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[[top of left page]] 98] ANNUAL REGISTER

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House of Peers, and admitted; he appearing to be the lineal descendant of William Earl of Caithness, who died in the year 1505.

A servant-maid to a surgeon near the Royal Exchange, thinking to take some salts, on Thursday, took arsenic instead thereof, and, notwithstanding the immediate advice of a physician, she died on Saturday evening. On this fact being made public, M. de la Touche observes, that sallad or olive oil taken warm, and repeated discretionally, will infallibly prevent any bad consequences, if the arsenic has not been long taken. He also recommends the oil of olives for the bite of a viper, and refers for proof to the Phil. Tranf. No. 443 and 444. The oil, he says, is first to be well rubbed into the wound, over a chasing-dish, and then taken inwardly, if the poison has extended far into the body.

The bill for the relief of 8th protestant dissenters, in regard to subscription, passed the House of Commons.

This day the sessions ended at the Old Bailey; at this sessions eight prisoners were capitally convicted, among whom were Samuel Roberts and Thomas Baccus, for coining guineas, &c. and Richard Morgan, porter to a linen-draper in Smithfield, for robbing his master; two are transported for fourteen years, and twenty-six for seven years.

Five thousand pounds were ordered by parliament to be paid to Mr. Cha. Irvine (the same who invented the marine chair, some years ago) for his discovery for making salt-water fresh and wholesome at sea.

About eleven at night a fire 

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broke out in the house of Mr. Jeffries, merchant in Throgmorton Street, and consumed above twenty capital houses, and the beautiful hall belonging to the company of Drapers; it also burnt into Pig Street, and consumed two houses and damaged another; in Austin-Friars one house was burnt down and two damaged; several other houses in a back court were destroyed, and some damaged. The flames were so rapid, that most of inhabitants lost their all. Happily the strong party-walls that divided the houses, in some measure, retarded their course; otherwise instead of twenty being consumed, all the street to the Royal Exchange might have been entirely burnt down. A coachman was killed in endeavoring to same some of his master's effects. Two children were taken out of a house, and a third, in the confusion, forgotten, who perished in the flames. Two maid-servants, who pulled a fellow-servant out of bed, he being fast asleep, are also missing, and, it is feared, perished in an attempt to save their clothes. An iron chest, which contained a considerable sum of money, is missing, and it is supposed to have been conveyed away by some villains.

It is not easy upon such a melancholy occasion to procure satisfactory particulars of the damage done. The loss must be incredible. Mr. Jeffries's stock of linens alone, at this season of the year, it is said must amount to 30,000l. and most of the sufferers were men of opulence. 

The Drapers company have saved all the furniture, pictures, &c. in their hall and court-room, particularly the fine antique marble chimney.

[[top of right page]] For the YEAR 1772 [99

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chimney-piece there, with the famous original picture of Henry Fitz-Alwin, Esq; first Lord-Mayor of London, finely preserved; another most capital full-length picture of Mary Queen of Scots, and her son King James I. when six years old, said to be taken from life, and for which the company have been offered a large sum by the French king; but they lost their grand lanthern [[?]] at the bottom of their hall stairs, which cost upwards of 200 l.

A fire also broke out at Crediton, in Devonshire, the same evening, which burnt down 39 houses.

[[italicized]] Extract of a Letter from Newbern, North Carolina, Feb 21. [[italicized]] 

"The following thanks have been given to the officers and soldiers of the provincial troops, who served under his Excellency Governor Tryon, on his expedition against the insurgents.

' In a letter I have just received
' from the Earl of Rochford, one
' of his majesty's principal screta-
' ries of state, I have it in com-
' mand from the king to express
' his majesty's thanks to the troops
' who were in the field on the 16th
' of May last, for their conduct
' and bravery on that day; by
' which they have gained so great
' honour, and have been the means
' under God, for preventing that
' desolation and ravage with which
' this country was then threatened.

' It is with great satisfaction, 
' gentlemen, that I bear testimony
' of this gracious mark of his ma-
' jesty's royal favour to you.'
[[italicized]] Newbern, Feb 20. [[italicized]]
THO. MARTIN."

11th. Between nine and ten at night, Sir Rowland Wynne was robbed by two footpads, of which he gave immediate notice at

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Sir John Fielding's office, in Bowstreet, when four person were instantly dispatched in a coach to the place where the robbery was committed: in their way they were attacked by the same robbers, upon whom they immediately fired, and one was wounded; the other made his escape. He that was wounded is since dead, and appears to be a young man, apprentice to an engraver, who had an allowance of 10l. a year for pocket-money, and, when out of his time, was entitled to a pretty fortune. 

Was held the anniversary 14th feast of the sons of the clergy, when an excellent sermon was preached on the occasion by the Rev. Dr. Morris. Their Graces the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and eleven other bishops, were present. The collection on the rehearsal and feast-day were as follows:

On Tuesday, at St.    L. s. d. [[?]]
Paul's --             190 9 6
On Thursday, at ditto 172 14 9
Ditto at the hall -   534 8 9
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                      897 13 0

This day Mr. William Preston and others, appeared against Messrs. [[?]] Grofs and Bedwell, at Sir John Fielding's office, for defrauding them of linen to the amount of 5000 l. The prisoners were linen printers, and had received the goods in order to print; but, being determined to convert them to their own use, had conveyed them on board a ship, in which Grofs and his family had intended to embark for Boston, in New England. This is, perhaps, and new kind of fraud, which it may require a new act of parliament to punish or prevent for the future.
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