government, or of maintaining his family. When Lord Clive, by his treaty with Sujah Dowla, restored that great country to its rightful owner, ftipulating only in behalf of the Company forty-fix lacks of rupees for its military defence, he meant to proclaim aloud throughout Indoftan the juftice and moderation of English policy, and to convince the country powers, that the Company rather chofe to be friends and protectors, than tyrants and ufurpers over those they con quered. Little did that fuperior genius forefee, that by his boasted treaty the treasures of a powerful prince were indirectly to be transferred into a finking fund, and his whole dominions converted into an asylum for the fole ufe and benefit of prodigals and incorrigibles.

It would be a trefpafs on your pa tience, my Lord, to expatiate farther on the impolicy by which a country, fuperior in wealth and means to the whole kingdom of England, has been to speedily precipitated, without convulfion or internal war, into a state of actual infol. vency; neither can I, without impertinence to your Lordship's ready apprehenfion, enlarge upon the ftrong fuggeftions that imprefs my mind with the impending catastrophe about to close this fcene of unexampled depravity.

But the industry of the fupreme board is by no means confined to Bengal and its adjacent provinces; they have an extended latitude of power: every other board and prefidency is fubject to their fway, and their controlling influence pervades the whole politics of India. With out difcuffing the merits of this unbound ed interference, experience has evinced, that in its present modification, it has difconcerted every measure of the other governments, and funk them in the estimation of all neighbouring states; while the fupreme board flationary in Calcutta has laboured under fuch impediments of diftance, local ignorance, and endless a vocation, that in every inftance where they have defcended to fuch interference, they have expofed themselves to public ridicule; and after marring the business beyond all chance of remedy, have been forced at laft to throw it from themselves upon the prefidency, to which, from ha bit, vicinity, and connection, it did of right belong.

At one time, they propose to furren To pay a brigade which the Company Stations in the province,

der the whole of the northern Circars to the Nizam for a trifle; at another, they dispatch a negotiator, to offer the rich province of Tinnivelly to the Dutch for less than a trifle, for the use of 1000 Dutch mercenaries! Fortunately, notice of a Dutch war was received before this extraordinary treaty could be executed, and the negotiator, Mr Dighton, got no farther than Madras. But obferve, my. Lord, fuppofing the province of Tinnivelly to yield an annual revenue of 250,000l. at twenty years purchase, the property of it is worth 5,000,000l. At this rate did the fupreme board of India propose to purchase the ufe of 1000 Dutch mercenaries! You will hardly require any farther illuftration, that though this ftationary board, circumfcribed in the means of intercourfe and information, and overwhelmed in the interior bufinefs of Bengal, cannot eafily accomplish any public benefit, by the lati tude of its controul, yet affuredly it is able to defeat al! useful views of every other board, to thwart or over-rule all plans of public service, and, in a paroxism of political phrenfy, to make away with halt the peninfula.

If it be judged expedient to have a fupreme board of India, in whom all the controuling powers of government shall ultimately concentrate, in the name of common fense let it be a board of circuit; let it be a board of inspection as well as of controul, composed of members from each presidency, detached from the embarraffments and corruption of provincial regulation: let it be a board that can obferve with impartiality, judge with accuracy, and act with vigour; that can move to any spot in India, where public emergencies are most urgent, and call more immediately for its prefence. Thus, and thus only, can it become a board of extended efficiency, either to enforce obedience, restrain fubordinate misconduct, or unite in one connected fyftem, the vaft and complicated mass of Indian affairs."

Mr Fullarton concludes his first letter with the following ingenious obfervations:

"There was a period, fays he, when peace and forbearance formed the principle, though they never were the prac tice, of our Indian policy. In those days, investment only was our object, and the increase of territorial acquifition was reprobated by every faithful and enlighten

ed

ed fervant of the public. Prove your felves juft, prove yourselves moderate, evince to all India that you are deter mined to refrain from conqueft, was the found and earnest doctrine of Lord Clive to the Directors Had these tenets been adhered to from the first, our establish ments in India would have continued peaceful factories; we should have remained expert, fuccefsful traders, and never have expofed ourselves as unprincipled ufurpers. But before Lord Clive urged those reftrictive fentiments, they were no longer appofite: the pacific mafk was thrown alide, and we ftood confef. fed an infidious, warlike, and ambitious race. From that moment the name of Englishman impreffed the mind of every Indian power with jealoufy and appre henfion. Our fubfequent mifconduct and disasters would already have disarm ed their refentments, if they could be pa cified with less than our destruction. Till of late they hated, but they dreaded and respected us. To judge by our conduct, the oderint dum metuant was our favourite motto; but now they have mingled hatred with contempt. We gained an empire by violence and injuftice, it is true; but we maintained it by courage and exploit. We eftablished over the Afiatics an afcendency founded on fuperior ener. gy and skill in every mental and bodily exertion.

