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three children, each in the morning, took what was fuppofed to be cream of tartar and brimstone as phyfic; the effect, however, foon proved deleterious, as the whole family were affected with fuch alarming fymptoms, that the most skilful medical atlittance proved ineffectual; one of the children died in the afternoon, in the evening another, and at night their mother. The father, after lingering eight days, alfo expired. The infant having taken but a very fmall quantity of the mixture, is the only one expected to furvive. This melancholy event was occafioned by a fatal mistake in mixing fugar of lead with the brimstone, inftead of cream of tartar; the fugar of lead having very imprudently been kept in the houfe among fome other articles.

At Town-Malling and Wrotham, they have lately cleared the roads by means of a new-invented inftrument, called a fnow plough; which is pointed in front and fhod with iron, and gradually increafes to fomething more than three yards in width, continued in length to about fix yards; and fo contrived, that without disturbing the furface of the road, to throw up the fnow in ridges on each fide, leaving a clear space fufficient for two carriages to país each other.

Married.] At Margate, lieutenant-colonel Anftruther, of the 68th regiment, to Mifs Hamilton, daughter of Jacob Hamilton, efq. Mr. Knott to Mifs Wiles, both of that place.

At Orpington, T. S. Salmon, efq. M. D. to Mifs Pratt, of the fame place.

At Upper Deal, Mr. Edward Miers, clerk of the Hampshire fencibles, to Mifs E. Ann Sayer, of the fame place.

At Deal, Mr. Thomas Forward, to Mifs E. Durban.

At Canterbury, Mr. William Mayo, of London, to Mifs Anne Chandler, of Canterbury.

At Darington, H. W. Brooke, efq. to Mifs E. Tucker.

At Barham, Mr. Vincent Page to Mifs Mary Fox, of Breech.

At Afhford, Mr. J. Barnikel, book-binder, to Mifs Wollmanton.

At Saltwood, Mr. John Plumb, mufician in the Eaft Suffolk militia, to Mrs J. Taylor, widow of Mr. Taylor, of Lydd.

At Stone, near Dartford, Mr. Benjamin Tanner, woolftapler, to Mifs Ruffell.

At Whitstaple, Mr. William Kemp, one of the company of Dredges, to Mifs Mary Turner, of the fame place.

At Smeeth, Mr. Fenner to Mrs. Jones, of Hythe.

Died.] At Ramfgate, a foldier belonging to the West York militia, coming from Dumpton along the cliff to the barracks, at the back of Alkin Place, Ramígate, unfortunately fell over, broke both his legs and arms, and died in about half an hour afterwards.

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At Eaftry, Thomas Finn and his fon, who were digging chalk in a pit, the earth fuddenly fell in, and crushed both to death; another man and boy narrowly escaped the fame fate.

At Doddington, Mr. Beard, a wealthy farmer, after a few days illness. At Folkefton, aged 82, the widow of the late Mr. Henry Bayley. Mrs. Carter, wife

of Mr. Thomas Carter, grocer. At Swalecliff, Mifs Lacy, eldest daughter of Mr. R. Lacy, farmer.

At Sittingbourn, aged 74, Mr. William Leney, killed on the fpot by a fall from the top of a loaded cart.

At Cherry-orchard, near Maidstone, aged 72, Mrs. Parks, wife of Mr. Thomas Parks.

At Tenderden, aged 66, Mr. Richard, Clark, many years mafter of the Woolpack inn.

At Sheerness, Mr. James Fuller, chief clerk in the master fhipwrights' office of that dock-yard.

At Dover, Mr. Jeaken, brewer, fincerely regretted.

At Leigh, Mifs A. Fry, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Fry, butcher of that place. At Afhford, aged 73, Jofias Pattifon, efq.

Lately at Smeeth, Mary Farris, who was bringing fome wood-afhes for a neighbour's house in a pail, when the wind being high, the fire caught her apron, and fo dreadfully burnt her, that fhe expired within four hours.

SURRY.

Died.] at Norbiton Hall, aged 71, Tho mas Lintall, efq.

At Ripley, aged 61, Mr. Jofeph Geale. Mr. T. H roroe.

