fifted, and the publick agreeably entertained. And we must own, that the chearful help we have received from most parts of this kingdom, gives yet further hopes of fuccefs, as it proves that the real intention of The SCOTS MAGAZINE is agreeable to those upon whofe favour it muft principally, if not entirely, depend.

We hope our conduct, with refpect to our correfpondents, has convinced them of an unbiaffed regard to whatever they have favoured us with, by giving all poffible attention to what Effays we have receiv'd in verfe or profe. When we have return'd any, without inferting them, we hope the reafons given for fuch omiffions have been fatisfactory: And if the authors of those which have been omitted and not called for, will be pleased to reflect, the cause of our omitting them will be easily discovered: for, as no private views have influenced our choice, and as originals are fo acceptable to all readers, it is evidently against our inclination to leave out any we receive. Many we have now by us which will foon appear: but when the nature of a Magazine is confidered, we fhall not be blamed for fmall delays, which are fometimes unavoidable.

IMPARTIALITY is fo neceffary in a compiler, that we doubt not but our readers will excufe our inferting fome fentiments they may not altogether approve, and fome that feem even inconfiftent with each other. In Religion and Politicks, especially, it is impoffible to avoid offering what fome will admire whilft others difapprove: In the latter, to avoid the tedious controverfial differtations between one writer and another, we have chiefly confined ourselves to Effays upon the most important and interefting fubjects.

WE fhall only add, that as our ftudy is to inftruct and entertain, in fuch manner as is moft agreeable to our readers, we shall chearfully comply with any hints given for the improvement of our defign; and beg leave to repeat it again, that before every thing elfe, whatever concerns the intereft of this kingdom, fhall always be preferred; for as our labours, fo are our wishes employed on the PROSPERITY OF SCOTLAND,

EDINBURGH, Dec. 31.

1739.

THE

SCOTS MAGAZINE,

AND

GENERAL INTELLIGENCER.

NEMO ME IMPUNE LACES SET

JANUARY, 1739.

To be continued every Month. Price Sixpence each.

N. B. As it is propofed to make this Magazine a complete Chronicle of the Time from its commencement, we shall not infert any Political Debates, till we can offer thofe of the current year; which will be continued with all poffible care from the time of our beginning them, in the month of July.

EDINBURGH: Printed by W. SANDS, A. BRYMER, A. MURRAY and J. COCHRAN. Sold by the Bookfellers in Town and Country, and at the Printing-houfe in Burnet's Clofe. MDCCXXXIX.

Regulations in their religious ceremonies ib. The firft Pfalm imitated. To the Rt.

3

The SCOTS Magazine.

JANUARY, 1739.

A Summary of the State of EUROPE at the beginning of the Year 1739.

T

A

fhewn, that they want neither courage to fuftain an attack, nor judgment to improve an advantage: We have seen HE interefts of the feveral their frontiers invaded by two powerful Powers of EUROPE never empires, who fent four confiderable ar fluctuated more in time of mies upon them at one time, with fuch the most general war and rapidity as threatned no less than their confufion than they have for fome years meeting in the heart of the Sultan's dopaft; which yet have not been remark- minions; yet they have prevented alable for any great event tending to the moft every danger that threatned them advantage of Religion or Liberty: And from fo formidable an invafion, at the though every crown has been concerned Bleast expence of blood that can be imato facilitate or retard the views of the gined; a few well-judged marches and contending parties, it is not eafy to counter-marches having prevented the determine who has gained moft by the hazard of general engagements: and many schemes and alliances which have, fome flight blockades have avoided the more or less, alarmed every state in lofs of blood, the famine and mifery, Europe. C that conftantly attend fieges; Oczakow, Perecop, Niffa, Orfova, Ufitza, &c. having been taken from the Turks with much expence and difficulty, but re gained with uncommon ease.

