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464 HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. the impropriety of performing the Beggars Opera, which never was represented on the stage without creating an additional number of real thieves; he begged therefore the gentlemen present would join with him in requesting Mr. Garrick to desist from performing that Opera on Saturday evening. The Bench immediately consented to the proposal; and a polite card was dispatched to Mr. Garrick for that purpose. To which Mr. Garrick returned for answer, that his company was so imperfect and divided, (many of the performers being yet in the country,) that it would be exceedingly inconvenient, if not impossible, for him to open with any other piece than that he had already advertised; but added, that he would in future do every thing in his power to oblige them. It must be confessed, that although the Beggars Opera abounds with wit, humour, and the most poignant satire, it is notwithstanding very ill calculated to mend the morals of the common people, who are pleased to find all ranks and degrees, the highest and most respectable characters, brought down to a level with themselves. The Beggars Opera is, in truth, the Thief's Creed and Common Prayer book, in which he fortifies himself in the most atrocious wickedness, from the impunity and triumph of his great exampler Mackheath; and comforts himself, that, notwithstanding he may be hanged for his robbery, he is no worse than his betters. Mr. Gay's intention in writing that admirable dramatic opera, was to lash the vices of the great; it was chiefly meant to be a very severe satire upon the Ministry of that time, and particularly levelled at Sir Robert Walpole, who had greatly offended the author and his friends. Thus what proceeded originally from private resentment, produced, in its event, very great and manifest injury to the public. The worthy Archbishop Herring foresaw the consequences which this admired Opera would produce; and , in a sermon at Court, very strongly pointed out the pernicious tendency of it to destroy morality in the lower class of the community, for which he was severely handled in a paper called the Intelligencer, said to be written by Dr. Swift, who, forgetting all temper and moderation, represented Dr Herring as a most prostitute Divine, because his zeal animated him to preach against the Beggars Opera. These strictures, copied chiefly from the papers, produced the following sarcastical retort: Lord S. has hinted that the revival of the Libertine will be highly disagreeable to him. C.F insists on it, that the Gamester, or Gamesters, shall not be exhibited again. A Princely Personage, who is lately let out on his travels, has left positive orders, that neither Duke or no Duke, nor the Irish Widow, shall make their appearance any more; and several Scotch physicians have concurred to beg the entire dismission of the Mock Doctor from the stage. Thursday 16. Mr. Wingfield, a farmer at Heston, was found murdered near the Hampshire Hog, on the Hammersmith road, with his skull fractured, and his pockets rifled of all their contents; one William Edwards White, a deserter from the Coldstream regiment, has since been apprehended, and upon the strongest evidence committed to Newgate, for being the murderer. The three daughters of General Thomas kissed his Majesty's hand, at St. James's on their having a stipend of 3001. per annum each allowed them by the government. The Charming Jenny, Chilcot, bound from Dublin port to Waterford, was wrecked near Holyhead, when every person on board, except the Captain, perished, and the whole cargo, save one cask Geneva, and two puncheons of rum, was lost. The neighbouring inhabitants, instead of assisting the unfortunate survivor, plundered whatever escaped the fury of the waves, even to cutting away the pockets from the Captain's wife,whose corpse was driven ashore on that inhospitable coast. Friday 17. The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, the Hon. James Luttrell, Gen. Prevost, Col. Deaken, Col. Garth, &ec. set out from Cumberland-House for Dover, to embark for Calais. Their Royal Highnesses travel through France and Italy as Earl and Countess of Dublin. Saturday 18. Mr. Gold, and Mr. Wodeston, two young gentlemen, relations, riding in the night between Salt-hill and Mr. Gold's father's, Mr. Gold being foremost, rode on before till he come to a gate, when looking back he beheld his friend's horse, but without the rider. Being alarmed, he instantly rode back to the first house, and roused the people, who, after some search, found Mr. Wodeston with his neck dislocated. It is supported that his horse had fallen with him, as his knees on examination were found dirty, and that by the fall the young gentleman had met with the fatal accident. Monday 20. Earl Ferrers arrived at Deptford in his yacht, from a cruize of about three weeks, which he took in order to make a trial of his new method of constructing ships; and we are informed, by a person who has conversed with one of the officers belonging to her, that nothing that ever was built answered all purposes so well, as they say she is not only surprising fast sailer, but also carries her sail remarkably well, and has every good quality that a vessel can possibly HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. 