Whether it be for the intereft of England, every circumftance confidered, to retain her Indian poff ffions, is a queftion too intricate and important for me to determine; but it appears an irrefragable truth, that if we are to exift at all in India, it must be in the character of a great, warlike, and territorial power-a power at all times able to exalt our allies, and to deprefs our enemies. We may far. ther venture to affert, that if any other fyftem be adopted, it will in fact prove an abfolute furrender of that country.

The means by which it is yet conceived practicable to reform our civil and mili. tary establishments having been expreffed at large in my annexed correfpondence with the board, it is unneceffary to enumerate them at prefent: one thing how ever is indifputable, that if government hope to preferve a shred of their Indian empire, not a moment must be loft in correcting the alarming outrages under which it labours;-in removing those caufes of diffention that threaten its extence; in reforming those abuses, civil

and military, by which its strength has been wasted, and its power decayed; and in bringing every man, measure, and re fource, of thofe diftracted fettlements, into one deciled point of obedience, 04 peration, and effect.

Could we flatter ourselves, that there is yet vigour, union, and integrity en-ngh in the nation, to atchieve fuch a re-esta blthment, it wou'd not be chimerical to ind lge the moft exalted expectations. The intrinfic value of thofe poffeffions would then be fully known to us. We fhould then recognise the ineftimable be nefits, of which an equitable and united government could render them productive beyond all aggregate refources in the British empire The countries fubject to our influence under any adminiftra. tion that did not openly cherish difcord, and exult in malversation, would yield an annual revenue of 10,000,000 I. Ster. ling, and would increase in value with every subsequent improvement. The manufactures of thofe countries, if at all encouraged, would afford employment for the whole commercial stock of England. The shipping engaged in that trade would fwell into a formidable ar mament for the national defence. The refources or finance of those establish. ments, where 1000 l. can hardly be raised at this moment, might be fixed on so secure a basis, as to support a pile of public credit, more wonderful than that of Lon don or of Amfterdam, and enriched by a circulation more extenfive than the whole exchange of Europe.

To crown the feries; were it poffible for us ever to be confiftent, ever to be upright, ever to be trusted, or ever to be truft-worthy in the Eaft; I may ven

At prefent the India fhips are mere trading veffels, without force, difcipline, or defence; and in time of war are in danger of falling a prey to every well-armed priva teer. But the fighteft observation must suggeft, that they ought to be all conftructed on the principle of two deckers, as the Dutch India fhips are; and, improving on that model, that they thou'd be well armed, com pletely manned, and fubject to naval officers under the articles of war. In that event, whenever they had their war complements and inftructions on board, they would form a fleet fuperior to any probabie attack. If it should ever be judged expedient to build thips of force in India, a whole navy might be conftructed at Bombay, and at other places on the Malabar coaft, where Teck timber abounds.

ture

ture to affert, that the idea fuggefted in my annexed letter to the board, of granting permanent fupport to the Gentoo intereft throughout the Peninsula, in op. pofition to their invaders and oppreffors, would unalterably attach the great mafs of the inhabitants to our caufe, and lea ving their native Rajahs in the full interior direction of their districts, would afford us a voluntary contribution more than sufficient to the whole ordinary and contingent charges of our Indian eftablishments. An efficient re efpoufal of the cause and interefts of the great Mo. gul, and of the Muffulmen who predominate north of the Peninfula, is by no means incompatible with that fyftem, and in the prefent state of the northern countries, would render us the immediate Paramounts of Indoftan."

HISTORICAL AFFAIRS.

UNITED PROVINCES. The Princess of Orange, in a letter to the Duke of Brunfwick, dated Nov. 3. intimates to him a request of the States of Holland, that 3000 or 4000 Pruffian troops may be allowed to remain in Holland for fome time. She leaves it to his Highuefs's confideration, if, after the arrangements taken to difarm the unconftitutional citizens of Amfterdam, he may not regard the fatisfaction required by the King as fulfilled, and withdraw the troops, except the number the States

Diftrias.

