abled, that for two days after the in Chief in the Downs. In 1791, he action, she was obliged to be towed was made Rear Admiral of the Red, by the Monmouth, not being in a and was appointed to command state to carry any sail. In the second the third division of the fleet at action with Suffrein on the 8th of Spithead; in 1792 he had the honour April, 1782, the Exeter did not ex- to be created a Baronet of Great Briperience so pointed an attack, but tain, and was appointed to be Goverwas nevertheless distinguishingly en- nor and Commander in Chief at Newgaged, sustaining a loss of 44 men foundland. In 1793 he was promoted killed and wounded. During the to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue, and latter part of the time Commodore on his return from Newfoundland, King served in India, he had his was elected member of Parliament broad pendant on board the Hero. for Rochester. In December 1794, In the last action of the war fought being then Vice-Admiral of the Red, in the Indian Seas, which was on the he was appointed Commander in 13th of June, he narrowly escaped Chief at Plymouth; and in June being killed by a shot, which struck 1795, was farther promoted to the the speaking trumpet out of his hand, rank of Admiral of the Blue. In while he was giving orders on the February 1799, he became Admiral of poop of his ship. Peace being con- the White, and in April following, cluded between the belligerent powers, he was succeeded in his command at and a reduction of our force in the Plymouth by Sir Thomas Paisley. east becoming expedient, Commo- This was the last professional appointdore King was dispatched to Europe ment held by Sir Richard, who, in with the first division of the fleet, con- November 1805, was raised to the sisting of nine sail of the line and rank of Admiral of the Red. The three frigates, and reached England deceased Admiral has not left behind in May, 1784, and soon after his ar- him, in his majesty's navy, an officer rival, on being introduced to the king, of greater bravery, honour, or abilihad the honour of knighthood confei ties, and he died as he lived, univerred on him, in approbation of his sally respected. He is succeeded in zealous and meritorious services. In his title by his only son, Captain Sept. 1787, Sir Richard King was pro- King, of L'Achille of 74 guns, which moted to the rank of Rear Admiral of ship he nobly fought in the ever-methe White; and in 1790, Commander morable battle of Trafalgar.

STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

TWO circumstances have since fects that would arise from a to

payment of the debt.

ably, the public mind, and both de- The joy arising from the first cirnote a degradation of the country, cumstance has already vanished away. and are symptoms of a declining em- The deluded people are ready for a pire. The one is the extravagance of new deception; and, notwithstanding joy, arising from the supposed com- what they have experienced with replete defeat of the French in Poland; spect to both the battles of Austerthe news of which was received with litz and Poland, they are just as ready the utmost avidity, and all ideas of to receive any idle account of a new examining into the truth of the account were swallowed up in the congratulations on the happy prospects that this event laid open to our view. The other circumstance affected our finances, and with gaping mouths the public swallowed the whale, thrown out by Lord H. Petty, that there were to be no more taxes; and the finances were in such a flourishing situation, that some degree of apprehension might be entertained of the bad ef

victory obtained by the barbarians of Russia over the skill, numbers, and discipline of the French. It now appears, that Bonaparte, after having established himself at Warsaw, pushed on his army to a considerable distance beyond it; that he attacked the Russians, drove them back, and would have completely annihilated their armies, if it had not been for the badness of the weather. Some advan tages, which the Russians had in one

Whilst the French were supposed to have been beat by the Prussians, they were bringing Silesia into complete subjection, and preparing an attack on Swedish Pomerania. Stralsund, we now hear, is invested, and we may expect very soon to receive the news that the authority of the King of Sweden, on the south and east of the Baltic, has ceased to exist. The change that he made in the constitution of his states is not likely to give him popularity; and, if he should head his own troops, we should fear very much for the fate of royal tactics, when opposed by those of a French general, taken from the shop or the plough.

attack, gave rise to the rumour of of the Turkish dominions, or in Sitheir success. This was magnified lesia. The former is the most prointo a complete and decisive victory, bable supposition. and a victory that must have annihilated the French power in that quarter. The rumour gained ground in England, because the people were willing to believe it: and it was in vain to observe, that the thing was incredible in itself, and that the news brought to England on the Saturday, must, if true, have been known in Holland on the preceding Thursday. Against this latter circumstance it was urged, that the French influence was so great as to prevent such intelligence from penetrating into Holland, and of course the Russian victory was the talk, till repeated mails from the continent weakened its credibility; and at last, the state of the two armies put it beyond all doubt, that the power of Bonaparte was not impaired.

