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246 HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. April 15. Two of Mrs. Perkins's servants, (of Christ Church, Hants) the footman and gardener, carried into the back kitchen two barrels of gunpowder, containing in weight more than forty pounds; and one of them throwing some grains of it into the fire, (each unhappy thoughtless wretch at that instant holding a barrel in his arms) the whole went off with a horrible explosion, burning them in a frightful degree, and rending in pieces windows, doors, party-walls, and the cieling, &c. — Providentially none but the two men were hurt. The footman expired, after suffering the utmost pain and agony, the next evening; the gardener is still alive, but burnt in a dreadful manner. This day, between one and two o'clock, the inhabitants of Jersey were greatly alarmed by two violent shocks of an earthquake, but no great damage was done. — The market-place and all the streets were immediately crouded with people, and the whole place was in the utmost consternation. April 23. A man was discovered in a cave at Hathershelf, in Yorkshire, by a young man who was seeking for foxes among the rocks with a tarrier dog. The dog, when he came to the mouth of the cave, began barking, and the young man, thinking he had found some game, ran up to him, when the man instantly came out, and clapt a pistol to his breast, and swore him to secrecy, or he would instantly blow his brains out. The youth said any thing to preserve his life; but as soon as he found himself safe, he alarmed the neighbourhood, by which means the villain was soon secured. He appears to be one Tattersal, who about 13 years ago left Sowerby, to avoid prosecution for sacrilege, having broke open the church at Heptonstal, and stole the communion plate. He went and served in the artillery in the East Indies, and since his return has committed several robberies. April 26. Some gentlemen, among whom was Mr. Buckland, son to the late English Consul at Nice, having been out on a shooting party in that neighbourhood, were overtaken by a storm of thunder, which forced them to take shelter in the lanthorn at the mouth of the harbour of Villa Franca, under which was a magazine of powder, which taking fire by the lightning, the whole fabric blew up, and all the gentlemen perished. Mr. Lucas, a considerable farmer and grazier near Beaconsfield, having sold his cattle in Smithfield market, divided the produce into three parcels, putting three guineas in one pocket for the collectors on the road, if he should happen to be attacked, 21 guineas in another pocket, and Bank notes to the amount of 110l. in a third. — On his return home in a post chaise, he was stopped between Uxbridge and his own house by three footpads, to one of whom he gave the three guineas; but the others suspecting he had more, one got into the chaise, and found the 21 guineas: on which the third swore he would try his luck too, and accordingly got in, and found a pocketbook with the notes. They then made off with their booty. April 27. A fire broke out in one of the caserns without the city of Zutphen, in Holland, in which nine soldiers, a serjeant, and a child were burnt to death; nine or ten more were very dangerously burnt; and, of the whole company, 40 in number, only four or five men were left to do duty. April 29. Was held the anniversary meeting of the Governors of the Magdalen Hospital, at which were present the Earl of Hertford, President, the Lords Willoughby de Brook and Orwell, and many other persons of rank and distinction, when the collection at the chapel and hall amounted to 1339l. 9s. 9d. April 30. The first stone of a house intended to be built for the use of the Marine Society in Bishopsgate-street, was laid by their President Lord Robert Romney. His Lordship was attended by the Governors, and preceded by 20 of the Society's boys with their banners, who, after the ceremony was over, set out for Portsmouth under the convoy of proper officers. In consequence of an advertisement in the papers, signed by the Sheriffs of Middlesex, a very respectable meeting of the freeholders of the county was held at the assembly room at Mile End, when, after some debate, Mr. Wilkes was chosen chairman. The debates ran high; the principal gentlemen who attended were divided. The friends of Mr. Oliver opposed the friends of Mr. Wilkes, and much altercation ensued. Mr. Horne distinguished himself by his firmness, notwithstanding the repeated hisses of the majority of the company. Sir Watkin Lewes, also, distinguished himself by his zeal in favour of Mr. Wilkes. At length, when the warmth on both sides had in a great measure subsided, the following resolutions were agreed to: " Resolved, That it is the opinion of the freeholders of Middlesex now assembled, That the most effectual means of obtaining redress for the violated right of [[election?]], and other national grievances, is by bills for shortening the duration of Parliaments, for excluding placemen and pensioners from the House of Commons, and for a more fair and equal representation of the people. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to John Wilkes, Esq; for his spirited perseverance in support of the rights of the freeholders of this county against the arbitrary proceedings of the House of Commons. " Resolved, HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. 