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FOREIGN HISTORY.

OLBERG, of the fiege of which a particular account was given in our laft, was, after an obftinate defence of near fix months, furrendered to the Ruffians on the 17th of December. The Pr. of Wurtenburg made an unfuccefsful attempt to relieve the garrison, and to throw in ftores and provifions to fupply the inhabitants, but having failed in his enterprize, the Ruffian General Romanzow, made an affault on the night of the 13th, in which, however, he was repulfed with confiderable lofs. But what the Ruffians could not atchieve by their valour, famine compell'd the brave commandant to deliver up without a blow. Reduced to the laft extremity, the army beaten and driven back, on which their laft refource depended, no hope of fupply left by fea or land, and no poffibility of diflodging the enemy, who ftill continued firm, Col. Heyden, the governor, fent articles of capitulation to the Ruffian camp, which were immediate-ly accepted. It is faid, indeed, that the very day after the furrender of Colberg, 11 thips, laden with provifions from Stettin, arrived in the road, and that the Ruffians had found means to decoy them in. In confequence of conqueft, the Ruffians are now become mafters of the Neru Marche, part of Pomerania, and of all Pruffia, a blow, the greatest that has been given to his Pruffian majefty during the war, and which will not eafily be recovered, even if the Empress Queen were to confent to peace. The Ruffians are a hardy people, bred to labour in a barren country, & inur'd to the rigorous difcipline of war. Such a people in poffeffion of a fruitful foil, feldom quit their new acquifitions to return to the dreary waftes from whence they came; but, animated with the hope of further advantages, proceed from conqueft to conqueft, till at length they become formidable, and fometimes fatal even to the ally who called them in.

The Ruffians have already begun to repair the fortifications of Colberg; and 18,000 of their beft troops occupy Stargard, and the right of the Oder to the neighbourhood of Stettin.

On the reduction of this fortress, the Pruffian General, Platen, took the route of Berlin, in his way to join Prince Henry in Saxony; and the Prince of Wartemburg filed off to the Duchy of Mecklenburg Schwerin. On the 8th inft, Pr. Henry met Gen Platen, at Leipzic, and, after fettling the quarters affigned to the corps, which that General led into Saxony, the Prince returned on the 11th to Hoff, where the head quarters is now eftablished. Upon the Pr. of Wurtenberg's arrival at Mecklenburg Schwerin, the reigning Duke returned to Lubec, and ordered his mint to be transported to Entin, in ducal Helfiein. The Prince's headquarters are established at Roflock, and thofe of Col. Belling are already at Gaftrow.

Some letters take notice, that a convention had been agreed upon between the Auftrian and Pruffian armies in Silefia, for fecuring the tranquillity of their refpective quarters during the winter, but that this convention had been broken by Gen. Laudebn, in confequence of which the King of Pruffia's army had re

ived orders to march, but to what quarter is

not faid. It is indeed pretended, that a winter expedition into Bobemia is projected, in order to draw fubfiftence for the troops out of that country, but the rifque of being overtaken by the vaft fnows that generally fall upon the mountains, will probably deter his majesty from an attempt of this kind, unless compelled to it through neceffity.

We hear but little news from the armies of either power, during this inactive season for military operations. Heavy contributions are the natural confcquences of quartering halfpay'd armies, and wherever the enemy prevails, certain ruin to the innocent inhabitants takes place, Indeed we learn from Pomeramia,that the Ruffians there obferve the ftricteft difcipline, and pay honeftly for what they have, a certain indication that they do not intend foon to evacuate that territory.

Great levies of men are making throughout the K. of Pruffia's dominions, and in all parts of Germany no money is fpared to engage young recruits.

A report has been fpread, but upon what foundation is not generally known, that an engagement has happened in the neighbourhood of Leipzic, in which the Auftrian general, Haddick, had been defeated. What gives fome colour to this report, is, the arrival there of Gen. Platen, and probably fome fkirmish may have happened between the advanced parties of the two armies in taking up their winter-quarters, which, if not decifive, is hardly worth reporting.

The Court of Vienna affects to treat with great ridicule the late confpiracy against the life of his Pruffian majefty; it has even defcended fo low as to forge a second, in order to make the reality of the firft the less credible. The king, however, will not fail to give the public the ampleft fatisfaction on this head, when, no doubt, the contrivers of this execrable attempt will appear in their proper colours.

