The thirteenth and laft article rearks, That for the prevention of any ifunderstanding between his majesty d his fubjects, in cafe any doubt or fficulty fhould arife on the conftrucon of these articles, that commiffaries all be appointed refpectively by the rince and the people, for the purpofe f explaining fuch difficulties; and if eir determination fhould not prove atisfactory, then his majesty and the ates, fhall each appoint an equal umber of perfons as arbiters, whofe lecision, shall be conclufive, and finally inding, and who on fuch occafion hall be abfolved from the influence of ny oaths that might tend to affect their impartial determination.

IV. Their majefties of Great Britain and Pruffia, and the ftates general of Holland, become in the most folemn manner, guarantees to the emperor and his fucceffors for the fovereignty of the Belgic provinces, now re-united under his dominion.

The ratification of this convention is to be exchanged between the contracting parties within two months from the date of figning, which was executed on the Icth inftant.

REPRIMAND

OF MAJOR SCOTT, TWENTY

EIGHTH OF MAY, 1790.

JOHN Scott, efq. attending in his place (according to order) was repri

Warren Haltings, efq. are guilty of a violation of your duty as a member of of this houfe, and of a high breach of the privilege of this houfe.

"On the nature and magnitude of your offence it is unneceffary for me to dwell: whatever has a tendency to depreciate the honour and justice of this houfe, pa ticularly in the exercife of its inquifitorial function, tends, in the fame proportion, to weaken and degrade the energies and dignity of the British conftitution.

"The privileges of this houfe have a claim to the refpect of every fubject of this country. As a member of this houfe, it is your duty, as it is a part of your truft, to fupport and to protect them. Had a fenfe of these obligations produced its due influence on your mind and conduct, you would have avoided the difpleasure of the house, and I fhould have been fpared the pain of declaring to you the refult of it. The moderation of the house is not, however, lefs manifeft on this occafion, than their juft fenfe of their own dignity, and of the importance of their own privileges. It is my duty, in addreffing you, to be guided by the lenity which marks their proceedings: and in the perfuafion that the judgment of the houfe will operate as an effectual admonition to yourself and to others, I forbear to fay more, than that the houfe have directed that I reprimand you for your faid offence; and, in obedience to their commands, I do reprimand you accordingly:"

Ordered, Nemine Contradicente,

That what has been now faid by Mr. Speaker, upon reprimanding the faid John Scott, efq. be printed in the votes of this day.

DRURY LANE.

HIS theatre has, the prefent feaTfon, a decided advantage in point

of performers, over that of Covent Garden. It is with much pleasure we obferve the return of King, Parfons, Palmer, and Mrs. Siddons; the latter of whom, after an abfence of two years, played, on the 8th of December, the character of Ifabella, to a brilliant and crouded audience, who congratulated her return in the moft flattering man

ner.

October produced nothing new, except the pantomime of Don Juan, which was originally got up by Mr. Palmer at the Royalty Theatre. On the 17th of November, was reprefented a comedy called BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, written by M. P. Andrews, efq. the author of Summer Amufement, and other pieces of merit. The piece commences with Saville lamenting his lofs at play, and his diftrefs is encreafed by a letter from Flurry, informing him, that his ward Augufta has determined never to marry him, on account of his rakish difpofition; and this is confimed to him immediately after by Diary, Augufta's fervant. On the entrance of his friend he complains of his unfortunate fituation, that he is deferted by his uncle Grump, and by the fair Augufta. Soon after, a new acquaintance, called the Chevalier, enters, advances him money, and takes his bond for it. This Chevalier proves to be Augufta in difguife, who, in concert with fir Charles, had agreed to ruin him completely. In fubfequent scenes the wins of him large fums, gets the deeds of his eftate from him in the difguife of a counfellor, and then difcovering herfelf, confeffes it to be he felf who has ruined him. He reprobates her conduct, until fhe at length declares it was wholly done to reform him, and from the tendereft motives. Flurry, informed of this, confents to their union. The plot is interwoven with another, in which fir

Charles Choufe carries on a defign against Mrs. Flurry: they meet at Pallet, a painter's; are detected by the bulband, and reconciled by Litigamus,

Mr.

a proctor; and the whole concludes with the expofure of Sir Charles, and a proof of Mrs. Flurry's innocence. Kemble, fir Charles Chouse ; Mr. Palmer performed Saville; Mr. Bannister, Litigamus; Mr. Dodd, Flurry; Mr. Baddeley, Grump; and Augufta, the principal female part, Mrs. Jordan.

