HISTORICAL

AFFAIRS.

Russia. [213.]

Edinburgh, May 12. By the fhip Earl of Halifax, juft arrived from Archangel, at Hull, we learn, that, on Palm Sunday laft, an ifland in the White fea, called Niurdolfkoi, chiefly inhabited by Oftiack Tartars, about fifty leagues from the mouth of the river Amuz, fuddenly fplit into several parts, which, retiring gradually from each other, formed as many diftinct islands, which feem as firmly fixed as any continent whatsoever. The Imperial Academy at Petersburg have fent four of their members to obferve what further effects may be produced from this extraordinary phenomenon, and, if poffible, to discover whether it was owing to a fubterranean earthquake, which might have power to difunite, but not destroy, the constituent parts of a tract of country."

The royal affent was given to the following bills [161.]:

To thefe, by commiffion, March 27. Twenty-five public and twenty-two private bills. The former relate to roads, or other matters of police. One of them is for limiting the exemptions from toll (granted by any act or acts of parliament for repairing turnpike-roads) on account of cattle going to and from water or pafture; and one is to enable his Majefty to license a theatre in the city of Chefter. Only one is peculiar to Scotland, viz.

An act for continuing two acts, 6o Geo. I. and 20° Gio. II. for laying a duty of two pennies Scots, or one fixth part of a penny Sterling, upon every Scots pint of beer or ale, vended or fold within the town of Burntifland, and liberties thereof, for increafing the public revenue of the said town, Ge

To thefe, by commiffion, April 30. An alt for expediting the fale of the eftates in Scotland belonging to the York-buildings company, for the relief of their che

ditors.

Thirteen other public, and thirty-five private bills. The former relate to roads, and other matters of police, all in England.

To thefe, by the King, May 7.

An act for the better fupport of his Majefty's household, and of the honour and dig nity of the crown of Great Britain, VOL. XXXIX.

Two road-bills; one of them a road in England; the other for repairing and widening feveral roads in the county of Dumfries; and for converting the statute labour within the faid county into money, and for applying the fame towards repairs ing the highways within the fame sounty. And feventeen private bills.

To thefe, by commiffion, May 16. An act to revive and continue fuch part of an act made last fefsim, “for allowing the exportation of certain quantities of wheat and other articles to his Majesty's furar-coLonies in America, and to the island of St Helena, and to the other fettlements belonging to the Eaft-India company; and of bifcuit and peafe to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Bay Chaleur, and Labrador," &c., [xxxviii. 333.], as expired on the 1st of January 1777.

An act for regiflering the grants of lifeannuities; and for the better protection of infants against fuch grants.

An act for allowing a drawback of the duties of customs, on the exportation of tea to Ireland.

An act for the more effectual prevention of the manufacturing of af, elder, floe, and other leaves, in imitation of tea; and to prevent frauds in the revenue of excife, in refpect to tea.

An act for further retraining the nego tiation of promilfory notes and inland bills of exchange under a limited fum, within that part of Great Britain called England.

Seven other public bills; one for compounding a debt due to the crown by William Brown on tobacco-bonds, three relating to roads, and three relating to other matters of police, all in England; and to thirty-five private bills.

A most important queftion was balloted for at the Eaft-India house, on Friday, April 11. confifting of nine propo fitions, viz.

"1. That the Rt Hon. George Lord Pigot be restored to the full exercife of the powers vefted in him by commiffion from the Company.

2. That Claud Ruffell, Alexander Dalrymple, John Maxwell Stone, and Richard Lathom, Eigs, be reinstated in their offices as members of the council.

3. That George Stratton, Henry Brooke, Efqs, Sir Robert Fletcher, Kt, Charles Floyer, Archdale Palmer, Francis fourdain, and George Macky, Efqs, have violently fubverted the go vernment by a military force.

4. That for the above conduct, George LI Stratton,

5. That the following gentlemen be of the council of Madrass: Rt Hon George Lord Pigot, Prefident and Governor; Thomas Rumbold fecond; and to fucceed, Col. Hector third; and fixed J. Whitehill, Claud Ruffell, Ch. Smith, Alex. Dalrymple, Samuel Johnfon, John Maxwell Stone, Ed. Cotsford, Richard Lathom, Peter Perring, and Alexander Davidson, Efqs.

6. That Claud Ruffell, Alex. Dalrymple, John Maxweil Stone, and Richard Lathom, Efqs, who have from their fi tuation been involved in the late difputes, fhall be felected for the fubordinate ftations.

7. That Lord Pigot's proceedings, as Prefident of the Council, at Madrafs, appear to have been in several inftances reprehenfible.

8. That this Court will give pofitive orders refpecting the powers to be exercifed by a majority of council.

9. That this Court will confider of proper and effectual measures for fupporting the juft rights and claims of the Nabob, and the authority of his government:

Mr Gregory moved the whole toge ther in one proposition; Mr Rous fe conded it; and the votes being equal, the Treafurer was called in, and drew the lot; and drawing for the question, it was refolved in the affirmative for all the propofitions.

