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1796.]

Public Affairs.France.

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ftrict neutrality towards all the belligerent powers; in confequence of which, he pledges himself to prevent, indifcriminately, accefs to his ports to all armed fhips of war belonging to the faid powers, according to the regulations acknowledg ed by the faid neutrality. That his majefty of the Two Sicilies, in order to afford a proof of his friendship for the French republic, confents to fet liberty every French citizen who had been arrested and detained in his ftates, on account of his or their public opinions refpecting the French revolution. That there fhall be negociated and concluded, without delay, a treaty of commerce be tween the two powers, founded on the bafis of mutual utility, and fuch as fhall infure to the French nation advantages equal to all those which are enjoyed in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies by the moft favoured nations. That the fame peace, friendship, and good underftanding, that were ftipulated in this treaty between the king of the Two Sicilies and the French republic, fhall fubfift between his majefty and the Batavian republic. That the treaty fhould be ratified within forty days from the date

thereof."

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The old ally of England, and the new one of the French republic, Victor Amadeus Marie, of Savoy, king of Sardinia, died on the 15th of October. This event was notified to the Executive Directory, by a dispatch from the prince of Piedmont, his fon and fucceffor, in terms the most amicable and expreffive of his good will towards the French republic.

The French Directory returned an anfwer to the new king of Sardinia, equally expreffive of their intention to preferve peace and amity with the king of Sardinia, It would afford us the moft cordial fatiffaction, if we could announce to our readers, that the negociation between lord Malmbury and the French Directory had been brought to the fame happy termination. While, however, thefe papers are committing to the prefs the hand of the writer is arrefted, and his long cherished hopes are defeated by the fatal intelligence that the treaty is abruptly broken off.

[In the concluding pages of this Magazine, our Readers will find an exact copy of the official correfpondence which paffed during this important negociation.]

On the 19th of October, CAMBACERES, in the name of a special commiffion, made a report in the council of five hundred on a meffage of the Directory, in which he MONTHLY MAG. No. XI.

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called on the legislative body to fecure the return of peace, by a vigorous organization of the means proper for the continuance of the war.

"The French government," faid he, "is defirous of a fincere, fpeedy, and honourable peace. If our enemies act with frankness and fincerity, tranquillity will fpeedily be reftored to Europe. Our wants are multiplied, it is true, but our resources are not exhaufted: we have domains to alienate, and arrears to recover, we have no need of violent means: our territorial poffeffions are fufficient for us, and will enable us to meet both the war expenditure and the acquital of the public debt." He then prefented a series of refolutions purporting-"That there fhall be a fund of 450,000,000 of livres in fpecie for the fervice of the fifth year, for the fixed expences; and another fund of 550,000,000, alfo in fpecie, for the extraordinaries; that the fund for the fixed expences fhall be drawn from the produce of the contributions of the fifth year. The funds for extraordinaries shall be drawn from the arrears of the contributions, and from the revenues of the national domains and forefts; and to complete the 550,000,000 a fufficient quantity of national domain shall be fold by action, and the payment fhall be made a tenth part in fpecie, four-tenths in schedules, and the other five tenths in government debentures.

That the territorial contributions for the fifth year are filled at 250,000,000, to be taken from the departments and the perfonal and fumptuary contributions at 50,000,000.-That the members of the central and municipal administrations fhall, as foon as poffible, proceed to the collection of the direct contributions."

On the 10th of December the Executive Directory addreffed a meffage to the Council of Five Hundred, refpecting the deranged ftate of the French finances; announcing that the multiplied wants of the republic call imperiously upon the legiflative body to difplay and employ all her refources; that every branch of the public fervice experienced the utmost distress. The pay of the troops remaining unfettled; the defenders of the country fuffering all the horrors of want; the creditors of the ftate and contractors remaining unpaid; and the administration of the police unable to reprefs the intrigues of the difaffected in every part of the republic.The Directory then pointed out the employment of the arrears due upon the laft fourth part of the national domains, fold by the law of the 28th Ventofe, as the 5 Z

means

means of obtaining relief to the diftreffes of the republic.

SPAIN.