In Weftphalia the two armies remain pretty quiet. On the 4th and 5th inft. Gen. Luckner, at the head of 3 or 4000 men, advanced on the fide of Meningen, and put the French in a pannick, by carrying off all the men in that part of the country, from the age of 15 to 40. Two of his Huffars were made prifoners on this occafion, and he made 7 of the enemy's Huffars prifoners; but the French have exacted of the country 500 livres for each of these 7 men, under pretence that the country-people favour'd their falling into Lackner's hands.

On the declaration of war against Spain, all Europe is in agitation. The Dutch begin to be alarmed. The demand for fuccours will be made upon them from more quarters than one. France is exerting all her force; Spain is marching troops to her frontiers from all quarters; feamen & shipping are every where collecting, at whatever pains and whatever price. Projects are talk'd of that can never take place, and, in fhort, if enterprifes were as easily executed as talked of, both England and Íreland would foon become the feats of war, and be made to feel the horrors of it, which they now only read of at a distance, but thanks to Provi dence there is an unpaffable gulph between us.

Historical Chronicle, Jan. 1762.

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FRIDAY Dec. 18.

N prefenting to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the money bills which then received the royal affent, the Hon. Mr Ponsonby, Speaker to the Houfe of Commons, made the following speech:

May it please your Excellency,

It is with the greatest fatisfaction, that I obey the commands of the Houle of Com· mons, by prefenting to your Excellency a bill of fupply, for the fupport of his majef· ty's government, granted by them with the utmost chearfulneís, unanimity and dispatch.

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Hazeborough fand, near Yarmonth; Captain Gordon, and above one half of his men perifhed. Thofe who escaped were quite exhaufted, having ftaid till Friday on the wreck without other fuftenance, than a little raw meat and fpirituous liquors.

Thomas Afton was executed at Tyburn, for robbing the Bath waggoner on Hounslow beaeb. This young fellow was a foldier, of a fine make and ftature, and had been employed as a guard to the Briftol coach; but how he came to be guilty of fuch a petty robbery, does not feem eafy to be accounted for. His body was delivered to his friends.

Orders arrived at Portsmouth dock, to fit all the ships, frigates, &c. for the fea with the utmoft expedition.

THURSDAY 31.

His R.H. the D. of York, in the courfe of this month, vifited Bristol, Bath, and the Western part of the kingdom. He has already vifited the Northern and Southern parts of England,

They are affured that their proceedings in this feffion, will be a convincing proof to your Excellency, of their fteady and invioble duty to his majefty; from which principle (deeply rooted in their judgments, and cultivated by the warmest affections) they will never upon any occafion depart: Yet they are at the fame time juftly fenfible, and do with the fincereft gratitude acknowledge, how much your Excellency's pru-and by his courteous and frank behaviour, has dence and candour, in the execution of the high truft committed to you, have contributed to that (almost unprecedented) harmony, by which they promise themselves this feffion of parliament will be distinguished.

I may farther, in the name of the Com" mons, declare, that your Excellency's conduct has not in the leaft exceeded the expectations raised in our minds, before your happy arrival among us: And as we have the strongest confidence, that our proceedings will be favourably reprefented to his majefty, we feel the moft pleafing affurance, that the happiness and tranquillity which this nation now enjoys, will not be interrupted fo long as your Excellency shall continue to prefide over it.'

MONDAY 21.

The powder magazine near the Bruffel's gate in Maeftricht, a ftrong town on the frontiers of Holland, blew up with a terrible explofion. The guard of the magazine, confifting of 11 foldiers, were all killed. The house of the Princess of Heffe Philipftabl was very much thattered, and her Highness buried under the ruins. The houfe of Baron Salis, that was nearer the magazine, was quite deftroyed, and not one of the family, except the coachman, efcaped. About 18 perfons perifhed by this difafter, which was occafioned by a cannonier plundering the magazine in the night.

WEDNESDAY 23.

His majefty gave the royal aflent to a bill for more effectually preventing the exceffive ufe of fpirituous liquors for home confumption, by laying additional duties on all fpirits made in Great Britain, or imported into the fame; and for better regulating the exportation of British made fpirits, and for fecuring the duties upon fpirituous liquors.

To an act for the importation of falted beef, pork, and butter from Ireland, for the Supply of all ships in his majesty's immediate fervice and pay.

gained the affection of the people wherever he has been.

