yet he carried his election, by a ftratagem, which made all the women of his fide: Having made a great entertainment for the Burgeffes and their wives, and after having been very free and facetious among them, he took up a large apple, and stuck it full of guineas, and declared it the prize of that man, whofe wife fhould be firft brought to bed after that day nine months. This occafioned a great deal of mirth, and what with the entertainment, and with the hopes of getting the prize, the good women prevailed on their husbands to vote for Sir Richard, whom they to this day commemorate; and, as it is faid, once made a strong push to get a standing order of the corporation made, that no man fhould be received as a candidate for that borough, who did not offer himself upon the fame terms.

It is a thorough-fare on the fouthweft road from London, and well provided with good inns; but the market is declined. However, here are still kept two fairs, one on the 29th of June; the other on Holy Thursday: and it is governed by a Bailiff, who is generally an inn-keeper, or fome dependant on him, who is the returning officer: The present Representatives are Daniel Boone, of Rookfness in Surry, Efq; Groom of the bed-chamber to the Prince of Wales; and William Chetwynd, jun. of Hazelor near Litchfield, Efq; Infpector of the plays.

Rumfey, the next market-town, and direct fouth from Stockbridge, is a large and ancient town, in the road from Southampton to Salisbury: and known in the time of the Saxons by the name of Runfeg. The church is the remains of a nunnery built here by King Edgar; in which King Stephen did afterwards fhut up his only daughter and heir, Princess Mary; who, by confent, at the time she was Abbefs thereof, fuffered Matthew of Alface, fon to the Earl of Flanders, to convey her away privately, and was married to him. But the church pursued him with fuch thundering fentences, that he was

obliged to reftore her to her convent, after he had got two daughters out of her. It is governed by a Mayor, Recorder, fix Aldermen, and twelve Burgeffes. Here are many wealthy clothiers; a good market on Saturdays weekly, and fairs on Eafter-Monday, the 15th of August, and on the festival of St. Simon and St. Jude.

6

Hence paffing over the Teft, we arrive at that monument of William the Conqueror's arbitrary power and tyranny, called New Foreft; a name that tract of land ftill retains, tho' it was laid waste in the year 1080, the 14th year of his reign; of which Walter Mapes, who wrote in the next age, has delivered this account: The Conqueror took away much land from God and men, and converted its ufe to wild beafts and the sport of dogs, demolishing thirty-fix mother churches, and driving away the inhabitants of many villages and towns; measuring together fifty miles in compafs. For which fome have called him the father of wild beafts.And they further remark, That two of the Conqueror's own children were killed in this forest; Richard, his second fon, who was gored to death by a deer; and William Rufus, then King, who was fhot by Sir Walter Tyrrel, accidentally, in purfuit of his game : befides his grandfon Henry, fon of his eldest fon Robert, who, eagerly following his fport, was entangled by the boughs, and, like Abfalom, hung till he died.

In this foreft, we are told, are fill continued nine walks; that there is a keeper to each of them. It has a Lordwarden, two Rangers, and a bowbearer, belonging to it.

The first place in this tract, that paffes under our infpection, is Malwood caftle, whofe area, or platform is almost fquare, and on its banks, or works, which are fingle and not very large, are several oak-trees; among which they pretend to fhew the very tree, on which Sir Walter Tyrrel's arrow glanced, when he shot the King.

Near

Near this caftle King John founded a fmall monastery, called Beaulieu, i.e. a pretty place, from its pleasant fituation; and granted it a privilege above that of the Mofaic cities of refuge forafmuch as he made it an Afylum, or place of refuge, not only for thofe who had flain a perfon unwillingly, but for the moft bloody murderers and 'traitors, that fled thither for protection.

