MONTHLY CHRONICLE. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. IN the National Convention of France, on the 5th instant, on the report of the four united Committees, the 71 Representatives of the People, who had been in a state of arrest, were discharged and set at liberty, and afterwards resumed their seats in the Convention. Thomas Paine is of their number. In the sitting of the 6th ult. the National Convention, after a long and interesting discussion, decreed, that a child born within 285 days, or nine months and a half from the dissolution of marriage, is to be reputed the legitimate offspring of the deceased or divorced husband. By this disposition the legal term of pregnancy has been extended beyond the limits fixed by most civil codes of law. In the National Convention of the 9th ult. on a Report from the Committee of Public Instruction, the following articles relative to the precautions to be taken against the bite of mad animals, and the hydrophobia which is the consequence, was ordered to be inserted in the Bulletin. I. The characteristic sign of this madness is the horror of water. III. This slaver is virulent, and being introduced into the body by a bite, inoculates the malady. Let the wound and the surrounding parts be first washed with luke-warm water to take off the slaver as much as possible. Let the wounded flesh be then instantly cut out with a sharp instrument, or cauterized with a hot iron, or with spirit of nitre or vitriol, commonly known by the name of aqua fortis, and oil of vitriol. Let no false pity intimidate or stop the operator; let him consider, that he is saving the patient from a dreadful malady, and a certain death. Suppuration will be accelerated, and pain alleviated, by filling and covering the wound with a cataplasm of bread and milk, applied luke-warm, and renewed every four hours. Let the surrounding parts be then rubbed with strong mercurial ointment, in proportion to the strength of the patient, and the greatness of the danger. If the danger be imminent, and the bites numerous, salivation must be excited as quickly as possible. Half an ounce, an ounce, and even more, of mercurial ointment, containing one third of mercury, may be employed. This vigorous method has been known to recover persons in whom the malady had already appeared. It is also necessary, in this extremity, to cut away, burn, or cauterize the flesh around the wound, even although it should appear to be healed up. It is certain that the wound opens when the hydrophobia makes its appearance. FRENCH SHARPER, A TRUE PATRIOT.-A curious and laughable cause has lately come before the Revolutionary Tribunal: Pierre-Anne Vrussy, 24 years of age, born at Caen, a volunteer in one of the battalions of the first requisition, set out from Paris to join his regiment. On his arrival at Blois with one of his comrades, having no money, and wishing to live well on his journey, he declared to some that he was sent on a secret mission, and to others that he was a Representative of the People. He passed through several villages, and during two whole days he did nothing but eat and drink. He promised the one to make him commandant of a battalion; to another he said that he would liberate her husband, to some he offered pensions, and to others rewards. All the witnesses who were examined against him swore that he spoke every where of the blessings of liberty and equality. He offered to pay at several hotels, but the landlords, proud of having a Deputy in their house, insisted on entertaining him for Bothing. Real, his official defender, proved that his conduct had nothing of a counter-revolutionary tendency; that he could only be considered as a sharper, and that, under this point of view, the penalties of the Correctional Police VOL. IV. K would be sufficient. His intention, added Real, was not to degrade the national representation; on the contrary, you see, that he spoke only of virtue, and promised only blessings; he thus bestowed the best eulogium on the national representation. The Tribunal acquitted him of any counter-revolutionary intention, and sentenced him to a fine of fifteen livres, and to three months imprisonment. HOME NEWS. TEMPEST AND FLOOD IN CUMBERLAND.-There has been a greater flood and rise of the river Derwent, in the vale of Keswick, the beginning of this month, than is remembered within these fifty years. The following are some of the particulars: From Grange-Bridge in Borrowdale, to Yews-Bridge in Bassenthwaite, a distance of ten miles, appeared one vast lake. Many hedges were entirely swept away, and others thrown down, or damaged. The wheat, in several places, was torn up by the roots, and considerable loss of this kind is apprehended. The tempest, at one time, exhibited a very singular and awful appearance: the eddy gusts, formed by the western mountains, frequently darted down upon the foaming flood, raising a part thereof, and shewing the action and the spiral motion of a whirlwind, between the observer and the distant hills. And frequently where