perfons mentioned be ordered to attend the Houle this day.' A violent debate enfued upon the propriety of trying a perfon, and not finding the evidence already produced fufficient to convi& him, putting off the trial to a farther day, in order to fearch for witneffes to condemn him.' The question was at length put, whether thofe three perfons should be ordered to attend?' Ayes 140, Noe's 44.

On Friday, Feb. 18, the Serjeant at Arms was defired to bring the Rev. Mr. Horne to the bar. Woodfall's three compolitors were then fucceffively ordered in and examined. The testimony of the first witnefs went nó further than that he compofed the letter alluded to from the original copy; that he did not know the handwriting of Mr. Horne, nor ever faw him write; and that there were five other perlons employed in the fame branch of bufnefs. Another faid that he had a tranfient view of the copy, but knew not whofe hand-writing it was: And the last disclaimed the leaft knowledge of the matter in any stage of it. After the examination of the first witness the Speaker defred Mr. Horte to put any question to him he thought proper on which Mr. Horne re-plied, that the only thing he should defire to know from him or the other two witness

es was, if they ever heard him even speak before the prefent time; to which the witness anfwered in the negative.

Mr. Horne was ordered to withdraw.

Mr. Herbert then apologised for the trouble he had given the House, and added that, as the evidences had not proved Mr. Horne the author of the Libel, to evince his impartiality, he fhould move, that Mr. Horne be now difcharged from the cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms.'-Mr. Sawbridge moved this amendment, without paying his fees. Mr. Phipps féconded the motion thus amended, upon a principle that he ought not to pay for the neglect of his accusers, in not having witneffes to prove the charge on the first day; and that, if fuch a procedure was once ef tablished as á precedent, it would be in the power of a malicious perfon to ruin any man, by producing fresh witneffes every day, and thus keeping him a prifoner during the whole feffions.

Mr. De Grey oppofed the difcharge of Mr. Horne Mr. Herbert's first motion was then put, that Mr. Horne be difcharged from the cuftody of the Serjeant at Arms,' It paffed, Mr. Sawbridge's amendment was over-ruled, fo that he is discharged, paying his fees.' [To be continued.]

The THEATRICAL BRUTES. A FABLE.

THE lion in decline of age,

Wou'd draw diverfion from the stage; He heard the stage among mankind Could banish vapours from the mind, Elate the heart with joyous glee, Or humanizé fuch brutes ass-he: The ftage, he thought, would pains elude Of chronic ills, or humours crude; The prefent focial joys improve, And non-existing fears * remove, Each man fays he, without difpute, Takes pains to imitate a brute; Then let each brute, in fiction's plan, Attempt to imitate a man.

The states conven'd together, meet,
The lion gives a plenteous treat;
And then, rhetorically proud,

Growls out the bufinefs to the croud;
The croud with furious joy applauds,
And hills refound the roaring lauds ;

The furry and the feather'd race,
The purlieús of the palace trace,
And creatures of amphibious breed,
As candidates to court proceed,
All willing to exert their parts,
And glitter in dramatic arts.

A ftage with prudence to erect,
A beaver is made architect;
A monkey next the globe † careens,
And undertakes to paint the fcenes.
A fox, the animal most fit,
Allow'd to be poffefs'd of wit,
To write the farce is much inclin'd,
And paint the follies of mankind;
The king deputes him to compose
Whatever fhou'd relate to profe;
But where the fubject might require
To light the lines with rhimes of fire,
The eagle, of a foaring mind,
In meafur'd feet muft raptures bind;
Sublimely make ideas flow,
And with meridian fplendor glow;
For furely he can dramas grace,
Who ftares Apollo in the face;

Y 2

The

The critic-crab, of aspect four,
Does each excrefcency devour,
Strikes out the faults, and mends the flaws,
Then fquares it by dramatic laws.

