HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. Council, contract and folemnize marriage without the confent of the Crown; unless BOTH Houfes of Parliament fhall, before the expiration of the faid year, exprefly declare their difapprobation of foch intended marriage. And all perfons folemnizing, affifting, or being prefent at, any fuch prohibited marriage, fhall incur the penalties of the flatute of PREMUNIRE, i. c. be out of the King's protection, imprifoned during pleafure, forfeit eftates, &c. His R. H. the Prince of Wales fent his annual donation of rool to the Steward of the fociety of Antient Britons for the further support of that charity. Saturday 4. The feffions, which began on the 22d of February at the Old Bailey, ended, when 25 convicts received fentence of death; the lift of whofe names and crimes are more than we have room to infert. Monday 20. Watkin Williams Wynne narrowly efcaped with life: coming down Lichfield#treet, in his carriage, one of the fore-wheels broke down, and the coachman was thrown on the pavement, where he lay fome little time fpeechlefs. The horfes taking fright ran off with Sir Watkin; and the cries of the people increafing their fright, they galloped furiously on, till, turning a corner, the carriage overfet. In this fituation, with the body of the carriage fideways on the ground, Sir Walkin was dragged to Little St. Martin's Lane, where a gentleman jumped at the reins, and, by turning the horfes heads towards the pavement, compelled them to flop, by which means Sir Watkin was moft miraculously released without being hurt. Tuesday 21. Mr. Pitt flated to the Houfe that he had received advice of the Bourbon Dutch E.Indiaman having been driven into the port of Dartmouth by frefs of weather, the crew of which were afflicted with a very alarming epidemical fever, which was rapidly fpreading and daily gaining ground. The fears of the inhabitants of Dartmouth and 2 263 its vicinity were so ftrong, that none of the crew were permitted to land, whereby the lives of the whole were in danger, and, unless fome remedy was provided, they must inevitably perish. Under thefe circumftances it was impoffible for his Majefty in Council, to give them that relief which their unfor tunate fituation demanded. He therefore moved for leave to bring in a bill for enabling certain perfons therein to be named to build fuch temporary elections, for the reception of the crew, as might be neceffary upon wafte lands or common within a certain distance of any inhabited houfe. He did not fuppofe that there could be the smallest objection to the motion, and as the matter was fo extremely urgent, he thought the Houfe ought to difpenfe with the ufual forms, and permit the Bill to be brought in and paffed that day, which was ordered accordingly. This timely precaution has had the defired effect. The unhappy fufferers have been reftored to health, and the country relieved from their apprehenfions. Wednesday 22. The Sheriffs of London, accompanied by the City Remembrancer, attended the Levee at St. James's, and prefented the felons petition to his Majesty. To the KING's Moft Excellent Majefty, The humble Petition of the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, Sheweth, "THAT your Petitioners, the Magiftrates for the City of London, have had an opportunity of obferving, with the most heart-felt concern, the rapid and alarming increase of crimes and depredations in this city and its neighbourhood, efpecially within the last three years. "The fact of fuch increase is too publicly known, and too feverely felt by your Majesty's fubjects, to be doubted; and if any direct proof of it were wanting, it will most evidently appear from the num ber of days employed in the trial of felops at the Old Bailey, which, upon an average of the last three years, have been upwards of Fifty-five in the year; whereas the highest average of any three years prior to the year 1776, was less than Forty-fix, and the general average of twenty years, prior to that period, less than Thirty-four days in the year. "That the increase of the crime of burglary is become moft alarming to your Majesty's fubjects, which increafe your petitioners are inclined to afcribe to the great number of experienced and well practifed thieves now in the kingdom, who commit this atrocious crime with fuch art that fcarce any precautions an fuficient to guard against it. And the fame experience that enables thefe offenders to perpetrate this offence with cafe, has probably convin ced them that it is attended with lefs perfonal danger and hazard of detection than moft ther offences. : Ther 264 HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. "That in the years from January 