vius on the 7th ult. preceded by an earthquake. Two dreadful and distinct tor. rents of lava issued from the crater, and poured down the sides of the mountain; but, happily, it caused little injury.

Letters from Naples state, that an American squadron, under the command of Commodore Chauncey, had made its appearance off that city, having on board Mr. Pinckney; who has demanded of the Neapolitan government a sum of 4 mil. ljons of dollars, as a compensation for American property confiscated by Murat. He is said to have accompanied this requisition with a threat, that if it were not complied with, the squadron would bombard the place. The following is a copy of one letter on the subject:

Naples, Aug. 6, 1816. "The inhabitants of this city are in a state of great alarm, being in daily expectation of a bombardment from the American squadron, consisting of the Washington, 74 guns, Java 50, Constellation 38, and Erie corvette, under the command of Commodore Chauncey, who brought here Mr. Pinckney, to demand from the Neapolitian Government four millions of dollars, being the amount of American property confiscated here in the time of Murat; which demand, we are given to understand, this Government will not comply with, The Government is very active. in making preparations for defence against any hostile act the Americans may commit, in erecting furnaces for hot shot, and mounting guns of large calibre, as well as bombs; and I hope, ere they dare to commence an attack on the town, an English squadron will arrive; as a brig of war looked in on Friday evening last; and the Captain, after waiting on Sir Henry Lushington, set sail immediately for Gibraltar -we doubt not for the purpose of making Lord Exmouth acquainted with the American squadron being in this port, and their hostile intention. The Austrian troops have got possession of the castle and all the forts, the King having taken 13,000 of them into his pay; they have now double guards in the batteries, and have matches lighted during the night."

Another letter from Naples reports, that it is the object of the Government of the United States to obtain the cession of some island in the Mediterranean, that they may form a secure harbour for their fleet, and an entrepot for their produce, which can be at all times transmitted to where there is a demand. The only nation that will suffer by this arrangement will be the English.

SPAIN.

The finances of Spain appear to be in a most wretched state. The pay even of soldiers and sailors has been so long in

arrear, that several of them are said to have perished of want.

A letter from Cadiz states, that when Morillo's Expedition was fitting out there, so great was the want of money, that the Government was obliged to effect a loan of about one million and a half of dollars from the merchants of the above place; bonds for repayment at stated periods were given, which are now expired; but the lenders cannot obtain either principal or interest.

An article from Spain very gravely, states, as an instance of extraordinary filial affection, that the Infante Don Carlos has embroidered for his mother a girdle, enriched with diamonds, valued at 60,000, piastres, in which the skilful hand of the King is said to have taken a part!

General Miranda, taken some years back at the Caraccas during one of his unsuccessful attempts to establish the independence of his South American countrymen, died lately at Cadiz, in a dungeon, after an imprisonment of nearly four years, in violation of a most solemn capitulation. His remains were refused Christian burial by the Monks.

The two Princesses of Brazil, who embarked at Rio Janeiro on the 3d of July, landed at Cadiz on the 4th of the present month, and have since been married by proxy.

The American Government is reported to be calling on Spain, as well as Naples, to make restitution for the seizure of American property by Napoleon under the famous Berlin and Milan Decrees. GERMANY.

The Paris Papers contain an article from Vienna, that speaks with confidence of the immediate marriage of the Emperor of Austria with a Princess of the House of Bavaria. This union between the two Courts, in a political light, is considered as highly auspicious to the interests of Germany.

The Illyrian provinces, with the addition of some districts belonging to Inner Austria and the kingdom of Italy, have been erected into a kingdom, under the title of the kingdom of Illyria. It is said, that the new kingdom is intended as an establishment for the Empress Maria Louisa and her son, in lieu of the Duchy of Parma, which will be restored to the Queen of Etruria, its former possessor.

Prince Blucher, on a journey lately to Mecklenburg, his native country, visited the tomb of his ancestors, and the house where he was born, and, previous to his departure, dined with the Duke of Mecklenburgh. The thankfulness of the veteran to Providence for late events was strongly shewn, in his reply to the Prince for drinking his health-" I am now (said

he)

he) free and happy in the land where I was born, where I passed my boyish years, where the bones of my worthy forefathers rest. O God! Thou knowest how I have longed to pray by the side of their tomb before I myself drop into the grave. Thanks be to Thee that now I can and will do so. I wish for nothing more; I have already attained more than I deserve."

