concerned in robbing the royal treasury have received their fentence. The three commiffioners of the treasury, and one of the nephews of the treasurer-general, were found guilty of the crime, and condemned to be hanged. The fentence of the treasurer's fon is, to make reftitution of nine times the amount of the theft, and to be banished for five years, for knowing there was a deficiency in the treafury, and not giving notice of the fame to government. The English merchant, Perochon, was acquitted from having any part in the crime, and has been cleared of all fufpicion; but he is at the fame time condemned, according to the law which prohibits the contraband diamond-trade, to pay nine times the value of the diamonds which he fold, and to be banished for life from the Portuguese dominions. The Portuguese who were concerned in the fame tranfaction, are banished for life to the coaft of Angola, in Africa. After fentence was pronounced, the grand-treasurer was allowed to depart, the Queen re. ferving to herself the power of punishing him as the pleases hereafter. Lisbon, Jan. 3. 1787. The number of fhips which entered this port in the course of last year was 1509, of which there were 269 Portuguese, 12 American, 328 English, I from Bremen, 73 Danish, 2 Dantzickers, 38 Spanish, 94 French, 107 Dutch, 8 Imperial, 1 from Morocco, 10 Ragufan, Ruffian, 73 Swedish, and 32 Venetian. WEST INDIES. Kingston, Jamaica, Dec. 23. 1786. The fhip Good Hope, Capt. Smith, from Bristol, which arrived the 8th inft. at Martha Brae, paffed Barbadoes the 30th November. The Pegasus frigate, commanded by his Royal Highness Prince William Henry, with the Amphion, Solebay, and Swift men of war, were at anchor in Carlisle-bay. His Royal Highnefs arrived at Barbadoes on Saturday, the 25th ult. from Halifax, and immediately on his anchoring went to Pilgrim, where an elegant entertainment was given by Governor Parry, and a ball in the evening. On Sunday morning the principal gentlemen of the ifland waited on the Prince on board his own fhip, and gave him an invitation for the next day, when he was elegantly entertained, and a ball given in the evening. On Tuesday the Prince gave a ball to the ladies. Wednesday his Royal Highness and the captains and gentlemen of the men of war dined and spent the day with Governor Parry, at Pilgrim. Thursday morning they took their leave, and at 12 O' clock, the whole fquadron failed for Antigua. AMERICA. The state of Virginia, at their last meeting, have laid the following additional duties on imports, viz. Tonnage of veffels; on American, 2 s. per ton; allies, 3 s.-British, and all others, 63.-Distilled spirits (French brandy excepted) 1s. per gallon; brandy 6d. Madeira wine, I s. 6d. all others, I s. French 6 d.-Refined fugar, id. per lb. brown ditto, 48. 2 d. per cwt.-Raw hemp, IOS. per cwt. Cordage, 1 d. per lb. Cyder, in bottles, malt, beer, and porter, 1d. per gallon.-Carriages, 10l. four wheel ditto, 201.-Coals, 6d per bushel. -Cheefe, 3 d. per lb. tallow, 6d. per lb. foap, id, per lb.-Gun-powder, 6 d. faltpetre, Id.-Hats, above 8s. 18.-Silks and fattins, 3 s. per yard, French excepted.-Cloths, above ros. linen 2s. boots and fhoes, 10 s. per cent. ad valorem.Gold watches, 24s. clocks, 31.-Furniture, 20 per cent.-All other goods in American bottoms 2 per cent; in foreign bottoms, 4 per cent. The foregoing thews plainly the partiality allowed the French, in confequence of their late indulgence to American commerce, [p. 92.]; and it is said further favours will be granted at their next affembly. The Indian war, which threatened the province of Georgia, is happily blown over, as a treaty was concluded with the Creeks the 3d of November. The principal articles of the treaty are: That fix Indians, who murdered fome Whites last spring, shall be put to death; that all prifoners, both men and women, negroes, cattle, &c. taken by the Indians, fhall be restored; no white perfon to fet tle on the Indian hunting-grounds; the punishment of innocent perfons by way of retaliation is forbidden on both fides, and criminals on either part offending against the other to be punished by the party to which they belong; the prefent temporary line to be fixed agreeable to the treaty at Augufta in November 1783, and at Calphinton the 12th of November 1785; and after lines fhall be duly marked, neither White nor Indian to pass them without leave. Five hostages are given by the Indians, to fecure the per formance formance of the preceding and a few other articles. In confequence of this treaty, all pofts, guards, and spies, are discharged by order of the Supreme Council of Georgia, and the apprehenfions of the inhabitants are removed, their quiet being farther fucured by an article in the treaty, which ftipulates for the Creeks giving notice of any hoftile intentions that may be formed by any other tribe. London, Feb. 24. By the Lucretia, Capt. Callahan, from Bofton, arrived at Cowes, we have the following intelligence as low down as the 16th of Ja nuary. "The long adjournment of the general court at the close of the laft fummer's feffion, proved the pretended caufe of much noife and clamour against government, from those who are much in debt, have little money, and lefs inclination to pay-the artful, defigning, idle, and unthinking rabble are included. The writings of Honeflus, meant to effect the ruin of the lawyers, introduced, as auxiliaries, matters very prejudicial to government, and contrary to truth. Romantic ftories were propagated among