at the Old Bailey, on Saturday, Win. Shaw Hines was tried for piratically feizing, taking, and failing away with a cutter in the fervice of the customs, on the 6th of March, 1781. It appeared on the trial, that the prifoner belonged to a fmuggling yawl, commanded by one Knight, and being de cried by the Switt cruizer, on the coaft of Effex, was chafed by her, come up with, and taken; and the matter of the Swift proceeding to take the cargo of the yawl on board, was oppofed by the prifoner, who finding his men fuperior to thofe in the Swift, feized the mafter and crew of the Swift, took them out to fea, and putting them into a mall boat left them to fhift for themselves. He was found guilty. [He was executed on the 15th of February folloving.]

At this feffions, the opinion of the judges was delivered, by Mr. Justice Willes, on the cafe of George Coombes, who, in June laft, was convicted of the murder of Mr. William Allen. (See Vol. VI. page 40.) The verdict had been left fpecial for the opinion of the judges, which being against the prifoner, he received fentence of death, and was executed this day.

25. The Coroner's inqueft fat on the body of Charles Price, who was lately committed to Tothill-fields Bridewell for feveral forgeries on the Bank, and who yeflerday hanged himself in that prifon. They brought in their verdict felf-murder.

This unhappy man, who was about 52 years of age, had been apprehended at Mr. Aldus's, a pawnbroker, in Berwick-fireet. He had paffed through three examinations previous to his fuicide. Great must have been the horrors of his mind before he could conclude upon his

own deftruction; but the compofure and deliberation with which he perfected it gave the finishing ftroke to his character. About the Royal Exchange he was well known. His natural propensity to difhone y was the fpring of all his misfortunes; it made him fhist from place to place to avoid the abuse of the mob, and the clamorous calls of lucky adventurers. His last office was the corner of King-ftreet, Covent-garden, whence he was driven about fix years ago, by a most unaccountable run of ill-luck, and esteemed himself happy in a private decampment.

Driven thus to expedients, and having a family of eight children to fupport, he turned his thoughts to that attempt which proved fo fatal to him. His first attempt on the Bank was about the year 1780, when a forged note had been taken there, fo complete in all its parts, the engraving, the fignatures, the water-mark, &c. that it had paffed, through various hands unfufpected, and was not difcovered till it came to a certain department in the routine of that office, through which no forgery whatever can pas undifcovered. This occafioned a confiderable alarm, and notes upon notes flowed in about the lottery and Chrifimas times, without even the leaft poffibility of tracing out the first negociator. Various confult tions were held, and plans laid, but in vain.

Had Mr. Price permitted a partner in his proceeding, had he employed an engraver, bad he procured paper to be made for him, with water-marks put into it, he must have been foon discovered; but Price was himself alone: he engraved his own plates; he made his own paper, with the watermarks, and he was his own nego

ciator,

ciator, thereby confining a fecret to his own breast, which he deemed not at eafe in the breaft of another; even Mrs. Price had not the leaft fufpicion of his proceedings. Having practifed engraving till he had made himself fufficient master of it, he then made his own ink to prove his own works: having purchased Implements, and manufactured the water-mark, he next fet himself to counterfeit the hand writings, and fucceeded fo far, as even to puzzle a part of the first body of men in the world.

31. The long contested cause between the vicar of Odiam, plaintiff, and the chancellor of Sarum, and others, defendants, was lately fettled by the judges of the Exchequer, in favour of the plaintiff, by his having a prefcriptive right to all small tithes, though he could not produce an endowment. By this decifion that right of the inferior clergy to the tithes of clover-feed, turnip-feed, and all fmall tithes whatever, is finally fettled.

Edinburgh, Jan. 20. The court of feffion this day determined a caufe of a very fingular nature:Some years ago, the rev. Mr. William Shaw, formerly minifter of Ardolach, published by fubfcrip. tion a Dictionary of the Gaelic Language. Previous to the publication, proposals were exhibited to the public, containing an enumeration of various particulars, which it was propofed fhould be inferted in the dictionary. After the dictionary was printed and publifhed, about four-fifths of the fubfcribers accepted of the book, and paid their fubfcription money; but feveral of the fubfcribers declined paying their fubfcriptions, alleging, that, as the author had not specifically fulfilled the terms of his propofals, they were not bound to accept the book, which they also declared was a very

bad performance, and in no view a proper Dictionary of the Gaelic Language. An action was brought by Mr. Shaw against the refractory fubfcribers before the court of feffion, in which a proof was led, as to the merit of the work; and all the witneffes agreed, that the author had not fulfilled the terms of his propofals, although one or two of the witneffes, at the fame time, thought the dictionary was an acquifition to the Gaelic language, and that they had derived confiderable benefit from it. The court were of opinion, that although the purfuer had not fulfilled the terms of his printed propofals, yet as the defenders could not inftruct that he had wilfully fuppreffed any of his materials, or been guilty of fraud or deceit in the execution of the book, the fubfcribers were liable; and the court alfo found the prifoner entitled to his expences.

FEBRUARY.

3. Captain Raphel, of the brig Bafil, who arrived at Liverpool on the 27th inft. on her paffage from Dominica, on the 25th of December, lat. 26. 54. long. 66. 47. picked up the crew of the Charming Molly, from Bermudas to Turks Iland, which veffel had foundered three days before, when the crew, ten in number, took to the boat, to the ftern of which they tied a large log of wood, which ferved to keep her head to fea; in this fituation they waited in hopes of being relieved by fome veffel: when capt. Raphel took them up they had about. one pound of bread, and two gallons of water, the latter of which they gave to each other in a wine glafs full to a mouthful of bread, once in 12 hours. The boat (12 feet in length) being fo very mall, one half of the crew were (A 4) obliged

obliged to lie down in her bottom, as in any other fituation fhe would have been top-heavy.

