1785. Treatment of the English Prifoners at the Reduction of Bednore. 261 well reconciled to the new way of receiving papers. Peace, however, reftored the unthe facrament, as to partake at this time of happy furvivors to their liberty; who, it. All which ended with the other fervice, having been confined in different places, which finished, York again bade the prayer were affembled previous to their being given as before; this done, the mourners and others up, and captain Oakes thus reviews their returned to the Bishop's Palace in order, fufferings: where the faid lords and ambassadors, and all others which had attended thefe exequies, were treated with a goodly dinner, and fo departed with pleasure. An Authentic Narrative of the Treatment of the English who were taken Prisoners at the Reduction of Bednore. T O this account of the cruel treachery of Tippoo Saib toward general Mathews and his unfortunate troops is annexed a letter of lieutenant Sheen, which relates the ope rations of the British troops previous to general Mathews's furrender. We collect from this letter, that we are to look for the caufe of Tippoo Saib's wanton barbarity, in the conduct of our own troops where they happened to be fuccefsful, The first article mentioned is putting 300 polygars to the bayonet in the attack of a breast-work in the Bednore country; a feverity, that we are informed terrified the irregulars from all farther oppofition till the troops came to the Ghaut, a pafs ftrongly fortified. On the gaining this pafs, we are told that, “ our imall body, flushed with fuccefs, immediately proceeded with the bayonet;" which produced a meflage from the rajah to general Mathews, acquainting him, that if he would promife not to moleft the inhabitants, the fort and the whole country fhould be furrendered to him. Again, on the taking of a fort called Annampore: "When a practicable breach was efected, orders were illued for a ftorm, and no quarter, which was immediately put in execution, and every man put to the fword, except one horfeman, who made his escape, after being wounded in three different places. A moft dreadful fight then prefented itfelf: above four hundred beautiful women either killed or wounded with the bayonet, expiring in one another's arms, while the private foldiers were committing every kind of outrage, and plundering them of their jewels, the officers not being able to reftrain them. "The troops, however, were afterwards feverely reprimanded for it. I had almost orgot to mention, that fome of the women, rather than be torn from their relations, threw themfelves into large tanks, where they were drowned." Such being the provocations, there is the lefs reafon to wonder that Tippoo Saib fhould retaliate, when the viciffitudes of war gave him the opportunity. The journal of the treatment of his prifoners is materially the fame as has been given in all the public "All the prifoners (in number about one hundred and eighty officers, nine hundred European foldiers and failors, and fixteen hundred fepoys, befides fome hundreds of met together, and on recounting to each fervants of different occupations) were now other our feveral misfortunes, the following intelligence was collected, viz. "That at Bednore, the officers left wounded there, were ufed much better than at any other place, having been allowed to keep all their cloaths, doolies, cotts, chairs, tables, knives, forks, &c. were befides indulged with the free use of pen, ink, and paper; a certain part of the rampart, including two towers, was alfo allotted for them to range about in; their fervants wer permitted to go into the buzzar to purchase whatever they chose to fend for, but their daily allowance was only one feer of rice, and one pice to each; when they recovered of their wounds (having been allowed a French furgeon to attend them) they were not put in irons. That enfign Manly of the Bombay eftablifhment, who had been taken in a fally at Mangalore, was fent to Bednore, with fome fepoys, and there confined in the fame prifon upon no other allowance than a feer of rauggy, and one pice per day. That the officers who were fent to Dar waur, (a fort near Goa) were confined with the private men, upon the fame allowance as we were, but were afterwards removed to Simoga, where they were kept on a feer of rauggy and one pice, and their irons were fixed in fuch a manner, with a straight bar between their legs, that they could nei ther contract or expand them. That the officers confined at Seringapatam, were allowed, each, a golden fanam per day, with which they were at liberty to purchase whatever they wanted. That thofe gentlemen who were confined at Bangalore, were daily allowed the fame as ourselves, but clandeftinely received frequent fupplies of cash from Madras, with which they were permitted to purchase every article they wanted, and latterly were allowed to vifit each other in their different prifons. That the private Europeans also received different treatment in the various parts of the country where they were imprifoned, fome meeting with tolerable ufage, while others were treated worse than brutes. That the fepoys, as before mentioned, were equally ill ufed in every prifon. That the nabob had circumcifed lieutenants Rutlidge, Speediman, and Clarke of the Madras establishment, with 