The first night of performance was not marked by unbounded applaufe; Previous to the fecond, the author curtailments. But, with all, we are made feveral judicious alterations and much afraid that Better Late than Never will contribute very little to the fame of this dramatic author.

The prologue, hardly above mediocrity, was written by the duke of Leeds. The epilogue, by the author, containing a comparifon between the beau of day, was elegantly written, and reflects "fome years ago," and of the prefent great credit on Mr. Andrews.

COVENT GARDEN. The manager of Covent Garden theatre has this feafon brought forward feveral new performers; but none of first-rate excellence. A Mifs Williams, in the vocal caft, first made her appearance in the Crufade, and received a tolerable fhare of applaufe: though not a perfect good finger, she is remarkable for the clearness of her expreffions. Next fucceeded, Mrs. Eften, the tragic heroine of provincial theatres. made her entre in Rofalind, in As You Like It; and fome nights after attempted Roxalana, in the Sultan ; and Monimia, in the Orphan, which gave the finishing stroke to her reported celebrity. In fact, though not below, fhe is little above mediocrity.

She

In September, the manager prefented a fort of pantomime, called PROVOCATION, in allufion to the hoftilities com.

menced

menced at Nootka Sound by the Spaniards. The nature of the piece procured it a favourable reception; but on the conclufion of the late negociation, it was very properly ordered to be withdrawn.

We noticed nothing new, or varied, till the 4th of November, when part of the last year's opera of the unfortunate Czar appeared under the title of the FUGITIVE. The few pleafing fongs which it contains, is the only apology which can poffibly be offered for its fecond obtrufion on the public.

On the 6th, followed a comedy, called THE FEMALE PURSUIT; or, STOP HER WHO CAN? being an abridgment of Moore's Gil Blas. The mistake of Gil Blas, who believed that Aurora was in love with him, a footman, and the various ftratagems of that young lady, to fecure the object of her love, don Lewis, are fomewhat humorously managed. The 11th, was reprefented a new piece, called the GERMAN HOTEL, taken from the German by a Mr. MARSHALL. Like most dramatic pieces from that language, the prefent

a mixture of the pathetic and fprightly, incongruously interwoven. We are neither prefented with new character, nor furprized by new incident, The hero is a villain, who meditates destruction on a family, for whom he profeffes the greateft efteem and regard. From the whole a moral is drawn, which reflects credit on the author, although its turn is by no means newThat guilt is accompanied with its due reward. Meffrs. Quick, Aickin, Holman, Farren, Blanchard, and Wilfon; and Mrs. Mattocks and Mrs. Pope, were the principal performers.

The piece was prefaced by a prelude, fpoken by Mr. Ryder, as the poet of the night, and Mr. Davies and Mr. Bernard, as gentlemen of the town,

T

It

turned on the reprehenfible habit of damning plays on the first night of reprefentation, as a matter of fport, without consideration of the author's genius, labour, or feelings; and contained fome juft compliments to the merit of the School for Scandal, and the general liberality of a British audience.

The epilogue was a duetto of speaking between the supposed author and Mrs. Mattocks, with feveral points of humour admirably given by that actress, on the fuppofed clamour at the Stock Exchange, on the fubject of Peace or War.

