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TO THE PUBLIC.

"I was repeatedly informed last night, that a conspiracy was to take place this day, in this capital. I immediately communicated the intelligence to the Junta of Public Safety, which, with its accustomed zeal and activity, discovered the truth of this iniquitous plan. Their principal object was, to seize my person, to unjoint the Government, and introduce anarchy and discord, the greatest of all public evils, with which the wretches intended to satiate their vile passions. My constant attention for the tranquillity of this capital, the felicity of which I have so much at heart, prompted me to take those measures of precaution which the public have witnessed; and I had the satisfaction and joy to see that the valiant troops, and the generality of the inhabitants of this noble city, are as much attached to my person as they are faithful to their King.

"The principal persons concerned in this iniquitous plot have been discovered and arrested, and the police is with the greatest activity endeavouring to secure the rest of the conspirators, who will be immediately punished with that rigour the law directs.

FRANCISCO VENEGAS, Viceroy. "Mexico, August 3."

By letters that have been received, we learn that the three principal promoters of the conspiracy were publicly executed in Mexico, and that many others would soon suffer, amongst whom are a number of ecclesiastics and attornies; that about 300 persons had been sent to the Castle of St

John de Ulica, in Vera Cruz; and, finally, that the greatest tranquillity now reigns in Mexico.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

LOSS OF THE HERO, ST GEORGE, AND
DEFENCE.

The following articles from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, contain the melancholy intelligence of the loss of St George, of 98 guns, and the Hero and Defence, 74's, with a number of smaller vessels, on their return from the Baltic, last month:

"Amsterdam, Dec. 26.

"We have received from the Texel details which cannot fail of being afflicting to humanity, occasioned by a gale of wind experienced in the North Sea. The ships overtaken by this tempest, formed, as it appears, part of a convoy of more than 100 sail, returning from Sweden to England, laden, it is believed, with warlike stores. At break of day, the 25th December, after a most dreadful night, a frigate, two brigs, and a ship of the line, were perceived of the Texel. The ship of the line was enat about a league distance from the coast driven upon the coast, where they were tirely dismasted. Two brigs have been

wrecked.

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Amsterdam, Dec. 30.

Among the number of English ships lost or sunk off the Texel, are the following:

The Hero of 74 guns-crew lost. The Centurion, of eight carronades→→ crew lost.

The Grasshopper, of 18 guns, and a crew of 120 men, and 16 passengers, ran aground, was afterwards got off and conducted into the road-the pilot only perished.

The Archimede, a transport brig, lost20 of her crew saved.

The Flora transport, of 359 tons, laden with 1500 barrels of powder, and 250 chests of arms, each containing 20, sunk -a part of the crew has been saved; a

great

great number of the chests and arms are expected to be recovered,

The Rosina, of 150 tons, returning in ballast-the Captain and 17 men drown

ed.

The Buckman, from Baltimore, returning in ballast, sunk-the Captain and 13 men lost.

A brig sunk between Campen and Bergen.

In all 147 men have been saved.-(Moniteur, January 3.)

Copenhagen, Dec. 31.

Advice has been received here of the English Admiral's ship St George, of 98 guns, commanded by Adm. Reynolds, and the Defence of 74 guns, Captain D. Aitkins, having, on the morning of the 24th of December, been stranded, on the coast of the Barony of Ryssenteen, in the district of Rinkooping. The crew of the first named ship is said to have consisted of 850 men, and that of the last 530, exclusive of Officers. In half an hour after the Defence struck, she went entirely to pieces, and the whole of the crew were drowned, with the exception of five seamen and one marine, who saved themselves on pieces of the wreck. The body of Captain Aitkins was washed on shore. In the afternoon of the following day a part of the St George's cabin and stern frame, on which a number of people were standing, was perceived from the shore; and pieces of the mast being cut away, a number of people got upon it, of whom, it is supposed, but very few can have escaped, as the waves and current, which ran strong southerly, with the wind at N. N. W. washed the people off it before they could reach the shore. Some endeavoured to save themselves on a raft, but who, according to report, had perished. Accounts had likewise been received from Lerwig, stating that the St George was entirely sunk, and only 12 men of her crew saved. The ship was above 300 fathoms off the shore. The six men saved out of the Defence have, on examination, declared, that the first cause of this misfortune was the St George having lost most of her masts in a gale of wind while off Laland, in the Belt, and consequently, when she came into the North Sea, could not easily be brought into stays, or keep up with the fleet which came out from Wingoe, near to Gottenburgh, on the 16th of this month. As it was blowing a heavy gale, Admiral Saumarez gave orders for the Defence and Cressy to keep close to the St George. The Hero and some smal

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LIST OF CAPTURES, &C. FROM THE ENEMY.

