whole peninfula, rounded and compleated her territories, while its fituation gives it nearly the ftrength, and all the commercial advantages of an island, and its excellent foil furnishes all the means for becoming a rich, populous, and powerful country. If thefe advantages were profecuted with a reasonable share of good conduct, and had time to arrive at maturity under the beneficence of a mild and equitable government, they would cause a confiderable revolution in the commercial system of that part of Germany, and Kiel might become a more than formidable rival, to its great trading neighbours of Hamburg and Lubeck.

As the fathionable custom of maintaining greater armies than they can afford, and the attempts besides at the establishing a marine, keep moft of the European princes in a constant poverty, they are frequently obliged, upon any emergency productive of an additional expence, to every expedient for the raifing of money. The King of Denmark accordingly this year, fent three commiffioners as a deputation to the city of Lubeck, to negociate a loan of 150,000l. fterling, for twenty years, with the merchants of that place; for which he was willing to pay intereft at the rate of fix per cent. with the farther ftipulation on his fide, of defending the rights of the city from all encroachments and foreign pretenfions. This application was not attended with fuccefs; the magiftracy after a long confultation, returned for answer, that it was impoffible for them at the prefent time, to comply with the king's requifition of the loan; that they thanked him for his protection; but they apprehended they were not at present in any particular

need of it.

We have already obferved, that the motions and preparations which were made in Sweden, had confiderably alarmed more than one of its neighbours. And though the ftale pretences, of goodwill, pacific intentions, and attending only to fecurity, were frequently repeated, it is evident they did not remove thefe apprehenfions. Whatever the king's defigns were, it is probable that the new treaty between Ruffia and Denmark, did not a little contribute to prevent them from ripening into action; and it is impoffible that the fame caufe, co-operating with the inaptitude of fome of his allies, may occafion their being ntirely laid afide.

In other matters, the wifdom and moderation of the prefent king, prevent the people from finding any present inconveniencies through the late change of government. The firft fteps of a new and arbitrary government, are generally popular. Its true character rarely appears, until the people have forgot the bleffings they enjoyed in a ftate of freedom."

Neither kings nor laws can prevent at certain times those calamities with which it pleases Providence to afflict nations; and the dearth this year in Sweden, notwithstanding the vigorous measures taken by a new adminiftration and government to remedy and allay the evil, fufficiently exculpated the late fenate, from the odium that was thrown upon them on that account. In feveral of the provinces, the miferies of the people were dreadful; and in Dalecarlia, and Wermeland particularly, after having a long time endeavoured to fupport life by the bark of trees, and the most unusual and unclean kinds of food, they at length perifhed in fuch numbers, that the dead bodies lay unburied in the woods and houses. The dyfentery, the ufual attendant, or fucceffor of famine, raged afterwards with the greateft fury, and compleated the defolation of those unfortunate provinces; fo that it was computed, that more people had been swept off, from the first in particular, during this and the preceding year, than by that dreadful plague which made fuch havock in the kingdom in the year 1709. The relief brought by the harveft, afforded a striking and melancholy inftance of this depopulation, the wretched remains of the inhabitants being totally incable of getting it in, and forced to offer half their crops to fuch ftrangers as they could procure to do it for them. The king fent physicians from Stockholm, with medicines at the public expence, to endeavour to restrain the ravages of this cruel diforder; but till Providence granted the people food, medicine was of litthe avail.

The king having made a tour through his dominions, in this time of general calamity, befides the primary objects of infpecting into the ftate of the forts and garrifons, and the condition of the army, omitted no means to alleviate those diftreffes, which it was not in his power to remedy. And finding afterwards that public rejoicings were intended, to celebrate his return to Stockholm, he wrote

a letter

a letter to his brother to be communicated to the magiftrates, in which he expreffed his fenfibility of the zeal and affection which they intended to teflify to his perfon, of both which he was fufficiently fatisfied, and wished they would difpofe of the money which was deftined for that purpose, to the relief of the diftreffed poor in the provinces, of whofe unspeakable miseries he had been fo lately an eye-witness.

In the mean time, he was indefatigable in the ftrengthening and fortifying the kingdom, as well as the Swedith iflands in the Baltic; and the excellent conditions and forwardness of the fleet and army, were a matter of admiration to thofe, who confidered the extreme fcarcity and dearnefs of all kinds of provifions. The motions of the troops were fo various, and the preparations carried on in fuch remote and different parts, that the intentions of the court were impenetrable to those who were immediately concerned in the event. Norway was thought to be particularly threatened, and fuch preparations were made in the fea-ports of the Baltic, as indicated a speedy and confiderable embarkation; while at the fame time, the motions on the fide of Ruffia, were equally ambiguous and alarming. All the ancient treaties between Sweden and the Porte, were also renewed and confirmed, and particularly the mutual guarantee treaty of the year 1739, with the addition of fome new articles.

