acquired deserts, without a valt number of new hands. However, they were deceived, and being embarked by the contractor's contrivance, and brought to the port of London, they who were in a condition to pay their passage were permitted to land; fuch as had no money were kept on board, and both were feduced to a starving condition; the contractor being left behind, and caft into a Dutch prifon, for debts he im prudently contracted to carry this chimerical scheme into execution, with out the least countenance even of a promife from the British court, to realize his agreement with the German emigrants: of which incident we have the following intelligence from the Hague Gazettee, on the 31st of Auguft jast.

"One de S. -, who ftiles himfelf a colonel in the fervice of the king of Great Britain, having engaged a number of perfons to go into England, upon affurances which he gave them, that he was authorised by his Britannic majesty to promise them fettlements in America; and that they fhould be carried there at the king's expence; in order to prevent his continuing to impose upon the credulity of the public in this refpect, it is thought proper to advertise, that the faid St was never authorized, as he pretends, to engage people for those fettlements, nor to make any promiles on the part of the British ministry.”

And by other advices, the faid perfon is now confined at Rotterdam, till he fhall make fatisfaction, not only for the actual debts he has accumulated on this occafion, but to the many young people of fome credit and good families, whom he had also engaged to embark with him, as officers and fubalterns of his Utopian fettlement, giving to one the title of captain in chief of twenty families; to others the title of lieutenants, fecretary, &c. for fome lucrative confiderations.

The poor half starved Palatines, who were put afhore without a patron to pro. vide for them, were not able to get entertainment or fhelter from the intem

perature of the rainy season, which, just at that time, (about the middle of Auguft) was very heavy. The men with their wives, children, and infants, even their very women in labour, were driven to the neceffity of lying in the open fields, without provifions, without cover, and without any friend or affiftance, but what could be collected dur ing this exigency for them in German churches and chapels about this metropolis. All which is more fully and publickly defcribed by the minifter, whose piety led him to minister to them in their great distress, and to make their cafe known to the great and the good, who have it in their power, and were ready to relieve their almost despairing German brethren.

This minifter wrote a letter to the printer of the Daily Advertiser, who publifhed it on the 30th of August, in these words:

"I hope you will permit me, by means of your paper, to inform those who have the power to redrefs it, of the very deplorable situation of the poor unhappy Palatines lately arrived here from Germany. They are in number, men, women, and children, about fix hundred, confifting of Wurtzburghers and Palatines, all Proteftants, and were brought hither from their native country by a German officer, with a promife of being immediately sent to fettle, at his own expence, in the island of St. John and le Croix, in America; but, by fome inability, he has been obliged to decline the undertaking; fo that inftead of their being fhipped off for those places, fome of them have lain, during the late heavy rains, and are now lying in the open fields adjacent to this metropolis, without covering, without money, and in fhort, without the common neceffaries of life; others lie languishing under the complicated evils of ficknefs and extreme want, at the Statutehall in Goodman's fields; and more than two hundred remain on board the fhip which brought them over, on ac count of their paffage not being paid for, where they are perithing for food,

and

and rotting in filth and naftiness. Collections have been made at the German churches and chapels here, feveral times, to afford them fome relief; but as the number of thefe poor creatures is fo confiderable, it is impoffible, by fuch means, to furnish them with a regular and continual fupply, adequate to their wants; fo that unlefs fome provifion is very speedily made for them, they must inevitably perish. These unfortunate people would think themfelves inexpreffibly happy, if the English government would be gracioufly pleased to take them under its protection, to allow them, for the prefent, fome ground to lie on, tents to cover them, and any manner of fubfiftence, till it fhall be thought proper to fhip them off, and fettle them in any English colonies in America; where, I doubt not, they will give their protectors and benefactors conftant proofs of their affection and gratitude for such kindness, by behaving as becometh honeft, induftrious, and dutiful fubjects, to the British government. I take the liberty of thus expreffing the hopes and wishes of these wretched beings, as they have no friend to intercede for them who has interest fufficient for fuch an undertaking, or even a knowledge of the proper method of application."