At Baadam Hill, Mifs M. Allan, daughter of G. Allan, efq.

SUSSEX.

Died.] At Bognor, in an advanced age, Sir Richard Hotham, formerly M. P. for the borough of Southwark. To the liberality of this gentleman, this country is indebted for the eftablishment of the new and fashionable watering place called Hoathampton, but better known by the name of Bognor Rocks, which was built entirely at his expence, and was his fole property. He is iucceeded in his eftates by his great nephew W. Knott, efq.

As two of the Kent provitional cavalry were patroling the coaft, one of them in pailing the flood at White Rock, near Haftings, was washed from his horfe and was drowned. The other with difficulty faved himielf.

At Brighton, aged upwards of 80, Mr. F. Carter, formerly carpenter and joiner.

At

At the Cliff, near Lewes, Mr. J. Lambert, an ingenious painter of that place.

At Steyning, as Mr. Gates, brewer and butcher, was returning home from Horsham market, in company with his father-in-law, his horfe fuddenly started, and threw him with a degree of violence on the turnpike, that occafioned his immediate death. Mr. Gates was a young man, and has left a wife and feverál children to bewail his lofs.

BERKSHIRE.

Died.] At Reading, John Manley, jun. efq. late captain in the 33d regiment.

At Hurft, Mrs. Elizabeth 'Dalby, fecond daughter of the late John Dalby, efq.

At Abingdon, aged 90, Mrs. Turner, relict of the Rev. D. Turner, formerly minifter of a diffenting congregation at that place. At Inglewood-house, near Newbury, Mr. Brunfden.

HAMPSHIRE.

Married.] At Winchefter, Mr. Butcher, woollen-draper, of Devizes, to Mifs Terry, of Winchefter.

Died.] At Winchester, Mrs. Jeffreys, relict of the Rev. Mr. Jeffreys.

At Portfea, Mr. W. S. Green, a refpect ́able fhoemaker, who undertook for a wager to drink three pints of brandy in half-an-hour, in confequence of which he became almost immediately convulfed, and died before any medical affiftance could be procured. He has left a wife pregnant and eight children.

At Andover, aged 94, Mrs. H. Child. At Wefton, near Southampton, Mifs E. Moffatt, daughter of W. Moffatt, efq.

At Kings-clere, aged 82, Rev. Thomas Obourn, A. M. rector of Lowerftock and Ewhurft, and many years an active and able magiftrate for the counties of Hampshire and Berks.

WILTSHIRE.

At Purton fifteen two years old heifers having broke from their pafture ground, went into a field, where fome yew-trees grew, and in three days eight of them died, in confequence, as it is prefumed, of their having eaten the branches of thofe trees.

Married.] At Devizes, Mr. Charles Webb Atty, of Broomfgrove, Worcestershire, to Mifs M. Mortimer, of the former place.

At Salisbury, Mr. Andrews, jun. of Wey. mouth, to Mifs Snook, of Eaft Harnham. At Weftbury, Abraham Ludlow, efq. of Bristol, to Mifs Gibbs, of Haywood Houfe. Mr. Bromley, butcher, of Yockleton, to Mifs Gardner, late of Venington, Salop.

Died.] At Salilbury, where he was on a vifit, Mifs Mary Ann Wenyeve, aged 24, daughter of John Wenyeve, efq. of Brettenham. She was a young lady poffeffed of every en caring quality, which renders her lofs truly afilicting to her parents, and to her friends in general.

At Hannington Houfe, aged 59, the Rev. hn Freke, a juftice for Dorfet and Wilts. At Tilhead, Mr. James Compton, farmer.

At Donhead St. Mary, aged 64, Mrs. King,At Alderbury, aged 88, Mr. Thomas Goodwin.

At Downton, Edm. Wagg, efq. only fon of George Wagg, efq. of Burton Houfe, near Christchurch.

At Amesbury, aged 68, Mr. John Asher. At Fisherton, near Salisbury, Mr. R. Sir man, an eminent plasterer.

At Corfham, aged 92, Mrs. Mary Hibberd. At Calne, Mrs. Jane Oriel, a refpectable maiden lady, far advanced in years.

