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Some other matters are of more importance. It appears, that fo early as the year 1606, their rage for intermeddling in public and political affairs, was already become fo prevalent and notorious, and fome confequences that attended it, bore fo fatal an afpect to the order, that they were obliged to pass a decree among themselves, which to give it greater efficacy, they had inferted in a brief by Pope Paul the Fifth, to forbid their members from interfering under any pretence in public affairs for the future. This remedy, as well as all others, is faid to have been ineffectual, and they are charged with an infatiable avidity for temporal poffeffions, with disturbing the peace of the church in Europe, Africa, and America; of giving fcandal in their miffions, as well by quarrelling with other miffionaries, and by invading their rights, as by the practice of idolatrous ceremonies in certain places, in contempt of those approved by the church. Their doctrines are also attacked, and they are charged with giving uses and applications to certain maxims, which are profcribed as fcandalous, and manifeftly contrary to good morals, and of having adopted dangerous opinions, in matters of the greatest moment and importance with refpect to the preferving of the purity and integrity of the doctrines contained in the gospel; and which are faid, to have been productive of great evils and dangers to the church, as well as to fome particular christian states.

Thefe enormities, with many others, are faid to have occafioned their profcription at different times by feveral ftates; as well as a fevere vifitation which was begun by Sixtus the Fifth; but which he did not live to accomplish; and were the cause that Innocent the Eleventh forbid them to receive any more novices, and that Innocent the Thirteenth threatened them with the fame punishment; and that at length thofe princes, whofe piety and liberality to the fociety, feemed to have become hereditary in their families, were under a neceffity of expelling them from their dominions.

After fumming up these, and various other caufes for their diffolution, particularly the preservation of peace in the chriftian republic, and their incapability in the prefent circumstances of anfwering the purposes of their inftitution, together with other motives reserved in

Aug. 16th,

the breaft of the fovereign Pontiff, all the ecclefiaftics of whatever rank or dignity, and particularly those who have been members of the fociety, are forbidden, under fentence of excommunication, to impugn, combat, or even to write or fpeak about this fuppreffion, to enter into its reafons or motives, or into any difcuffions about the inftitute of the company, its form of government, or other circumftances relating to it, without an exprefs permiffion from the Pontiff for that purpose. In confequence of this bull, ten bifhops went at night, attended by a detachment of Corfican foldiers, to all the colleges and houf.s belonging to the Jefuits in Rome, of which they took poffeffion, and having placed the neceffary guards, the communities were affembled, and after the proper notices and forms were gone through, thofe fathers delivered up their keys, and the locks of their archives being fealed, and effects of all forts being fecured, even to provifions, they were allowed eight days to find new dwellings, and to quit the habit of the order. They at the fame time gave up their schools, and refigned all the functions of their miniftry, of whatever fort or nature.

The bull extended to all countries whatever in which they were placed, and sentence of excommunication was denounced against those who fhould harbour or conceal any of their effects.

Their General, father Ricci, is to be appointed to a bishoprick, and fuch of the Jefuits as were already in holy orders, were allowed, either to become fecular clergymen, or to enter into other orders, having firft ferved the accuftomed noviciate of that into which they are to enter; penfions are to be allowed out of their former poffeffions, to those who become fecular clerks, and the bishops, under whofe jurifdiction they are totally to remain, have a difcretionary power, to admit fuch of them as are remarkable for learning and purity of doctrine, to preach and to confefs, from which they are totally restrained, without a written licence for that purpose. Those who had gone through the last vows, or who through age and infirmities were unfit to enter into the world, were to be collected and placed in one or more of their ancient houfes or colleges, where they are for ever reftrained from preaching,

confeffione

confeffion, and all the functions of their ministry, and are only allowed to exift upon a fubfiftence for life; the bifhops being particularly charged, as they will answer it at the last day, to look to the ftrict obfervance of thofe prohibitions. Such as are difpofed to dedicate their time to the inftruction of youth, are totally debarred from all fhare in the government of thofe colleges or Ichools in which they ferve, and the ftricteft caution is prefcribed, that none are admitted to that fervice, who do not fhew themselves averfe to all fpirit of difpute, and who are not tainted with any doctrines which may occafion to ftir up frivolous and dangerous controverfies. The scholars and novices were returned to their respective homes, and those who had only taken the first vows, were difcharged from them; and all the statutes, rules, customs, decrees, and conftitutions of the order, even though confirmed by oath, were totally annulled and abroga

ted.