This large tract of ground, called the foreft, lying many ages open and unguarded, near the British channel, was much expofed to the invafion of foreign enemies; which confideration induced Henry VIII. to build feveral caftles on its borders, next the fea, for its defence, amongst which the firft is

mile and a half in the fea, upon a beach full of mud and ftinking oar at low tides; having no fresh water with- : in two or three miles of it; fo cold, foggy, and noifom, that the very guards cannot ftand it, without frequently fhifting their quarters. Yet this was the prifon in which Cromwell ordered Colonel Corbet to lodge King Charles I, when it was refolved to perfecute him. unto death. See Vol. VI. p. 257. In this caftle is always a garrifon commanded in chief, by a Governor. ; The fame King Henry VIII. on the outmoft edge of the forest weftward, on the mouth of the Stour and Avon, on what is commonly called Hamptonwater, built another called Calbotcaftle, which without reafon is fuppofed to be a corruption of Caldhore. This caftle alfo has its governor and garrifon, which with the other caftles of St.Andrew and Netley, on the east fide of the bay effectually fecure that port from any fudden attack by sea. [To be continued.]

LETTER XVII.

I you have taken, to ferve his Majelty in the wars, if any happen, it being a duty which every good fubject owes him, efpecially the gentry, who derive all their freams of honour from that original fountain: But it may poffibly feem ftrange, that, while all the reft of your friends are congratulating your good fortune, in the preferment proferred you, I only fhew myself diffatiffied. I will affure you, I am fo far from envying your promotion, that no man living does more heartily defire it than myfelf; it is the reality of my friendship makes me jealous, that preferment is arrived at your port, before you are ready, before you are fit for it: It is no fmall or trivial matter which he undertakes who receives a commiffion from the King, how light foever you and other young Gentlemen think of it; and I should not be wor

Do highly approve the refolution

not deal very candidly and plainly with you. And in the first place I will tell you, He cannot be a fit man to command, who knows not the duty of those that are to obey him.

thy of any place in your esteem, if I did

I doubt not but you have read books relating to war, and may understand fomething of the theory of it; but all the reading in the universe, will not enable a man to perform well the meaneft of the mechanic arts; we ufually allow feven years experience for attaining the skill to make fhoes, &c. and do you believe that the military fcience (upon the fuccefs whereof depends the fafety, or the ruin, the ftanding or falling of towns and cittadels, kingdoms and empires.) is to be learned amidit the foftneffes and ease of courts, and rich cities, and repofing on the laps of ladies; or by the imperfeat ideas of a battle, and a fiege re

prefented

40 prefented in a play? or at beft by a little fuperficial reading of commentaries? No, the art of war is to be attained by other methods and means more fludious, more laborious, more manly; and, if you accept of a command at this time, it is odds that you neither efficaciously serve the King, nor yourfelf: Not the King, for the obtaining preferments by favour, without merit, is the greatest difcouragement in the aworld, to men of low fortunes and high fpirits, and fuch, in times of danger, are the ufefulloft men to a common-wealth; who having ferved many years in the wars, and made themselves capable of the greatest offices, fhall on the fudden find themselves defeated, by fuch young gentlemen as you; although, if you come to fpeedy action, you must neceffarily be baffled, and disappoint his Majefty's fervice, or elfe owe your fuccefs wholly to chance, for which none but fools will commend you. You cannot ferve yourself, because the main thing you aim at, is honour: Now you must know, they lie under a vulgar error, who think to have a great office, or a great title, is fufficient no: to make a man honourable. True honour does jo much confift in poffeffing great offices, or great tities, as in the ufing those

may

great titles, and in difcharging thofe great offices fo, as the Prince be well and faithfully ferved, and the publick good advanced and promoted.

my

Which can never be done by one who wants experience, unlefs, as I faid before, it be by chance, or by the difcreeter menage of the under-officers. I will add further, that what miscarriage foever happens under you, will be imputed, right or wrong, to your want of conduct; and the credit of all good fervice you do, fhall be carried away by thofe of your officers who have more skill, even then, when they do not deferve it. Wherefore advice is, if you would ferve your Prince and your country, as becomes a good fubject and a gentleman; if you would bring an addition of honour, to your felf and family; let your advancement be the reward, rather than the obliga tion of your merit. Content yourself for a time, to ferve as a private gentleman, a voluntier, and you will find, that one year's experience in time of action, will inftruct you better than twenty years reading without it. has been always my manner to exprefs my mind freely, and fo I do now, when I affure you I am,

Your faithful Friend.

