fifter was left fole heirefs; but he fued and obtained a verdict in Scotland for all the out-ftanding bond-debts, which were confiderable. The lords confirmed the decree.

magistrates,

At Bow ftreet, before Sir 12th. John Fielding, and the Dignam, Efq; was charged by Mr. Clarke, with defrauding him of various fums of money, under the pretence of procuring him a place under governnment. Mr. Clarke depofed that he became acquainted with him accidentally in June 1776, and that from his difcourfe, he understood he was a gentleman in fome capital employ under the crown, who had it in his power to difpofe of places; and concluded the prifoner might ferve him, as he wanted a place in one of the offices. That the prifoner propofed to him a lucrative place in the Irish Customs, which he faid had been poffeffed by a Mr. Clutterbuck, who was dead; and that he had given him at different times in money and notes (and especially on Sept. 5, 141. Is. for leave of abfence from the faid place) to the amount of 1200l. Is. on account of the faid place, which the prifoner called, clerk of his majefty's customs at Dublin. A paper was read, produced by Mr. Clarke, purporting to be a certificate and warrant of the faid clerkfhip, numbered 24,897 Irifh, Harcourt, Lieutenant, directed to John Clarke, Efq; entitling him to all profits, &c. belonging to that place; fubfcribed Weymouth, Cleveland Row, and witneffed E. Daw; all which former money, Mr. Clarke gave the prifoner, in confequence of his receipt of that warrant,

which, when he fhewed to Sir Stanier Porten, proved to be a forgery.

Jofiah Browne, Efq; charged the prifoner with another fraud of the like kind. Mr. Browne depofed, that the prisoner was recommended to him by Mr. Clarke, and that the prifoner told him he had the difpofal of the place of Gazettewriter to the ministry, which he would procure for him for 1000l. which disposal, the prifoner faid, was conferred on him for fome meritorious fervice he had then lately done the government; and that Mr. Frazer, the prefent Gazettewriter, was to refign. This place Mr. Clarke was commiffioned by Mr. Browne to treat for, who agreed for 1000l. with the prisoner; which agreement Mr. B. ratified by giving drafts for the money, inclufive of which was 1371. as a discharge of office-fees. Another warrant fimilar to the former was read, dated 17 George III. durante bene placito, figned alfo Weymouth. Mr. Daw, clerk in Lord Weymouth's office, depofed, in both the cafes, that it was no official inftrument, nor his lordship's writing: an impreffion, imitating a ftamp, was alfo on the warrant, which proved to be the reverse of a guinea. The prifoner had also tendered an oath to Mr. Browne to refign all papers in cafe of difmiffion, and purging himfelf of all felonies, &c. by way of qualification.

It is faid that this impoftor was once on the penfion lift of Lord Weymouth, and received, for the benefit of his fecret fervices, 3001, per annum, clear of all deductions. That he might appear deferving of the encouragement he met with,

he is reported to have laid an information against the celebrated Mr. Beaumarchais, charging that gentleman, during his refidence in England, with being a spy from the court of France. He was afterwards convicted for these frauds, and fentenced to five years labour, on the Thames.

Mr. Burke moved the

13th. Houfe, that a bill might be brought in for the more effectually fecuring his majefty's dockyards, &c. when a bill was ordered to be prepared agreeable to the faid motion.

About one o'clock, the 14th. poll for Newcastle was finally closed, when the numbers

In the centre is a view of Tritchinopoly, in Baffo Relievo, the principal feat of war at that period; and at the feet of the company, trophies and ftandards of the French, Maratoes, and Myforeans. The epitaph is wrote by Mr. Orme, and the fculpture executed by Mr. Tyler.

The Chavalier Pinto, 26th. Envoy extraordinary from the court of Portugal, notified to the king the death of the late King of Portugal, and prefented credentials from his new fovereign, Mary, the prefent queen.

The royal affent was given, by commiffion, to

27th.

The bill for improving the navigation of the Thames from London-bridge to Staines.

For licencing a playhouse at Chefter.

For building a bridge over Severn, near Gloucester.

For preventing frauds in comb. ing wool.

For continuing the duty on beer in the town of Burnt Island, in

Scotland.

cattle going to water or pafture; with fome private bills.

One John Millachip, freeman and liveryman of London, being impreffed, Alderman Bull wrote to the admiralty board, requefting his discharge; to which Philip Stephens, Efq; fecretary to the admiralty, by command, returned for anfwer, that their lordships did not apprehend his being a freeman and liveryman of London exempted him from being impreffed into his majesty's fervice, if other-wife liable.

In confequence of this, at the court of common council held laft Tuesday at Guildhall, the following motion was made:

That the committee appointed in November laft, for getting John Tubbs, one of the city watermen, difcharged, do withdraw immediately, and prepare a letter to the lords of the admiralty for the difcharge of John Millachip;" which was carried in the affirmative.

