An example of British benevolence was evinced in this year, highly honourable to the humanity of the metropolis. A German adventurer of the name of Stumple, having pretended an authority from the British ministry, engaged six hundred Wurtzburgers and Palatines to emigrate their country, under a promise of settling them in the islands of St. John and Le Croix, in America. After they had been shipped for England, Stumple, finding himself unable to fulfil his engagements, abandoned them, and they arrived at the port of London during the month of August, in the most imminent danger of perishing for want. Those who were able to pay their passage were permitted to come on shore, and retired to the fields adjoining to Whitechapel, where they continued some days in the most wretched state, not having the least shelter to preserve them from the inclemency of the weather; while those who remained on board the ship were nearly in as titute a situation.

The only assistance these poor deluded people received for some days, was what could be gathered from the different German churches and chapels about the metropolis; but this was far from being sufficient to relieve so great a number; at length, Mr. Wachsel, minister of the German Lutheran church in Ayliffe Street, Goodman's Fields, laid their case before the public in the news-papers, in so true and affecting a manner, that it immediately attracted the attention not only of the great, but also of royalty itself. Before eleven o'clock on the same day, one hundred tents were sent them from the Tower, by order of his majesty; the passage of those who were detained in the ship was defrayed, and 300l. was sent for their immediate support. Subscriptions were opened, and prodigious sums of money gathered for their relief. Physicians, surgeons, and midwives, offered their service for the sick and those in travail, for the latter of whom proper apartments were hired.

Thus happily relieved from the direful distress in which they had been placed, Mr. Wachsel, who, with several other benefactors, had formed themselves into a committee for the management of the subscriptions, waited on the king to

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know his pleasure respecting their future disposal. His majesty communicated his intention of establishing them in South Carolina, ordered one hundred and fifty stands of arms to be delivered to them for their defence, and contracts to be immediately made for proper vessels to convey them to that colony. When every thing was prepared for their embarkation, their camp was broke up, and they went on board singing hymns of thanksgiving in praise of their benefactors, whose beneficence had been so extensive, that the committee were not only enabled to furnish them with every necessary while on board, but even to make some provision for them after their landing in America.

The late father of the city, Sir John Barnard, after having attained to nearly the age of eighty, died on the 29th of this month. He sustained the character of a dutiful son, an affectionate husband, an indulgent master, a generous benefactor, an active magistrate, an intelligent merchant, and an uncorrupt senator; he discharged all the duties of social life with equal honour to himself and advantage to his country. No man lived, who was more universally esteemed; or when dead, was more sincerely regretted.

It was during this year also, that the inhabitants of Saint Andrew's Holborn, came to the laudable resolution of lessening the number of projecting cellar-windows, which abound.. ed in that parish, and had for some time, been productive of many accidents to foot passengers and children.

Among the many new streets which were now building, was one in honour of her present majesty, called Charlotte Street, continued from Rathbone Street or Place, Oxford Road, towards the east end of the Middlesex Hospital, parallel with Tottenham Court Road; and finished with elegant and convenient houses.

Another fine new street was formed on the west side of the Middlesex Hospital, called Suffolk Street, and several others; so that the hospital, which was some years before built in the fields, before two years from this period, stood in the town. This was owing to the long leases, and other encouragements given by his grace the Duke of Portland,

To shew to what an extent the value of land had risen, small piece of ground in Piccadilly, bought some years be fore (when a field) for thirty pounds, by a brewer, as a waste place to put his butts, &c. was now sold for the benefit of his son, an orphan, at the sum of 2,500l.

The year 1765, commenced with various applications from the city to parliament, among these, two petitions were presented by the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons, in common council assembled: the first, regarding London Bridge, alledged, "That the petitioners had proceeded to execute the powers and trusts given by the several acts of parliament provided for those purposes, with all possible attention to so great a service for the public utility; and that the charges attending the works already performed, and to be performed, amount, by computation, to the sum of 104,686l. 12s. 74d. and that the petitioners had received, by the produce of tolls, the sum of 4,465l. 11s. 3d., and by sale of the materials of houses taken down, the sum of 3,7197. 12s. 1d. and by sundry grants from parliament, 71,2107. 12s. 6d. making together 79,395l. 15s. 10d. exclusive of 6,391l. 2s. 6d. which, upon the fatal burning of the temporary bridge, was conditionally borrowed of the Bridge House; all which said several sums, amount in the whole to 85,786. 18s. 4 d. and which sum being deducted from the said sum of 104,686. 12s. 74d. there appears a deficiency of 18,899. 14s. 34d. unprovided for by act of parliament, exclusive of the said money conditionally borrowed of the Bridge House estate; therefore they prayed, that the house would take the premises into consideration, and grant to the petitioners such further sums of money, as would enable them to fulfil the trusts reposed in them by the said acts of parliament, for the benefit of the public." The chancellor of the exchequer, also, acquainted the house, by his majesty's command, "that his majesty, having been informed of the contents of the said petition, recommended it to the consideration of the house."