At Pewfey, Wm. Butcher, efq. of Shercott-houfe, to Mifs Gilbert.

DORSETSHIRE.

Married.] At Shaftsbury, Mr. Cooper, ironmonger, to Mifs Airs.

At Netherbury, Mr. Francis, of Caftle Cary, Somerfet, to Mifs Convay, of the former place. Died.] At Dorchefter, aged 77, John Hawkins, M. D. Mr. James Parfons, glover, &c. the oldeft tradefman of the town.

At Poole, Mrs. Lefter, the wife of Benj. Lefter, efq.

At Sherborne, the Rev. William -Glaffpoole, rector of Newton Longville,' in Buckinghamshire.

At Shaftesbury, Mrs. Brickle, relic of the late-Brickle, efq. of that place.

At Beaminster, Mr. Dunning, furgeon and apothecary, a gentleman of extenfive practice in his profeffion, whofe lofs is fincerely felt and greatly lamented.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

Some of the most active members of the Bath and Weft of England Society have again taken into confideration the most effectual means of checking the advance of butchers'

meat.

On account of the late fudden feverity of the weather it is fuppofed a more than ufual mortality may have taken place among the young lambs, the effects of which may, without due caution, be much felt at a future day. They have therefore fuggefted to the moft public fpirited breeders, and other farmers, a fparing fale of ewe lambs for flaughter, because they will be wanted, and be likely to pay much better, in the end, as ftock, and to obferve in general, a more than ufual abstinence, from purchafing lamb for focd this fpring, and in the approaching fummer. They have alfo again, as in 1796, ftrongly recommended all poffible multiplication of pigs, by breeding on farms, waftes, in inn yirds, in villages, even among cottages, and in all fituations where a litter of pigs can be reared, preferring, where a choice can be made, the smaller races, which may come molt fpeedily to pork. This provident care feems particularly important, when it is confidered how increafing may be the demands, and how precarious the public fupply in a fifter country.

Married.] At Bristol, Mr. C. Smith, to Mifs Beck. Mr. Wm. Wiltshire, to Mifs Stuker.

At

At Frome, Mr. Chapman, tanner, of Sim mington, to Mifs Fords.

Mrs.

Died. At Bath, aged 85, Mrs. Tracy. relict of T. Tracy, efq. of Saddiwell Park, Gloucestershire. Mrs. Shepherd, wife of Shepherd, efq. of Styles-hill, near Frome. Mrs Harriet Le Merchant, daughter of the late Mr. Le Merchant, of Guernsey. Alexander Bailey, efq. In the prime of life, Mifs Parfons, fecond daughter of Mr T. Parfons. Mrs. Key. Mrs. Wood. Gandfey. Aged 89, William Melmoth, efq. the elegant tranflator of Pliny's and Cicero's Epiftles, and author of the celebrated letters published under the name of Sir Thomas Fitzolborne. Mr. Melmoth was the fon of the pious author of "The Great Importance of a Religious Life." During the last thirty years of his life, he conftantly refided in the house where he died.

At Bristol, Mrs. Gingell, widow. Mr. T. Thomas. Mrs. Britain, wife of Mr. Britain, porter-brewer. Capt. G. Greenway. Mr. Wilkinfon, gun-maker. Aged 74, Mr. Mr. T. W. Long, cuftom-house officer. Woodward, timber-merchant. Mifs Mary Rice. Mrs. Hurley, wife of Mr. Hurley, wine-merchant. Mrs. Dolman. Mrs. Batten. Aged 71, General Skinner. Aged 81,

Mrs. Beck.

At Redland-Court-House, near Briftol, Lady Holt.

At Urrington, Mrs. Webb, relic of the late Rev. S. Webb, rector of Wingford and Box. At Martock, aged 86, Rev. W. Baker, many years minifter of a diffenting congregation.

At Broom-hills, in the parish of Newland, aged 84, Mr. George White, who had lived tenant under three generations.

DEVONSHIRE.

