the faid Definitive Articles, and every claufe and fentiment thereof, fincerely, ftrictly, and completely.

Given under the Seal of the United States. Witnefs his Excellency THOMAS MIFFLIN, our Prefident, at Annapolis, this 14 14th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eightyfour, and of the fovereignty and independence of the United States of America the eighth.

CHARLES THOMOSN, Secretary. And in compliance with the 5th article of the treaty alluded to in the foregoing ProGlamation, they refolved unanimously: Nine

States prefent:"That it be, and it is hereby earneftly recommended to the Legiflatures of the refpective States, to provide for the reftitution of all eftates, rights, and properties, which have been confifcated, belonging to real British fsubjects, and also of the eftates, rights, and properties, of perfons refident in districts which were in poffeffion of his Britannick Majesty's arms at any time between the 30th day of November 1782, and the 14th day of January 1784, and who have not borne arms against the said United States; and that perfons of any other description shall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmolested in their endeavours to obtain the reftitution of fuch of their eftates, rights, and properties as may have been confifcated. And it is alfo hereby carneftly recommended to the feveral States, to reconfider and revife all their acts or laws regarding the premises, fo as to render the faid laws or acts perfectly confiftent not only of conciliation which, on the return of the with juftice and equity, but with that fpirit bleffings of peace, fhould univerfally prevail. And it is alfo hereby earnestly recominended to the feveral States, that the eftates,rights, and properties of fuch laft mentioned perfons Thould be restored to them, they refunding to any perfon who may be now in poffeffion, the bona fide price (where any has been given) which fuch perfons may have paid on purchasing any of the faid lands, rights, or properties, fince the confifcation.

MONTHLY

FOREIGN

Extract of a Letter from Naples, Feb. 19.

IS Majefty, the King of Sweden, having

Hexpreffed defire to fee the experi

ment of the Air Balloon, there was yesterday a grand exhibition by order of the Court of Naples, and in the prefence of their Majefties. Perhaps it was the nobleft fight the human eye was ever regaled with. Imagine an immenfe globe of 150 feet diameter, and 200 in height, gilt, and bearing on the top an enormous crown, fparkling with well-imitated precious stones of various colours; imagine, that to this globe was annexed a building of the most beautiful architecture of the Doric order, formed of pumice-itone, and furrounded by a terrafs or gallery, railed in, with orange-trees and lemon. Imagine, I fay, this wonderful machine rifing majeftically to the heavens in a clear fky at noon, in fight of an applauding multitude, carrying with it an orchestra of eight capital perform ers, whofe mufic, for the short time it could

be heard, had a most sublime effect. In about twenty-feven minutes it had difappeared by a perpendicular afcent; nor could the people difcover any appearance of it by the bat telescopes. It was exactly twelve o'clock when the machine began to rifc, and at two it had not been again vifible. An anxiety feemed to prevail amongit all the fpectators, fome offering up prayers for the fafety of the travellers, whill others were of opinion that God had taken them into heaven. But their acclamations were exceffive, when, at thirteen minutes after three, they obferved a fmall fpeck in the air at an immenfe distance, but which foon fhewed itself to be the wishedfor machine, which gradually defcended till it reached the earth, about a mile diftance from the place of its afcent, which was from a plain caitward of the town. Every thing fucceeded well, and the aerial navigators trod the earth in fafety again after their furpring flight! Befides the above-mentioned orchestre

and

and two perfons (who had contrived the machine) who were there to regulate it, there went up feven perfons of rank, confifting of three Neapolitan noblemen; a French, three Spanish, and an English gentleman. On their return they were taken to court in the royal carriages, amidst the inconceivable acclamations of a delighted people. Their account of what they experienced and obferved in their flight will be fpeedily published; at prefent they affirm that they mounted to the height of twelve Italian miles. It is reported now, that each adventurer will receive fome diftinguished honour or reward from the two Sovereigns who were witneffes to the whole: and Signor Antonio Lippetti, the perfon who had the conducting of the affair, has been rewarded with 2000 pounds fterling, and a patent of nobility.

