will be equalled, ought to be recorded to the honour of the artificers of Portsmouth Dock-yard: The Prince of Wales of 98 guns went off the flocks on Saturday at eleven o'clock, came into the wet-dock next fide, and was caulked and coppered complete in nine hours, in order to fhew his Majefty the operation: and his Majesty, attended by Earl Chatham, &c. after coming out of the chapel witnefied the copper laying on. A Swedish fleet of feven fail of the fine, arrived in the Road of Copenhagen the 19th of June, to join the Danith fouadron which is ready for fea. The Danish Admiral Krieger, commands the combined flect the first three months.. The Emperor hath left the Nether lands, the affairs of Poland demand his attention; the views of the Courts of Ruffia and Pruffia, are probably not propitious to the Auftrian interefts. On the 23d ult. he arrived unexpectedly at his chateau of Schonbrun. L.600,000 as a payment of the fubfidy to the King of Pruffia, hath been received at Berlin. There hath been held for the first time, a Court of Lieutenancy for the city of London, under the new Militia Bill, when the Court came to a refolution that bids fair to put the military force of the metropolis upon a footing fuited to its dignity and importance.-Mr Jackfon, after taking a view of the ancient inftitution, and comparing it with the propofed eftablishment, and ftating what might reafonably be expected at the hands of that Court, by his Majefty, the two Houfes of Parliament, and the city of London, who had repofed in the Commiffioners a degree of confidence fo extenfive and flattering, moved, that a Committee be appointed, confifting of eight Aldermen, two Directors of the Bank of England, two Directors of the Eaft India Company, two Directors of the South Sea Company, and fix private Commiffioners, to take into confideration the bill recently paffed, and to report their opinion of the moft effectual means of carrying it into tinent. He goes to tranfact business of the highest importance with the Emperor. There has of late been ferious difturbances at Newcastle among the keelmen, fo as to require the aid of the military for their fuppreffion. This ufeful and numerous body of men are employed in bringing coals down the river Tyne, in large craft, to where the fhipping lie; but as fome of the colliers can fhip their coals by means of fpouts, inftead of keeling them, the men attribute their frequent want of employment to this method of loading coals, therefore have struck from their work, which has caufed much interruption to the trade, as well as to the fupplying of London with this necessary article. The coal-owners not complying with the keelmen's demands, the latter became very riotous, and proceeded to unwarrantable acts of violence, in damaging the Walkers, Walfend, and some other collieries, infomuch that the magiftrates were obliged to call in the military to their affiftance, which foon difperfed them and reftored peace. A final feparation, it is confidently faid, between agentleman of the moft diftinguished rank, and a lady who refides in Pall-mall, has actually taken place; that the agreements formerly entered into have been given up by mutual confent; and that a new contract has been figned, by which the lady is fecured in the poffeffion of a very handfome annuity, befides retaining her house in Pall-mall, plate,jewels, &c. On a reference to the twelve judges from the Privy Council, concerning the mode of trying the perfons now in cuftody on the charges of fedition and high treafon, after mature deliberation it was then agreed, that the most legal, eligible, and convenient mode would be in the ufual courfe of administering juftice, viz. for thofe perfons confined in London and Middlefex to be tried at the feffions houfe in the Old Bailey, at the commiffion of Oyer and Terminer: the time to be (if the parties were ready) at the next feffion in September. For fuch as are confined in the country, to try them at the next country aflizes. The two Chief Juftices, and all the other Judges, figned the report on Tuesday, and in the afternoon it was lodged in the Privy Council office. wind carried the flames to Cock-hill, Stoneftairs, Ratcliff, Brook street, Harris' court, Vine-yard, &c. which were all presently in flames, and appeared from the river like a fheet of fire. The effect of the faltpetre was fomething fimilar to an earthquake, or the eruption of a volcano; for it was thrown up to a prodigious height, and fell like a fhower of fire, which fcorched, and nearly fuffocated thofe employed in endeavouring to extinguish the flames. Upwards of a hundred houses were on fire by five o'clock. It is fuppofed that at leaft 10,000 (fome accounts faid 20,000) bags of falt-petre have been deftroyed. It was fortunate that the quantity imported by the laft fhips from Bengal had been previously deposited in the Tower. The adjacent streets, as far as Mile-end, were filled with the effects of the unfortunate fufferers. The fire alfo took its courfe up Brookftreet, Stepney Causeway, caught the premifes of Mr Shakespeare, rope-maker, and burnt through to the fields on the one fide, and the whole of the dwellings on the other, till at length it may be fairly faid, the fire ceafed for want of materials to confume, having reached an open space of ground, where the connection of