nitive the modifiers of our language might think more harmonious to the ear than the Saxon; they confequently had as great a sight to make ufe of one as the other, or, they rejected both the i and e, and wrote with an apostrophe, as we do at prefent, in order to diverfify the English from its derivarives. The comma therefore, perhaps, deaotes the genitive cafe (and not the difion of a vowel) as the Latin genitive domûs; for why fhould our ancestors have retained only one fingle inflexion, and rejected the reft? our language would have been more compact, could we decline our nouns without prepofitions. It may be objected, that had they written it originally with an apostrophe, it would have Been visible in the earliest editions of our poets: to which I anfwer, that many words in Chaucer and Spenfer have a letter added to them merely to aflift the rhythmus; "knitis' and leavis' may be of the number. Were I in poffeffion of any early English writing in prote, I thould be enabled to judge with decifivenefs. What I offer is only to gain information on this interefting fubject, which I with to fee purfued by fome of your more able correfpondents; who I hope will be enabled to convince me of the propriety of the i ore being used; and that they will alfo join me in ufing either letter that fhall be determined to be the proper one in all profaic compofitions, for I would have eliBons made ufe of in poetry alone. I am, &c. H. This Correlpondent will excufe our having omitted the Poem he enquires after. Diary of Memorable Occurrences in the year 1780; copied from a Lift in the News-papers; which may ferve as a kind of Index to our Hiflorical Chronicle of last year. Jan. 1. Ommodore Fielding captured, off Portland, five Dutch hips and frigates of war, and feven tranfports. Three French frigates, one of 42 gyns, one of 36, and one of 28, were taken by Admiral Parker's fquadron in the West Indies. 9. Admiral Rodney captured 21 fail of Spanish tranfports and armed hips, and a man of war of 64 guns. 11. Advice received at the Admiralty of the death of Capt. Cook, at the land of O-why-he. 13. Advice was received of the loss of the Experiment and Ariel hips of war on the coaft of America. 15. Admiral Rodney defeated the Spanish fleet off Port St, Mary, took four, one blew up, and two were loft making for Cadiz. 18. Gibraltar relieved by Adm. Rodney 26. The American out pofts at Newark and Elizabeth-town were furprized, and the men made prifoners. Some days after the American poft of John's Houfe on the White Plains was attacked, when 40 men were killed, and 97,taken. 25. Another American polt was furprized in the Jerfeys, and 65 men taken. Feb. 13. A Lima thip brought into Falmouth by two privateers, fuppofed worth a million and a half. 14 Judge Blackstone died. 15. Amadabad, in the East Indies, taken by the Company's forces from the Morattoes. 23. Admiral Digby took the Prothés, a French 64, and two of her convoy. 24. A violent ftorm did great damage at Montega Bay, in the island of Jamaica. 9. Houfe of Commons voted thanks to Admiral Rodney. March 3. Sir Henry Clinton iffued a Proclamation in America, offering pardon to all thole who fhould return to their allegiance. 4. Advice was received of the Sphynx frigate being retaken, and the Alcmene, a French frigate of 28 guns, with nine merchantmen, being taken by Admiral Parker's fquadron in the West Indies, 7. Capt. Boteler difmifled the fervice, for lofing the Ardent. 13. The Monfieur, a French frigate of 40 guns, taken by the Alexander man of war, Lord Longford. 14- Fort Mobille, on the Mithifippi, taken by the Spaniards. 19. Some British flips of war had an engagement off Cape François with M. De la Mothe Piquet's fquadron, 21. Sir Jofeph Yorke prefented a memorial to the States General of Holland. 22, A duel was fought in Hyde Park, between the Earl of Shelburne and Mr. Ful larton. 25. Admiral Parker, with 16 fail of the line, obliged the French fleet, with 25 fail of the line, to leave chafing fome tranfports, which he convoyed fafe into St. Lucia. April 1. Advice was received of the Spaniards having taken, in last September, the British forts on the Mifhfippi. 5. The British fettlements furprized and plundered by the Spaniards. 8. The Weft India fleet, under convoy of Commodore Walfingham, failed from Ply mouth. 10. Admiral Greaves failed from St. HeJen's for North America, with seven fail of the line, &c 26. Admiral Rodney defeated the French fleet off Martinico. 28. Ten fail of Spanish men of war, with tranfports that had 10,000 foldiers on board, failed from Cadiz for the West Indies. 29. Fort St. Juan on the Spanish main furrendered to the British forces. May 1. Commodore Wallingham failed again for the West Indies from Torbay. 