had all along voted in the Houfe of Lords on the Court-fide; and therefore their removal was the more ftrange. Whatever might be the caufe, their pofts were dif pofed of, to fhew there was no room to expect being restored. General Carpenter was made Commander in Chief of the forces in Scotland, and Governor of Minorca and Port-Mahon; and the Duke of Montrofe was appointed Lord Clerk-regitter of Scotland, in the room of the Earl of Ilay.

On the 7th of July, the King fet out from St. James's, took water at the Tower, and arrived about two in the afternoon at Gravesend, where he went on board the Carolina yacht. He was attended by Mr. Secretary Stanhope, Mr. Bofcawen, Comptroller of the Houfhold, the Officers of the Green-cloth, and most of his German Minifters, who embarked in other yachts. In Margate Road they met a fquadron of men of war, commanded by Admiral Aylmer; and they all made the coaft of Holland the 9th of July in the morning. About four in the afternoon, the King went afhore, and paffed through Holland incognito; lay at Voorts, the Earl of Albemarle's-feat, and arrived at Hanover the 15th of July; and, on the 20th, fet out for Pyrmont to drink the

waters.

The King was abfent fix months, during which, the fituation of affairs in Great Britain remained much the fame, and all was at last as quiet, as if he had himself been prefent. The Prince (doubtlefs by his orders) fet feveral prifoners at liberty, and reprieved others. The paffage from Dover to Calais was opened, and paffports no longer required to go from England to France. The King's enemies affected to believe and give out, that thefe proceedings were all owing to the Prince's good difpofition, of which he would have fhewn many more proofs, had it been in his power. This was carried fo far, that addresses were preparing at Oxford, Gloucester, and other places, to be prefented to the Prince, to extol his wifdom in the administration of affairs, and in particular, his affability and gracioufnels to • all perfons without diftinction of parties. It was foon perceived, that this infinuated reflection upon the King and his Miniftry, and therefore it was declared the Prince would receive no addreffes that were not directly made to the Throne.

The papers and speeches of fome of the rebels that were executed, particularly of Mr. Hall and Mr. Paul, made great im

preffion on many people. Their execution, inftead of leffening, rather increased the number of the Jacobites; nor were they deterred from declaring themselves. Seditious fermons were preached, and libels against the Government were published. By thefe means a spirit of mutiny and rebellion was kept up among the disorderly rabble. So great was the difaffection to the Government at Oxford, that fol. diers were quartered there, to keep the fcholars and townfmen within bounds. Nor were thefe riotous proceedings confined to England; for the Pretender's friends at Edinburgh had, like to have freed a number of Lords and Gentlemen imprifoned there, on account of the rebellion.

Few occurrences happened during the King's abfence worth noting. The Prince of Wales, in September, took a progress into the country. He fet out the 14th from Hampton-court, and arrived at Knowle in Kent, the feat of the Earl of Dorfet, before noon, and at Tunbridgewells about five in the evening. From thence he went to Haland, in Suffex, the feat of the Duke of Newcastle, where he lay, and came to Lewes about ten the next morning; and, about nine in the evening, to Stanited, the Earl of Scarborough's feat. The next morning he proceeded to Portsmouth, and, having viewed the fortifications, docks, yards, and magazines, reviewed the regiment there, and went on board the guard-fhip and bomb-ship; dined at Lieutenant-general Erle's, and returned in the evening, to Stansted, where Archdeacon Boucher, one of the Canons refidentiary of Chichester, accompanied by the Prebendaries and Vicars of that Cathedral, with many of the neigh bouring Clergy, were prefented to him by Lord Lumley. On the 27th, about nine in the morning, the Prince left Stanfted, and, on a common near Rake, reviewed Wynn's dragoons. He came to Farnham about one, and near that place reviewed Evan's dragoons. In the evening he arrived at Guildford; and, about eleven at night, returned to Hampton-court. Two days after, the Venetian Ambassador had a private audience, to notify the fuccefs of the arms of that Republic against the Turks, and the raifing the fiege of Corfu, owing chiefly to the conduct of General Schuylenberg, Commander of their army, though a Proteftant, and brother to the

Duchefs of Kendal.

In the beginning of November, the Princess of Wales was in extreme danger, having been feveral days in labour, but

at last was delivered of a dead Prince, who was privately depofited in a vault in Henry VIII's Chapel.

About the fame time the Duke of Marlborough was taken ill at Blenheim-houfe. His diftemper being apoplectic, the fit fo far impaired his health, that he never after could be faid to be perfectly recovered.

The State-prifoners that were in Edinburgh-castle being removed to Carlisle, a commiffion was iffued to try them at that place. The prifoners gave the Court little trouble, almost all of them pleading guilty. Some were condemned, and the reft difcharged; but, however, not one was executed. In December, Brigadier Colin Campbell, the molt obnoxious of all the prifoners, made his escape in difguife. The last of the rebels, who were executed at Lancaster and Preston, were Captain John Bruce, Gentleman of the horfe to the Duke of Hamilton; Thomas Shuttleworth, John Minkley, George Hodgson, and William Charnley; thefe were hanged in October.