200 English foldiers and failors, against their inclination, and had by force detained them all in his fervice; and had likewife forcibly detained five midshipmen of his majefty's navy; every man, white or black, who was known to be an artificer most of the drummers and fifers, and feveral women and children. That the Nabob, actuated by a moft cruel, inhuman difpofition, had poisoned the following English officers, viz. brigadier general Mathews, at Seringapatam; major Rumley, capt. Frafer, and lieut. Sampfon, of the Madras eftablishment, at Myfore; major Fewtrill, captains Eames, Lendrum, Jackfon, Mac Culloch, Richardfon, Gotlich, and Clift; lieutenants Barnewall, Young, and Oliver; Mellrs. Stewart and Chick, all of the Bombay eftablishment, at Coppuldroog; captain Campbell of the 98th regiment, with captains Alfton and Fish, and enlign Gifford of the 100th regiment, alfo poifoned at Coppuldroog. That this horrid murderer had likewife affaffinated lieutenant Mathews of the Bengal eftablishment (brother to general Mathews), and lieutenant Wheldon of the Bombay eftablifhment, at Bednore; and had moreover fent directions to murder all the Englifa officers whom he had taken: but hearing that the commiffioners for negociating the treaty of peace, had fet out from Madras, he countermanded thofe bloody orders. That four days before the officers were releafed from Bednore, all the commandants, Soobahdaurs, and Jemmahdams, of the Bombay eftablishment, whom the Nabob had taken prifoners, were, by his orders, removed from thence, and have never fince been heard of; therefore, as he repeatedly threatened to put them to death for refufirg to enter into his fervice, it is reasonable to fuppofe he has murdered thofe fine fellows, even after the peace was concluded. In confirmation of this news, feveral of the officers, while in prifon, received letters from the three lieutenants and feveral others of thofe unfortunate men, who had been circumcifed, making them acquainted with the Nabob's villainous conduct; and the officers who were prifoners at Seringapatam, daily faw thofe poor fellows come on the parole in Moor-men's dreffes, and drilled by the enemy. The men who attended the dreadful ceremony of poisoning general Mathews and the other officers, gave very particular accounts of that horrid tranfaction. The two officers murdered at Bednore, were taken cut at the fort, at ten o'clock at ght, carried into the Jungu!, and there cut to pieces, of which the other officers confined at Bednore, received the most certain accounts the next morning, when the cloaths of thofe unfortunate victims were brought to them for fale. This conduct of the Nabob muft naturally imprefs every British subject with a shocking idea of the man's favage cruelty, and excite in their breafts fuch a fpirit of revenge, as, it is to be hoped, will not be eradicated till amply fatisfied." Memoirs of the Baron de Tott, on the Turks and Tartars. the French fervice: his father was an Hungarian, and followed the fortunes of Prince Ragotzy, to whom the Porte gave an afylum. We do not know in what country the Baron was born; though it is probable he is a Frenchman by birth; as, in 1717, his father entered the French fervice, and, in 1735, accompanied M. de Vergennes, the prefent prime minifter of France, on his embafly to Conftantinople. The prefent Baron alfo attended in the ambaffador's fuite, and his first object was to acquire the Turkish language. His father spoke it, and, before this voyage, had been feveral times at Conftantinople. The prefent Baron has refided in Turkey no lefs than three-and-twenty years. His father died there in 1767. ARON de Tott is a major-general in They failed from Marseilles, the beginning of April, 1755; reached the Dardanelles, the 18th of May; and caft anchor in the port of Conftantinople the 21ft. This harbour is fo excellent, that a ship of 80 guns can lay her fide to the fhore. The climate which the Turks inhabit relaxes the fibres, and the defpotism under which they groan tranfports them to violence. They are not unfrequently ferocious: their fyftem of predestination adds to their fiercenefs; and the fame prejudice, that, in a cold climate, would have rendered them courageous, in a hot one produces nothing but fanaticifm and raihnefs. The Turks furnish continual proofs of this affertion, in their quarrels with one another. Drunkennefs is the preparative for vengeance; aflaffination is the only method they employ; they face no danger in cold blood, An Ottoman army, once attacked, is broken to pieces without being beaten; but, the firft fhock of the Turks, when they make an attack, is always dangerous and difficult to fuftain. At the affair of Grotfka, to get poffeffion of a redoubt, they heaped the ditches with their dead; and fanaticifm carried fome of them fo far, in the last war against the Ruffians, as to make them brave the fire of the artillery, by ruthing, like madmen, to hack with their fa bres the mouths of the enemy's cannon. The 1785. Turkish Harems, Their Surprize at the French Minifer's Ball. 263 The Baron, from the perfonal informa- "the envoy from Sweden? The minifter tion of his Turkish friends, fays, that the of a court in alliance with the Sublime harem infpires them only with difguft, Portè! No, it is impoffible. You are except in the inftance of fome new flave, miftaken! look again." The Turk, at who may excite their curiofity. A great length convinced, caft down his eyes, fell many Turks never enter their harem, but into reflection, and was filent until anoto reftore tranquillity, when the female ther minuet. The queftion again was to fuperintendence is unequal to the task. The know the dancer. It is the Dutch amword harem is ftrictly confined to fignify baffador."