3. The Chevaler Ternay failed, with eight fhips of the line and 6000 foldiers, from Breft for America. 6. Glasgow Theatre burnt with all the apparatus. 7. Fort Moultrie, in South-Carolina, fusrendered to Capt. Hudiye, of the Richmond 11. A ftorm of wind did much damage on the Thames. 12. Charles Town in South Carolina, furrendered to the British fleet and army, commanded by Admiral Arbuthnot and General Sir Henry Clinton. 16. Accounts were received of the capture - and relinquishing Fort Omoa, laft November, on the Spanish Main. A violent storm at Plymouth, which did much damage. Sailed from Toulon feven fail of the line, five frigates, and fome transports with land forces on board. 17. Part of Admiral Rodney's fleer engaged part of the French fleet, and obliged them to fheer off. Admiral Greaves failed for America with feven fail of the line. 29. Lieut. Col. Tarleton defeated the Americans at Warsaw. * Commodore Walfingham failed for the Weft Indies. June 1. General Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuthnot iffued a Proclamation at Charles Town, South Carolina. 2. The Proteftant Affociators met in St. George's Fields, and proceeded with a Petition, figned by 120,000, to the ParliamentHoufe, where they behaved riotously to Lords and Commons. In the evening they destroyed the Romish chapels in Duke-ftreet, Lincoln's Inn-fields; and in Warwick-ftreet, Golden-fquare. Thirteen rioters taken and confined. 4. They deftroyed the dwelling houfes and chapels of the Catholics near Moorfields. 5. Chapels were destroyed in Wapping and Eaft Smithfield; Dwelling-houfes in Stanhope-street, Clare-market, Little Queenftreet, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and Sir G. Savile's, Leicefter-fquare, of its furniture. 6. Juftice Hyde's houfe, near Leicesterfields, and several others deftroyed. Newgate burnt; 300 prifoner enlarged. Sir John Fielding's, Lord Mansfield's, and feveral others totally destroyed; and all the rioters in New Prifon, Clerkenwell, fet at Liberty. 7. The devaftation became as general as the confternation. The evening exhibited the most awful and dreadful fcene the city of London ever beheld; the flatnes afcending from the King's Bench Prifon, Fleet Prifon, New Bridewell for Surry, Toll-gates on Black-friars-bridge, from houfes in every -quarter of the town and fuburbs. To collet the havock of this night would exceed credit. 8. Some difturbances in the Borough quelled by the military. During the riots, 285 perfons were killed by the military, and 173 wounded, 85 were tried at the Old Bailey, 35 capitally convictd: in the Borough 50 tried, and 24 com victed. 9. Lord George Gordon apprehended and committed to the Tower. The Spaniards attempted to burn the ships ping at Gibraltar. 11. A tharp engagement happened be tween Rodney and Guichen, but no thips were taken on either fide. 18. The Governor of Jamaica fent forces and feized on the Caftle of St Juan, on a river of the fame name in Mexico, but its unhealthy fituation obliged him again to quit it. 20. The French fleet, commanded by M. Ternay, arrived at Boston, in North America. Capt. Cornwallis had a rencounter near Cape Francois, with the Chev. Ternay, without the lots of a fhip on either fide. 21. The French and Spanith fleets form a junction in Rouffeau Bay, at the Íland of Dominica, in the Wet Indies. July 1. The Artois, a French frigate of 40 guns, taken by the Romney, Capt. Home. 3. Capt. Keppel, of the Vetal frigate, took feveral American veffels. 4. Admiral Geary with the grand fleet took twelve fail of Martinico men in the Bay of Bifcay. 5. The Capricieufe, a French. frigate of 40 guns, was taken and burnt by Capt. Walde grave, in the Prudente. 6. The Pearle, a French frigate of 18 gups, was taken by the Romney, Capt. Home. 10. M. Ternay arrived at Rhode Inland with 6coo troops, and ifived a proclamation, in which the King of France's name food first. 13. Admiral Greaves arrived in America. 14. Capt. Wallace, in the Nonfach, burnt the Legere, a French frigate of 36 guns, and took two of her convoy; and the fame night took the Belle Poule, à French frigate of 32 guns. 15. A party of the American forces were routed by Gen. Cornwallis in South Carolina, who opened the port of Charles Town. A terrible fire at Marfeilles, which deftroyed the Cuftom-houfe, and goods to the amount of 70,000l. The Toulon fquadron arrived at Cadiz, and joined the combined fleets. 16. Several American privateers taken on the coaft of Newfoundland. Aug. 3. The Courts of Denmark and Sweden acceded to the armed neutrality proposed by the Court of Ruffia. 5. Commodore Walfingham, with the West India flect, arrived fafe at Jamaica. 