sembled, humbly approach the throne with renewed assurances of our unshaken attachment to your majesty's sacred person and government.

"Your majesty's faithful citizens of London are truly sensible of the blessings which the people of this country enjoy in a peculiar manner; for, whilst it has pleased the Almighty to permit the overthrow of many nations in Europe, we have the happiness yet to possess unimpaired our glorious constitution, to be governed by the mildest and most benevolent of Sovereigns, and to be protected by good and wholesome laws, wisely administered. To obtain these blessings our forefathers freely shed their blood; they are placed in our hands as a precious pledge, and we fondly hope that our children's children will enjoy the same to the latest posterity.

"We are not unmindful, sire, that, by the preponderating influence of the government of France, almost every state upon the continent has been compelled to unite in forming one vast gigantic confederacy, whose efforts are solely directed to bring destruction upon your majesty's dominions. We view this combination without dread, firmly relying upon a continuance of the divine protection, upon union amongst all ranks of your people, the extinction of party spirit (most essentially necessary at this very important crisis,) upon the goodness of our cause, the valour and skill of your majesty's fleets and armies, and on the vigour, firmness, and wisdom of your majesty's Zouncils.

"With these aids, we doubt not your majesty will confound and defeat the designs of our inveterate enemy, and in due time be enabled to

conclude a peace at once honourable, secure, and lasting.

(Signed, by order of the Court,)

HENRY WOODTHORPE."

To which address his majesty was pleased to return the following most gracious answer:

"I thank you for your very loyal and dutiful address. The assurances I receive from you of your unshaken attachment to my person and government, afford me the greatest satisfaction.

"The example you have given to all ranks and descriptions of my peo ple, of union and public spirit at this important crisis, cannot but produce the most beneficial consequences, in enabling me to resist effectually the powerful and extensive confederacy which the enemy has directed against my dominions, and ultimately to accomplish the great object of all my efforts a secure and lasting peace.

They were all received very graciously, and had the honour to kiss his majesty's hand. After which his majesty was pleased to confer the honour of knighthood on Richard Phillips, Esq. one of the sheriffs.

APRIL 1st. The Danish government has issued a declaration against Sweden, in which they complain that all the efforts of Russia to detach Sweden from her confederacy with Britain have failed. On this account, it is maintained to be necessary, for the honour of Denmark, to declare in the most unequivocal manner the state of her relations with Sweden. After alluding to the bombardment of Copenhagen by the British fleet, the declaration proceeds to complain, that the court of Stockholm, far from viewing that event with sentiments becoming a continental state, obser

ved a total silence, and at last broke out into reproaches against Denmark for the inconveniencies indirectly arising from the rigorous measures to which the Danish government were compelled to resort, with a view of retaliating the tyranny of Britain. The declaration concludes with stating, that the resolutions of the King of Sweden having, however, frustrated the last hopes of his neighbours, the government of Denmark could no longer hesitate, on its part, to take those measures which its security, the general interest of the North, its attachment to Russia, and the nature of its engagements with that power, imperiously prescribed to it. At a moment when Zealand is threatened anew by the forces of England, to which the ports of Sweden serve as a point of re-union; when the enemy of the North has just assured himself of the dependence of the Court of Stockholm upon him for fresh pecuniary assistance; when the public declarations of the English ministry sufficiently unfold the nature of the engagements still subsisting or renewed between the two allies, the Danish government deems it right to prefer a state of open hostility to precarious and equivocal relations towards an enemy whose disposition is become more and more suspicious, and who, during a long period, could be considered only as a disguised enemy. His majesty the King of Denmark declares consequently that he adopts altogether the resolutions of Russia in respect to Sweden, and that he will not separate his cause from that of the Emperor Alexander, his august and faithful ally.

Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, when, after some routine business, Mr Waithman moved for petitions

7

to both Houses of Parliament, on the subject of reversionary places. After various observations, tending to shew the ill tendency of sinecure places, and the extent to which they were granted in the present times, he concluded with moving, that petitions be presented to both Houses of Parliament, expressing regret that the Bill for preventing the granting of Places in Reversion, (which was regarded as the first step towards a reformation of existing abuses,) should have been defeated, and praying that measures may be adopted for carrying so necessary and beneficial a bill into effect; and also for causing inquiries to be made into the receipt, management, and expenditure of the public money, and adopting such measures as may effectually guard against such abuses in future; as also for abolishing all unnecessary places and pensions, as a means of consolidating the strength of the empire, and calling forth the united energies and exertions of the people.

