fort. Thofe people have therefore caufed a memorial on the subject, drawn up in very strong terms, be fent to each of the Protestant princes in the empire, through whofe powerful interceffion they yet hope to procure what they have fo long foliched for in vain. His PRUSSIAN Majefty gives great attention to increase the number of inhabitants, to promote the cultivation of lands, and to make commerce and manufactories flourish, throughout his dominions. In purfuance of thefe views, he gives confiderable encouragement to foreigners, feveral thoufands of whom have gone from France, and other places, to fettle under his protection. By an authentic account it appears that the inhabitants of Pomerania alone are near 6000 more numerous than they were in 1746, and that a large track in that province, lying along the Oder, which was looked upon as a barren waste, has been improved, and caused to make a figure quite different from what it did, in confequence of his Majesty's wife conduct and regulations. Surveys are alfo taking of the other provinces, where it is expected that no iefs contiderable improvements will be -found. He likewife continues to give particular encouragement to the Afiatic company established at Embden, which has fent two fhips to China; befides which he is taking measures for fetting up fome new manufactories. That of refining fugar having already come to fome perfection, an edict has been published, forbidding the importation of any refined fugars from foreign countries.At the end of the year the Pruflian troops on foot were reckoned to be 131,300 effective men. The exercise some time ago introduced among thofe troops having been adopted, in whole or in part, by moft of the powers of Europe, fome new improvements in it have been contrived, and orders given for putting them in execution.On the 17th of June, his Royal Highness Prince Henry, the King's rother, was married to the Princefs Guilhelmina of Heffe. Disputes have arifen between his Prufian Majesty and the courts of both London and Hanover. That with the latter was occafioned by a memorial, which his Britannic Majefty caused be presented, early in the year, to the diet at Ratifion, not only to referve all the rights of his Electoral family to Eat-trielana, but also to demand that the King of Pruffia, as Elector of Brandenburg, fhould be referred, for the decifion of that affair, to the judgment of the Emperor and the Aulic council of the empire, notwithstanding his Pruffian Majefty had formerly declared, that he should not be confined to the determination of that tribunal. Though the Brandenburg minifter, alledging that the matter should have been previoufly communicated to him, entered a rong proteftation against the diet's proceeding, yet they foon entered upon the confideration of it. Both the mo❤ narchs wrote circular letters to the mem→ bers of the empire, recommending to them their respective interests and claims; and feverally fent to the diet memorials, in the way of anfwer and reply. No determination has hitherto been made in the cafe. Not a few are of opinion, that the pretenfions of the houfe of Hanover are not without foundation; but there feems to be a rather more general fuppofition, that thefe pretenfions would not probably have been heard of at prefent, had there not hopes been entertained, that they might contribute towards obtaining the vote of Brandenburg for the Archduke Jofeph to be King of the Romans. His Pruffian Majefty's difpofition, however, has, fince that bufinefs was put in agitation, looked more like refentment, than complaifance, or a proneness to negotiation. This in part appears from the vigorous manner in which he now carries on the other difpute that he has for fome time had with the court of London. The occafion of it was thus. During the late war, feveral fhips belonging to the fubjects of his Pruffian Majefty were taken by the British, and condemned as legal prizes, under the notion of carrying on a contraband trade, that is, having on board provifions or warlike ftores defigned for the declared enemies of G. Britain. This the King of Pruffia complained of, both at that time and fince; with what justice, or appearance of it, we A fummary of the public affairs in 1752. we cannot determine. In the mean time, he abfolutely denies that thefe velfels were in the cafe of contraband; and his minifter at London has lately declared, that till the just demands of his fubjects for thofe fhips, being eighteen in number, with their cargoes, and damages and intereft, be fatisfied, he has refolved to stop an indemnification out of the last pay ment of the fums borrowed from British fubjects, by the late Emperor Charles VI. upon mortgages in Silefia, which was ceded to his Majesty with the burden of paying that loan. The Pruffian monarch's commiffaries, one of whom was the famous Baron Cocceius, have estimated the indemnification at 194,700 Brandenburg crowns; but a term of three months is allowed the parties concerned to make good their objections againft this eftimate, if they think it too high. The British miniftry made an anfwer to what