The second petition, regarding the gaol of Newgate, set forth, "That it is the common gaol for the city of London and

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the county of Middlesex, and that for several years last past, there have been communibus annis, near one thousand persons committed to the said gaol; two-thirds of which have been Middlesex prisoners; and that the said gaol is a very antient ill constructed, close, and incommodious building, and in its present state unfit for the reception of prisoners committed there: and that the petitioners are well satisfied, that the present state and condition of the said gaol merits. the attention of the legislature; and that on a careful examination and survey, it appears, that the same cannot be rendered healthy and commodious, without being taken down and rebuilt in a more extended plan; and that the petitioners are ready and willing to do every thing towards the promot ing a work of such public utility, that on their part can equitably be expected or required; and that the same cannot, as the petitioners are advised, be carried into execution without the aid of parliament, and therefore praying the house to take the premises into their consideration, and to grant such relief therein as to the house shall seem meet." A committee was appointed to consider of this petition.

The solemnity of a state trial took place on the 26th of April, in consequence of a duel between Lord Byron, and Mr. Chaworth, at the Star and Garter tavern, Pall Mall, where the latter was killed. The duel had originated, as such rencontres usually do, from a trifling quarrel concerning "whose estate contained most game!" His lordship was conducted from the Tower to Westminster Hall, where the court had been erected. The number of witnesses on be half of the crown was so great that they could not be all examined on that day. On the next, the trial was resumed, and the examinations against the prisoner being finished, the solicitor general gave a summary statement of the evidence; after which Lord Byron, who declined examining any witnesses on his own behalf, informed their lordships, "That what he had to offer in his own vindication, he had committed to writing, and begged it might be read by the clerk, fearing his own voice, in his present situation, would not be heard." This request being granted, the clerk, in a very

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audible manner, read his defence, which contained an exact detail of the particulars relating to the melancholy affair between him and Mr. Chaworth. He said, he declined entering into the circumstances of Mr. Chaworth's behaviour, farther than was necessary for his defence, strongly expressed his sorrow for the event, and reposed himself with the utmost confidence on their lordships justice and humanity; observing that he would with cheerfulness acquiesce in the sentence of the noblest and most equitable court of judicature in the world, whether it were for life or for death. The clerk having concluded, the peers adjourned to their own house; and, after a reasonable time, returned, when they found his lordship guilty of manslaughter: and, as, by an old statute, peers are, in all cases where benefit of clergy is allowed, to be dismissed without burning in the hand, loss of inheritance, or corruption of blood, his lordship was immediately discharged on paying his fees.

The peace which had established harmony abroad, was not productive of happiness at home. Our politic neighbours equally insidious as friends or enemies, found means to introduce, in a contraband manner, their manufactures, into this country, to the great distress of the labouring part of the community, but none felt the evil more poignantly than the silk weavers. The want of work in this profession, by means of these foreign importations, had reduced them and their families to the utmost want and despair; in this predicament, they petitioned every branch of the legislature; and upon promise of relief, they mostly departed

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* The petition of the journeymen weavers was presented to parlia ment on the 10th of January, by several thousands of distressed objects, and was as follows:-" Lords and Gentlemen, The humble petition of the journeymen silk-weavers on behalf of themselves, and a great number of people of the same trade, sheweth,-That through the badness of trade, many hundreds of your poor petitioners are actually without work; others dread shortly to undergo the same fate: our wives, sons, and daughters, are mostly without employ, and consequently, many of us are in the utmost poverty and want! It is these thoughts that throw us almost into despair, and induce us to throw ourselves at your feet, humbly