Page images
PDF
EPUB

Bangor, to that of Norwich, and Dr. Sherlock was promoted to the See of Bangor. Sir Lambert Blackwell, Baronet, died alfo about the fame Time, who in the Reign of Queen Anne was Envoy Extraordinary to he Great Duke of Tuscany, and the Republick of Genoa, and Conful at Leghorn, and was one of the Diectors of the South Sea Company In the Year 1720.

On the 3d of November, Sir George Mertins, Knight, fome Time Lord Mayor of London, departed his Life; as did the Honourable Sydney Wortley Montague, on the 12th; and the brave Admiral Ruf el Earl of Orford, on the 25th of he fame Month.

In December, Mr. Richard Savage (natural Son to the late Earl Rivers) and Mr. James Gregory were tryed for the Murder of Mr. Sinclair, at Robinson's Coffee Houfe it Charing Cross, and both found guilty: But it appearing, when the Report was made to his Majefty, that the unfortunate Death of Mr. Sinclair happened in a fudden, midnight drunken Quarrel, without any premeditated Malice, with fome other favourable Circumftances, his Majefty was pleased to reprieve them during Pleasure; and fome Time after they both received his Majesty's most gracious

Pardon.

Notwithstanding the Attempts towards a general Pacification, the Affairs of Europe continued for feveral Months under great Uncertainty, and did not feem to be in a much better Situation till towards the End of this Year. The Preliminary Articles were indeed figned by all the Powers concerned, before the Death of his late Majesty, and in Confequence of it, there was a Ceffation of Hoftilities between Great Britain and Spain, and the

Siege of Gibraltar was fufpended. In July the Ratifications of the Preliminary Articles for a general Pacification by the Emperor, King of Great-Britain, the moft Chriftian King, and the States General, were mutually exchanged by the Minifters of thofe refpective Powers; but Difficulties were started by the Court of Spain concerning the Execution of the Articles, particularly with respect to the actual raifing of the Siege of Gibraltar, which Great Britain infifted on, and Spain did not care to comply with till Admiral Hofter fhould return with his Squadron from the Weft-Indies; and the Reftitution of the Ship Prince Frederick, belonging to the South-Sea Company. Thus by the Chicanes of the Court of Spain, in the Execution of the Preliminaries, a great deal of Time was taken up in little more than difpatching Expreffes after Expreffes from one Court to another; till towards the End of the Year, Matters began a little to clear up, and the King of Spain promifed to draw off his Forces from Gibraltar, as foon as he should be informed that Admiral Wager had received Orders to quit the Coafts of Spain with his Squadron.

To return Home: The Beginning of January, Sir Spencer Compton, Knight of the Bath, who had been Speaker to the Houfe of Commons in the two laft Parliaments, was created a Peer of Great-Britain, by the Name, Stile and Title of Baron of Wilmington in the County of Suffex.

About the fame Time, the Right Honourable William Stewart, Vifcount Mountjoy, and Baron of Ramalton, in the Kingdom of Ireland, Mafter of the Ordnance, and Privy Counsellor there; and Dr.

Q93

Wall,

A. D. 1728.

A. D. Wall, Author of the Hiftory of In1728. fant Baptifm, departed this Life.

On Jan. 23, the new Parliament met at Westminster, and the Commons unanimously chofe Arthur Onflow, Efq; Knight of the Shire for the County of Surry, to be their Speaker.

On the 27th, his Majefty opened the Seffion with a Speech to both Houses, in which he told them, He was very fenfible of the difagreeable and uneafy Situation. in which our Affairs had been for fome Time: That Preliminary Articles for a general Pacification were fome Time ago figned, and accepted by the contracting Parties on both Sides; and altho' the Ratifications of them had been exchanged by his Majefty and his Allies, with the Emperor, the good Effects expected from them were retarded, by the Refufal on the Part of Spain, to execute fome of the most material Points contained in them, and by Endeavours to alter and explain fome Articles, in fuch a Manner, as immediately affected the Poffeflions and the juft Rights of thefe Kingdoms: But that by the laft Advices from abroad, he had great Reason to hope, that the Difficulties, which had hitherto retarded the Execution of the Preliminaries, and the open ing of the Congrefs, would foon be entirely removed. However he told them, it would be abfolutely neceffary to continue the Preparations, which had hitherto been our Security; and concluded with recommending to them fome Method for the Increafe and Encouragement of Seamen, and a farther Provifion for Greenwich Hofpital.

February 8, the Commons voted 15,000 Men for the Sea Service for the Year 1728. And on the 10th they voted 22,955 Men for Guards and Garifons. Soon after they con

[ocr errors]

fidered, in a grand Committee co the Supply, the Estimate of the Charge of the 12,000 Helfies: And a Motion being made, that 230,923. 11 s. 8d. be granted for the faid Charge, the fame occafor ed a great Debate. At laft the Queftion being put, it was carried in the Affirmative.