7. The Arch-Duke Maximilian, brother to the Emperor, elected Coadjutor to the Bishop of Cologne. The Eaft and Weft India outward bound Acets were fallen-in with, and greatest part of them taken by the combined fleets of France and Spain, and carried into Cadiz. By the Spanish accounts the whole number of prizes amounted to 55. 10. The La Nymphe, a French frigate of 40 guns, taken by the Flora, Capt. Williams, near Ushant. 12. Five American veffels taken out of the Dutch inland of St. Martin's, in the WestIndies, by order of Adm. Rodney. The The city of London thank the king for the military affistance during the riots. The Prince of Wales attaining the age of 18 years, his birth-day was kept with great fplendour at Windfor. The New-York fleet failed from Plymouth. Le Comte d'Artois, a French privateer of 44 guns, taken by the Bienfaifant, Captain M'Bride, in the Irith channel. The crew of a French privateer landed on the Ifle of Skie, and pillaged the town of Storaway. A fleet of Ruffian men of war arrived in the Downs. 15. The troops, encamped during the riots in St. James's-park, quitted that ftation 16. General Cornwallis totally defeated the American army, commanded by Gen. Gates, at Camder. 18. The grand fleet returned to Spithead, with a French prize worth 20,000 1. 20. The Queen of Portugal forbade any privateers entering her ports, except in cafes of peceffity, The Custom-hqufe at Oporto burnt. 23. Advice of Mr. Ternay's arrival at Rhode-Inland, which he took poffeffion of in the King of France's name. 24. Parliament further prorogued to the 26th of September. Admiral Rodney arrived at Jamaica. 25 A violent ftorm at St. Kitt's did great damage. 27. The Queen of Portugal refufed enteriag into the armed neutrality, propofed by the northern powers. 28. The grand fleet failed from Spithead. 30. The Weft-India and Portugal fleets, confifting of near 300 fail, arrived fafe in the channel. Sept. 1. Parliament was diffolved by proclamation. 4. Four French fhips, from Martinico, taken by the Fame privateer, Capt. Moore, belonging to Dublin. 6. Appointed by the king, new commiffioners of the Exchequer, lords of the Admiralty, Trade and Plantations; also many promotions, both civil and military. 11. Admiral Darby failed with the fleet from Portsmouth. 12. Captain Keppel, in the Vestal frigate, amongst other captures, took the Mercury packet, from Philadelphia to Amfterdam, on beard of which was Henry Laurens, Efq. Late Prefident of the Congrefs, bound on an embally to Holland. 13. A confiderable body of Americans were repulfed near Augufta in Georgia. 14 General Lord Cornwallis iffued a proclamation, for fequeftring the elates of the Americans that adhered to Congrefs. 15. A violent storm on the coaft of France, which did great damage among the faipping. 22. The queen was brought to bed of a prince. 26. Count d'Estaing arrived at Cadiz, and took the command of the combined fleet. 27. Intelligence was received of an infur-. rection in fome of the Spanish provinces, in South America, of an alarming nature. Ten fhips, part of the Quebec fleet, were, captured. 28. The Leeward Inland fleet arrived at Liverpool. A Jersey privateer took a French Eaft-Indiaman, and carried her into that island. The bounties to feamen were continued by proclamation. There were five captains created admirals, and fix others rear-admirals, befides a gene-, ral promotion of admirals. 39. Sir Watkin Lewes, Knt. chofen lord mayor. Seven new peers of Great-Britain created by his majesty. 07. 3. The packet from America to Amfterdam, taken by the Veftal frigate, toge ther with Mr. Laurens, late Prefident of the Congrefs, was landed at Dartmouth, with his papers. 5. The bishops of the different diocefes in England ordered every parish to deliver in lifts of what Roman Catholics refide in their diftricts. The Swedes, Danes, and Ruffians, fhut their ports against privateers of all nations. 6. The lord-mayor, &c. addressed the king on the birth of the prince. 8. Mr. Laurens was examined, and committed to the Tower. 9. Notice was given in the Gazette, that all perfons who fuffered by the late riots were to lay their claims before the Board of Works. 10. One of the most dreadful storms that ever happened in the Weft-India itlands, this day and the following, fpread defolation over Barbadoes, Jamaica, &c. and the adjoining itlands of the French, particularly Martinico. A violent form did much damage near London. The Earl of Carlife was nominated Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 15. The New-York fleet arrived safe, being 200 fail. 17. The fixteen peers of Scotland were elested at Holyrood-heufe, Edinburgh. Great damage was done by a storm of thunder and lightning. 20. General Arnold quitted the American fervice, and joined the British forces under Sir H. Clinton; and Major André was captured, and executed as a tpy. 30. The combined fleets of France and Spain failed from Cadiz. 