The question was warmly supported by various members, and passed unanimously.

THE BRITISH NAVY.-According to the last return, there are in commission 790 ships, of which 151 are of the line, 22 from 50 to 44, 173 frigates, 222 sloops of war, and 222 armed brigs. Besides, there areships building and in ordinary, which make the grand total 1112 ships, of which 261 are of the line, 36 from 50 to 44, 256 frigates, 307 sloops of war, and 252 armed brigs.

Ten artillery waggons came from Croydon to the bank, and took specie to the amount of 200,000l. which is to be conveyed to Portsmouth, and there shipped on board a frigate to Gottenburgh, for the use of the

King of Sweden, being part of the annuity granted him.

2d. COURT OF CHANCERY.-Petition of Earl of Athlone, that his son, Lord Aghrim, a lunatic, be taken from the custody of his wife, on the ground of harsh treatment, and placed under the care of his parents.

This young nobleman, the object of the present petition, was an officer of dragoons; and, in the year 1805, was with his regiment in Ireland. During his residence there he was seized with a fever, and in a violent paroxysm of his disorder, the malady took its seat in the brain.

Sir Samuel Romilly and Mr Martin, for the Earl of Athlone, read the affidavits of his lordship, his wife, and Lady Jemima Bentinck, who superintended Lord Aghrim for a considerable time while in this distressing situation. From her it appeared, that Lord Athlone, on hearing of his son's disorder, crossed the Irish channel, and returned with his son to the west of England, from whence he pursued his melancholy journey to London, where Lord Aghrim had private apartments assigned him at the back of his father's house. In this situation he continued near twelve months, receiving the best medical assistance; and from the state of repose in which he remained, he enjoyed many lucid intervals, and shewed much tenderness and affection for his family. During the whole time, however, he was excessively liable to irritation from trifling causes, but there were such evident marks of amendment, as to afford sanguine hopes of his final recovery; yet, while he was in this progressive state of convalescence, his temper was frequently agitated by the severity and menaces of Lady Aghrim, which produced at length such unhappy effects

on the mind of the patient, that Lord Athlone deemed it necessary, for the safety of his son, to forbid her the house; but a correct and detailed report was given to the messengers of her ladyship, whenever she sent to enquire respecting the health of her husband. While matters were in this situation, a hackney-coach stopped at the door, in which were Lady Aghrim, a man, and two female servants. Her ladyship alighted from the coach, and, instead of knocking at the door, descended the steps of the area, and, through the offices of the menial establishment, proceeded to the apartments of Lord Aghrim. Having arrived there, she misrepresented all the circumstances of his situation; told him that he was in a state of imprisonment, assured him that she would restore him to liberty and happiness, and finally persuaded him to quit the paternal roof, which he clandestinely did, in his night-gown and slippers, without his hat, and in this condition he was conveyed, by what means, and under what cir umstances, was yet to be explained, to the north of England.

Lord Aghrim was afterwards conducted to Edinburgh, where he was placed in a private mad-house. During these peregrinations, the family of Lord Athlone was extremely uneasy about him, the more particularly as they were convinced, by the authority of the most eminent physicians, that gentleness and apparent submission were necessary to Lord Aghrim in his irritable state, and as they understood that Lady Aghrim had adopted a contrary practice. Among other things, it was noticed, that she insisted on the engagement of a particular servant as the constant attendant of her lord in his own apartment, who had excited his lord

ship's disgust, from a circumstance extremely natural to invite resentment. In the first paroxysm of insanity, from the violence of the patient, it became necessary that the strait waistcoat should be resorted to. After a powerful exertion to countervail the convulsive energies of the maniac, this servant succeeded in putting on the waistcoat; and when he beheld his lord in this miserable, helpless, and degraded situation, he had the insolence to laugh in his 'master's face. It was most singular, that this very domestic, whose sight was calculated to promote such strong emotions in the irritable mind of Lord Aghim, was the very person employed by his wife to superintend him.

Various instances of neglect were also stated by the Earl of Athlone's counsel.

In this painful situation of things, the learned counsel submitted to the court, that Lady Aghrim had already had a sufficient trial of the inefficacy of her experiment on the mind of Lord Aghrim by constraint and violence; and that the parents were now again entitled to try whether the more lenient mode which had been adopted, should not be persevered in, under their auspices; a species of treatment which had been attended with such salutary effects, and which might ultimately restore him to the plenitude of his mental faculties, to his family, and to his country.