the lower fort of people in the country against the governor, monied perfons, and general courts; fo that it became neceffary for the general court (which met much fooner than the time adjourned to) to addrefs the people at large, and give them an account of their proceedings, the amount of monies brought into the treafury fince 1780, and the expenditure of the fame. A plan was laid, by a number much in debt, to prevent the fitting of the court of common pleas in the counties of Bristol, Worcester, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Middlesex. Two or three hundred, unarmed or poorly armed, appeared, and without any oppofition, effected the bufinefs in feveral places. Before the general court met, there were conventions in the above-mentioned counties, confifting wholly of fuch as were greatly in debt, were disappointed, and idlers. These people knowing there was no law-martial, no riot act, no fufpention of the habeas-corpus act, took courage. The good fort of people let them go on, fuppofing they would foon wear themselves out, and that no great danger was to be apprehended: owing to this they increafed and became formida. ble. But when the court of common pleas met the fecond time in the county of Bristol, Gen. Cobb turned out a few militia, who fupported the court through the whole of their business, and the infurgents were afraid to approach them. Previous to the juftices fitting at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex, there were great threatenings, and a deranged captain of the late continental army, who commanded the Hampshire and Berkshire infurgents, wrote to the leaders of the infurgents in Worcester and Middlefex to join him, in order to prevent the court's fitting at Cambridge. Upon that a noble spirit on the fide of govern ment difcovered itfelf; 2500 men at leaft of the Middlesex militia turned out under General Brooks. The artillery companies from Dorchester and Roxbury; four companies from Boston, raised, equipped, and complete in uniform; the ancient and honourable artillery company, augmented to 80, and confifting of fome of the beft characters; the cadets 80 more; the light infantry and the republican volunteers, all stood ready to afford affiftance. It was the wifh of the friends of government, that the infurgents would turn out in force at Cambridge, which would have foon fettled the bufinefs. They had their fpies at Cambridge and Boston, and several of their companies on the march, but the government force difcouraged them. To this force muft be added 80 gentlemen from Bofton, who equipped themfelves and turned out as light horfe under Colonel Hitchborn, affifted by Meffrs Jackson and Higginson, late members of congrefs; the whole party confifted of the firft characters among the merchants, physicians, and lawyers. They were out in a violent fnow-storm three days, and brought off three of the principal leaders of the Middlefex infurgents, who were fent to gaol, and were to be tried this month. The horfemen have been a great terror to the infurgents, with the aid of the riot-act, the fufpenfion of the habeas corpus, and an act for the exercise of the law-martial; all of which paffed the laft feffion, when the Governor had the unanimous thanks of both houfes for his good conduct during the recess. The infurgents however appeared quite unexpectedly about the end of December, and again prevented the court of common pleas fitting at Springfield. When the laft accounts came away, they had given out in the frongest manner, their full determination to ftop the court which was was to fit at Worcester the fourth week in January. In confequence of their threats, the governor, with advice of council, was calling out a force to march to Worcefter. One bundred volunteers were to go from Bofton, together with detachments, from feveral regiments; as alfo feveral companies of artillery, to the amount in the whole of feveral thou fands, under Gen. Lincoln, who defended Charlestown against Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis. If the infurgents appeared to be too numerous, the government troops were to be reinforced; and if they fucceeded, were to go on to Hampshire, and endeavour to reduce the infurgents in that county. There being no money in the treasury, a number of gentlemen, principally of Bofton, generoufly fubfcribed to advance a fum fufficient to fupply the troops while on the expedition. The friends of government entertain the moft pleafing hope of seeing a speedy end to the commotions which have difturbed the quiet of the Maffachusetts commonwealth for fome months paft, and that great good and firmness to the conftitution will be the confequence, ENGLAND. Manchester, Jan. 29. A very interefting affair came on before the commiffioners of the taxes here laft Thursday. The collector of the taxes had made a furcharge on the master tailors for retail fhops; being aggrieved they made their appeal, and employed counfel to plead in their behalf against so grievous an impofition. The cafe of Mr Lord, one of the masters, was opened first. He denied keeping a retail-fhop; but was afked in what manner his customers came to bim. He made reply, they knocked at his door, which was opened to them, and they were defired to go into the parlour; he was then called down ftairs to them, and thewed them the patterns of cloth and buttons from the shops, and after they had fixed on their choice, he defired to know if he muft get the things put down to them; but as people do not