The peasants of Finland having vainly flattered themselves, that the late revolution had emancipated them from the ancient fubjećtion and fervices which they owed to their lords, loft no time in enjoying their fuppofed independence; which occafioned fome trouble, and their fending a deputation to court, in fupport of this new claimed liberty. They how ever found to their great regret that their condition was not at all altered, and that the king was much difpleafed at their conduct, in confequence of which an ordinance was immediately published to prevent all fuch mistakes for the fu

plied perfonally to the merchants and directors, exhorting them to lend all their aid to the fupport of public credit in this preffing exigency; and declared publicÎy, that if any one fhould take the advantage of the times, to raise the exchange, or the intereft of money, fuch perfon fhould in the highest degree, incur the royal difpleasure. The wisdom of this particular measure may be doubted: but on the whole, fuch order was taken that credit was fully fupported, and the bank not only lent money to those merchants who were known to be folvent, but to all that could give fecurity of any fort, whether in lands, houses, fhips, goods, or merchandize. And the effects of this conduct were so happy, that it is faid, there was not, during that period, a fingle Swedish bill protefted.

The king is not lefs attentive to every other matter relative to commerce, and has declared, that he will spare no pains to make it flourish in the highest degree that the country is capable of admitting. He accordingly allots a certain portion of every week, to grant audience to all perfons without exception, who chufe to apply, or have any thing to communicate to him upon mercantile affairs; whom he hears with the greatest attention and patience, and thoroughly examines their bufinefs or propofals. As an effay towards remedying in fome degree the late fatal depopulation, this prince iffued an ordinance, by which all peafants who have four children, or more, are excufed from the payment of the poll-tax, and all other perfonal contributions.

ture.

Eeee 2

I was willing to demonftrate to my country, and to all Europe, that I wish for no other fplendor on my throne but that of virtue." He concluded by a declaration, that if he did not acquiefce in his requeft, and that of his people, he would be refponfible for it to his country and to pofterity. Such fentiments, and fuch conduct, were worthy of a monarch. Naval preparations in the French and Spanifh ports. Pacific difpofition of the French king. Marriage of the Count de Artois. Spain; conduct with respect to England, jcheme for eftablishing a dire& trade with the Eaft-Indies, Pertugal; edit to prevent lavery from being perpetual. Court of Rome; abolition of the Jefuits; charges aginft them in the Pope's bull; conduct of the Italian States, with respect to the ecclefiaftical power in their dominions. Death of the King of Sardinia; no appearance bitherto of its caufing any change in the public affairs of Italy. Infurrection at Palermo.

THE age and pacific difpofition of the Fach king, has for fome time contributed greatly to the preservation of the public tranquillity in Europe. It was however apprehended, foon after the commencement of the prefent year, that the conduct of the Ruffians in the Mediterranean, co-operating with the affairs of Poland, the inefficacy of the negociations at Buchareft, and the clofe connexion between France and Sweden, would have occafioned a change in thofe fentiments. This opinion was foon confirmed, by the extraordinary naval preparations which were made in the French and Spanish ports, both in the ocean and the Mediterranean; and which were carried on with a vigour and induftry, that afforded fome room for fufpecting hoftile intentions. The object of thofe in the Mediterranean was well understood, and probably made no fecret; but as the French and Spanish fquadrons in that fea, were already far fuperior in force to the Ruffians, and required no affiftance from Breft for that purpose, the destination of the fleet in that harbour was more ambiguous; it was however, generally fuppofed that it was intended to act in the Baltic, if certain circumftances fhould render its appearance there neceffary in favour of Sweden.

Thefe preparations having excited the jealoufy of our court, which from its

close alliance with Ruffia, as well as its wifhes to preserve the general tranquillity, could not behold with indifference that power totally oppreffed in the Mediterranean, and a new war kindled, both in the fouth and the north of Europe, ftrong remonftrances were made upon the fubject at Paris and Madrid, accompanied with a declaration, that if fuch measures were pursued, Great-Britain would be under a neceffity of fending fuch a fleet of obfervation into the Mediterranean, as fhould effectually fruftrate any attempts that were made upon the Ruffians. In the mean time a powerful fleet was equipped, and ordered to rendezvous at Spithead, and those warlike preparations were for fome time continued on all fides. At length this vigorous conduct, with the pacific temper of the French king and his minifters, were able to reftrain the hoftile difpofition which feemed to prevail at Madrid, and happily prevented the profecution of meafures, which must have involved all Europe in their confequences.

