The Hebrew criticism on a paffage in Genefis, the letter from Nottingham, the letter concern- THÉ LONDON MAGAZINE. Mrs. Beverly, Beverly's wife. Mrs. Prichard. M A D B Charlotte, his fifter. Mifs Haughton. Lucy, Mrs. Beverly's maid. Mrs. Price. R. Beverly had been a man of large fortune, bleft with a tender wife C and beauteous child. Charlotte his fifter was under his guardianship, who was beloved by Lewfon, to whom the had confented to be married. Mr. Beverly was not only rich in poffeffions, but in hope, as he had an aged uncle, who had declared him his heir. Things were in this ftate, when Mr. Stukely, one who had been fchool-fellow with Mr. Beverly, fired with love of Mrs. Beverly, and knowing the only foible of her husband was love of play, contrived the ruin of him to pave the way for his poffeffing the wife of his confiding friend. In order to this, he cloaths fome fharpers, and E with his money enabled them to appear as gentlemen; he then introduced them to Beverly, who loft vaft fums to them, infomuch that Stukely having lent his deluded dupe Beverly till fresh fupplies for ruin, the latter could not fee the fraud, February, 1753. thinking Stukely was as deep a lofer as himself. Things came to that extremity, Beverly's houfe, goods, every thing was fold to defray fuch curfed expences, and his wife, child, and fifter forced to retire to lodgings. Act I. Mrs. Beverly and Charlotte lament their diftrefs in their new abode. Beverly had been all night out, which fills them with fear, when Charlotte endeavours to alleviate her fifter's forrows, by affuring her of keeping her from want, while the poffeffed any thing, but hints her fear of her brother's having loft her fortune, which was committed to his care. Jarvis, who had been steward to Beverly's father, and in his profperity to him, alfo enters, enquires for his mafter, begs not to be discarded, and knowing their calamities, generoufly offers what his whole fervitude had fcraped together. A loud knock at the door alarms them with affurance it is a dun, and Jarvis exits to quiet him, after having asked Mr. Stukely, who juft enters, of his mafter, whom he goes to feck. Stukely denies his having feen him fince night, and drops fome hints to alarm Mrs. Beverly's jealoufy, and by urging her not to believe falfe reports to her husband's prejudice, raifes fome doubts in her, which fo diforders her, that the retires to reft. After another knocking enters Mr. Lewfon, who meeting with Stukely, they exchange fome ambiguous speeches, among which Lewfon affures him, that be knows him, and Stukely retires confounded. Lewfon addreffes Charlctie, enquires for her fifter, who hearing his voice comes to him; he then acquaints her, that yesterday her houfe, &c. was fold, but that thofe things he knew most valuable to her he had purchased, that they might be fafe for her, and they go out to speak to one, who he telis her will prove a friend. The next scene is Stukely's chamber. After a foliloquy, difcoveeing his bafeG 2 ness, hefs, enters Bates, one of his minions, to whom he relates, that he was to carry money to the gaming-house to Beverly, but would not, as he wanted these jewels his wife had ftill preferved. Charlotte in the lodging, to them Lewfon; he, after the departure of Beverly, urges his love to Charlotte, reminds her of her promife of marriage, from which (if the repents) he fays he will acquit her; the being from him affured this propofition arofe from honour, he re-confeffes his love; he then promises to difclofe a mighty fecret, if he'll fit give her word to marry him to morrow, which when flie grants, he tells her, "All her fortane's loft," and comforts her for it with the exce's of his love. We next fee Stukely and Beverly coming in defpair from the lofs of not only all the purchase of the jewels, but B a large fum on honour. Beverly is in the utmost rage and fire, cools, feizes Stukely by the throat, draws on him, then finks to asking pardon, and exquifitely fhews all the various paffions of the Jofing ruined gamefter; but yet by Stukely is artfully worked up to fell the reverfion of his estate, which he goes out to do. A& II Mr. Beverly is difcovered fit. ting in a room at the gaming-house, full of the deepeft confternation at his A loffes; Jarvis enters to him, intreats him to return home; he promifes he will., Stukely, comes in, and fends Jarvis to tell the dun, who had called in the morning, that he would pay him, he then relates to Beverly, that he hath no more money, that lenders want fecurity, and he can get no more, that he expects nothing but a prifon, as he was totally ruined, yet drops hints it is in Beverly's power to pay them, with means to venture a recovery, preffes him to take Jarvis's money, which, when he refufes, he tells him his wife hath jewels, which, after some reflections, Beverly promifes to get. The next fcene fhews Beverly returned home, and with his C fifter; he claims her fortune, he with heat evades it, but promifes he will reckon with her to-morrow; then Mrs. Beverly returns with Lewfon, who endeavours to give Beverly an infight into Stukely's treachery, exits with Charlotte. After fome endearments, Beverly tells his wife A& IV. Mrs. Beverly appears difconfolate with her maid. Mr. Stukely, enters to her, acquaints her that her husband is falfe to her, that he had, forged that letter to rob her of her jewels, which he hath beftowed upon a ftrumpet; and when he thinks he hath fufficiently fired her to revenge, he then offers to receive ly he is enraged at his bafe propofal, and threatning to tell her husband, drives him from her. She returns with Lewfon and Charlotte; having told them of