1799.] State of Public Affairs. cells, for the greater part of every 24 hours, at an inclement feafon, without fire, candle, or even the light of heaven, except at the expence of expofing themselves to the wind and cold; and that to those to whom reading or writing would have been a temporary alleviation of their fufferings, the ufe of pens, ink, and puer, were denied. They strongly contended, that rig ur like this, to men who had not been found guilty of any crime against the laws of their country, and who were deprived of a trial to determine their guilt or innocence, could not be justified either by the fpirit of the British constitution, or the pretent state of the country. The treatment or Colonel Defpard was cited in proof of the above ftatement. The ministerial fide of the house exhibited the inquiries, which had been exprefsly ordered to be made into the state of that prifon, and the treatment of the prifoners, and urged that the various refults juftified them in affirming, that the prifoners were treated with all the humanity and indulgence of which the fafety and nature of a prifon would admit: they contended, that falfe and exaggerated accounts had been promulgated by evil-minded perfons refpecting the regulation of that place. After a fruitleis but able oppofition, the fufpenfion bill was read a third time in the coinmons on the 28th of December, and foon afterwards was paffed into a law. Mr. Dundas, on the fame day, moved the order of the day for the third reading of the bill to exempt volunteers from serving in the fupplementary militia: he then moved a clause, obliging the particular attendance of volunteers, to entitle them to the exemption, unless they were prevented from attending their exercife and duty by ficknels, or any other cause which thould be deemed fatistastory by the cominanding officer. The claufe was agreed to; and the bill was then paffed, and ordered to the lords. The income tax-bill, which was noticed in our laft, underwent several alterations in its fubfequent ftates through the commons, particularly fome mitigations in favour of those who have children. When the order of the day for the third reading of the bill in the house of lords was read, on the 8th of January, Lord Suffolk arofe, and at fome length condemned the meafure, chiefly as bearing partially hard upon the landed interest: it would alto, he faid, be productive of baneful effects in various points of view. Lord LiverMONTHLY MAG. NO. XLI. مجمع 73 pool argued shortly but ingenioufly in fupport of the bill, as a measure founded in found policy, as well as economical in point of finance. Lord Holland spoke at great length and with great ability against the bill, as well in a political as a financial point of view: he recapitulated a variety of objections to the meafure, and contended that feveral other modes of raising the money would be preferable, even admitting the policy of raising fo great a part of the fupplies within the year. To Lord Holland's speech Lord Auckland replied at fome length. The Duke of Bedford excited the attention of the house for upwards of an hour by a most matterly speech, which for political knowledge would have done credit to the first stateriman in Europe. The bill was, however, finally paffed. The fpeaker of the house of commons, on the 7th of January, informed the house that he had received a notification from the Bank, purporting "that the court of directors had determined that the bank, on and after the 12th inftant, would pay in cash, during the usual hours of bufi. nefs, all fractional funs under five pounds; and that on and after the first day of February the bank would pay cash for all notes for one and two pounds value, that are dated prior to the first day of July 1798, or exchange them for new ones of the fame value at the option of the holders. On the 22d of January, a message from the king was prefented to the house of lords by Lord Grenville, and to the house of commons by Mr. Dundas, purporting, " that his majesty, having perceived the unceafing perfeverance of the enemy to feparate Ireland from England, was con vinced that parliament would confider of the most effectual means of counteracting their designs. In taking a review of all the circuinstances that had occurred in Ireland, he felt that the parliaments of both countries would proceed to perpetuate the connection between the two countries, for the common security, and for augmenting the strength and resources of the British empire." The unini terial fide of the house propoted a motion of thanks to his majetty, to be brought for ward the next day, and that the meffage should be taken into confideration on the Thursday se'nnight, which was agreed to. The island of Minorca has been taken possession of by his majesty's forces under the command of general Stuart and com. modore Duckworth, without any lofs. K A to A descent was made upon that island on the 7th of November. Previous to the landing of the troops, a small battery at the entrance of the bay of Addaya was