7. About three this morning a fire was difcovered in the lower apartments of the houfe lately oceupied by the chamberlain, which is fuppofed to have begun in the rooms preparing for an office for the city furveyor. The wind being very high, and the flames increafing with amazing rapidity, foon deftroyed the chamberlain's - office (with the books in which were regiftered the admiffions of freemen), and greatly damaged the houte adjoining; but by the timely affiftance of the comptroller and folicitor, with the carpenter to the fun fire-office, the city marfhal, with the military affociation, and the extraordinary exertions of the engineers and fire men, the adjoining parts of Guildhall received very little damage, and the other offices and their contents were all faved.

13. On Friday were tried before lord Mansfield, in the Court of King's Bench, thirteen debtors confined in the faid prifon, who had been committed to the New Gaol, for attempting, in the morning of the 14th of Auguft laft, to blow up the walls of their prifon.

The indictment was laid against them for a confpiracy and mifdemeanour. They were all found guilty, and this day received fentence the four ringleaders to be confined in Newgate three years, three of whom are to find fecurity for the fame term, after the expiration of their imprisonment; fix to be confined in Surrey Bridewell for two years; and three in the Houfe of Correction for the fame term, and to find fecurity for their good behaviour for two years.

28. The foreign prints mention the death of the cardinal de Solis,

archbishop of Seville, at the extraordinary age of 110 years, 8 months, and 14 days, in the full enjoyment of every faculty except ftrength and quickness of hearing. He used to tell his friends, when asked what regimen he obferved, "By being old when I was young, I find myfelf young now I am old. I led a fober, ftudious, but not a lazy or fedentary life. My diet was fparing, though delicate; my li quors the bell wines of Xerez and La Mancha, of which I never exceeded a pint at any meal, except in cold weather, when I allowed myself a third more. I rode or walked every day, except in rainy weather, when I exercifed for a couple of hours. So far I took care for the body; and as to the mind, I endeavour to preferve it in due temper by a fcrupulous obe dience to the divine commands, and keeping a confcience void of offence towards God and man. By thefe innocent means I have arrived at the age of a patriarch with lefs injury to my health and conftitution than many experience at forty. I am now, like the ripe corn, ready for the fickle of death, and, by the mercy of my Redeemer, have ftrong hopes of being tranflated into his garner."-"Glorious old age!" faid the king of Spain. "Would to heaven he had appointed a fucceffor; for the people of Seville have Leen fo long used to excellence, they will never be fatisfied with the best prelate I can fend them.". The cardinal was of a noble houfe in the province of Andalutia, and the laft furviving fon of Don Antonio de Solis, hifto riographer to Philip IV. and au thor of the Conquest of Mexico.

Rome, Feb. 17. The earl of Bristol (bishop of Londonderry) a virtuofo and a liberal encourager of the fine arts, being a few days ago

at

a long fearch found Fitzgerald locked up in a large cheft, and hid under two blankets. He and feveral of his people were immediately conducted to Caftlebar, and fafely lodged in the gaol. The fame evening a party of armed men broke into the gaol, fired feveral fhot at Mr. Fitzgerald, and much wounded him.

Oftend, Feb. 25. The Dutch Eaft India company feems now at its last gafp. The mitive they have prefented to the states of Holland, is a full proof of it. It is as follows:

"Noble, great, and powerful Lords, "Being under the neceffity of laying before your great mightineffes our want of money, we think it our indifpenfable duty to inform your mightinefles that this want has come to fuch extremity, that if we do not obtain fome affiítance we fhall be obliged to ftop payment in a month's time.

"Being defirous to do every thing in our power to prevent the dangerous moment, we think ourfelves bound to addrefs their high mightineffes (the states general) praying them that they would be pleafed to contribute to the utmost of their power to prevent the fall of the company, and confequently the ruin of our country. Permit us alfo to renew this request to you, and to implore that you will have a difpofition as favourable as ready to comply with our petition of the 17th of January, by which we recommend to you the intereft of a million of people. We pray God, &c."

This petition is figned by the directors and principal proprietors of the East India company at. Amfterdam.

Chelmsford, March 8. The noted Frances Davis was tried this day

at our affizes, for a remarkable robbery, in the dwelling-house of Agnes Bennet, the Three Rabbits, between Ilford and Stratford; the having ftolen thereout cash and bank notes, to the amount of 12501. the property of John Wrigglefworth. It appeared that this woman committed the robbery in the following extraordinary manner.' She difguifed herfelf in men's apparel, and came to the above public houfe, enquiring for lodging, pretending to be going to town. Being told that he could have one, fhe ingratiated herself into the company of Mr. Wriggle/worth, who is a capital grafier, of Gosfield, in this county, and was going to Smithfield market next morning, to whom he affumed the character of a horfe-dealer. In the courfe of converfation fhe contrived to discover the contents of Mr.. Wrigglefworth's canvafs bag. After fupper, each retired to a feparate room, and early in the morn ing the borfe-dealer opened the chamber door of Mr. Wrigglefworth, whom he caught afleep, and taking his breeches from under his head, went off with the fum above mentioned.

The next day fhe paid a vifit to a female acquaintance in Newgate, gave her a guinea, and a pair of filver buckles, and boafted of the exploit: this woman communicat ed the fecret to another person, and the confequence was, that Mrs. Davis was, the next day, apprehended in the Borough, with fomething more than 90: 1. on her, the remainder having never been recovered. Pofitively fworn to by Mr. Wrigglefworth and the people of the house, although fo difguited, fhe was found guilty, and the judge immediately paffed fentence of death on her, obferving, that from the

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