A new pantomime, under the title of THE PICTURE of PARIS, taken in the year 1790, prepared from materials collected by Mr. Bonnor, of the Poft-office, was exhibited at this theatre on the 20th. As a magnificent spectacle, it has every claim to admiration. It confifts of a feries of beautiful and ftriking views of the principal scenes of action of the French Revolution. The dialogue is occafionally humorous, and the fongs are in general well written, A ferious episode, in which Holman and Mifs Brunton are the lovers, is introduced, for the purpose of trage dizing love in a nunnery.

The mufic is chiefly original, and it bears evident marks of the genius of Shields. The overture is of the French fchool.

The dreffes and decorations of the piece are extremely fplendid.

The late Mr. Edwin, of this theatre, whofe comic powers, in concert with the mufe of O'Keeffe, have long been the theme of blind admiration, is fucceeded by a Mr. Munden, who has figured much in the country theatres. We are not difpleased to obferve that he rather copies nature than his great predeceffor.

MONSTER.

THE 8th, Renwick Williams was placed at the bar of the Old Bailey, when judge Ashhurst addreffed

1790.

of January last, in the parish of St. James's, wilfully and maliciously affault Ann Porter; and that you did, with force and arms, tear, fpoil, cut, and deface her garment, namely, a filk gown, and other apparel; and the jury have found you guilty, but your counfel have arrested the judgment upon two grounds: Firft, to the form of the indictment; fecondly, to the applicability of the act of parliament to your particular offence. A majority of the judges have, after folemn confideration, determined that both the objections in arreft of judgment are well founded. The objection to, the words of the indictment, that you did then and there make an affault, and cut and tear Ann Porter's garment, being flated to be done both at one and the fame time is bad in law, for the affault might be made at one time and place, and the cutting and tearing at another. In framing indictments upon acts of parliament which affect life, the law requires that the utmost precifion fhould be oblerved. With refpect to the fecond objection, namely, that your crime is not within the intent of the act, it is confidered that the act is made for a particular purpofe, that of wantonly cutting, tearing, &c. for the mere fake of mischief, and not with any previous malicious intention. Now an affault, cutting, &c. muft have fuch a premeditated intention, and therefore the indictment is not within the purview of the act. But although the lenity of the law has fo far-judged favourably of your cafe, yet God forbid that the common law of the land fhould not reach fuch an enormity as you have committed, and that you should not be punished for your temerity; you are therefore to be remanded to take your trial for the mifdemeanor at common law."

Previous to his retiring from the court, he begged to be indulged with a few words. From a paper he then read as follows:

"My Lord,-After a confinement of fix months, as difgraceful as it has been diftreffing to me, I feel little fatiffaction at the interpretation of a statute, which has neither cleared my character as a man, nor eftablished my innocence in the eye of justice. Alas, my Lord! I am only referved for feverer trial;

though the letter of the law may not apply to the cruel conviction I have fuffered, prejudice but arms justice with new whips to fcourge me-my cafe remains the fame that it ever did; the very fame it was five months ago. I have no new evidence to offer; fuch of the family as were prefent with me in Dover-ftreet when Mifs Porter was wounded, have already given their testimony; that teftimony has not been credited; as it was the true, and being on that account the only one I had to produce, if it did not avail me then, it will not avail me in future. Much as I have been abufed and libelled in the public prints, and bad as an unjust and perfecuting world is difpofed to think of me, I will neither bring people to perjure themfelves by fwearing to a different alibi, nor by pleading Not Guilty will I be the cause of more perjury among my perfecutors. My in nocence, however, has not wanted for advocates; one gentleman in particular, after whofe publication were I to stand another trial with the fame people, the fame perjury that pushed them on to convict me before, would only be mul tiplied with new force, for the purpose of ftrengthening thofe very weaknesses which the learned gentleman in his letter to the judge who tried me has fo fully pointed out; and therefore, my Lord, I do not feel the least exultation in difcovering, that after a cruel and bitter confinement of fix months, I only exchange a lefs mifery for a greater. Good God for what am I referved! without friends, without money, either to fupport me in my difficulties, or to enable me to ftand another trial with thofe whom reward has enriched, and whofe caufe has made friends of all men-it is impaffible that a poor and helpless individual fhould ftruggle with the ftorm or convince thofe who are determined they will not be convinced.

