perform his promife to the king of Soiffons, who, nevertheless, had taken possesfion of the dutchy, without waiting for his confent. The Burgundian required him to withdraw his forces, and declared war against him, because he refused to comply with this demand. In the spring he took the field, but in paffing through Metz, was feized with a dyfentery, and expired in the twenty-fixth year of his age. Such was the fate of two worthlefs princes, whofe reigns had been productive of manifold calamities to their fubjects. Brunehaut was no fooner apprized of her grandson's death, than she caufed Sigebert, the eldest of his four fons, to be proclaimed king of Auftrafia and Burgundy; but the majority of the chiefs detefted her perfon, and were refolved to renounce her influence; fo that when the fent an army against Clothaire, the generals, instead of fighting, disbanded their army, and contracted engagements with the king of Soiffons. Brunehaut finding herself thus betrayed, fled to the other fide of Mount Jura; and one of Thierry's fons also escaped, tho' he never appeared in the fequel. The other three fell into the hands of Clothaire, who butchered the two eldeft, but fpared the life of Merovée, to whom he had stood godfather. His next care was to fet on foot a diligent fearch after Brunehaut, who being found in the town of Orbie, between the lake of Geneva and Mount Jura, was brought to him at a place called Reonava, upon the Novigenne, a small river that runs into the Saone. Here he perfonally upbraided her with her enormous crimes, accufing her, among other particulars, of having procured the death of ten royal perfonages; then he was delivered to the common executioners, with inftructions to torture her to death. [An. 613.] After having fuftained a variety of torments, fhe was placed upon a camel, and conveyed through the camp, amidst the fcoffs and brutal infults of the foldiery: then she was tied to the tail of a wild horse, to be dragged among rocks, where a period was foon put to her miferable existence; finally, her body was burned to ashes by the exafperated people. Thus perished the famous Brunchaut, who has been fo differently recorded by different hiftorians. That the was ambitious, cruel, and perfidious, cannot be denied. Thefe were the royal vices of the times in which he lived. At the fame time it must be owned, that fhe was a generous benefactress to the church; that the founded a great many hofpitals and monafteries; and erected causeways and public works, which denoted a liberal turn of mind, and a tafte for magnificence *. [To be continued.] The tomb of Brunehaut is ftill fhewn in the abbey of St. Martin, which the founded at Autun: when it was opened, in the year 1632, nothing appeared but ashes, burned bones, and the rowel of a fpur, which was fixed to the fide of the horse, used in the execution; a method practised to render those animals more furious. His Majesty's Declaration of his Refolution to demand in Marriage the Princess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz. Farl of Albemarle Earl of Halifax Earl of Buckinghamshire Earl of Harcourt Earl of Hardwicke His Majefty being this day prefent in Council, was pleafed to make the following declaration, viz. Having nothing fo much at heart, as to procure the welfare, and happiness of my people, and to render the fame ftable and permanent to pofterity, I have, ever fince my acceffion to the throne, turned my thoughts towards the choice of a Princefs for my confort; and I now, with great fatisfaction, acquaint you, that, after the fulleft information, and mature deliberation, I am come to a refolution to demand in marriage the Princefs Charlotte, of Mecklenburg Strelitz, a princefs diftinguished by every eminent virtue, and amiable endow ment, whofe illuftrious line has conftantly fhewn the firmeft zeal for the proteftant religion, and a particular attachment to my family. I have judged proper to com Vifcount Royston Lord Berkeley of Stratton Lord Sandys Lord Anfon Lord Lyttelton Lord Melcombe Mr. Vice Chamberlain Charles Townfhend, Efq; Sir Francis Dashwood. municate to you thefe my intentions, in order that you may be fully apprized of a matter fo highly important to me, and to my kingdoms, and which, I perfuade myself, will be most acceptable to all my loving fubjects." Whereupon all the privy counsellors prefent, made it their humble requeft to his Majesty, that this his Majesty's most gracious declaration to them might be made public: which his Majefty was pleased to order accordingly. W. SHARPE. [The princefs Charlotte, of Mecklenburg, the intended confort of our most gracious Sovereign, was born the 16th of May 1744, and is fecond fifler to Adolphus Frederick, the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz.] A Tranflation of the Speech which M. de Boreel, the Dutch Ambassador, made on the 20th ult. to the King, when he had a private Audience to deliver bis Credentials. SIRF, for their High Mightineffes to find in your maintain and strengthen it. Being charged majesty's perfon all those qualities, which, by them to give your majesty assurances of whilft they fo gloriously distinguished your this, and filled with the fame fentiments illuftrious ancestors, made their people myself, I shall do my utmost to answer the happy, and strongly attached the republic to choice they have condefcended to make of them. What great reason have their High me, and to merit the continuance of that Mightineffes to promife themselves the favour with which your majesty honoured most intimate union between two nations, me before you afcended the throne. I flatwho are bound by fo many common inte- ter myfelf that the gratitude with which refts to concur mutually in each other's it.infpired me will appear, from the whole advantage, and to despise the fuggeftions of my conduct, to be equal to my profound of a mistaken jealoufy? As their High respect for your majefty's perfon and your Mightineffes are fully fenfible of the value eminent qualities." of this union, they moft ardently defire to An ACCOUNT of the Surrender of PONDICHERRY. Whiteball, July 20, 1761. T HIS morning arrived the hon. capt. Monckton from India, with the following letter from col. Coote to the right hon. Mr. Secretary Pitt. Head Quarters at Oulgaret, Feb. 3. 