It

ling, and three pound twelve pieces, whofe value, according to their weight, is far fhort of what they go for great numbers of the three pound twelves are fo much reduced, as to want eight or nine Shillings, and the thirty-fix Shillings pieces from two to five Shillings. Nothing can be a proper check to this wicked practice, but weighing what is taken; and then a Shilling or a fix-pence gilt cannot be put off for a guinea or half a guinea.

This, if you pleafe to give a place in the Univerful Magazine, will be of public ufe to guard people from being impofed upon by fuch pernicious practices.

The publick Offices weigh all Money they fufpect to be diminished.

The

WE

May it pleafe your Royal Highnefes, E the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-council-men of the City of London, humbly beg leave to present our moft fincere and hearty congratulations to your Royal High neffes on the birth of another Prince, and the happy recovery of her Royal Highness.

We cannot at prefent better fhew our loyalty to the King, than by paying our duty to your Royal Highneffes, and expreffing our unfeigned joy at this increase of his Majefty's family.

We confider every child of your Royal Highneffes, as an additional fecurity of the people's happiness and freedom; by your examples they will learn the practice of every focial virtue, to be earneft and zealous in the cause of liberty, and to maintain our religious and civil rights; may we never want one of your Royal Highneffes defcendants to reign over a free, grateful, and obedient people.

To which his Royal Highness returned

I

the following Answer.. My Lord and Gentlemen,

Return you my thanks and thofe of the Princefs, for this very remarkable inftance of duty to the King, and regard to us.

The expectations you exprefs to have of my children, are molt agree able to me; may they always be a bleffing to this nation, and maintain the liberty, wealth, and power it ought to have.

The city has always fhewed fo much partiality to me, that they may be asfured none of their fellow-citizens can be warmer than I am for promoting their welfare and their trade.

They all had the honour to kifs their Royal Highneffes hands. "July 26

Confantinople, June 3, N. S. The Porte perfifts in her pacific fyftem with the Chriftian powers. The plague is broke out at Galata and Peru.

Lisbon, June 3. The King has legitimized Don John, the natural fon of his brother Don

Francifco, deceafed; and ordered him to take place immediately after his own legitimate

children and brothers, and to be treated with the ufual honours paid to a King's nephew.

Ratisbon, June 30. The Minifters of the Proteftant powers finding, that the Princes of Hobenloe had ordered two memorials, tending the refolution of the Evangelic body (fee Page to request the afliftance of the Empire, against 285. Vol. VI.) they withdrew, as foon as they were begun to be read.

July 3.

ordered to hoift a broad pendant in India, Gombroon, February 11. Captain Life is where he is to tay three years, and to difpofe the fhips under his command to fuch parts of India as may be thought most for the Company's intereft, Two twenty gun fhips are to cruize in this gulph and Mocha. Madrafs is place as ever. During the time it was in pofrefettled, and promifes to be as flourishing a feffion of the French, none of the fubjects returned, and the town was reduced to great ftreights for provifions; but, on the news of the English returning there, every body was hoifted, they came in from all parts, got ready, and, as foon as the British flag and in fourteen days time there were Merchants

in town that would take off four or five Ben gall cargoes for ready money. Admiral Bofadvices juft arrived directly from Shawrook cawen made it a free port for fix months. By Shah's camp, every thing is well with him, except the dearnefs of provifions, bread being at 25 mamoodys the maud fabreez, and every thing elfe in proportion. He is very good to under fome fmall apprehenfions from the Ophhis fubjects, and does juftice himself, but is goons in Candahor; though, if they had an inclination, 'tis thought they can do him no damage, as they are divided into two parties, one of which is firm to Shawrook; and for other enemies he has none. He propofes in the fpring to go to Spahaun, when he will be looked upon as established, but not till

then.

Hague, July 8. The Council of State has allotted provifionally a fum of 125000 florins, arifing out of the general collection, for the rebuilding and repairing the houses that were destroyed during the late fiege of Bergenop zoom, and has appointed three Commiffaries in the faid town to have the direction of it.