had been advanced on this fubject; but it was not published at the end of the year. The treaty for fecuring the repofe of ITALY, concluded at Madrid in 1751, between their Imperial and Catholic Majefties, has fince been renewed jointly with the King of Sardinia as a principal contracting party, with fome alterations. By it, 1. The fucceffion of the Empress Queen to the eftates of Parma and Placentia, already ftipulated in the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in cafe the King of the Two Sicilies thould afcend the throne of Spain, or the Infant Don Philip thould die without iffue, is confirmed; excepting out of those estates the territories and towns, which, under any title whatfoever, might be added or reunited to them. 2. The contracting powers guaranty all the rights and titles of the Duke of Parma and Placentia, to the territories and towns that may be proved to have been alienated without a juft caufe, if he have iffue, and do not fucceed to the crown of the Two Sicilies; in which cafes, according to the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, thofe duchies are always to remain to him. 3. The Duke of Parma is allowed to raife new fortifications in his dominions. 4. The Catholic King renounces all pretenfions to the duchy of Milan. 5. The King of Sardinia may not grant a paffage Vol. x through any part of his dominions to t troops of foreign powers, without previous confent of the powers any w concerned in this treaty. 6. His Sar nian Majefty renounces all his pretenfio to Sicily. The other articles ftipulate fuccours of troops that fhall be respective furnished by thofe powers, and by t King of Naples, the Grand Duke Tuscany, and the Duke of Parma, cafe Auftrian Lombardy, or the domi ons of his Catholic Majefty in Europ or any of the territories of any of the others powers, be attacked in an hofti manner. We were once told, that th Duke of Modena had acceded to th treaty, but it was contradicted by fuble quent advices. As to the feveral particular Italia ftates, nothing material has happened VENICE through the year, but that th Doge, Signior Petre Grimani, died, the 6th of March, in the 75th year his age; and was fucceeded by Signi Francefco Loredon. His SARDINIAN Majefty's princip cares have been employed about t means of caufing trade flourish in his d minions; for which purpose he has co cluded a treaty of commerce with court of Vienna, and taken measures establish filk manufactories at Asti, Ak andria, and fome other places. In ord that the working hands may beco more numerous, he has afresh prohibi the leaving of eftates to monafteri and declared, that all fums paid yea by fuch monafteries to private perfo out of eftates that have been left th for thofe ufes, fhall, after the death fuch perfons, be paid to the crown. ftep, however, has been taken, wh natural tendency is to make his fubj fewer; an ordinance having been blished in Savoy, injoining all the Fre and Swifs Proteftants fettled in the te tories of St Victor and Chapitre, to re with their effects in three months. 7 regency of Geneva interceded for revocation of this edict, but without fect. Orders have been given, to pair fuch of the fortifications in Sav as had been neglected fince the refte tion of peace. The republic of GENOA has likewife been deprived of its Doge by death; and he is fucceeded by John Baptist Grimaldi. -Ever fince the restoration of peace, the French have had a body of troops in Carfica, under the colour of maintaining order among the inhabitants, till his Moft Christian Majesty should make regulations for determining differences between them and the Genoefe, their old masters. The fituation of affairs in that ifland has been very little altered during the year; only that the French troops were reinforced, and that the Marquis de Curzay, who commanded them, was lately arrefted, and carried to France. Various conjectures have been formed concerning the reafon of this latter event; but we have heard nothing certain about it, and perhaps it is no more at bottom than a new piece of French fineffe. Befides thefe circumstances, we have indeed several times been amufed with accounts, one while that the Corficans were on the point of fubmitting again to the Genoefe on the terms propofed by the French King, next that they were flying to arms, and then that all was quiet. At one time we would be told that the French troops were to be recalled; this would be followed with the news of fome circumftance that had given occafion to the mistake; and our latest accounts bore, that the natives were divided into three factions, one being in the intereft of France, another in that of Genoa, and a third declared enemies to both. All thofe advices ferved only to divert more knowing people, who still think there is pretty good reafon for the general opinion which has prevailed, namely, that there is a negotiation on foot, for the government of Genoa to fell the fovereignty of the island, in order to its being erected into a kingdom for the Duke of Parma, or the Infant Don Lewis Cardinal of Bourbon, both brothers of his Catholic Majefty; or