1761. SIR, "In my last, per the Shaftesbury Indiaman, I had the honour to transmit to you an account of my proceedings with the army to the 15th of laft October. On the 23d, admiral Steevens failed from Trincamaley to refit the fquadron, leaving five fail of the line, under the command of captain Haldane, to continue the blockade of Pondicherry by fea, which place began to be greatly distressed for want of provifions. On the 9th of November, I ordered a Ricochet battery for four pieces of cannon to be erected to the northward, at about 1400 yards from the town, more with a design to harrass the enemy, than any damage we could think of doing to the works at fo great a distance. On the zoth, we began to land our ftores, and to prepare every thing for the carrying on the fiege with vigour. The rains being over by the 26th, I imagined the diftreffes of the enemy might be much augmented, and garrison duty rendered very fatiguing, if fome batteries were erected on different quarters of the town: I therefore gave directions to the engineers to pitch on proper places, at such distances, and in fuch fituations that the fhot from them might enfilade the works of the garrifon, and our men and guns not exposed to any certain : fire of the enemy. Accordingly, the following batteries were traced out, one (called the prince of Wales's) for four guns, near the beach on the north fide, to enfilade the great street, which runs north and fouth through the White Town one for four guns and two mortars, to the north west quarter, at 1000 yards distance, to enfilade the north face of a large counterguard, before the north west baftion, called the Duke of Cumberland's: a third called prince Edward's, for two guns, to the fouthward, at 1200 yards diftance, to enfilade the streets from fouth to north, fo as to cross the fire from the northern battery; and a fourth to the south west, called prince William's, for two guns and one mortar, at 110co yards distance, in order to destroy the guns in St. Thomas's redoubt, and to ruin the veffels and boats near it. On the 8th, at midnight, they were all opened together, and continued firing till day-light. On the 9th, the enemy kept up a warm fire on our batteries, without doing much damage to them. This day one gunner and a Subedar of Seapoys were killed. On the 25th, admiral Steevens, with four ships of the line, arrived off Pondicherry, having parted company with admiral Cornish and his divifion, on the 16th inft. in blowing weather. On the 29th, a battery, called the Hanover, was begun, for ten guns and three mortars, to the northward, at 450 yards distance from the town, against the north-west counterguard and curtain. On the first of January, we had a very violent ftorm of wind and rain: it began at eight o'clock in the evening, and lafted Jafted till between three and four the next morning. I gave directions for the repairing our batteries, which the storm had almost ruined, and the putting every thing into the best order our prefent fituation would admit. On the 4th we had the agreeable fight of admiral Steevens in the Norfolk, who had had the good fortune to weather out the ftorm, without fuffering the least damage. On the 5th, I attacked a post of very great confequence to the enemy, in which were 4 twenty-eight pounders, called St. Thomas's Redoubt, and carried it without any lofs. At daylight on the 6th, 300 of the enemy's grenadiers retook it, owing to the officer, commanding the redoubt, not being able to keep his feapoys together. This day admiral Cornish in the Lenox, with the York and Weymouth, arrived; and as most of the ships, which had been difabled, were now refitted, the blockade of Pondicherry was as complete as ever. On the 12th, the Hanover battery being repaired, kept up a very brisk fire, and greatly damaged the counterguard of the bastion, and made a breach in the curtain. On the 13th, in the evening, I ordered a working party of 700 Europeans and 400 Lafcars, with the pioneer's company, under the command of a major, to the northward, where the engineers had traced out a battery for 11 guns and 3 mortars. At eight o'clock they began a trench for introducing gabions of four feet high, which were to form the interior facing of the battery. At the fame time a parallel was begun, 90 yards in the rear, of 250 yards long, and an approach of 400 yards in length. Notwithstanding the moon fhone very bright, and the battery within 500 yards of the walls, every thing went on without the leaft difturbance from the enemy. By morning fix embrazures were in a condition to receive guns, and the rest far advanced. This was called the Royal battery. On the 14th, the Hanover battery kept up a conftant fire the whole day, which entirely ruined the weft face and flank of the north west bastion. the 15th the royal battery was opened, which, by eight o'clock in the morning, filenced the fire of the enemy, and gave us an opportunity of beginning a trench, to contain our royal mortars, and three guns, for the more speedy demolition of the demi-bastion and ravelin of Madras-gate. This evening colonel Durre, of the royal On artillery, the chief of the Jefuits, and two Civilians, were fent out by M. Lally, with proposals for the delivering up the garrifon, a copy of which I have the honour to enclofe you, and my answer thereto. Alfo a copy of the feveral articles delivered me by the chief of the Jefuits, on behalf of the French Eaft-India company, to which I made no reply. On the 16th, at eight o'clock in the morning, the grenadiers of my regiment took poffeffion of the