On the 19th, the Commons refolved to addrefs his Majesty for a particular and diftin&t Account of the Deftribution of the Sum of 250000l. which, in an Account laid before the Houfe, was charg'd to have been iffued for other Expences and Engagments, over and above fuch as were therein particularly specified, for fecuring the Trade and Naviga tion of this Kingdom, and preierving and reftoring the Peace of Erope. And a few Days after, Mr. Treasurer reported to the House, that their faid Addrefs had been prefented to his Majefty, and that his Majefty had commanded him to acquaint the Houfe, That the late King, his Majefty's Royal Father, having upon the like Occafion re ceived from the laft Parliament the moft dutiful Acknowledgments of his great Care and Wisdom, in ta king fuch Steps, and entring into fuch Engagements, as he thought would beft conduce to the Security of this Kingdom, and the Prefervation of the Peace of Europe; and at the fame Time the ftrongeft Aff rances of their future Support, in all fuch farther Measures as he should find neceffary and expedient, fer preventing a Rupture, and for the Honour and Advantage of these Kingdoms; and a Power being accordingly given by Parliament to his late Majefty, for iffuing and ap plying fuch Sums of Money, as he fhould find neceffary, for answering and defraying fuch Expences and Engagements, as had been or should

e made, for the great and neceffay Purposes; fome Part of the Moey mentioned in this Addrefs had een issued and difburfed by his late Majefty, and the remaining Part as been applied by his Majefty, for arrying on the fame neceffary Serices, for ftrengthening his Allianes, and in fulfilling his Engageents of the utmost Importance > thefe Kingdoms, and to the geeral Tranquillity of Europe, and which require the greatest Secrecy. His Majesty therefore hopes, that his Houfe will repofe the fame Confidence in him, and be affured hat the Money has been neceffarily xpended, pursuant to the Power iven by Act of Parliament, and or the Ufe and Purposes thereby irected, and a particular and ditin&t Account whereof cannot be iven without manifeft Prejudice to he Publick.

This Anfwer being conformable o that which was returned in Feb. 726-7, to a like Addrefs about he Difpofal of 125,000l. Mr. Puleney and several others, who objected against it, urged the Increafe of he National Debt, notwithstanding the fo much boasted of finking Fund, and would have had that important Affair immediately debated in a Grand Committee: But it was waved by moving to adjourn the House to Monday; which after fome Debate, was carried by a Majority of 202 against 66.

Street Robberies having about this Time increased to a very great Degree, fo that it was fcarce fafe for any to pass the Streets in the Night about their neceffary Affairs, a Proclamation was iffued on the 11th of March for discovering and apprehending any Perfons, who for three Months paft had committed, or for the future should commit any Robbery or Murder in the Streets

of London or Westminster, or in any Street or Highway within five Miles of the fame, promifing 100 /. Reward, over and above all other Rewards already allowed; as alfo a Pardon to any Accomplice difcovering and apprehending any fuch Offender, provided he had not actually given a Wound in any fuch Murder or Robbery.

Their Excellencies Count Welderen, and M. Silvius having been fent over Ambafladors Extraordinary from the States General, with their Congratulations on his Majefty's happy Acceffion, on the 4th of March made their publick Entry through the City, in a moft grand and magnificent Manner, to Somerfet House; and on the 7th were conducted in the fame grand Manner to Court, where with the ufual Ceremonies they had their publick Audience of their Majeflies and the rest of the Royal Family; after which they were conducted to their own House in the fame State as they came.

This Month died Dr. Stanhope, Dean of Canterbury; and Mrs. Clarke, Daughter to the celebrated Milton, of whom it is remarkable that the lived many Years fo obfcurely with her Son-in-Law, a poor Weaver in Spittle fields, that it was hardly known there was fuch a Perfon in Being, till fome Time laft Year, an ingenious Letter in one of the publick Papers brought her to Light, together with her mean Circumftances, after which fhe was vifited by great Numbers of People of Fashion and Diftinction, whom the Curiofity of feeing the Daughter of To great a Man brought to her, and from whom the received many confiderable Prefents.

The Siege of Gibraltar being at laft entirely raised, Sir Charles IvaQ94

ger

A. D. 1728.

A. D.

ger returned with his Squadron, a. 1728. bout the Beginning of April, from the Coaft of Spain.

On the 10th, the Commons in a Body waited on the King at St. James's, with their humble Reprefentation of the National Debts difcharged and incurred fince December 25, 1716, with a State of the Sinking Fund, and of the publick Credit; whereby it appear'd, that the Decrease of the National Debt fince that Time, was 2,698,4161. 9s. 7 d. 3.

The Princess Amelia fet out about this Time for Bath, for the Recovery of her Health. She met with great Honours and Respect at Reading, Marlborough, and other Towns thro' which the paffed, and was receiv'd at Bath by the Mayor, Aldermen, &c. in their Formalities. During her Stay there, fhe made a Vifit to Bristol, where fhe was receiv'd in the fame Manner, and treated with the utmost Magnificence; and having ftaid at Bath about two Months, fie return ed to London towards the End of June.