On the part of Lady Aghrim, the charges of neglect and unkindness were either denied or accounted for în various ways. Her ladyship admitted that she had occasionally used severity to Lord Aghrim, threatening to send him to a private madhouse, but the conclusion that it arose from unkindness was cruel and

unjust. The check was necessary, and was the offspring of affectionate solicitude, and not of anger. The servant, for whom his lordship had taken a particular dislike, was one who had followed the family from Ireland, and was in every respect faithful and attached. Her ladyship conceived that there was no settled illwill towards him. With respect to the forcible conveyance of Lord Aghrim from Sloane-street, that the state of her husband's mind, his quiet and his comfort, together with her own feelings, imperiously called for his removal. The affidavits bore ample testimony to the conduct of Lady Aghrim as an exemplary and attentive wife.

Sir Samuel Romilly, in reply, complained of various misrepresentations in the course of the investigation. He insisted strongly on the rash experiment made by Lady Aghrim, of removing her husband while he was exhibiting evident symptoms of convalescence, and contended that there was sufficient evidence of harsh treatment to induce his Lordship to remove her in future from the superintendance of Lord Aghrim.

The Lord Chancellor complained of the want of medical affidavits, for the purpose of ascertaining the present situation of Lord Aghrim, and what degree of comfort he was capable of enjoying. He postponed the final decision of the case until these medical affidavits should be supplied, leaving Lord Aghrim in the mean time in the custody of his wife, but expressing at the same time his determination, if any undue obstacles were thrown in the way of his intercourse with his relations, that moment to remove him.

The Lord Chancellor finally decided, that his Lordship shall conti15

nue to be kept under the affectionate superintendance of Lady Aghrim, acting constantly by the advice and under the direction of eminent members of the faculty.

2d. PETERSBURGH.-The court of Petersburgh have published a declaration in consequence of the arrest of the Russian ambassador at Stockholm, in which he boasts his constant endeavours to obtain, by virtue of existing treaties with Sweden, her co-operation in the coalition of the continental powers against England, and observes, that, while he was pursuing these measures, Sweden was courting the alliance of England.

The emperor then protests against the violence done to his ambassador. Far, however, from making reprisals, he observes, that he has, subsequent to the outrage offered to his own ambassador, treated the representative of the King of Sweden at his court with new marks of courtesy. He concludes with informing all the European powers, that he considers Swedish Finland as a province conquered by his arms, and that he for ever incorporates it with his empire.

3d. The Gazette of Saturday contains an Order in Council, directing that nothing in the Order of Council of the 25th Nov. shall extend, or be construed to extend, to authorize British ships to export and convey the articles therein mentioned (in the

conveyance of which they are excepted from capture, by the Order of the 25th Nov.) from Guernsey, Man, Gibraltar, Malta, or from any neutral or allied country, to any other country or place, than to a port of the united kingdom, unless such articles shall have been previously imported into such places from some port of the united kingdom.

6th. The sessions of Oyer and Ter

miner,and of Gaol Delivery, commenced this day at Justice Hall, in the Old Bailey, before the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Chief Baron, and Mr Justice Lawrence, when Jonathan Neale and Richard White, were convicted of stealing five dozen and four pigeons, the property of W. Pope, Esq.-Mary, the wife of Robert Hardy, was tried on a charge of privately stealing in the dwelling-house of Samuel Northwood, the Old Parr's Head, Cross-street, Islington, 37 guineas, 41 half-guineas, 60 sevenshilling pieces, 9 dollars, 111 halfcrowns, 61 shillings, 33 sixpences, and 21 one-pound notes, on the night of the 26th of March last. It appeared in evidence, that the prisoner and her husband lodged in the house. The landlord had repeatedly missed money, but could not ascertain by whom it was taken. At length, on the night stated in the indictment, his wife and he determined, if possi ble, to find out who was the thief, and put a stop to the practice as it was exercised on them:---They marked some pieces of coin at eleven o'clock at night, left them in the wife's pocket in their bed-room, and left the door open. They had Mason, the police-officer, of Worship-street, in the house, and went about their business in the tap-room as usual, until twelve o'clock. They then went up to the bed-room, where they found that some of the money was missing. Upon investigating further into the business, two of the halfcrowns which had been marked, and left in the landlady's pocket, were found in the possession of the prison

er.

All the other money and notes stated in the indictment were found in a small trunk inside of a large box in the apartments which were occupied by the prisoner and her