At a court of proprietors of the Eaft India company, April 23. Mr Wombwell informed them, that the court of directors had, in confequence of their recommendation, come to feveral refolutions, in fubftance as follows. "That in or der a fit and proper person should have the command of the company's forces on the coaft of Coromandel, in the prefent distracted state of the company's affairs there, that Col. Hector Munro be appointed to that command: That the Rt. Hon. George Lord Pigot be restored to his late government of Fort St George, in the prefidency of Madras: That a committee of five perfons be fent out to India forthwith, to infpect into the late unhappy differences, and regulate them accordingly; that their commiffion be in force but twelve months from the time

Sir Herbert: Mackworth lamented the unhappy differences at present fubfifting in Madrafs, confeffed the caution and a bilities neceffary for treading on Afiatic ground, and the good temper and information neceffary to decide ultimately on either fide of the queftion. After ftrengthening this pofition by several obferva tions, and reprobating the treatment of Lord Pigot, by arfelting and confining him, he concluded his fpeech by moving, 1. That his Lordship be immediately ordered home, to have the whole of his conduct-inquired into by the company; z. That thofe of the council who fupported his Lordship be likewife ordered home; and, 3. That the prefent Governor, George Stratton, Efq; and that part of the council which fupported his meafures, be likwife called home.— Gov. Johnstone warmly opposed this mo tion, and moved for the previous queflion.- Mr Dempiter remarked, that the matter in issue, called for the greatest coolness and attention; and moved to adjourn.-The court adjourned till that day fortnight; by which time all the pa pers received from Madrafs were ordered to be printed, and deftributed to the proprietors.

At a court, May 7. the advices received fince the preceding meeting, from Bengal and Bombay, were read;-the moft material of which were, the death of General Monson; and a letter from General Clavering in consequence of that event, defiring to refign, which laft had been over-ruled by Mess. Hastings and Barwell; "for though Mr Francis and he made an equality at the council-board, yet the cafting vote by act of parliament being vested in Mr Haftings,. as Governor General, and Meff. Haftings and Barwell's principles being fo incompatible with his, the General fays in this letter,

he could not answer for the safety of the fettlement."- From Bombay, the moft interesting advice was, the abfolute refufal of the governor and council of that fettlement, to acknowledge Meff. Stratton, Brooke, &c. to be the governor and council of Madrafs, and their addreffing all their dispatches fent to that go vernment, to Lord 'Pigot and council, whom only they would recognise.

After the reading of these papers, the adjourned debate was refumed on Sir Herbert Mackworth's motion, viz. That Lord Pigot, together with the council of Madrass, should be called home, in order" to have their respective conduct more effectually enquired into." - The Baronet opened the debate in fupport of his motion, which he contended was the only remedy for the diforders at Madrafs, and was founded in wisdom, justice, and policy.-The Baronet was followed by Mr Rous, who entered into the whole of the convulfions at Madrafs, and contend ed, that they had their origin from the intrigues of the Nabob of Arcot, affifted by the ufurpation, and Mr B-d, who has claims on the Nabob, to the amount of above half a million Sterling for himfelf and friends, for the payment of which the Nabob had granted affignments on Tanjore, even after the receipt of the company's orders for the restoration of it to the Rajah. - Mr Boyd, Mr Redbead, and Mr Macleane, alledged, that Mr Rous had, without any foundation, made the Nabob a party in the question. -Gov. Johnstone showed, that the affignment by the Nabob, on Tanjore, to Mr Benfield, had been made after the receipt of the company's orders to restore that kingdom to the Rajah, and there fore were nullities.—Mr Dalrymple clear ed up, to the fatisfaction of the court, the allegations against Ld Pigot.-Adm. Pigot fhowed, that his Lordship's life had been in danger; and derived its fafety, not from the conduct of the ufurpatiod, but his Lordship's own fpirit, in refufing to be moved at the dark hour of midnight from the Mount to God knows where.- Maj. Wood being called upon to give an account of what had paffed at Madrass, both in the arreft of Sir R. Flet cher, and the violent feizing of Lord Pigot, faid, that his Lordship had acted with as much tenderness in the one as his opponents had with violence in the other.- Mr Dempfter exposed the incoherence and contradiction of the motion,

and went into the conduct of all the parties, fairly stating what appeared to him to be any way reprehenfible in Lord Pigot's conduct, at the fame time declaring, that he had done nothing to merit the punishment Sir Herbert would inflict on him by a recal; and that as the general court had come to a refolution to reftore his Lordship, and the reference to the directors was only as to the mode, Sir Herbert's motion must throw the company into anarchy and confution.-It being now past nine o'clock, the court divided on the previous question; which paffed in the negative 151 against 116.

On report of a ballot, May 9. the numbers were, For the recall of Lord Pigot and the council 414, Against the recall 317. The court adjourned fine die. This affair has fince been agitated in parliament, and the refolution of the proprietors confirmed.

An extract of a letter from Lord Pigot to the court of directors, dated, St Thomas's Mount, Sept. 26.1776, appeared in the London papers of April 30. viz.

