20th.
By an advertisement relating to Mr. Dingley's plan, it appears, that 3114l. 17s. had been subscribed to carry it into execution.
Four French ships, part of seventeen, which sailed the first instant from Bourdeaux, laden with provisions and stores for Canada, and said to be under convoy of a large privateer of 54 guns, and two frigates, were brought into Falmouth by Commodore Keppel's squadron.
21st. An account was received of a dreadful fire at Bridge-town in Barbadoes, which in February last had consumed 120 houses; and besides that the crops in that island were very short, having had little rain in the rainy season.
A waggon was burnt on Salisbury-plain, laden with the whole rich wardrobe, scenery, and apparatus of the Bath theatre; besides the entire property of each performer belonging to it. Some miles before the waggon reached Salisbury, a servant of the theatre told the driver that the wheel would take fire, intreating him to stop and unload; but the fellow still persisted in keeping on his way, and gave for reason, that he had driven twelve miles with his wheels smoaking. About three miles from this city, the flame burst out, and before ten boxes could be preserved, the whole waggon was consumed. The damage is said to amount to 2000l.
23d. Two Stonehaven boats being out a fishing about six leagues from the land, a large French privateer brought aboard both their crews, used them civilly, paid them for their fish, and after detaining them two hours, dismissed them when about nine miles from land. The fishermen report, that this ship mounts 40 guns, and carries 300 men, besides marines. There were no ransomers on board, and it appears that she had just begun her cruize. [Stonehaven is about ten Scotch miles from Aberdeen.]
A discovery of the highest utility has lately been made at Edinburgh, and already sufficiently confirmed by a number of successful experiments: Dr. Francis Hume has inoculated for the measles, and has produced a disease free from all alarming symptoms.
30th. At a store cellar in Pall-Mall, Mrs. Hucks's cooper, and a chairman, who went down after him, were both suffocated, as supposed by the steam of 40 butts of unstopped beer. [It might be of use to the public if some of our ingenious correspondents would account for this accident.]
The following account of the ages of ten persons in the borough of Hoath in Kent, eight of whom lived within a quarter of a mile of each other, and the other two but at a small diftance, is attested by good authority; Thomas Darby 89 years and a half; Richard Steed 87; William Chandler 77 and a half; Ann Chriftian 76; William Brice 79 and a half; Sufanna Wix 87; Jane Thompson 76; Amy Matthews 82 and a quarter; Elizabeth Brice 74; and Thomas Carey 78; in all 806 years and three quarters.
A society has been lately erected at Glasgow, under the name of the Glasgow charitable marine society; the end of which is to provide for such seamen as shall become old or disabled in the service of the merchants of that city; and also to afford relief for their poorwidows