SWEDEN.

The Crown Prince of Sweden continues to cultivate the affections of his future subjects with extraordinary care. In a late tour which he made with his sou Oscar, while at Rumlosa, he made four peasants, who waited on him, dine with him at his own table.

ASIA.

Madras Papers have been received to the beginning of May, which contain intelligence of some interest. The British troops that had displayed so much bravery and activity in the war against the Nepaulese, were returning to their cantonments, although the Rajah of Seccum had not yet received the fort of Nagree, ceded to him by the last treaty.

In the island of Celebes there has been some fighting; but success has remained attached to our arms; and in an action with the native Princes, seven of the Chiefs were killed or wounded.

The Rajah of Berar is dead, and has been succeeded on the Musnud by his son.

The Bhow Begum has left her property to the East India Company. It is said to amount to 90 lacs of rupees; 74 of which are in bullion, and six in jewels.

AFRICA.

By accounts just received from Mr. Read, in South Africa, we learn, that the Missionaries have met with a joyful reception in Caffraria; the minds of the Caffres had been prepared for their arrival by a person of that nation, some time converted to the Christian faith.

The London Gazette Extraordinary, containing the details of the severe chastisement so nobly and daringly given the Algerines by Lord Exmouth, will be found in page 260.

The Dutch papers have given Admiral Capellan's account of the share he had in the action. It is modestly written, and speaks in terms of high admiration of the conduct of Lord Exmouth. It appears, that the attack was made with less delay than his Lordship had at first thought possible, from the state of the wind in the morning. The sea-breeze, however, fortunately sprang up; and Lord Exmouth instantly availed himself of it, to place the Queen Charlotte in a position which confounded the enemy by its fearlessness. -She came down before the wind with all sails standing, until she was within pistol

shot of the batteries before the opening of the Mole. This daring example was not lost on the Dutch Commander, who boldly led his little squadron, and placed his own frigate under the cross fire of more than 100 guns."His Majesty's squadron (says the Dutch Admiral), as well as the British force, appeared to be inspired with the devotedness of our magnanimous Chief to the cause of all mankind; and the coolness and order with which the terrible fire of the batteries was replied to, close under the massy walls of Algiers, will as little admit of description, as the heroism and self-devotion of each individual generally, and the greatness of Lord Exmouth in particular, in the attack of this memorable day. The destruction of nearly half Algiers, and the burning of the whole Algerine navy, have been the result of it.”

The principal inhabitants of the kingdom of Algiers are Arabians, Moors, and Jews, estimated at about 200,000 souls, who are lorded over by 12.000 Turks; a set of desperate men, originally collected in the Levant, who form the army, hold the reins of Government, and keep the rest of the people under tribute.

The Emperor of Morocco has been himself down to Tangiers, and there exchang ed presents with the Lieut.-Governor of Gibraltar. The latter tendered two mortars and 100 shells to his Majesty ; who is said to have given, in return, to the Governor, a mule and an Arabian horse; and to Captain Marshal, the negociator, 800 dollars.

Lord Exmouth is coming home. The opinion entertained, that his Lordship was about to proceed from Algiers to Tunis and Tripoli, is erroneous.-The Beys of Tripoli and Tunis have taken no part in the contest; they have agreed, by Treaty, to make no more Christian slaves; and, as they appear disposed to carry their arrangement into effect with good faith, with them we have no cause whatever of dispute.

AMERICA.

The circulating medium of America is in great confusion-one State Bank paying in cash, another only in paper;-and in consequence, between two towns at the distance of fifty miles, there may be a difference of exchange of 6, 8, and 10 per cent. The Government has issued an official notice, that no private bank paper would be taken, after 20th Feb. next, for duties, taxes, &c. unless such bank was prepared to pay their notes in cash when required, and unless they took the Treasury notes at par.

The scarcity of bread corn in New Hampshire and Vermont, in the Northern parts of New York, and in Canada, is so great, as to excite painful apprehensions on account of the poorer classes of society.

In some places corn has been sold as high as three dollars per bushel, and flour from 15 to 20 dollars per barrel.

