At the fame affizes, G. Phillips was indicted, for that, having married Eleanor Sawyer, in 1768, he had likewife married Sarah Warden in March laft, his former wife being then alive.

The firft witness produced an extract of the parish register of Shenley, certifying the marriage. To this evidence the counfel for the prifoner objected, alledging the regifter itself was alone competent evidence, The learned ferjeant who fat as judge, did not wholly accede to this doctrine, obferving, that though the book itfelf is the best evidence, yet the law has no where negatived an an authentic, proved extract. The profecutors, however, put an end to all debate, by producing a living witnefs who faw them married, and acted as father by giving away the bride, The first marriage being thus eftablished, they produced the fame evidence of the last marriage.

The counfel for the prifoner did not attempt a denial of the facts, but fet up a defence, that previous to his marriage with either of these wives, he had actually married a third wife, Anne Lediard, in 1757; in proof whereof he likewife pro

A bricklayer, who formerly worked as a journeyman with the prifoner at St. Alban's, Hertfordthire, fwore, That he remembered feeing the faid Anne come to the prifoner's houfe, claiming to be his wife, and that the prifoner acknowledged her to be his wife.

The counfel for the prifoner having eftablished this first marriage, the fecond of course became null and void; no criminal verdic therefore could be founded upon it. The judge lamented that fuch a defence fhould be fupported, but as the law ftands, it could not be controverted. The jury pronounced, Not Guilty.

At Newcastle, the aflizes proved maiden.

At Coventry, 3 prisoners were tried, none of whom were capitally convicted,

At Warwick, I condemned, but reprieved.

At Stafford, 5 condemned, one of whom, for murder, was executed.

At Salop, 2 condemned,

At Lewes, 3 condemned. At Wells, 2 condemned, but reprieved.

At Carlifle, 2 condemned, but reprieved.

At Lancaster, John Rockley received fentence of death, being charged on oath with having ra

vished

vished his grand-daughter, an infant under ten years of age, at Liverpool, on the 16th of May last. DIED, Anthony Purver, a Quaker, at Andover, in Hampshire; he was many years a fchool-matter at Frenchay, in Gloucestershire. In his younger days he had been a fhoe-maker, yet, without tutor or patron, by dint of hard labour and unwearied study, he pur. chafed and perufed most of the authors in the oriental languages; and his knowledge therein was very extenfive, as appears by his tranflation of the Old and New Teftament, which he published fome years ago, in two volumes folio.

SEPTEMBER.

Some few days ago two ift. fishermen of Grimsby, being out at fea, discovered, a little below the Spurn light-houses, a dead fish, floating on the furface of the water, of a moft enormous fize; which, when they had got to the hore, appeared to be a male of that fpecies of whales, called the fin-fith. It was feen fome few days fince on the Yorkshire coaft, from whence it was ftruck at by fome harpooners. In length it measures feventeen yards and an half, and is of a proportionable bulk, and it was fuppofed would yield two tons of oil.

This day the Right Hon. 3d. the Lord-mayor proceeded to Smithfield, and proclaimed Bartholomew-fair; and, in his way thither, with the fheriff, partook of a cool tankard at Newgate with Mr. Akerman.

Extract of a Letter from Italy, Aug. 1. "The brother of the Abp. of Spalatro was affaffinated in the ftreets of Venice. Letters were found in his pockets apprizing him of the danger, but he neglected to take any precaution."

Mifs Mary Max, an heirefs of a large fortune, was carried off the beginning of last month from Cafhel county, in Ireland, brought over to England, and afterwards carried to France, by a young gentleman of the County of Kilkenny. She is only 13 years of age, and a ward. Her guardians have offered a reward of 100l. for apprehending the father and fon, who were the principals in carrying her off. They were near being taken by Sir John Fielding's men at Brighthelmftone, from whence they fail. ed in the packet.

On the 23d of last month a fire broke out in a cottage at Auburn, Wilts, which in a few hours confumed more than two thirds of the town. The damage is computed at more than 10,000 pounds, over and above all infura: ces; and the distress to the poor, who have loft their all, is truly deplorable.

8th.

A fuperb white marble ftatue, in honour of Mrs. Catharine Macaulay, was erected in the chancel of the church of St. Stephen, Walbrook, by Dr. Thomas Wilfon, rector of the parish.