perishable fubftances was broken. What is very remarkable, the dwellinghouse of Mr Bere, an extenfive building, food entirely uninjured in the very midft of this mighty ruin, and which, we are informed, was never quitted by the family that inhabits it: affifted by their friends, they fo drenched it with water, that not even a pane of glafs was cracked. It is a good house, and well worth the labour bestowed upon it, but it appears to the fpectator to stand by a miracle. The whole of Mr Shakespeare's hemp warehouses have been entirely confumed. The lofs of the Eaft India Company by this calamity, it is feared, muft be nearly two hundred thousand pounds. The fhip Hannah, a fine Weft Indiaman, was burnt down to the water's edge; likewife two of three small craft. A furvey was yefterday afternoon taken by the warden and other officers of the hamlet, whofe report was, that out of 1200 houses, of which the hamlet confifted, not more than 570 were preferved from the general conflagration; and what is more to be regretted, the greater number were the principal contributors towards the fupport of the poor. It having been reported that the fire was maliciously occafioned, upon the most minute enquiry it is clearly afcertained, that it was entirely accidental. From the great distress the above fire occafioned to a vaft number of poor families, government humanely ordered 120 tents to be immediately pitched for their accommodation, in Stepney fields, till they could be more comfortably provided for. That fome idea may be formed of the very great loss fuftained by this unfortunate event, the warehouses of Mr Whiting contained fugars to the amount of upwards of 40,000l. which were entirely deftroyed. The distress of the miserable inhabitants exceeded all defcription. In the furrounding fields were depofited the few goods, confifting chiefly of bedding, they were able to fave. Stepney church was opened for their reception, and above 1000 people were obliged to remain all night in the fields, watching the remnant of their property: children crying for their loft parents, and parents lamenting the fate of their children, added to the hor rors of a scene, not equalled during the prefent century. Amidst the flaughter of men on the frontiers of France, the heart of the humane is called even to fuffer a deeper regret from the very numerous inftances of execution which have lately been exhibit. ed in the capital. The two sections of the revolutionary tribunal have difplayed a dreadful activity in the work of death. Among the lift of victims we observe ten women and girls under twenty years of age, and two youths of feventeen and fourteen. What crime could they have committed that merited fuch a fate? A policy, to the amount of one million fterling, has been opened at Lloyd's, to infure diamonds from Mr Hope's houfe at Amfterdam, to the house of a princi pal merchant in London. The premium is one guinea per cent. The remittances from Holland continue to be immenfe, which makes the money market fo plentiful. The exchange on Holland has not been fo high for many years. A fhip from Newcastle to Davis' Straits hath this feafon imported the most valuable cargo ever brought from that quar ter in one bottom; it confifted of ten whales, none of which were under ten feet bone; they produced 180 tons of blubber, and the fins weighed nine tons. Aug. 1794. British Intelligence. clock a moft tremendous thunder ftorm arofe, accompanied by long and vivid flashes of lightning. The rain at the fame time fell down from the clouds like cataracts. The claps of thunder were awful, and fo loud, that people who have faced the rage of the elements in all climes do not remember to have heard peals of thunder of fuch force. The Cock public-houfe, Temple-Bar, received fome damage, fortunately, however it did not catch fire. The flash which hurt this houfe, was feen to come down in an immenfe body a few yards eaft of Temple-Bar; it wheeled about with great velocity, and ftruck with immenfe force. Fortunately the heavy rain had driven every perfon from the street, and no coach was paffing. The first effect obferved, was fimilar to that produced by an explofion of gun-powder; every parcle of ftraw, mud, and even the water, was completely fwept from the ftreet; and the doors and windows of the houses, particularly on the north fide of the street, were fhaken, fome of them driven open. A waterman, croffing Lambeth Marsh, was knocked down by its force, and his recovery was for fome time deemed doubtful. A fhoemaker, near Aldegate, was ftruck dead while standing at his door. The center beam at Lloyd's coffee-room fuddenly cracked during the ftorm, and a great part of the ceiling fell down. The torrent of rain was fo great that in a few minutes the floor was covered with water No accident, however, happened in confequence. There have been very violent ftorms of thunder and lightning lately in variouscounties, which, in feveral inftances, have proved fatal to perfons expofed to their effects; a good number of cattle have been killed; trees fhivered in pieces; and public buildings shattered. At the fuit of his Majefty, the cause refpecting the marriage of Prince Auguftus Frederick and Lady Augufta Murray, which had been folemnzied at the parish church of St. George, Hanover-fquare, was finally determined in the Arches