The American papers give most shocking accounts of the distress and disappointments generally experienced by English manufacturers, and others, who have been induced to emigrate from their native land in great numbers, under the hope of bettering their condition in America. Private accounts are in unison with the above. It is stated in letters dated Aug. 16, that 3000 emigrants at New York have applied to the Consul there for a passage back again to Great Britain and Ireland; as they cannot find the means of living in that country. This is, to our indigent poor, an impressive lesson of the prudence of enduring their state of occasional adversity at home, instead of throwing away the little remnant of their property to purchase imaginary benefits from strangers, who seek only to convert to their own gain the last pittance of the adventurers; and whose system of carrying on the trade in European emigrants comprehends a rigour of treatment on the passage, and a consignment to labour and slavery for a long term of years.

Joseph Buonaparte has purchased the seat of Stephen Lare, Esq. called Point Breeve, about six miles from New York.

The Vesuvius steam-boat took fire on the Mississippi on the 13th July, and was burned to the water's edge. Providentially, no lives were lost.

Communications have taken place between the leading patriots of Mexico, and the military adherents at present with Joseph Buonaparte in the United States; which have given rise, at Paris, to a report of Joseph being called to the throne of Mexico. That personage, it is to be recollected, was regularly crowned, at Madrid, King of the Indies. The success of Humbert and his companions, who are represented as the leaders of a numerous army in Spanish America, produces a general wish in the French officers on half pay to emigrate to that country.

Lord Beresford accompanied the Portuguese Princesses from Rio Janeiro for Cadiz on the 3d of July, in a Portuguese man of war, accompanied by two frigates, one of which was Spanish. He has been made Commander in Chief of the Portuguese troops; but is to act independent of the Regency. He has had an estate given him in Portugal, worth 12,000 dollars per annum; has been paid all his arrears of service-money, and all his expences at Rio Janeiro.

Not less than 1500 persons are said to have perished in the late unhappy affairs at Barbadoes; principally by hanging, upon conviction of being concerned in the insurrection!

COUNTRY NEWS.

Chepstow Bridge. This elegant structure was opened with great ceremony on the 31st of July. A very numerous company of magistrates and gentlemen afterwards dined together at the Beaufort Arms. The number of persons present at the ceremony was estimated at 4000, and it is supposed there could not have been less than 2500 upon the Bridge at one time. The Bridge consists of five arches, formed of cast iron, and raised upon stone piers, the two largest of which are 18 feet thick, 40 feet long, and 34 feet high; the two smaller ones are of the same height, 10 feet thick, and 33 feet long. The dimensions of the arches, which together occupy a space of 372 feet in length, are as follow: centre arch, span 112 feet; rise or versed sine, 13 feet; height from lowwater mark, 58 feet: the two arches on each side of the centre, span 70 feet, and rise 10 feet 9 inches; the two small arches, span 34 feet, and rise 7 feet 3 inches. The extreme length of the Bridge is 177 yards 1 foot; and the width is 20 feet in the clear, including footpaths on each side, of 3 feet wide. The foundationstone was laid on the 13th of April 1815, and the work has been completed in a period of less than fifteen months and a half. The whole is a very considerable ornament to Chepstow, and reflects the highest credit upon the persons who conducted the business. The difficulty of the above undertaking may be judged from the rapidity and height of the tides; the flood-tide frequently running with a velo-, city of seven or eight knots an hour; and it has been known, in the course of the work, to have removed stones of a ton and a half weight. On the 28th of March 1815, the tide rose to a perpendicular height, from low water mark, of 51 ft. 2 in.

Aug. 1. The new Pier at Margate is at length completed. This useful and ornamental work has been accomplished under the direction of Daniel Jarvis, Esq. who first proposed it, and by unwearied perseverance has brought the undertaking to a successful termination. The inhabitants have united to express their gratitude and esteem for his gratuitous services, by presenting to him an elegant service of plate.