After a lapfe of feveral months, the Bri

tish Cabinet have returned an answer to

the Spanish declaration of war. In this anfwer the British court affert, "That a fimple reference to that declaration, and a bare enumeration of the bafe and frivolous charges which it contains, would be fufficient to fatisfy all reasonable and impartial minds, that no part of the conduct of Great Britain towards Spain has afforded the fmalleft ground of complaint. That the only difficulty of a detailed reply arifes not from the ftrength and importance of the complaints alledged, but from their weakness and futility. That the acts of hoftility attributed to his majesty in the manifefto of Spain are matters either innocent or indifferent in their nature, or of imputed intentions, of which no proof is adduced, nor any effect alledged," &c.

HOLLAND.

On the 15th of November, the National Convention of the Batavian Republic finally read the remainder of the new conftitu tion. They then decreed that the national priater fhould print, at the leaft expence poffible, a fufficient number of copies of it, to be diftributed among the inhabitants of the republic.

On the 17th of November the reprefentative KASTEELE gave, in a long fpeech, his opinion upon the new conftitution. He cenfured that part of the plan which divided the republic into nine independent departments or provinces, which divifion, he conceived, would militate against that unity which should be the object of every good government.

Citizen WITBOLS cenfured the fyftem of finance fet forth in the conftitution, and complained alfo of the want of unity in the new plan. He alledged that it was deficient in affording fecurity to the liberties of the people, and not calculated to fupport the rights of man.

GERMANY,

The most fingular and interefting occurrence which has taken place in this part of the world, is the diplomatic correfpondence, which has lately been publifhed, between the emperor and the king of Great Britain, in his capacity of elec.

tor of Hanover. On the elector being urged by the chief of the empire to forward his quota for the defence of the common caufe, under the denomination of the Roman Months, the former, it appears in a note, dated on the 17th of October, has pleadd his utter inability to comply with the imperial command-adding, that he, with feveral other ftates of Germany, had thought it neceffary to conclude a peace with the French, to prevent the falling of his territories as a wreck among the general ruins of the empire. Many arguments are urged, in the course of the note, against the continuance of this " unfortunate war," and the whole exhibits the most complete contraft to the language and conduct of the British ministry.

RUSSIA.

An important event has lately befallen the Ruffian empire. Her imperial majefty expired on the evening of the 17th of November; and the grand duke, Paul Petrowitsch, has fucceeded in the go

vernment.

Various conjectures have already been formed of the changes which the death of this Semiramis of the North may effect in the politics of Europe. The prevailing opinion appears to be, that the benevolent difpofition of the fucceffor of Katherine will induce him to cultivate the gentle arts of peace, with more zeal and fuccefs than his ambitious mother.

[In our Supplementary Number will ap pear a copious Life of the Empress, with original Anecdotes of the Court of Ruffia, which we expect will prove highly interef ing to the Public.]

WEST INDIES.

By the laft difpatches from major-general Gordon Forbes, commanding his ma jefty's troops in the island of St. Domingo, government were informed that the fitua tion of our troops in that ifland, in October laft, was better than it had been at any time fince they had been in poffeffion of any part of it. That the fuccefs of the very judicious arrangements made by major general Bowyer, at Jeremie, and the divifions among the enemy in the fouth part of the island, where almott all the republican whites had been maffacred fince ther defeat, had affured the fafety of the important quarter of the Grand Ame.

St. Marcs and Mole St. Nicolas were alfo in a ftate of perfect security.

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· Deaths in and near London, with Biographical Memoirs.

AFTER a lingering illness, Mrs. Reynolds, wife of capt. Reynolds, of Durham-houfe, near Chelsea College. The lofs of her eideft fon, who died captain of a troop in the Weft Indies, made too deep an impreffion on her mind to be removed by any confolation, notwithstanding the most endearing and filial endeavours of the remaining part of her family.

Mrs Anne Compton, wife of Mr. J. Comp ton, of Charlotte-ftreet, Portland-place.

At Somer's Town, aged 30, James Bannerman, eíq. Member of Council, and Governor of James Fort, America.

At Lambeth, aged 86, Mr. Ufborn, Father of the Vintners' Company.