We must confefs-fo far, fo good,
Each well his business understood;
To caft the parts, alas! remains,
Which so much puzzles human brains.
The elephant, for wifdom fam'd,
Was chief on this occafion nam'd;
Nature had form'd him cool and wife,
Through time experience was his prize,
He ftrives to serve no private ends,
Impartial even to his friends,
Difpaffionate to all his foes,
With no revenge his bofom glows,
He gives to merit, merit's due,
To reafon and to justice true.

But vain, alas! are wifdom's cares,
Where felf-fufficiency appears,
Defpifing his judicious voice,
Each makes his own peculiar choice:

He knew, though never train'd in schools,
No argument convinces fools;
From vanity contempt muft fpring,
So let their follies take full fwing.

The afs mult needs appear a wit,
The rampant goat a hen-peck'd cit;
The bear affumes the courtly glance,
And thumps the ftage in clumfy dance;
The boar muft needs a fribble trip,
And ev'ry grunting accent clip;
The hog will play a lover's part,
And turn each brittle to a dart;
The ox, as harlequin, must hop,
And through the narrow trap-door pop;
The wolf, in vanity of whim,
Enacts a preacher fpruce and prim;
The tiger acts a lover's pains,
And roaring hideously complains;
The tim'rous hare, to grace the farce,.
Muft needs appear a fon of Mars;
And while with pride his bofom glows,
He ogles all the fide-box does :
The only one in all the throng,
Whose vanity was not too strong,
But like a moft judicious brute,
His part did to his talents fait,
Was reynard, with his witty pate,
Who rofe a minifter of state.

They play'd-but play'd in fuch a guise, That all who faw muft needs defpife; They find the parts which all deride, Fit not their talents, but their pride; Convinc'd, perceive as real fact, They only fancy'd they could act; Afham'd, their former pride deteft When thus the elephant addrest: "Brutes, you are fure to inftinct blind, "And near as filly as mankind,

"To launch fo much beyond your sphere, "And chufe those parts you ought to fear; "A part too high, or else too low, "Is always a performer's foe;

Oft let me wander near the heath-clad hill, O'er whofe high top, beams fweet the ftar of eve:

Or tread befide the daisy margin'd rill,

And ev'ry scene of vice and folly leave; And there hold converse with the facred .Muse,

With Night's feraphic bard, immortal Young!

In memory's fair page his ftrains peruse, How fweet he warbled, and how fad he fung:

Or feel the force of Thompson's deathless fong,

Who copied Nature in each diff'rent hue; Who, foft as Sappho, and as Pindar ftrong, Defcrib'd fuch fcenes as Shakespeare never drew.

There let me meditate on themes divine, Whose blissful influence high exalts the foul;

Or bend at Wisdom's ever glorious shrine, And learn the throbbing paffions to controul.

There quick-eye'd Fancy's airy flights purfue,

That wake to ecftafy, and thoughts fublime.

In heav'ns bright concave with amaze

PRO

ROFIT and pleasure would you find
In the fame page, ye fair, com-
bin'd;

Read CHAPONE's Letters on the Mind.
In them strong fentiments appear,
In language nervous, graceful, clear.
By them the young idea's taught
How best to boot; the tender thought
Moft happily is rear'd:-(May they
Who female minds, when budding, sway,
Their utmost cult'ring care bestow,
To make them beautifully blow!)
By them, in ev'ry style of life,
The friend, the mother, and the wife,
Are taught, with dignity and ea fe,
To fhine, and while they fhine, to please.

Subjects what imminent Danger they are threatened with, has appointed General Bibikow to march at the head of a large detachment of troops against the Rebels, who have been daring enough to attack all the troops they have met with, and malfacred the Officers in a most cruel manner. Her Imperial Majesty further hopes that her faithful Subjects will not fuffer themfelves to be feduced by evil-inclined Perfons, but, on the contrary, is perfuaced that they will remain fubject to their lawful Sovereign, and that they will do all in their power to maintain the public tranqui

lity. This manifefto, which is dated Dec. 23, 1773. O. S. has been fent to all Governments, and Towns, throughout the Empire.

