Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/104

90 action (it being supposed to be done wilfully and maliciously), and the city offered a reward of 200l. for the same purpose. The Lord Mayor licensed 40 boats extraordinary to work on the three succeeding Lord's days, whose stations were advertised in the public papers, and a great number of hands were set to work to make a passage over the remains of the old bridge. This unhappy accident proved very detrimental to the inhabitants on each side the bridge, and put a great stop to the trade of London and Southwark. The inhabitants of the Borough were also greatly distressed, by the destroying the troughs, which conveyed water to them during the repairing of the bridge.

Baron Kniphausen, minister plenipotentiary from the King of Prussia, had his first audience of his majesty, and on the 13th, of the Prince of Wales and the Princess Dowager.

A proof was made at Paris of a cannon of a new invention, which fires sixty times in ten minutes without spunging. With a proper charge of powder it carries 100 weight of lead, and one man may bear its carriage. Another cannon of like construction has been proved in Prussia.

London-bridge was opened for foot-passengers, in the reparation of which above 500 workmen were constantly employed, Sundays not excepted.

James White, aged 23, and Walter White, his brother, aged 22, were executed at Kennington Common, for breaking open and robbing the dwelling-house of farmer Vincent of Crauley. They acknowledged the justness of their sentence, but laid their ruin to an accomplice, who, they declared, decoyed them from their labouring work, by telling them how easily money was to be got by thieving.—While the unhappy wretches were hanging, a child about nine months old was put into the hands of the executioner, who nine times, with one of the hands of each of the dead bodies, stroked the child over the face. It seems the child had a wen on one of its cheeks, and that superftitious notion, which has long prevailed, of being touched as before mentioned, is looked on as a cure.

Was held the anniversary meeting of the sons of the clergy; at which were present his grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, president, and the Lord Chief Justice Willes, vice president of the coporation, the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Bishops of Ely, Lincoln, Carlisle, Salisbury, Rochester, Litchfield, Chester, Gloucester and St. David's, and most of the Aldermen. The sermon was preached by the Reverend Dr. Ibbetson, archdeacon of St. Alban's, and the collection in the whole (including a bank note of 100l. given by Samson Gideon, Esq;) amounted to 1066l. 14s. which is above 150l. more than last year.

"On the third instant, about sun-rise, at this place was a fog of so strange and extraordinary appearance, that it filled us all with amazement. It came in great bo-