On the 6th of December, an accident happened, which gave occafion to various conjectures. The Prince of Wales being in one of the ftage-boxes at the Theatre in Drury-lane, to fee the Tragedy of TamerJane, Mr. Freeman, a Gentleman of Surry, who had for fome years part been troubled with fits of lunacy, came booted and fpurred, and would have preffed into the ftage-box, near the place where the Prince was. Being in a mean riding habit, he was stopped by the box-keepers and a grenadier who was upon duty; whereupon he drew out a piftol, and fhot the centinel in the fhoulder. With great difficulty he was fecured; and, being fearched, two or three loaded piftols were found upon him; which, together with his man's waiting for him with two horfes at the end of the play-houfe paffage, did not a little increase the fufpicion of a treafonable defign against the Prince. The report of the piflol, and the disturbance that followed it, occafioned a great alarm within the house, particularly among the Ladies; and, none rightly knowing the caufe of the confufion, the Gentlemen and Officers about the Prince, and almoft throughout the house, drew their fwords; fo that the Players were a confiderable sime at a fland. But Mr. Freeman being

fent prifoner to the guard at St. James's, all was quiet again; the Prince having all this while preserved a great presence of mind, and appeared to be under no appre henfion. The foldier's wound did not prove mortal; but, Mr. Freeman's attempt of forcing the Prince of Wales's guard coming within the ftatute of treafon, after he had been examined before the Council, he was committed to Newgate; the rather, because he was faid to have either killed, or mortally wounded, a mani two days before, in the country.

A confiderable change began now to be made in the Miniftry. The Earl of Sunderland, who had gone beyond fea, under pretence of travelling for his health, had taken the opportunity of waiting upon the King at Hanover, and by his intrigues with the German Ministers there, particularly the Barons Bothmar and Bernodorff, and Monfieur de Robethon, infused a jealoufy into him of the Lord Townfhend and Mr. Walpole; fo that, on the 11th of December, an exprefs arrived in England from Hanover, and the next day it was publicly known, that Lord Townfhend was removed from his place of Secretary of State. This was however foftened with an account, that his Lordship was to be advanced to the post of Lordlieutenant of Ireland; the Duke of Grafton, firft Lord-juftice of that kingdom, being appointed Colonel of the royal regiment of horfe-guards, lately commanded by the Duke of Argyle; and the Earl of Galway, the other Lord-justice of Ireland, being to enjoy an honourable penfion during life. Two days after, the Duke of Roxburgh was made Secretary of State, and Keeper of the King's Signet in Scotland. The Lord Poleworth was appointed Lord Clerk Regifter, in the room of the Duke of Montrofe, who was made Keeper of the Great-feal of Scotland. The Duke of Kingfton was appointed Keeper of the Privy-feal, and the Earl of Sunderland fole Treasurer of Ireland for life.

In this difpofition things remained till the King's return; and the Lord Town fhend's removal affected no more for the prefent than himself; though the divifions in the Miniftry feemed irreconcileable. [To be continued. }

Short

THE good old Shaik, mentioned in our Taft article, and who from circumstances is fuppofed to be the fame fo favourably fpoken of by Dr. Pococke, in his Travels, delivered Mr. Irwin and his fellow-fufferers to the care of Hadgee Uttalah, the mafter of his camels; with a charge to convey them and their baggage fafely to Cairo: adding, that, fhould the leaft complaint be made against his conduct, he fhould anfwer it with his head; and he was ordered not to return without a letter under their hands and feals, to advise the Shaik of their fafety. To fecure his fidelity beyond the reach of temptation, the Shaik alfo directed, that the family of Hadgee Uttalah fhould be placed under a guard, as the fureft hoftage for his integrity.

On September 4, at 11 o'clock at night, as the most private hour, the English travellers left Ghinnah, where, notwithftanding the redrefs they had received, they found their baggage reduced to one half of the bulk they brought into the town. Their journey lay through the defert of Thebais, with eighteen camels for the accommodation of them, their baggage, attendants, and guard. On the third day of their journey in this defert, they met with an adventure fufficiently alarming, which we fhall give in the Author's own words, firft premifing that they had halted to dine.