465 possibly have, in the utmost perfection, and more particularly in a large head sea. What (says our correspondent) is very extraordinary in this vessel is, that in turning up to the windward from the Downs to Blackwall, where she arrived on Sunday evening, she beat every vessel between three and four miles an hour, right in the wind's eye, though there were at least an hundred sail of vessels, of different forts, coming up the river at the same time; and, what is still more extraordinary, though the wind all the time blew very fresh, and right down the river, yet on Saturday evening she turned up, from about two miles to the westward of the Isle of Sheepey, to the mouth of the river Thames, within four hours, against the ebb tide, though at the height of the springs, which it is imagined was never done before, nor can be done by any other vessel. The Carcass bomb ketch, commanded by Capt. Lutwich, which, together with the Sea-Horfe bomb ketch, commanded by Capt. Phipps, went at the end of the spring in search of discoveries into the Polar region, particularly to make astronomical observations under the Northern Pole, and to discover a Northern passage into the South Sea, or East-Indies, is arrived on the English coast, and has landed a packet at Yarmouth to the Lords of the Admiralty, containing, amongst other advices, a journal of their voyage. It there appears, that the great impediments and dangers that occurred from the floating ice in the Northern Sea, in consequence of which, the voyagers have not been able to get nearer the pole than 81 deg. 39 min. They were several times so embaye in the ice, as to find their situation almost desperate, and were happy to get safe back into the open sea, after having made the strongest efforts, with the utmost risque, to perform their undertaking. They have not, however, sustained any considerable loss, the crews of both vessels being in perfect health, owing most probably to the extraordinary precautions taken in that respect. The Carcass parted from the Sea-Horse about ten days ago, and it is presumed she may by this time have reached the mouth of the river, though no advice had been obtained from her on Sunday last. Thursday 23. By letters from New-York there is a confirmation of the report that an insurrection had happened among the Negroes employed in cutting logwood in the Bay of Honduras, and that they had killed several white people, and put a stop to all manner of business in that Bay. Friday 24. Ibraham Aga, ambassador from Tripoli, had his first private audience of his Majesty. He brought with hime from the Dey of Algiers, six fine Arabian horses, and four mares, as a present to his Majesty. GENT. MAG. Sept. 1773. Monday 27. At the adjourned sessions, held at Guildhall, 19 prisoners, moved from Bridewell were tried as incorrigible rogues; one of whom was sentenced to suffer a year's imprisonment, two Blacks to suffer fix months, and several others three months; the rest were sent back to be passed to their respective parishes. The prices of corn at the Corn Exchange, were, Wheat 45s. a 55s. Barley 26s. a 31s. Rye 24s. a 25s. Oats 17s. a 22s. Pale Malt 33s. a 38s, Brown Malt 33s. a 36s.Pease 30s. a 32s. Beans 24s. a 31s. Tares 24s. a 30s. Rape Seed- per quarter. Finest Flour 48s. Second Sort 45s. Third Sort 42. per sack. Wednesday 29. This day the Act for regulating the Assize of Bread takes place. By this Act, all bread made of the flour of wheat, which flour, without any mixture of division, shall be the whole produce of the grain, the bran or hull thereof only excepted, and which shall weigh three fourth parts of the weight of the wheat whereof it shall be made, may be at all times, and is hereby allowed to be, made, baked, and sold, and shall be understood to be a standard wheaten bread; and that the makers and sellers of the same shall make and sell the same, although no assize of bread be set, of the weight, and in the proportions following; that is to say, That every standard wheaten peck loaf shall always weight 17 1b. 6 oz. Averdupois, every half peck loaf 8 lb 11 oz. and every quartern loaf 4 lb 5 oz. and half of an ounce Averdupois, and be marked with the letters S.W. and that every peck loaf, half peck loaf, and quartern loaf, shall always be fold, as to price, in proportion to each other respectively; and that where wheaten and household bread, made as the law now directs, shall be sold at the same time, together with this standard wheaten bread, they be sold in respect of and in proportion to each other as followeth; that is to say, That the same weight of wheaten bread as costs eight-pence, the same weight of this standard wheaten bread shall cost seven-pence; or seven standard wheaten assized loaves shall weight equal to eight wheaten assized loaves, as near as may be. Standard wheaten bread shall not be made into, or sold as, priced loaves, at one and the same time, together with assized loaves of the same standard wheaten bread Makers of bread to be liable to the same penalties for any defaults as by former acts. The miller or mealman selling adulterated flour shall forfeit the penalties directed by act 31 Geo. II. After Sept. 29, 1773, Justices, at their quarter-fessions, may prohibit, for three months, the baking or selling other bread than [[note]] 7