evacuated, the magazine blown up, and the guns spiked. Two thousand of the enemy's troops approached in several different directions, and threatened furround the inconfiderable force which had landed, but were repulfed with some lofs. The English then learned by deferters, that the remaining Spanish forces on the island, amounted to more than four thousand men, but notwithstanding this superiority of forcé, they advanced with great intrepidity to the walls of Cindfdella, and fummoned the town to furrender. In consequence of which, terms of capitulation were figned by the English commanders, and the Spanish governor of Minorca on the 13th of November. It was stipulated that the garrifon were not to be confidered as prifoners of war, but were to march out free, and to be conveyed to the nearest port of his most catholic majesty, at the expence of the English; and alfo that the inhabitants of the island should be allowed to continue in the free exercise of their religion, and the enjoyment of their property. His majesty's frigate the Apollo, has lately been lost on the coast of Hoiland in thick weather. She struck about seven in the morning and remained in that state till about nine at night, when captain Hachet stopt a Prussian Hoy which providentially came up at that time, and with the rest of the crew went on board her; a cargo of wine which was on board the hoy, was in part thrown overboard to admit the men, and she arrived safe at Yarmouth. His majesty's frigate the Ambuscade, carrying 32 guns, captain Jenkins, has been captured by the French ship La Bayonnoise, mounting 32 guns of different calibres. She was taken after a long and fevere action, in which nine men were killed and 31 wounded. Among the former were the first lieutenant and master; and captain Jenkins was dangeroufly wounded, as was also the lieutenant of marines. The Ambuscade was carried into Rochfort. She was built in 1773. Marriages and Deaths Married.] Mr. Rell, bookfeller, of Oxford-ftreet, to Miss Bennett. AtNewington, Thomas Thompson, efq. of Blackheath, to Miss Lee, of Dover-place. James Seton, jun. efq. of Upper Harleystreet, to Miss Mackay, late of the island of St. Vincent's.. Mr. W. Elkins, bookfeller, of Oxfordftreet, to Miis Sarah Kirkby, of HowlandAreet. Mr. Brookes, attorney, of Leicester-square, to Miss Kemp, of Piccadilly. Joseph Blandford, efq. of the Inner Temple, Sir Francis Burdett, in a late visit to the prifon in Cold Bath Fields, made many inquiries of the prisoners, in the presence of the keeper, refpecting their diet, lodging, and treatment in general. A depofition of the keeper, upon oath, stating the conduct of Sir Francis upon that occafion, was fent to the Duke of Portland, who foon afterwards fignified his majesty's pleasure to the keepers of that prifon, and of Newgate, &c. not to allow any further admittance to the faid Sir Francis Burdett into his majesty's prisons. These proceedings being relative to a member of the house of commons, were immediately laid before parliament. Lord Camelford, a near relation of the chancellor of the exchequer, was brought from Dover and examined before the privy council on the 13th of January. His lordship had hired a veffel, and actually embarked for France, in breach of a late act of parliament, but was immediately taken into custody by fome perfons, who had a previous knowledge of his defign. After feveral examinations, nothing hoftile to the interests of his country appear ing in his lordship's conduct upon this occafion, he was liberated in a few days. The whig club met on the 8th of January; after the preliminary business, Mr. Waddington moved, that the members of the club, who were of the British fenate, should be requested to attend vigilantly to their parliamentary duty. This motion was seconded by Mr. Nicholson, but negatived by a great majority. The principal speakers were Mr. Erskine, Mr, Waddington, Mr. Clifford, and Mr. O'Bryem. *799.] Marriages and Deaths in and near London. At St. James's, Piccadilly, Major Hutton, of the royal artillery, to Miss A. Hodfon, of Sackville-ftreet. At Hackney, Mr. Lucas, of Threadneedlestreet, furgeon, to Miss Brown, of the Grove. At St. James's, Russell Manners, esq. fon of General Manners, to Miss Catherine Pollock, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Pollock, rector of Guttleton, Wilts. J. P. Rowe, efq. of Brentford, to Miss Hinton, of Ryegate. Died.] At his house in St. James's-square, the most noble Arthur Chichetter, Marquis of Donegal. He was defcended from Sir Arthur Chichester, lord deputy of Ireland in 1613, who was created baron of Belfast and viscount Chichester, and on whose son the title of earl of Donegal was bestowed in 1647. The late earl was born in 1739, and fucceeded his uncle in 1758, at the fame time acquiring a good estate in England, and without exception, the largest income of any individual in Ireland. He was educated at the university of Oxford, which learned body at the encænia in 1763 conferred on him the degree of LL. D. At the general