Villenour-gate; and, in the evening, thofe of Draper's of the citadel. The commiffaries were immediately ordered to take an account of all the military ftores found in the garrifon, and returns to be given in, of the numbers of officers, non-commiflioned and private, of the different corps, at the time the place furrendered, as well as the number of inhabitants; all of which I have now the honour to tranfmit to you, as well as a plan of the garrison, with the works carried, and intended to be carried on, against it. It is with the greatest pleasure I acquaint you, that during the whole time of the blockade, a perfect harmony fubfifted between the navy and army, and all poffible affistance given me by admiral Steveens. I fhould likewife do great injustice to captain Haldane, if I omitted to mention his attention and affiduity for the public fervice, during his having the command of the hips left on the coaft by Mr. Steveens, and of his doing every thing that could be wished or expected from a good and gallant officer. I have the honour to be, &c. Eyre Coote." Tranflation of Mr. Lally's Proposals for the delivery of the Garrison. THE taking of Chandernagore, con trary to the faith of treaties, and of that neutrality which has always subsisted between all European nations, and namely between the two nations in this part of India; and that immediately after a figna fervice which the French nation had rendered the English, not only in taking no part against them with the Nabob of Bengal, but in receiving them in their settlements, to give them time to recover from their firft loffes, (as appears by the letters of thanks from Mr. Pigot himself, and from the council of Madras to that of Pondicherry) added to the formal refusal of fulfilling the conditions of a cartel, agreed agreed upon between our respective maf pofals. THE particulars of the capture of ters, though it was at first accepted by Colonel Coote's Anfwers to M. Lally's ProMr. Pigot, and the commiffaries were named on both fides to go to Sadraft, to fettle amicably the difficulties which might occur in its execution, put it out of my power, with respect to my court, to make or propofe to Mr. Coote any capitulations for the town of Pondicherry. The king's troops, and thofe of the company, furrender themfelves, for want of provifions, prifoners of war of his Britannic majesty, upon the terms of the cartel, which I reclaim equally for all the inhabitants of Pondicherry, as well as for the exercife of the Roman religion, the religious houfes, hofpitals, furgeons, chaplains, fervants, &c. referring myself to the decifion of our two courts, for reparation proportioned to the violation of fo folemn a treaty. Accordingly Mr. Coote may take poffeffion to-morrow morning at eight o'clock, of the gate of Villenour; and after tomorrow at the fame hour, of that of Fort St. Louis; and as he has the power in his own hands, he will dictate fuch ulterior difpofitions to be made, as he shall judge, proper. I demand, merely from a principle of juftice and humanity, that the mother and fifters of Reza Saib, be permitted to feek an asylum where they pleafe, or that they remain prifoners among the English, and be not delivered up into Mahomet Ally Cawn's hands, which are ftill red with the blood of the husband and father, that he has fpilt, to the fhame indeed of those who gave them up to him; but not lefs to the fhame of the commander of the English army, who should not have allowed fuch a piece of barbarity to be committed in his camp. As I am tied up by the cartel in the declaration which I make to Mr. Coote, I confent that the gentlemen of the council of Pondicherry may make their own reprefentations to him, with regard to what may more immediately concern their own private interefts, as well as the intereft of the inhabitants of the colony. Done at Fort Louis off Pondicherry, the 15th day of January, 1761. Signed, Lally. To colonel Coote, commander in chief of his Britannic majefty's forces before Pondicherry. A true copy. Chandernagore having been long fince tranfmitted to his Britannic majefty, by the officer to whom that place furrendered, colonel Coote cannot take cognizance of what paffed on that occafion; nor can he admit the fame as any way relative to the furrender of Pondicherry. The difputes which have arifen concerning the cartel concluded between their Britannic and most Christian majeflies, being as yet undecided, colonel Coote has it not in his power to admit, That the troops of his moft Chriftian majesty, and thofe of the French Eaft-India company, fhall be deemed prifoners of war to his Britannic majefty, upon the terms of that cartel; but requires that they surrender themselves prisoners of war, to be used as he fhall think confiftent with the interefts of the king his mafter. And colonel Coote will thew all fuch indulgences as are agreeable to humanity. Colonel Coote will fend the grenadiers of his regiment, between the hours of eight and nine o'clock to-morrow morning, to take poffeffion of the Villenourgate; and the next morning, between the fame hours, he will alfo take poffeffion of the gate of Fort St. Louis. The mother and hiters of Reza Saib fhall be escorted to Madrafs, where proper care fhall be taken for their fafety: and they fhall not on any account be delivered into the hands of Nabob Mahomet Ally Cawn. Given at the head-quarters at the camp before Pondicherry, this 15th of January, 1761. Signed, Eyre Coote. To Arthur Lally, Efq; Lieutenant-general and Commander in chief of his most Chriftian majefty's forces in India, at Pondicherry. A true copy. Francis Rowland, Sec. Articles propofed to Colonel Coote by the Chief of the Jefuits; to which no Answer was returned. THE fuperior council of Pondicherry, authorized by the Count de Lally, lieutenant-general of the armies of his moft Christian majefty, and his commifFrancis Rowland, Sec. fary in India, to treat for the faid town and |