Foreign and Domeftic Intelligence, Glamorgan-William Thomas, of Llanblethian, Efq; Pembroke Thomas Lloyd, of Cumgleyne, Efq; Radnor-Charles Gore, of Divanner, Efq; NORTH WALES. Anglefey-Paul Panton, of Plas Gwyn, Efq; Carnarvon Rice Thomas, of Coed Denbigh-John Vaughan, of Grees, Efq; Extract of a Letter from Granada, dated ·Dec. 3: "Having a few minutes to fpare, I take up my pen to inform you of an acsident, which happened a short time ago at Tobago. "Mr. Hall, a gentleman of that Island, had a Negro Carpenter, for whom he had a principal regard, named Sandy, but who happening to do fomething to difpleafe him, Mr. Hall had flogged him; this irritated the Villain, who with fome more of his Nation, (Chromontes) broke into Mr. Hall's chamber, and having ftabbed him in many places, left him for dead. The Negro then caufed an infurrection of the other flaves, and again entered his master's room: Mr. Hall hear ing him coming, had the prefence of wind to bloody his own eyes, and lie as if dead. Mr. Hall bore it for fome time, but was at last forced to flinch, upon which the villain gave him fome blows on the head, and left him, but not dead. By this time the neighbouring eftates had taken the alarm; but fo in judicious were many people, that they had not provided themselves with fire arms, fo that they were forced to run for them to thofe who had. In this ftate things remained when our laft advices came away. The number of Negroes, however, we are told, has fince been fettled at thirty. Some of the villains, out of fear, have destroyed themselves; and Gen. Melville has fent up twenty foldiers from this Ifland to the affiftance of the inhabitants." Tuesday, Feb. 12. Yesterday a conftable had waited fome time at Guildhall before one of the aldermen came; on the arrival of the latter, the former told him he ought to be fined for ordering the conftables to attend at eleven, when he 79 and the other magiftrates came not till one o'clock. On Sunday excommunication was read in St. Andrew's church, Holborn, against a gentleman for refufing to pay his wife's proctor's bill: He denied his marriage, though it was proved. Sunday night the froft was fo intense, that the thermometer was below one deg. 12 deg. at about 11 o'clock. And yester day morning the barometer was two degrees lower than it was the 18th of January faft, confequently two degrees lower than than it has been known for these nine years. Yefterday morning the fnow on Enfield Chace, upon level ground, was two feet deep; a circumftance not known thefe nine years. Wednesday, Feb. 13. We are affured that the Spanish ambaffador afferts, that Falkland's Inles are the real property of the French, who firft fettled them from part of the crews of fome privateers, which were fent from St. Malo's the end of the last century, from whence they were called Iles Malouines. His excellency on this occafion, however, should recollect, that our celebrated adventurer Sir Richard Hawkins difcovered them in his voyage to the South Seas fo long ago as the year 1593. The richnets of the continent of Terra Auftralis, which not only abounds in all the neceffaries and delicacies of life, but in filk, ivory, fpices, gold, and precious ftones, has made the Spaniards exceedingly defirous to keep the other European powers, efpecially the English, out of the South Seas, left the fpirit of enterprize fhould interfere with their commerce, and other folid advantages. We hear, a certain clergyman in Weftminter, on Sunday laft, preached a very extraordinary fermon on the following text: "And it came to pafs, when Joram faw Jehu, that he faid, Is it peace, Jehu? And he anfwered; What peace, fo long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel, and her witchcrafts, are fo many? "And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and faid to Ahaziah, there is treachery, O Ahaziah! 2 Kings c. ix. v. 22, Foreign and Domestic Intelligence. we have not learned the verdict. It is faid to have been perpetrated by four young fellows that came out of a hackney coach, who wanted to force her; in her attempt, as is fuppofed, to defend herfelf, her head and arms were terribly bruifed. Yesterday Thomas Harris, about 22 years of age, was executed at Tyburn, for roohing his mafter, Mr. Morgan, a Cabinet-maker in the Minories. Friday, Feb. 15. Late laft Tuesday evening, after Lord Mansfield had quitted the court, Taylor the Scotch ferjeant was brought up to the King's Bench bar, when his counfel moved for his difcharge; to which counfellor Dunning, for the appeal, objected. They then urged he had been burnt in the hand: Mr. Dunning replied that was no puniment for murder; the motion was therefore over-ruled. They then moved that he