like bills in many places about fuch trifling articles, he was told they would pay for what they got, and if he put it down in his bill of the making, they would pay him when the clothes were finished. The counfel contended, that this cafe did not come under the duty of retail-fhops, and obferved, that if fhopkeepers kept their doors fo closely fhut that the cuftomer had the trouble to knock and wait before he had admiffion, he did not think they would have much cuftom. He defired to know of the collector, what part of the houfe the retail-fhop was kept in (Here the collector, I fuppofe, was embarraf fed). He replied, that he did not fay he kept one in any part of the house; a weak but juft reply Mr Prefton, another of the trade, was next called upon, whose cafe was fimilar to Mr Lord's, but as he is in a larger way, was neceffarily obliged to buy larger quantities in for his cuftomers than the other, having at times 40 or 50 hands employed. The collector faid he had pieces piled up like a warehouse, and well he might, when he perhaps had 150 or 200 fuits of clothes to make at one time. Mr Prefton declared, that he fuppofed he had a thousand pounds to pay to retail-fhops within the year, which demonftrated clearly the extenfion of his bufinefs. The counfel argued, that he himself had as great a right to pay the retail-tax as tailors, for charging his paper to his cuftomers; a cafe or two was mentioned, where the judges had given it against the tailors i but he faid they were not infallible, they were not the makers but the expounders of the law, and he could not fee how the commiffioners, confiftent with their oath and a clear confcience, could give it againft them; at the conclufion it was agreed, that the cafes fhould be referred to the judges had it been given against them here, mantua-makers, chambermilliners, reed-makers, private fhoemakers, and warehoufes that obliged a friend or two for a time with cutting a few yards of their goods, would have been laid open to the tax. If the laws are fo wrefted out of their true intent and meaning, there is no knowing where will be the end of this intolerable grie vance. Feb. 6. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was initiated into the mysteries of Free Masonry, at the Star and Garter, Pall-Mall. His Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland as Grand Mafter, the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Manchefter, and feveral other noblemen of that refpectable order, attended at the ceremony. The celebrated Mr Howard, who lately returned to England, has published the following letter, addreffed, To the Subfcribers for erecting a flatue, &c. to Mr Howard. My "My Lords and Gentlemen, You are intitled to all the gratitude I can exprefs, for the teftimony of approbation you have intended me, and I am truly fenfible of the honour done me; but at the fame time you must permit me to inform you, that I cannot, without violating all my feelings, confent to it, and that the execution of your defign would be a cruel punishment to me. It is therefore my earnest request, that thofe friends who with my happiness and future comfort in life, would withdraw their names from the fubfcription, and that the execution of your defign may be laid afide for ever. I fhall always think the reforms now going on in feveral of the gaols of this kingdom, and which I hope will become general, the greatest honour and the moft ample reward I can poffibly receive. I muft further inform you, that I cannot permit the fund, which in my abfence, and without my confent, hath been called the Howardian Fund, to go in future by that name; and that I will have no concern in the difpofal of the money fubfcribed; my fituation, and various pursuits, rendering it impoffible for me to pay any attention to fuch a general plan, which can only be carried into due effect in particular diftricts, by a conftant attention and a conftant refidence. I am, my Lords and Gentlemen, Your obliged and faithful humble servant, London, 16th Feb. JOHN HOWARD." Account of the Commiffioners for the reduc tion of the National Debt, for the two first Quarters, viz. from Aug. 2. 1786, 20 Jan. 1. 1787. Commiffioners Creditors. 151,000 3 per Cent. Confol. 196,800 Red. 166,950 Old S. S. Ann. 107,000 New Ditto. 35,000 3 per Cent. 1751. 666,750 00 £. s. d. 119,566 17 6 147,738 126,205 17 6 81.301 S 0 25,743 O O 500,555 00 the Mint, viz. L. 75,000 in fhillings, is from a beautiful die, by Pingo. The head is a ftriking profile of his prefent Majefty: the reverse is unlike that of all former coins in this country; having a crown between each angle of the armorial shield, and the star and garter in the centre. SCOTLAND. The following circular letter and que ries were lately agreed to by a committee of the British Society, and requested to be fent by their prefident to the different landholders. SIR, [Copy of the Letter.] "I beg leave, as deputy-governor of the British Society for extending the fifheries and improving the fea-coafts of this kingdom, an institution establifhed by an act of the laft feffion of parliament, to recommend the fubjoined queries to your attentive confideration. "It is probably unneceffary to inform you, that this inftitution is defigned for the improvement of the North British Highlands and Islands, a part of the united kingdom, whofe ftate has been hitherto too little regarded, but which has now drawn the favourable attention of the public, and will employ the particular exertions of this