AT

[ 517 ]

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

T this period of profound peace on the continent, there is no incident that at tracts the notice of Europe more than the progrefs of the Emprefs of Ruffia through her dominions, to take a formal poffeffion of her new-acquired conquefts. She is, without difpute, the moft opulent and munificent fovereign of the prefent age. While fome of her fhips are navigating the feas of Japan, which border on one fide of her empire, another fleet is failing the Baltic, which bounds it on the other fide; while a third is expected in the Mediterranean, to affift in curbing the infolence of the Barbary corfairs, fo formidable to the Chriftian ftates in that quarter. We are told she is now founding an inftitution for concerting and profecuting discoveries in the South Seas by equipments from the ports of Kamkatka, which, if it does not lead to what is immediately ufeful, will, least prove a fchool for naval skill and enterprize

The apprehenfions of a war between the Ruffians and Turks fee p. 432) fees farther confirmed by a private letter from Petersburg, in which it is faid, "that a war with the Ottoman empire is now unavoidable, for we have heard that our ambaffador has privately left Conftantinople, and is arrived at Vienna. Every preparation is making for it, and we have a more powerful fleet ready for fea than ever we had before."

By accounts from Zwernick in Bofnia, the pacha of Scutari, by a rapid and fecret march, had avoided the army of the pacha of Bornia, and pillaged the town of Preifereno, a confiderable place on the frontiers between Servia and Albania. All the Turks were put to the fword; but the Chriftians, who had retired to their houfes during the attack, escaped, and were even treated as friends; many of them have fince entered into the army of the Arnauts. The pacha retired quietly to Albania with an immenfe booty. Other advices fay, that the pacha of Scutari had made a fresh invafion on the dominions of the Venetian territories, but that he had been repulfed.

The laft and most formidable attack of the Venetian Admiral, the Chevalier Emo, on the town of Sfax, feems to have been attended with no fuccefs. The Venetian Alcet arrived: fafe in that road on the 12th of May, but found that the barbarians had raised a new battery towards the fea, and made other difpofitions which indicated a vigorous defence: however, as foon as the most advantageous it tions were found for the floating batteries, gun boats, and bomb-ketches, the place was warmly attacked, and boldly defended; the greatest number of the enemies balls falling juft where the Chevalier Emo commanded in perfon, it was once apprehended that brave GENT. MAG. June, 1786,

officer was killed, which caufed the fleet to give back a little; the batteries, however, continued their fire, fupported by the gunboats, whilft a vast number of thells were thrown from the bomb-ketches. The Chevalier Emo at laft gave orders to retreat, which, notwithstanding the continual fire of the enemy, was done without the leaft diforder. Notwithstanding this defeat, terms of accommodation have been offered by the regency of Tunis, and for 500,000 fequins the Venetians may purchase peace with that republic.

The celebrated Beaumarchais, who was fometime ago imprisoned in France for difrefpect to his fovereign, and who lived with a lady unfettered with the thackles of wedlock, has lately taken her to wife, and the following is handed about in Paris as an authentic copy of the letter he wrote to her previous to his departure for Germany:

"I will not, my dear, prevent any longer your enjoying the fituation you are now entitled to: you are my wife now; before, I confidered you only as the mother of my child; nothing is altered in regard to your former right to me, but it is my wish, that from this moment, which is the firft of my abfence, you do reprefent me with honour in my houfe, and affume my name, which is equally yours.-Give an affectionate embrace to our daughter, and make her fenfible, if you can, of the caufe you have to rejoice. I have fulfilled every duty towards both you and her; my abfence at this juncture is not embittered, as fome previous excurfions have been; it feemed to me then, that one fatal blow might kill us all three; ĺ now feel eafy, my mind is perfectly at peace, and I can die without remorse.

"Do not call our friends to any entertainment on the occafion; but let every one know from you, that I have done you juftice. Preferve, I beseech you, that modeft and unaffuming air which I ftipulated as my only recompeace, that our enemies may have no pretence to cenfure the jufteft and most deliberate act of all my life. Vifit my fifters; afk them for their real and fincere friendship; I have a right to claim that pleafing and honourable deference; to my daughter, to her parent, they owe fome attchment; and my benefactions, within my proper circle, will ever be determined by the refpect fhewn for you.-Take openly the reins of your domeftic management; let Mr. Gudin, my fteward, treat with you as he would with myfelf. Have the fervants clothed against my return, modeftly, but in what manner you please. Carry your daughter to that good man the rector of St. Paul, who behaved with fo much regard to you when he joined our bands. Be always, as you are, my dear love; honour the name

you

518 Remarkable Intelligence from the E. Indies, America, and Ireland.

you are now entitled to, it is that of a man who loves you, and with joy fubfcribes him felf your husband,

in, all that rich and extenfive country, as far as Quidda, will be in poffeffion of the King of -Pegue, the King of Ham being at war likeCARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS."wife with the Cochinchineans. This war is faid to have been fomented by a French Mif fionary, at Cochinchina, laft June.

• EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE. By letters from on board the Trial Packet, it appears, that instructions have been fent to the Company's Commiffaries, at Canton, to provide cargoes for 30 fail of fhipping, defined from England to that porr, during the fpring if the prefent year.

AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE.

The Governor and Council of Virginia have received a copy of a treaty, concluded at Hopewell, on the Keewee River (Nov. 28, 1785), between, the Commiffioners of the United States of the one part, and the Headmen and Warriors of the Cherokees on the other part. The terms are, reciprocally, to restore the prifoners and property of each upon a fair adjustment. Thefe advices from Richmond but ill accord with other advices from the Ohio, which pofitively fay, that

26 And by letters from France it is affured, that the New E. 1. Company have difpatched from L'Orient the following ships for India; La Reine, Le Marechal de Segur, for China. Le Miromtenill, Le Baron de Breteuil, for Bengal. Le Comte d'Artois, Le Marechal de Caftries. Le Comte de Vergenness for Coromandel and Orixa.the Commisioners have given the States a Befides thefe, the Comte de Provence, for the Coaft of Malabar; and the Company have received advice, that the Dauphin, built and equipped by the King, but given to the Company, arrived at Canton on the 9th of October, after a happy voyage.

This advice appearsto have been premature. This last thip was wrecked on the coaft of Lower Siam. It is faid the ftruck on a rock, and went to the bottom in less than three hours.

The Alfred, James Brown commander, from Coaft and China; the Locko, John Baird, from China; E. Chesterfield, Bruce Bofwell, from Coaft and China; the King George, Jonathan Court, from Bombay and Bengal; are all safe arrived. :

The laft Calcotta Gazette, received at the India House, announces the death of Tippoo Saib.

caution, to look out after a party of Indians, who call themselves Cherokees, but bad pofitively refused to make peace, and had” actually gone out to war.

IRELAND.

Monday the 5th June, being appointed for the celebration of his Majesty's birthday, the fame was obferved at the Cafile, as ufual, with magn ficence and fp'endour.

His Grace the Ld. Lieutenant has figned a warrant for Major Gen. the Hon. Thomas Bruce, to be Refident Major General on the Staff of this kingdom, in the room of Major Gen. Anthony St. Leger, deceased.

DUBLIN, June 15.

An authentic account of Mr. FITZGERALD'S trial, and that of bis affiociates,

FRIDAY, June 9. Mr. Fitzgerald was brought to the bar at half after eight o'clock in the morning, and given in charge to the jury, but not arraigned, he having pleaded not guilty in April laft, He challenged 15 of the jury peremptorily; and the Attorney General alfo challenged fuch of the jury as he was informed flood in any de

The Alfred has confirmed fome reports received before by the Miniftry, that two French fhips, loaded with falt, have ventored to carry their cargoes to the coaft of Bengal, and to offer them for fale. to the natives, which has been oppofed by our peo ple, as being an encroachment on the ex-gree of relationship to the deceafed, an clufive right of the Company to deal in that article. A Mr. D'Angereux, who feems to be the French E. I. Company's Agent, has behaved fo outrageously on this occafion, that the guard employed were obliged to obey their orders, and to return the fire of the two fhips. It is reported, that feveral per fons have been wounded on both fides; and. that an official account of that tranfaction is received by Government.

From the BENGAL GAZETTE. They are apprehensive, at Madrafs, of our fhipping at Pegut being topped by Government, to carry troops and ftores down to the Marinan coaft, as the Peguers have an army of 60,000 men ready to enter the King of Ham's country, now under command of the General fent against Arican. He is an ex. perienced foldier, but very cruel. It is expected, that before the S. W. monfoon fets

He

honourable and uncommon proof of his de-
fire to have fubftantial juftice administered,
without the partiality of prejudice.
then proceeded to open the cafe, and conti
nued on his legs a confiderable time, ad-
duciog proofs, and ftating the enormity of
the crime, which, he obferved, was un-
paralleled a murder premeditated during
the course of 18 months, and carried into
execution with a peculiar feature of crueky.

The evidence on behalf of the crown being produced, they fully established the charges in the two indictments against George Robert Fitzgerald.

Mr. Gallagher depofed, that Fitzgerald had laid many plans to deftroy Mr. M'Donpell, which had failed. That a thort time before the murder a shot from Mr. Fitagerald's houfe wounded the devoted victim as he paffed; that for the above offence a

man

Authentic l'articulars of the Trial of Fitzgerald.

519

endeavoured to efcape while the party were in purfuit of Mr. M'Donnel and Mr. Hip fon, but was obferved by them creeping be hind the helter of a buth. That he fupplic

fo far, that they agreed to take him to Mr. Fitzgerald's houfe, where he was foon after rescued by his friends.