The King of Prussia is not completely driven out of his dominions. Konigsburg and Dantzick acknowThe last accounts inform us, that ledge his authority, and he has, what he was in Warsaw, and preparing to is called, a court about him. He dismake a visit to his army. The army penses honours and rewards, and poris in cantonments to the east of the tions out disgrace, and rests his hopes Vistula The Russians are near on the ability of Russia to assist him. Grodno. The setting in of the frost Whatever his hopes and fears may be, will probably put the bodies again in it is certain, that he has very few to motion, for the French emperor will condole with him in his calamities. not be inclined to give a very long All accounts concur in the censure of repose to his troops; and the Rus- his rash and unadvised measures, and sians, though good soldiers, are not the complete want of generalship on under such officers as can meet the his part, before and at the famous activity and skill of their opponents. battle which lost him and his kingIf the French should move on, a de- dom. It is supposed, that Lord Hutcisive action will soon take place as to chinson and Sir T. Wilson are with the affairs of Poland; and, if a peace him. He could not have better peris not soon made, we should not be at sons to assist him, if any thing reall surprised if the terms of it were mained to be done; and, if these ofdictated at Moscow by Bonaparte be- ficers had been sent to Austria and Russia, previous to the mad plans of

fore the summer.

Poland is not yet an independent Mr. Pitt, this country might have kingdom. Its Starosties are under a been saved the disgrace and expence government of Poles, appointed by attending those measures, which the French. A king cannot evidently brought on the fatal battle of Austerbe set up, till the kingdom is com- litz.

pletely conquered. The Prussian part The insurgents of Hesse Cassel are of it is now in the possession of the brought into order, and their quiet is French, the Russian part will soon recommended by the elector himself. follow the same fate. Whether the This is the only prudent measure he Austrian part should remain with its could adopt: for, if he is ever to be present possessors, depends on the restored to his dominions, which is a will of Bonaparte; but it is most pro- very doubtful thing, it must be by the bable, that he will insist on its resti- French emperor, and on the terms tution, and thus claim the honour of which he pleases to impose. The having destroyed the schemes of the north of Germany is in great distress three royal Jacobins. Austria will from the ruin of the commerce of receive its indemnification from part Hamburgh, and that ill-fated town is

not likely for a long time to recover ting commands follow desert. Vaits former consequence. Denmark rious regulations follow for the proviperseveres in its usual prudent course, sioning of these troops, and the whole and as yet has escaped the misfortunes shews the confidence of the sovereign which have befallen her neighbours. in his people. The immense extent Sweden is preparing for the arduous of territory, over which this force encounter, in which we tremble for is divided, will render its efficient the fate of the chivalrous king. strength far less than the numbers imply, and this diminution of strength is still more diminished by the sort of people to be brought into action. What the effect will be, if such a body is ever put into motion, it is not easy to decide, but a very large force cannot be kept assembled in one place, without an immense expence. The example is, however, a good one, and will have, we hope, a proper effect in this country; for, if the Russians can arm in this manner, it would be disgraceful for this island not to have a sufficient body in arms, to repel from its shores any force that can be brought against us by the enemy.

Russia has beholden for a long time the war at a distance, and its barbarians have been gratified by their ravages in the south. The approach of an enemy to its frontiers begins to be felt, and the despot has issued a manifesto, which proclaims his terror. The usual terms of perfidy are thrown out against the French, the war is declared to be inevitable, and the protection of the Almighty, who is said ever to espouse the cause of the just, is implored. But, if in this the despot follows the usual stile of manifestos, he points out in other terms the causes of the ruin that has fallen upon Austria and Prussia, which is justly attributed to their neglect in providing for their internal security. Hence, their fate was determined by the loss of a few battles, after which the enemy meeting no obstacle, and dreading no opposition from an unarmed populace, suddenly forced his way through the interior provinces, spread devastation and terror by his rapid and violent depredations, destroyed the scattered remains of a routed army, and effected a total overthrow of their empires.