Court, Doctors' Commons; when Sir William Wynne delivered the judgement of the Court, that faid marriage was utterly null and void; and alfo declared that a former marriage pretended to have been celebrated at Rome, was alfo, by the law of this country, invalid and illegal. The States of Holland and Weft Friefland, in their fitting of the 26th inft. paffed a refolution, declaring their de termination to employ every measure The Prince of Wales' birth-day, who en- COMMERCIAL EXCHEQUER BILLS. This measure has completely aniwered the purpose for which it was intended. By the final report of the commiffioners it appears, that the whole fum advanced to relieve different perfons has been repaid, and that there remains a profit to the nation, arifing from the difference of intereft paid by the borrowers, and that due on the Exchequer bills. The following is a fhort statement of the account: granted under the Act of Amount of the Exchequer bills Parliament, Lent upon different applications, 5,000,000 2,202,200 There were applications for above drawn, as the power of obtaining the loan 1,000,000l. more; but they were withrendered it in these inftances unneceffary to obtain it. There were alfo fome few Profit arifing from intereft paid by the Expence of executing the Commiffion, Profit paid into the Exchequer, FEMALE HEROISM. £. 13,033 8,685 8,685 The Betfey of London in her return from Jamaica, parted from her convoy in the Gulph of Florida, and was captured the 20th ult. off the Lizard, by l'Unite French frigate, in company with the Thames, three other frigates, and a corvette. Capt. Gibfon and his crew, (except the mate, carpenter, cook, a boy, and Mrs Williams, a paffenger,) were taken out of the Betfey by the Frenchmen, and a Lieutenant and 13 men put on board to take charge of the prize. On July 23d in the evening, the fhip being driven by heavy gales of wind, in fight of Guernsey, a plot was laid for fecuring the Frenchmen, and to re-take 3 U 2 the flip. Mrs Williams counterfeited being being ill, on purpose to draw an attention to her from the Lieutenant, whilft the cabin-boy removed the fire-arms, &c. which being effected, the prepared herself with very extraordinary refolution for the event. Recovering in a short time her compofure, the went to the mate, and with heroifm unparalleled, actually engaged to affift in the execution of the project. At eleven o'clock at night, when the Lieutenant was afleep in his birth, and others of the French were between decks, in the fore part of the ship, the fignal was given, and Mrs Williams kept her refolution by locking the Lieutenant's door, and ftanding with her back againft it to prevent its being opened: in the mean while the Frenchmen on deck were thurft down the fore hatch-way by the three men, and threatened with death if they made any attempt to get up. Providence favouring their efforts with a fine breeze from the S. W. in twelve hours they caft anchor in Cowes road, ifle of Wight, Mrs Williams in the pofition, when relieved by a boat's crew who went on board, of holding a pistol to the cabin door. Thus, chiefly by the exertions of a fpirited woman and three brave fellows, have the proprietors and underwriters recovered a ship and cargo worth L. 20,000. Mrs Williams (who is a native of Scotland,) is a smart well looking woman, between 30 and 40 years of age. Such an act of heroifm in a French woman would make a noise in the national Convention for a month. EDINBURGH. On the 29th ult. came into Leith Roads his Majefty's brig King's Fisher, J. le M. Goffelin commander, who relates, that, on the 24th curt. he retook the Dundee Greenlandman of Dundee, going into Bergen in Norway; which veffel, with the Raith of Leith, was taken by a squadron of French fhips of confiderable force on the 21ft. Previous to the re-capture, the Dundee picked up a boat at fea with eight Frenchmen, who faid they were part of a crew. of fixteen men, who were put on board the Raith Greenland fhip, to navigate her into Bergen, but the mate, and another man, had re-taken her from them, and fent them adrift in the boat. They did not know what was become of the ship. board the Raith of Leith at Lerwick, retaken by Burrish Lyon the mate, and a nother man, from fixteen Frenchmen. The following is an extract of the mate's letter to one of the owners: The Royal George Excife cutter-brig is arrived in Leith Roads, and has on board feven Frenchmen received from on SIR, You will, perhaps, before this time hear of your hip, the Raith, being taken by a fquadron of French hips, con fifting of two 40 gun hips, two 36 ditto, two loops of 22 guns each, and a cutter brig of 20 guns. We were taken on the 21t curt. at noon; when, after having taken fundry of the ftores, along with Mr Young and the fhip's crew, into a frigate, excepting myfelf, and two of the perple, who were left on board, with fixteen Frenchmen, to carry the dip into Bergen in Norway. On Wednesday the 23d, we loft one of the Englishmen over board, be ing a cooper. On the 24th, at 15 miles weft of Bergen, I re-took her from the French, fending nine of the Frenchmen away in one of the boats, and put the ret in confinement on board. As foon as I re-took her, I bore away for Shetland, being the nearest British land. I arrived fafe at Lerwick this evening, and got the fhip fafe moored, and delivered