A court of aldermen was

held, at which were prefent 9th. the lord mayor, aldermen Bull, Efdaile, Oliver, Plomer, Peckham, Hayley, Newnham, Smith, Hart, Wright, the recorder, and Plumbe and Thomas, fheriffs. Mr. Curfon and Mr. Nah (the theriffs elect) attended the courts, and the former having his fix compurgators

[N] 4

ready,

ready, fwore himself not to be worth 15,cool. but the latter acquainting the court that he was not ready, he was allowed further time. Izth.

His majesty in council was this day pleased to order, that the parliament, which ftands prorogued to Thurfday the 18th day of this inftant September, fhould be further prorogued to Thursday the 30th day of October

next. 16th.

This day, at his feat at Newnham, in Oxfordshire, the body of Earl Harcourt was found dead, in a narrow well, in his park, with the head downwards, and nothing appearing above water but the feet and legs. It is imagined this melancholy accident was occafioned by his over reaching himfelf in endeavouring to fave the life of a favourite dog, who was found in the well with him, ftanding on his lordship's feet. His hat and righthand glove lay by the fide of the well. Every poffible method for the recovery of drowned perfons was made ufe of for three feveral times, but unfortunately without effect.

17th.

This evening about nine o'clock, as the Hon. Mr. Hawke, fon of Lord Hawke, was coming to town, between Kenfington and Knightsbridge, his horfe ran against a poft-chaife and fell, and one of the fhafts of the chaife penetrating Mr. Hawke's body, killed him on the spot.

Yesterday the feffions ended at the Old Bailey, when the following convicts received fentence of death; viz. James Harrifon, for flealing, in the houfe of Richard Burn, Efq; two fuits of cloaths,

and feveral pair of filk ftockings; Thomas Jones, for breaking open the house of Mrs. Jemina Sainthill, in Duke-ftreet, Manchefter-square, and ftealing a quantity of linen; Richard Turwood, for ftealing in the houfe of Mr. Wildman, gold. fmith, in Cheapfide, where he was a fervant, I guineas, and a gilt fhilling; and John Greaves, for breaking into the coach-house and ftabling belonging to the house of Henry Morris, Efq; at Hammerfmith, and ftealing thereout a pair of coach-harness, three coachglaffes, and other things. Thirteen were ordered to hard labour on the Thames, one to hard labour in Clerkenwell Bridewell for three years, twenty-fix were branded, and ordered to be imprisoned for different terms, four to be privately whipped, and one publickly; fixtyone were discharged by proclamation.

At the above feffions, Mr. Harrifon was arraigned on twenty-four different counts, for a forgery, faid to have been committed by him, with intent to defraud the London Affurance company, &c. He had been many years clerk-accomptant in that office, and was charged with having prefixed a fi gure of 3 to the fum of 260l. paid into the Bank of England, by which it appeared as if 3260l. had been paid in, inftead of 2601. which fraud was detected by the clerk who carried the money. He was found guilty; but a point of law arifing, his fentence was referred to the opinion of the judges.

Mr. Cutler was alfo put to the bar for a rape on the body of Mrs. Bradley. Mrs. Bradley and a Mr. Hamlin were the only witneffes examined for the profecution: the

former

former gave an account of the whole transaction; the latter only repeated what she had given in evidence, which he faid the had alfo told him the morning the fact was committed; there was however a palpable contradiction in fome parts of their relations. The witneffes for the prifoner proved many contrarieties in the depofition of the evidence, on which the judge told the jury that he fuppofed he need not read his notes to them, as he imagined they must be fully fatisfied; the jury faying they were, without hesitation pronounced the prifoner-Not guilty.

Alfo William Gibson was tried for the murder of John Collier; and Downs, the principal witnefs, not appearing, he was acquitted.

This evening Mr. Layton, and another of his majefty's officers of the excife, attacked a party of fmugglers, thirteen in number, on the road near Kingfton, Surry; when Mr. Layton was fo cruelly cut and mangled, that he died in the Westminster Infirmary.