The Spanish merchants waited upon the E. of Egremont, and have obtained leave for all Spanish thips, now loaded or loading in any of the ports of Great Britain, to depart in fafety, agreeable to treaties which stipulate, that in cafe of a rupture, the fubjects of each na Dtion fhall have fix months to return to their refpective countries with their effects. The Spaniards, on the contrary, have laid an embargo on all shipping in their ports.

To one road-bill, and three private bills.
WEDNESDAY 30.
His majefty's fhip Biddeford, ran on fhore on

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The contract for oxen this month by the victualling office, was 17. 35. 114. for oxen ; and 11. 15. 6d. for hogs.

It was difcovered that a fum amounting to X 600 1. had been ftolen out of the bursary of New College, Oxford. What renders this robbery the more extraordinary is, that the money belonging to the fociety of each college, is always fecured in the college cheft, under as many locks of different conftructions as there are burfars, and the different keys severally kept by each.

The officers of the troops compofing the garrifon of Gibraltar, received orders to join their refpective regiments immediately. The

abfence of the officers, occafioned the lefs of Minorca at the beginning of the prefent French war.

Robberies ftill continue frequent about this city, many of them attended with acts of cruelty; a poor woman, after being robbed near Knightfbridge, was defperately wounded with Ga wheel-wright's adze, of which wound, the died in the infirmary.

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FRIDAY Jan. 1.

Notice was fixed up at the General PostOffice, that after the 18th inftant, no more correfpondence would be carried on with Spain. At the fame time,a meffage was fent to Lloyd's coffee-house, to acquaint the merchants, that no embargo will be laid on any fhips whatfoever.

The Ode for the New Year was performed before their majefties. (Sec p. 39-) There was a fplendid appearance at court, and very little figns of the nation's being engaged in a

new war,

The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, VOL. XXXII.

A lady in Bond freet, faid to be nearly related to the young officer who was wounded in Hyde Park, thot herself through the head with a piftol, and died in great agonies. She was the daughter of a family of fortune at Nortbazo in Hertfordshire, and had married against her H .friend's confent.

Eight perfons were apprehended, by order 1of the magiftry of Dublin, who had been enlisted for the English service without any authority from the government of Ireland,

HISTORICAL

wind being favourable, Capt Tonyn chose rather to pursue his voyage, than lye by to pick her up.

The Bearnoife has been taken by the Richmond on the coaft of Spain. She carries 14 carriage guns, and 12 fwivels, and 82 men. She came from Corunna, and was bound to Bayonne.

A violent wind, attended with rain, did very confiderable damage to the shipping and fmall craft on the river; four Indiamen broke from their moorings, and by the tide was carried from one fide of the river to the other, but received no damage. Some houses were blown down, and many chimnies, by which feveral lives were loft. A loud clap of thunder, with lightening, was heard in the middle of the night. The waters in the river Thames rofe higher than has been known for many years, and the gardens at Mill-bank were all laid under water. At Plymouth, the damage was much more confiderable, several thips were forced on fhore and ftaved to pieces, nine men of war in the road were almost all

dismasted, and a fine Weft-Indiaman, outward bound, was run a-ground and fwrecked. The tide ran fo high, that part of the Lower Town was laid under water, and boats and timber were carried up the ftreets. At Weymouth the Zenobea, a French frigate, was wrecked, and 150 of her crew perished. The Bellona man of war at Portsmouth, had her main-mast shivered from top to bottom by the lightening. WEDNESDAY 13.

following, word was brought that her fifter was dead. She died Feb. 2, 1760, and was buried in two or three days after, at the church of St John, Clerkenwell, her fifter attending the funeral, who was furprized at not feeing a plate on the coffin, and expreffed that furprize to Mr Brotun after the funeral was over; lamenting, at the fame time, that she had not been permitted to fee her fifler's corpfe, the coffin being fkrewed down before the came. She added, that K- had married one of her fifter's, and had ruined the other, who was buried by the name of as appears by the parish register. By the will already mentioned, K- avail'd himself of her fortune, to Bthe prejudice of her brother and fifters, who all lived in perfect harmony tl this unhappy affair happened. Such is the account given by Mr Brown of Amen Corner. A worthy clergyman, however, who attended her feveral times, and who adminiftered to her the laft comforts of his function, declares, that the fmali pox with which fhe was feized, was of the faculty who attended her, had pronounced the confluent fort, and that the gentlemen of her irrecoverable fome days before her death.