Andrew Craig (an evidence for the Crown) depofed, that when the pretended rescue was concerted, as an excufe to fire upon the pri foners, only two of the affaffias were let into the fcheme, in which it was determined, in order to fave appearances, to facrifice fome of his own men in the front, for which parpose a man was posted behind a wall to fire at them.

On his defence, Fitzgerald called on fome witneffes, to prove that he was not prefent doring the circumftance of the murders, or aiding or affitting thereat but they made no material change in his favour.

The trial lafted fifteen hours, during the courfe of which Mr. Fitzgerald did not make a fingle obfervation, nor interfere in any manner with its progrefs, having left every thing to his counfel. The jury retired at eleven o'clock at night, and in about 10 or 15 minutes brought in their ver diet guilty.

man had been tried and acquitted; that finding this attempt fo far fuccessful, Fitz gerald procured a magiftrate, named O' Mealy, to take examinations against Mr. M'Don nell, Gallagher, and Hipfon, and precated for his life, and foftened those favages vailed on him to grant warrants against thefe gentlemen :-that MM'Donnell, hearing of thefe tranfactions, and knowing the implacable defperation of Fitzgerald his neighbour, quitted his own houfe, and came to lodge in the town of Caftlebar, for fafety: that on the 20th of February, M'D nnell, Gallagher, and Hifon, went in company to M'Donnell's houfe, in order to give fome direction to his fervants :that this was about 10 o'clock in the forenoon; of which Fitzgerald Having informa tion, he sent a party in order to take them" to cuftody on the furreptitious warrants granted by O'Mealy; but before the party arrived, the gentlemen had left the houfe on their return to town, and finding themfelves purfued, took thelter in a house on the road, which was foon after furrounded by the party, who, after firing feveral fhots into it, at laft burft open the door:-that the witnefs came out, and asked the affallants the reafon for this attack; who answered, that they had warrants against Mr. M'Don nell, Hipfon, and himself; he defired them to produce the warrants, but they fefused to do fo, and enquired for M'Donnell :the witnefs told them Mr. M'Donnel had fode off, having previously concealed him in a heap of malt, from whence, however, they foon after dragged him out, and having fet him on horfeback, as he could not walk on account of the wound he had received in his leg, as before mentioned, conducted him, together with the witnefs and Hipfon, whom they tied to one another, prifoners to Mr. Fitzgerald's houfe, where they were kept until next morning, under pretence that it was too late then to bring them before a magiftrate:-that in the morning a guard was prepared to conduct them, when the deponent heard Fitzgerald give direc tions to Andrew Craig to be fure to fecure his prifoners, and, if there was a rescue attempted, to fhoot them:that when they were brought about two or three hundred yards from the houfe, Andrew Craig called out to the party, "A refcue!" on which a fhot was fired by one of the rear guard, which killed one of Fitzgerald's own min. and wounded three or four. Fazgerald's men then fired at Hipfon and the witness, who fell as if Killed; afterwards followed M'Donnell, who from one of the fit fhots had been wounded in the arm, and his mare taking fright was running off with him; but he was stopped at the bridge by a man purpofely pofted there to prevent an escape, when Andrew Craig coming up, fired a thot in his body, and killed him.

Mr. Gallagher further depofed, that he

Saturday, June 10. John Fulton, William Fulton, Archibald Newing, or Ew ing, John Reheney, or Renchy, and Da vid Simpfon, were found guilty upon two indictments, for the murder of Patrick Randal M'Donnell and Charles Hipfon.

James Fox, John Cox, James Mafterfon, David Saltry, otherwife Simpfon, Philip Cox, John Berney, Humphry George, Michael Bruen, William Robin, and Wallis Kelly, were feverally acquitted of the faid murder.

1

The Attorney General then informed the Court, that he was given to understand, a motion was intended to be made in arreft of judgement. He defired that Mr. Fitzgerald might be brought up, and the motion gone into. Mr. Fitzgerald's leading Counfel faid, they faw no defect in the indictment; but Mr. Stanley declared that he had warm hopes he could fhew ground to arrest fuch judgement, if he were allowed time to confider the fubject till Monday. The Attorney General called upon him to ftate his objections, which he, Mr. Stanley, des clined.

The Attorney General then informed Mr. Stanley, that it would probably affitt him in the motion to arrest the judgement, if he was informed what the indictment was, as he never had hitherto called to have it read, but had relied on the fhort abfiract of it in the Crown book: accordingly, at the defire of the Attorney General, the indictment was read to him, and the Court, with remarkable humanity, allowed

Mr.

518 Remarkable Intelligence from the E. Indies, America, and Ireland.

you are now entitled to, it is that of a maniñ, all that rich and extenfive country, as far who loves you, and with joy subscribes him- „as Quidda, will be in poffeffion of the King of felf your husband, -Pegue, the King of Ham being at war likewife with the Cochinchineans. This war is faid to have been fomented by a French Mi honary, at Cochinchina, laft June.