1766 to December 1775, both inclufive, (which time immediately preceded the ftop that was put to transportation) above three thousand one bundred perfons were tranfported from London and Middlefex alone; and having reafon to believe that all the rest of the kingdom have furnished an equal number, the whole amount of the tranfports in these ten years have been above Six Thousand. That the number of prifoners tried and convicted of felony in the ten fucceeding years, from the beginning of 1776 to 1786, having greatly increated, there is every reason to believe, that, if the executive justice had remained the fame, the tranfports in those years would have much exceeded the number of the ten preceding; but the regular courfe of transportation having been interrupted during that period, and few opportuni ties found by Government of fending convicts abroad, and thofe only in fmall nnmbers, your Petitioners humbly fubmit to your Majesty, that it neceffarily follows, that after making an allowance for the fmall number fent abroad, and for the convicts who may have died during that period, there must now remain within the kingdom, either at large or in the different prifons, at least Four tboufand perfons, who, in the judgment of the law, were proper to have been fent out of it. "That your Petitioners humbly conceive that this dreadful accumulation is alone fufficient to account for all the evils that are fo heavily felt and fo juftly complained of, both as to the over-crowded ftate of the gaols and the increase of crimes and of offenders. "To what extent the mischiefs that are fo feverely felt already, and the fatal confequences fo justly apprehended, may be car red by a longer continuance of fo rapid and alarming an accumulation of convicts within the kingdom, no human wisdom can foresee. "When facts fo important as thefe, and which fo materially affect the peace and fecurity of your Majesty's fübjects in general, and efpecially of this great city, have come within the knowledge of your Petitioners, they would ill discharge their duty to your Majefty, or the Public, if they neglected most humbly to lay them at the foot of the Throne, earnestly befeeching your Majelly to direct fuch measures to be taken, as to your Royal wifdom thall frem beft, for providing a speedy and due execution of the law, both as to capital punishment rand transportation, without which all othe regulations must prove nugatory and abortive, and the mifchiefs complained of muft daily and rapidly increase." Monday 27. This morning the following very im portant and interefting intel gence was received at the India Houfe from Peng, by a 'packet which left Calcutta on the 11th of November laft. The engagement entered into between Mr. Haftings, on the part of the Government General, and the Nabob Vizier, had been fulfilled in every partthat is to fay, the Vizier had paid up every rupee of his balance, including the debt of 750,000l. and the monthly fubfidy due to the troops The provinces of Bengal, Benares, and Owde, were in perfect tranquillity -Madajee Scindia preparing to proceed to the Deccan; and hoftilities between Tippoo Sultan and the Mahrattas hourly expected, or actually commented-Seven ships loaded from Bengal, and no bills drawn upon the Company by the Governor General and Council-The retrenchments ordered by the Court of Directors had been carried compleatly into effect-The orders upon the Treasury bore no discount; and the discount upon the bonds had fallen to eleven per cent. A petition to the King and both Houses of Parliament, from the officers of the army and the inhabitants of Madras, is allo brought over by this packet against that part of Mr. Pitt's India bill which regards the criminal inftitution. The pe titions are strongly worded, and numerously figned. We alfo learn that there was a mutiny among the foldiers at Madras, on account of arrears of pay, but, by the timely interference of the government, it was quieted before the packet failed. The petition from the British inhabitants was not prepared when this packet failedthere had been much difference of opinion upon it, and the general idea was, that it would be figned but by an inconfiderable number, as the fpirit of oppofition to Mr. Pitt's bill had in a great measure fubfided, particularly in the army. Friday 31. The gold medals given annually by his Grace the Duke of Grafton, Chancellor of Cambridge, to those, who after having taken their A B. degree, pafs the best claffical examination, were adjudged to Mr. Rd. Ramfden and Mr. Ralph. Leycefter, both of Trinity College. The Pope has formally fufpended Cardinal Rohan, now in the Baftile, from all honours, rights, and privileges, pertaining to his dignity