might be bailed, which Mr. Dunning objected to; that motion was likewife over-ruled. They then moved that his irons might be taken off; Mr. Dunning objected alfo to this third motion, which was over-ruled likewife. At laft they moved that his irons might be lightened, to which Mr. Dunning anfwered, that he thought they ought to be made heavier. Thefe proceedings being ended, the prifoner was remanded to prifon, and ordered to be brought up again the first day of next term. Monday, Feb. 18. We are affured, from undoubted authority, that the French court publicly declare, that the British ministry, in the courfe of the late negociation, broke with them thrice their plighted faith. British faith is become as much a proverb at Versailles, as Punica Fides was in old Rome. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Yesterday the lords prefented their addrefs of thanks to his majefty at St. James's, on account of the late convention with Spain relative to Falkland Island; as did likewife the commons, and were both graciously received. Thurfay, Feb. 1. Yefterday the feffions began at the Old Bailey, when two prifoners were capitally convicted, viz: James Forster, for ftealing a cart horfe out of the ftable of Mr. Stock, a farmer at Beauchampe Rooden in Effex, found with him in Smithfield, offering to fale. Richard Morris, a labourer at Broxbourn, for feloniously fhooting at Thomas Parkinfon the younger, in a field near that place, with a pitol loaded with fmall hot, which wounded him in the neck, fhoulder, and other places, and through the cheek and mouth. It feems the prifoner had conceived malice against Mr. Parkinion, who is fon to the feward of Lord Salisbury and Lord Monfon, and who, by his father's orders, had exhibited an imformation against him for poaching on the cftates of thofe noblemen, and of which he was convicted, though the penalty was mitigated to a mere trifle. Friday, Feb. 22. Yesterday twenty prifoners were tried at the Old Bailey, three of whom were capitally convicted, viz. Thomas Peak, for feloniously returning from transportation, before the expiration of his term; he having, about three years fince, been capitally convicted of breaking open the dwelling-house of Ann Slade, but was afterwards fo fortunate as to obtain his majesty's pardon on condition of transportation for four teen years. John Sidey and George Burch, for burglariously breaking open the dwel ling-houfe of Mr. Greenfield, Linendraper, oppofite Fetter-lane, Fleet-street, and stealing an amazing quantity of li nens, Mullins, and other goods, to the amount of thirteen hundred pounds. Elizabeth Sidey, mother of the above John Sidey, was convicted of receiving great part of the faid goods, knowing them to be ftolen, and will be transported for fourteen years. Yesterday a meffenger arrived in town from Madrid, with the Catholic king's ratification of the convention entered into between his ambaffador, prince Mafferano and the British court. And, This morning notice was fent to the coffee-houfes about the Royal Exchange, to prevent the merchants making further applications for protections, as matters are finely adjusted between England and Spain. Monday, Feb. 25. The behaviour of the Bedford party about the repeal of a claufe in the Nullum Tempus act fhows plainly, that they wish to curtail the prefent independence of the premier. Lord North, on the other hand, is heartily tired of them, and takes meafures to gain from the opposite party a force fufficient to enable him to turn thefe fecret enemies of his power out of place. Things at prefent are certainly at Sixes and Sevens: Which of the contending friends fhall prevail, Time alone can discover. The Oxford Magazine; For MARCH, 1771. For the OXFORD MAGAZINE. THE CENSOR. As it falls within the province of a Cenfor of the vices and follies of men, to endeavour to redrefs every grievance which embitters life, and defeats the grand end of fociety; the peace and fecurity of the whole. I fhall make no apology for devoting this, and a future paper to the fervice of all heads of families, by taking into confideration the prefent condition and behaviour of domeftic fervants, in and about this great metropolis. I have letters by me from my female corref pondents of different complexions, upon this interefting fubject; all of them complaining of the diftreffed fituation of their families from the infolence, impofing difpofition, and debauched manners of maid fervants; fome of them declaring, that they should have esteemed the marriage life, a ftate of paradife, if it were not for the corfe of bad fervants; others of a more, violent difpofition feverely reproach government, and accufe the whole legiflative body of the