Messrs. Wilkes and Bull. "I beseech you to pardon a stranger presuming to give you a hint in the execution of your office. As the name of Mr. Alderman Banks stands lowest on the board behind you, you may possibly overlook its importance. The rule has lately been introduced of declaring him who has had the lowest number, duly elected; it was so in the case of the Middlesex election. You will be pleased not to let prejudices arising from custom, determine you to transgress a rule so lately 68tablished; and established too by so very respectable an authority, as the present most virtuous, disinterested, unbiassed, and incorrupt house of commons. "Guildhall, Monday noon. "Yours, J. C. October 8.-Common council this day rescinded the vote for silver cups to the lord mayor, and Messrs. Wilkes and Oliver. Deputy Wilson said truly, that if they once made such a precedent, the chamber of London would soon be ruined; for craving patriots would ever be wanting to share the estates of the city of London. October 17.-Intelligence received of the death of lord Baltimore, at Naples, on the 4th ultimo. Dying without issue, the title becomes extinct. His lordship was proprietary of the province of Maryland, and is supposed to have died worth a million sterling. Previous to his going to Italy, his friend E, asked him for the loan of £300. His lordship pretended not to have as much to spare; but on the day before his departure, having called to take leave of E, he requested him to accept a large silver medallion of queen Anne, as a token of remembrance. In the hollow of this medallion, E. found the £300 enclosed. * December 9.-The Jew doctor, and other Jews concerned in the murder and robbery at Mrs. Hutchins's, at Chelsea, executed this morning, at Tyburn. So great is the present outcry against this people, (the Jews) that it is thought they will be totally extirpated from these kingdoms, by an act, the ensuing meeting of parliament. 1772, January 3.-Mr. Creighton told a curious anecdote the other day, at the East India house, when inveighing against the mal-practices of stock-jobbing. During the infatuation that prevailed among all ranks of people respecting the South Sea scheme, in 1720, a nobleman called one morning at a banker's, in Lombard-street, and pulling out a bank bill of £1000, told him that it was at his service, if he would answer him, in one word, one question, assuring him, at the same time, that the question would not affect his honour. The banker agreeing to the proposal, the nobleman then asked him, "Did sir John Blount buy or sell to day?" "Bought," answered the other. "Then there," said the peer, is your £1000, and buy for me £20,000 between this and night. January 8.-The great bell at St. Paul's tolled this morning, for the death of the princess dowager of Wales.* In her last interview with the king, she wrung his hand very hard, and in words to this effect, took her leave of him. "My dear son, you are the king of a great people; be, if possible, the king of a happy one; study the real welfare of your subjects, not the wishes of the factious; and may you gain a brighter crown in heaven, than that which I leave you on earth!" January 22.-Died in Emanuel hospital, Mrs. Wyndymore, cousin of Mary, queen of William III. as well as of queen Anne. Strange revolution of fortune! that the cousin of two queens should, for fifty years, be supported by charity! January 31.-Died, Henry Cromwell, esq. great grandson of Oliver Cromwell, of illustrious memory. February.-Died at Madrutz, in Croatia, in the 118th year of his age, Henry Magdonel. To that place he had retired, with a property sufficient to support him decently. He had been in the service of different sovereigns. He was father to the brave officer of that name, who in 1702, in the war about the Spanish succession, made prisoner at Cremona the marshal de Villeroi, who offered him on the spot 10,000 louisd'ors and a regiment, if he would release him. Young Magdonel was then but a captain; but the offer, though made by a person who was sufficiently able to keep his word, and which would have tempted many, did not in the least stagger that honest and faithful officer, who refused it. April, 28.-Died, at Mile End, the goat which had been twice round the world; first in the Dolphin, Capt. Wallis, then in the Endeavour, Capt. Cook. She was shortly to have been removed to Greenwich Hospital, to have spent the remainder of her days under the protection of those worthy veterans, who there enjoy an honourable retirement. She wore on her neck a splendid collar, on which was engraved the following distich, said to have been written by the ingenious and learned Dr. Samuel Johnson: "Perpetui ambita bis terra præmia lactis * Mother of George III. May 19.