"P.S. The globe was formed of the fkins of kids, and covered with filk inside and out, with an elaftic gum over it, which took the gilding extremely well: it required feveral hours filling with inflammable air, but when full, it was fo closely stopped, that nothing could evaporate."

Venice, March 6. The Bey of Tunis has broke the peace with the Republic, on account of our not making him prefents four times more valuable than ufual. The Senate immediately came to a refolution to send out a fquadron of nine fhips of the line, of 70 and go guns, four frigates and eight chebecks, to bring that Regency to reafon, and to protect, at the fame time, the Venetian flag in the Mediterranean, which is under the command of the Chevalier Emo, a noble Venetian of the highest reputation in the marine of the Republick.

Vienna, March 6. Mr. Bufching has published an account of the population of the different eftates of Germany by which it appears that Bohemia contains 2,100,000 inhabitants; Moravia 1,000,000; the Circle of Austria 4,150,000; the Circle of Burgundy 1,600,000; and Bavaria 1,148,000. Thefe are only the principal estates, the total of whofe inhabitants, according to the above, amount to 21,000,000 fouls. The population of Germany has, however, been reckoned at 25,000,000; but Mr. Bufching cannot think that the inhabitants of thofe parts which he has omitted can amouut to 4,000,000.

Franckfort on the Main, March 7. We receive from every quarter the most melancholy accounts of the confequences of the thaw and overflowing of the Rhine, the

Mein, and the Neckar. Many houses and mills at Sachfenhausen have been swept away; 13 houfes were thrown down at Miltemberg, and a number of persons buried in their ruins; many edifices have been washed away by the torrent at Kitringen; one half of the town of Bonn is under water, as well as the villages of Limperic, Beul, and Schevartz-Shandorffe ; the Lutheran Church, and 130 houses have been destroyed at Mulheim.

Hague, April 5. The Pruffian Ambaffador has, by order of his Master, delivered a letter from the King to their High Mighti nefes, in which his Majefty refers them to a letter delivered to them by his Minister on the 21ft of January, relative to the public infults offered to the Stadtholder, and fays, that it is with the greatest difpleasure he perceives thofe infults ftill continued by the publication of the groffeft libels almost daily. His Majefty brings to the minds of their High Mightinelles, that the Republic was founded by the courage, prudence, and even the blood of their Stadtholders, and that whenever they have been fo ill advised as to abolith the Stadtholderate, the State has been torn by internal troubles; and thence his Majefty infers, that no Member who wishes well to the Republic can have the most diftant idea of abolishing the Stadtholderate, or to confine its authority to fuch narrow limits as to render it a mere cypher.-His Majefty fays, he is not ignorant that a jealoufy for the public liberty has, at times, caufed the abolition of that dignity; but without enquiring how far that fear was wellfounded at that time or not, he is convinced no fuch thing can happen now; and was the Republic in any fuch danger, his Majefty would be the first to intereft himself for the Republic; but the King affures them, that neither the prefent Stadtholder nor his immediate fucceffors wifh to do any thing against the liberty of the Republic, of which his Majefty is ready to become guarantee at any time. This being the truth, the King advifes their High Mightineffes, as a friend, to put an end to the public infults offered to the Prince of Orange; that they will endeavour to put a stop to every idea of dangerous innovation in their government, and re-cftablifh a good understanding between the Prince and his opponents.

Paris, April 5. According to accounts from L'Orient, the Council of War is broke up, and M. De Graffe entirely acquitted of the charges.

HE Common-Hall held this day for the Election of four Citizens to reprefent the City of London in the enfiting Parliament, produced no lefs than eight Can

Meff. Brook Watson,
Richard Atkinson,

Samuel Smith, jun.
And last, though not leaft in fame,

The Right Hon. WILLIAM PITT was proposed by Mr. Dornford.

All the Candidates, except Mr. Pitt, were prefent, and severally addrefled the Livery, previous to their names being put up.

