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Lieutenant Colonel Johnstone who headed the detachment of the third regiment of foot guards on yesterday's enfanguined anniversary, difplayed a genius proportioned to the honourable fervice of the day, and proved himself an able fucceffor of the celebrated Captain Murray, who commanded the fame corps at the maffacre in St. George's Fields.

It is not a little extraordinary, when a warrant is out against a man for an offence, not bailable by law, that a gentleman of character fhould think himself at liberty to avow his knowledge of the offender's place of concealment, and even offer to the perfons engaged to profecute him, that he fhould, on condition of being examined before a particular Magiftrate, furrender himfelf. Yet it is pofitively afferted by a gentleman, who declares himself to have been prefent at the time, that the fon of one of the Candidates for Westminster, was not afhamed to bring a formal meffage to Mr. Fox's Committee at the Shakespeare Tavern, offering that L— the — Conftable, who has abfconded, fhould be forth coming, upon condition of being examined before a certain Magiftrate. If this be true, the ftory does not tell much to the honour of the gentleman who brought the meffage, or the Magistrate, before whom the culprit, feems fo peculiarly defirous of being examined.

In order to preserve the freedom of Election, as inviolate as poffible, the aid of the military is no doubt neceffary. Our public places of amufement, the opera and theatres, were last night deprived of the ufual party of guards; the foldiery being found necessary to attend to other tragedies befides thofe exhibited in the dramatic world!

A certain magiftrate who has come forward on a recent occafion is fo well informed in all legal points, that the inhabitants of Westminster may confider themfelves peculiarly fortunate in having fuch a chief in their municipal jurifdiction. From his extreme caution not to exceed the licence of magiftracy, he lately wrote a billet to Mr. Evans the bookfeller, for guidance on that head, of which the following is a copy:

"Mr. Evans,

"Sir, I expects soon to be call'd out "lyment re Latin to a Gustis of Piece.

on a Mergensy, so send me all the ax of par-
I am,
"Yours to command, &c.

"GUSTIS WILMOT."

As the intelligent part of the world are at present bufily employed in forming opinious of the different exhibitions of paintings in this city, we think it will prove a gratification to our readers to be informed of an intended exhibition of political pictures, which will be opened for public infpection in a few days in St. Stephen's Chapel; the following are reported to be among the moft ftriking fubjects:

1. The Lava of Despair, from Spencer, after the manner of Rembrandt by Sir Cecil Wray. This artift has been particularly happy in his choice of a fubject, the grouping of the objects that form the fore ground of the picture are fo characteristic and natural, that it is prefumed the painter's mind was ftrongly impreffed with that melancholy and distraction he has fo ably depicted.

2. A Noli me tangere, drawn with a hot poker in the ftile of Salvator Rafa by the. Right Hon. W. Pitt.

The firft effays of this artift's pencil were purchafed with an avidity that promifed him a confiderable fhare of profit and reputation, but unfortunately he has contracted a manner of colouring that will ultimately destroy both; his best friends have advised him to recur to his ufual fimplicity of ftile, in which he united truth and harmony; but his mind has been of late fo far debauched by fervile flattery, that they perceive their good wishes to be ineffectual, as the prefumption of the young artist is evidently fuperior to his judgment.

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3. Chorabus deftroying the monster, from the Thebaid of Statius, a capital performance in imitation of Michael Angelo, by the Right Honourable Charles James Fox.

The grace and greatnefs fo confpicuous in this picture will immortalize the artist's name, and be confidered as a monument in future times of the amazing excellence of an individual that exifted and flourished in this age for the advantage and glory of his country.

May 12.] Yefterday afternoon at five o'clock, Mr. Prickard, the coroner for the city and liberty of Weftminfter, with an inqueft of the neighbouring inhabitants, met at Wood's Hotel, Covent Garden, to fit on the body of the conftable who died at one o'clock the fame morning, of the blows he received in an affray before the Huftings, at the clofe of the Poll on Monday laft.