Married.] At St. Thomas, near Exeter, Lieutenant Watkins, of the Wiltshire militia, to Mifs Otto, daughter of the late John Otto Baijer, efq.

Died.] At Exmouth, Dr. Ford, an eminent phyfician.

At Tiverton, Mr. Gideon Acland, many years a refpectable tradesman.

S.

eminent

Mifs

At Norton, near Taunton, in the prime of life, Mifs Norman, daughter of Mr. Norman. Mifs Collier. At Exeter, Mr. John Hern. Rev. John Vye, late rector of Rockbear. Weymouth, efq. many years an wholefale druggift. Mr. Parker, fen. Mare, daughter of Mr. Mare, of the whitelion inn. Mr. Dingles. Mr. Sanderfon, furgeon of the Somersetshire militia. At Tavistock, Mrs. Branscombe, widow of the late Mr. Branscombe.

At St. Thomas's, near Exeter, aged 89, Mr. Afh, a refpectable gardender and feedsman. At Charleton, Mrs. Tickell, wife of the Rev. W. Tickell.

At Chumleigh, Sabaftian Watkins, mu

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Married.] At Denbigh, Mr. Daniel Jones woollen-draper, of Liverpool, to Mifs Jane Evans, daughter of Mr. William Evans, of Park-y-Twll, Denbighshire.

At Baidgend, Glamorganshire, the Rev. Mr. Griffith, to Mifs K. Paterfon, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Paterfon, phyfician, of Margam, and formerly of Bristol.

Died.] At Llanrhaiadaryn, Mochnant, aged 108, Marriat Lewis, who retained her mental faculties till within a few days of her deceafe.

At Gregynog, Montgomeryshire, Francis Lloyd, efq. M. P. for that county.

At Cardigan, Mifs Dorothy Williams, daughter of William Williams, efq. of Tre vạch.

At Hay, in Breconshire, Mrs. E. Davies, of the black lion inn.

At Tenby, Mr. John Lock. Mr. William Harris, of the ball inn.

SCOTLAND.

Married.] At Harcherfield, near Haddington, the Right Honourable the Earl of Elgin, to Mifs Nefbitt.

At Inverness, Major David Rofs, of the 71ft regiment, to Mifs Catherine Smith.

At Weit Field near Dundee, James Watt, efq. to Mifs Cornelia Aletta de Wilt.

At Gordon Mills near Aberdeen, William Anderfon, efq. merchant, to Mifs Jane Still.

Died.] At Edingburgh, Duncan M'Millan, writer. George Halbank, efq. Aged 85, the Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Kerr. Alexander Smol let, efq. Aged 103, Mrs. Mary Anne Ma

rine.

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Lately at Glasgow, Mrs. Sinclair, who had ferved the public with integrity and zeal as matron of the Town's Hofpital for 23 years. From Ayr, where he was born 1736, the was brought to Glasgow very young, and in 1-54 married James Sinclair, burgefs and freeman wright of that city. For fome years they enjoyed profperity, but loft all their children in infancy; and the hufband having at laft embarraffed his circumftances through diffipation, abandoned his wife, then pregmant with her fifth child. Stripped of every thing, she was left without neceffaries for herfelf, or the infant whom the bore foon after this cruel reverfe: but inftead of finking under it, her erect, undaunted fpirit rofe fuperior to misfortune. Confcious of having done her duty, refolved to do it ftill, maternal anxiety for a destitute child, far from retarding, feemed to quicken her recovery; and as the was one of thofe who really believed that a gracious Providence, guarding all the upright, watches particularly over the orphan, the hoped, by economy and patient industry, to procure fubfiftence. Expert at every kind of needlework, after a very short confinement, the Jaboured fteadily from morning till night, and foon began to teach a number of girls, of whom many are now refpectably fettled in life, and all of them mention their old miftrefs with gratitude and veneration. From her earnings, fcanty as they must have been, fhe fupported an aged mother for many years. She never faw her husband again; and her laft child, the companion of her folitudealmoft the only joy of her heart-followed the reft to an early grave. In 1775 there was a vacancy in the Town's Hofpital, and many applied with recommendations much more ample than Mrs. Sinclair's. Some gentlemen, however, with great good fenfe, refolved to examine the different candidates in a way admirably calculated to check the recommendations. For this purpofe, without previous notice, they vifited each pretty early, and found most of them in a fituation which extorted apologies; but from Mrs. Sinclair they heard none. At an early hour they found her dreifed; all her fimple furniture perfectly clean, and ranged in exact order; herfelf ficting amit her little fcholars, who wrought around her. This determined their choice: the other managers, after a full investigation, confirmed it, and the event has proved the fagacity by which it was guided. The Hofpital, over which he prefided, contains at prefent 400 people, viz. 140 children, and 290 aged, of whom about 86 are too old and infirm to labour. There are befides at nurfe about 100 children, for whom clothes are provided from the Hofpital. For this establishment there are two fervants only, a circumftance that aftonished Mr. Howard, accustomed as he was to English hofpitals, in which, if we are not mifinformed, there is no inftance of fo much work