Mr. W. Browne, attorney, of Kirby-ftreet, Hatton-garden.

On Tower-hill, Mrs. Gordon, wife of Cofmo Gordon, efq.

The reverend John Bree, rector of Mark's Tay, in the county of Effex.

At Edgware-road, Mifs M. A. Hanrott, daughter of Mr. Hanrott, in the Poultry, a child in years, but mature in knowledge, from the earliest and most extraordinary propenfity for investigation, her manners were meek and gentle, and evinced fuch principles of innate goodness, as rendered her defervedly an object of admiration and affection, with all who knew and have to lament her lofs.

The youngest daughter of James Graham, efq. of Lincoln's-inn-fields, in the eighth year

of her age.

After a tedious indifpofition, the right rev. Dr. William Buller, Lord Bishop of Exeter. Several fevere domeftic difpenfations weighed down this excellent prelate, and are confidered as a primary caufe of his diffolution. Befides the gallant Colonel Buller, who was flain on the Continent, he has loft two fons by confumption. Jofeph Waring, efq. timber-merchant, Lam

beth.

At Hommerton, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin.

In Charlotte-ftreet, Portland-place, aged 73, John Wade, efq. youngest fon of the late fieldmarshall Wade.

At Ponder's-end, Thomas Fuller, efq. banker of Lombard-street.

Mrs. Pye, wife of Henry James Pye, efq. late member for the county of Berks.

Aged 87, Mrs. Annefley, mother of Francis Annefley, efq. M P. for Reading.

At Liffon-street, Paddington, Jofeph Saunders. efq. aged 72.

Mrs. Grindall, wife of Mr. Grindall, diftiller, of Broad-street, Bloomsbury.

On Saturday the 17th, at his houfe in Weymouth-ftreet, univerfally lamented, William Pickett, efq. alderman of Cornhill Ward, in the city of London. He was born in 1736, at Stoke Newington, where his father was a fhopkeeper. He ferved his apprenticeship to Mr. Hunter, an eminent goldfmith and banker in Lombard-street. In partnership with Mr. Theed, he fucceeded to the well-established bulinefs of Mr. Hurt, on Ludgate-hill; and the concern was for many years carried on under the firm of Theed and Pickett. In 1782 he was elected alderman of Cornhill Ward, with no applications on his part; it being an invaria ble maxim with him, that votes in popular elections fhould be unfolicited, and uninfluenced. About the fame time he declined bufinefs in favour of Mr. Rundell, whom he had taken for a partner to which step he was principally induced by the idea that his business would interfere with his public duty as an alderihan. The principle that private intereft ought to be facrificed to public good, was, indeed, what governed him through life, and he pursued it to a degree that bordered on enthusiasm. In this inftance his conduct was the more remarkable, as a trade eftablifhed in the fame houfe for half a century would have required little exertion on his part, in addition to that of an active and intelligent partner. During feveral years the alderman ftrenuoufly laboured in the Common Council to obtain its fanction to a very useful and favourite fcheme of his-that of widening and improving the avenues to the city at Temple-bar and Snow-hill. At length his repeated motions fucceeded and in confequence of an 52 2

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fons who being on deck, fell victims to the firft fury of the enemy, was Lieutenant Pickett, only fon of the Alderman, at the age of 37. He had been in the Company's fervice 15 or 16 years; and that he had not attained higher preferment was chiefly to be attributed to the notions of independence entertained by his father; who, though on terms of intimacy with moft of the Directors, would never afk a favour in behalf of his fon, left it might lay him under an obligation which would hackle his public conduct. To add to the fum of his domeftic afflictions, he loft his lady but two months before his own death. His character is fufficiently difplayed in the preceding a ecdotes, to render it unneceffary to add more than that be was fincerely attached to religion; and that in his politics, he fcrupulously avoided all connections with party as fuch, affuming no name, following no leader, but acting on every occafion as he thought the merits of that particu lar cafe demanded. On the Saturday after his death, his remains were removed in great funeral pump from his houfe near Portland-place through the city to Stoke Newington. The bells of St. Dunstan's, St. Bride's, St. Martin's, Bow, St. Michael's, and St. Peter's, Cornhill, tolled as the proceffion paffed. It was attended by the city officers, and by a most respectable number of aldermen, and other gentlemen.