Meffrs. J. Hunter and Sheldon, on examination of the body, found three of the ribs, on the left fide, had been broken, and that the skull had been fractured near the right temple, which last wound, in their opinion, was the caufe of his death.-A variety of evidence appeared on the occafion, moft of whom came voluntarily to depofe, that the unneceffary band of new made conftables, fent to the Huftings that day by Juftice Wilmot, were the firft promoters of the riot; and that at the head of thefe, was the unfortunate man deceased: but as a coroner's inqueft feldom enquire further than by ex parte evidence for the crown, what immediately relates to the death of the fubject, this part of the evidence (moft material when the affair is brought before a criminal court of judicature) though heard in fome meafure, was but little attended to.-The evidence clofed about one o'clock this morning; and the coroner having given his charge, the inqueft, after about half an hour's deliberation, brought in their verdict, wilful murder by perfons unknown:" in confequence of which, there is no doubt but the fixteen innocent and inoffenfive men, committed, as fuppofed acceffaries in the murder, will immediately be discharged.

About one o'clock Kelly, Efq. one of his Majefty's juftices of the peace for the county of Middlefex, came into the Hotel, and ordered the celebrated Juftice Wilmot into immediate cuftody, charging him with being an acceffary before the fact, in the death of the unfortunate conftable. Wilmot being fecured, was carried before Mr. Hale, another magiftrate then in the Hotel, who was employed in taking the information against him, when this paper went to prefs, refpecting a charge which was likely to undergo a long investigation; what may be the iffue thereof, we cannot furmife; but Mr. Kelly's charge certainly goes to prove, that Wilmot's ordering the riotous band of new made Middlefex conftables into the city of Westminster, was contrary to the collective fenfe of the magiftracy affembled at Guildhall, on Monday laft, in confequence of the Duke of Northumberland's letter; and that he, Mr. K. had predicted to the faid Wilmot, the fatal confequences that muft inevitably happen, fhould he perfift in his rafh, and ill-advifed project.

A large detachment of the Horfe and Foot and Horfe Grenadier Guards, under the command of Colonels Sir George Ofborne and Thomas, took poft round the Hotel about feven o'clock in the evening, and remained there the whole night, without the fmalleft appearance of any riotous or tumultuous affembly during the day or evening: the orders for this conftitutional fervice it feems were iffued immediately from Sir George Yonge, the Secretary at War!

It has been ufual with men, who by their imprudencies, have reduced their finances, to feel their friends by fecret applications, before they ventured publicly to announce their diftreffes. Prudence fhould have directed the Wooden Committee to have tried the

wary

wary Dukes to fupply the wiley beggars with the needful, e're they had ventured to expofe their poornefs in fpirit, as well as in purfe, to carry on a fcrutiny.

A correfpondent is forry to inform the public, that the Chairman of the Vays and Means at Wood's Hotel, by the increase of the adverfary's Poll, and the heat of the weather, from a puft up ftate, ready to burst the feams of his coat, has difcovered within these few days fuch ftrong fymptoms of a confumptive habit, as to require, in addition to his own, the phyfical aid and affiftance of Dr. Jebb, to prevent a total decay. It gives our correfpondent concern to add, that the Chairman's mental faculties feem much impaired, and as it is fuppofed, that thefe alarming maladies of mind and body have been increased by vexation, difappointment, and diftrefs, it is earnestly hoped, that all well-difpofed Chriftians will contribute by their prayers and charitable donations, to reftore him to his priitine ftate.

The Secretary at W- is to bring a Bill into Parliament to make it legal for his Majefty's army, or militia, to attend by detatchments at the Huflings in London, Middlefex, Coventry, Westminster, and York, to prevent unlawful tumults and keep the peace during the Poll. And from this we are to fuppofe, that the army will fhortly after furround the House of Commons when any popular meafure is agitated. The people at this moment are ripe to receive any act against their antient rights, of which they now feem to be heartily tired.

Extract of a letter from Kirkwall, April 26.

"This day came on the Election of a Member for the northern diftrict of the boroughs in Scotland, when the delegates from the towns of Wick and Dornock voted for John Sinclair, Efq. late Member for Caithness, and fince returned for Loftwithiel, in Cornwall; and the delegates from Tain, Dingwall, and Kirkwall, for the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, upon which Mr. Fox was declared duly elected. Objections, however, were flated to the delegates from Kirkwall and Dingwall; and it was farther contended, that Mr. Fox, not being a qualified burgefs in any of the towns, was confequently ineligible; from which it is fuppofed, that the merits of the Election will yet undergo the confideration of a Committee."