Ne

being done at an expence fo trifling. Too much praife on this fcore cannot be given to the preceptor and other gentlemen, who vifit the Hofpital daily, to fecond and prompt the efforts of the matron; but much depended on herfelf. She went to every place; the faw every thing under her charge executed; the diftributed proper employments to every perfon capable of labour; nay, with fingular penetration, for of that the poffeffed an uncommon fhare, fhe trained to useful labours feveral ideots, whom others would have left in idleness, or doomed to a cell. Along with proper education, the children have always been inured to work (fometimes perhaps rather too much); and twelve years ago Mrs. Sinclair introduced among the girls the manufacture of lace. For fome time it was unpromising, but the perfevered with her wonted fteadinefs, and the profits from it now are fufficient to maintain and educate forty girls annually. Her attention to those who could work never made her neglect the fick, whom she treated with the utmost care and tenderness. I mention this particularly, because I have frequently witneffed it, though I have heard fome, who did not know the people fhe had to deal with, cenfure her manner as fevere and starn. ver was a cenfure lefs merited. Subordina tion and difcipline, indeed, the enforced, becaufe fhe knew them to be effentially neceffary; and fhe fet an example of obedience to fuperiors in her own conduct; for, notwithftanding the length of her fervices; notwithftanding the marked attention which the experienced from the preceptor, and all the managers; though he was ever ready to ferve the house, whether in her own department or not, I know no inftance of her making one innovation or exercifing any power, without explicit authority. Her unremitting exertions at laft overpowered a conftitution, exhaufted by the toils, perhaps, fhattered by the calamaties of her youth. She had a prefentiment of her fate, which the mentioned with folemnity indeed, but with no improper concern, because it had been the great bufinefs of her life to prepare for that event. She was foon after truck with an apoplexy during the night, and, after languifhing eight days, the expired in the 62d year of her age. Her character has been fufficiently delineated by defcribing her conduct, in which exaggeration has been fo carefully avoided, that to fome the colouring will appear faint, and the expreffion cold. For the correctnefs of the outline, an appeal to every gentleman who has interested himfelf in the management of the poor, will vouch for. So generally were the merits of Mrs. Sinclair known, that fome years ago, when the Royal Infirmary was about to be opened, every one thought of her as the fittelt perfon for taking charge of that inftitution, but fhe was too much attached to the managers, whom the had long ferved, to quit her place.

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At one of their stated weekly meetings, the worthy preceptor, who had the most frequent Opportunities of obferving her merit, moved the following refolution :-" The Committee being of opinion, that fome public teftimony fhould be given of the fenfe they entertain of Mrs. Sinclair's great merit and ufefulness in the execution of her office for upwards of twenty years, propofe, that the expences of her funeral fhould be defrayed at the public charge." The motion paffed unanimously, with expreffions of fincere regret for the lofs of fuch a matron, and ardent wishes that her fucceffor might prove her equal. Glasgow Cou

rier.

DEATHS ABROAD.

Letters, both public and private, received from America, about a month ago, brought intelligence that Robert Merry died fuddenly on the 24th of December, at Baltimore, in Maryland, of an apoplectic diforder, induced, as is apprehended, from a plethora and a want of due exercife.