of Cardinal, till he appears before his Holinefs and clears himself of the crimes laid to his charge. An action upon the cafe, was tried this month before Mr. Juftice Buller, at [Guildhall, London, in which Ld. Loughborough was plaintiff, and John Walter, printer of the Univerfal Regifter, defendant, for a libel, in propagating an infamous and injurious report, highly injurious to the honour and character of the defendant. The facts being fully proved, the jury gave a verdict for the defendant, with 1501. damages. P. 88, Obituary of confiderable Perfons; with Biographical Anecdotes. P. 88, In the article of Mrs. LEHOOK, inftead of" born at &c. near Worcester," read "born at Lulley, near" &c.; and, instead of "the nearest relations,' &c. read her nearest," &c. and add," Though rich, not purfe proud. No buckram or tiffness of pride belonged to her; on the contrary, fle had all the agreeable, eafy manner, and affability of a perfon of quality. P. 182. The remains of the late Duke of St. Albans, which had been privately conveyed to town, from Bruffels, where he died on Feb. I, were this day conveyed, in funeral pomp, to Weltminster Abbey, attended respectfully by the chief officers under his Grace, as Lord Lieut. of co. Berks, and the other officers under him, in his several high departments. The proceffion arrived at the Weft door, about twelve o'clock, where it was met by the Bishop of Rochester, dean of Westminster, and other officers of the church, who preceded it to Henry the Seventh Chapel; where, in confequence of an order from the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houfhold, it was interred in the Ormond Vau't, the ceremony being performed by the Bishop. His Grace's remains are not far diftant from his ancestors, King Charles the Second, and the former Duke of St. Albans. The hearfe and pall were decorated with eicutcheons of his Grace's arms, and other Fageants fuitable to his rank. The coffin was of cr.mlon velvet, enriched with Ducal coronets, with a plate engraved, affixed to it, announcing his feveral titles. The attention paid by the Bishop, on this occafion, was becoming and highly respect ul. Ibid. Mr. THOMAS BECKWITH, who died on the 17th of last month, at York, was defcended from a very ancient family in that County, of every branch of which he had preferved copious Genealogies. As to his own line, fuffice it to fay, that his father was a refpectable attorney in the Weft Riding, who left leveral children. Two of his fons were bred to his own profeffion, to one of whom (Jofiah, ftill living) the world is much obliged for an enlarged edition of Bont's "Frag menta Antiquitatis," prin es at York, in Octav, 1784. What other children furvived his father is unknown to the writer of this a ticle, except THOMAS, the loss of whom he fincerely regrets, and to whom the following tribute is due. Mr. Beckwith ferved his time as a HoufePainser, to a very ingenious man, Mr. George Fleming, of Wakefield, from whom he derived bis skill in drawing and limning, as well as imbibed a love of Antiquity. To thefe Mr. B. added heraldic and genealogical knowledge, to all which he applied himself, in his leisure hours, with fuch great and unwearied zeal, that his collection, together wtih the works of his own hands, became at length very confiderable; for, as he was well known to, and itill more refpected by, a numerous GENT. MAG. Murch, 1786. 265 portunities of making additions to it. provincial acquaintance, he had frequent op With regard to Mr. B's merit as a portrait-` painter, the writer is not competent to judge; but if Mr. B. did not use his pallet, much yet, was his pencil in conftant employment; for there riofity, particularly if an antique, of which was hardly an object that ftruck him as a cuhe did not make a drawing, and scarcely a church or a ruin in the vicinities of the places of his abode, that he did not preferve either i pencil or water-colours. A few years ago Mr. B. obtained a patent for the fole making and vending what (for want of knowing the technical term) may be called bardened Crayons, which would bear the knife, and carry a point like a pencil: but whether his ingenuity was rewarded with fuccefs the writer is ignorant. It was about the Society of Antiquaries, London. But the fame time that he was elected a Fellow of what contributed moit to make Mr. B. known to thofe who were unacquainted with him in any other branch, was his extenfive information in the genealogical line, infomuch that he has had the arrangement of numberless pedigrees, for fome of the beft families in the North of England, which he was enabled to do from vifitation books, and other authentic documents, which fell into his hands. Added to these