The dreadful facrifices of St. George's Fields and Brentford Election, which can never be forgotten by the people of this country, and the abhorrence that will eternally be felt against the administration that promoted them, might have taught men who have the management of the state at this period, what fhocking effects are frequently produced by the interference of government in popular affemblies. While the people are left to themselves, if they quarrel, a few bloody nofes are the ufual effects of their diffention; but as foon as the magiftracy make a buftle, there is generally created an occafion for military interpofition, the tumult then affumes a more formidable afpect, and the lives of the fubject is the confequence of an attempt to keep the peace!

The avidity with which the prefent Miniftry feized the opportunity of filling the metropolis with military on pretence of quelling riots, which only exifted in the pur lieus of Covent Garden, and for an hour after the Election, is a fpecimen of what we may expect from a young prerogative Minifter; and it behoves the friends of liberty and freedom to watch, with a fteady eye, the manoeuvres of the fecret influence, which first procures the execution of a number of conftables, under pretence of reftraining a riot, and then inftruct them to occafion one, merely to give pretence for an introduction of the military.

Facts are inconteftible. It is a fact that there were two hundred conflables extraordinary in the field on Monday.-It is a fact that a number of men were made conftables on that day, and were paid for their attendance. It is a fact that this body of conftables commenced hoftilities, and made the riot, though it is their office to keep 3 A the

the peace. It is a fact that they did not act against the mob in general, but against the partizans of Mr. Fox only. It is a fact that there were three conftables for one man of any other defcription in the garden. It is a fact that notwithstanding this fuperiority of the civil power, the trading Justice called in a military force.The conclufions are obvious.

Major M threatened to charge the gentle and tender-hearted Mifs Keppel, with aiding and abetting the riot, becaufe when a poor old man was knocked down under the window where fhe flood, fhe, with her ufual fympathy, shed a tear, and begged fome of the attendants to take him away, that he might not be trampled to death!

Lord Robert Spencer narrowly escaped being killed on Monday evening by a foldier, who, not knowing his Lordfhip, puflied at him with a bayonet. The weapon miffed his body, but penetrated his coat.

May 13.] Covent Garden afforded yesterday a perfect fcene of peace and good order, for three very good reafons; becaufe neither the military Justice Wilmot, nor his corps of banditti conflables made their confiitutional appearance for the protection and fecurity of his Majesty's liege fubjects!

Yefterday twelve of the fifteen inoffenfive men, committed to Newgate by Wilmot, were brought before a bench of Westminster Magiftrates, and admitted to bail for a common affault; the three others however, upon the newly ftudied cath of the fuperceded Justice Gretton, were detained on fufpicion of being acceffary to the death of the conftable.The manœuvres of a wretched party are too palpable not to be feen through and execrated.

It is a melancholy truth, that party violence too often takes fuch entire poffeffion of the minds of men, as to fupprefs every feeling of juftice, and even common humanity in the breasts of thofe, who in cooler moments are moft fufceptible of them. We will not affirm that the unfortunate conftable who loft his life in Covent Garden, has been the victim of the factious temper of the times, or impute his death to any criminal negligence on the part of thofe who attended him. Mr. John Hunter's* private, as well as his profeffional character, fecures him from the remoteft fufpicion upon the occafion, nor will the malice of faction itself venture to infinuate that the circumftance of his being a partizan of Sir Cecil Wray, in the prefent conteft, could have the flightest influence upon his conduct. It is, however, to be regretted that Mr. Sheldon, the gentleman who was fent by Mr. Fox's Committee to vifit the deceafed before his death on Monday night, was not allowed to fee him. It is poffible, that by fuggefting the operation of trepanning, which we understand, upon examining the fracture, he was of opinion ought to have been tried, the poor fellow's life might have been faved.

Two inoffenfive fpectators, William Neal and Thomas Shaw, were fo cruelly mangled by the banditti of Tower Hamlet conftables on Monday laft, that their deatli is hourly expected!

It appeared yesterday upon the cleareft evidence before two difpaffionate magiftrates, fubfervient to no party, that the unfortunate conftable who loft his life in the above affray, was at the head of that daring band of hirelings, who commenced the riot, and fo wantonly and indifcriminately knocked down all the friends of Mr. Fox.

