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250]   HISTORICAL CHRONICLE
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towards creating a security for the loan of the said sum

Thursday 13.
The order for the discharge of the seamen from the ships, sitting out at Portsmouth, was this day countermanded.

At the anniversary fest of the Sons of the Clergy, held this day, the whole collection, including donations, and the sum received at the rehearsal, was found to amount to 961l. 5x. 3.

Friday, 14.
Lord Kircudbright was presented to his Majesty at St. James's, his lordship's claim to that ancient title having been allowed by the House of Peers. He was most graciously received.
This day a very important question came on to be argued in the court of the King's Bench, in which the sheriffs of London (Baker and Martin) were plaintiffs, and Wenman and others, sureties for Bolland (sheriff's officer) defendants; for the recovery of 360l. received by Bolland, but never returned to their office. The defendants plea was, that they had given parole notice to the sheriffs agent not to deliver any more warrants to be executed by Bolland, for that they would be no longer sureties for him after a certain day. This plea was over-ruled; because, had the notice been delivered in writing, it would have been optional in the sheriffs, or their substitutes, either to accept or refuse it, as the security was no conditional, but given for twelve months. Lord Mansfield, the Justices Aston and 
Ahurst [[best guess]], were clearly for over ruling the plea; but Justice Willes was for sending the facts to be tried by an issue. 
At the close of the ballot this day for the answer to be returned to Lord North, it appeared that 319 proprietors were for the answer proposed and 149 against it.

Saturday 15.
The Duke of Northumberland, and Dr. Percy, his Grace's champlain, going in a post-chaise and scur  to Sion house, the horses took fright at a peacock's flying over their heads, and overturned the chaise, running so furiously at the same time, that they broke a young tree, by which the traces were disengaged, and his Grace's life very providentially preserved. His Grace recieved only a slight contusion on his left shoulder; and Dr. Percy not the least injury.

