6. The whole of the French army creffed the Rhine, and captured feveral frong places. 8. Advice received of Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, having formally taken poffeffion of Nootka, in the name of his Britanic majesty. 17. St. Paul's church, Covent Garden, entirely deftroyed by fire. 20. Manheim furrendered to the French. Peace proclaimed at Hanover between the Elector and the French republic. OCTOBER 4. The powder-magazine at Maubeuge blew up by accident. 6. A dreadful infurrection broke out at Paris, which lasted several days; but the conventional troops at length overpowered the infurgents: great numbers were killed on both fides. Many of the confpirators have fince been execut ed. -Intelligence received of the cap. ture of a Dutch Eaft-Indiaman and a South Whaler, by his Majefty's fhip Seahorfe; and of the Comet Dutch floop of war, by the Unicorn. 7. The Cenfeur of 74 guns, and the greater part of the homeward bound Mediterranean fleet, captured by a French fquadron. 9. A gold mine difcovered, near Wicklow, in Ireland. 13. A rich Dutch Eaft-Indiaman, called the Zeelylee, prize to the Sceptre man of war, loft on the rocks of Scilly, and many of her crew perifhed. 13. The French army under the command of General Jourdan obliged to fall back from Mentz, and, on its retreat to the Rhine, experienced feveral defeats. 29. The king grofsly infulted and his perfon endangered, on his way to and from the houfe of lords. 31. Advice received of the capture of Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, by Vice-Admiral Elphinstone, &c. and of the detention of five fhips found in the harbour. NOVEMBER 11. Colonel Crauford's account of the defeat of the French before Mentz, published in an Extraordinary Gazette. 14. The tranfports with emigrant troops on board, for the continent, driven on the coaft of Calais. 17. The Weft-India convoy, under the command of Rear-Admiral Chrifti- ' an, driven back to port, in a fevere gale of wind, and five of the tranfports, with troops on board, loft. 23. An account of the furrender of the Dutch colony of the Cape of Good Hope to his majefty's forces, published in an Extraordinary Gazette. 25. The king of Poland made a formal furrender of his crown, for a penfion. DECEMBER 13. Two bills, for the prefervation of his majesty's perfon, and the prevention of feditious meetings. received the royal affent by commiffion. Thefe bills caufed many very fpirited debates in both houses, and peutions from various parts of the country, both for and against them, were prefented. 1796. JANUARY 1. A fufpenfion of arms between the French and the Austrians was agreed on for one month. 6. Her Royal Highnefs the Princess of Wales delivered of a daughter. Defcription of a Welsh Cottage. (From Pratt's Gleanings.) IN point of fituation it might vie with any hermitage, cot, or palace, that prieft, peafant, or prince ever fixed on for refidence. A noble beach of the fineft fand fpreads itself at the bottom; the ocean yet nobler extends in front, with all the fcenery that moves on the face of the waters: the cliffs of Cardiganfhire bound the profpect to the right, to the left are feen thofe of Caernarvonshire. Clofe at its foot a rill, which is for ever heard but never feen, the fhrub-wood and weeds of a little half cultivated piece of garden ground bidding defiance to the moft narrow infpection; and clofe at its back is part of that immenfe and continuous rock on which one half of the village is erected: but as thofe are on the fummit, this is at the bottom. The fides, and far the greater part of this hovel (for it is little better) are fo thick with ivy, that, at a small diftance, nothing but that romantic evergreen is ro be fays of the rats)-the moths and other vermin, "had inftinctively quitted it." be discovered. A novel writer, or a lover, or a mifanthrope, could imagine nothing half fo congenial to their pen- There was a fourth bed, of a little five difpofitions it belongs to neither of thefe perfonages. Enter it and furvey the inhabitants. Perhaps there never was contained, in fo fmall a fpace, fuch a variety of occupations go ing on at the fame time: nor, probably, fuch a number of living beings crouded into one cottage, confifting not only of one floor, but one very contracted room. That room was built barn fafhion; had more light from the large gaps in the roof, which was of thatch, than from the window. Its walls are of avowed mud, for not fo much as a common white wash, ever attempted to conceal their real