election in 1768 he was returned M. P. for Malmesbury, but never made any confpicuous figure either in that house or the houfe of peers, nor ever interfered much with politics. Being fettled on his paternal eftate at Fisherwick-park, in Staffordshire, he lived there many years in a fplendid manner, keeping a pack of hounds, and being at the head of a hunting party, called for many years the Donegal hunt. This, as his Lordship was known to be no very good sportsman, was supposed to be with a defign to keep up a county interest to serve parliamentary purposes; but in this he was evidently disappointed. However having by his interest in Ireland supported the prefent ministry, when titles were bestowing with a liberal hand, Lord Donegal could not be overlooked, and he was in 1791 created marquis of Donegal and earl of Belfast, having the year before been gratified with a British peerage by the title of baron Fisherwick. Whether those honours will compensate for the injury done to his fortune in Ireland we must leave to his lo ship's heir to determine. It is certain that from a defalcation in his Irish revenue, and from some extravagance of his children, his lordship had been obliged greatly to retrench in his splendid style of living. The marquis has been three times married, first to Lady Ann, eldest daughter of the Duke of Hamil ton, by whom he had the Earl of Belfast, his heir, and other fons; the died in 1780; and his Lordship married, secondly, Mrs. Mafon, whom he loft in 1789; and next year married Miss Barbara Godfrey, his prefent lady; on whom, it is faid, he has fettled the whole of the fortune which was not entailed. At Hampstead, in his 88th year, Thomas Rumsey, efq. nearly 70 years a clerk in the Excife-office. At Chelsea, Thomas Paulin, efq. 75 In Newman-street, the Rev. Mr. Ryan, chaplain to the Neapolitan ambassador. William Wales, esq. F. R. S. master of the mathematical school, Christ's-hospital, and secretary to the board of longitude. This profound mathematician failed round the world with Capt. Cook, and his essential fervices are recorded in the journals of that celebrated navigator. He was one of the best mathematicians of the age, peculiarly qualified for the instruction of youth by his abilities and his temper, which he commanded with fingular judgment. Miss Georgina Dashwood, second daughter of J. Dashwood, efq. of Gloucester-place. Near Vauxhall, Mrs. Barrand, wife of Mr. P. P. Barrand. In Sloane-street, Chelsea, Mrs. Percival, wife of R. Percival, efq. of Ireland. In Holles-street, Cavendish-fquare, Mifa Hitchman, daughter of the late J. Hitchman, esq. of Jamaica. In Scotland-yard, Whitehall, Mrs. Marianne Matthias, widow of the late V. Marthias, efq. At Stratford-grove, H. Fourdrinier, efq. of Lombard-street. At Little Ealing, aged 87, J. Wright, esq. In Berkeley-street, Portman-square, Mrs. Eliz. Bosanquet, relict of J. Bosanquet, efq. At Kentish-town, in the prime of life, G. A. Akers, esq. third fon of the late A. Akers, efq. of St. Christopher's. In Parliament-street, Dame Rebecca Honora Lewes, wife of Sir Watkin Lewes, knt. alderman of London. In Drury-lane, Mr. Follett, an excellent pantomimical actor. In Upper Brook-street, Lady Char. Bertie, eldest daughter of the Earl of Abingdon. At his apartments in Greenwich-hospital, Mr. Daniel Ball, nearly 40 years steward's first clerk of the faid hofpital. In Hoxton square, aged 77, Mrs. Savage, widow of the late Dr. Savage: having been fubject to fits the unfortunately fell into the fire in the abfence of her fervant, which oc cafioned her death. Mrs. Ryan, of Grosvenor-place. In Upper Brook-street, Mrs. Bromley Chefter, of Knole, in Gloucestershire, widow of the late W. B. Chester, member for the same county. At Clapham, aged 21, Miss Copland. In Great Ruffell-street, Lieut. G. Young, of the Royal Navy. In Henrietta-street, Covent-garden, aged 73, Mrs. Briggs. At Cobham, Mrs. Freeland. At Milward-house, Surry, P. S. Webb, efq. In Southampton-street, William Clarke, esq. of North Shields. In York-buildings, Portman-square, Mrs Young, wife of Robert Young, efq. furgeon. In Abingdon-street, Westminster, Francis Maclay, efq. many years macebearer to the lord chancellors of Great Britain. He was man of great humour and extraordinary vivacity till within five years of his death, when he was feized with a depression of spirits, from which be never recovered, but lived recluse in his apartments till the day of his death. In Buckingham-street, W. F. Johnston, efq. of the fecretary of state's office. At his villa in Hampstead, aged 65, John Stuart, esq. a man of literature and science. John Belfon, esq. one of the senior clerks of the admiralty-office. Of the late THOMAS PENNANT, Efq. F. R. S. and F. R. S. U. &c. &c. we have been favoured with the following particulars.It is not a little to the honour of the prefent age, that so many gentlemen of liberal fortune, and respectable families, declining the flippery paths of political ambition, have dedicated much of their time, and not a little of their