Feb. 11. In the few Skirmishes which the advanced Parties of General Bibikow's Army have have had with the Rebels, the latter have hitherto been always defeated. The troops appear fo animated againft them, that notwithstanding the strictest Order to give Quarter to thofe who are willing to furrender, it has hitherto been impoffible to oblige them to do fo.

POLAND.

Warfaw, Feb. 23. Since the death of the Emperor Mustapha III the Confederates, who were before flowly approaching to Turkey, now advance in a more expeditious manner, which gives room to think that they are fure of the difpofition of Achmet the IV. his fucceffor being in their fvour.

TURKEY.

Conftantinople, Jan. 21. At half an hour after twelve the Grand Seignor expired, and at half an hour atter two the guns from the Seraglio announced his fucceffor Abdul Hamed.

IT AL Y.

Florence, Jan. 29. The Reftitution of Avignon and Benevento to the See of Rome has been notified in that City..

NETHERLANDS. Hague, February. 18. On Tuesday the 15th inft. about eleven at night her Highnefs the Princess of Orange was happily delivered of a Prince.

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE. ENGLAND. Bristol, Feb. 26. On Sunday laft a Negro, lately arrived from Guinea, preached in the Tabernacle at Chippenham to a crowded Audience.

Newcastle. March 8. A potatoe, weigh ing three ounces and a quarter the growth of the prefent year, was dug up in a gentleman's garden in this town. It was very firm, clean, and thin-skinned, and well flavour'd. A number of others were produced, but fmaller. The fets were put in the ground in December laft.

LONDON.

FEB. 16. The Governors of Minorca and Gibraltar, and al! the Officers belonging to the Regiments on duty, have received Orders to repair to their respective ports by April next.

23. Yesterday, at half past two o'clock, came on in the House of Lords the final Arguments on Literary Property, when Lord Camden got up and spoke for an hour and a half against Perpetuity, quoting a

number of Cafes and concluded, by hóping their Lordships would reverfe the Decree. The Lord Chancellor spoke next for an hour; entering very largely upon the several Arguments, He faid as to the Act of Queen Anne, it gave them a limited time and no longer. He concluded by feconding Lord Camden's Motion. Lord Lyttleton next fpoke for a fhort time: he declared that he thought the Authors had a right to Perpetuity. The Bishop of Carlife spoke next, and mentioned feveral points which he left for the determination of their Lordships. Lord Effingham next fpoke, and laid a great deal in favour of the Liberty of the Prefs and hoped that Right would never be taken away in this once free Country. The question was put at half past Five, when the decree was reversed; without cofts; fo that the Englith Bookfellers have no other fecurity in future for any Literary Purchase they may make, but the Statute of the 8th of Queen Anne, which fecures to the Author's Affigns an exclufive property for fourteen Years, to revert again to the author, and veft in him for fourteen Years longer.

26. On Thursday last about half an hour after fix in the Evening, the Queen was happily delivered of a Prince. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, feveral Lords of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, and the Ladies of her Majefty's Bed-chamber, were present.

The Governor and Council Général, with the Judges, are to embark on board the Afhburnham at Portfmouth, on the 15th of March, in order to proceed on their Voyage to India.

MARCH. I. The Houfe of Commons went into a committee to confider of the prefent State of the linen Manufacture.Mell. Anderson and Goldy were called to the Bar; the fum of their teftimony was, that the linen manufacture of Scotland had decreafed between 2 and 3,000,000 of yards in the courfe of the last year; that the value of what was stamped during the fame period was fhort of the preceding year, 226,000l. that the average price of the cloth fold in the year 1769 was 128. 3-12ths the yard, and in the year 1773 but 9d. 5-24ths; that four whole counties, Glasgow and Paisley included, out of 6000 looms, had 2500 unemployed; that the proportion of thofe that were in general idle was at least a third; that out of a certain diftrict in the county of Sa therland, 600 out of 1800 fpinners had emigrated, and fo in proportion in feveral other places therein specified; that fome of the linens of 1771 were still on hand unfold; and, on the whole, that there were

not, in the beginning of the present year, much more than half the weavers employed throughout the kingdom of Scotland and North of England.