the descending gale met the cataract (for so it might be well called), it repelled a part of it, and bearing it aloft, the conflict between the two ele'ments presented to the astonished eye the appearance of smoke issuing from a mighty furnace. The whole was indeed an highly interesting scene to a contemplative observer; and, we are happy to add, that from all that is yet known of this long and furious tempest, no lives were lost. LOSS OF THE VIRGINIA. An account is published of the loss of the ship Virginia, bound from Clyde to America, which sailed on the 19th of November, and had on board 21 souls. The ship springing a leak, and the water gaining to seven feet in her hold, the only probable means of safety to the people was taking to the long-boat. The account states, that having provided themselves with a few necessaries, such as bread in bags, and some barrels of porter (for by this time their water casks were all stoved), they all embarked in the boat, passengers and crew; but had not left the ship above fifteen minutes when a sea broke into the boat, and nearly filled her, and, in terror and confusion, they threw the bread and porter, and every article of provision, overboard, to keep her from sinking. In this deplorable situation, more than 400 miles from any land, the prospect was dreadful; they however continued scudding with one sail before the wind, which blew excessively hard, but providentially was still from the west, and continued so till about two o'clock in the afternoon of the following Saturday, when they discovered the Irish land, and made every effort to gain it; but the wind shifting to the southward, they were forced to bear away for Ilay, in Scotland: during this night they suffered the most extreme hardships from the violence of the sea, famine, and cold; next morning the servant girl, and one of the seamen were found dead; Mrs. Murdock almost so, unable any longer to suckle the infant on her breast; Dixon, the passenger, and three of the crew, insane, and totally bereaved of reason! About twelve o'clock on Sunday they saw Ilay, and about four in the afternoon nearly gained the shore, and attempted to land in a place of safety, on the north-west side; but the wind proving unfavourable, blowing a tempest, with a prodigious swell of sea, and a strong contrary tide, they were swept upon a reef of rocks, where they all perished, except the master, his second mate, carpenter, and three seamen, who narrowly escaped by grasping and scrambling up the rock. It was in vain the survivors attempted, by reaching down, to save the sufferers; the surge was so dreadful, that in a few minutes the boat was dashed into a thousand pieces. When every hope of saving any of the rest was vanished, the master and the Sve men, on proceeding a short way from the shore, with the little life that re mained, fortunately discerned a gentleman's house at a small distance, where they met with every care and attention it was possible to bestow on people in their situation. HYDROPHOBIA.-A most melancholy instance of that dreadful malady the hydrophobia has recently occurred, the particulars are as follow: Mr. Henry Waylin, apothecary, of North Audley-street, so long ago as June last, was bit in the hand by a small dog that he attempted to take up near his own door, supposing it to be lost. He applied, in consequence, to Mr. Thompson, the surgeon, in the same street, who asked if he had any reason to suppose that the dog was mad. He said none at all; and the wound was therefore treated as an ordinary bite, and cured in the regular course, without any untoward symptom whatever. Lately, however, Mr. Thompson was called in to attend Mr. Waylin, of what the family supposed to be a violent sore throat. He found him perfectly cool and intelligent, and received the following account of his complaint; on Friday preceding he had dined out, and discovered in himself an unaccountable aversion to any kind of liquor when he attempted to drink it. This surprised him a little, but created no alarm. In the evening he returned home with some general symptoms of slight indisposition, which, with the aversion to liquids, rather increased in the course of the next day; and very early on Sunday morning he was attacked with violent spasms, attended with the greatest horror, if any thing, whether liquid or solid, approached his mouth. From this description it was directly suspected that he was seized with the hydrophobia: Sir Lucas Pepys was called in, and he was treated accordingly. The symptoms of this disease, however, soon increased to the utmost degree of violence. He was at times so frantic and outrageous, that it became necessary to have him put into a strait waistcoat, and strapped down in bed. In this state he continued till Monday evening at six o'clock, when he expired in great agony. Mr. Waylin had been for some time previous to this attack, rather dull and irritable, though his natural disposition was much the reverse. [See a REMEDY, p. 65.] Jan. 2. That well-known character Major Semple