Such was the final fate of this celebrated fociety; which with a confiderable flock of learning and abilities, had found means to render itself odious to all the nations and religions in the chriftian world. The riches which were found in their houses and colleges whether in fpecie, plate, or jewels, were very inconfiderable, and difappointed the hopes of those, who expected to have found inexhaustible treasures in the fearch. Whether they were able to evade the terrors of excommunication, and to eJude the greater dangers, arifing from the prying and rapacious eyes of covetoufnefs, by fecreting their most valuable moveables, is ftill a matter to be determined, though, with refpect to any thing confiderable, the probability is otherwife.

As the fuppreffion of this order, has removed all ground of difference between the house of Bourbon and the court of Rome, a thorough reconciliation has accordingly taken place, and the latter is to be reinftated in Avignon and the Dutchy of Benevento. Thus the papacy, may probably for fome longer time, retain its territorial poffeffions in quiet.

In the mean time, the Italian ftates are continually curtailing the ecclefiaftical power in their dominions, and that court is daily lofing its influence with them. Of this the Venetians have giv

en a ftriking inftance in the prefent year, by refufing to receive a bull from the Pope, by which he had conferred two abbeys in that ftate, upon Cardinal Rezzonico; the fenate having refolved, that no ecclefiaftic fhould poffefs any benefice in their territories who did not refide therein. The Emprefs Queen, is alíu beginning to intermeddle with the religi ous houfes in the Dutchy of Milan; two of them have been already fuppreffed, and that is fuppofed to be only a prelude to the fuppreffion of a much greates number.

Feb. zoth.

The death of the King of Sardinia, has caused no apparent change in the ftate of public affairs in Italy. That prince had uniformly fupported a long reign of more than forty years, with uncommon wisdom and ability, and had the happiness, at a great old age, to depart regretted by his fubjects; the nobleft eulogium that can be bestowed upon his character. His fucceffor, who is not deficient in the abilities that feem hereditary in that family, and is arrived at a time of life when prudence generally becomes conftitutional, it may be reafonably fuppofed, will not unadvisedly enter into any measures that may be dan gerous to the public tranquility; and that from his long experience in public affairs, and the example of fuch a father, his fubjects will find no other change in their condition, than the benefits arifing from a more vigorous age, and a clofer attention to business.

An alarming infurrection which hap pened at Palermo, the capital of the iland of Sicily, towards the latter part of the year, which is not yet entirely quelled, deferves to be taken particular notice of. That delightful ifland, formerly fo diftinguished, and at all times the moft fertile and plentiful in the world, has in all ages had the fortune, either to languifh under the oppreffion of tyrants nurtured within its own bofom, or to groan under the slavery of foreign

ers.

The government of this country has for fome time been very impolitically conducted. Immoderate duties are either laid on the fruits of labour and induftry, or exorbitant prices extorted, for licenses to difpofe of them to advan tage. Thus the abundant harvefts, of which is fuppofed equal to seven years confumption, and which are the natural

one

riches of the country, are rendered unprofitable, as the exceffive rates to be paid for the particular licences for exportation, are beyond the abilities of the hufbandman, and he reaps with a heavy heart that bounteous crop, which he is debarred from turning to account. By this means, the price of corn has for feveral years, been reduced to about one fixth of its real and ufual value; whilft the neighbouring countries at the fame time fuffered the greatest dittrefs, from that scarcity which Sicily could have fo happily relieved; and the tenant at home is reduced to beggary, and his lord to indigence, from the want of a market for their ftaple commodity.

The fame weak and barbarous policy, has had fimilar effects upon other products, and has thrown a general damp upon the industry of the people. Thus their fugar plantations and works, which were once fo famous, are dwindled to nothing; and the abundant ftock of natural riches, both above and below the furface of the earth, in which this country perhaps exceeds any other, of the fame dimenfions, in the world, are rendered of no value.`

A policy of the fame kind has formerly prevailed in moft parts of Europe. England was among the first to perceive the weakness of its principle, and mischief of its tendency. Popular prejudices, however, concur in many places ftill to fupport fo mifchievous a fyftem; and the emoluments received by government and its officers for occafional difpenfations, render the abuse lucrative, and therefore permanent. The remains of the feudal fyftem have continued longer in that country than in any other; their barons had till lately great power, and they ftill inherit from their brave Norman ancestors, the name and fhadow of a parliament, which is compofed of the barons, clergy, and the reprefentatives of the confiderable towns. To annihilate the power of the barons, who are ftill rich and confiderable, is said to be an object of this deftructive policy; and to this unworthy purfuit, is facrificed the profperity of a whole people, as well as the power and opulence which might have been derived from the poffeffion of fo noble an ifland. Poverty and diftrefs will bend the haughtieft minds; and the people have the fatisfaction to know, that they are not ruined, as a punishment, for any fault of their October, 1774.

own, but merely to humble their lords and make them totally dependant.