application from the Common Council to Parli-Monthly Mag. for June laft.) Among the perment, an Act paffed in 1795 for raifing the fum of 100,000l. in order to carry thofe purposes into execution. A commencement has already been made in the work; and from the benefit the public will experience when it is completed, there is no doubt that the alderman's name will be gratefully remembered by pofterity. In 1790 he ferved the office of Lord Mayor with much reputation; and in the fame year he offered himself at the general election as a candidate to reprefent the city of London in Parliament. Firmly adhering to his conftitutional principle of not opening houfes, or canvaffing for votes, it is lefs wonderful that he did not fucceed against lefs fcrupulous candidates, than that he should have been honoured by the free fuffrages of 1064 independent citizens. And it is truly honourable to his cha racter, and to the rifing spirit of the electors, that on a renewed attempt, conducted on the fame principles, in June laft, the number of votes in his favour amounted to 2795, almost triple of thofe at the former election. Alderman Pickett married Miss Pratten, neice of Mr. Prentice, an opulent feedfman in Thames ftreet; a great part of whole property would certainly have devolved to him, had he fhewn himself a fufficient lover of wealth. By this lady he had feveral children; of whom one fon and two daughters grew up to years of maturity. In the year 1781 the eldest daughter loft her life in a moft fhocking manner, by the accident of her drefs taking fire, in the fight of her father, and as fhe was in the aft of roling up his hair by the fire-fide. The particular circumstances of this melancholy event greatly interested the public at the time; and the icene must have made an indelible impreffion on the mind of an affectionate parent. It is recorded on the family tomb in the church-yard of Stoke Newington, in an infcription drawn up by the Alderman himself, which we have copied entire in a note below*. A few months ago, intelligence was received of the capture in the East Indies of the Triton Indiaman.-(See

* On the Top:

Near this place lyeth the body of Mr. William Pickett, formerly of this parish, who died February 19, 1745, aged 43 years: alfo Anne his wife, who died March 22, 1750, aged 42 years and likewife William, Thomas, and Tabitha, children of the above, who died in their infancy.

This tomb was erected by William Pickett, of London, goldfmith, only furviving offspring of the above William and Anne, on the melancholy death of his daughter Elizabeth: and alfo in memory of five other children, viz. Thomas, Thomas, Anne, Edward, and George, who died in their infancy.

On the South Side:

A teftimony of respect from greatly afflicted parents: : in memory of Elizabeth Pickett, fpinster, who died December 11, 1781, aged 23 years.

On Monday the 19th, Lord John Cavendish, by a stroke of the apoplexy. He was the fon of the fourth, and uncle of the prefent, Duke of Devonthire. Through life, till the late alarm, and the confequent difunion of his friends, he was, in politics, attached to the Whig intereft; and, on various occafions, acted the part of a zealous and virtuous patriot. In the Whig Adminiftration formed under the Marquis of Rockingham, in 1765, he was appointed one of the Lords of the Treafury. During the fatal American war, he conftantly voted in oppofition to the measures of the Ministry.- On the 8th of March, 1782, immediately before the refignation of Lord North, his Lordship made the famous motion, that the American war and the diftreffed fitua tion of the country at that time, was occafioned