Monday, 17.
Lord North presented his bill for establishing certain regulations for the better management of the East India Company's affairs in India and Europe, which was read the first time, and ordered to be printed.
A petition from the Governors of Greenwich-hospital was presented to the House, setting forth the means used by the prize agents to elude the payment of forfeited and unclaimed prize money still
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remaining in their hands, which, by several acts of parliament, are given and appropriated to, and for, the support and maintenance of the said hospital, and praying the aid and authority of parliament to enforce the payment of the same.
Tuesday, 18.
This evening nine women, one dressed in the uniform of a captain of a man of war, another like a lieutenant, and the other seven in the dress of common sailors, with cockades, went about this city as a press-gang, and frightened several young fellows, who ran from them; but at length the pretended lieutenant was taken into custody, and carried before the sitting alderman, who, on her declaring that nothing more than a frolic was intended, dismissed her, with a severe reprimand.
Wednesday, 19.
This day her Majesty entered into the 30th year of her age, being born the 19th of May, 1744.
The day Gen. Burgoyne continued his report of the select committee; and, after recapitulating the many atrocious offences committed in India by the servants of the Company, in monopolies, extortions, taxations, and oppressions of various kinds, he, at length, came to consider the wretched situation of the Indian Princes, who held their dignities on the precarious condition of being the highest bribers. No claim (he said) could be admitted, unless prefaced by enormous sums of rupees; nor any prince suffered to reign long who did not quadrate with this idea. Gifts thus obtained, under the influence of military force, have already, by the resolutions of this house been declared illegal; he therefore concluded his speech in declaring, that he intended to propose the following resolution;
"The the Right Honourable Robert Lord Clive, Baron of Plassey, in the kingdom of Ireland, in consequence of the powers vested in him in India, had illegally acquired the sum of two hundred and thirty four thousand pounds, to the dishonour and detriment of the slate."
Sir William Meredith supported Gen. Burgoyne in his argument; said, he should maintain, against any power under heaven, every mode of proceeding that had national justice for its aim, and private delinquency for its foundation. Mr. Wedderburne inveighed against accusing a man of delinquency upon the bare report of a select committee, who were appointed to enquire into the slate of the East-India affairs, and not to criminate delinquents. Sir Richard Sutton said, that he, among others, had put some home questions to the gentleman examined, but with no design of turning their answers into evidence against themselves, Mr. Rigby and Mr. Ongly 
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contended for the competency of the evidence. Mr. Dyfon insisted on the regularity of admitting the report of their own members in evidence against the parties accused; the majority, however, upon the question being put, resolved, that the evidence should be examined viva voce a the bar; and Friday was appointed for that purpose.
This day likewise a General Court of the East-India Company met to receive Lord North's answer to the message ballotted for on Friday; the purport of which was, "That his Lordship fees with concern the differences between him and the Company respecting their dividend: and refers them to Parliament, as properest to apply to on such an important occasion."
—Lord North's former answer was then called for; and there it appeared, that Lord North, in his own name, desires explanations, &c. on which Governor Johnstone made a pertinent remark on the striking difference in the tone of the two answers; recommended firmness and deliberation in the Company's resolves, and proposed Friday for considering what farther was to be done.
Was held the anniversary meeting of the Guardians of the Asylum for female orphans, when a sermon suitable to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Porteus, chaplain to his Majesty. The collection amounted to 137l.13s.3d. and 37l. 16s. was afterwards received from new subscribers.
This day came on, in solemn argument, before the Judges of the Common Pleas, a question of law arising from special verdict given on the following state of the facts: A boy, in the town of Milbourn-Port, flung a squib into the market-house, which fell upon a stall; a bye-stander tossed it from that stall to another; the owner of which tossed it among the crowd, where it burst, a put out the eye of the plaintiff. The action was brought against the boy, and it was held goof by the chief and two other judges, on the the principle, that every distinct motion of the squib, from the first throwing, was dependent on the first cause. Judge Blackstone differed from his brethren on the bench on this ground, that actions of [[?]] vi & arms should be always grounded on an immediate injury passing between the parties,
Thursday, 20.
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met, and chose the Rev. Dr. John Drysdale, on of the Ministers of Edinburgh, their Moderator. On this occasion Lord Cathcart, as his Majesty's High Commissioner, made a grand appearance.
Vauxhall-Gardens were opened this evening. The chief improvement is, that, instead of the ruins a the termination of one of the walks, a triumphal arch is now erected, ornamented with figures in
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Chiaro Obscuro, The principal figure represents Liberality standing at the portico of her temple, attended by a Lion; she is respectfully approached by Comus, while Mirth and her companions join in festive dance round the statue of Plenty. In the sky is an inscription of the word GRATITUDE, which is supported by three Cherubs; and in the back ground is seen the cathedral of St. Paul. Mr. Mortimer is said to be the painter.
The violent rains that have fallen have so raised the river Severn, that, except in Nov. 1770, no man living ever remembered it higher. The land floods too rendered the roads in some places impassable.
Friday, 21;
Gen. Burgoyne resumed his argument, and , after some hours interruption, chiefly employed in the examination of Mr. Becher at the bar, and the altercations consequent thereupon, he moved, "That it appears to this House, that Rober Lord Clive, Baron of Plassey, in the kingdom of Ireland, about the time of deposing Surajah Dowls, Nabob of Bengal, and the establishing Meer Jasper on the Musnud, did, through the influence of the Powers with which he was entrusted, as Member of the Select Committee, and Commander in Chief of the British Forces, obtain and possess himself of two lacks and 80,000 rupees, as a Member of the Select Committee; a farther sum of two lacks of rupees, as Commander in Chief; a farther sum of 16 lacks of rupees or more, under the denomination of private donation; which sums, amounting together to 20 lacks and 80,000 rupees, were of the value, in English money, of 234,000l. and that in so doing, the said Robert Lord Clive abused the powers with which he was entrusted, to the evil example of the servants of the public."
Mr. Stanley then moved that the question be divided, and that the words conveying the censure after the figures 234,000 to the of the motion, be left out.
He was seconded by Mr. R. Fuller, who carried his amendment farther back in the body of the motion, and wished to leave out the words, "through the influence of the Powers with which he was entrusted."
These proposed amendments occasioned a long debate, and the House agreed, without a division, that the question, should be divided; and after that a division happened upon the last amendment, that the words, "through the influence of the Powers with which he was entrusted," stand part of this question. The House divided at five o'clock next morning, the Ayes 95, the Noes 155, and the words were left out of the first motion.
These objectionable terms being struck out, and the question thus divided, the latter