To prevent a similar catastrophe in Russia, the despot proposes the establishment of a general temporary armament or militia, which may be ready in all quarters at a moment's notice, to support the regular troops; and a wiser measure could not be adopted. The number of men to be raised upon the decree, amounts to 612,000 men; and this body, if properly disciplined and animated with a proper spirit, might with the regular troops annihilate every effort of the French. The plan is exceedingly well laid. The despot appoints the commanders in chief of the greater divisions, and the officers of the provincial corps are to be appointed by the nobility, living in the district to which the corps belongs. They are not prepared in this extensive empire to give emulation to their men, by let

Bonaparte

Russia will, however, have full employment for all its force. The French are on its western territory; Turkey will employ some of its troops on the southern territory, whether by actual invasion or by defending their own; and there is reason to apprehend, that the device of Bonaparte may bring the Persians into action. Thus, a new scene of things is open to our view, and the system of Providence will by degrees be unravelled. may be the destined instrument to reform the Mahometan, as he has done the Popish church; and the Greek church will feel the effect of his conquests. The immense body he is collecting in Poland cannot but effect some great purpose; and, if his standard is successively raised in Moscow and Constantinople, he will only have pursued a similar course to that of the great conquerors, which have occasionally been raised to shew the kings of the earth, that, if their thrones are not fixed on justice and wisdom, there is one above them who can at his pleasure humble their pride, and confound their devices.

In France every thing goes on as quict as if the emperor were at Paris. The country, now left to itself, without any control from its immense army, and sending forth to join their hero eighty thousand youths, shews no disposition to revolt; nor is there

an appearance of a wish in the peo- that the expedition to Holland, which ple to restore their exiled sovereign. was far more disgraceful to this couiYet the emigrants in this country try, was settled without a court marlook forward still with anxious expec- tial. tation; and this decisive proof, how The grand plan of Lord Henry much they and their cause are ab- Petty to produce wonders in finance, horred by their countrymen, does not has been long enough before the pubproduce conviction in their minds. lie, to diminish the estimation in They have the felly to think, that a which it was held at the first broachnumerous army of Englishmen would ing of it, and to expose the idle and produce a revolution. But France is extravagant boasts with which it was grown too wise by the experience of received, as a present from another the past, and wretched must be the heaven-bon minister. A fine speech disposition of the country, if it did from his lordship was followed by a not heartily concur in preferring a large quarto with a vast quantity of Napoleon to a Bourbon. Spain pro- tables, prefaced by a very ill-written duces nothing new, but what comes account of the plan. The account baffrom the court; and, in this critical fled the comprehension of the men conjuncture of human affairs, it is bers, and the tables stupified them. chiedy employed in devising and It must be very fine, because it was so heaping new honours on the Prince deep and unintelligible. But the fact of Peace. Portugal awaits with patience its detsiny, but the English merchants there are not without fears of an extinction of their trade. They may rest securely, as long as Bonaparte is employed in the north, and Portugal aids him by a tribute.

is, that the tables might have been made by any boy at school, and they serve no one purpose whatever, but to confuse the understanding, and to throw dust into the eyes of the people. Divested of all the bombast and swelling jargon, which accompanied From America we learn the failure this grand scheme, the plan is simply of Miranda's expedition, and the re- this: to give the minister the power capture of Buenos Ayres. On the of mortgaging the war taxes, and to liter subject we would defer our ob- have at his discretion nearly two hunservations, asir Home Popham, the died millions, without the future condeviser of this ill-fated expedition, is troul of parliament. We remember returned to England, and, it is to be the expressions used by the present hoped, will be called to a strict ac- ministry, when in opposition against count of his conduct. What strikes Mr. Pitt. What would they have ps as very remarkable in this affair is, said, if he had advanced such a prothat, after having taken Buenos Ayres, position! No language would have the ships should have left the place been too strong to express their abfor an attack upon Montevideo, and horrence of so unconstitutional a meathus discovered to the Spaniards the sure. Indeed, if the parliament conweakness of the force in the town. sents to it, we know not what hopes Had the vessels remained near the remain of any check to future wild town till a reinforcement had arrived prospects of a similar nature; and it from England, their guns and their is not expected, that very great wismen would have kept the place in dom will accompany so improvident awe, and fifteen hundred sailors added a grant. It is needless to enter into to the land troops might have put the the many other objections to the mcaplace into such a state of defence as sure, founded on the mortgaging of might have baffled every effort of the what may be invalid securities. If it in-urgents. The loss to this country passes, the nation will, in proper time, will be very great, for the dollars ta- feel the results, and instead of seeing ken as plunder will not repay for the its debt diminished, according to the merchandise and bathed expectations idle boast of Lord H. Petty, will find of the persons who went, in conse- by its increase that the prodigies in quence of the supposed conquest, to finance are not to be expected from that part of the world. The court fine speaking. As to the flemishing martial will bring to light the nature state of finance, it is absurd to talk of of the expedition: but we recollect, it, when the nation is taxed beyond the