compofition. The family confifted of fourteen perfons, of which, three were too young to relieve their poverty, though just old enough to fmile at, and difregard it-the reft were, as I faid, bufily employed. The father of the family was making nets, the mother of it was having one of the innkeepers of the place of her more anon-the eldeft fon was weaving ribbons-the eldest daughter weaving cloth-the fecond fon was mending a petticoat, that for variety of patch work, might triumph over Otway's bag-the fecond daughter was attempting to repair, what I guefs, might have been intended for her father's breeches, in his younger days, and was now to be converted into a pair for his heir apparent -the third daughter (he had but three fons) was combing the head of the fourth, who was, with no lefs industry knitting a pair of ftockings-the fixth girl was making bread-the feventh was making broth, that is, a collection of potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables-and the eighth, and laft, was rocking the cradle of the youngest child with her foot, and dandling another in her arms-while the fifth was making firft experiments at the fpinning wheel. The tatters, which were thrown over thefe poor artizans, were even more bare and ragged than the furniture, which confifted of only three miferable beds, of which one only had curtains, and thofe of yellow ftuff, in fo ruinous a ftate, that (as the Copper Captain Hib. Mag. Feb. 1796. dirty looking ftraw, in a corner of the room, with a covering of old facks. Never did I fee fo much indigence, and fo much induftry united; for though the latter was unremitted, the low price of labour, and the number to be fupplied from it, and the tender years of moft of the labourers, made the fource inadequate to the demand upon it; but neither the induftry, nor the indigence, had banished the virtues, or the felicities: They were, indeed, within this lowly refidence, in a more flourishing fate, than is generally to be found in prouder dwellings. All the varieties, which characterife happiness, in different minds, and ages, were prefented before me. The father, while he confructed his net, taught the alphabet to one of his fmaller children, who was armed with an hornbook.-The matron 'ftrongly recommended the laft piece of cloth of her eldeft girl's mak ing, to the innkeeper, whofe chin the was reaping; thus contriving to carry on two bargains at the fame time; and it is not eafy to defcribe to you, the fatisfaction with which the good man of the houfe kiffed the dirty face of the child, on her getting through her letters without mifcalling, or forgetting, more than fixteen out of the twentyfour; or how the good woman chuckled, when her encomia of the linen, conquered the reluctance of mine hoft, who not only promifed to become a purchaser of the cloth, then under hand, but to speak favourably of her daughter's handy-works, to the gentry at his house. The joke, however, which was, meanwhile, carrying on between the fecond fon and daughter, about the inverfion of their ufual occupations, which was a thing agreed on, out of pure fport, fupplied a mirth, yet more ardent. The convention was, Sifter, if you will repair my breeches, I will mend your petticoat. One good turn deferves another." Accordingly, both went to work, during which, a thousand ruftie repartees, and fallies of uncultivated wit, which made up in harmleffness, what they wanted in brilliancy, paffed X 64 in in rebound; but the jet of the joke, lay in a ftruggle, that happened be tween them, in the progrefs of their bufinefs; the brother declaring, his fifter was a bungler; whereupon there arofe a pleasant contention, which was of ferious confequence to the breeches; for they were torn in twain, and, furthermore, fo rent as to be unfit for either father or fon this, though no trifling lofs to a family under fuch circumftances, made the jeft fo much the better, that the father forgave the misfortune, for the fake of the pleafant manner, with which it was brought about, affuring me, that there was more wit in that girl, who had torn the breeches, and more flynefs in the young dog, that was laughing at it, than I could believe. The mother fhook her head, faying, they were always at fome mifchief, and would be the ruin of the family but patted the girl on the cheek, and clapped the boy on the back, while The paffed the cenfure on them. Thus does the tenderness of nature adminifter equivalents, for the poverty of her meaneft offspring. The rest of the family were no lefs fuccefsful, in mixing amufement with bufinels: The little flocking knitter, was telling to the bread maker, a ftory of the lights being feen, and the groans heard, when there was no perfon to carry the one, or to make the other.