perhaps that the bargain is already concluded, and France keeps the poffeffion till a proper time, for making it public. That the Duke of PARMA may be the better enabled to fupport the expences of his court, the King of Spain, his halfVOL. XV. brother, has granted him an augmentation of 150,000 piafters to his penfion. The Duchefs, a daughter of his Moft Chriftian Majefty, made a journey laft fummer to Paris, where fhe ftill remains. There was various talk about the motives which induced her again to leave the Infant her confort, after being absent from him during great part of the late war fome pretending, that he was disgusted at being obliged to live upon precarious Spanish fubfidies; while others faid, that the Infant had an attachment, which gave her fuch offence as to occafion this feparation, and that she will never more return to Italy. His Serene Highness the Duke of MoDENA has established a company of merchants at Maffa, to make a push for ma king commerce flourish at the new port of Lavenza. This has alarmed the regency of TUSCANY, who have reafon to fear a proportionable diminution of trade. The court of Vienna, reckoning that the marquifate of ST MARTIN is devolved to the empire as an immediate fief, by the death of the last male heir of the houfe of Efte, has caufed poffeffion be taken of it in the Emperor's name, intending to unite it to the duchy of Mantua, notwithstanding a protest of the Duke of Modena, who claims the property of it. At ROME measures have been taken for promoting commerce, in conformity to the fpirit which fo generally prevails throughout Europe. For this end Ancona has been made a free port. The famous Cardinal Alberoni having died at Placentia, in June, 88 years of age; Cardinal Spinola at Albona, in Auguft, 72 years; and Cardinal Riviera at Rome, in November, 81 years; there are at prefent fifteen hats vacant in the facred college.- -Five Jefuits arrived at Rome from China in the beginning of fummer, who made a very lamentable report to the Pope concerning the millions in those parts for fome years paft; but news have been fince received, that the perfecutions against the converts to Chriftianity, as taught by the Jefuits in China, have ceafed.A fubfcription has been fet on foot by fome British noblemen and gentleC men, 14 A fummary of the public affairs in 752, men, for an academy at Rome, in which ftudents of their country in painting and fculpture, who are not in a condition to profecute their ftudies at their own expence, may receive all the advantages that foreigners, efpecially the French, derive from fuch foundations.--The King of Spain has fettled a penfion of 4000 crowns on Cardinal York. A breach between that Cardinal and his father, the Chevalier de St George, to which there had been a tendency for fome time before, broke out about the 10th of July. The fon then left his father's palace, and retired to a convent; from whence he wrote a letter to the Chevalier, containing the motives to his taking this step. Accor ding to the accounts we have received of the affair, the father alledged, that an Abbé, named Lercari, had got a very dangerous afcendency over his fon, in filling into him the worst of counfels; and therefore got the Pope induced to or der him away to Genoa. This, we were told, provoked the Cardinal fo much, as engaged him to leave his father's palace, notwithstanding all the endeavours of common friends to prevent matters going to fuch a height. He, on his fide, complained, that prejudices had been raifed in the Chevalier's mind, by perfons who had got an undeferved afcendency over him; at the fame time afferting, that no one could be more faithful than Lercari, and that the most unreferved confidence was no more than was due to his qualities. The father by letter forbade his having any manner of intercourfe with the Abbe, infifting upon the authority of both a king and a father to be obeyed; but the fon thought, that, at his age, and in his ftation, he owed only honour and friendship, and obedience just so far as he found it reasonable. During this difference, the Cardinal firft retreated to Nocera, returned as far as Tuligno, then went to Bologna, and from that to Ferrara; all the time declaring, that he was determined to be feen no more at Rome, unless the Abbé Lercari were allowed to attend him publicly in the fame poft he formerly held. While he was at Ferrara, the breach was made up, by the mediation of the Pope, fome Cardinals, and Vol. x Abo other friends; and on the 21st of N Towards the end of the year, ther were letters from Rome, and other pla ces, which either faid, or infinuated, tha the young pretenaer, eldest son of the Che valier de St George, had fold all his e fects, and difperfed his family, at Avig non, a town with a territory belonging to the Pope in the fouth of France; and that near the fame time, he had renoun ced the Romish religion at Berlin. Since his SICILIAN Majefty afcended the throne, he has been still gradually diminishing the Papal influence in his do minions, To this end he has ordered that, for the future, no layman fhall be fummoned to