Paris, Sept. 12. A furvey of the French American colonies has lately been made by order of the king, and laid before the fupreme council at Paris, which is eftablished for the improvement of the French Weft India fettlements; by which it

to

appears their islands are in a moft flourishing ftate. The number of their flaves amounts 386,500, reckoning 240,000 at St. Domingo, 75,000 at Martinico, 64,000 at Guadaloupe, 4000 at St. Lucia, and 3500 at Cayenne; to fupply the annual deficiency in which number, an annual importation of 20,000 Blacks is necessary. His majefty has amply rewarded M. Petit, who made this calcula

tion, and has directed the fupreme council to draw up a number of regulations for preferving peace and harmony between the natives of the above iflands and the European planters.

A common hall was held 25th. at Guildhall for the election of fheriffs for the year enfuing, in the room of William Nash, Efq; who did not appear to give bond to ferve the faid office, and John Curfon, Efq; who was difcharged from the faid office for infufficiency of wealth; when all the aldermen who had not ferved the office were put in nomination; after which James Savage, Efq; cooper, and Philip Rowden, Efq; vintner, were put up, when they having a majority of hands, were declared duly elected.

26th.

A wardmote was held at Baker's Hall, in Thamesfreet, before the lord-mayor, for the election of an alderman of Tower Ward, in the room of Alderman Smith, refigned, when Evan Pugh, Efq; a foap-boiler, in Bishopfgate-street, and one of the common-council of that ward, was chofen without oppofition.

The fame day, at a court of enquiry, by the governors of Bethlem and Bridewell Hofpitals, a charge was made against one of the governors for having appropriated a confiderable portion of the bread, beer, milk, butter, beef, &c. &c. to the ufe of himfelf and family. He did not deny the charge, but urged that he intended to pay for what he had fo applied.

29th.

A common-hall was held at Guildhall for the election of a lord-mayor of this city for the enfuing year. The court being opened, Mr. Nugent, the

common

common ferjeant, read aloud the names of the following aldermen, as perfons that had ferved the office of sheriff, viz. Efdaile, Kennett, Oliver, Lewes, Hayley, Newnham, Lee, and Hart: their names were feverally put up, and the thow of hands was greatly in favour of Efdaile and Kennett. The the riffs declared the election had fallen on Meffrs. Efdaile and Kennett, upon which the lord-mayor and aldermen returned to the councilchamber, and in a fhort time came on the hoftings, and declared the election had fallen on Sir James Efdaile.

The lord-mayor, accord3ath. ing to annual cuftom, went to Wefiminfter-Hall and made a return of the two old fheriffs (Al dermen Plumbe and Thomas), who were fworn in before the barons in the Court of Exchequer to ferve that office, till two perfons are elected for the year enfuing.

James Savage and Philip Rowden, Efquires, both paid the fine to be excufed ferving.

On the 14th of this month an inundation happened at Peter fburgh, more extenfire and defructive than has ever been remembered in thofe parts. A vio. Bent hurricane at W. S. W. which began about two in the morning, aifed the waters in four hours to the height of fourteen feet above the ordinary level of the Neva, by which the whole town, and a great extent of the flat country in the neighbourhood, was rapidly everLowed. The water remained about half an hour at its extreme height; but the wind getting a little to the northward, it returned in a very fhort time to its ufual bounds. It is impoffible to eftimate the

lofs which the state and individuals have fuffered. The number of perfons drowned must be confiderable. In the best parts of the town many houfes are unroofed, and the lofs of goods deftroyed is not to be estimated. In the gardens of the fummer palace great numbers of the finest trees are broken or torn up by the roots. The lower fkirts of the town, inhabited by the poorer fort of people, prefented a scene of defolation which can be more eafily imagined than defcribed. Many perfons were drowned in their beds, and others, who fought for fafety from the roofs of their houfes, were carried from thence by the violence of the wird, and thofe who escaped with life were left deflitute of babitations and effects. Great damage is done at the quay of the exchange, and to the lower maga. zines and warehoufes. Numbers of barks, laden with iron, hemp, grain, wood, &c. were flaved, funk, or driven into the ftreets or fields. Several large veffels, lying between this place and Cronftadt, were driven afhore into woods and gardens. Many of the country houfes in the neighbourhood are deftroyed. The village of Catherinehoff, and fome others on the fame coat, were entirely fwept away, with all the cattle; and many lives were lost there, as well as on the fide of the Galley Haven, where the ground is very low. The great bridge of boats over the Neva was carried away, and most of the bridges in the town, except thofe on the new ffone quay (no part of which has fuffered any material damage), were torn up. We have the fatisfaction to hear, however, that little or no

damage