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Between the hours of 11 and 12 at night, a gentleman was fent for to the house of one Parfons, officiating parish clerk of St Sepul cbre's in Cock lane, near Weft Smithfield, to be witness to the noifes and other extraordinary circumstances, attending the fuppofed presence of a fpirit, that for thefe two years paft has been heard in the night, to the great terror of the family. To throw fome light upon this E very myfterious affair, we fhall begin with the narrative of Mr Brown of Amen Corner, publifhed January 23, the fubftance of which is as follows:

That in 1759, one Mr K- employed an agent to carry a letter to a young gentlewoman of a reputable family in Norfolk, and to bring her up to London in a poft chaife, if she should be willing to come; that he did come, but Mr K-being at Greenwich, the followed him there directly, and was received by him, after a journey of 100 miles performed in one day, with much tenderne fs: After some short stay at Greenwich, where it was thought neceffary that he should make a will in his favour, the was removed to a lodging near the Manfionhoufe; from thence to lodgings behind St Sepulchre's church; and, laftly, to a house in Bartlet court, in the parish of Clerkenwell; here in 1760, the was taken ill of the smallpox, and on or about the 31st of January, her fifter, who lived reputably in Pall Mall, was firft made acquainted with her illness and place of refidence, and being overjoyed to hear of her, went immediately to fee her, ,and found her in a fair way of doing well; next day fhe fent to her, and received a favourable account of her; but on the morning

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It is, however, the ghost of this perfon, that Parfons declares has taken poffeffion of his girl, a child about 12 years old, who lay with the deceafed in the abfence of her fuppofed husband, when he was in the country at a wedding about two years ago, and then it was that the knocking was first heard, to the great terror of this child; the frequently crying out that she might not be taken away. Soon after, this woman died, whofe apparition is now fuppofed to appear to this fame child, and in answer to the question put to her on Tuesday night, What was the occafion of the firit knocking, &c. before she died? answered, that it was the fpirit of her fifter, the first wife of Mr K-, who was husband to them

both.

Having now fufficiently prepared the reader, we shall proceed in our narrative: The gen tleman already faid to have been fent for, at tended, and found the child in bed, and the fpirit being at hand, feveral questions were put to it by the father, which to avoid repetition, we fhall relate hereafter. The gentleman not caring to pronounce too haftilly upon what appeared to him extraordinary, got fome friends together, among whom were two three clergymen, about 20 other perfons, and two negroes, and fat up another night.

They first thoroughly examined the bed, bed cloaths, &c. and being fatised that there was no vifible appearance of a deceit, the child, Gwith its fifter, was put into bed, which was found to shake extremely by the gentleman who had placed himself at the foot of it.

Among others, the following questions were afked. Whether her disturbance was occafioned by any ill treatment from Mr K-? yes. Whether the was brought to an untimeHly end by poison? yes.-In what was the poifon administered, beer or purl ? pur-How long before her death? three bours. Is the perion called Carrots, able to give information about the poiton ? yes.-Whether he was

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The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, VOL. XXXII.

K-'s wife fifter? yes. Whether he was married to K-?no.-Whether any other perfon than K-were concerned in the poifon ing? no. Whether he could vifibly appear to any one? yes.Whether fhe would do fo? yes.-Whether the could go out of that house? yes. Whether fhe would follow the child every where? yes.-Whether he was pleased in being asked questions? yes.-Whether it eafed her mind? yes.~[Here a mysterious noife, compared to the fluttering of wings round the room was heard.]-How long before her death had the told Carrots (het fervant) that the was poifoned? onebour.-[Here Carrots, who was admitted to be one of the company on Tuesday night, afferted that the deceafed had not told her fo, fhe being at that time fpeechless.]-How long did Carrots live with her? three or four days.-[Carrots attefted the truth of this.]-Whether if the accufed fhould be taken up he would confefs? yes.Whether the should be at ease in her mind if

preferr'd against bim, on both which he would
have been acquitted, but for the evidence of a
pawnbroker's man, who fwore to the identity
of his perfon, when both the gentlemen rob

A bed had declined it. He was train'd as a fol-
dier in Burgoyne's light-horse, where, it is ap
prehended, he learnt his dexterity in horfe-
manship.