"My Lord, I ftand an inftance of fingular misfortune,-that while my paffion for the fex had nearly ruined ine, a fanguinary charge of a nature directly oppofite fhould complete my destruction. I have now nothing to hope or to look for in this world, to my God alone (to whom my innocence is known, and whom in this inftance at leaft, I have not offended, I rura

for

for comfort and support, though juftice be denied here; a father so kind and merciful will not refuse it me, as I demand it of my perfecutors on that great day, when the judges of this world will themfelves be tried. Had it been his gracious will, most cheerfully fhould I have fought, among favages, in a barbarous country, that protection which has been denied me here."

The 10th, he was conveyed from Newgate to Hicks's Hall, and being there arraigned for misdemeanors, he pleaded Not Guilty. On Monday the 13th, he was put to the bar to take his trial on eight indictments exhibited against him; but the first alone occupied the whole day, and lasted from ten o'clock till after one the next morning.

The four Mifs Porters, their bro ther, and four other witneffes, gave their evidence on the trial, which was nearly the fame that occurred on their former examination.

The Jury, after a fhort deliberation, withdrew, and brought in a verdict Guilty.

Next day he was again put to the bar, to be tried on feven other indictments, attended with circumstances refembling those attached to the former cafe. On the first indictment he was arraigned for affaulting Elizabeth Davis, on the 5th of May.-Elizabeth Davis faid, that the lived in Clark's-court, Holborn; that on the 5th of May, fhe had been out on fome business, and was coming home through Holborn when the prifoner accofted her-he demanded where the was going; she said, home-he afked where the lived-fhe replied, not far off. Having then followed her for fome diftance, he held out a boquet of flowers, and asked if they were not pretty flowers for that time of the year. He defired her to fmell to them. She told him he was not partial to flowers. On her faying this, he preffed them up to her face, and fhe thought from their hardness, they could not be natural, but that they were artificial ones. She was going to exprefs her furprife, when he caught hold of her by the throat with one hand, and with the other gave her a blow on the thigh. She heard the

cloaths rent, and found herself wounded. He gave her another blow on the breaft and ran away. She called out murder feveral times, and ran into the court where the lived, which was clofe by. Mrs. Garrowfon, her landlady. hearing a noife came down, opened the door, and let her into the parlour, where the immediately fainted. She faid, that fhe had taken particular notice of him every time he addreffed her, and that he wore a light-coloured coat, witla buttons of the fame, and lapels. On the 14th of June the faw the prifoner at Bow-street, and pointed him out amongst a crowd of people. She swore pofitively to his perfon.

Sarah Garrowfon corroborated the teftimony of the last witness.

Patrick McManus, one of the Bowftreet Officers, depofed, that on the apprehenfion of Williams, he went to his mother's lodgings, and found a coat of his that exactly anfwered the defcription given of it by Elizabeth Davis. He produced the coat in court, and it appeared to correfpond with the account the had given of it.

Mr. Angerstein on his examination faid, that fometime after Elizabeth Davis was wounded, the came to his houfe in Pall-mall, and defcribed the circumftances to him; he thought Williams wore a blue coat, but the informed him he wore a white one.

When the evidence was clofed, the chairman asked the prifoner, Whether he had any thing to lay in his defence? Mr. Swift defiring him to fay nothing, he followed his counsel's advice. Verdict, Guilty.

He was then convicted of a fimilar affault on the two Mifs Bauns.

The chairman, after dwelling on the impartial decifion of the jury, passed sentence on him,-That he Thould be imprifoned two years for each of the three indictments, and then find fecurity for his good behaviour for feven years, himfelf in a bond of two hundred pounds, and two fureties in one hundred each.

HYDROPHOBIA.

An extraordinary inftance of the hydrophobia happened lately at Eaton, near Windfor. A large yard-dog, belonging to the mafter of the Chriftopher