Society. "The zealous difpofition of the Society prompts them to proceed to active operations for the attainment of the defirable purposes of their institution; but importance of a juft original plan. An they are perfectly confcious of the great idea having been fuggefted, that the providing of houfes and wharfs, if aided by no other encouragement, will not be fufficient for the attainment of the objects propofed by the act of incorporation, the directors are anxious to collect from the beft judges the most authentic information on the fubject; being defirous of purfuing whatever plan fhall, after the fulleft inquiry and deliberation, appear to them to be the moft effectual for the extenfion of the fisheries and improvement of the fea-coafts. The directors requeft that you would be pleased to mention the terms on which you may be inclined to transfer in perpetuity any parcel of land upon your eftate, bordering upon any bay, harbour, or navigable loch, which may be thought a proper fituation for one of the Society's villages. "The favour of an early answer is particularly desired, in order that the pro grefs [Copy of the Queries.] To the Proprietors of Land in the Highlands and Islands of North Britain, and to all Perfons concerned in the Fisheries. "The directors of the fociety for extending the fisheries and improving the fea-coafts of this kingdom, defirous of obtaining an extensive and accurate knowledge of the most advantageous means of effecting the purposes of their inftitution, intreat the favour of your opinion and advice, in answer to the following queries: 1. Is there reafon to believe that the extenfion of the fisheries, and the improvement of the coafts of the Highlands and islands, will require from this fociety any other aid than that of erecting, in the most advantageous fituations, the wharts and buildings which are requifite for the fisheries, and that of erecting fmall houfes, to be fold, or feued, or let at a moderate rent, to fuch of the Highlanders as may chufe to occupy them? II. On what particular parts of the coafts may new fettlements be tormed with the greatest prospect of fuccefs? and what are the specific local advantages of any place or places which you may think worthy of recommendation? III. What quantity of lands will be moft advantageous for the purposes of the fettlement in each place recommended? IV. On what terms, and to what ex tent, may lands, fuited to the purposes of the inftitution, be obtained in such place or places? V. What fort of affiftance do perfons already engaged, or intending to engage, in any branch of the fisheries, with to receive from this fociety, in aid of their un dertaking? You will, it is hoped, communicate to the directors any information, though not pecifically requested by the foregoing queries, which you may think of import ance to the extenfion of the fitheries and the improvement of the fea-coafts of the kingdom." On Friday, Feb. 2. the court of exchequer gave judgement in the caufe, the Burgeffes of Dumbarton against the Ma. giftrates. The action was brought by the burgeffes, on the ftatutes 1535. c. 26. & 1693. c. 28. in confequence of which an VOL. XLIX. annual precept was iffued from exchequer, down to the prefent day, requiring the magiftrates of royal burghs to produce their accounts in that court. The argument in defence of the magiftrates was, 1ft, That the laws founded on by the profecutors were in defuetude. 2dly, That by the act conftituting the prefent court of exchequer after the Union, no jurifdiction was given them in relation to the accounts of burghs. Mr Baron Steuart-Moncrieff compared and examined, in a very accurate manner, the various acts of parliament which had been paffed, prior as well as pofterior to thofe founded on by the profecutors, refpecting the power of the court of exchequer to examine and audite the accounts of the royal burghs; and was decidedly of opinion, that the act 1535, which was acknowledged on all hands to veft that jurifdiction in the court, but which had been contended was gone into defuetude, was ftill in full force; and therefore, that the court ought to find themselves competent judges of the matter now at issue. Mr Baron Gordon was of a contrary opinion. He regretted very much, that the action did not lie before that court becaufe, from all accounts, the common good of the royal burghs of Scotland in general had been fhamefully mismanaged. That confideration, however, ftrong as it weighed in his mind, would not allow him to affume a power with which the conftitution had not invefted him. He was clearly of opinion, that the act 1535. had not only gone into defuetude, but that the various acts of parliament passed fince that time had confidered it in that light; and of confequence, had proceeded to enact matters in exprefs contradiction to what was to be found in the act 1535. He was therefore against sustain ing the court as competent judges in the prefent cafe. Baron Sir John Dalrymple took a very wide and extenfive view of the fubject, depicting, in the most lively colours, the miferable fituation into which the royal burghs of Scotland may be reduced, if a controuling power over the management of their magiftrates, who were felf-created, and had the difpofal of the common good of the burgh, did not exift fomewhere, independent of the convention of royal burghs, with whom, it had been contended, the only controul lay. For they Sir John obferved, were furely the mott incompetent judges that poffibly could be |