this Affembly? I do not deny that among an infinite number of acts of violence and folly, fome good may have been done. They who deftroy every thing, certainly will remove fome grievance. They who make every thing new, have a chance that they may establish fomething beneficial. To give them credit for what they have done in virtue of the authority they have ufurped, or which can exaufe them in the crimes by which that authority has been acquired, it must appear, that the fame things could not have been accomplished without producing fuch a revolution. Moft affuredly they might; because almost every one of the regula. tions made by them, which is not very equivocal, was either in the ceffion of the king, voluntarily made at the meeting of the states, or in the concurrent

W

1.

HEN from the bofom of the mine

The magnet first to light was thrown, Fair Commerce hail'd the gift divine, And, fmiling, claim'd it for her

of

UESDAY the 8th, being the Tanniversary of the day fet apart for the public celebration of her majefty's birth-day, who will be 47 years age on the 19th of May next, the morning was ushered in by the ringing of bells, and the royal enfigns were difplayed from the Tower, and the fpires of St. Martin's and St. MargaLet's churches; at one o'clock the cannon placed in St. James's Park were difcharged, and anfwered by thofe on the platform of the Tower.

At an early hour St. James's-ftreet and Pall-mall were crowded with carriages, to witness the proceffion of the equipages, and the dreffes of the courtly vihtors to and from the drawing-room; and, notwithstanding the very unfavourable weather, the number of fair pedestrians was likewife very nume

rous.

The king, queen, and princeffes, came through the park to St. James's, between one and two o'clock, by which time a confiderable number of the nobility, gentry, &c, had affembled in the drawing-room, which was fo exceedingly brilliant, and well attended, as to induce a foreign nobleman to remark, that all the courts in Europe could not boast fo much real beauty, fplendor and elegance, as that of Great Britain. On their majefties being feated, the usual respectful devoirs were made.

The circle confifted of the king, of Wales, princefs royal, princefs Auqueen, their royal highneffes the prince gufta, and Elizabeth; dukes of York, Clarence, and Gloucester; princefs Sophia.

1

fexes were numerous. The nobility and gentry of both

TRIAL OF LORD DUNGARVAN.

The 17th, came on the very extraordinary trial of lord Dungarvan, on the charge of Elizabeth Wheldon, for robbing her of three guineas and an half, on her return from Covent Garden Theatre, a few evenings before.

His lordship entered the Seffionshoufe about ten o'clock, attended by his grace the duke of Portland, and lords Hinchinbroke and Galway, and furrendered himself up to the court.

Lord Dungarvan was then put to the bar, arraigned in the ufual manner, and pleaded Not Guilty. A chair was immediately brought for his lordfhip, by order of the court, and lie fag within the bar.

The profecution was opened by Mr. Contz, who was followed by Mr. Knowles, in an able and gentlemanlike speech.

The profecutrix was then examined; and the depofed, that on Wednesday evening the went to Covent-garden Theatre; that he had taken with her three guineas and an half, and ong fhilling to pay her coach, and half a crown for her admiffion to the The

atr

atre-but before fhe quitted home, fhe had feparated the gold from the filver: that he was feated in the front boxes, when a gentleman addreffed her, who, after fome converfation, begged to be permitted to accompany her home, to which the confented. On quitting the Theatre, not finding her fervant, a numbered linkman was defired to call a coach, which took up a few minutes; that the coach drew up to the end of the piazza, when his lordship got in, and the followed; that he put one of his hands near her pocket, and the other round her waist; that afterwards perceiving him fumbling about his waistcoat pocket, fhe began to fufpect he had robbed her; that on feeling for her money the perceived her lois, which was not til fhe was nearly half-way home; that on her arrival at her house in Rathbone-place, fhe *charged lord Dungarvan with having robbed her; that on his quitting the coach he offered her a guinea, but the refufing to accept it, he endeavoured to make his efcape, from which he defifted on her calling out "ftop thief;" that he then collared him, and gave him into the cuftody of the watchman, who conveyed him to the watch-house.

After other evidence in favour of the profecution had been gone through, baron Thompson, the judge, informed his lordship, if he had any thing to say in his defence, this was the proper time; on which lord Dungarvan, from a written paper, ftated the prosecution to have been founded in malice, and with a view of extorting money he was aware of the impropriety of having accompanied a female of fuch a defcription as the profecutrix: he rejoiced that no rank or fituation could fcreen those from punishment who had offended the laws of their country; he declared himself to be, in point of circumftances, in every refpect infinitely above the leaft fufpicion of the imputation laid to his charge (fupported only by the affertion of the profecutrix), and which he doubted not thofe noble friends, who fhall appear for his character, would fufficiently demonftrate. In this hope, he could not but reft perfectly fatisfied in the decifion of his lordship and the jury.