was bronght before Nicholas Bond, Esq. the sitting magistrate at the Public Office, Bow-street, on a charge of having committed divers frauds, under the assumed names of Col. Lawson, James, George, Lisle, &c. He was apprehended in consequence of having defrauded Mr. Oliphant, hatter, of Cockspur-street, of six guineas. This extraordinary adventurer has experienced all the vicissitudes of fortune in most parts of the world. After being liberated from the Hulks, he went abroad and entered into the French service, in which he ranked high, and had a command at Paris when the late unfortunate king was sentenced to die, and was one of those who conducted him to the scaffold: from the French army he deserted to the Allies, and obtained, by his courage as a soldier, the rank of Major in the Dutch army, having signalized himself on several occasions. When his real character was discovered, he was suffered to depart, and retain his commission. A dreadful conflagration took place at Berlin, in the night of the 27th Nov. which laid in ashes the whole buildings called the Palace of Werther: very little has been saved of the papers deposited there, and of the library belonging to the public school. Several persons have been killed and wounded by the falling in of a strong wall. Count Wartensleben, a young nobleman of dis inction, was taken from under the ruins, much wounded, and expired the same night. Mr. Martin, the attorney, has been enlarged from the charge of high treason, and removed from the Tower to the King's Bench Prison, from whence he had before been removed. A bill was found by the Grand Westminster Jury, against Sir Charles Price, Bart. and John Jones, à corporal in the first regiment of Foot Guards, on a charge of misdemeanor of the most unnatural kind. Jones was tried; and on the evidence of a publican and three, witnesses, was convicted, and sentenced to two months imprisonment, and to stand in the pillory in the Broad-way, Westminster.-The worthy Baronet is at large. In a question litigated lately concerning the cutting the rope of a barge which was fastened to a pile in the Thames, the Jury by their verdict determined, that the o ner of every barge navigating the river Thames had a right, at low water, to fix her to the piles before any wharf, for her safety, and if there were no piles, they had a right to fix her to the wharf itself. But if there were piles, they ought not to fix her to the wharf, except they were compelled from stress of weather. 8. As Mr. Littlewood, of Hendon, was returning home, after spending the evening at a friend's house, he met a fellow about a quarter of a mile from his house, with one of his horses that had been stolen out of his yard. Mr. L. immediately stopt him, and striking him he galloped off, but, being closely pursued, a scuffle ensued; Mr. L. beating him off the horse, he took to his heels, and ran across the fields towards Finchley. Mr. L. taking the horse home, and examining a long wallet the fellow rode on, found he had broke open Mr. L.'s henhouse, and the said wallet contained sixteen fowls and five ducks. He broke three locks off three field-gates to get off the premises. 12. John Carwardine, a clerk to Messrs. Cocks and Biddulph, who lately absconded with cash and notes to the amount of 8000l. was taken into custody by the constables belonging to the Public Office in Great Marlborough-street. It appears that since the time he went off he has cohabited with a Mrs. G, a lady of light character in Union-street, near the Middlesex Hospital, whose servant suspecting him to be the person advertised, gave the information which caused his apprehension. Not more than 300l. of the property carried off by him is missing, which he has expended since the transaction happened. When apprehended he was habited as a clergyman, which altered his appearance so much, that it would have been impossible to have known him by description. 12. A peace-officer, with a warrant from a magistrate, went to apprehend a footpad in one of the little public houses which line the keys of the river in that part of the Borough called Bankside. On entering the tap he immediately discovered the delinquent he was in search of, dressed in a seaman's jacket and trowsers, and tippling with several persons in the same dress. The officer immediately advanced to seize him, but the fellow immediately pulled out a pistol and discharged it at the constable, who, feeling himself wounded, immediately went out of the tap, and walked about ten yards to a neighbouring house, which he entered and sat himself down on a chair, and, without being able to utter a word, immediately expired. The desperado who committed this atrocious deed was suffered to escape with his companions. The contents of the pistol had lodged in the constable's breast. W. Smith, head-waiter to the New Inn Tavern, Westminster-bridge, threw himself out of the window of the upper story, and was killed on the spot. 13. Five seamen, who lately belonged to the Culloden man of war, were hanged on board the said