(From the London Gazette.)

May 23. Sixteen French gun-boats, taken and burnt by the Sir Francis Drake, off Rembang, in the East Indies.

July 31.-Six gun-boats taken by the boats of the Procris, off Indramay river, East Indies.

August 29.-The King of Rome, French privateer, of 10 guns and 46 men, by the Weazle sloop, off Cyprus.

October 11.-Three gun-boats, in the gulph of Salerno, by a party of marines and seamen belonging to the Imperieuse, who gallantly stormed a fort, by which they were protected; obliging treble their numbers to fly in all directions.

-24. The French privateer Syrene, of six guns and 61 men, off cape Blanco, by the Guadaloupe sloop of war.

Nov. 30.-French letter of marque Le Comte Renaud, of 24 guns, laden with spices, sugar and coffee, by the Rover sloop of war.

Dec. 1.-A convoy of one chase maree and six merchant vessels, burnt and driven on shore near the Isle d'Aix, by the Arrow schooner, and the boats of the Collossus and Conquestador.

The Danish privateer Skanderbeik, of 10 guns and 36 men, by the Ranger sloop of war.

The French lugger L'Heureuse Etoile, of four guns and 12 men, by the Censor gun-brig.

The Danish cutter, Commodore Sullen, of four guns and 18 men, by the Forward gun-brig.

-9. French privateer La Courageuse, of 14 guns and 79 men, off the Eddystone, by the Rhin frigate.

-11. French privateer Anacreon, off the Dogger Bank, by the Prince of Wales hired cutter.

-12. French lugger Le Brave, of 16 guns and 60 men, off Dunkirk, by the Desiree frigate.

-18. A large French privateer, of 18 guns and full of men, driven on shore and destroyed,

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destroyed, off Cape Levie, by the Thracian sloop of war.

-9. Le Rodeur, French privateer, of 14 guns and 60 men, between Dover and Calais, by the Royalist sloop of war.

-25. A French national brig, with troops on board, driven on shore near Calais, by the Locust gun-brig, and beaten to pieces by the surf.

-31. The Danish privateer Alvor, of 14 guns and 33 men, off St Abb's Head, by the Egeria sloop of war,

Jan. 6.-Le Furet, French privateer, of 14 guns and 56 men, off Folkstone, by the Royalist sloop of war.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

THE KING.

His Majesty's physicians have been examined before Committees of both Houses of Parliament. Their evidence, which is, in both cases, in effect the same, is in substance, as follows:

Dr Heberden considers his Majesty's recovery improbable, but not hopeless. He does not expect the King will recover.

Dr Munro considers the present mental health of his Majesty "insane;" his recovery very improbable, but he does not entirely despair.

Dr Simmons." His Majesty's mental health is much deranged-his recovery improbable, but not hopeless."

Dr John Willis." His Majesty's mental health is in a high degree of derangement, and his recovery very improbable, but not impossible. Has not an expecta tion of recovery."

Dr Baillie." Within the last two or three days (the examination was on the 14th) his Majesty's mind has been entire ly lost in error-does not expect recovery. Sir H. Halford." Recovery very im probable."

two pair of stairs window by the sheets of his bed knotted together. On his reaching the street, he informed those who were assembled by his cries, that there were murderers in the house, in the act of assassinating the whole family. An alarm was instantly given, and two resolute men, armed themselves with axes and pokers, and broke open the door, when, dreadful to relate, they first found the mistress of the house and the maid-servant lying upon one another by the kitchen fire, with On contheir throats cut from ear to ear. tinuing their search, they proceeded to the cellar, where they found the master of the house quite dead, one of his legs broken, and his head nearly severed from his body. The scene of this horrid affair was the King's Arms public-house, and the unfortunate persons murdered, are, Mr and Mrs Williamson, the landlord and landlady, and their servant-maid Biddy, an Irish girl.The person who made his escape by the window, as above described, was a lodger, of the name of Turner. He states, that, when in bed and asleep, he was alarmed by a great noise below; he then went cautiously down stairs, where he saw a man in a flannel jacket, rifling the pockets of the landlady, Mrs Williamson, who was then lying near the kitchen fire, apparently lifeless. Turner then came to the resolution of getting out of his window, which, by the aid of the bed-clothes, he effected.

