fome distance, and there nurfed by a peafant, whom he paid for her care. Here he continued till he was fix years of age, when the fervant gave him to a merchant, then going into Turkey, with lome money, affuring him that he was the natural son of a perfon of quality, but, for certain reafons, there was a neceffity for concealing his birth and family. Some time after, the children of the unnatural uncle died one after another, and the father, in his turn, fell dangerously ill. These uncommon afflictions awakened him to the fenfe of his crime; he imputed all his misfortunes to the wrath of heaven, and lamented his enormous offence to the valet he had employed to murder his nephew. The domestic now, to calm the mind of his mafter, discovered the whole truth, and gave him some reason to hope, that by proper care, and a confiderable expence, This nephew might still be found. Don Alvarez, animated by this difcovery, gave orders for making the neceffary inquiries, and that no expence fhould be spared to make the happy difcovery, this child being now the only remaining branch of the Alvarez family. But their care was for fome time rendered abortive; no tidings could be heard of the unfortunate youth; at last they were informed that the young count had been fold to a Turk, who had afterwards difpofed of him to an English merchant, then refiding at Conftantinople, but foon after left that city and returned to London. On receiving this advice, an exprefs was immediately dispatched for England: but all in vain, the youth could not be found. They were indeed in formed, that the young count having ferved his matter faithfully fome years, he had put him to a French barber to learn that profeffion, as a reward for his diligence; that having made a fufficient, progrefs, the count de Gallas, then envoy to the emperor at London, bad retained him in his fervice, and carried him to Vienna; where they made freth enquiries, and at last found, that this new barber, having been discharged from the service of the count de Gallas, entered into that of count d'Oberstoff, in whofe family he married the waiting-maid of the countefs, and was gone to fettle in Bohemia. Several years were spent in thefe enquiries; during which, the young count's uncle, who was greatly in the intercft of the house of Auftria, lent the emperor four hundred thousand florins, while he reûded at Barcelona.. When his majelly was ready to país into Germany, the old count, finding he must fhortly leave the regions of mortality, fent his confeffor to that prince, declar ing his inhuman conduct towards his nephew, and the methods already used for his recovery; begging his majesty's pardon for his offence, and befeeching him to use his Imperial authority for the discovery of the young nobleman, in order to his being restored to his eftate, his honours, and his dignity. His majesty charged the confefflor to afiure the count d'Alvarez, that he might fecurely rely on his care; that every poffible enquiry fhould be made, and every precaution taken to render it ef fectual. He alio ordered the confessor, immediately after the count's deccafe, which could not be long, to repair to him in Germany, that he might affilt in finding the young count, and prove the identity of his perfon, by certain figns and marks that nature, and his intended murderer, imprinted on his body. Accordingly, in the month of May 1712, the confeffor arrived at Vienna, and the emperor commanded one of the gentlemen of his houfhold to accompany him into Bohemia, in search of the youngcount d'Alvarez. After much enquiry, they found he had quitted his trade, and was then a steward to a nobleman of that kingdom. They had therefore, at firit, recouple to his master, in order to know how long he had ferved in that capacity, and alfo what he himself knew of his fteward. The nobleman told them, that he only knew his hav ing been in the fervice of the count de Hh 2 Gallas, Gallas, and afterwards in that of the count d'Oberstoff; that both were fatisfied with his diligence, as he was alfo himself; that they had both asked him what countryman he was, and that he always anfwered, he knew not himself, he only remembered that when he was a fervant in Turkey, his master had given him to understand, that he was the natural fon of a grandee of Spain, but had neither told him the name of his father, nor why he was fent out of his natural country, fuppofing he was actually born in Spain. The steward was now fent for, and the fame questions put to him by the confeffor; but, he could give no other answer than what they had before heard from his master. The priest therefore defired to fee his neck and fhoulders; but on his fhewing fome reluctancy to fatisfy their curiofity, they gave him to understand, that it was highly to his own intereft, and conformable to the command of the emperor. These assurances induced him to comply, and they obferved on his right. fhoulder the natural marks defcribed by