Stukely, Lewfon declares he will call him to account, the promifes to deal calmly, he exits for that purpofe, and Jarvis en ters affrighted with the news, that Stukely hath taken out an action against his ma he hath ruined his friend, that he hath Dher in his houfe, and keep her sumptuouf borrowed his all from him, and now muft fuffer him to perifh in a prifon, but refolves not to afk his wife for her jewels; but that refolution is broke by the receipt of a letter from Stukely, in which he artfully begs him not to urge it, for that night he fhould leave England; The prefies to know what was meant by thofe expreffions, which when he discovers, fhe tenderly prefers his peace to her ornaments, and takes him to her clofet to tender him the jewels, but cautions him to hufband them, as that is their laft refource from starving. E AQ III. Stukely enters with Bates, to whom he gives bills to pay to Beverly for the reverfion of his uncle's eftate, F which he declares he will draw him in to fell. Beverly enters with bills for the jewels, which he gives to Stukely, who pretends to be fired by an internal impulfe to hazard a recovery of his fortune. Beverly refufes to join him, but by the artful perfuation of the villain at last confents. But all this time Stukely intermixes words to enrage Beverly against G Lewion, declaring, that the latter hath fpread abroad that he had fpent his fifter's for me, and he would call him to account for it. The next scene shews Mir, Beverly and fter. We next fee Stukely at his lodgings, Bates enters, tells him Beverly hath fold his eftate, and hath left all the money, and defcribes his behaviour on that occa fion. Somebody entring, Stukely puts out Bates, but is furprifed at feeing Lewfon, who declares he comes a professed enemy. Stukely runs to the door to call his fervants, which Lewfon fhuts and pre. vents him. An exquifite fcene is here, and a high contraft between the brave good man, and the bafe cowardly villain. Lewfon draws thrice on him, which he as oft meanly declines, and after fufficient reproaches Lewfon leaves him. Stukely then calls in Bates, prompts him to mur der Lewfon in the street, which he promifes, in confideration of a vaft reward. The next fcene is the street, thro' which Deverly is returning home in agonies not to be conceived without feeing them re-, prefented 1753. D. of Newcastle's Letter to the Pruffian Minifter. 53 prefented by Mr. Garrick, in the words of the Author. Lewion too coming acrofs meets Beverly, who, prompted by his defpair, quarrels with him for reporting he had loft his fifter's fortune. Lewson denies the charge, and avoids a duel, tho' drawn upon, and promifing fatisfaction on the morrow, departs. Jarvis and Bates entring, fee the quarrel, but only Jarvis comes to him, begs him to come home, and taking from him his fword, prevents his murder. Beverly raves, throws himfelf on the ground in agonies, till raised and foothed by Jarvis; they exit. Then we fee Stukely ordering Dawson, another of his gang, to get two officers, and execute the writ on Beverly. B A& V. Enter Stukely, Bates and Dawfon. Bates diffembling with Stukely, relates how he overtook Lewfon, accompanied him home, and ftabbed him as he was reaching his bell, and that the watch had found him in the street. Dawson alfo gives an account how he executed his commiffion, entered Beverly's lodging with two officers, tore him from his wife and fifter, and lodged him in a prison. Stukely comparing the times of the quarrel betwixt Beverly and Lewfon, the latter being fuppofed murdered, refolved to father it on Beverly, and perfuades him he arrested him thro' love, to fave him from the officers; and then Bates fhall accufe him, and call for wit- D nefs of the quarrel his fervant Jarvis. Scene the lodgings. Mrs. Beverly and Charlotte are difcovered lamenting the imprifonment of Beverly. Jarvis enters, tells how he loft his master in the prison, but gives them a joyful account that the uncle is dead, and now joy will fucceed, and they all exit to the prifon, to cheer Beverly with the news. Scene the prifon. Beverly is difcovered there alone, and after a long debate on fuicide drinks poifon; they enter to him, tell him the news, which now adds to his agony, in the midst of which he acquaints them, he hath fold that estate for a paltry fum, and loft it. Stukely enters to them, brings him a difcharge, F and with a fhew of love acquaints him he His majefty found the contents of it fo extraordinary, that he would not return an answer to it, or take any refolution upon it, till he had caufed both the Memorial, and the Expofition des Motifs, &c. which you put into my hands foon after, by way of juftification of what had paffed at Berlin, to be maturely confidered; and till his majesty should thereby be enabled to fet the proceedings of the courts of admiralty here, in their true light; to the end, that his Pruffian majesty, and the whole world, might be rightly informed of the regularity of their conduct; in which they appear to have followed the only method, which has ever been practifed by nations, where difputes of this nature could happen ; and strictly to have conformed themselves to the law of nations, univerfally allowed to be the only rule, in fuch cafes, when there is nothing ftipulated to the contrary, by particular treaties between the parties concerned. This examination, and the full knowledge of the facts refulting from it, will fhew, fo clearly, the irregularity of the proceedings of thofe perfons, to whom this affair was referred at Berlin, that it is not doubted, from his Pruffian majefty's juftice and difcernment, but that he will be convinced thereof, and