Viewing page 92 of 285

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

130] ANNUAL REGISTER For the YEAR 1772.

ing at the spotted-dog alehouse, in Clement's-lane, near Clement's-Inn, with Mr. Taaffe, a barber, in that neighbourhood, and others, on a sudden left his company, and went to Taaffe's desired to see his wife, and after asking her if her husband was come home, he took up a razor, and made two violent attempts to cut her throat; but she holding her head down, he cut her cheek and chin in a shocking manner; then cut his own throat from ear to ear, and expired immediately. This horrid act is supposed to have been occasioned by t he German bearing malice against Mrs. Taaffe, at whose house he lodged some time ago, because she obliged him to leave it, on a supposition that he dealt in smuggled goods.

Extract of a Letter from Algiers, Aug 6.
"A most remarkable escape of some Christian prisoners has lately been effected here, which will undoubtedly cause those that have not had that good fortune, to be treated with the utmost  rigour. On the morning of the 27th of July, the Dey was informed, that all the Christian slaves had escaped the over night in a galley; this news soon raised him, and upon enquiry it was found to have been a pre-concerted plan. About ten at night 74 slaves, who had found means to escape from their masters, met in a large square near the gate which opens to the harbour, and, being well armed, they soon forced the guard to submit, and, to prevent their raising the city, confined them all in the powder magazine. They then proceeded to the lower part of the harbour, where they embarked on board a large rowing polacre, that was left there for the purpose, and, the tide ebbing out, they fell gently down with it, and passed both the forts. As soon as this was known, three large gallies were ordered out after them, but to no purpose; they returned in three days, with the news of seeing the polacre sail into Barcelona, where the galleys durst not go to attack her."

3d.
This day Lord North was chosen chancellor of the university of Oxford, without opposition.

They write from Copenhagen, that the king has advanced 50,000 crowns, without interest, to the projectors of a scheme for erecting a foundery for cannon and mortars in Norway, and has agreed to take all that shall be cast, even at a higher price than the proposer demanded.

A letter from Stockholm, dated Sept. 8, says "The king, to perpetuate the memory of the alacrity with which the body-guards declared themselves in his favour on the 19th of August, by tying a white handkerchief round their left arm, hath permitted them to wear always for the future a white ribbon."

Old Macdonnel, the Irish officer, who lately died at the age of 118, at Madrutz, in Croatia, was father to the brave officer of that name, who in 1702, in the war about the Spanish succession, made prisoner at Cremona, the Marshal de Villeroi, who offered him on the spot 10,000 louidores, and a regiment, if he would release him. Young Macdonnel was then but a captain; and the offer, though made by a person who was sufficiently able to keep

[131
his word, and which would have tempted many, did not in the least stagger that honest and faithful officer, who refused it. Such greatness of soul so well established his reputation, that his father, interrogated by his friends, "how he managed to look so fresh and well in his old age," used commonly to reply, "That the remembrance of the disinterestedness and fidelity of his son, contributed greatly to prolong his days."

Providence, New-England, Aug 1. At the Inferior Court of Common-Please, held last week at East-Greenwich, came on the trial of a cause, wherein Messrs. Jacob Greene and Co. were plaintiffs, and Lieutenant Dudingston, late commander of the armed schooner Gaspee, was defendant. The action was brought for taking a small boat, with a quantity of rum and sugar, in Narraganset-Bay, and sending the same to Boston; which rum, &c. was transporting from East-Greenwich, in this colony, to Newport. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, with 295l. lawful money, damages. Lieutenant Dudingston has appealed to the next superior Court.

The sudden melting of the icy mountains in the Tyrolese, swelled the water of the rivers Iser and Inn to such a height, that the towns of Brixen, Bolzano, Moran, were suddenly surrounded by the inundation; and and at Inspruck, the suburbs were immersed ten feet deep. What is remarkable, the violence of the torrent moved a mountain; and in the valleys, many houses and churches, built of stone, were demolished.

6th.
The poll ended for the election of two persons to be returned to the court of aldermen, for their choice of one of them to be lord-mayor of this city, when the numbers were, for Mr. Alderman Wilkes 2301 Townsend 2278 Hallifax 2126 Shakespear 1912 Sir H. Banks 3

The numbers being declared, the sheriffs gave notice, that on Thursday they should make their return.

This day the vice-chancellor, proctors, public orator, and other officers of the university of Oxford, waited on Lord North, in Downing-street and installed his lordship chancellor of that university.

Gilbert Laurie, Esq; was chosen Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

The Duke of Bridgewater has established regular passage-boats from Manchester to within two miles of Warrington and other places. Forty, fifty, or sixty people, are conveyed above twenty miles for a shilling a-piece, in a shorter time than they can travel even in a carriage by land. They are allowed to carry with them a certain quantity of goods at the same expense.

Extract of a Letter from Smyrna, Aug 21.

"This day a terrible fire broke out here, and continued burning all the next day. Three thousand houses, which made three parts of the city, were destroyed; from 3 to 4000 shops, 16 mosques, 12 caravanseras, 7 bagnios, 9 synagogues, and 8 public markets, have been all consumed; a large quantity of corn, 2000 sacks of rice, and 150 bales
[K2]