-A fuperftition, by the bye, that is interefting to children of a larger growth, than thofe who were then liftening to it; of which in its place. The little cradle-rocker, was finging a lullaby to the fuckling, which was hugging a half ftarved kitten in its arms. Find me a family, at once fo happy and numerous.' merit depends on fhow and found, and thefe requifites are to be found with undiminished luftre in the prefent piece. The fcenery, machinery, and dreffes are new, fplendid, and coftly. The archery feems particularly entitled to applaufe. Harlequin is by no means the most important character, but his tricks have been fo much hackneyed, that, probably, a new feries may be found difficult to invent. This pantomime pleafed thofe for whofe entertainment it was intended, and has already answered the end for which it was produced. ings. Egbert, Malvern, Mollo, Lothaire, Ofwena, Adela, Mr. Middleton; Mr. Macready;. Mr. Toms; Mr. Richardfon; Mr. Pope; Mr. Claremount; Mr. Hull; Mr. Thompson; Odune, the Earl of Devonshire, had betrothed his daughter Adela to Alric Earl of Northumberland, contrary to the wishes of Adela, who is fecretly attached to Voltimur, fon of the famous Danish Earl Haftings. After the death of Haftings, his fon Voltimur remained with his mother, Ofwena, in this country. Voltimur, like the ancient Brutus, pretends to be difordered in his mind, that he may not be confidered as an object important enough to be mifchievous, and that he may be permitted, as a harmless idiot, to refide near Adela, to whom his heart is devoted. Adela alone is acquainted with the fecret of his pretended infanity. Voltimur is retained at the feat of Odune as a kind of minftrel. While prepa rations rations are making for the nuptials of. or whether he would deny even his Alric and Adela, Alfred, paffing with daughter. Odune, in the fervor of his a body of troops near his caftle, becomes loyalty, declares his readiness to yield the guest of Odune. In order to avoid his life, and what was more dear to him, this detefted marriage, Adela appeals his daughter, to recompence the virtue The king then points to the humany and juftice of Alfred, of fuch a man. and betrays her affection towards Vol- to Voltimur, demanding Adela as his timur. Alfred undertakes to favour her bride. Odune cordially affents, and saufe. It appears that Alric had been the happiness of the lovers terminates, privately married to the fifter of Earl the piece. Sibbald, who, in behalf of his injured fifter, had fummoned Alric to the field, ignorant of the marriage that had taken place. Their differenoe is fettled by an explanation before Alfred. Prologue to the Days of Yore. Spoken by This drama will add but little to the reputation of its author, whofe talents would be more fuccefsfully employed in comedy. The intereft of the piece is not well fupported after the firft act, Though the Danes had been difcom- and the cataftrophe is too foon difcofited in the field where Haftings loft his vered, The language, however, is corlife, yet his widow, Ofwena, and a rect, fometimes fpirited, and at all Danish Chieftain, Gothrun, had lin- times elegant. But though this piece gered in Britain, intent upon hoftility will hardly benefit the Author, it has towards Alfred when an opportunity been of great importance to Mr. Pope, fhould offer. Alfred, wandering at by enabling him to display talents which night in disguise, is feized by Gothrun the public have not had an opportunity and his party, who are ignorant of the of feeing before, and which, by cultirank of the illuftrious prifoner. Goth- vation, muft produce much future enThe performance of Vol-run fiercely urges his myrmidons to tertainment. facrifice the captive, as fome fatisfaction timur was natural, animated, and strictto the manes of their countrymen. Vol- ly fcientific. Mrs. Pope and the reft timur, though a Dane, and bitterly of the performers also did juftice to the lamenting his father, pleads to his Author. countrymen in behalf of the unarmed prifoner, and at length fucceeds, declaring, that if the captive were Alfred himself, the enemy of the Danes, he would be the protector of fo virtuous a THIS night the Muse devotes to DAYS [hore; monarch, and fo wife a legiflator. Alfred can no longer diffemble his When the fierce Dane infulted