The committee then withdrew, and prepared a letter accordingly, which was read in court, and is as follows:

"My lords, by order of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London in common council affembled, I am directed to reprefent to your lordfhips, that John Millachip, a freeman and liveryman of London, hath been impreffed into his majefty's fea fervice: that without taking into the idea the general queftion of the legality or illegality of prefs warrants, they conceive, that every citizen of London, by charter, Edward III. confirmed by ftatute of zd William and Mary, is exempted from ferving, in any capacity, against his inclination,

out of the city of London; and that confequently the detention of this man is not warranted by law. I am, therefore, ordered by the court, to request your lordships, that the faid John Millachip may be immediately difcharged."

Refolved, That the faid letter be tranfcribed, and figned by the town clerk, and by him prefented to the lords of the admiralty."

A motion was made, "That if John Millachip is not difcharged in confequence of the above letter, the committee be empowered to purfue fuch measures as they shall think proper for procuring his immediate difcharge and liberation; and that the city folicitor do follow their directions therein;" which was agreed to.

On the 26th, Philip Stephens, Efq; fecretary to the admiralty, fent an answer to the town clerk's letter, refpecting the detention of John Millachip, freeman and liveryman of London; the purport of which was, that their lordships at the admiralty board think it neceffary to advife with the crown lawyers before they comply with the demand, to know whether the charter fet up is in law a plea of exemption.

28th.

A very extraordinary complaint was made to Sir John Fielding, relating to an Italian impoftor, who has lately had the address to take in a lady of fortune for upwards of 500l. under pretence of tranfmuting copper into gold. This pretender to alchymy conftructed an elaboratory in the lady's house, into which he brought his family, who have lived upon her for a confiderable time paft. The matter not being found cognizable by the bench, from

fome

fome peculiar circumftances, which fhewed the complainant had been most egregiously duped, fhe was advised to bring her action at common law.

Yefterday, at the Public Office in Bow-ftreet, one Homar was placed at the bar, when James Hounds, button-maker, depofed, that the prifoner applied to him, about three weeks ago, to know if he was willing to go to France, in order to carry on his bufinefs there; and that he gave him 11 guineas to pay his expences upon the paffage, and to difcharge fome fmall debts which he owed to different people. Mr. Clark depofed, That, hearing of the affair, he went to the Swan with Two Necks in Lad-lane on Tuesday, where he faw the prifoner, with Hounds, in the Dover coach; upon which he apprehended the former, and found a number of letters in his pocket-book, which were produced, and one of which was a letter of advice to a Frenchman at Paris, acquainting him, that he had put on board the fhip Minerva a quantity of articles for the making of buttons; Mr. Clark alfo found, in his lodgings, upwards of three hundred pounds worth of the fame materials. A meffenger was immediately difpatched to prevent the failing of the Minerva, and Homar committed to take his trial, by the 23d George II. chap. 13; where it is enacted, That, if any perfon fhall contract with, or feduce any manufacturer, of GreatBritain or Ireland, to go out of either kingdom into any foreign country, not within the dominions of Great Britain, every fuch perfon fhall, on conviction, within 12 months, forfeit 5ool. and be com

mitted for a year, without bail or mainprize, for the first offence; and, for every fecond or fubfequent offence, to forfeit 1000l. and be committed for two years, without bail or main prize.'

DIED, Mrs. Latter, bookfeller, at Reading: fhe published a volume of poems, which were well received; likewife a tragedy, en, titled, The Siege of Jerufalem, and various other pieces.

At Bishopftrow, her native place, near Warminster in Wilts, the celebrated Juliana Papjoy, in the 67th year of her age. In her youth fhe had been the miftrefs of the famous Nath of Bath, and after her feparation from him, he took to a very uncommon way of life. Her principal refidence he took up in a large hollow tree, now ftanding within a mile of Warminster, on a lock of ftraw, refolving never more to lie in a bed; and the was as good as her word; for the made that tree her habitation for between

thirty and forty years, unless when fhe made her short peregrinations to Bath, Brillol, and the gentlemens' houfes adjacent; and she then lay in fome barn or outhouse.

Peter Fierville, comedian, aged 107. He died at Munich, in Germany.

He remembered Moliere, was cotemporary with Baron, played before Charles II. of England and Chriftina Queen of Sweden, and continued to play at Paris till 1741.

Samuel Mitchel, Efq; at Hanger, Cornwall. He has bequeathed 20l. a year to ten old maids, a like fum to ten poor housekeepers, and a confiderable fum to the parish; 1000l. to each of his fervants out of livery, 500l. to each of his līvery-fervants, two livings in his