After fome other examinations had been gone through, baron ThompTon declared he had been for fome time perfectly 'fatisfied; if the jury were the fame, it would be unneceffary to give ford Dungarvan's friends any trouble, or to take up the further time of the court.

Jury. We defire to acquit his lordhip, honourably.

Court." That fhall be remembered, but the common verdict must be taken," Acquitted.

After the clerk of the arraigns had taken the verdict, the learned judge addreffed his lordship in thefe words:

"My lord Dungarvan, it is but juftice to you to fay, that it is impoffible you can go away from this bar, with the fmalleft imputation on your character. Of your imprudence in this bufinefs, you feem to be already very fenfible."

The jury immediately expreffed their perfect fatisfaction at his lordship's acquittal, and only lamented they could not add to its honour.

A general hifs prevailed, when the profecutrix and her fifter Sarah Reily left the court.

The trial lafted from ten o'clock in the morning till four in the afternoon.

PUGILISM.

The 11th, was fought a long depending battle, between Watson, a well-known and scientific bruifer, and one Davies, a butcher, of Bristol. The place pitched upon was Coal Harbour, in Gloucestershire, where the parties met, at the time appointed, attended by their feconds. Ward was fecond to Watfon, and a friend of Davies' performed that part on his fide. Watson was the favourite before the battle began the odds being five to four in his favour. The combatants set to, and in the first round Watson seemed to have the beft, but in the course of the fecond round the fuperiority Davies had over Watfon, in ftrength as well as judgment, was fo evident, that the odds changed almost immediately to two to one against Watson, and Davies then became the favourite. The battle lafted three quarters of an hour; during which time, however, a con

fiderable

fiderable fhare of judgment was fhewn on both fides, and victory was never more obftinately contested. Davies - continued the favourite for the remainder of the battle; but Watfon fought with great fpirit and réfolution; and we are inclined to think, from the great fums, of money that were laid upon him before the battle began, that fome perfons must be confiderable lofers, and that the knowing-ones are taken in Watson being at firit fo much the favourite. After three-quarters of an hour's hard fighting, victory was declared in favour of Davies; but not till Watson was fo entirely exhaufted, and fo much beaten, that he could not ftand up any longer. A very great concourfe of people affembled on the occafion; and the amateurs, it is faid, were equally fatisfied with the conduct of the conquered, as well as the conqueror.

Notwithstanding the expected oppofition of the magiftrates, the battle between Big Ben and Johnson took place on the 17th, at Wrotham, in Kent.

About one o'clock, Johnfon came upon the ftage, with Joe Ward as his fecond, and Mendoza as his bottleholder. Big Ben, with Will Ward and Humphries, appeared foon after. Both the champions had the ufual affectation of cheerfulness, and, as may be expected, fomething more than the ufual degree of animofity.

In the first round, which was much fhorter and more violent than first rounds ufually are, Johnfon fell by a dreadful blow upon the forehead, juft above the note; and from the effects of this, as he afterwards confeffed, he did not entirely recover in any part of the battle.

In the fecond round he alfo fell with a blow; but in the third he knocked his antagonist down. There was then fome increase of the odds in his favour. Big Ben, however, immediately afterwards refumed his advantage, and kept it, with very little variation, to the end. The knock-down blows were in his favour about three to one. His wind was very little worte than Johnfon's, and his temper was better.

After the first knock-down blow, Johnfon attempted to fhift, but Ben very feldom advanced towards him,

and when he did, the former had not room for manœuvre. When a few rounds had been fought, both combatants feemed to lay afide their skill, and rely wholly upon their strength and courage.

In this manner the battle had continued about twenty minutes, when Johnfon, having aimed a very violent blow at Ben, struck the rail and broke the middle finger of his right hand. But, though he was thus difabled, his fpirits feemed good, and his friends were ftill not so much doubtful of the event of the battle, as surprized at its length; two blows from Ben foon af terwards decided the conteft: of thefe, one ftruck Johnson upon the ribs, and the other cut open his lip, fo that he was almost choked with blood. Johnfon fought one or two rounds in this fituation, and would have fought more, but that his friends prevented him.