England's -feelings, but throws afide his difguife, She, haplefs ifle, in the wild tempeft and praifes the virtue of his generous deliverer. The moment Alfred reveals Saw all but her inherent courage loft; himfelf, the furious Gothrun rufhes Like fome ftout fhip, which, finking to her grave, [can brave, forward to deftroy him, but is prevented by Voltimur, and difarmed by his Surveys what none but British hearts followers. Death in a thousand shapes of horror dreft, [out reft; Night without ftars, and billows withWhen some bold voice, loud as the roar. ing fea, [our lea!" Cries out-" All hands! the port is on Inftant they rouze-brace up the fwelling fail, [the gale; She rights, the lifts, the rides before Then fafe in port, the joyous glass goes round, A this period the intended marriage between Alric and Adela is on the eve of celebration; but after the father of Adela understands that Alric is precluded by a previous union from mar rying his daughter, Alfred, who had been miffed by his courtiers (about to -march to rescue their beloved king), enters, and, relating the danger from which he had efcaped, afks Odune what that man deferves who had delivered him from fuch imminent peril, OF YORE, Loft, And all paft forrows in that glass are drown'd. X 2 So So, in the night of England's deep ing eye foon detected the fource of my [lair liberal gifts." despair, Great Alfred, iffuing from her fecret Rofe like a meteor-The glad nation heard [fred's word His glorious call; and this was AlFight, fight! or perish in your country's caufe; [your laws: Stand for your king, your liberties, 'Tis Alfred calls you on his heart is true, [for you!" And he for whom you bleed, shall bleed Sons of that gallant race, to you we give [fathers live: Thefe pictur'd fcenes, in which your View them with candour, give the sketch fome praise, [days; Which features out the chiefs of ancient And recollect, whatever here is fhewn, Their caufe, their courage, all are now (Continued from our laft.) "THE village in which I lived gave me an opportunity of commiting depredations on the game, and the noney I raised in that way wandered regularly into the hands of my miftrefs. Robert, a game-keeper to the lord of the manor, was one of the admirers of Jenny, which was the name of my paramour; he foon obferved the advantage which my prefents procured me over him, and being fpurred by envy and jealousy, he watched me clotely: By degrees he began to refort to the 3un, which was the fign of my inn, more frequently than ever, and his pry "A very rigorous law against gameftealing had been renewed not long before, and Robert was indefatigable to find an opportunity of getting rid of his rival. He fucceeded but too foon; I was caught in the very act of shooting a deer, and condemned to be sent to the houfe of correction: It coft all my little remaining fortune to buy off that punifhment Robert had gained his aim, and Jenny's heart was loft to me." Glowing refentment rankled in my breaft and I was determined to be revenged as foon as a proper opportu nity thould offer. Poverty and want, hunger and defpair, tempted me once more to have recourfe to game-ftealing, and Robert's watchfulness surprised me a fecond time. Being reduced to the loweft degree of poverty, it was not in my power to gild the hands of juftice a fecond time, and I was committed for a whole year to the houfe of correction in the refidence. Every lash of the gaoler's whip gave new firength to my refentment, the feparation from my miftrefs increased my paffion, and I haftened on the wings of love and revenge to my native place, as foon as I had been fet at liberty. I flew to Jenny, but was denied admittance and treated with fcorn. The pinching want having fubdued my pride and laziness, I offered my fervices to the rich, in the village, but nobody would employ a fellow who had been imprisoned in the house of correction." "Preffed by hunger and dire neceffity, and foiled in all my attempts at getting an honeft livelihood, I renewed my depredations on the game, and was entrapt a third time through Robert's watchfulnefs. The repeated infringements on the game laws had aggravated my guilt: The judges looked into the records of the law, but not into the heart of the tranfgreffor, paid no regard to the plea of want and dire neceffity, and fentenced me to have the mark of a gibbet burnt on my back, and to work three years in the fortifications." At the clofe of that term I recovered my liberty a fecond time, and here begins a new period of my life." |