The latter part of the life of this defervedly admired man, fo far as it attracts the notice of the biographer, exhibits two colourings of nearly equal ftrength: viz. the poetical and political. The preceding, after his introduction into the world, was tinctured with extravagance and diffipation; vices two general and fashionable at that period, to allow a lively turn and pliant difpofition to be fecure from their infection.

His father had acquired more than a competency by trade, and had a relifh for its advantages and profits: but the aunt of our young hero, had fentiments of a loftier caft, and the prevailed on her brother to allow her to prefcribe the regimen for her nephew's education. This propofal, which could not but be agreeable to puerile ambition, was no lefs readily acquiefced in by the father, from a well poifed confideration of intereft; and the first foundation of the gentleman, in young Merry, was laid by that great literary character Dr. Parr. From the Doctor he went to Christ College, Oxford, where he made an intima e acquaintance, which, at one time, was thought might have greatly aided his advancement in life. This acquaintance, however, did not ripen into the expected fruit; probably for want of cultivation.

The profeffion of divinity and law were canvaffed by Mr. Merry's relations in order to make a choice for him. But as he was not grave enough in countenance for the parfon, it was refolved, he should be a lawyer; and he accordingly entered a ftudent of Lincoln's-Inn. Why this line was not purfued does not appear; as on the death of his father he purchafed a commiffion in the horfeguards; and he entered into that corps at a period when it was difficult to decide whether its devotion to the rofy god, and cyprian goddefs, did not outdo its zeal in the fervice of Bellona. And gracefully

The myrtle of Venus with

to entwine, Bacchus's vine,

was as favourable a recommendation to the officers of that mefs, as any perfection in exercife could be to a martinet general. It is fuficient to fay, that this young, this handfome recruit, was introduced to, and drilled by Captain Otgar and Co. and it must be acknowledged that a more dafbing fquad could not be found in any of the king's dominions.

A military life, however it might for awhile gratify the youthful vanity of our hero, did not long engage his heart.

To gain diftinétion as a foldier, a man mut love the profeflion; he must give himself wholly up to it, as an art and science: this, cornet Merry could not do, and therefore he had no hope of ever attaining to an eminence in the career. A lieutenancy and adjutancy were the highest commiflions he ever held in the army, and these he difpofed of with the refolution to travel on the continent.

Like the bees on Hybla's banks our rover tafted of every fweet within his reach: but Florence chiefly engaged his attention, not to fay his affection. The charms of a well known lady of quality fafcinated his eyes, penetrated his heart, and for a time fixed him to the spot. Italy, in his mind, furpaffed all countries under heaven for realising the plea fures of the imagination. And it might perhaps better become the vivid pen of an Ovid, than the cooler one of an hiftorian, or writer of a memoir, to dwell on the voluptuous fcenes in which he was fo favoured an actor. As the lady was a married woman, delicacy forbids us to hint at what might be the probable confequences of thofe intimacies between the English Eneas and the Italian Dido. The difcuffion alone might lead, if not to the interruption, of private happinefs, at least to the fufpicion, that the laws of primogeniture do not, in all cafes, anfwer the intention of their framers. Let us therefore throw a veil over the picture which gives rife to fuch pain ful and fcrutiniting ideas. The inquifitive after records of gallantry may feek them on the fpot. The waters of the gilded Po and white stream Tibris have often reflected the lovers images, and the banks of the fwifter Arno, and all the haunts of voluptuoufness with which that region of delights abounds, have heard their vows. Whether the first of thefe rivers, fo famed of old for extinguishing the ambition of a Phaeton, contributed to quench the flame of our hero, or whether fober reafon took its turn to reign, we find literature began to exercife its wonted afcendancy over his enlightened mind.

Senfual pleafures had never fo wholly poffeffed him as not to allow him leifure for intellectual improvement. By the engagingnefs of his manners, and the influence of the connexion fpoken of, he had made an acquaintance with feveral perfons, natives as well as foreigners, diftinguished as literati in the circles of fashion. He was elected a member of the celebrated Academy Della Crufca, and was eafily perfuaded to engage with feveral of his country folks of both

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