he poffeffed much intelligence refpealing the antiquity and defcents of the principal families in the inland adjacent counties, and of various others more remote from him. If the world in general was, in great meafure, a ftranger to Mr. B's public merits, it may be partly attributed to his own modefty and diffidence, to which truth, many readers of this little account will be ready to fubjoin their teftimony; and agree, further, that his indefatigable induftry in collecting, was only exceeded by his obliging willingness to impart any information which he had received. pre In the fearch after antiquities, Mr. B. feemed to have made the more obfcure and minuter Hiftory of York, and its environs, his peculiar ftudy, infomuch, that he had pared and nearly completed a little work which would be very acceptable to many of his friend, viz." A walk in and about the City of York," on the plan of Mr. Gottling's Walk in and about the City of Canterbury." The whole of his collection, we understand, is fpeedily intended for fale; but it is much to be wifhed, in particular, that the above piece might be excepted, and placed in proper hands for publication and, in general, that the reft of his MSS. may fali among fuch purchafers, who will be as liberal in their cmmunications, as was the late worthy pro prietor. Mr. B. died a widower, leaving one fon, Dr. Ray Beckwith, a physician at Whitby, and one daughter unmarried. 266 Births, Marriages, and Deaths of eminent Perfons. BIRTHS. WER Sicilian Majefty, a Prin efcaped the perfecutions of the fober Diffenters till 1785, when his religion and loyalty Feb. 18. cefs, who was named Maria brought him into trouble with the mobs of Clotilda. Governor Trumbull, who lately has been March 22. The Lady of Sir H. Gough, honoured with the degree of LL. D. by the bart. a fon. L MARRIAGES. ATELY, Lewis Montolieu, efq; to Mifs Mr. Saunders, apothecary at Farmingham, Kent, to Mifs Hallet, eldeft fifter of Wm. H. efq; of Cannons. March 2. At St. Catharine, CreechurchLane, Mr. Benj. Fairfax, of the Bull Inn, Hoddeldon, to Mifs Kirby, of the Ryehouse, Stanfted, Herts. 3. Mr. Dan.M'Gregor, to Mifs AnnAuftin. At Kendal, Edw. Stephenfon, elq; of Queen-fquare, to Mifs Strickland. At Queen Charlton, the Rev. Mr. Creech, of Rothwell, co. Northampt. to Mifs Mary Cox, of Briftol. Cs. B. Ellifon, efq; to Mifs S. T. Purfer. At Aldgate cnurch, Mr. Hembroke, Attorney at Law, to Mifs Porter, of Chertsey. The Rev. H. Kitchingman, of Alne, co. York, to Mife S. Knowles, youngest dau. of the late rev. Dr. K. of Chipping Warden. The Rev. Edw. Fofter, one of the Prieftvicars of Wells Cathedral, to Mifs Drake. 7. At Otley, Joshua Grompton, efq; of York, to Mifs Rookes. 8. Earl of Haddington to Mifs Gafcoigne. 11. Mr. W. Baker, of Fleet-ftreet, to Mifs Pafco, 13. Rob. Rich, efq; to Mifs Furnish, of York. 14. By fpecial licence, at Shotte fbrook, Sir Bourchier Wrey, bart, of Tavistock, co. Devonshire, to Mifs Palk, dau. of Sir Rob. Palk, of Haldon House. 17. John Bevan, efq; to Mifs Holmes, of Shorne, Kent. 19. Mr. Sayer, of Gutter Lane, to Mifs Mihill, of Ware. A DEATHS. Nov. 12, This feat, in Pomfret. in the 1785. State of Connecticut, Godfrey Malebome, efq. He was educated at the Univerfity of Oxford, and was honoured with the friendship of Dr. Egerton, now Lord Bishop of Durham-His learning, liberality, and politenefs, enabled him to be one of the beft farmers, and the most agreeable gentleman, in Connecticut. His farm contained 4000 acres of land, well fenced, 'and beautifully managed; on it were 50 negroes, 100 cows, 20 yoke of oxen, 120 other neat cattle, 60 horfes, 3000 fheep, 200 fwine, ten white fervants, and a fub-overfeer.-His charities were equal to his patriarchal poffeffions. He built and endowed a hand fome church on his eftate; and the Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel fent him a clergyman, with an anual flipend.-By means of this benevolence, he Epifcopalians in the county of Wyndham University of Edinburgh, on account of his fteady oppofition to the King of England, during the rebellion in America -Mr. Maleb me was a great sufferer, in name and property, by the rebellion.-He lived in the efteem of all good men, and will be long and fincerely regretted by the loyal Epifcopalians in that ftate, and by all Europeans who have been travellers through that country. Dec. 6. At Wingham in Kent, in her 70th year, Mrs. Judith Matfon, relict of the late Mr. Charles M. who died about the year 1750. 