North Britain,

Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland,

have requested to be left. She likewise intercedes for the inhabitants of the provinces who are prifoners of war at Wezels and concludes with expreffing her obligations to the Duke for his conduct in executing the object of his commiffion.

The Duke's answer is dated Nov. 5. by which he agrees to leave 4000 men in the province till his Majefty's pleasure fhould be known. ENGLAND.

London, Sept. 1. The town has been amufed for fome days with the eccentric reveries of a maniac, (one Stone), who had taken into his head to be in love with the Princefs Royal, and to write to the Queen to let her know that he was in a ftate of mental distraction, at the fame time requesting her daughter in marriage, affuring her Majesty that they should be a very happy couple. He was taken up, and examined by Sir Samfon Wright, who committed him to Bridewell.

There were 31 fhips fitted out at Hull the last seafon for the whale fishery at Greenland and Davis's Scraits, the burthen of which together amounted to 8160 tons. One of the fhips was loft; the other 30 arrived safe, and brought into port 110 whales, and 7941 feals, which produced 3583 butts of oil and blubber, and 574 tons of bone. [See p. 516.]

Od. 25. The commiffioners of stamps, pursuant to an act of parliament let for three years the poft horfe duty, as follows:

The gentleman who was preferred as the highest bidder for farming the duties on poft horses for North Britain,isGeorge Smith of Broomhill, Efq; near Aberdeen, after above an hour's conteft with ten other gentlemen of North Britain. He was accordingly declared Farmer-General of the whole of Scotland, being the first that ever had that title in this kingdom.

Dec. 8. The Mars E. Indiaman was ftranded on the Goodwin Sands, fix miles from Margate, about eight in the evening. She had made but one voyage : no lives have been loft. Some part of her cargo has been landed, but is thought to be too much damaged to be of any ufe; the lofs to the Company must therefore be confiderable.

Lift of Trials at the Old Bailey in 1787.
Capitally Convicted
convicted. of felony.

Acquitted.

36

47

51

61

Seff. I.

66

Seff. 7. Seff. 8.

9

506

60

36

392

123 The numbers for the year preceding were, capital convicts 133-convicted of felonies 582-acquitted 430.

N. B. Petty larcenies, of which there were not above a dozen, are included under the head of felonies.

During the year 1786, the number executed was only 44.

The number from January 1787 to January 1788 amounts to no less than one hundred! of which four were on account of forgery.

London, Jan. 17. 1788. In Doncafter laft year there were 165 baptifms, 159 burials, and 51 marriages. Decreased in baptifms 9, increased in burials 65. The increase in the number of burials may in a great measure be attributed to the fatality lately attending the smallpox; but by the introduction of inocu lation a stop is nearly put to the ravagés of that terrible diftemper.

At Sheffield last year there were 1323 baptifms, 393 marriages, 997 burials. Decreased in baptifms 52, increased in marriages 3, decreased in burials 100.

At Nottingham last year there were 783 chriftenings, 400 marriages, and 732

burials. Decreased in baptisms 24, in◄ creased in marriages 3, decreased in bu rials 3.

At Derby there were 341 baptifms and 299 burials.

Whitby, Dec. 29. The eastern extremity of this town is fituated on ftrata of alum, rock, and freestone, covered with a loose foil, that hath gradually accumu. lated to the depth of 14 feet, by lapses in wet seasons from an high and steep cliff running parallel to, and at a fmall diftance from the edge of the precipice next the fea. This hath imperceptibly formed an esplanade 300 yards long, and 80 in breadth; on which, in the year 1761, the foundations of a regular street were laid-the buildings having fince rapidly increased to the number of 130, containing above a thousand inhabitants. On the north-eaft point of this plain ftood a three-gun battery, part of which in 1783 fliding into the fea, the cannon were removed; at the fame time a narrow deep chaẩm, of considerable length, was observed to run behind the houses in a line with the base of the bigh cliff. Into this aperture, the rain water entering to co-operate with innumerable quickfprings below, the feeds of deftruction, although flightly observed, were diffu fively fown; and prepared thofe, not fo fanguine in their hopes as the poor people interested, to expect such a terrible catastrophe as happened on the 24th of this month. A midnight, a ftrong new-built quay, fupporting a pile of buildings 80 feet above the margin of the sea, unable to sustain the pressure of the earth above, menaced approaching danger. The people had hardly time to escape with their cloaths before it bowed, and fell with a thundering crafh, followed by large maf fes of earth intermixed with ftones of three to fix tons in weight. Five houses more foon fhared the fame fate, torn from others which were left impending in different inclinations over the tremendous precipice.