ship, at Spithead, for mutiny. Major Semple was fully committed to Newgate, charged on the information of Mr. Faden for a fraud at Bath. 15. A Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall. Mr. Kemble moved, that to alleviate the distresses of the poor at this inclement season, the Chamberlain be directed to pay out of the City's cash the sum of 1000l. which was instantly and unanimously ordered, as ere several resolutions touching the distribution of the money. Mr. Alderman Picket called for the printed report relative to Temple-bar and Snow-hill, wherein it recommended a further application to Parliamen for power to widen the passages at those places, and that the expence may be defrayed by the Orphans Fund, which report being read, he moved that it be agreed to: this created long debates, and, on the question being put, a divison took place, when there appeared for the question 62, against it 48; it was therefore agreed to, and a petition being preparrd, was read, and ordered to be presented by the Sheriffs to the Hon. House of Commons. 14. A General Court of Proprietors was held at the India-house for the purpose of determining by ballot the following question, viz. "That no Director be allowed to trade to or from India in his private capacity, either directly or indirectly, either as principal or agent." At eight o'clock the scrutineers delivered in their report, when there appeared to be for the question 541, against it 348, majority 193. OLD BAILEY. 16. The Sessions closed at the Old Bailey, when six prisoners received sentence of death, viz. Michael Love, for breaking and entering the house of William Collett, and stealing two silver watches and other articles, his property. James Pepperdy, for feloniously stealing out of a letter, which came into his hands by virtue of his profession of a letter sorter in the General Post-office, divers bills of exchange for payment of money, the property of Joseph Robinson; Francis Clarke, for robbing Samuel Stansworth on the highway of a leather sack, containing two bags, the property of his Majesty; Austin Flowers, alias Young, and John Flowers, for robbing William Cross, on the highway, of a metal watch, a gold chain and seals; and Thomas Spaches, for burglary in the dwelling-house of Bagio Amelia, and stealing a pair of cloth trowsers, &c. A General Fast is proclaimed to be held in England on the 25th, and in Scotland on the 26th February. 18. A dreadful fire broke out in the Exchange at Liverpool, which totally destroyed that noble edifice, and did other damage to a very large amount. 28. The Stadtholder of Holland, with all his family, arrived in town, on their way to Kew Palace, where they at present reside. Apartments are fitting up for them at Hampton-Court Palace. Their Highnesses' situation in Holland was become extremely critica', and their escape almost miraculous. We scarcely need add that the French are in the complete and undisturbed possession of Holland. Longevity.-There is now living in the parish of Peterchurch, in the county of Hereford, a man of the name of Richard Brown, at the surprising age of 115! He has had 17 children, and his eldest boy (as he familiarly terms him) is now in the 84th year of his age. This venerable patriarch retains his faculties in astonishing perfection. ̧ Sir John Sinclair, Bart. as president of the Agricultural Society, has. under consideration every plan that can tend to reduce the keep of superfluous horses, which so much impoverishes the nation by the infinite import of horse corn; the one is for the Society to encourage long-bodied stage-machines with eight or more wheels, from every extremity of the kingdom, to meet others from London; that the same horses might run double stages each day. Such carriages would reduce the keep of some hundred thousand horses, and feed a million or more of people. An experiment is under consideration, for constructing a common stage waggon with eight wheels; they are to stand under the bed of it, by which contrivance the width of stowage will be increased. This method will reduce lateral pressure, and conduce to the more easy loading and unloading. A valuable Preservative against the Distemper in Cattle. Take rue, sage, wormwood, and lavender, a handful of each; infuse them in a gallon of white-wine vinegar, in a stone pot, covered close, set on hot ashes of wood for four days. After which s rain the liquid through a fine flannel, and put it into quart bottles, well corked; into every bottle put a quarter of an ounce of camphire, the herbs the liquor is made from. Set it in a tub in the cow-house (the cows are fond of the smell), and every morning and night, when they come to be milked, dip a spunge in the liquor, and rub the nostrils and mouth of the beast well. Whosoever will keep a box with a spunge dipped in the liquor, and when they go where any infection is, only rub their tempies, nose, mouth, and palms of the hands, they will not catch any disorder. It is a good thing to smell to, for those troubled with the head-ach. |