Seas, but the univerfal Joy that was inftantly diffused throughout the Kingdom, upon the welcome News of Your Majefty's being fafely landed on the British Shore. We return Your Majefty our humbleft Thanks for Your most gracious Speech from the Throne; and cannot fufficiently acknowledge Your Majesty's great Attention and Care for the Prefervation of the Peace and Profperity of this Nation, and the general Tranquillity of Europe. The tender Regard and Compaffion which Your Majesty has expreffed for the diftreffed Proteftants Abroad, will give great Satisfaction to all, whofe Profeffion of the fame Religion muft infpire them with a juft Refentment of the Injuries and Perfecutions which they fuffer for the Sake of it. Your Majefty's Vigilance in watching over, and difconcerting the ambitious Views and Defigns of thofe that are endeavouring to render themfelves Formidable; Your Wisdom in early forming and entring into Alliances with Powers beft able to withstand the common Danger, and to put a Stop to the further Progrefs of the Negotiations carrying on by other Powers, and Your particular Concern for the Trade and Commerce of these Nations, call upon us for all poffible Returns of Duty and Gratitude. And that Your Majefty's unwearied Endeavours for the particular Interefts of Your own Subjects of thefe Kingdoms, and for preventing a War, may have their defired Effect, We Your Majefty's moft Dutiful and Loyal Commons, promife and affure Your Majefty, that We will with the greatest Chearfulness, Unanimity and Dispatch, fo effectually raise the Supplies for this Year, that Your Majefty may be enabled to have a strong Fleet at Sea early in the Spring, fufficient to protect and defend the Kingdom, to disappoint the Hopes of the Enemies to Your Majefty's Government, and refent any Infults and Attempts that may be vainly projected and undertaken. It is not to be wondred, that in the low State to which the Affairs of the Pretender are reduced, his Emiffaries and Inftruments fhould be waiting for every Opportunity that has the Appearance of being favourable to their languifhing Caufe; and as they have been very bufy in foreign Courts, the Difaffected and Difcontented here have not been lefs induftrious, by falfe Rumours and Suggeftions, to fill the Minds of the People with groundless Fears and Alarms, in order to affect the Publick Credit, and by di ftreffing streffing the Government give Encouragement to the Enemies of our Peace. But we promise our felves that the Prudence, Temper and Refolution of thofe that truly confult their own Interest, and wish well to their Country, will on the one hand prevent and obviate the Mischiefs that by too great Credulity and vain Fears they may bring upon themselves; and on the other hand, we are determined to convince the World, that if those who most envy our prefent Happiness and Tranquillity, fhall fo far prefume upon the juft Senfe and Value we have for thefe ineftimable Bleffings, as ftill to pursue their defperate Measures; how defirous foever we may be of Peace, we will not fuffer Your Majesty and the British Nation to be infulted; but that we will, to the utmost of our Power, as the Exigency and Neceffity of Affairs fhall require, ftand by and fupport Your Majefty against all Attempts to difturb the Publick Repose. To which His Majefty was pleased to give this moft Gracious Answer. Gentlemen, I return you my Thanks for this Dutiful and Loyal Addrefs. I make no doubt but you will foon be fenfible of the good Effects of this feafonable Vigor and Refolution. You may be affured that I will make no Ufe of the Confidence you repofe in Me, but for preferving to us the Bleffings of Peace, and for promoting the Honour and Intereft of this Nation. His Britannick Majefty, to convince his Enemies he is in Earneft, has order'd a fufficient Fleet to be fitted out; on which Occasion 14 Men of War, all of the 3d and 4th Rates, and 2 Firefhips, have been put into Commiffion; and 12 Guardships are making up their Complement of Men. O N the first of this Month died the Right Honourable Hefter Countess Dowager of Denbigh, Daughter of Sir Bafil Firebrafs, Knight and Baronet. G The The fame Day died Mr. Nutterville, Brother to the Lord Vifcount Nutterville of the Kingdom of Ireland. On the 6th died Dr. Mills of the College of Physicians, a Man of great Learning, but who made very little Appearance; he was charitable to the Poor, whom he readily and chearfully vifited when fick, and affifted when he found 'em in Want. On the 12th died at Hanover the Countess of Von Platten, Mo-ther to the Countefs of St. Florentine. On the 14th died in the 74th Year of his Age, the Marquis de Prie, who for fo many Years had been Governor of the Low Auftrian Countries. On the 23d died at Hampstead, Mrs. Trypbena Grove, Mother to the Lady Ruffel, Relict of the Lord James Ruffel, but fince: married to Sir Henry Houghton, Bart. On the 25th, in the Morning, died in an advanced Age, Sir Rowland Gwin, who in King William's Reign was Member of Parliament for Radnor in Wales, and brought in the Bill for fettling the Proteftant Succeffion in the Illuftrious Houfe of Hanover. In the late Queen's Reign he went over to that Electorate; but having writ a Letter for calling over the Princess