the pri foners up to Mr Curry (commanding the Royal George Excife brig) by Lieut. Scott's orders. Our voyage confifts of 160 butts blubber, befides bone. I only wait here for hands, when you may de pend on my proceeding with every pos fible difpatch to Leith. As I have had no reft fince the re-taking of the flip, and Captain Currie fails immediately with dif patches, I hope you will forgive this ir regular letter. I remain, Sir, yours, &c 25, (Signed) BURRISH LYONS.' The French prifoners, amounting to from the re-captured Greenland men were brought up from Leith, and lodged in the Caftle. Some of them fay, that they were in the engagement of the firft of June. Letters received from Peterhead, Kirkwall, and other places, make mention of feveral French fhips of force cruizing in the North feas, and picking up many 'Dutch and Scotch fishing veffels. His Majefty has been pleafed to grant a pardon to the three foldiers condemn ed at laft Aberdeen circuit, on condition of their enlifting in fome corps in his fer he had died from fuffocation, in confequence of the immoderate ufe of fpirits, and no external mark of violence appcared on her body. Aug.2. The Chacer of London, Charles Clark, was taken on the 19th, near Shetland, by the Fraternity, of L'Orient, of 12 eighteen pounders and fix swivels, and fent for Bergen. This veffel was re-taken by James Richardfon, the mate, the carpenter, and a boy, and brought safe to Peterhead. The French prifoners, eight in number, were landed that afternoon. 4. His Majefty's fhips La Prompte, Cormorant, with the Ceres and Diamond armed fhips, and nineteen fail of tranfports, arrived in the Downs on Wednesday laft, with the Marquis of Huntly's, Sir James Grant's, and Seaforth's regiments, in all 2700 troops, from Fort George for Southampton. 9. At a meeting of the paper manufacturers in the vicinity of Edinburgh, held here on Wednesday laft, a piece of plate, of 100 guineas value, was unanimously voted to William Simpfon, Efq; of Polton Mill, as a teftimony of the high fenfe which the meeting entertain of his laudable exertions in promoting the procefs of bleaching rags, and other improvements in the paper manufacture, and for the very liberal and candid manner in which he has communicated the fame. The Court of King's Bench, Dublin, have fentenced Alexander M'Dowell and William M'Dowell, under-keepers of Newgate, for aiding and affiling the escape of Archibald Hamilton Rowan, to be imprifoned one year and nine months, being the annexed period of Mr Rowan's fentence, and to pay a fine of 250l. each, making 500l. the fum which Mr Rowan was condemed to pay. The reports that the recruits of Col, Fullarton's corps having been in a ftate of infubordination are without foundation, and stand contradicted by the fullest evidence. 11. This day, at the examination of the High School, the gold medal given by Col. Murray, was gained by Mr William Taylor, fon of John Taylor, Efq; W. S. and on which there was the following infcription; On one Side, PREMIUM MURRÆANUM, On the other Side, A. D. 1794 The wages of fhearers this day, 11th, were, on an average, 6d. per day. The filver club, given by the city of Edinburgh, was played for, on Saturday, by the members of the Golf club, and won by Robert Allan, Efq; banker in Edinburgh. The Knights Companions of the Cape have given L.40 Sterling, towards the relief of the widows, &c. of thofe brave fellows who fuffered in the glorious vice tory obtained over the French, by Lord Howe, on the aft of June laft. At the York affizes one George Wilkinfon was detected picking a gentleman's pocket, in the Caftle at York, during the trials. He was immediately feized, brought before the judge, tried and fentenced in the fpace of lefs than an hour. There was found upon him thirty-fix pockethandkerchiefs, a number of fnuff-boxes, gloves, &c. many of which were owned by gentlemen prefent. Tuefday the 12th being the anniversary of the birth of his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales, when he entered into the 32d year of his age, the flag was difplayed from from the Caftle; at noon the mufic-bells were fet a ringing, which continued till five in the afternoon, when the great bells began, and continued till feven. The banks and public offices were fhut; and the gentlemen of his Royal Highnefs' Household dined together in Fortune's tavern, the Hon. Henry Erfkine in the chair. The wages of fhearers on the 18th, women 1od. and 1s.; men from rs. to 18. 6d. The Trades houfe of Glafgow have voted thanks to the Rev. John Young, minifter of the gospel at Hawick, for his late publication entituled, Eflays on Interefting Subjects. There are now living in the neighbourhood of Hamilton, two maiden Ladies, fifters, whofe ages amount to one hundred and eighty-eight. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. Meff. John and James Forbes, paperftainers, Edinburgh, indicted at the inftance of his Majefty's Advocate, for forging or counterfeiting, or caufing to be forged or counterfeited, feals or ftamps, &c. denot ing the payment of the duty on painted or ftained paper, were, on the 22d ult, brought to the bar, as formerly ftated, p. 440. The indictment was laid both on the ftatute, which makes the crime felony without benefit of clergy, and also at common law. Mr Allan Macconochie, junior counfel |