At half past three o'clock we were mounted again, and going through the fame valley, in about an hour, reached the bottom of another teep mountain. We were obliged to lead our camels up, and in about half an hour gained the fummit, where we found a plain near two miles in length, over which we rode. At fix o'clock we came to the extremity of the mountain, when our advanced guard alarmed us with the news of a party of camels being in the vale. As it was a fufpicious place to encounter any of our own fpecies, we all took to our arms, and affembled on the defcent, which was fo craggy, and fo perpendicular, that, small as our numbers were, we were enabled by our fituation to have coped with a multitude of enemies. The ftrangers had obferved our motions, and drew up in a body be

low to wait the refult. We counted no less than thirty camels, and deduced therefrom, that we fhould have two to one againft us, in cafe of hoftilities. To gain intelligence, however, of the difpofition of the ftrangers, Hadgee Uttalah himself defcended into the valley. He ventured himself unarmed, as a token of peace; and we were not a little impatient to behold the interview which was about to take place. We were deeply interested in its event; and, circumstanced as we were, it is not furprising that we should doubt of its fuccefs. But we were happily deceived in our ideas. No fooner had Hadgee Uttalah approached the new party, than he was recognized by one among them, who ran with open arms to receive him. He was presently encompaffed by the reft; and we could difcern. that he was ferved with coffee and bread. This ftaggered us in our opinion of these people's profeffion; and we began to conceive that they might be travellers like ourselves, who, in these critical times, had explored the defert, in preference to the river. And we were now confirmed in this conceit by the signs which Hadgee made to us to defcend. Thefe figns were interpreted to us by our Arabs, who told us there was nothing to fear. We obeyed, therefore, and went down the hill in as good order as the path would admit of. We were met at the foot of it by Hadgee, who conveyed us and our baggage to a spot at fome distance from the trangers, and then returned to them. Many were the embraces and congratulations that were exchanged between the Arabs on both fides. The first thing we learned was, that water is to be procured in this valley, which has induced our gentry to halt here and replenish our skins. We ar rived here at half past fix o'clock, so that our laft stage was three hours, or seven miles.

While Hadgee Uttalah was engaged in an earnest converfation with the Leader of the other party, Ibrahim and Abdul Ruffar came to us with looks of furprize, and informed us, that they had discover ed the ftrangers to be what we at firft ap prehended-a band of robbers. That they had overheard one of them boat, that this band took the forty camels near

At feven o'clock the camels belonging

that, on the banks of the Nile, they had plundered a caravan but a few days ago, with the fpoils of which they were now returning to their own country! It may be imagined that we were not a little startled at this intelligence. The novelty of the circumftance did not diminish its unpleafantnefs; and our fituation was as alarming as uncommon. We were turned a drift in a wide defert, and, in case of oppofition, were to depend upon our arms, and the fidelity of our Arabs. Even conqueft would not avail us, were we obliged to fight against our guides. In the defert only could we look for fafety in this hoftile land; and we had no clue to unravel its mazes, fhould we be abandoned by our people. These were the first reflections which fuggefted themselves; but our minds were prefently relieved by the affurances of Hadgee Uttalah, who now joined us. He made no fcruple to acquait us with the profeffion of the robbers; but added, that they had as much regard for their word as other people. They happily knew him, which was indeed the faving of an effufion of blood. For, on the fcore of friendship, they had pledged their word to him, that they would not meditate the leaft wrong against us. We might truft them implicitly, for the wild Arabs had never been known to break their faith on fuch occafions. After this prelude, we were the lefs furprized at a propofition which they hade made him, to accompany us to Cairo. Hadgee himself recommended us to accept of it. Our intereft, he faid, was every way concerned in it. They would ferve us both as guides and protectors, in this unfrequented watte: and where they once adopted a caufe, it was their character to promote it at the expence of their blood. Had we diftrufted this panegyric, it was not for us to diffent against the opinion of our conductor, who was actually the master of our perfons and effects. The pledges he has left at Ghinnah will prevent his rifking his charge wantonly, and on this we rely at this juncture. We have fallen into precious company! And it behoves us to be on our guard as much as poffible. Never did Heroes in romance plunge into greater perplexities; and were not this narrative well attefted, it might feem here to breathe the air of fiction. But the good genius which prefided over every adventure we have atchieved, will, we truft, conduct us fafely through the present.

Now therefore we find our countrymen in a wide unknown defert, under the guidance and protection of a band of Arabian robbers; but the horror of their fituation may be fomewhat lessened by attending to Mr. Irwin's explanation of the nature of thefe Arabian depredations:

'It feems,' fays he, that robbery is no difhonourable profeffion among the Arabs, while they confine their attacks to the people of other diftricts. Their friends and acquaintances may encounter these banditti without violation; and it is feldom known, that they lay their own countrymen under contribution. Our Arabs have fallen under the former defcription, and it is to this extraordinary obfervance of faith, that we fhall be indebted for our escape. Their cuftom is to make excursions into diftant provinces, and to return to their own, with all the plunder they can collect. They confider it rather as carrying on a petty war, than as an infringement of the rights of mankind; and in this refpect, perhaps, have as much reafon and justice on their fide, as most of thofe Heroes who haye defolated the earth, and whofe crimes only want to be divested of the vain eclat of uncommon actions. The Government itfelf winks at thefe proceedings, which enrich its fubjects; and while the delinquents keep beyond the immediate cognizance of juftice, they have nothing to apprehend from its refentment. And if it be confidered, that many of their affociates are men who have been guilty of no offence, but have been obliged by the crimes of fome of their family to take refuge in the defert, to fhun the vengeance of individuals, we should be the less furprized at meeting with an instance of humanity and forbearance among them. The cruel policy of their laws has peopled the waste; and driven men of fair character to mingle with the vile, and to prey on the unwary traveller !