After the feveral Candidates had been heard, and Mr. Dornford had unexpectedly propofed the Right Hon. William Pitt, whofe name was received with a thunder of applaufe, Mr. Alderman Saunderfon propofed a refolution to the following purport:

That each Candidate fhould fign an agreement, promifing, upon his honour, faithfully to obey the inftructions of his Conftituents legally convened in Common Hall for that purpose; or, fhould his opinions militate with thofe of his Conftituents, folemnly engaging himself to refign his feat to them.

This Refolution was carried with only one or two diffentient hands; as was alfo another, recommending it to all the other Electors of the kingdom to exact a fimilar teft from every Candidate for their favour.

Finding the refolutions fo warmly efpoufed, and fo highly pleafing to the Livery, all the Gentlemen who had offered themfelves on the prefent occafion now came forward, and feverally profeffed their readiness to fign fuch an engagement.

The names of all the Aldermen, and the other Candidates, were now put up, when the Sheriffs declared the fhew of hands to be in favour of

The Right Hon. W. Pitt,
Sir Watkin Lewes,
Alderman Newnham, and
Brook Watson, Efq.

Mr. Pickett, after faying that he did not mean to serve himself, but the Livery, in coming forward on this occafion, declared bis intention, fince the Livery were not inclined to accept his fervices, to give them no farther trouble.

A Poll, however, was demanded by the friends of the other feven Candidates; the books of which were opened at four, and elofed at five o'clock that afternoon.

The fame night, the Right Hon. William Pitt fent a complimentary letter to the Sheriffs, thanking them and the Livery for the honour they intended him in putting him in nomination to be one of their Representatives in Parliament; but he begged leave to decline ftanding the poll, as he was engaged for another place, and was to fet out immediately.

In the courfe of Mr. Brook Watfon's fpeech to the Liverymen, he pointed to the gallery over the fteps, and faid, "In that

64

gallery ftands the Marquis de Bouillé." The eyes of every perfon prefent were inftantly fixed upon the Marquis.-Mr. Watson proceeded, declaring the conduct of that Nobleman to have been fuch as to merit the

gratitude of the whole kingdom; for that, while he was discharging the duty he owed to his King and Country, he had protected the property of fuch of our fellow-fubjects as had fallen into his hands, from rapine and plunder, forgetting the enemy in the captive. The Marquis de Bouillé received every teflimony of applaufe; he bowed very po litely, and feemed much pleafed with the reception he met with.

April 1. Came on the election for two Members to represent the City of Westminfter in the ensuing Parliament, when an immenfe body of people affembled in CoventGarden before ten o'clock. About noon Lord Hood and Sir Cecil Wray afcended the huftings, attended by a numerous train of friends; and foon after Mr. Fox, preceded by a band of mufic and feveral flags, arrived from St. James's-flreet. The writ, with the act to prevent bribery and corruption, being read, the feveral Candidates, Lord Hood, Sir Cecil Wray, and Mr. Fox were about to be nominated as Candidates, when the High Bailiff judging it impoffible to collect the fenfe of the Electors, from the tumult which prevailed, was of opinion, that as a poll had been demanded by feveral of the Electors, a fhew of hands was not neceffary on the occafion.

At Wood's Hotel, enfigns of the French and Spanish nations taken by Admiral Hood during the late war were difplayed, and a band of mufic, playing "Britons ftrike Home," was feated in the windows of the Hotel. A flag was difplayed before the Huftings, on which was written "Lord Hood, Sir Cecil Wray; No Bribery, No Receipt Tax;" and under thefe words the "Ville de Paris" was difplayed.

On Mr. Fox's flags were written "Fox and the Conftitution, No Tax on Maid Servants, and May Chelfea Hospital stand for ever !"

The whole was one continued scene of riot and confufion till about two o'clock. The poll then commenced, and continued until three.

6. At the final clofe of the poll, at Guildhall, the numbers were as follow on each day:

Tu. W. Th. F. S. M. Tu. Tot. Watf. 101 717 1148 1057 497 718 551 4789 Lew. 90 637 1078 1008 488 724 537 4554 Newn. 100 635 1066 1010 482 684 494 4479 Sawb. 73 435 673 573 292 420 357 2823 Atk. 57 362 583 614 293 471 424 2816 Smith, 20 237 declined.

Pitt,

52 3 declined.