London. Laft Saturday, and not before, Capt. Clarke pleaded his Majesty's pardon at the Court of King's-Bench, Westminster, and not at the Old-Baily.

Several perfons are brought to town, and more are ordered up, on account of fome of fences given to the Government, in Staffordfhire, on the 29th of May laft, by finging disloyal fongs, and drinking treasonable healths. July 5

Extract of a Letter from a Perfon of distinction, dated at Genoa, June 22.

Our poor Republic is now at liberty to repent of its alliance and confidence in the House of Bourbon, and of not taking warning by past events; fince, as often as he has applied to France for affiftance, so often has fie proved the victim of that Court. France would be glad to have the whole coaft of Genoa under its dependance, because by this means the Houfe of Bourbon would be Mistress of all that part of the Mediterranean which lies between the western coaft of the kingdom of Naples and the Streights of Gibraltar, and alfo fecure a paffage to the Levant. We can perceive, fince the conclufion of the peace, what pains France takes to exsite factions between the people and the nobility, and alfo between the new-created nobles and the old ones. 'Twas thefe factions which formerly almost ruined the Republic, and obliged her to have recourfe, fometimes to the Duke of Milan, and fometimes to France, for affiftance. The Marquis de Curfay, with 2800 men, is fo much Mafter in Corfica, that the Commiffary of the Republic is lefs refpected than his fervants. The French General governs every thing, let it be, with regard to political, civil, or military affairs. In short, France does not chufe to take away Corfica from the Genoefe, but endeavours as much as poffible to oblige them to offer it to their Court, or elfe to that of Spain for the infant Duke of Parma. The affairs of the bank of St. George are much in the fame fituation, and the French Ministry does all it can to embarrass them, in order to keep the Republic in its prefent state of dependency.

Doctor of Law.

Dr. Banfon, Trinity Hall.
7 Batchelors of Divinity,
85 Mafters of Arts.

July 6. Madrid, June 15. The King hath just granted fome farther privileges, and new exemptions to our trade. His Majefty appears highly fatisfied with the manufactories lately established in this kingdom, which improve daily; and we make no doubt of bringing them to fuch perfection, that we fhall no longer be obliged to import merchandizes from other countries; and to the fuccefs of these new manufactories we attribute the difficulties which the English meet with in their negocia tion for a free trade to the South Seas.

Turin, June 20. The crop of filk has failed in general throughout all Piedmont, and the price thereof is already rifen higher than it was ever known to be in the memory of

man.

Paris, June 30. The most Chriftian King, touched with compaffion for the wretched condition to which the filk manufacturers at Lyons are reduced, occafioned by the fearcity of that commodity, hath given orders to the Eaft-India Company to purchafe, on his Majefty's account, filk-ftuffs to the value of four millions, that the manufacturers may be fet to work, and kept from starving.

On the remonftrance of the Earl of Albemarle to the Marquis de Puyfieux, concerning the incroachments of the French on Nova Scotia, the Marquis abfolately disavowed and condemned the conduct of M. de la Jonquiere ; declaring, that he had no inftruétions from court to give the least disturbance to the Englifsh in that settlement, and that orders should be immediately fent him to withdraw his troops, and fuit his whole conduct to the har mony which at prefent fabfifts between the two nations..

London. A perfon of diftinction is going to refide as head of the united Brethren, or Unitas Fratrum, in our plantations; as impowered by a late act of Parliament.

July 7.

Francfort, July 9. The Magiftrates perfift in their refufal.to grant the reformed a liberty to build a church in this city.

London. By a private letter from Halifax in Nova Scotia we have advice, that all the inhabitants who have arrived there, at the feveral embarkations, have houses provided for them; that their gardens and plantations now begin to be pretty clear of timber: and that fe veral finall pieces of ground are full of divers roots and flowering fhrubs fown with feed from England, and are in a very thriving condition.

Yefterday came the agreeable news from Hamburgh, that the first British jagger arrived there on Wednesday the 8th inftant, N. S. with twenty barrels and a half of herrings; which fold for 807. the laft, of twenty barrels. There