"That their diftreffes are unutterably great, I myself have been too of ten a mournful witness of, in my at tendance on them to administer the duties of my function; with one inftance of which I fhall conclude this melancholy detail. One of the poor women was feized with the pangs of labour in the open fields, and was delivered by the ignorant people about her in the best manner they were able; but from the injury the tender infant received in the operation, it died foon after I baptized it; and the wretched mother, after receiving the facrament at my hands, expired, from the want of proper care and neceffaries fuitable to her afflicting and truly lamentable condition."

"That the Almighty may of his

infinite mercy, incline the hearts of the great and good of this kingdom, diftinguished for its charity and hofpitality, to take under their protection these their unhappy fellow chriftians, (who did not intrude themselves into this country, but were invited hither) and fend them whitherfoever they in their wisdom and goodness shall think proper, is the molt ardent prayer of their and your most obedient fervant,

G. A. WACHSEL,

Minifter of the German Lu- · theran St. George's church, in Little Ayliff-street"

This information reached the ears of the great, the noble, and the royal'; and penetrated their hearts with fuch expedition and abundance of compaffion, that teftifies the truth of that paffage in holy writ, The mercy of God is over all his works. Of which the Reverend Mr. Wachsel published the following account.

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To the PRINTER, Sep. 5. "Your readiness in giving a place

my letter of Thursday last, emboldens me to entreat that you would tuffer me to communicate to the public, a brief account of the amazing fuccefs with which it has pleased the Almighty God to bless my endeavours therein for the fervice of the diftreffed Palatines; and to testify their moft grateful aċknowledgements, as well as my own, to the very benevolent inhabitants of this metropolis, for their exceedingly liberal and feasonable contributions. When I reflect on the fituation of these poor people at the time their cafe was related to the public,and the change that immediately fucceeded, I am really lost in wonder, and overcome with gratitude!"

"Before eleven in the morning, on which my letter appeared, we received from the Tower, by order of a great perfonage, 100 tents, with all neceffaries thereunto belonging; by the fame bountiful hand the freight of those on board the fhips was difcharged, and they were released that day. The fame morning a fervant arrived express from

a Lady

a Lady at Ilington with zol. Mr. Baldero, banker in Lombard-street, fent 201. fhortly after the earl and Countess of Cardigan fent 100 l. 10 guineas came from his grace the archbishop of Canterbury, 10 guineas from David Berkley Efq; and fons ; 10 guineas figned M. W. C. S. From Batfon's coffee-house, 311. 10 s. (nearly 400 1. have fince been received from the fame place ;) 51. 5s. from the Bedford coffee-house ; a bank note, No. K. 280, for 100l. and a great number of fmaller donations. The contributions fince the above have still increased more abundantly; a regular account of all which is kept, and, together with the disbursements, fhall be fpeedily made public. In the mean time, I am affifted by four gentlemen, in purchaf ing fuitable cloathing, provifions, and every thing neceffary for the poor people, in providing apartments for the temporary reception of the fick, and of the women who are ready to lie in; in whose behalf an eminent physician, a furgeon, an apothecary, and a midwife, have generously offered their affistance. So that thus far the work of the Lord has profpered beyond all expectation, and I doubt not but it will be happily completed by timely fhipping them off to fettle in fome of the British colonies, as foon as they are cloathed, the fick recovered, and those from on board the fhips properly cleansed and refreshed."