The infurrection at Palermo was not however the effect of those general grievances; but of fome that particularly related to that city. As in a country where permiffions are purchased of liberty to trade, all commodities muft of neceffity fall into the hands of monopolifts, fo the fame caufes, that on the one hand prevent a reasonable price from being given for them at a fair market, will frequently on the other, operate in fuch a manner, as to produce all the effects of a real fcarcity. Thus in Palermo, the monopolies granted by the Viceroy (it was alleged) with what truth or falfehood we cannot fay, had fo pernicious an effect, as to raise the price of fome of the most effential neceffaries of life, to a degree intolerable to the people.

The arguments prompted by the belly, are understood by all capacities, and in great cities particularly, are irrefiftible in their force. Previous, however, to any difturbance, Prince Caffaro, Pretor of the city (one of the officers of the firft power and dignity in the kingdom) remonftrated in fuch ftrong terms with the Viceroy upon his conduct, and the hardthips which the people fuffered, that very high words are faid to have paffed upon the occafion, and fomething like a challenge from the former. The prince then, by his own proper authority, stopped two fhips which belonged to the monopolizers, and were juft got without the harbour, freighted with cheese, in their way to Naples; after which the cargoes were landed by his order, and fold at the public markets at the ufual prices.

This measure entirely quieted the murmurs of the people; but it happened foon after, that the prince fell ill of a ftrangury, and in a short time died. Having chanced to employ the Viceroy's furgeon, it was maliciously reported, and by vulgar credulity believed, that he died by poifon. This event, and its fuppofed caufe, flew with the utmost rapidity thro the city, and threw every part of it into the utmost disorder and confufion. Prince Caffaro was univerfally lamented, as having fallen a martyr in the cause of the people; while the fuppofed authors of fo bafe and villainous an action, were regarded as objects of the utmost rage and deteftation.

The people immediately affembled, to
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the number of thirty thousand, with drawn fwords, mufkets, and piftols, and having feized fome of the baitions, drew two pieces of cannon into the fquare in the centre of the city, which they loaded with old iron and glafs, and stood with lighted links, ready to difcharge them as there fhould be occafion. The unhappy furgeon was an immediate victim to their fury, whom they immediately cut in pieces; they afterwards broke open the prifon gates, and difcharged the prifoners; and the regiment of horfe guards being ordered out to fupprefs them, they were fo terrified at their appearance, and at the immediate preparations they faw for difcharging the cannon, or what is more probable, fo infected with the common diftemper, that they were ready to abandon their officers, when the commander cried out, that he was not going to engage enemies, but coming as a friend, to preferve peace among his friends and countrymen; and having faluted the revolters, and held a conference with fome of their leaders; the horse returned very quietly to their quarters.

In the mean time, the archbishop came to quiet the infurgents, and promifed them that the Viceroy fhould depart the city, and that he would act in his place, till the King fhould appoint another. This propofal having given entire fatisfaction, every thing was immediately reftored to order and quiet. But the people being informed in the night, that the Viceroy had fent to feveral places for troops, and had ordered the garrifon to fecure the works and Sept. 20th. cannon, they affembled the next day, in equal numbers and with greater fury; and immediately poffeffed themselves of all the baftions, forts, and works, the foldiers fuffering themselves to be difarmed, without firing a fingle thot, or offering the fmalleft refiftance.

They then placed detachments of their own body in the works, and at the gates, and obliged feveral of the principal nobility, to take each of them the command of a baftion; after which they proceeded to the houses of three or four of the monopolizers, and principal favourites, whofe furniture and effects they piled in the street and burned; the owners having happily escaped with their lives. Upon this occafion they executed an act of rigid juftice upon one of their own eople, who having fecreted fome valua

ble moveables that he found in one of thofe houfes, was detected and put to death on the spot; this being the only life that was loft in that day's tumult.

The main body during this tranfaction, marched with cannon to affault the caftle or palace, where they met with as little oppofition as elsewhere, and having broken into different parts of it, found the Marquis de Fogliani, the Viceroy. His life would have been immediately facrificed, if it had not been for the bravery and humanity of a popular young nobleman, who embracing the Viceroy, and covering him with his body, declared they must firike through it if they attempted to wound him; which generous action happily restrained their fury. This gave time to the archbishop once more to interfere, when it was agreed that the marquis fhould immediately go on board a Genoefe veffel, which was waiting in the harbour, and depart directly for Naples. The Viceroy was carried through the city in his own coach, attended by the archbishop, notwithstanding which, he was loaded with the execrations, curfes, and reproaches of the people, all the way to the water fide.