Aug. 13. This night, about 15 or 20 minutes before 11 o'clock, the inhabitants of the greater part of the North of Scotland were alarmed with a small shock of an earthquake, which did considerable damage to many buildings. The shock appears to have extended over the counties of Ross, Inverness, Moray, Banff, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Forfar, Perth, and Fife; and was indistinctly felt in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some of the accounts mention a second slight shock, a few minutes after the one generally felt. By

all

all the accounts it appears, that there has been no loss of lives, although considerable damage to property has been sustained, particularly in Inverness. A Letter from Inverness, dated Aug. 14, states that, notwithstanding the vast quantities of stones and bricks that have been thrown from immense heights, not one single person has received any hurt. It was not attended with any of those phænomena that have been said to accompany earthquakes. The day had been beautiful and serene, and still continues so; no agitation or rising was observable in the river; and though it has been frequently observed, that in countries subject to those awful visitations, the mercury suddenly falls in the barometer, no alteration whatever in that respect took place.

Aug. 22. That stupendous undertaking, the Tunnel of the Tavistock Canal, was, after thirteen years' incessant labour, holed with great accuracy. A line of communication has been thus opened between the Tavy and the Tamar. The whole length of driving through the hill is above a mile and a half, and, in some parts of it, more than 400 feet below the surface.

Aug. 30. The new Church at Hungerford, Berks, was opened with a grand selection of sacred musick.

Norwich, Sept. 11. At a meeting of the inhabitants "for the purpose of taking into consideration the unfortunate situation of Children employed to sweep Chim. neys, and the meaus hitherto discovered, by which they may be relieved from such dangerous and unwholesome employment," it was resolved, "That under the powers of the Act of the 23d Geo. III. through the care of the Court of Guardians, and the humane treatment of the masters, the sufferings incident to the trade, though not altogether removed, are greatly lessened in this city. That there are evils necessarily connected with the common mode of sweeping chimneys, which may be corrected by a mechanical method of cleansing them, instead of employing children for that purpose."-A Committee, consisting of 12 respectable gentlemen, was then appointed to promote such method.

Curious Customs. At Hatherleigh, a small town in the county of Devon, exist 'two remarkable customs:-one, that every morning and evening, soon after the church-clock has struck five and nine, a bell from the same steeple announces, by distinct strokes, the number of the day of the month, originally intended, perhaps, for the information of the unlearned villagers. [The same custom exists at Pembroke in South Wales, at five in the morning, and eight in the evening.]-The other is, that after a funeral, the church bells ring a lively peal, as in other places after

a wedding; and to this custom the parishioners are perfectly reconciled, by the consideration that the deceased is removed from a scene of trouble to a state of peace.

An important cause has been decided at the Salisbury Assizes, Lord Rivers, plaintiff, and Thos. King, esq. and two others, defendants. The question for decision was, what were the boundaries of Cranbourne Chase? His lordship is without dispute entitled to the antient royalty of Cranbourne Chase; and within that Chase,. however straitened or extended, his deer are entitled to run, without molestation. It was contended on the part of his lordship, that the Chase boundaries embraced parts of Dorset, Wilts, and Hants, including 500,000 acres of land, and more than 100 miles in circumference. On the other side it was insisted, that the limits of the Chase only comprised part of the county of Dorset. The cause came on Aug. 14; and on the 15th, the Jury gave a verdict for the defendant, thereby negativing his lordship's claim.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. "Windsor Castle, Sept. 7. His Majesty has enjoyed good bodily health, and has been generally tranquil during the last month; but his Majesty's disorder has undergone no change."

Tuesday, Aug. 13.

This day, about 3 o'clock, the Lord Mayor, the Aldermen, Recorder, Sheriffs, Common Council, and Officers of the City of London, arrived in state at CarltonHouse with an Address to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, on the marriage of the Duke of Gloucester with the Princess Mary; and afterwards proceeded to the Queen's Palace, with an Address to her Majesty. They were all very graciously received.-The Corporation afterwards proceeded to Gloucester-house, Piceadilly, with Addresses of congratulation to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess and the Duke of Gloucester. They were most graciously received, and had the honour to kiss the Duchess's hand.

Friday, Aug. 30.