conception of any individual, that much inclined to believe that no such died before the middle of the last disease exists, as is attributed to the century; and the mode of raising the dog, and that no persons have died in supplies confounds entirely Dr.Frank the manner represented. As madness lin's idea in the first sentence of his is so dreadful a calamity, the question Poor Richard's Way to Wealth. deserves investigation, and the College It does not appear that much oppo- of Physicians would be doing a service sition will be made to the plan. In- to the country, by making enquiries trenched in his tables, the Chancellor of every surgeon and apothecary withof the Exchequer keeps the assailants in the bills of mortality respecting the at a distance. They cannot under- cases of this kind which have come stand his plan without understanding under their cognizance. The nature his tables, and the tables are beyond of cach case should be strictly investhe reach of their comprehension.- tigated; for a patient may attribute Sir F. Burdett, at a very large meet- that to the bite of a dog which arose ing, has given it the proper epithet of from very different circumstances. a splendid bubble: but in this, and A very eminent physician, in very many other instances, the language of the Baronet will make no impression, till the people, by severe experience, are made to comprehend its force and propriety.

great practice, asserted, that he never met with such a case in his whole life; and that, if he were consulted on the apprehended madness from the bite of a dog, he should not know how to proceed, being as ignorant in such a case as one totally unacquainted with medicine.

The discussion on the Slave Trade, in the House of Lords, has produced a considerable sensation amongst the West-India merchants and planters, An election has taken place in Canand traders to the coast of Africa. terbury, for a member, in the room of Whatever humanity may dictate, po- Mr. Alderman Simmons, deceased; licy, they say, ought to be consulted, when Mr. William Frend, whose Tanand indemnification ought to be made gible Arithmetic was noticed in our to those whose capitals have been em- last Number, and who is a freeman of barked under the faith of Parliament. that city, took occasion, ou proposing, The conduct of the Sierra Leone com- in a very numerous meeting, Mr.Sawpany, under the guidance of the per- bridge, who was unanimously elected, sons most active for the abolition of to call the attention of the meeting to the slave trade, ought to be a warning, a grievance severely felt, not only in how we trust ourselves to well-mean- that city, but over all England. This ing enthusiasts; and how men, under was in the mode of collecting the taxes; the specious pretences of sanctity and the agents of the taxes being frequently religion, will commit acts, that others guilty of vexatious and frivolous surof less pretensions would not venture charges, and putting, capriciously, a to justify. Thus they have ruined number of people to the expence and their company, expended between trouble of attending the meetings of four and five hundred thousand the commissioners, and losing their pounds, and refuse to let the proprietors look into the state of their own affairs. Are such men fit to introduce a measure for the regulation of a concern, in which millions are employed? And may not the same ruin be expected from such counsellors in the affairs of the nation, as the proprietofs of the Sierra Leone company have experienced in their own concerns?

The clamour about mad dogs begins to subside; but it has been attended with heavy calamities on the canine race. It is now time to examine coolly into the occasion of this clamour, and the real ground of the alarm. We are

time and labour to no purpose. In consequence of this address, several inhabitants of the town requested Mr. Frend to suggest a mode of redress, and he recommended a petition to parliament; which accordingly has been drawn up, and signed by a considerable number, and will soon be laid before the house. It is to be hoped that the example will be followed all over the kingdom.

In the two Houses of Parliament various things of importance have been brought forward: among the principal are the question of the Slave Trade-the Poor Laws — the