"As it would be impoffible for human beings of any rank (much less for fuch wretched objects) to make an adequate return for fo noble, fo God like an instance of benevolence as has been exerted on this occafion, let me entreat the chriftian contributors, kindly to accept all the return it is in the power of thefe forlorn ftrangers at present to make, namely, their most ardent pray. ers for the welfare and profperity of this kingdom in general, and that the great and wife Dispenser of every good and perfect gift, may shower down his bleffings on their humane benefactors in particular; which is alfo the most fer

vent prayer of their and your most o bliged fervant,

G. A. WACHSEL."

fed

The fubfcription for this charity is ftill carried on, and the fums collected in churches, and places of public refort, and by private donations, prefently placed them in the comfortable fituation they are at present in, them, cloathed them, paid the expence of their freight from Holland, and has provided for their voyage and settlement in North-America, to which they are foon to be fent by authority, and placed upon a district within the province of South-Carolina, and fupplied with 150 stand of arms, to defend themselves against all that dare to moleft their fettlement, in confequence of a petition presented to his majesty for that purpose.

From the COMPLETE MAGAZINE.

The Travels of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York.

Y first fight of his royal high

MY

nefs was at Lisbon, the capital of the kingdom of Portugal, who arrived in the Tagus, on board the Centurion, with the royal ftandard hoifted at the maintop-maft-head, on the third day of October, 1763, under the title of earl of Ulfter. The city was imme. diately alarmed, and the English factory exulted with joy at this fudden and unexpected vifit from the brother of their fovereign: for, however, his royal highness's intention to visit the court of Portugal, might be known by his Portugueze majesty before, it had not tranfpired amongst the factory.

The first news of the prince's arrival, was published to the whole city at once, by the honours paid to the royal standard of England, and to his royal highnefs, by the falutes of cannon from the forts,as the Centurion failed up the river.

His arrival was immediately noticed

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to the court, under the title of the earl of Uliter; but he was received by his Portugueze majefty with a dignity due to the duke of York, and brother of his royal protector and best ally. His royal highness was conducted in a royal manner, and introduced to the king, queen, and all the royal family, who affembled on that occafion, in the gardens of Quelus, a country-house belonging to Don Pedro ; and the evening was closed with a concert, and comic opera.

The king offered his royal highness a guard, which was very politely declined. The fecretary of state provided his own house for him, and the king's equipages continually waited on him. In a word, his most faithful majesty, and the whole royal family, and the ministers of state, did every thing in their power to make the time of his ftay as agreeable as poffible, by entertainments, and the belt recreations their country could afford.

But tho' the count de Qeyras, don Ivao, the high admiral, the archbishop of Evora, the lord chief justice, the count de Villanova, and other principal men at court, took every opportunity to demonstrate their great regard for this royal branch of the crown of GreatBritain; the ecclefialtics, particularly the monks and friers, looked upon fuch a hopeful fprig of the Proteftant in tereft, careffed at court, with an envious and malicious eye; jealous of their own security, in cafe their fovereign Thould too deeply engage in the politics of a nation, whose interest is to ftrength en the Proteftant caufe, to root out Popery, and to fupprefs the religious orders and houses.

His royal highness vouchfafed alfo to honour the fubjects of his Britannic majesty refiding at Lisbon, with his prefence at a ball and fupper: on which extraordinary occafion, it was hard to judge, from the brilliance and politenefs of the company, whether there was ever a more grand appearance on a birthday at St. James's. All paid their due honours to his royal highnefs, who gra. VOL. III.

ciously returned their compliments with the utmoft politeness and affability. It is difficult to fay, whether he gained moft the admiration of the gentlemen, or the affections of the ladies.

Yet, in the midst of all this hurry of pleasures, his royal highness gave strong proofs, that he came thither for fomething more fulid and improving. He not only was frequently in private with his majesty and the minifters of state, but he found time to visit and examine every place worth the attention of a gentleman upon his travels.—I cannot forget the expreffive countenance with which that prince took a survey of that awful stroke of heaven, which overthrew the chief part of Lisbon, on the first of November 1755. He beheld it with compaffion, for the diftreffes of those that fuffered. He acknowledged the tremendous hand of him that can thus destroy the loftieft towers and strongest buildings upon earth, with one blast of his difpleasure.