The unfortunate sufferers were all dressed and going about their usual business when they were murdered, and it is supposed that the savages who committed the barbarous act had entered the house upon pretence of obtaining refreshment, a short time before the landlord shut up his house for the night.

It is much to be lamented that, as in the case of Mr Marr's family, the perpetrators of these savage barbarities escaped the vigiDr R. Willis. Recovery all but impos- lance and activity of the different police ofsible."

ANOTHER MOST DREADFUL MURDER OF A

WHOLE FAMILY.

On the night of the 19th December, another most sanguinary murder-was committed at No. 81, Gravel Lane, London, only a few yards distant from the scene of blood in Ratcliffe Highway, recorded in our last number. Between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, the neighbours opposite to the house just mentioned were alarmed by a ery of "Murder!" coming from a person in his shirt, who was descending from a

ficers in London in endeavouring to discover and bring the miscreants to justice has hitherto been ineffectual. A person of the name of John Williams, an Englishman, and formerly a sailor, was apprehended a short time after; and underwent several examinations, in the course of which, such circumstances appeared against him, ás left little doubt in the minds of most people, that he had been engaged both in the murder of the family of Mr Marr and Mr Williamson. By an unpardonable neglect, however, on the part of those to whose custody he was committed, Williams

found

found means a few nights after his apprehension to put an end to his own life, in the cell in which he was confined, by strangling himself with his handkerchief, one end of which he had tied round his neck, and fastened the other to the post of his bedstead. The post was so short, that his legs and thighs were upon the ground, so that he was obliged to sit down as it were, to accomplish his purpose; and to effect it in that way, must have been a work of long time and difficulty.

On searching the apartment of Williams, at his lodgings, a pair of bloody trowsers, with several other articles of his apparel stained with blood, and a French knifealso blood stained, were found. The maul which was found in Mr Marr's shop, after the murder, has also been identified by the landlord of the house at which Williams lodged, as one which had been long about his house, and which he used for breaking coals. These facts, together with the suicide of Williams, sufficiently confirm his guilt. It is certain, however, that he must have had accomplices; but how many, or who they are, as yet remains undiscovered.

The body of Williams, after being expased, amidst the execrations of the popu lace, through the streets of London, was buried in a cross road, near the scene of his guilt, and a stake driven through the body.

EARTHQUAKES.

On the morning of the 30th November last, about twenty minutes before three, a shock, resembling that of an earthquake, was felt very generally in the towns of Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport, and vicinity. It was instantaneous, and cau sed such a tremendous motion in many bouses, that as many as twenty families were awoke by it, and sprang out of bed to ascertain its cause. To many persons whom it awoke, it appeared as though some heavy body had been moved in the lower part of the house, and shook its whole fabric; to others, it was a sudden motion of the bed, as though caused by the main strength of a person standing near it; the furniture in their rooms cracked, and the handles of the chairs moved as by an electric shock. Several suddiers on guard said that it was attended

by a hollow rumbling noise; and several people belonging to vessels in the harbour described the water as violently agitated for some minutes. It appears to have lasted inland near a minute.

On the 18th instant, a similar shock was felt in Oxfordshire and the neighbouring counties. Accounts from Tetsworth, Bletchindon, Radley, Wolvercot, and many other villages, mention, that the windows were much shaken, and in many houses the shock was plainly felt by the alarmed inhabitants; it was accompanied by a deep rumbling noise, similar to the sound of a distant discharge of heavy ord nance. A gentleman of Oxford, walking in Christ Church Meadow, heard this noise very plainly, and, from its uncommon sound, he immediately guessed it must proceed from an earthquake. In some places this noise was heard for upwards of ten minutes.

