Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/111

Rh widows and children. A truly laudable charity.

The West India mail brought a confirmation of the news we had heard before of the Buckingham and Cambridge attacking and levelling with the ground, a small fort in Grand Ance bay on the island of Martinico, and destroying three privateers, and converting the fourth into a tender. But what does the greatest honour to Captain Tyrrel, the commodore, is the following incident; when the fort was demolished, a village situated close by it was a strong temptation to men flushed with victory to attack, and they sollicited warmly for leave to destroy it; but their brave commander replied, 'Gentlemen, it is beneath us to render a number of poor people miserable, by destroying their habitations and little conveniencies of life; brave Englishmen scorn to distress even their enemies when not in arms against them:' This prevailed, and saved the lives of the innocent villagers.

His Catholic Majesty was pleased to declare the Conde de Fuentes, who is appointed ambassador to Great Britain, a grandee of Spain, and one of the gentlemen of his bedchamber.

The felons in Newgate intended for transportation, in order to make their escape, had sawed thro' eight iron bars, each as thick as a man's wrist, except enough to keep them together, and filled up the notches with dirt and iron rust to prevent a discovery, but not succeeding in their attempt, the ringleaders were chained to the floor, as is usual.—There has been a scheme much talked of for pulling down this gaol, and rebuilding it in a stronger and more commodious manner.

Florence Hensey, M. D. was brought to trial at the court of King's-bench in Westminster-hall, on an indictment for high treason, before the Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, the Judges Dennison, Foster, and Wilmot: The council for the crown were the attorney and solicitor general, Sir Richard Lloyd, Mr. Norton, Mr. Parratt, Mr. Gould, and Mr. Serjeant Pool. The council for the prisoner were Mr. Moreton, and the Hon. Mr. Howard.

Several of his letters were produced in evidence against him, in one of which he sollicits employment from a fellow-student at Leyden, who is promoted in France, and professes great regard for the French nation, offering his best services not only from interest but inclination.

In the course of the trial it appeared, that soon after the declaration of war in 1756, he became a pensioner to France, and agreed for 100 guineas a year to give the best intelligence he could of the state of affairs in this kingdom. But a difference afterwards arising about his salary, which he represented as too small, and as an argument in his favour, said he belonged to a club in the Strand (from which he could gain great intelligence) at which they always drank French wine at dinner; the correspondence appears to have been some time discontinued: but in January 1757, it was agreed, that the doctor should receive 20 guineas a month, on condition of sending intelligence every post, but to forfeit a guinea for every omis-