Sophia, which, gave fome Difguft to the English Court, he retired to Hamburgh.. Upon his Majefty's Acceffion to the Crown, he came over hither, and was fome Time at Court; but retired afterwards into the Liberties of the King's-Bench, where he died. MARRIAGES. Ο The Capels are one of the moft ancient Families in the County of Suffolk, and for many Ages were Lords of the Manor of Capel in Stoke Neyland in that County. From this Family in direct Line defcended Sir William Capel, Knt. who in the Year 1503. was Lord Mayor of London. From him defcended Arthur Capel, who was a Member of the Long Parliament chofen in 1640. He embraced the King's Party with a great deal of Zeal, and was by him in the Year 41. created Lord Capel of Hadham; but in the Year 48. he met with his Master's Fate, and was beheaded by the Rebels. His His eldest Son Arthur was in 1661. by King Charles II. created Viscount Malden, and Earl of Effex, and in that Reign was Lord-Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum of Hertfordshire; Ambaffador to the King of Denmark, which Office he discharged with great Applaufe; a Member of the Privy-Council; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and afterwards firft Commiffioner of the Treafury; but being at laft accus'd of the Fanatick Plot, he was sent to the Tower, and there found with his Throat cut. By the Lady Elizabeth, Daughter to Algernoon Earl of Northumberland, he had Algernoon, who was Lieutenant-General of her late Majefty's Forces, Conftable of the Tower, Colonel of a Regiment of Dragoons, and Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Hertfordshire. He married the Lady Mary Bentinck, Sifter to the Duke of Portland; and by her, in the Year 1699. had William the prefent Earl of Effex, who by his Majefty has been made a Knight of the most noble Order of the Thistle. The Family of the Ruffels flourish'd in the Reign of King Hen ry III. when John Ruffel, from whom the prefent Duke defcends, was made Governor of Corfe Caftle; but they were not advanced to the Dignity of Peerage, till the 29th Year of Henry the VIII. when John Ruffel of Berwick near Bridport in Dorfetshire was created Baron Ruffel, made Comptroller of the Houfhold, Member of the Privy Council, and Knight of the Garter, and afterwards Lord-Keeper of the Privy Seal. At King Edward's Coronation, he was appointed Lord High-Steward of England for the Day; and in the 3d Year of that Reign was created Earl of Bedford. Francis his Son, Knight of the Bath, had Iffue by Margaret, Daughter to Sir John St. John of Bletsboe, two Sons, Francis and William; Francis was flain during his Father's Lifetime uponthe Borders of Scotland, and left one Son, Edward, who fuceeeded his Grandfather, but died without Iffue; fo that the Honour devolved to his firft Coufin, Francis Lord Ruffel of Thornbaugh, Son to William the younger Brother of Francis Earl of Bedford; and he was fucceeded by his Son William, Father to William Lord Ruffel, who was beheaded for oppofing a Popish Succeffor. Be-fore his Death, the Lord Ruffel had marry'd the Lady Rachel, 2d Daughter and Coheir of Thomas Wriothefley Earl of Southampton, and Lord High-Treasurer of England, by whom he had a Son named Wriothefley. In the 6th Year of King William's Reign, the old old Earl of Bedford was created a Duke, and fucceeded in Honour and Estate by his Grandfon Wriothefley, who marry'd the only Daughter and Heir to John Howland of Stretham in Surry, Efq; (by which the Title of Baron Howland of Stretham came to the Family) and from them, amongst other Children, fprung Wriothefley the prefent Duke of Bedford, and the Lady Elizabeth, of whom we are now speaking. T PROMOTIONS. HE Reverend Mr. Peploe, Warden of Manchester College, and Vicar of Prefton, the Seat of the late Rebellion, where in spite of Threats and Promises he behav'd himself in an exemplary loyal manner, at the Time the Rebels were in Poffeffion of the Place, has by his Majefty been named to fucceed the late Dr. Francis Gaftrell, as Bishop of Chefter; fo that there is now but one Bishop in England, (Dr. Hooper of Bath and Wells) who is not of his Majefty's Nomination. The prefent Bishop is to hold the Wardenship of Manchefter. The Canonicate of Chrift-Church in Oxford, vacant alfo by the Death of the Bishop of Chefter, has been given to Dr. Gilbert, one of the Clerks of his Majefty's Closet, and late a Fellow of Merton College in Oxford. Colonel Otway being lately dead, he is fucceeded as Governor of Fort Philip in the Isle of Minorca by Colonel Montague, and in the Command of his Regiment at Port Mahon by Col. Kane. Colonel Coton being alfo lately dead, he is fucceeded as Lieutenant-Governor of Gibraltar by Col. Clayton, and in the Command of his Regiment in the fame Place by the Lord Mark Ker, who is fucceeded in his Command in Ireland by Col. Defney. Brigadier Hobbard is appointed Governor of Pendennis Castle, in the room of the late Brigadier Munden. Col. Gardiner and Mr. Wilfon are appointed Agents, the former to Col. Kane's, the latter to the Lord Mark Ker's Regiment. The Speeches, Addreffes, and Treaty being long, we must defer our Lift of Books, and Remarks on the publick Diverfions, till our next Mercury, which will be published the first Week in March.. 4 |