that notes had been given to Wil- have explained every thing for the kinson for debts due to Adamson; last nine months. but their testimony by no means came up to the defence. The rev. Rowland Hill was called to the prisoner's character. He said he had known him many years, that he always considered him as a man of undisguised honesty; that his conduct as a father and a husband was affectionate and exemplary. He could not have believed a man, who always appeared so innocent and upright, capable of committing the offence imputed to him. Lord Kenyon, after observing in general ternis upon the importance of the question to the prisoner and the public, proceeded to sum up the evidence, which he conceived left no doubt as to the prisoner's guilt. He had given all the attention he was capable of both to the prisoner's defence and the evidence in support of it, but could not see how either affected the main charge, which was; uttering the bill knowing it to have been forged. His lordship wished he could have drawn any inferences from the defence favourable to the prisoner. If it furnished the jury with any, be trusted they would run before him in giving the prisoner the benefit of them. After his lordship had delivered his charge, the prisoner wished to address the jury. He was informed such an indulgente was unusual, nevertheless it should be granted to him, as the court desired nothing so much as his having every opportunity of explaining his conduct to the jury. The prisoner then entered into a further explanation of his transactions with Adamson. He said he expected Adamson's books would have been produced, which would The jury retired for 40 minutes, and, when they returned into court, pronounced the prisoner-guilty. .Mr. Wilkinson is a respectable good-looking man about forty. His deportment, during the whole of his trial, was such as manifested the utmost fortitude. The questions put by him to the witnesses were judicious. During the interval when the jury were consulting, he expressed no anxiety. He heard the verdict with firmness, and retired from the bar with apparent composure. Joseph Adamson was indicted for falsely and feloniously making and forging a certain bill of exchange, purporting to be drawn by Thomas Stevens, of Manchester, upon Messrs. Bowles and Beechcroft. Mr. Garrow opened this prosecution. He said all the signatures to the bill, and the several indorsements, were forged, except that of the prisoner. He recommended the jury to divest themselves of any prejudice against the prisoner, on account of what had occurred on the last trial. If there was any difference in the guilt of either of the prisoners, it was in favour of the one at the bar. The bill in question was drawn on an engraved plate. It would be proved that the prisoner had procured this plate to be engraved for Stevens; but instead of transmitting all the copies to him, he had unfortunately kept back some, to be employed for his own purposes. It was one of these copies he had filled up and discounted at the bank. The evidence of Mr. Cuel, and the parties whose names appeared upon the bill, satisfactorily proved the guilt of the prisoner. Mr. Mr. Kaye, the solicitor to the bank, proved the confession of the prisoner to the fact of this and other forgeries. The confession was not extorted by threats or promises, but was voluntary on the part of the prisoner. The prisoner said, he had not intended to have troubled the court with any defence. He wished to bave relied wholly on the merciful administration of justice, which he knew would be applied to his case; but having learnt that Wilkinson had endeavoured to thrust the whole of the guilt of the transactions on him, he thought it his duty to God and his country, to state that he knew nothing of the bills being forged till they were presented to him by Wilkinson. It was by his persuasion he had taken the part for which he was now called on to answer; and if he had erred, he had erred through ignorance. Mr. Judge Buller summed up the evidence. He observed, that, from what had occurred on the former trial, he had every reason to believe the defence of the prisoner at the bar was well founded, and that he was to a certain degree the instrument of Wilkinson; but this consideration ought not to weigh a feather in the minds of the jury, as the charge had been clearly proved. It might, however, be of import ance to the prisoner, in an application to the crown for a remission of punishment. The jury immediately pronounced the prisoner-guilty. Adamson's conduct on the trial was the reverse of Wilkinson's. He appeared extremely ill and dejected. 