1786. Lately, at Penquite, Cornwall, Mifs Yonge, dan. of Sir Geo. Y. At Bath, Henry Briftow, efq; late of the Coldstream reg. of guards. At Oxford, the rev. Zachary Langton, M. A. formerly a member of St. Mary Hall, and who had belonged to that university upwards of 70 years. At Bath, the right hon. the countefs dow. of Galloway. At Cheltenham, aged 99, Geo. Fofter Du val, efq; formerly a med cal practitioner at Bath. At Park holl, co. Derby, aged 91, Jof. Hague, efq; formerly a Turkey-merchant. Mrs. Goffet, wife of Maathew G. jun, esq; viscount of the island of Jerfey. Jan. 17. Upon the coast of Africa, in the difcharge of his duty to his king and country, Edward Thomfon, efq; commander of the Grampus, and commander in chief of his Majefty's fquadron on the coaft of Africa; an officer of very diftingu th d eminence, and a gentleman extensively known in the polite and in the literary world. His difpofitions were happy and amiable; his acquirements very far beyond mediocrity; his virtues tranfcendent and firm. He had courage without pride; and was fond of liberty without licentioufnefs. His ambition taught him to court danger; his refolution to furmount it; and his officers and crew, con vinced of his knowledge, and admiring his generofity, were impatient to flatter his attention, by the most unequivocal marks of their fubmiflion and zeal. From bis zeal and attachment to the commercial inrerefts of his country, in faving two valuable convoys from the enemy, he was twice tried and acquitted, with those plaudits of renown which are the certain indications of the highest merit. The elevation of his fentiments placed him out for admiration in every fituation of life. While he was generous as a mafter, he was Atill more fo as a friend. His heart, alive to the moft virtuous fenfibilities, indulged itself in actions the most brilliant. To his friend he was ever ready to facrifice his fortune and his safe. It was not lightly that he formed his opinion; Obituary of confiderable Perfons; with Biographical Anecdotes. @pinions; and he did not eafily abandon them. A mind fo cultivated as his, could not be infenfible to gallantry, and it is fit that the brave fhould be rewarded with the fmiles of beauty. He had a talent for poetry, and was not infenfible to the elegance of the fine arts. He even wrote verfes with fome degree of fuccefs, and not unfrequentiy discovered thofe natural graces which escape the pens and the penetration of more artificial writers. What is furprising, his judgement was folid, and yet his imagination was warm. He formed his purpose with phlegm, and put it in execution with ardour. He was perfectly free from mystery. Nature intended his actions to be emblems of honefty; and even all his knowledge of the world could not feduce him into corruption. At the age of 40 years he ceafed to be every thing that is most honourable, and left it to his relations and friends to weep over his memory with an unavailing forrow and regret. Feb. 20. Mr. Sam. Mence, one of the gentlemen of his Majefty's chapel-royal at St. James's, one of the lay vicars of the cathedral of Lichfield, and brother to the rev. Mr. M. rector of Allhallows, London-wall. 21. At her house in the close of the cath. church of Lichfield, Lady Smith, widow of the late Sir Geo. S. bart. of Stoke, Nottinghamfh, and fitter to the Rev. Dr. Vyle. 25. Suddenly, at Beverley, co. York, aged 97, R. Sompes, esq. 26. Mrs. Chapman, mistress of the Whitehorfe livery-ftable, Coleman-ftreet, aged 2. 26. At Fulford, co. York, T. Briftow, efq; one of the aldermen of that corporation He ferved the office of lord-mayor in 1778, and was in the commiffion of the peace for rhe ealt-riding of that county. Of an apoplexy, most defervedly regreted, after performing the fervice at church, and dining, apparently in good health, the rev. Tho. Marthal Jordan, rector of Barming in Kent, and of Iden in Suffex, in the 72d year of his age. Thus, by a favoured, though fudden and almost instant death, were his relations and friends deprived of a most valuable and affectionate member, Christianity of one of its molt faithful followers, and human nature, the rare, but ufeful example of genuine piety, uniformly chearful and unaffected! 28. At Sunbury, Middlesex, Mr. Stephen Boone, furgeon. At Cambridge, Mifs Eyre, dau. of the rev. Mr. E. one of the refidentiaries of York cathedral, and grand-dau. of the rev. Dr. Prelcott, late mafter of Catherine-hall, March 1. In Cannon-fr. Frederick Standert, efq. In Cavendish-fq. Mrs. Boughton, one of the bed-chamber women to her Majesty, and mother of Sir Edw. B. bart. She was the dau. of the hon. Algernon Greville, 267 bridge; and afterwards rector of Homers- 2. In the evening died, at his house in Parliament Street, in the fifty-first year of his age, John Jebb, M. D. F. R. S. formerly Fellow of St. Peter's College, Qam The following account of the proceffion Sir Rd. Jebb, and Mr. James Torkington, Hi |