-Dreadful fire at Amsterdam. The great theatre of this city has been burnt to the ground, and thirty-one persons have perished in the conflagration. The fate of Mr. Jacob de Neufville Van Lennep and his lady is particularly deplored. In the rush which every one made to escape from the flames, Mr. Lennep lost hold of his wife, and was carried forward, in spite of himself, out of the reach of danger. So great, however, was his affection for his wife, that he was heard to declare, that unless she too were rescued, he must perish with her. Accordingly, he forced his way back into the house, offering aloud, fifty thousand crowns to any one who would assist in saving her; but vain were all his efforts. Next morning, the wife and husband were dug from the ruins, locked in each other's arms! May 23.-Died of a fall from his horse, lord William Manners, brother of the duke of Rutland. He has left an immense fortune; at least £400,000, exclusive of a family estate; all of which he is supposed to have acquired by play. June 24.-Yesterday, a young woman was interred in Chiswick church, who died for love; an extraordinary instance, in these times, which are not remarkable for so much fidelity of attachment. Her pall was supported by six young damsels, and the corpse attended to the grave by fourteen mourners, together with many spectators, who seemed greatly affected by the fate of the unfortunate deceased. June 25.-Died at Paddington, the celebrated Kitty Fell; on whom a song was written, some years ago, which was a favourite ditty throughout the kingdom. October 16.-Died, at London, the once gay, the once beautiful, Lucy Cooper. Her life was exceptionable-her death was exemplary. She saw her follies, and repented of them. Dec. 10.-Died at Whittingham, in East Lothian, Barbara Wilson, a virtuous old maid, aged 120, hen-wife to Alexander Hay, of Drummelzier, esq. She had spent the most of her life as a servant in that family, and was so remarkable a genealogist of her feathered flock, as to be able to reckon to the tenth generation. In testimony of her uncommon merit, her corpse was conveyed to the common burial-place there, by a large assembly of females, uniformly dressed suitable to the occasion, and interred with the greatest decency. No male person was permitted to accompany the funeral. * 1773, August.-Married, at Kirkcudbright, the Rev. Mr. John Gillespie, minister of Kells, to lady Bograw, with a handsome fortune, and entirely suitable to the character of a clergyman. August 28.-Died at Tain, in Rosshire, at the very advanced age of 103 years, Mrs. Mary Duff, spouse to a respectable burgher in that town. She was a decent, wellbehaved, honest woman, and retained her senses to the last. His present reigning majesty is the sixth king reigning on the throne of Britain since she was born. She could say, four years ago, "Arise, daughter, and go to thy daughter, for thy daughter's daughter has a son." 1774, April 4.-Died, Dr. Oliver Goldsmith. Deserted is the Village; the Traveller hath laid him down to rest; the Good Natured Man is no more; he Stoops but to Conquer; the Vicar hath performed his sad office; it is a mournful lesson, from which the Hermit may essay to meet the dread tyrant with more than Roman fortitude. May.-Died, at Hagley, in Worcestershire, my old acquaintance John Tice. He had reached the extraordinary age of one hundred and twenty-five. His life was one of ease and comfort. The greatest misfortune (as he lately declared) which had ever befallen him, was the death of his only friend lord Lyttleton. He took that loss so much to heart, that he never left his room after until his death. CURIOUS EPITAPHS. In St. Michael's, Crooked Lane. At Ockham, in Surrey, 1736. The Lord saw good, I was lopping off wood, I met with a check, and I broke my neck, St. Bennet's, Paul's Wharf, London. One More, and no More! how can that be? Why one More and no More may well lie here alone, But here lies one More, and that's More than one. On a Gardener. Beneath this sod an honest gardener's laid, Here lies the body of poor Frank Row, What Frank for others used to do, Is now for Frank done by another, On Dr. Walker, the Author of a Book on the "Latin and Here lie Dr. Walker's particles. In the Cathedral of Ely. Yet a verie little, and he that will come The Speritt and the Bride say Come! Let him that heareth say Even so, come, Lord Jesu! S VRSULA Coxee by choice Vpture in age and for comfort. This lady, who died at the age of 77, was daughter of Dr. Tyndall, dean of Ely, and was called Ursula. She married at twenty, a person of the name of Coxee; became a widow at forty-two; and thirty-five years afterwards, married a youth, called Upture, for comfort, within two months of her death. In Winborne Church-yard, on one John Penny. Was hard run down by that grim sportsman-Death. Dig four feet deep, and thou wilt find-A PENNY. |