The fituation of the city attracted his highness's attention. It is remarkable for 7 high hills, that run eastward along the north fide of the river Tagus, and which, in its profperity, were adorned with a patriarchal church, a cathedral, forty parish churches, forty convents of religious friers, monks, canons, and nuns, an English college, a royal palace, one of the most grand buildings of its kind in Europe, and a great number of elegant store-houses, for the nobility, and the mercantile part of the citizens and strangers; but most of these are now to be traced only in the rubbish made by the earthquake. The wall that furrounds this city, was a mere matter of laughter, Its origi nal strength was no more than a single wall; in many places, where it runs over the fummit of the hills, not above breaft high, yet this infignificant de fence, is adorned with 26 gates on the river fide, and 17 on the land fide, and with feventy,feven towers or watchhouses.

The most remarkable places now ftanding, are the inquilition, which PPP

the

the natives call the Holy Office, on the north fide of the Rofco, a very large fquare used for a fruit-market, and other purposes; in whofe bowels, un der ground, are many of the cells, in which the poor unhappy creatures, that fall under the cenfure of the inquifition, are immured, or in a manner buried alive yet the motto affumed by this office, and carved in stone over the entrance into their court, is juftitia ferecordia, i. e. juftice and mercy; tho' they never let a prifoner know his accufer, and will torture a perfon, till they extort from him fuch a confeffion, as they shall turn to his utter ruin.

From the LADY'S MAGAZINE.

Amongst the religious that escaped the ruin of the city, is the convent of N. L. da Graça, or our Lady of Grace, for Auguftin friers, and fituate upon the fummit of a hill near the north extremity, affords the most entertainment to the curious traveller. It is a most ftately building of marble, and every altar in their church is loaded with plate and images of curious workmanship, and every image with jewels of immenfe value. Over the top of the high altar, ftand two filver angels, each about twelve feet high, which fupport a cheft or coffer, entirely compofed of oriental jewels, for the reception of the hoft, But the veitry by far exceeds the church, both in riches and beauty. This room measures about eighty feet long, and fifty wide. The ceiling is completely filled with paintings of the greatest mafters that could be procured from I taly. The walls are enriched with eve ry ornament that art could invent, in the 'difpofal of the most beautiful marbles and devices. In the midst of a marble floor, laid in the most elegant manner, stands a table of ten corners upon a pillar. The bed of it is one entire piece of grey marble, ten feet in diameter, which is inlaid with upwards of 15,000 pieces of divers coloured marble, fo exactly like painting, as to deceive the eye, and even the touch. And at the eaft-end of this veftry, is an altar of most curious workmanship also, on which ftands a crois of mafly gold, as much as

of Tuscany, the road was very good, and the country pleasant, but the inns exceffively bad: this is a place of great antiquity, built, as fome authors affirm, by Sylla's foldiers, to whom he gave this fertile spot as a reward for their faithful fervices; it was at first called Fluentia, from the flowing of the river Munio, and other small streams, into the Arno, which runs through the city, and afterwards called Florentia : as it foon became a moft flourishing place, the epithet Fair has been fince added, and very deservedly, on account of the great beauty of its palaces, houfes, and other publick buildings; the fituation too is charming, being in a delicious valley, watered by the river Arno, fo famous among the poets; it was once a free state, but became fubject to the great family of Medicis, the restorers of learning in Europe, but lately extinct, and now belongs to the emperor of Germany, who is the prefent grand duke of Tuscany. Having spoke in general of the place, I fhall now more particularly defcribe this great and noble city, and begin with the palaces.

The first palace I vifited was the grand duke's, called Palazzo Pitti, ît formerly belonged to the family of that name, who were only merchants, but im menfely rich; one of them laid the foundation of this fumptuous building, which is fix hundred feet in front, and makes a most noble appearance, being of the ruftic order; to compleat fo grand a defign, required more wealth than it was poffible for a private fubject

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