The Captain of the gang was introduced to us by Hadgee Uttalah at break. 722

faft,

:

faft, and took a cup of coffee with us. He is a bold, laughing villain, of a middle fize, but large-limbed and would be well-featured, were not his mouth diffigured by a deep fear, which contracts his upper lip, and betrays the lofs of feveral of his fore-teeth; the effects we suppose of one of his rencounters! There is a freedom in his behaviour, which gains him our confidence. Far from being afhamed of his way of life, he talks of his late exploits, and produced two pair of Morocco flippers, a Turkish veft, and other articles of drefs, for fale. Thefe we readily purchased, to conciliate his good opinion; and neceffity muft excufe our receiving ftolen goods, knowing them to be ftolen. Abdul Ruffar bought an Alcoran, and other religious books, the plunder perhaps of fome poor Prieft: and Ibrahim a French horfe-piftol, which will be of more fhew than ufe to him. These things we have procured for at leaft a third of their value: and Hadgee Uttalah has fatisfied the robber, for which we are to account with the former at Cairo. We had been careful to infil into our own people the belief of our being deltitute of money; or God knows, what mischief the difcovery of our real treafures might produce against us. Our fortune is very peculiar. We might have gone this road a thousand times, without encountering thefe freebooters. Had we arrived at this pafs but half an hour later, we fhould have miffed of them, as they were hatting through the valley to get water, and dreamed as little as ourselves of ftumbling upon human creatures in this unfrequented wafte. But the event only can decide, whether the meeting be propitious or not. We have often, during our journey, had occafion to applaud Pope's celebrated maxim, that whatever is, is right. And though fo flattering to our interefts, may we not hope that even this will prove a fresh teftimony of it? The dealings which we have had with their Captain, fhew that he means to act upon the iquare with us; and we are ftill encreafing our debt with our Arabs, of which they are to look for payment at Cairo.

In truth, the confcience of this robber is no lefs wonderful than his manners. He is eafy of accefs, and yet carries a proper command over his party; and by his own example teaches them to be civil, and even obliging to us. We would willing Jy make him a fuitable acknowledgment for this behaviour, but do not think it Safe to produce money, or to depart in the

leaft from our profeffions of poverty. It was with the greatest pleasure imaginable, that I could oblige him in a trifling point: with a couple of razors, which he faw in my fervant's hands, and expressed a defire for.'

After a fornight's travelling through this dreary waste, and a little before their arrival at the banks of the Nile, the robbers left their companions abruptly, taking French leave; and Hadgee Uttalah infinuated that the Captain took this method of fhewing his difinterestedness, and to fave the travellers the pain of difmiffing him without a prefent. Indeed, as Mr. Irwin obferves, the whole behaviour of these robbers was fo extraordinary, and the adventure of fo novel a caft, that the Reader would hardly excufe his parting with them, without particular notice.

Mr. Irwin's arrival at Grand Cairo put an end to the troubles and anxiety of him and his companions; as they then came to a commercial port, where the tranfactions of mankind, even of Easterns, were conducted upon more liberal principles than in the interior parts of the country. Here too they recovered European fociety, and came particularly under the care and protection of Mr. George Baldwin, the East-India Company's Agent at that place.

We fhall conclude Mr. Irwin's hazardous and distressful journal with his fhort general account of the ancient city of Grand Cairo:

·

• Mifir Ul Kaira, or the City of Anguifh, fo called from the frequent vifits which it has received from the plague, but commonly termed Grand Cairo by us, is situated in the latitude of 30 deg. 3 min. N. on an artificial branch of the Nile. Old Cairo nearly faces the river; but the new city is removed above a mile from it, and approaches to the range of mountains that runs through Upper Egypt, and abruptly breaks off here. It is undoubtedly one of the finest cities in the Eaft; which, from the prefent ftyle of architecture that reigns among the Orientals, is but a faint commendation. The houses are in general built of stone, and, being elevated to several stories, would make a grand appearance, notwithstanding the inelegance of their ftructure, were not the effect destroyed by the exceffive narrowness of the ftreets. This is one of the causes to which the ingenious Dr. Mead afcribes the birth of the plague in this capital; but experience evinces that it arifes from foreign and adventitious caufes. There

has