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by the want of forefight and ability of his Majefiy's Minifters. The motion was loft by a majority of only ten, the numbers being 226 against 216. On the 27th of that month, on the general change of adminiftration, his Lordship came into power, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his friends, the Marquis of Rockingham and Mr. Fox. On the lamented death of the Marquis, on the 1ft of July following, the appointment of the Earl of Shelburn (now Marquis of Lanfdowne) to be first Lord of the Treafury, gave fo much offence to Lord John, Meffrs. Fox, &c. that they refigned thir offices, and again entered into oppofition. On this occafion, Mr. Pitt, the prefent premier, fucceeded as Chancellor of the Exchequer. On the motion, on the 17th of Feb. 1783, for an Address of Thanks on the general peace, Lord John Cavendish moved an amendment, which was fupported by Lord North, and carried against the Miniftry by a majority of 224 against 208. On the 21ft of the fame month, he moved a ftring of refolutions, difapproving of the terms of the late peace, which were allo carried against the Miniftry by 207 against 190. The Minifiry, at length, were compelled to give way to the unyeilding and determined fpirit of the oppofition; and, on the 2d of April, the famous coalition Miniftry was formed, in which Lord John once more became Chancellor of the Exchequer. On the difmiffal of the coalition Ministry, on the 27th of December of the fame year, he was once more fucceeded by Mr. Pitt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. From that time till the commencement of the French war, he contantly voted with his old friends. He however, in 1793,.became the dupe of the alarmifts, and his political character will, in confequence, be tarnithed in the eyes of pofterity, for having lent his vote and intereft in fupport of the most deftructive war, in which this country was ever engaged. Lord John Cavendifh is, notwithstanding, admitted on all hands to have been one of the moft pure and exalted characters, even of his own illuftrious family; and his death is a subject of real concern to all who enjoyed the honour of his friendship.

Deaths Abroad.

At Martinique, aged 27, Dr. Story, phyfician n the ftaff to the army, a native of Penrith, Cumberland, an ingenious young gentleman of great eminence in his profeffion.

On the 8th of Auguft, of the yellow fever, at Grenada, Dr Francis Riollay, M. D. of the Univerfity of Oxford, and a fellow of the college of Phyficians, a gentleman, whofe focial virtues and profeffional talents will be long remembered by the fmall circle of friends who had the happiness of knowing him. He prac tifed phyfic for fome years in London and Mar

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gate, but not meeting with that degree of fuccefs to which his abilities entitled him, he was induced to accept of the fituation of phyfician to the forces destined to the West Indian expedition; but after a refidence of about four months at Grenada, he fell a facrifice to the unhealthy climate of that island.

On the 15th of Auguft, at Grenada, Brigadier-General Archibald Campbell, of the 29th Regiment. He entered into that regiment in the year 1759. From 1765 to 1773, he ferved with that regiment in New England, and was on feveral occafions employed against the people during the disturbances in that province. In 1776 the regiment was again ordered on foreign fervice to Canada. In the campaign of 1777, Captain Campbell was prefent at all the actions fought under General Burgoyne. In 1780 hs obtained the brevet rank of Major. In 1782 he commanded under Sir Frederic Haldimand, a very impo tant poft on Lake Champlain. In 1785, Major Campbell was appointed with extentive powers, commandant of the pofts fituatel on the five great lakes, which fituation he filed with the highest credit. In October, 1787, the regiment being relieved, returned home. In November, 1790, he got the blevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in Auguft, 1795, to that of Colonel. The 29th forming part of Sir R. Abercrombie's army, Colonel Campbell, on his arrival in the West Indies, was appointed a Brigadier-General, and fent with his brigade tɔ Grenada. On the 25th of laft March he commanded, and fucceeded in an attack upon a large body of the enemy, pofted on the heights of Port Royal. This was the last action of confequence in which he had an opportunity to diltinguish him elf. In Auguft following he died, after a few days ill-fs; and the lofs of fo brave and worthy a man, is faid to have excited the tears of the whole island.

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T. Williams, efq. late of the Cape of Good Hope, merchant. He bequeathed all his perfonal efiate to J. Matfon, efq. late of the South Devon Militia, amounting to 30,000!.

On the 24th of June last, at Cape St. Nicholas Mole, W. M'Millan, efq. of Barwhinnock, Scotland.

On the 23d of Sept. laft, on his paffage from the Weft Indies, D. M'Knight, Eiq. of Barns. At Jamaica, T. Edgar, efq. Lieutenant in M, General Keppel's Regiment.-And T. Ewing, efq.

T. Spottifwood, efq, of the island of Tobago. In the West Indies, P. Ogilvie, eiq. firit lieutenant of the Ambufcade. He had just before been appointed to the command of the Cormorant.

N. B. In our Supplementary Number will op pear original and copious Memoirs of the late Eprefs of Ruffia.

TR V.CAT

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