D

The TURKISH empire has long been looked upon as able to raise a prodigious number of troops on any emergency; but thofe troops were commonly thought deftitute of the difcipline neceffary to enable an army to act with fuccefs; and their want of commanders fufficiently experienced in the art of war, has been used as one argument of the ease with which the Ottomans might be difpoffeffed of the many valuable E provinces they hold in Europe; and the great propenfity of the fubjects of the Porte to infurrection and rebellion, has helped to ftrengthen the opinion of its being incapable to withstand a general attack from the feveral Powers whofe dominions join thofe of the Grand Seignior. But the late bravery and conduct of the Turkish forces lay us under a neceffity of changing our fentiments with regard to their courage and skill in martial operations; for they have

Before the opening of the laft campaign, the Grand Vizier was depofed, and fome officers whom he most intrufted, were executed. On the advancement of his fucceffor, who now fills that high office, we were told by repeated accounts from all quarters, that he was the moft ignorant hotheaded minifter that ever was raised to fo high a truft; that he was wholly unkilled in civil government, and knew not any thing of the art of war; being equally contemned by the divan, and F hated by the army: But, from what has happened during his miniftry, we must think him greatly mifreprefented, or peculiarly happy in his affiftant counfellors, and prudent commanders.

The countenance and support which Prince Ragotski, hereditary Prince of

A

Tran

66

B

rebel named Saris Bey Oglew, who has laid the whole neighbourhood, and even the city itself, under contribution, and is now faid to command above 20,000 men.

And

Tranfilvania, &c. for fome time received from the Grand Seignior, has probably been of confiderable fervice to the Turks on the fide of Hungary; it being generally faid, that the natives of that and the adjacent countries have so A warm an affection for that Prince, as The empire of RUSSIA has, the two inclined them rather to chufe being go- laft campaigns, gained great honour by verned by a Turk who fupported him the valour and conduct of its troops; with dignity and honour, than even by which indifputably is in a good meaa Pope who they imagined kept him fure owing to the great refort of Genfrom the poffeffion of his inheritance. tlemen from other countries, who are And the Porte appears fo fenfible of this, drawn thither by their love of warlike that, as an honour before unheard of, actions, and the generofity with which in March last the Grand Seignior con- ftrangers are received by the illuftrious cluded a treaty with that Prince, con- Mistress of the Ruffian empire; who, far fifting of eleven articles; the principal from confining her favours to her own of which were, "That Prince Ragotski C fubjects, or rejecting any for being born "fhould be acknowledged Free Sove- under other governments, makes mereign of Hungary and Tranfilvania; rit the fole object of her regard. "that the Chriftians, fubjects of the that the bounty fhe bestows is not ill"faid Prince, fhall have the free exer- placed, is evident from the fervices done "cife of their religion in the Ottoman by our brave countrymen under the empire; that the election of his fuc- D Ruffian banners. And we may furely "ceffors fhall be according to the laws be indulged to take a little rational "of the country, independently of the pride, in finding no action of consequence "Ottoman Porte: On condition, ne- performed in which the Gentlemen of Iverthelefs, That in cafe of a war in this nation are not in a particular manEurope, Prince Ragotski shall march ner diftinguished for their bravery and "to the Grand Seignior's affistance with E refolution: At the head of the Ruffian "an army of 100,000 men. Soon fleet we find a GORDON; in the highafter this treaty was figned, a defign eft rank of the army, a KEITH; and was difcover'd among many of the Hun- DOUGLAS, LESLEY, and many more, garian Nobles, to introduce the Prince fend their names from the extremities into that kingdom; whereupon his Im- of that vaft empire, and even from the perial Majelty published a reward of inmoft plains of Tartary; which was 6000 florins for his head; which when not long ago obferved by the author of the Prince was acquainted with, he in- one of the London Daily Papers, as an ftantly proclaimed a reward of 100,000 inftance the Scots nation might juftly ducats for the head of the Archduke, boaft; "while our countrymen, added dead or alive. "be, have few other feats to brag of

66

The death of this

F

"market on an opera or masquerade "night. But, to return,

Prince is confirmed from Widdin, and G" but what are performed in the Haywill, probably, have confiderable effect on affairs in Tranfilvania and Hungary. A peace between the Turks, Ruffians, and Imperialifts, was much talked of laft winter, and is now revived; but the prefent fuccefs of the Turks leaves not much room for the Christian Powers to expect the Grand Seignior will agree to any articles of advantage to the empires with which he is engaged.

The country about Smyrna has for fome time been greatly molefted by a

H

Though the fuccefs of the Ruffian arms, in almost every attack they have made upon, and in every skirmish they have had with the Turks, is confirmed from all quarters; yet the large extent of the countries lying between the Ruffian territories and the fcenes of action, have rendered the advantages arifing from thefe operations much lefs confiderable than might naturally have been expected