the court of Rome, for af fairs relating to the fpiritual jurisdiction, In imitation of his Pruffian Majefty, a new regulation is to be introduced in re gard to the administration of juftice; for which purpose a fyftem of laws is prepa ring. His Majelty alfo adopted the ex ercife of the Pruffian troops last year. company was lately established at Melli na, for fetting up manufactories of filk ftuff, and camblet, which are to be ex empted from all kinds of duties for ten years; and measures are taking that not half fo much raw filk as formerly fhall be exported. They have hit upon a new mine of curiofities in the fubterraneous city of Herculaneum, out of which have already been taken fix marble statues an ciently used in facrifices, and a compleat collection of chirurgical inftruments. What was faid in 1751, concerning refolution taken by the court of SPAIN to to prohibit the exportation of wool, now appears to have been without foundation; it being only defirous to prevent that commodity from being carried off clande ftinely without licences, that there may always remain a fufficient quantity to fupply the manufactories of the kingdom, which are carried on with confiderable fuccefs. In imitation of feveral powers, his Catholic Majefty intends to establish a military fchool for the education of young noblemen; into which the fons of invalid officers, and of those who have died in the fervice of the crown, are to be received preferably to any others. They tell us, that the royal navy, inclu ding hips on the stocks, now confifts of an hundred men of war, viz. lixty-four from 90 to 60 guns, and thirty-fix from 50 guns to zo. There are 700 men at work in the harbour of Ferrol, fome of them being employed in enlarging that port, and the rest in the yards and docks. It is reckoned that they have near 300 foreign hands building war-fhips, more than half of whom are British or Irish. A very confiderable number of failors and fea-officers from Sweden, and also many British and Irish failors, have lately arrived at Cadiz, to serve in the marine. A bout 7000 men are going to enlarge the port of Carthagena, fo that it may con tain a numerous fleet, which from thence will have an opportunity of joiring any French fleet from Toulon, without being obliged to pass by Gibraltar.The regency of Hamburg having concluded a treaty of commerce in 1751 with the Emperor of Morocco, by which they engaged to furnish him with arms and am munition, befides fending him a largo prefent of these commodities and naval ftores; upon notice of this his Catholic Majefty prohibited all manner of commerce with the Hamburghers. To pro cure the repeal of that decree, and reinftate themselves in the King of Spain's favour, the regency of Hamburg have been obliged formally to renounce all engagements of every kind with Morocco and the states of Barbary. The King of PORTUGAL, refolving not to be idle while his neighbours are fo intent upon increafing their marine, refol ved in February last year to have eight fhips of 70 guns, and feven frigats of 22 guns cach, built for him in the Lorth; for which purpose commiffions we e fent to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Hamburg, and Dantzick. He has also engaged two Britons, lately arrived at Lifton, to build twenty fhips of the line, and feveral frigats. They are completing the old regiments, and putting the fortifications into proper repair. The power of the inquifition is fo much abridged, that it will not be able to do near fo much milchief as formerly; and fome additional hands have been got from Lyons in France, for carrying on the manufactory of filk, which was fet up in 1751. In fhort, they tell us, that every thing re lating to the ftate feems to carry a new face, fince the acceffion of his prefent Portuguese Majefty to the throne.Early in the year the court made a demand on the British merchants and fac→ tors refiding at Lisbon, to produce their books, in order to know what fums of money they remitted home to Britain onthe balance. This was done on an alledged discovery of frauds and prevarications, in a furreptitious conveyance of gold and filver coin out of the kingdom. The British merchants and factors had a meeting, in which they agreed, if their excufes fhould be of no weight, flatly to refufe the producing of their books. That gold had been fent to Britain, they did not deny; but averred, that it had been done without any fraud or oblique prac tices, being money received on the ba lance of accounts. On the other hand, the Portuguese alledged, that, for fome years paft, the coin carried out of the kingdom had far exceeded any fuch balance. Mean while, on the receipt of this news, the merchants at London concerned in the trade with Portugal, waited on his Britannic Majefty with an account of the whole affair. In confequence of this, the Lord Tyrawley was fent to Lif bon, and foon adjusted the matter to the fatisfaction of both courts. During the year the piratical ftates of BARBARY have continued to make depredations in the Mediterranean, particu larly on the merchants of Italy and Spain. C 2 There |