-" Oh! as for that," faid the the apartments of the women; it must Turk gravely, "I never will believe it; never be confounded with feraglio, which I know very well how far the ambassador means a palace. All the Turks have a ha of France can carry his magnificence; and, rem; the vifir himself has no feraglio. The notwithstanding my furprife, I can fuppofe ambaffadors of crowned heads have each a that he is rich enough to make a minister of feraglio, but no harem; the grand fignior the fecond order dance; but, at what price has both one and the other. can he obtain that fervice from an ambaflador? there cannot poffibly exist between them fo enormous a difference." The Baron made ufe of all his Turkish words to explain, that thofe minifters were the object of the entertainment; that they were not paid for dancing; but danced for their pleafure; and that the ambassador of France himfelf would dance, it was difficult to convince the Turk. However the customs of the country may have reftricted the Turkish women, it muft not be imagined that they are without the power of fending their flaves, or of going out themselves, to purchase what they want. The Baron did not know a fingle Turk who deprived them of that liberty; nay, they frequently go out together to walk, or pay a visit in other hareins; and, in the latter cafe, the etiquette obliges the Turk, for whofe wives the vifit is intended, not to enter his harem during the ftay of the vifitants. The harems most closely fhut up are not unfrequently thrown open, to let the flock confined in them amufe themfelves with a walk. But, it is in the country, in retired fituations, on the borders of the fea, that the gallantries take place; heedlefs of the danger of being difcovered by the guards, who are always prying into the moft concealed refirements. The Boftandgy Bachi, whofe authority extends feveral kagues round the grand fignior's refidence, has, in fact, the infpection of thefe fo much talked of affairs of gallantry, and exercifes, in that refpect, the office of lieutenant of police. It is the most important perquifite of his office, and is attended with the moft frightful abuses. But another object which he undoubtedly thought much more interefting, very foon occupied his attention. "I do not fee your wife!” said he, "O yes, here the is, but fomebody is talking to her? Run and interrupt the converfation."-" Why fo?" faid the Baron. He then explained himself more clearly, and the Baron was endeavouring to fatisfy him, when Madam de Tott, continuing her converfation, went into the room where the company was at play, and difappeared. On feeing this, the Turk lofing all patience, rifes, and draws the Baron after him; but the fight of feveral tables, where men were difputing about play, was not the fpectacle with which his friendship had alarmed him on the Baron's account. Supper was ferved, and the Baron's friend feeing the company feat themselves at different tables, was inclined to go. An uneaThe Baron could just speak without an in- finess of a more ferious nature appeared to terpreter, when M. de Vergennes gave or- agitate him. The Baron preffed him to stay ders for an entertainment for the foreign till the end of the entertainment. "Every minifters, and all the Europeans fettled at "thing finifhed," faid he brifkly, "they Conftantinople. This excited the curiofity" are preparing to drink. Permit us to go; of fome Turks of diftinction; they expref-" and if you will follow my advice, take fed a defire to be prefent; and the Baron your wife and withdraw likewife." undertook to do the honours to them. He "I understand you," faid the Baron, was newly married; and the intimacy be- "but be not uneafy; every thing will pafs tween the principal perfon amongft thofe more peaceably than you imagine. The Turks, and his father-in-law, added to the Baron prevailed, he conducted his curious Baron's zeal for information, infpired the friends round all the tables, and made them Turk with very favourable opinions of him. fit down at that which was prepared for On the Turk's arrival, he begged the Baron them. A few glaffes of cordial gave them to point out to him Madam Tott from courage, and completely gained them; they amongst the ladies. flaid till morning, and gave him to underftand, that if fuch an entertainment had been given amongst them, it would not have ter minated without twenty murders. The ball opened with a minuet; the Turk afked, who is the gentleman that dances?" It is the Swedish envoy.""What," fays the Turk with furprize, The following is an Account of Part of bis Journey. The next event that happened, was the conflagration at Conftantinople, which confumed two-thirds of that immenfe city. The Palace of France, fituated in the fuburb of Pera, over looks the town and harbour of Conftantinople. The fire broke out in the