kingdom, of the moft fhameful neglect, in not attending to this effential, on which the happinefs of domeftic life depends. Are thefe, fay they, the arts of peace, to fuffer licenciouinefs of manners to get to fuch a heigth, that unless fervants actually rob or murder-they are fcreened from all punishment by the relaxation of the laws, and may with impunity infult, and tyranize over their fuperiors; fometimes even diftreffing their best benefactors with a degree of ingratitude, which merits the fevereft chattisement. VOL. VI. NUMBER IX. I have as many complaints from gentlemen, but as most of them have miftook the causes of this evil in fociery; and thrown the whole blame on fervants; it became neceffary for me to digeft the various informations I had received, and from a fair state of the evidence, to discuss the subject impartially; fuppreffing these letters, left I fhould feem to give too much weight to the cause of the complainants, by publifhing them before I had exhibited my general charge; and given the defendants an opportunity to reply. That the exorbitant demands, infolent behaviour, and loofe carriage of fervants is a general complaint in London and its neighbourhood, I believe no candid perfon will deny. To point out the true caufes of this growing plague is no difficult task, for they are many and obvious; but to propofe a cure, which will not only be approved, but univerfally applied, with that spirit, unanimity and perfeverance which diftinguishes my countrymen, when they undertake any great and useful enterprife for the public benefit, is indeed an arduous task, but it fhall be attempted; for the public good demands it; and in this cafe, to do but little is laudable, because the doing nothing at all is highly criminal; for it is the duty of every member of society, not only to abstain from injuring his neighbour, but to render him all the fervice in his power, especially when any difagreeable circumftance obftructs the eafe and conveniences of life; and can only be removed by the reciprocal good The CENSOR. good offices of individuals to each other. By the nicest calculation it appears, vants in fober families. The grand fupply offervants therefore comes from the country; and I believe more women from the north of England, than from any other quarter. Thefe are allured to London with the profpe&t of high wages, and they generally arrive there-very poor, very honet; and extremely ignorant and aukward. Here then, let us commence our fcrutiny into the origin of the prefent difordered ftate of middling families with respect to women fervants. In families where there are a number of fervants, the care of training thefe raw girls is generally left to fome fupercilious, ignorant, brutish howekeeper, who generally makes a drudge of the poor wretch, leaving her at the fame time to pick up all the low craft of the knowing fervants in the kitchen, who are hackneyed in the ways of London. When difinified, if fhe has offended her, this fecond-rate miftrefs will affume the airs of quality, and be denied to often, that the poor girl unable to get a character from her, is thus thrown upou a register office, for that, and a place. formed country wench gets into the But fuppofe an awkward, uninfamily of a middling tradeiman on her coming to town. Either the mittrefs her, or too delicate and refined in her is too fine a lady to teach and improve way of living to bear with a wench that knows nothing, and therefore discards, her. Or, if the is fo happy lant miftrefs who takes pains to make to meet with a difcreet, active, vigiher what is termed, a thorough good fervant, fhe will not keep her long, for every female who frequents the houte, in the character of nurse, or other occafional affiftant, and every servant she converfes with, who has long refided in London, will put wrong notions into her head; teach her to expect higher wages and other emoluments; feduce her to leave her benefactress, and recommend her, in order to better herfelf to one of those warehouses of iniquity, a register office for a speedy re move. fhort and eafy. Content yourselves The remedy to this practice is very with all the inconveniences of fimpliground-work of honefty, and a hearty city and ignorance, where there is a conftitution; and secure fuch an one, for three years at least by a fimple contract. Any friendly attorney will help you to the form, and make it an invariable rule not to take a raw country girl on any other terms. fame regulation fhould be observed with refpect to country lads-For otherwife, as foon as they have acquired fufficient town knowledge, they will affuredly be feduced from you. The ignorance of fome of thefe, is almoft incredible. As an inftancethe