The Viceroy, whether by accident or defign, did not proceed to Naples; but was landed at Meffina, where he still continues, and thereby retains the government of the ifland. The archbi fhop in the mean time, to restore order and tranquility, confented, at the defire of the infurgents, to fupply his place at Palermo; and promised befide to use his intereft with the King, for the obtaining of a general pardon, and for the redress of fome of thofe grievances, which had caufed the most uneafinefs. Deputies were accordingly appointed, to lay the whole affair before the king, and after fhewing the grievances which gave rife to the troubles, to folicit for a pardon, and a redress of them. The city then returned to its ufual quiet, without any other change, than that the gates and walls were guarded by the burghers inftead of the ufual garrison.

The court however, did not feem at all difpofed to comply with the conditions for the performance of which it seems the archbishop had engaged. Upon the receiving of this intelligence at Palermo, every thing was thrown again into its former diforder. The burghers and people walled up three of the gates, and placed strong guards at the fourth, and

were

were so apprehenfive of a furprize, that they would not fuffer the church bell to be rung. They at the fame time, obliged the nobility who had retired to their counry houses to return, under pain of having heir palaces demolished, and the guards were particularly watchful, that none of hofe in the city fhould depart; while

the inhabitants seemed fo refolute and determined to defend themfelves, that they were continually employed in making the necessary preparations for that purpose, and the mechanics worked at their trades, with their arms lying by them for immediate action.

This state of anarchy and commotion, naturally produced great diforders, and the loweft of the people elected a mechanic to be the Viceroy. This new reprefentative of royalty was fo well pleafed with his power, that he thought he never could have time to exercise it sufficiently, and was accordingly fo induftrious, that in the first three or four days he fent above fix hundred people to prifon. The naestranza, or tradefmen of the city, ould not endure the infolence and lientiousness of the loweft fet of people, ind a fcuffle accordingly enfued, in which even or eight perfons were killed, and the new Viceroy and his party defeated; they were not however fo entirely reduced as to put an end to the disorders.

In the mean time, the conduct of the court of Naples, feemed not to be either fo gracious, or fo vigorous as the occafion equired. Preparations were flowly made, ind fome small bodies of troops were fent o Sicily; the Viceroy was confirmed in is government, and his defign of removing its feat to Meffina, approved of; thus a tacit approbation was given of his conduct, and nothing decifive declared, with respect to the late troubles, nor the intentions of the court fhown with regard to its authors. The ufual futile recourfe of defpotic government was applied to, by forbidding all perfons from talking of the affairs of Sicily. Marshal Corafa, a native of Cephalonia, was appointed commander in chief of the forces in that ifland, in oppofition to the prince of Villa Franca, who the people had earnestly requested, to have been nominated to that employment. The marfhal arrived at Palermo at the end of the year, with two weak battalions, confifting only of feven hundred men; and was received in that city with all the honours due to his rank; but his foldiers were not admitted, and are

obliged to lodge in the fuburbs. Thus the affairs of Sicily, and the fate of Palermo hang ftill in the fame ftate of apprehenfion and uncertainty, in which they have continued for fome months. (To be continued.)

A New Theory of Canine Madness, with an infallible Method of preventing, and of curing that Disorder. Never before printed. (Concluded from p. 527.) CASES, with Remarks. I.

ON

CASE

N the 15th of March, 1748, a dog ran into the houfe of Mr. John Webster, a gardener, near Lewisham, in the county of Kent, whilft the family was fitting at dinner, with the door open; he immediately bit the house dog, and flew at one of the children, a boy of eight years old, and bit him in the hand. One William Edwards, Mr. Webster's man, ran to the affiftance of the child, when the dog feized him by the calf of the leg, and tore out a large piece; he then bit Mrs. Webster in the thigh, through her petticoats, and Mr. Webster in the fhoulder, while he was knocking the dog down with a fpade, which he had caught up. The beaft being stunned with the blow, the neighbours, who ran in at the outcries of the wounded perfons, foon killed him.

The family was in a great confternation, as the dog was a ftranger, and it was uncertain whether he was mad or not; however every neceffary precaution was taken; the houfe dog was immediately hanged, and the wounded people went that very evening down to Gravefend, where they dipped in the falt water, for nine days fucceffively, and then returned home, thinking themselves out of any danger. Their wounds were dreffed by a neighbouring furgeon, and every thing feemed to promife well.

On the 31st of March (fixteen days from the accident) the child began to be very dull and heavy, and the next morning refufed drink: when the father strove to pour fome milk down his throat, he fell into violent convulfions; the next day the hydrophobia was more violent, a hiccough came on, the people began to be terrified, the child was tied down in bed, and died in the night of the 2d of April,

The 3d of April, the fame horrid fymptoms attacked William Edwards; the wound in his leg, which had never Ffff2

Puced

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