23. This being St. George's day, the society of antiquaries met at their apartments in Somerset-place, in pursuance of their statutes and charter of incorporation, to elect a 1798. president, council, and officers of the society, for the year ensuing;' whereupon George earl of Leicester, Thomas Astle, esq. John Brand, A. M. Owen Salusb. Brereton, esq. sir H. C. Englefield, bart. rev. Dr. Hamilton, Craven Ord, esq. John lord bishop of Salisbury, John Topham, esq. Jos. Windham, esq. and Thomas Wm. Wrighte, A. M., 11 of the old council, were re-chosen of the new council; and Francis Annesley, esq. Sir George Baker, bart. Reginald Pole Carew, esq. hon. Robt. Fulk Greville, sir Arch. Macdonald, knt. chief baron of the exchequer, Francis duke of Leeds, Samuel Lysons, esq. Charles Towushend, esq. John Willett Willett, esq. and Brownlow lord bishop of Winchester, ten of the other inembers of the society, were chosen of the new council; and they were severally declared to be the council of the society for the year ensuing. And, on a return made of the officers of the society, it appeared that George earl of Leicester was elected president; John Topham, esq. trea surer; Samuel Lysons, esq. direc-. tor; Thomas William Wrighte, A. M. secretary; and John Brand, A. M. secretary for next year. The loan was taken this day by Messrs. Curtis, Boyd, Solomons, Goldsmid, and Ward. The terms are the most advantageous that have ever been obtained by the public. They are as follow: 1501.3 per cent, consols. at 48 £.72 11 3 501.-Reduced 47 23 15 Q Long ann. 4s. 11d. at 13 years' purchase 3 4 6/ to the stockholder from the measure, now in its progress through parliament, of the sale of the land tax. 24. The gazette contains a letter from admiral sir Hyde Parker,dated March 12, Cape Nicola Mole, giving an account of about a dozen small French ships of war, from one to sixteen guns, recently captured on that station. 25. Eight officers of the 15th dragoons appeared at court on this day, with the gold chains and medallions presented to them by the emperor, in gratitude for having rescued him from the French, in a skirmish in Flanders, by their bravery. the benefit which is likely to result out agony. Seven separate buildings were completely destroyed, though only two reports were clearly distinguishable. The quantity of powder which exploded exceeded 15 tons weight; and the damage is estimated at upwards of 5000l. Mr. Harvey's house, situated about 100 yards from the nearest building blown up, is so shaken and disjointed, that it must be entirely taken down a heavy sandstone' from the mill was carried several yards over the roof of the above dwelling, and a variety of pieces of timber over a large wood to the distance of nearly half a mile, The vertibræ of the back and neck of the old man, who was in the mill when the accident happened, were taken from the branches of a lofty tree; and other parts of his mangled body were collected at incredible distances from the spot where it was precipitated. The trees near the spot were totally stripped of their infant foliage and blossoms; and a horrid scene of devastation presented itself. A number of workmen are at present employed in clearing the ruins, in order to erect new buildings, which we understand are to be at secure distances from each other, and in other respects so contrived as to be rendered less liable to communicate fire from one to the other, in case of an accident in either. 25. About twelve at noon, one of the Battle powder-mills, belonging to Mr. Harvey, and a dryinghouse and store-room nearly adjoining, were, by some unknown accidental communication of fire, blown up, with two tremendous explosions, and totally destroyed. Three men employed in the mill were forced into the air with the works, and one of them, an elderly man, rent to atoms; different parts of his limbs having been picked up at considerable distances from each other: the other two fell, sadly lacerated, into an adjacent piece of water, out of which they were both taken alive, but in no situation to give the least account of the accident. One of the unfortunate sufferers complained first of extreme heat, drank a cordial which was offered him with great avidity, then said he was excessive cold, and shortly after expired. The other, we are informed, survived nearly two hours, during which he at several intervals faintly exclaimed, 'tis not all over yet;' but said no thing more: they both died with 26. A special court of aldermen was held; there were present the lord mayor, fifteen aldermen, recorder, and two sheriffs. The committee appointed on Tuesday last, to consider the best means of carrying the resolutions then agreed to into effect, presented a report, recommending it to each alderman to repair to his ward, and call the inhabitants together for the purpose of forming associations for learning the the use of arms, or to enrol them- From the London Gazette, April 28. SIR, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for their lordships' information, that l'Hercule, of 74 guns, was taken by his majesty's ship Mars last night. 