It was remarkable, that when the conteft was decided, the spectators feemed loft in surprise, and no shouts of joy faluted the victor.

A battle between Johnfon's brother and the ruffian fucceeded this. The former was the conqueror. They fought for about fifteen minutes, in which time they beat each other as fat as poffible, never ftooping or avoiding a blow. At the end of the battle they were both covered with blood, and even the amateurs were difgufted at the fight.

FEMALE RESOLUTION.

A young woman, a few weeks fince, going to Dublin, was ftopped near the fecond lock of the Grand Canal, by a footpad, in the middle of the day, armed with a piftol. With horrid imprecations he demanded what money fhe had about her; which being but a guinea, and begged not to be ill used, The fpeedily gave him. The villain efpied filver buckles in her fhoes, which he likewife demanded. poor young woman, in the greatelt fright, readily condefcended, and proceeded to take them out of her shoes to give to the robber. As foon as the had taken out one, the villain stooped down to exchange it for his own and put it in his fhoe, leaving the piftol he had in his hand at the fame time on the

The

ground

ground near his foot. The young woman inftantly feized the opportunity, and while the pretended to be taking out the other fhoe buckle, fnatched the pistol then on the cock, and fhot the robber through the head. Several perfons prefently came up; and, on fearching the pockets of this unfortunate delinquent, forty guineas were found, which probably were rifled from the poffeffion of other paffengers. The body was taken to Dublin to be owned.

JUSTICE.

In one of our preceding numbers, we mentioned the detection of two young ladies at Colchester, in ftealing goods from the fhop of a tradefman of that town. They have fince been tried, found guilty of the fact, and sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment. They loft their mother at an early age; and to the force of bad example is their extraordinary conduct attributed. The profecution was conducted in a very humane manner.

LONGEVITY.

Lately died at Carlinwark, in GalJoway, Scotland, Jane Walker, aged at least 108 years. She was a woman of unaffected piety, and irreproachable integrity. The faculties of her mind remained found and unimpaired, and even her bodily health fuffered little interruption till about eighteen months previous to her death. Three years ago fhe was fworn as a witnefs in a law-fuit of confiderable importance, and gave a depofition furprifingly accurate. Being afked by the commiffioner in the proof (for the purpofe of afcertaining her age) whether The faw any part of king William's cavalry pafs through this country, on their march for Ireland, in the year 1689? She replied, That the did not fee them, but that coming to Haugh of Urr, foon after the dragoons had left it, The faw on a piece of holmland, near the fpot where the bridge now ftands, the place where the war-horfes had been fed; and obferved feveral poor people fcraping up the remains of the black oats, which the horfes had left. Within thefe twenty years above twelve perfons have died in the lower part of

Galloway, aged from 100 to 115. One William Marshall, is still alive, aged 117.

MURDER.

About the middle of the month, a woman, named Pearfon, died in St. Luke's workhouse, in confequence of the ill treatment the received from four men, a few nights before, at a publichouse in Golden-lane. It seemed that in the courfe of fome words with the deceafed, one of them ftruck her upon the head with a quart pot; after which, following her to her lodgings in the neighbourhood, and forcing the door, they alternately used her in the most brutal manner, and, with a cooper's tool, which they left behind them, gave her fo many wounds upon the tomach and belly, that by the lofs of blood, &c. fhe was rendered infenfible when found the next morning. The parish officers, very much to their credit, have taken proper fteps for bringing thefe offenders to justice.

DEATH.

The 21ft, at his houfe near Croft'sfquare, Bishopfgate-ftreet, Mr. Tho mas Kent, aged 69. Mr. Kent was many years remarkable for his fordid manner of living, though poffeffed of an opulent fortune, as from the lowest ftate of indigence he gradually came into poffeffion of the whole court in which he lived, as well as feveral other tenements in different parts of the town. Mr. Kent and his wife were well known, for several years, by riding in the character of king and queen to Horn Fair, as well as by accumulating a fufficiency for purchafing the first house they lived in, by boiling bones which they picked up in the treets. During the life of his fpoufe, they always kept their birth-day by diftributing beef and beer among their tenants; but fince her death, though his property has been increafing, his dif pofition became fo penurious, that from his appearance among ftrangers, he was frequently mistaken for a beggar What is more remarkable, a perfon of fome landed property, generally known by the name of Old Dick, and of the faine turn of mind, has lived with him. for feveral years part; to him, and an infant niece, all his property is willed.