wealth, to sustain the cause of fcience, and of literature. This obfervation wwill undoubtedly from the affociation of ideas, recall the names of BANKS, of WALPOLE, and of PENNANT to the familiar recollection of many readers, who with a figh may perhaps observe, that two of them are no more! The last of these, a great traveller and a great naturalift, cannot be accused as a niggard in his communications, for a long and active life has been wholly occupied with his inclinations, his studies, and his literary labours, all of which have either been alroudy laid before, or prepared for the public. Mr. Pennant was an Ancient Briton by birth, having been born in Flintshire, in 1726. His family has been settled in that county for many centuries; we learn from himfelf that he received the rudiments of his education at Wrexham, whence he was removed to Fulham. Soon after this he was fent to Oxford, and having made a confiderable proficiency in the claffics, he applied himself within the walls of that university to attain a knowledge of jurisprudence; but we do not find that he ever entered himfelf of any of the inns of court, or followed the law as a profession. The ruling paffions of mankind are excited, and the future current of their lives frequently directed by trivial circumstances. One of the greatest painters of our age was attracted with an irrefiftible impulfe towards his art, by the perusal of a treatise on it; and we have the authority of the subject of this memoir for asserting, that a prefent of "Willoughby's Ornithology" at an early period first gave him a turn for natural hiftory, which has never once abandoned him through the course of a very long life. Mr. Pennant commenced his travels with great propriety at home, where he made himself acquainted with the manners, productiors, and curiofities of his native counwy, before he fallied forth to inspect those of other nations. He then repaired to the continent, and not only acquired confiderable additional knowledge relative to his favourite studies, but became acquainted, and established a correfpondence with fome of the greatest men of the age. On his return he married, and had twe children, but did not come into the family fortune until he was thirty-seven years of age, at which time he was fettled at Downing. Having loft his wife, he appears to have set out once more for the continent, and to have formed an acquaintance with Voltaire, Buffon, Haller, Pallas, &c. He had by this time acquired confiderable reputation as a scientific man, having commenced his career as an author fo early as 1750. His "British Zoology*" established his reputation as a Naturalift, and this received a fresh acceffion of celebrity in confequence of his acquaintance with Linnæus, and his intercourse by letters with all the celebrated Naturalists in Europe. Early in life he had undertaken a moft interesting tour to Cornwall, and he now entertained an ardent defire to furvey the works of nature in the northern extremities of the island. He accordingly fet out for Scotland, and in 1771 favoured the public with an entertaining account of his "Tour, " which was so well received as to pass through several editions. Not content with the main land of Great Britain, he was ambitious to furvey the islands in the vicinity, and accordingly penetrated to the Hebrides, and vifited Man. It is not to be supposed that he would leave his own country unexplored; on the con trary, he minutely described all its wonders. He did not fail on this occafion to present the world with the refult of his enquiries, for in 1778 he commenced the publication of his "Welch Tour.§." In four years after this (1782) appeared the account of " f the Journey from Chester to London," in which he refutes the vulgar opinion that it is uninteresting; and in two years more his "Arctic Zoology," an ad mirable work, greatly prized both here and in other countries. In 1790 appeared a quarto volume, simply entitled "Of London," in which he obferves that this work is compofed from obfervations, originally made without any view of publication. "Let me request," says he in the preface, "the good inhabitants of London and Westminster not to be offended at my having stuffed their Iliad into a nutshell: the account of the city of London and liberties of Westminster into a quarto volume. I have condensed into it all I could; omitted nothing that suggested itself, nor amplified any thing to make it a guinea book. In a word, it is done in my own manner, from which I am grown. too old to depart. "I feel within myself a certain monitor * 4 vols. 4to. last edit. + 3 vols. 4to. § 2 vols. 4to. ‡ 1 vol. 4to. that #799-] Account of Thomas Pennant, Esq. that warns me," adds he, "to hang up my pen in time, before its powers are weakened, and rendered vifibly impaired. I wait not for the admonition of friends. I have the Archbishop of Grenada in my eye; and fear the imbecillity of human nature might produce in long worn-age the fame treatment of my kind advifers as poor Gil Blas had from his