31. Prince Alfred baptized, at which ceremony all his brothers and fifters were prefent. The Duke of Cumberland attended, for the first time, to the Houfe of Lords as the King's brother. New New Parliament mer. Several private letters belonging to the, The feven new-created peers took their American generals intercepted. feats in the House of Lords. The convocation held at St. Paul's. Westminster-hall opened for the first time fince the late repairs it had undergone. Nov. 1. General Arnold published a manifefto, declaring his reafons for joining the king's ftandard at New-York. 4. Lord Grantham was appointed Firt Lord of Trade, in the place of Lord Carlife.. His Majefty granted a free parden to Capt James Major, for fending a threatening letter to Sir William Mufgrave, Bart. Duke of Grafton and Earl Pomfret ordered to attend the Houfe of Lorus, in confequence of a challenge fent by the latter to the former. 6. Earl Pomfret committed to the Tower. Meffieurs Kenyon, Arden, Lee, Cooper, and Howarth, called to the bar as king's counfel, by Lord Mansfield. 7. Lord George Gordon petitioned the Houfe of Commons to be released from the Tower, without effect. 4. The American merchants in Londos addreffed Lord Carlile and Mr. Eden, for the attention paid to their interefts. The king fettled 300l. per annum for the lives of Major André's mother and three Afters 7. The freedom of Kilkenny prefented to Lord North in a gold box. Died at Leyder, the celebrated Profeffor Gaubius. 13. A new commiffion of the peace for Westminster paffed the great feal. 14 Sir J. Yorke presented another themorial to the States of Holland, on their conduct with regard to papers found with Mr Laurens. 15. Lord Macartney elected to the govern ment of Madras, in the room of Sir Thomas Rumbold, Bart. 16. Lord Carlile fet off for Ireland, to take upon him the office of viceroy of that kingdom. 17. Admiral Darby arrived at Torbay with the grand fleet. 21. A proclamation iffued for proceeding to hoftilities against the Dutch. 22. Sixteen new creations for peers of 8. Sir Watkin Lewes, Knt. fworn-in Ireland paffed the great feal. lord-mayor of London. 9. New regulations at Guildhall, with regard to company being admitted to the lord-mayor's dinner. 10 Sir J. Yorke prefented a memorial to the States-general of Holland, relative to the papers taken with Mr. Laurens. 11. Bill of indictment found by the grand jury of Westminster against Lord George Gordon, for high treafon. 12. Great part of the Jamaica fleet arrived. 13. A chapter held of the Bath, when Admiral Sir George Bridges Rodney, General Pierfon, and T. Wroughton, Efq. were elected and invefted with the infignia of that order. 14. Supplies for the enfuing year granted by parliament. 17. Eat Pomfret released from his confinement in the Tower. 19. Advices received of the combined Beets being driven back to Cadiz, foon after they had failed. 20. Mr. Trumbull, an American refugee, taken into cuftody for carrying on a treasonable correfpondence with Dr. Franklin. The States of Holland acceded to the armed neutrality propofed by the Emprefs of Ruffia. 29. Died, the Emprefs Queen of Hungary, aged 63. Dec. 1. Col. Campbell appointed Governor of Jamaica. 2. A difcovery of feveral forged notes on the Bank. Advice received of the officers of the army, captured at Saratoga, being exchanged. 23. A petition from the inhabitants of Bengal prefented to parliament, craving redress from fome appreffive laws. Part of the Prince of Wales's houfhold eftablished. 26. Two Dutch fhips of roco tons burthen each, with valuable cargoes of naval fores, taken by the Kite cutter, Capt. Trollop. 30 The Bishop of Ofnaburgh set off for the continent. I MR. URBAN, Retberam, Dec. 26, 1780. Have peruted with much pleafure the imitations of Shakspeare, p. 518. They muft certainly be very acceptable to your learned readers; and may, perhaps, revive the old controverfy, whether Shakspeare was converfant in Greek and Latin or no? "When St. Paul fays, that a bishop or at deacon is to be the husband of one wife, it certainly," according to Mr. Madan, "carries in it a tacit allowance of polygamy, as to the lawfulnefs of it, with regard to all other men; not that it was finful in one more than in another, but this was a prudential caution in that diftreffed and infant fate of the church." What can a fincerely religious man think of Mr. M. who thus wrefts the plain meaning of fcripture? but we hope what is advanced fo boldly, will not be as implicitly believed.. P. E. F. S. ERRATA in Vol. L. P. 488. col. 2. 1. 24. r. "rhythmo." 1. 27. r. Philippica P. 535. 1. 8. r. Gave Love an empire, and to Peace a zest,” |