morning, near the fhore, and the walls of the feraglio. The wind which was northerly, made the fire run along thefe walls; and about feven o'clock reached the palace of the Vifir, fituated in the middle of the hill. The grand fignor was prefent, but neither his orders, nor the efforts made, could fave that vaft building from the flames. The fire extended in the direction of the wind, with the greateft rapidity. It was hoped that the fire, in approaching the church of St. Sophia, would be stopped by the mafs of that building; and accordingly all the fuccours were directed to that quarter, but the cupola, melted by the heat of the atmofphere, running through the ftone gutters on the heads of the guards and workmen, left a full scope to the activity of the fire. From that moment, nobody thought of ftopping it; it was fuffered to devour every thing. The confternation was general. The wind fhifted to the caft, and carried the line of fire across the town, for more than 1200 toifes, or about 7800 English feet. The fire then rushed to the centre of the city, and formed thirteen diftinct branches of fire, the roots of which fucceffively uniting, Conftantinople became a burning fea. The efforts then made only added to the calamity; a whole regiment of janifaries employed in beating down fome houses, at the head of one of the branches, were furrounded by two lateral branches of the fire. The cries of these unfortunate wretches heard through the column of fire, with thofe of the women and children fuffering the fame fate; the crafh of the falling buildings; the crackling of the flaming planks, carried into the air by the violence of the heat; the tumult of the inhabitants threatened by the conflagration in every quarter, and who were expofing their lives to fave part of their effects, combined to render it a fcene of accumulated horror, not to be defcribed. But it is ftill more inconceivable that the rebuilding of thefe houfes was not compleated, before another fire confumed them. Sultan Ofman ftrove in vain to enlarge fome ftreets, and open new ones. The proprietors infifted on the entire poffeffion of the ground, left them by their fathers. The government was fo weak as to give way to this oppofition, which might have been eafily furmounted. Such is defpotiím. In July, 1767, the Baron was appointed by the Duc de Choifeul to refide at the Court of Tartary. The Pruth feparates the Paccalick of Kotchim from Moldavia. Ali-Aga had fwam over to the oppofite fhore the night before, and got together by dint of his whip, near three hundred of the neighbouring Moldavians, and had employed them the whole night in forming with the trunks of trees an ill-contrived raft, on which he had repaffed to our fide of the river; but all that did not fatisfy me of its folidity. I prepared myfelf, however, to facrifice, if neceffary, my carriage, and every thing upon it. I only fecured out of it my pocket-book, fully determined not to expofe myself to fo evident a perfonal danger; nor would I fuffer my own attendants to go over, but referved them for a fecond voyage, in cafe the firft fucceeded. Meanwhile, my conductor, proudly exulting at having accomplished fo wonderful a work, preffed me to get into my carriage." How," faid I, vexed at his ftupidity," will you ever contrive to get it. down to the river?-How will you after"wards keep it on your paltry raft, which "is fcarce large enough for it, and must in"fallibly fink under its weight." "How?" faid he," why, with those two inftru"ments;" fhewing me his whip, and upwards of a hundred sturdy peafants he had brought from the other fide: "Don't be "uneafy; I would make them bear the uni"verfe on their fhoulders. And if the raft "finks, these fellows can all fwim; they "fhall keep it up; if you lose the value of "a pin, they fhall every one of them be "hanged." "So much ignorance and barbarity fhocked me, without giving me more confidence in the raft. But my refolution was formed, I told him I would not go over with my attendants till the fecond trip, and therefore he might do as he thought proper. I fat down on the edge of a cliff, to take a better view of this great manoeuvre, and to enjoy at least a scene for which I expected to pay very dearly. The fignal for the workmen to begin was then given by pronouncing the name of God, followed by feveral fmacks of his whip. They undid the traces of my carriage, and carried it in their arms to the brink of the precipice, where they had formed with their pickaxes a rough fort of fhelving, to facili tate its defcent; but it was not without fhuddering, that I faw them on the point of being crushed by the weight of my coach, which they got down, however, on the raft, where it could only be diagonally placed; and to keep it fteady in that pofition, four of thefe wretches were clapped under the wheels, the leaft motion of which would have carried the whole equipage to the bottom of the ri ver. (To be continued.) WE 1785. Hißory of the Irish Parlament. WE have received letters from feveral of our readers, which mention, that the portion of our magazine which is allotted for the parliamentary intelligence of Great Britain and Ireland, will not admit our keeping up with the prefent occurrences, but oblige us to be long in arrear with both kingdoms. Also that many debates