On the 23d of April in the Morning, his Majefty fet out for Newmarket, and arrived there in the Evening; where the next Day he was attended by the Univerfity of Cambridge in a Body, having Dr. Lambert their Vice Chancellor at their Head, accompanied by their two Reprefentatives in Parliament, &c. Being introduced, Mr. ViceChancellor made a dutiful Speech to his Majefty, and in the Name of the University humbly defired him to honour them with his Royal Prefence at Dinner; which Invi. tation his Majefty having graciously accepted, entred Cambridge, the next Morning between 11 and 12, attended by the great Officers of the Court, and feveral other Perfons of

Diftinction.

At fome Dilance from the Town, his Majelty was met by the Mayor and Aldermen, and the reft of the Corporation on Horfeback, in their Formalties, who conducted him through the Town to the Regent-Walk, where he was received by his Grace the Duke of Somerfet, Chancellor of the University, attended by ther whole Body, all in their proper Robes and Habits. From hence his Majefty proceeded to the Senate Houfe, where he commanded feve ral Degrees in all Faculties to be conferred. Then he went to K College Chapel, and from thence Trinity College, and was entertained at Dinner in the Hall of that College, at the Expence of the U verfity, upon a Throne erected for that Purpose, being ferved by the Fellow Commoners of the fame College in their proper Habits of Purple Tabby, lac'd with Silver; Dr. Bently the Mafler ftanding on his Majefty's Right Hand during the whole Entertainment, which was performed with the greate Order and Magnificence. His Ma jefty made the University a Prefent of 2000l. and returned the fame Evening to Newmarket, from whence he arrived at St. James's on the 27th.

Dr. John Woodward, Profeffor of Phyfick at Gresham College, di ed about the End of this Month. He by his Will gave to the Un verfity of Cambridge a Sum fufc ent to erect a Profefforship for Natural Philofophy, with a Provi fion of 150!, per Annum, for Sup port and Maintenance of it for ever. He likewife gave to the faid Uni verfity his entire Collection of Fof fils, &c. Alfo a little before, the Honourable Samuel Molineux, Esq; one of the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, departed this Life.

[ocr errors]

On May 8, the Commons took to Confideration a Meffage from is Majelly of the Day before; and fter a long Debate, in which warm peeches pafs'd between two great len, it was refolved, That an umble Address be prefented to his Majefty, to declare the Duty and idelity of this Houfe to his Mafty, and the entire Confidence which they repofe in his royal Care fand Goodness to his People; and o affure his Majefty that this Houfe will enable him to anfwer and deray the Charges and Expences that ill remain unfatisfied, of the Enagements entered into and conerted for fecuring the Trade and Navigation of this Kingdom, and or restoring and preferving the Peace of Europe.

On the 28th his Majefty went to he House of Peers, and among feeral other Acts, gave the Royal Affent to an Act for granting an Aid o his Majefty, by Sale of Annuities o the Bank of England, &c. and an Act for encouraging Seamen to enter nto his Majefty's Service. After which his Majefty put an End to the Seffion with a moft gracious Speech to both Houfes.

About this Time four Knights of the Bath were created Peers, viz. Sir John Hobart, Baron Hobart; Sir John Monfon, Baron Monfon; Sir Thomas Coke, Baron Lovell; and Sir Thomas Wentworth, Baron of Mal

ton.

In this Month died Sir John Eden, Bart. Knight of the Shire for Durham in all the Parliaments of King George I. The Honourable and Reverend Dr. Henry Bridges, Archdeacon of Rochester, and only Brother to the Duke of Chandois: And William Lord Cheyne, Vifcount Newhaven, who was a Commiffioner of the Privy Seal in the Reign of King William.

In the following Month, Dr. A. D. Hugh Chamberlen, the famous Man- 1728. Midwife, departed this Life.

The Beginning of July, the King having been informed, that the Duke of Parma lately thought fit to invite the Pretender to the Place of his Refidence, and to receive him there with the Honours and Distinctions due to the King of Great Britain; his Majefty was pleas'd to order, that the Sieur Como, Agent here from the faid Duke, fhould depart out of his Dominions in two Days.

About this Time died Captain Porter, one of the Confpirators in the Affaffination Plot againft King William; who becoming an Evidence, obtain'd his Pardon, and a Penfion of 200l. per Ann. from the Government: Alfo Dr. Freind, a very eminent Physician, and Phyfician in Ordinary to her Majefty. And fome Time before, Vice-Admiral Hopfon, who fucceeded the late Vice-Admiral Hofer in the Command of the Squadron in the Weft Indies, died of a Fever on the Coaft of New Spain.

Several Perfons were taken into Cuftody on account of printing and publishing Mift's Journal of Auguft 24, which, under Colour of relating the Affairs of Perfia, was fuppofed to contain very grofs and scandalous Reflections upon the Government, and the present happy Eftablishment. The Iffue of it was, that feveral Perfons, (Prefs men, Compofitors, &c) were fentenc'd to ftand on the Pillory, and to be committed to Bridewell to hard Labour: And Edward Farley, Printer of the Exeter Journal, was taken up for reprinting the faid Mift's Fournal, and a Bill of Indictment for High Treafon found against him; but after a clofe Confinement for near a Year without Bail or Main

« PreviousContinue »