This day, a Committee, appointed by the Board of Ordnance and Lords of the Admiralty, met at Woolwich Barracks to witness the effects of Captain Manby's Machine for extinguishing Fire, and to report their opinion of the same to the different Boards.-Captain Manby stated, that, before he presumed to bring the different machines and implements to their notice, he had taken the opinion of men of scientific and philosophical knowledge; and assured the Committee, that he had no idea of pecuniary gain, and disavowed all claim to invention. The Committee inspected the portable machine: the Captain shewed them that it could be instantly

apphed

· applied (as it might be kept ready loaded) to a fire which was so situated that a common fire-engine would be of no service: for instance, he said, in the back-apart ments of a house, or under the deck of a vessel. He explained the nature of the fluid which the machine was charged with, which consists of lime, potash, and a certain quantity of water, which might be made in two minutes; and on board a ship a cask of it might always be in readiness, besides the machine being charged with it. To shew the extraordinary effects of the anti-phlogistic fluid, he immersed in it a quantity of hemp, canvas, and deal wood, the most combustible materials used in a dock-yard; he also immersed the same materials in common water, and applied a certain heat to each: those which had been dipped in the anti-phlogistic fluid would not burn, and those dipped in common water blazed immediately. The Captain then exhibited the ́means he had of rescuing persons from danger, where they were so situated, being surrounded by fire, that the only means of escaping from the element was through the windows, or from the tops of houses. He shewed several plans, embracing every situation in which a person might be placed at such a time. All the apparatus, with 15 of the portable machines or cylinders, might be, by his plan, fixed upon a light cart, and two men, or one horse, could draw them with ease. One of the inventions was much admired by the Committee, which the Captain tried by shooting a cord from a pistol: one end of which would go over a house, and the person in distress would draw the rope to the window; at the other end was fastened a machine similar to a glazier's horse, such as they clean the outside of windows with, which are at a distance from the ground. Persons may draw it up and fasten themselves to the rope by a sliding noose round the waist, and the rope being fastened to a pulley, the persons below may assist those in distress gradually down, without danger. The noose in the rope is so formed, that a child may be let out of the upper window in the house, and arrive at the ground without dauger. The Captain produced a plan of communication from a house on fire to the next house, by a kind of railing with hooks to clip each window frame; and also an elastic sheet, which being held by two men, the person in distress might leap into it without any danger of receiving hurt by it. The fifteen loaded machines would be sufficient to extinguish any fire from its immediate application, and the contents of them would be equal to three tons of water; and he hoped that the day was not far distant when every parish in the metropolis would be furnish

1

ed with one of the carriages complete. He knew it would be the interest of the different Insurance Offices to do all in their power to promote the general adoption of a plan which is of such infinite importance that of saving the lives and property of our fellow-creatures. Captain Manby suggested that, as a plan of a Fire Police of the Metropolis is expected to be brought before Parliament in the next session, the carriage complete would be of the greatest benefit to an established Police. Captain Manby also suggested that the fire apparatus should be deposited with watchmen ; and observed, that it was particularly calculated for fires on board ships, either in action or from accidental causes.-The Committee were so perfectly satisfied with the apparatus, that, upon their report to their respective Boards, Government have directed the experiment to be tried upon a larger scale, and will defray all the expenses attending it.

The following is a description of the immense Mortar, which was fixed on the 12th of August in St. James's-park, and of the ciscumstances relating to its transmission to England. During the war in the Peninsula, the city of Cadiz was bombarded from a distance previously supposed to be beyond the range of projectiles a circumstance which attached so much consequence to the ordnance employed and left by Marshal Soult on his retreat, as to induce the Spanish Regency to send one of the mortars to the Prince Regent, entrusting it to Rear-admiral Legge, who was instructed by the President, the Duke del Infantado, to request it might be placed in one of the Royal Parks. His Royal Highness was pleased to accede to this request, and directed the mortar to be suitably placed on the parade of the Horse-guards, to record the glorious victory gained at Salamanca, the consequent liberation of the South of Spain, and in honour of the Duke of Wellington, to whom both countries were indebted for it. His Royal Highness commanded the Earl of Mulgrave to direct a carriage to be prepared for the purpose, in the royal carriage department at Wool wich.-Description of the carriage: An emblem has been selected (in allegorical allusion to the means by which the siege of Cadiz was terminated) from the labours of Hercules, who destroyed the monster Geryon, the tyrant of the Isle of Gades, thus figuratively describing the raising of the siege, and to illustrate the fame of the hero who had broken the enchantment of the modern Geryon. Some liberties have been taken with the principal figure in substituting wings for the heads; the tails twist round to the vent in order to convey the scorpion fire. The heads of the tyrant's guardian dog are represented in the alter

nate