1 beg leave to acquaint your lordship, that the ship chased by his majesty's ship Mars yesterday, per signal, endeavoured to escape through the Passage du Raz: but the tide proving contrary, and the wind easterly, obliged her to anchor at the mouth of that passage; which afforded captain Hood the opportunity of attacking her, by laying her so close alongside as to unhinge some of the lower-deck ports, continuing a very bloody action for an hour and a half, when she surrendered. I lament being under the necesThe inclosed copy of a letter sity of informing your lordship, that from lieutenant Butterfield will best his majesty has, on this occasion, show to their lordships the spirit lost that truly brave man, captain ad judgment manifested upon this Hood, who was wounded in the occasion. No praise of mine can thigh late in the conflict, and exadd one ray of brilliancy to the di-pired just as the enemy's ship had stinguished valour of capt. Alex. struck her colours. This ship Hood, who carried his ship nobly proves to be l'Hercule, of 74 guns, into battle, and who died of the and 700 men, her first time at sea, wounds he received in supporting from L'Orient, to join the Brest the just cause of his country. It is fleet. impossible for me not to sincerely lanient his loss, as he was an honour to the service, and universally beloved; he has fallen gloriously, as well as all those who are so handsomely spoken of by lieut. Butterfield. I have appointed him to the command of l'Hercule, to carry her into port; and I have given a temporary appointment to I cannot sufficiently commend the bravery and good conduct of the surviving officers and men, who merit my warmest thanks: I must particularly recommend to your lordship's notice Mr. Southey, the signal midshipman. Lieutenants Argles and Ford are the o ly officers wounded. Capt. Hood and captain White of the (D 2) marines, marines, are killed. Lieut. Argles, though badly wounded, never quitted the deck. From a number of the people being with lieutenant Bowker in charge of the prize, I cannot at present inform your lordship of the exact number of killed and wounded; but from the best information circumstances afford, I think about 30 killed and as many wounded, most of them dangerously. I have the honour to be, your lordship's most obedient W. BUTTERFIELD. Admiral Lord Bridport, K. B. &c. It appears also, by a letter from admiral lord Bridport of the 21st inst. that his majesty's ship Jason had captured on the preceding day a new gun-brig, named l'Arrogante, carrying 6 long twenty-four-pounders and 92 men. 28. In the court of king's bench, Mr. Williams, who was convicted on the 24th of June, 1797, of a libel on the Christian religion, by publishing Paine's Age of Reason,' was brought up in custody of the keeper of Newgate to receive judg ment. Mr. justice Ashhurst pointed out the enormity of his offence, the minute parts of which he would forbear to particularise. Although the Almighty did not require the aid of human tribunals to vindicate his precepts, it was nevertheless fit to show our abhorrence of such wicked doctrines, which were not only an offence against God, but against law and government, from their direct tendency to dissolve all the bonds and obligations of civil society. It was upon this ground the Christian religion constituted part of the law of the Jand. But if the name of our Re deemer was suffered to be traduced, and his holy religion treated with contempt, the solemnity of an oath, on which the due administration of justice depended, would be destroyed, and the law be stripped of one of its principal sanctions, the dread of future punishment. This crime was further aggravated by the motive in which it was conceived; there could be no temptation, no sudden impulse of passion to which man was so often exposed by the frailty of his nature,-it could have only proceeded from a cool and malignant spirit. Mr. justice Ashhurst then proceeded to observe upon the affidavit made by the defendant, in mitigation of his punishment, in which it was stated that this pamphlet had been published in 1794 by others, of whom no notice had been taken. This, in his mind, he said, led to a contrary inference; impunity was an encouragement to crimes, and if there were others wicked enough to commit so atrocious an offence, this circumstance showed the necessity for arresting its progress, and made it a more incumbent duty to repress it by some salutary example. The defendant had also stated,` that he was not conscious of committing an offence by the publica tion. To this he must reply, that a child who had only common attention paid to his education, could not be ignorant of its impious and wicked intent: but ignorance was no sort of excuse: every person in the situation of the defendant ought to know that every thing which he sent out into the world, was consistent with religion, law, decency, and morality. Under all these circumstances then, if the court did not pass so severe a sentence as the enormity of the offence required, it would be in consequence of Mr. Erskine's |