the nurse and woman, who had taken care of him in his infancy, together with the fears of the wounds given him by the valet de chambre. There being now no longer room to doubt of his being the real perfon fo long the object of their enquiries, they gave him a faithful relation of his birth, and the imminent danger to which his life had been expofed. They all faluted him count d'Alvarez, and gave him a full account of his quality and pater. mal eftate. But if this news agreeably furprised the young nobleman, it had a very different effect on his wife, who was perfuaded that the must be forfaken by a husband of fuch eminent quality; but the new count removed all her fears, by affuring her, that as she had shared in his poverty, the fhould alfo fhare in his good fortune. Every thing being thus adjufted, they conducted him to Vienna, to thank the emperor, who received him very graci ously, promiled to restore him to all his eftates and dignities; and, in the mean time, gave him an order for the payment of the four hundred thousand florins he had borrowed of his uncle. The count, throwing himself at his majesty's feet, intimated, that he wished to pafs the remainder of his days in' the empire, and to purchase some estate in that country. Accordingly, he bought the lordship of Ratibor in Silefia, where he fettled with his family, and long enjoyed the happiness of repofe and tranquillity, which a series of fervitude had taught him how to value. Thus did Providence defend the innocent, and protect the orphan, when abandoned by those who ought to have taken every care for his preservation ; and we could wish that this was the only inftance of an infant's having fallen a victim to the covetous difponition of a guardian. S the apprehenfion and Commitment of John Wilkes, Efq; Mem, ber of Parliament, to the Tower, must have raised the curiofity of many people, to know the circumstances attending it, the following detail of fimple facts cannot be unfeasonable, and are perhaps abfolutely neceflary to be laid before the publick. On Saturday the thirtieth of April, early in the forenoon, three of his majesty's messengers, by virtue of a war, rant from the fecretary of state, seized on the person of the faid John Wilkes, Efq; Member of Parliament, The officers had a verbal order to put the warrant in execution by entering forcibly into the house of John Wilkes, Efq; Member of Parliament at midnight; and thofe officers may be threatened with the lofs of their places for not complying with fuch verbal inftructions. On the intimation of Mr. Wilkes Member of Parliament being in cuftody, a motion was made in the court of Common Pleas then fitting in Westminiter Hall for a Habeas Corpus, which was granted; though by reafon of the protho prothonotory's office not being open, fuch Habeas Corpus could not be fued out till four o'clock in the afternoon. Several gentleman, friends and acquaintance of the said John Wilkes,Efq; Member of Parliament, applied for admittance into his house, which was then peremptorily refused by a pretended, or der from the which order, though repeatedly requested, was 'not or could not be produced. As no proper or legal authority appeared to countenance fuch refufal, the gentlemen thought themselves no ways obliged to obey the verbal commands of officers acting only under a verbal authority; and entered accordingly without further question or molestation from those officers. Mr. W-d, the being fent for, demanded the reafon of fuch forcible entry: it was replied that no force had been used, and that the gentlemen thought themselves legally justified in what they had done. Soon after this (whether fent for or not, does not appear) P-p C--t W-b, Efq; came into the room, and fome private converfation between him and Mr. W-d having past, the latter asked, if any gentleman then prefent would attend or inspect the officers while they were fealing up all papers in the house of Mr. Wilkes; or used words to that or the like effect. Mr. Wilkes having declined accepting of the like offer, no perfon then prefent thought himself authorized to take upon him fuch inspection. Notwithstanding it was known, that the court of Common Pleas had granted an Habeas Corpus, of which fact, P-p Ct W-b, Efq; at that time at Lord was then well affured; yet was the faid John Wilkes, Efq; Member of Parliament, committed to the Tower of London. His follicitor and one of his council, foon after they heard of fuch commitment, went to the Tower, in order to confult with the faid John Wilkes, as bout the legal methods to be pursued for his enlargement; but were denied admittance; major R-n-rd informing them, that he had received orders from the not to ad mit any perfon whatsoever, to speak with or fee the faid John Wilkes: and further informed them, that he had juft before refused the right honourable the Earl of Temple fuch admittance. On Sunday, May the first, the same gentlemen, between the hours of twelve and