247 " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to our other worthy representative Mr. Serjeant Glynn, for his uniform conduct in Parliament, and able defence of the rights of the nation at large, and of this county in particular. " Resolved, " That, notwithstanding the illegal determination of the House of Commons in seating Colonel Luttrell in the place of our duly-elected representative John Wilkes, Esq; we do, in the most solemn manner, continue to protest against that violent and unconstitutional measure, and do hereby declare our firm resolution to support our present worthy members, John Wilkes, Esq; and Mr. Serj. Glynn, to represent again this county in Parliament at the next general election. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Sir George Saville, Bt. for his unwearied endeavours to restore the right of election, and to promote every part of the public service. " Resolved, That John Wilkes and John Glynn, Esqrs. be requested to convey to him the sense which this county entertains of his abilities and virtue. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Minority in the House of Commons, who supported the motions, on Monday the 26th of April, respecting the violated rights of the freeholders of Middlesex. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Richard Oliver, Esq: and Sir Watkin Lewes, Sheriff of this county, for having issued the summons to John Wilkes, Esq; and Mr. Serj. Glynn, our legal representatives, to attend their duty in Parliament on the 26th of April. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to John Sawbridge, Esq; for his constant support of the rights of the freeholders of this county, and for his repeated endeavours to procure a bill for shortening the duration of Parliaments. " Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to Mr. Wilkes for his conduct this day as chairman." On the questions respecting Mr. Wilkes personally, that gentleman left the chair, and either Sir Watkin Lewes, or John Sawbridge, Esq; supplied his place. Saturday, MAY 1. A new tragedy, called Henry the Second, or the Fall of Rosamond, was acted for the first time at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. It is said to be chiefly taken from a piece written above 20 years ago by Mr. William Hawkins, late Professor of Poetry at Oxford. In a petition drawn up in behalf of the Spital-fields weavers, but never presented, the chief cause assigned for their present distress is expressed in these words: "The most obvious cause, were it not a presumption in us, we would humbly beg leave to represent, is founded in the insatiable venality which those entrusted with the executive administration of your Majesty's government make the sole rule of their conduct. The same spirit of rapacity originally laid the foundation of, and continues to cultivate, that destructive contention which has so long prevailed between the Parent State and the British Colonies in America; a contention which tends totally to alienate the affections of our distant fellow-subjects, is pregnant with every future commercial evil, and is the principal immediate cause of the present prevailing distress amongst the British Merchants, and which, through them, extends to us, your Majesty's miserable subjects, who, for want of the usual circulation of their operations, are reduced to the utmost degree of destitution and wretchedness." — What pity, that more Trelawneys are not to be found! who, blest with the salutary powers of healing those wounds in the state, might reconcile the tempers of the American government, and restore that harmony between the mother country and her colonies, so necessary for the enrichment of both. Sunday 2. A very terrible thunder-storm in the neighbourhood of Horstead did considerable damage. The lightning fell upon the seat of Thomas John Batchelor, Esq; but, being conducted by a bell-wire, did no other damage than splitting a beam, and killing two dogs. Monday 3. A petition unanimously agreed upon by a General Court of the East-India Company was this day presented to the House of Commons; in which the petitioners humbly conceive it reasonable, that, after the loan which they presumed to request from Parliament is discharged, all terms on account of the same should cease; that the limitation of the Company's dividend to seven per cent. till their bond debts are reduced to 1,500,000l. is peculiarly hard upon men who have risked their All in acquiring and securing the territorial revenues in India, from which they have, as yet, received no advantage; that the resolution of the Commons, limiting the Company to a term, not exceeding six years, for the possession of their territories in India, appears to be altogether arbitrary, as it may be construed into a conclusive decision against the Company respecting their territorial possessions, to which they humbly insist they have an undoubted right; that the Company, with all humility, beg leave to represent, that they cannot acquiesce in the resolution, whereby three-fourth parts of the surplus nett profits of the Company at home, above the sum of eight per cen. upon their capital stock, should be paid into the Exchequer for the use of the Public; nor to the proposed application of the other fourth part; because such disposal of their property, other-