will revoke the detention of the fums affigned upon Silefia; the payment of which, his Pruffian majefty engaged to the emprefsqueen to take upon himfelf, and of which the reimbursement was an exprefs article in the treaties, by which the ceffion of that dutchy was made. 1, therefore, have the king's orders to fend you the report, made to his majefly, upon the papers abovementioned, by Sir George Lee, judge of the prerogative court; Dr. Paul, his majefty's advocategeneral in the courts of civil law; Sir Dudley Ryder, and Mr. Murray, his majefty's attorney, and follicitor-general. This report is founded on the principles of the law of nations, received and acknowledged knowledged by authorities, of the greataft weight, in all countries; fo that his majefly does not doubt, but that it will have the effe&t defired. The points, upon which this whole affair turns, and which are decifive, are, 1. That affairs of this kind are, and can be, cognizable, only in the courts be- A longing to that power, where the feizure is made; and, confequently, that the erecting, foreign courts, or jurisdictions elfewhere, to take cognizance thereof, is contrary to the known practice of all nåtions, in the like cafes; and, therefore, a proceeding which none can admit. 2. That thofe courts, which are genesally ftiled courts of admiralty, and which B. include both the inferior courts, and the courts of appeal, always decide according to the univerfal law of nations only; except in thofe cafes, where there are particular treaties between the powers concerned, which have altered the difpofitions of the law of nations, or deviate from them. 3. That the decisions, in the cafes complained of, appear, by the inclosed report, to have been made fingly, upon the rule prefcribed by the law of nations; which rule is clearly established, by the constant practice of other nations, and by the authority of the greatest men. 4. That, in the cafe in question, there cannot even be pretended to be any treaty, that has altered this rule, or by virtue of which, the parties could claim any privileges, which the law of nations does not allow them. of did happen; could not, either in justice or reason, or according to what is the conftant practice between all the most refpectable powers, be feized, or stopt, by way of reprisals. The feveral facts, which are particularly mentioned above, are fo clearly ftated, and proved, in the inclosed report; that I fhall not repeat the particular reafons and authorities alledged in fupport of them, and in juftification of the conduct and proceedings in queftion. The king is perfuaded, that these reasons will be fufficient alfo, to determine the judgment of all impartial people, in the prefent cafe. It is material to obferve, upon this fubject, that this debt on Silefia, was con. tracted by the late emperor Charles VI. who engaged, not only to fulfil the conditions expreffed in the contract, but even to give the creditors fuch further security, as they might afterwards reasonably ask. This condition had been very ill performCed by a transfer of the debt, which had put it in the power of a third perfon to feize, and confifcate it. You will not be furprised, Sir, that, in an affair, which has fo greatly alarmed the whole nation, who are entitled to that protection, which his majesty cannot difpenfe with himself from granting; the king has taken time, to have things exD amined to the bottom; and that his majefty finds himfelf obliged, by the facts to adhere to the juftice, and legality, of what has been done in his courts, and not to admit the irregular proceedings, which have been carried on elsewhere. 5. That as, in the prefent cafe, no just grievance can be alledged, nor the 1.aft reafon given, for faying, that juftice has been denied, when regularly demanded; E and as, in most of the cafes complained of, it was the complainants themselves, who neglected the only proper means of procuring it ; there cannot, confequently, be any juft caufe, or foundation, for reprifals. 6. That, even though reprifals might be juftified by the known and general rules of the law of nations; it appears, F by the report, and indeed from confiderations, which muß concur to every body, that fums, due to the king's fubjects by the empress-queen, and affigned by her upon Silefia; of which fums his Pruffan majefly took upon himfelf the payment, both by the treaty of Breau, and by that of Drefden, in confideration of G the ceffion of that country, and which, by virtue of that very ceffion, ought to have been fully, and abfolutely difcharged, in the year 1745, that is to say, one year before any of the facts complained The late war furnished many inftantes, which ought to have convinced all Europe, how fcrupulously the courts here do juftice, upon fuch occafions. They did not even avail themselves of an open war, to feize, or detain, the effects of the enemy, when it appeared that thofe effects were taken wrongfully before the war. This circumftance must do honour to their proceedings; and will, at the fame time, fhew, that it was as little necessary as proper, to have recourfe elsewhere to proceedings, entirely new, and unusual. The king is fully perfuaded, that what has paffed at Berlin, has been occafioned, tingly, by the ill-grounded informations, which his Pruffian majefty has received, of thefe affairs: And does not at all doubt, but that, when his Pruffian majefty fhall fee them in their true light, his natural difpofition to justice and equity will induce him, immediately to rectify the fteps, which have been occasioned by, thofe informations; and to complete the pa; ment of the debt charged on the dutchy |