and accounts of proceedings not only come very late, but are quite unimpertant. We acknowledge the force of thefe objections; and, as we are willing always to accommodate ourselves to the opinion of the public, we thankfully receive their hints, and Thall adopt the mode recommended by our correfpondents. Our future plan therefore will be, to copy nothing from the British debates, but what hath an immediate relation to Ireland; and to give only fuch proceedings of the Irish parliament, as are of general importance. In conformity with this plan, we hall now begin the proceedings at large in both kingdoms, on the most important matter that hath been difcuffed during this century, namely, the final adjustment of commerce between Great Britain and Ireland. Proceedings in the Irif Parliament, on the Propofitions for a final Adjustment of Commercial Interefts between Great Britain and Ireland. ON Thursday, January 20, 1785. N this day, the Lord Lieutenant opened the feffions with a speech, in which were the following words. "I am to recommend, in the King's name, to your earnest investigation, thofe objects of trade and commerce between Great Britain and Ireland which have not yet received their complete adjustment. In framing a plan, with a view to a final fettlement, you will be fenfible that the interefts of Great Britain and Ireland ought to be for ever united and infeparable; and his Majefty relies on your liberality and wildoin for adopting fuch an equitable fyftem, for the joint benefit of both countries, and the fupport of the common intereft, as will fecure mutual fatisfaction and permanency." To this was answered in the addrefs of the houfe to his Majefty: "We return your Majefty our fincere thanks for graciously recommending to our diligent attention the final adjustment of commercial objects with our fifter kingdom. Deeply penetrat ed with your Majefty's paternal regard, manifefting an equal intereft in the profperity of your people, we thall confider the advantages of every part of the empire as the true basis of such an adjuftment; and as a fettlement arranged upon thefe equitable principles must give univerfal fatisfaction, and its advantages, in order to be fubBantial must be lafting, we shall exert ourselves to fecure its permanence with the fame earneftDefs that we shall feek its accomplishment." And in the addrefs to the Lord Lieutenant was 2 fettlement of trade and commerce between Gre "We shall cagerly pursue the wife principle which your Grace has pointed out for this at rangement, and endeavour to form a system o fuch a bafis as may fecure its permanence." 22.] Ordered, on the motion of Mr. Foster that the houfe do, on Monday fe'nnight, pro ceed to take into confideration the fpeech from the throne. He followed this by another motion, viz.➡i "that the house do, on Tuesday fe'nnight, refolve itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe to take into confideration that part of the Lor Lieutenant's fpeech which relates to an adjuftment of the trade and commerce between Great Britain and Ireland." Right Hon Luke Gardiner. I think these are great objects, and of the first confequence; but as, perhaps, fome difference of opinion may a rife in the profecution of this butineis, I with the gentlemen in the confidence of government would, as foon as poffible, inform this house what are the particular objects they mean to bring forward, or what is the fyftem on which they intend to proceed in an affair of fuch magnitude, that time may be had to confider it. Right Hon. Thomas Orde. A subject of so great a nature is not to be taken up in an hurry, nor is it intended fo to do; but as the adminiftration of both kingdoms has, after the matureft deliberation, agreed upon the outline, I thail on the day mentioned by my right hon. friend ftate the general fyftem of commercial adjuftment between the two countries. ftand, to have a recefs for fome days, I entreat Richard Griffith, Efq. As we are, I underthe right hon. fecretary to give us the outline of this adjustment now; that by turning it in our minds for fome time, we may come the better prepared to meet it on that day. Travers Hartley, Efq. I think we cannot be too foon informed of this bufineis, nor have too much time given to confider an adjustment which we are told is to be final. Right Hon. John Hely Hutchinfon (Secretary of State.) I cannot help being furprized that gentlemen who are advocates for those commer cial regulations fhould with to precipitate the bufinefs, by bringing it forward before the gen tlemen have time to arrive in town from the country, as it is neceffary fo ferious a matter fhould be investigated in the fullest house. I gave notice that I would, as of to-morrow, 31.] Mr. Secretary Orde. On a former day bring forward the final commercial adjustment between this country and Great Britain. I do not think it would be decent or respectful in me towards the houfe to exhibit any thing in a crude or indigested manner. I have not as yet beca able to arrange and methodize all the papers and materials which I have collected for that pur"From the gracious manner in which hit Majefty has condefcended to recommend a final prepare them for the confije:ation of the mem pofe, but I hope I shall very thrtly be able to this fentence: Hib Mao May, 18<. |