following fact may be relied on. The lad for a coachman, was very happy. A phyfician, who had hired a country in his choice; finding him a very fober, diligent, careful fervant, in confequence of which, he propofed to give him all due encouragement. The lad's awkwardness however, was immediately difcovered by the fraternity, (for he had only been coachman before, to a widow lady in Weftmoreland) on which they refolved to play him a The CE N SO R. trick, which they effected with fuccefs, and the difcovery of it, came out in the following manner. John, after the first fix months, grew very fullen and difcontented; and at length gave his mafter warning. The doctor concerned at loofing a good fervant, enquired his reasons, and received this very laconic anfwer. Sir, I took you for a honeft gentleman, that would not cheat poor fervants of their due-but I have found you out, and fhall not stay to be impofed upon. What do you mean replied the doctor?-Mean, why you know well enough-you can tell all the guineas you have got fince I have been with you-but you never paid me my half. The astonished matter bid him retire, while he recovered from his furprise; and then ordered his maid, (an old fervant) to try to get to the bottom of this mystery; but all the could make of him was, that he was fure he was right, for Dr. Plumbtree's coachman had been his friend, and let him into the roguery of his mafter. The doctor on this information paid a vifit to his brother phyfician, and relating to him what had happened, the coachman was called in, who confeffed, that at an annual meeting of the college, a number of the coachmen being got together, (while their mafters were at dinner) John had put the question how it happened that their liveries, linen and ftockings were finer than his; and that he had met Dr. Plumbtree's coachman out of livery, in a fuit of very fine cloth. To which he had replied, giving the wink to the othersthat it was owing to his master's great practice (at that time prefident of the college) John enquiring how he was benefited by this. Was anfwered-why by half the fees to be fure-and as the porter went round, the fact was fupported by the reft, with the addition of drinking long life to phyficiansand declaring they were better off than the king's coachman. John fwallowed the bait, heartily curfed his mafter for a cheating old prefbyterian rogue, and gave him warning. But on being undeceived, asked pardon, and lived with his matter till he died. The infolence of fervants is fupported, not only by regiber offices, but by the conduct of the officers of the courts of conscience. Thofe courts in Middlesex, are in a great measure obliged to the complaints of fervants againft mafters and miftreffefs, for the falaries of their officers; and the lofs of time, vexation, and difagreeable circumftance of being jamaned in with vagabonds, and all forts of people in a croud for hours; makes many choofe to yield to the demands of a fervant, on receiving the fummons. But if you attend, no excufe will be taken for keeping back any part of wages, on fervants having neglected or failed in their duty. Pay you must,-the court fummarily awards it, and as to infult, neglect of businessfo far even as not to drefs your victuals, abfenting themselves day and night, and fuch fort of offences, they take no cognizance of them, but rudely send you away, and hurry on the other bufinefs. Yet thefe are called courts of equity. However, the fervants are the parties that fupport them; and therefore they countenance their falfe demands in return. An inftance of this lately happened. A fervant had abfented herself at fundry times, both by day and night-to the abfolute neglect of her business, yet the family were fo fituated that they could not difcard her, till provided with another. They then difmiffed her, and the mafter thought himself excufed from paying a month's wages (in the room of a month's notice) by the girl's bad behaviour; but the court of concience would not admit any plea, though he could apportionate her abfences to her yearly wages, and fhew caufe for a deduction of more than the month's wages. A councellor and a young puppy of a clerk filenced him; the firft politely, the fecond, by vociferously exclaiming, your money! you muit pay- and calling another cause. This is fhameful abufe of law and equity. The giving good characters, or concealing criminal faults of bad fervants, is a moft difhoneft, injurious tranfgreffion againstthe peace and fafety of our neighbour, and ought to be branded with fome mark of public infamy. I have now before me---the letter of an housekeeper to a very opulent family---who have a country house in Effex. Being in want of a maid to L 2 take |