Extract of a letter from Edinburgh, dated March, 2.

"This day the caufe depending between the Countess of Rothes and her Uncle, Andrew Lellie, Efq; was determined in favour of the Countefs. By which decifion the estate of that noble fa

mily, which has always defcended with the Title, continues still united to it in the Perfon of her Ladyship."

2. Yesterday fe'nnight the further confideration and agreement on the Writ of Er ror from the court of Exchequer in Ireland, between John Commons, Leffee of Lord Netterville, and John Marshal, Efq. came on before the Upper Affembly. After the Council were fully beard, a fhort question was put to the judges then prefent: They conferred together for a few minutes, and Mr. juftice Gould, (upon their being unanimous) gave an opinion, with their reafons; a motion was then immediately made to affirm the judgment of the court of Exchequer, and agreed to.

7. The Houle of Commons went into a committee, to enquire into the prefent. ftate of the linen manufacture in Great Britain and Ireland, when four perfons were examined in refpect to its prefent flate in Ireland. Befides a general decrease in fales a glut in the London market, and a great fall in the Prices, their evidence went chiefly in proof of the following important facts. That the export in linen in 1771, was upwards of 25,000,000 yards, of the average value of 18. 3d. per yard; that

in 1772, the exports decreased full 5,000,000: that in the laft year it had fuffered a further decrease of more than 2,000,000 of yards; that the grofs amount of the linen and yarn, exported in the year 1771, had fallen from 1,900 000l. to about 1,400,000 1. or full half a million; that when the accounts were made up to the 25th of the prefent month, the decreafe would be found confiderably greater than either of the two preceding years in proportion; that for the two years, ending the rft of May, 1773, 16,000,000 of yards of Irish linen were imported into London only, but that the produce of the last market was for the moft part arrived, and by the most moderate computation, would fall fhort of eleven millions of yards; that 30,000 emigrants, in the different branches of the manufacture, had left the province of Ulfter, within the last two years; and, that on an average, more than one third of the looms throughout the kingdom were now idle.

Saturday a woman at Compton, near Axbridge, in Somersetshire, hanged herfelf, but was foon after cut down, and married the fame morning.

10. Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, Mr. Miller was taken in execution, at the fuit of Lord Sandwich, for the whole damages given him by a late verdict, and immediately carried to the Poultry compter.

An exprefs was on Thursday fent from the Admiralty office to Portsmouth, with orders for fitting for fea immediately several frigates, which are intended to go with the men of war, already appointed for the American ftation.

DUBLIN.

A

FEB. 25. T the Commiffion of Oy er and Terminer, John Reily for the Murder of one Mullin fome time ago, was tried and found guilty; and Robert Power, for the murder of John Gilmore, on the tit of May, 1770, was alio tried and found guilty.

MAR. 10. The Fullerton of Saltcoats, coming over the Bar, ran foul of the wreck of the London (which was loft there lait year) by which the received fo much damage that, as foon as the got into Poolbeg, fhe funk; part of the crew fwam to the piles, and the remainder were taken up by a pilot boat.

12. Charles Fanning was executed near St. Stephen's-green, pursuant to his fentence, for highway robbery. On his way to the place of execution, he pointed to a man whom he told the flieriff was an accomplice of his in many robberies: he was accordingly taken and lodged in Newgate,

13. A duel was fought in the county of Tipperary, between Francis Mathew, Efq. of Thomastown, and Wray Pallifer, Efq. of Derrylufkin, high fheriff of faid County, the former received a wound in the thigh, but it is thought it will not be attended with any dangerous confequences.

Council for and against the quarterage bill were heard before the right hon. the

privy