That illuftrious modern Ethic writer, Mr. Soame Jenyns, mounted the Huftings a few days fince, and from a meer confcientious impulfe, gave his fuffrage for Sir Cecil Wray: one of Mr. Fox's infpectors, however, not entirely relying on this internal evidence, took the liberty of tendering Mr. J the whole ftring of oaths, particularly the Catholic teft, that the gentleman, who, by his writings, has refused to tell us

Mr. John Hunter, a celebrated Surgeon, refident in Leicester-fields, brother to the late Dr. William Hunter, of phyfical feientific memory.

An eminent Surgeon, of Queen-ftreet, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and Lecturer on Anatomy to the Royal Academy, to which he was promoted on the demife of Dr. William Hunter.

what

what religion he professes, may, at least, by his oath, declare to the world that which he abjures!

Mrs. Ht has not ballooned a fingle vote to the Huftings, fince he was caracatured by the unmerciful Viscount of Hanover-fquare.

The late alarming riots that have prevailed in Covent Garden, evince demonftratively the neceffity of a reform in the Middlefex and Weftminfter police. Mr. Sheridan, fhortly after his introduction to Parliament, propofed a bill for that purpofe; but his knowedge and abilities had not then acquired that brilliancy which they now fo eminently difplay. It is however to be hoped, that he will not abandon fo benevolent and neceffary a defign, but promote it with every improvement arifing from the maturity of his judgment and increate of his information.

It is not the leaft furprizing that Mr. Fox fhould be the favourite of the ladies, or that he is returned as member for a Scotch borough. This gentleman warmly introduced a motion to the Houfe of Commons for the repeal of the odious marriage act; an act which controuls and fuppreffes thofe rights and honourable paflions with which God, Nature, and Reafon have endowed the young and virtuous. The laws of Scotland still leave mankind free to enjoy their freedom in this point, and therefore it is by no means aftonishing that a portion of the Electors thereof fhould fupport a man, who has afferted, and who undoubtedly will affert thofe liberal fentiments,

A correfpondent hints to Mr. Fox's Committee, and to thofe who would wish to beftow the honours amply due to the Duchefs of Devonshire and her beautiful companions, the guardian angels of Weftminster, to have gold medallions ftruck, in honour of their glorious conteit, as a very acceptable prefent to her Grace, and one to each of her female friends: one fide of the medal, our correfpondent thinks, might reprefent her Grace at full length, crowning Mr. Fox with laurels and an applicable motto; on the reverse, the names of her Grace and her friends, who will be handed to pofterity with greater eclat than the most celebrated heroines of Roman story.

The following extracts from authentic papers, are fubmitted for public confideration, at the prefent crifis, both as a record of former virtue, and as the beft incitement to future acts of genuine patriotifm.

Prefentment of the Grand Jury of Middlefex, 1741, refpecting the atrocious violation of the freedom of Election, by marching a party of the Guards up to the Huftings, at the Westminster Election.

66

Middlefex, June 14, 1741.

"We the Grand Jury of and for the body of the county of Middlefex, do-appre“hend, that, among the many enormities and offences committed against the public, none deserve our obfervation and cenfure more than those which tend to the sub"verfion of the ancient rights of the people to a free Election of their Representatives "in Parliament, in whom they repofe their undoubted fhare in the government, as "well as conftitute them guardians of their liberties and properties.

"For we cannot but apprehend, that whenever the people fhall lofe the right of "Election, or, which is the fame thing, the freedom of Election, and be obliged to "chufe their Representatives under the awe, dread, or influence of any other power, "there must be an end of Parliaments, or, at least, the people's intereft and share therein. "Wherefore being fworn to enquire for our fovereign Lord the King, and the body "of the county, we, upon our oaths prefent find, That on Friday the 8th day of May "laft, while the Election for Members of Parliament for the city and liberty of "Westminster was depending, and before the declaration thereof was made, a body of foot guards or foldiers, to the number of 50 and upwards, headed by officers, did, "in the afternoon, in a military manner, march up near the place of polling, which "practice may be of the most dangerous confequence to the liberties of the people, as contrary "to law, and a restraint on the freedom of Election. "We 3 A 2

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