most reverend patron. My literary bequests to future times, and more ferious concerns must occupy the remnant of my days. This clofes my public labours." Notwi hstanding his parting address, the example of the Archbishop of Grenada, and the concluding fentence of " Valete & Plau dite," we find Mr. Pennant adventuring once more in the ocean of literature, at a late period of his life, and trying his fortune again with all the eagerness of a young author. He accordingly published the Natural Hifof the parishes c Holywell and Downing*, within the precincts of the latter of which he had refided about half a century. tory of In the course of the last year he alfo prefented the public with a splendid work, confitting of 2 vols. 4to. entitled "the View of Hindoostan," in the preface to which he candidly states his motives for this new attempt. "I had many folicitations from private friends," says he, " and a few wishes froin perfons unknown delivered in the public prints, to commit to the prefs, a part, in the forming which the posthumous volumes might acreafter make their appearance. I might have pleaded the imprudence of the attempt at my time of life, of beginning so arduous van undertaking in my 71st year. "I happily, till very lately, had scarcely any admonition of the advanced feafon. I plunged into the fea of trouble, and with my papers in one hand, made my way through the waves with the other, and brought them fecure to land. This, alas! is finite boasting. I must submit to the judgment of the public, and learn from thence how far I am to be cenfured for fo grievous an offence against the maxim of Aristotle, who fixes the decline of human abilities to the 49th year. " I ought to shudder when I confider the wear and tear of 22 years; and feel shocked at the remark of the elegant Delanty, who observes, "that it is generally agreed among wife men, that few attempts at least in a learned way have ever been wifely undertaken and happily executed after that period!" "I cannot defend the wisdom: yet from the good fortune of my life I will attempt the execution." These valuable volumes are drawn up by M Pennant, in the manner of his introduct on to the " Arctic Zoology." The plates, 23 in number, are admirably engraved, and one (the Napaul pheasant) is beautifully 77 In addition to the list of literary laboure already enumerated, is a letter on an earthquake felt at Downing, in Flintshire, in 1753; another inferted in the fame publication*, in 1756, on coralloid bolies (κοραλλοενδης) collected by him: his Synopfis of Quadrapedes published in 1771; a pamphlet on the Militia; a paper on the Turkey; and a volume of Mifcellanies. Mr. Pennant attained academical honours of all kinds, having had the degree of LL. D. confered on him by the University in which he was educated, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal So ciety of Upfal in Sweden, a member of the American Philofophical Society, an honorary member of the Anglo-Linnæan Society, &c. The ample fortune left him by his father enabled Mr. Pennant to keep an hofpitable table, and also to present the profits ral of his works to public inftitutions, particularly the Weish charity-school in Gray's. inn-lane. He encouraged several engravers by his patronage, and was not a little ferviceable to the advancement of the fine arts. of feve In 1776 he married a second time, on which occafion he became united to Mifs Mostyn, fifter of his neighbour the late Sir Roger Mostyn, in Flintshire. The latter part of his life was chearful, and he scarcely felt the approaches of old age. He died at his feat at Downing in his 72d year, He has left feveral works behind him, in MS. under the title of "Outlines of the Globe," and as a proof that it will be a very voluminous and interesting publication, it is only neceffary to obferve, that "The View of Hindoostan," composed the xivth and xvth volumes. Mr. Pennant possessed a well-compacted frame of body, an open and intelligent aspect, an active and chearful disposition, and a vivecity which rendered him always entertaining, as well in conversation as in writing. Though not without a share of irrafcibility, his heart was kind and benevolent. He was exemplary in the relations of domestic life; and sensibly felt for the distresses of his poor neighbours, whose relief in seasons of hardship he promoted with great zeal and liberality. His candour and freedom from ordinary prejudices, are sufficiently displayed in his writings, and Scotland was forward to confefs, that he was. the first traveller from this fide the Tweed, who had visited the country with no unfriendly spirit, and had fairly presented it under its favourable as well as its less pleasing aspects. As a writer, his style is lively and expressive, but not perfectly correct. His principles of arrangement in zoology are judicious, and his descriptions characteriftic. If in some of his later works a little variety appears, and a propensity to think that im *"The Philofopbical Tranfaétions." coloured. * I vol. 4to. pertant |