The French miniftry being thus freed from the apprehenfions or defigns of war, have direted their attention to happier pursuits, in the extenfion of the national commerce, and the improvement of agriculture. Indeed the spirit of enquiry and experiment with respect to the latter, which is now becoming fo general in Europe, and had in former times been fo unaccountably languid and deficient, it may be reasonably hoped, will in due time be productive of the happiest effects to mankind; and prevent the return of thofe frequent famines, which are fo fatal a reproach to their want of industry. Too much praise cannot be beftowed upon the laudable endeavours of thofe focieties, which have been establifhed in the feveral provinces of France, as well as in Switzerland and other countries, for the improving and extending of this moft ufeful knowledge; and though a fucceffion of inclement and irregular seasons, have hitherto in a great degree restrained the apparent benefits which would otherwife have arifen from those purfuits, their effects will not be the lefs certain hereafter. An extraordinary exertion of improvement has been particularly made in the country of Bourdeaux, where a vast tract of wafle land, containing 400,000 acres, and which in its former ftate was totally ufelefs and barren, has within these four

years

time the black colour was frequently worn out, and masters were poffeffed of female flaves, under the appellation of negreffes, who were much fairer than themselves, or any part of their acknowledged families. To remedy this cruel cuftom or law the king iffued an edit, by which all thofe who could prove that any of their mothers for three generations were free, were to be immediately discharged from their flavery; and those who are not in fuch eligible circumftances, to continue during life in their prefent ftate; but all the children that are henceforth born, to be immediately counted free. It was alfo ordained, (which feems more furprizing) that thefe people and their defcendants fhall be capable of enjoying honours, dignities, and employments.

The infurrection in the Brazils is quelled in fuch a manner, as at least, to obtain prefent quiet. We may judge in fome degree of its danger and magnitude, by the lofs of lives on the fide of the Por tugueze, which is not computed at lefs than seven thousand. It is however, to be supposed, that flaves and mulattoes are included in this account.

The court of Rome, after the imminent dangers it had run, through the obftinacy, or conftancy, which-ever it may be termed, of the late Pope, has under the guidance of the prefent, at length fubmitted to the united power of the house of Bourbon, by the final fuppreffion of the order of Jefuits. Indeed it does not feem, that any thing less than the death of the late pontiff, and the prudent acquiefcence of the pre fent, could have preferved, even the territorial poffeffions of that state, which had fo long governed Italy, and in a great meafure given the law to Europe. As more has been written and spoken within these two last centuries of this or der, than of any within the fame length of time, it would be now fuperfluous to at tempt to fay much upon that fubject. Some of the ableft writers of thofe ages, have, on both fides, fully difcuffed their conduct, morality,political principles,and religious opinions; fo that nothing could be offered upon those heads which has not already been better faid. It may fuffice upon the whole to obferve, that this order has produced a great number of very eminent men, and has contributed more to the revival of learning, and to the advancement of knowledge in the church of Rome, than all the monaftic orders put together; while at the fame time, their eagerness o intermeddle in political affairs, was

fuppofed to render them dangerous to ftates, and their fpeculative and metaphyfical opinions, to religion and morality. The Pope's bull for the

1773

fuppreffion of this fociety, July 21ft. is a writing of an enormous length, and loaded with precedents, to thew the fupreme authority exercifed by former popes, in the reformation or total abolition of other religious orders; in which cases, the apostolic fee, at all times acted folely from the plenitude of its own power, without entering into any regular procefs, or proceeding in the ufual legal forms, of admitting accufations to be exhibited, and a defence to be made; itself being the fole and competent judge, when thofe orders no longer anfwered the end of their institution, by the promotion of chriftianity and piety; this method being confidered as better calculated to calm the agitation of men's minds, to prevent the bitternefs arifing from mutual recrimination, and to ftifle the spirit of party and diffenfion.

The charges against the Jefuits are loofe and voluminous, and seem in general, rather to comprehend a recapitulation of all the complaints that have been made against them from their first institution, without regard to the proofs that were brought in their fupport, or the decifions that were paffed upon them, than of direct accufations. Thus are enumerated, early diffenfions among themfelves, and quarrels with other orders, as well as with the secular clergy, with the public schools, academies, and universities, together with disputes that arofe upon the authority affumed or exercifed by their general, and with the princes in whofe countries they were received, with a long bead-roll of fuch general matters, without any particular obfervations on their nature, causes, or iffue. An early appeal against them, not long after their inftitution, by Philip the Second of Spain, is with more propriety taken notice of; as are the ap peals brought by feveral other fovereigns fince that time; and their late expulfion from France, Spain, Portugal, and Sicily, is among the number of their accufations. From this continual ftate of hoftility, and general diflike, in which they fubfifted with mankind, it is however, justly inferred, that the general tenour of their conduct was reprehenfible and pernicious in its example, and confequences to the chriftian world,

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