Sir W. Drummond conceives, that he has discovered, in Malta, the burial place of Hannibal. He adduces several reasons for thinking, that although Hannibal fell in Bythinia, by the perfidy of King Pru sias and the Roman General Flaminius, Yet his ashes were brought from thence to repose among his countrymen and relatives at Malta. It appears, that in the year 1761, in the district of Ben Ghisa, in Malta, was discovered a sepulchral cave. In the wall of this cave was a hollow square, in which was cut, in Phenician characters, the epitaph annexed, which Sir W. has thus translated

The Inner Chamber of the Sanctuary of the
Sepulchre of Hannibal.
Illustrious in the consummation of calamity.
He was beloved.

The people lament, when arrayed
in order of battle,
Hannibal, the son of Bar-Melech.

Sir W. D. argues, that the name of the district of Malta, where stands this sepulchre, Ben Ghisa, is a corruption of what ancient writers intended by the family of Amilcar Giscon, which was nearly related to that of Amilcar Baraca, or, by transposition, Baraca Amilcar, would he' the Punic Order; and, as on the tomb, Bar-Melech.

IRELAND.

IRELAND.

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.

Dublin, Jan. 8.

About eight days ago, a meeting was held of the Trustees of the Charity School belonging to the Catholic Chapel in Church Street. The schoolmaster neglected to attend at the usual hour, and arrived in a state of intoxication, as the trustees were about to disperse. He was severely reprimanded for his absence, and required to state the reason of it. He endeavoured to excuse himself, saying that he had been detained by important business; but, as his duty required that all his time should be devoted to the school, the trustees refused to admit any such excuse, and then he stated broadly that he had been engaged in the business of the new association, to one division of which he said he was Secretary. The nature of this association was inquired of him, and he gave the following account

That it was an association instituted for the purpose of separating Ireland from England by force of arms; that it had also for one of its objects the extirpation of heresy; that, however, the most active person he knew of in it was a Mr Fisher, a Protestant, who had assured him and the other persons he engaged in the plan, that it had the sanction of the Catholic Committee, and that Mr Hay was their private secretary; that he had been supplied with a blunderbuss, and many others were armed, as it was easy to procure arms out of the stores of the Custle! and that an attack was shortly to be made in Dublin, as they were assured that the garrison was at present very weak.

Such was the substance of the statement made by this man. The trustees adjourned to the next day, and then called him before them. Being sober he wished to conccal or retract the facts, but, being closely pressed, he admitted that he had become a inember of such an association, and repeat ed the account he had given the preceding evening, with this addition that he believed the name of Fisher was not a real, but an assumed name. The trustees instantly dismissed him from his employment as a

schoolmaster, and endeavoured to make him sensible of the crime he had committed, and of the evident falsehood of the representations that had been made. to

him.

These facts were made known by the trustces of the charity school to the Catholic Committee, and by that body communicated to the Attorney-General.

January 9.

Keegan, the schoolmaster, whom we mentioned yesterday, is in the Tower, and many gentlemen were on Tuesday examined before Mr Pole and the Attorney-General, with regard to his disclosures in their presence.

January 21.

We understand a special commission will be issued for the trial of Keegan. We also learn, that two persons, Adams and Quartermas, have been committed to prison, charged with being concerned in the conspiracy.

The Catholic Committee met according to adjournment, on the 23d December; and the chair was just taken by Lord Fingal, when Mr Hare, one of the police Magistrates appeared, who înquired whether it was not the Catholic Committee, and being answered in the affirmative, informed the meeting that he had authority to disperse it, as an illegal assembly. Some altercation took place, when Lord Fingal told the Magistrate, that the meeting was assembled for a constitutional purpose, and that he would not quit the chair unless compelled. Mr Hare then handed Lord Fingal from the Chair, which was immediately taken by Lord Netterville, who was in like manner displaced by Mr Hare. The meeting then broke up.

An aggregate meeting of the Catholics was held some days after, at which several resolutions were proposed, expressive of their sense of the indignity offered to the Catholic body in the forcible dispersion of the Committee, of the right of the subject at all times to petition the legislature, for a redress of grievances; and of the determination of the Catholic body to persevere in that measure until all the remaining disabilities should be removed.

SCOTTISH

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