"Maj. Horne, on the 17th inftant, was ordered to communicate to me a copy of a letter from Mr Benfield, to Meff. Stratton, &c. dated the 8th, with their anfwer, dated the 17th. Mr Benfield fays, "He has arrived at the knowledge of certain transactions of mine, such as obtaining very large fums of money, &c. from Indian princes, which conftitute me guilty of an infringement of a late act of parliament; and declares his refolution to commence a profecution against me, for which he shall have occafion to apply to the Board, to obtain certain evidences refiding within the bounds of Tanjore, or in places belonging to the Nabob of the Carnatic."

I shall leave to the issue of the profecution the proof of the malevolence of this charge. I muft, however, take notice, that although this gentleman has been induftrious for many months paft in propagating his intentions, he has referved to the eve of the dispatch the bringing forth his accufations, that they may go home unrefuted; but I truft you have that confidence in me, as to be perfuaded that my conduct has been strictly honourable, and that you will believe me when 1 affure you I have received no fum of money, and the only prefents of any confiderable value are,

From the Nabobs foon after my arrival, a fet of breakfaft gold plate; a coach Lla and

and a pair of mares; a faddle-horse; three chaife-horfes; two cows and a bull.

And from a northern Rajah's Vackeel, an elephant, for which I gave a horfe in

return."

Lord William Campbell, Governor of South Carolina, arrived at London on the 25th of March; and next day had a conference with the King.

Gen. Burgoyne, attended by his aidde-camp and other officers, fet out from London, on the 27th of March, to embark at Plymouth for Quebec, on board the Apollo frigate.

On the 18th of April Gen. Clinton fet out from London for Portsmouth, to einbark for America. The fame day Lord Thomas Pelham Clinton, fon of the Duke of Newcastle, and member for Weftminster, who is going aid-de-camp to Gen. Clinton, took leave of the King. By two advertisements, dated, Navy office, March 21. notice was given, that perfons of good chara&er willing to ferve in the capacity of mafters in his Majefty's fhips, and perfons willing to ferve as furgeons mates, fhould, after being duly examined, be immediately employed.

By an advertisement, dated, Admiraltyfice, March 31. notice was given, that in purfuance of the act lately paffed[161.], commiflions fhould be forthwith granted. to private fhips employed in trade, or retained in his Majefty's fervice, for feizing fhips and goods belonging to the inhabitants of the colonies now in rebellion, as alfo fhips belonging to G. Britain or Ireland which shall be found trading to or from the faid colonies, upon proof being made of their being fitly qualified, and upon such bail being given as the faid act requires. Application was accordingly made, April 8. for letters of marque and reprisal; and they were granted.. And by an order of council of April 16. permiffion is given, notwithstanding the prohibition to export or carry coaftwife, gunpowder, &c.[105.], to letters-of-marque thips to carry a fufficient quantity of gunpowder, ball, and ammunition, not exceeding fifty rounds for each carriage and swivel gun that each fhip may have on board.

By an order of council, dated April 30. the bounties to volunteer feamen, and the rewards for difcovering feamen who fecrete themfelves [105.], are continued to the 30th of June.

Admiralty-office, March 12. By ters received this day from Vice-Adm. Young, commander in chief of his Majefty's fhips and veffels at the Leeward islands, dated Dec. 9. it appears, that befides the Putnam American privateer, carrying 12 guns and 80 men, the fhips of his fquadron had taken and fent into port twelve veffels belonging to his Ma-, jefty's rebellious colonies fince the 30th of September last. [49.]

It also appears by letters received at the fame time from Vice-Adm. Gayton, commander in chief of his Majefty's e fhips at Jamaica, dated Jan. 8. that the fhips of his fquadron had fent in fifteen fail of prizes fince his laft account" [49.].

April 11. Capt. Murray, of his Majefty's fhip the Levant, being on a cruife off the ifle of Madeira, on the 8th of last month, fell in with an American cruifer, which he took, and carried to Gibraltar. She is called the General Montgomery, having eighteen guns of fix and four pounders, four cehorns, and three fwivels, Benjamin Hill commander. The aforementioned cruifer failed from Philadelphia the 6th of February, having 100 men on board, but which were reduced by fickness and accidents to 87 men at the time Capt. Murray fell in with her, which was the day after he had arrived off Madeira. She ftruck without firing a gun."

The cargo of the Aurora, chiefly tobacco, was condemned by the judge of the high court of admiralty, in Doctors Commons, March 12. as a droit of the Admiralty. She was bound from Ame rica for Nantz, but brought into Liverpool by the English failors on board, who confined the captain, overcame the Americans, and brought the thip in as above.-The cargo, divided into eighty lots, was fold, at Liverpool, May 5. for 30,000l. and upwards.

On the 19th of February, at the feffions at the Old Bailey, the following note was put into the hands of the Lord Mayor: "Ebenezer Smith Platt, a prifoner now in irons in the gaol of Newgate, humbly fupplicates your Lordfhips, that he may be brought to his trial during the prefent feffions."-This Platt was one of eight or ten men who failed in a schooner from Georgia, by order of the provincial congrefs, to flop Capt. Maitland's fhip, bound for St Auguftine, in Florida, and to take out of her fome powder and arms; which they did, to

the