Next morning prefented a more affecting scene-Buildings parting from their adjoining ones, forming rents from their roofs to the foundations several feet wide -others partly gone, leaving their unfupported walls and hanging rafters to follow; and to add to this diftrefs, weighty portions of earth and stones be gan to defcend from the high cliff upon the houses fituated at its foot. It was

now dangerous to advance near; the back buildings were foon buried, and the fronts impelled towards the street, Overhanging their bases, and feeming to threaten the acceleration of those on the oppofite fide over the wafting rock.

Upon the high cliff, about 30 yards from its extremity, ftands the mafly old church, founded 1100 years fince by one of the Northumbrian Kings: this venerable pile appeared in imminent danger, as the ground was observed to fink at ten yards diftance from its tower. Should this part of the church-yard give way, a body of earth, whofe furface contains above two acres, must inevitably overwhelm the remaining buildings in Henrietta ftreet. But this view, although awful, was little, compared with the affecting exclamations of above 200 poor people, who escaped half naked, with a fcanty portion of their goods, from the general wreck. The feeling heart will eafily imagine how diftreffing the appearance of numbers of the fick and dying must be; carried by their friends perhaps, to expire in the firft hofpitable place that would afford them shelter.

One hundred and ninety-fix families were now destitute, in this inclement feafon, of house, fire, or food. The doors of the humane were thrown open, and every comfort administered.

A liberal fubfcription for the relief of the fufferers hath been begun by the principal inhabitants; but this will by no means be adequate to the lofs fuftained by the late proprietors and their tenants. One person whose rentals a mounted to L. 100 annually, cannot now find the place on which his proper ty food."

SCOTLAND.

Dec. 10. Came on, before the High Court of Jufticiary, at Edinburgh, the trial of Peter Wishart, accused of murdering his wife, by fetting fire to her cloaths on Sunday the 26th of Auguft laft. The evidence, being entirely circumftantial, was exceedingly intricate and mysterious. On the part of the profecution, it was proved, that, on the night previous to her death, the deceafed had expreffed the utmost terror at being left alone with her husband; that he feemed ftrongly impreffed with the idea, that fomething fatal would happen to her; that she begged one of the witneffes to procure two chairmen to fit up with her during the night; that about four o'clock

in the morning fhe was heard crying, Murder, Murder, Guard, Guard: That the then left her house and ran to the guard-houfe, from which fhe was carried home by force by a party of the guard: That the defunct took hold of one of the foldiers by the coat, and afterwards took off his hat, infifting that he would stay all night, for fhe was afraid, when he was gone," that Peter would do with her as he pleased:" That immediately before Wishart and his wife were left alone, the pannel appeared much agitated; he had lighted a candle, although it was "good day light," and had put off his fhoes, which he threw with violence to the other fide of the room, and put on a pair of new fhoes: that about half an hour after they were thus left, at the time when her death must have happened, the neighbours, both below and above, diftinctly heard a noise, and the defunct calling out, "Murder, Murder, Hell, Hell." Silence then prevailed; only fomething heavy was heard trailing along the floor: That upon one of the neighbours going in to the house, and inquiring what was become of Mrs Wifhart, her husband at first said, fhe had gone out; but afterwards, when the burnt body of the defunct was obferved lying on the floor, and covered with a blanket, he denied that it was the body of his wife: That upon his then being afked, "Poor man, what is the meaning of all this?" he answered, “ I am a poor man, indeed." Upon this he left the houfe without any other perfon having feen him there; but at feven o'clock, he came up to a guard-foldier at the head of the Old Affembly Clofe, and asked him if he had seen his wife, for that she had gone out of the house, and was mad? He then disappeared, and in a few days was apprehended near Haddington.

The evidence brought in exculpation, on the part of the prifoner, went to prove that his general character was that of an inoffenfive fimple man; that his behaviour as a husband was rather affectionate than otherwise; and that there was no quarrel, or caufe of quarrel between him and his wife, nor any circumftance in his previous conduct, that gave the leaft indication of fo horrid a purpose as murder: That the woman was of a vio lent temper, and on that night was in the delirium of a fever: That on the forenoon the had caufed a letter to be written to her fifter in Perth, begging 4 T 2

the