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the man was hanged? yes.-How long it C

would be before he would be executed? three years. How many clergymen were in the room? three-How many negroes? two.Whether fhe could diftinguish the perfon of aby one in the room? yes.-Whether the colour of a watch held up by one of the clergy was white, yellow, blue, or black? anfwered black. [The watch was in a black fhaggreen cafe.]-At what time he would depart in the morning? at four o'clock.—[Accordingly, at this hour the noife removed to the Wheat fenf, a public houfe, at the diftance of a few doors, in the bed chamber of my landlord and landlady, to the great affright and terror of them both. Such is the manner of interro

gating the fpirit; the answer is given by knocking or fcratching. An affirmative is one knock; a negative, two. Displeasure is expreffed by scratching.

As the impoftor will probably foon be difcovered, let this fort detail fuffice to fhew the tendeny of it; the whole of the nonfenfe would fill a magazine.

THURSDAY 14.

A quarrel happening between fome English and Spanish failors, a Spaniard pulled out a knife, and ftabbed an Englifbarn in the belly. The Spaniard was feized and committed to prifon.

The regiments that are returned from BelRifle, are Whitmore's, Panmure's, Beauclerk's, Loudon's, and Manners's. Thofe left to garrifon the place, are Craufurd's, the Buffs, Lamberts, Boscawen, and Stewart's. Gen. Craufurd ftays as governor, and Col. How as Lieut. governor.

At Portsmouth there has been much rioting, the occafion not mentioned, but probably about prefling men for his majefty's fervice. At a rope-yaid there, the failors were fo rioious, that a party of the militia were fent for. who fired, and hot one of them with a ball in the bowels, upon which the reft difperfed. SATURDAY 16.

At the feffions, which ended this day at the Old Bailey, Samuel Haris, fuppofed to be the bying tghwayman to much talked of, was

ed and found guilty. Two indictments were

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At this feffions Wm Hunt alfo was capitally convicted for ftealing a filver tankard.

One White was tried for ftealing a portmanteau, (feep. 600.) and acquitted, notwithstanding a diamond-ring, a lottery-ticket, and EaftIndia bond that were fworn to have been in the portmanteau, were all proved to be had of him. Sixteen received fentence of tranfportation for 7 years, and one for 14, who was, the fame day, pardoned by his majefty; three were burnt in the hand, and one whipped.

A proclamation was iffued for keeping a public faft on the 12th of March in England and Ireland. In Scotland the fame is to be

kept on Thursday the 11th.

A boat overfet at London-bridge, by which accident two men were drowned, and a third was faved by his dog, who being in the boat with him, drew his master to shore almoft spent and speechless.

As Mr Taylor, jun. anchor-fmith at Limeboxfe, was putting fome old iron into the fire, the barrel of an old piftol happened to be in the parcel, which, being loaded, in a little time went off, and unfortunately fhot him dead. MONDAY 18.

By letters from on board the Valiant, Comm. Keppel, just arrived at Plymouth, it appears, that the whole fquadron off Breft fuffered fe verely in the ftorm on the 12th, the Commo

dore's fhip having five feet water in her hold.

Only four fhips came in with the Commodore, the reft were difperfed; fo that the Breft fquadron may now fail where they pleafe.

An antient man at Plymouth, who remem bers the terrible ftorm, Nev. 20, 1703, when the Ediffone light-house was blown down, fays, that fince that florm, he cannot remember a ny equal to this of the 12th inft.

The tranfports from Belleifle are all arrived except one, in which is Lieut. Col. Jennings of Lord Loudon's regiment.

Being the anniversary of her majefty's birth day, there was the most brilliant appearance at court that ever was known, the nobility and gentry vying with each other in the gran deur of their equipage and drefs. At one o'clock the Park and Tower guns were fired, and all other public demonftrations of joy were exhibited. The houses of the two fecretaries of ftate were illuminated in a very extraordjnary manner, and there were bonfires at all the public places throughout London & Westminster.

In Ireland the Lord Lieutenant had infued out an order, that all who appeared at court as this day, fhould be dreffed in the manufactures of that kingdom; an example, however laudable, that cannot be followed in a commercial nation.

A commiffion has paffed the great feal to authorife the Lords of the Admiralty to grant Letters of Marque and Commiffions to Priva teers for taking thips, &c. belonging to Spain.

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