one, called again upon major R-n-rd, on the fame occafion; but were again denied admittance, as were foon after many noblemen, and gentlemen of the first distinction, and Mr. Wilkes's own Brother. After fuch denial, Mr. Wilkes's follicitor demanded of the major a copy of the warrant, under which Mr. Wilkes was committed to the Tower; which was readily granted by the major, and of which the following is a true copy. These are in his majesty's name, to authorize and require you to receive into your cuftody the body of John Wilkes, Efq; herewith fent you for being the author and publisher of a most infamous and feditious libel intitled the North Britain number 45, tending to inflame the minds and alienate the affections of the people from his majesty, and to excite them to traiterous infurrections against the government; and to keep him fafe and clofe until he fhall be delivered by due course of law and for so doing this shall be your warrant, Given at St. James's the 30 day of April, 1763, in the third year of his ma jefty's reign. To the right honourable John Lord Berkeley of Stratton Conftable of his majesty's Tower of London or to the Lieutenant of the faid Tower or his Deputy P-p P-p C-t W-b, Efq; XXXXXXX<*}XXXXX then being prefent in the faid Major Rnd's room, The Mr. Wilkes's council and follicitor applied to the faid Mr. Webb for admittance to the faid Mr. Wilkes. P-p C-t W-b, Efq; defired Major Rd to allow fuch admittance, which He would indemnify; the Major, with a fpirit becoming a good officer, replied, He could not disobey orders. ther of the P-p C-t W-b, Efq; re-answered, He believed there must have been a mistake in the orders, and that, if eiwere in Town, He would apply to Them, and obtain fuch admittance as aforesaid, and that he would either fend or bring an order for fuch admittance in the afternoon. Upen this affertion, the faid Mr. Wilkes's counfel and follicitor between eight and nine o'clock in the evening of the fame day, again went to the Tower, and applied for admittance as aforefaid. The Major having received no inftructions from either. On the morning of this day, Monday, the fecond of May, the court of Common Pleas ordered a return to their writ of Habeas Corpus, which return not then appearing to the court to be fufficient, the court ordered, that the faid return fhould not at present be filed, but upon motion granted another Habeas Corpus directed to the conftable and fo forth of the Tower of London. Mr. Wilkes's follicitor and council the fame day, between the hours of two and three, again went to the Tower, and made application to Major R-d for admittance to the faid John Wilkes Efq; but were refused such admittance, Major Rd declaring that he had received no orders to that purpofe. There appeared upon the table of the faid Major R-d a written order for him to take down the names of all perfons applying for admittance to colonel Wilkes. A From the LEDGER. PEACE. An Ode, or Ballad, addreffed to the Scribblers. I. Bitemious fons of Grub attend, Accept the lefson of a friend. Who'll put you in the plainest way, A friend, whate'er you think, To verify the peaceful day, And fave whole floods of ink. No, no, o'er head or tail he'd throw us, Leave epifodes, and invocations, They're en tres nous but nonfenfe. Fairly and foftly, firs, go on, Nor mean to make your purpose fait In flatt'ry of the times. VI. Avoid, my friends, politic fquabble And who shall go without? So only fing, the Song of Peace, And how it was proclaim'd ; I'm fure I was afhamed. VIII. VIII. At last, my Lord, I mean Lord Mayor, IX. And then the heralds horfes pranced, And then the guards (God wot) ad. vanced, And toot toot went the trumpets; Each window lin'd aloft, alow, With females fine to fee the show, Wives, widows, maids and strumpets. X. But, brothers, make not too much rout, Nor daub thofe in, or damn thofe out, Who'll pay you for your trouble? We are promifed great things by great friends; The man who on fuch things depends, Seeks fubftance in a bubble. XI. For when 'tis found you've ferv'd a turn, Payless you'll be dismiss'd with scorn, Or I mistake my betters; He who by fcribbling, penfions feeks, Let him be warn'd by Jac. Henriques, And his pro bono Letters. XII. Rather for Tommy Low make stanzas, Or for Tom Arne extravaganzas, Or let yourfelves to Tyers; And ftrike the garden lyres. There city belles and country beaux, rows, In untrimm'd mifty glare) Not in the dull unvaried round, XV. If as a genius you'd be bless'd, Oid England's Roast Beef fing; And make your well fill'd audience merry, About the Cyder and the Perry, Or hunt in Bysfhe, for rimes. But WITs, we know, must fast and think, While Dunces, they can eat and drink, XVIII. Are brain-turn'd topfy-turvy, XIX. But reader, let me tell you plainly, They feel no plagues difalters. For mortal Poetasters. As to each Mufe, fuppofe we had 'em, "Or discount Poets honours? Of the poetic heavens. As witnefs G. A. STEVENS. ASONG. |