had been furnished by the counties, and they were to be returned to the counties; with the great commendation attached to compliance with this charge. Does not this look, as if the Queen's stores were incompetent to furnish on a sudden, a sufficient quantity of arms for this not very numerous body? What would our arsenals think of borrowing musquets, &c from the country repositories, because they could not supply an army of 4,000, or of 7,000 men › We should, however, recollect the almost recent introduction into general use of military accoutrements dependingon the power of gun-powder; that not a great while before the long-bow was the Englishman's favourite weapon: that it was confirmed by acts of parliament; that the practice of archery was still in vogue; and that a certain proportion of pike-men was constantly attached to forces carrying firelocks. Accordingly we find in the certificate for the county of Stafford, and "Darbye." (Span. Armada, papers) the proportion was, Citie of Yorke. The certificate of Robert Paycok, Mayer of the saide Citie; of William Fairfax, Robert Stapleton, Knights, John North, Robert Elward, Robert Heckylton, Peter Robynson, John Beane, William Holme, Aldermen of the saide Citye; Thomas Standevyn and James Symson, Shiryffs of the saide Citye; Commissioners of our Sou'eigne Lord the Kyng, allotyd withyn the saide Citye, Wapentake, and Liberties of the same, of the Vyewe and Musters, taken afore them, the last day of February, in the second Yere of the Reign of our said Sovereigne Lord, Edward the sext, by the grace of God, Kyng of Englande, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Fayth, and in Eirth of the Churche of Englonde, the supreme Hed; by virtue of the Kyng's Com'ission to them dí rected. The nombre of Persons not able, having 80 you do use your speedie meanes to cause some store of musketts to be got"ten, that there may bee, yf you can procare it, 45 musketts to everie band " of 300 men."-Yf you can procure it! in the countie of Norfolk! We add in confirmation of this idea the report of an inspection in York, wherein out of 1,116 persons, only 8 are returned as having hacquebutts and hand gonnes." The nombre of Gonners, with hacquebutts and handgonnes James Sympson, Vicecom. Civitatis Ebor. * In 1594 the Queen prepared an armament against Brest, then in possession of King Henry's enemies, and her own. The The nombre of able horses, with harnes for demy launces 1 8 Total 1,116 (Signed) per me, Robert Pacok, Maior Ebor. per me, William Fayrfax, per me, Johannem Northe, per me, Roberte Hykkelton, per me, Peter Robynson, per me, T. Standevyn, Vicecomitem Civitatis Ebor. per me, place was taken, but the British Admiral, Sir Martin Frobisher, lost his life. The expedition against Cadiz in 1595 is famous in our history. In the port were fifty-nine Spanish ships, many of them laden with treasure, and nineteen or twenty gallies. The Duke de Medina Sidonia, who had been sent Commander in Chief of the Armada to England, had the mortification of being obliged to direct many of these ships to be burnt, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the English: who, nevertheless, seized on several and disburthened them of their treasure. Many other expeditions for the purpose of meeting the enemy on his own ground, rather than on English, were planned and executed. What we have referred to are sufficient to vindicate the Queen from the accusation, for such it is, of following that contracted policy which limits the exertions of this kingdom to considerations of local defence only. The successor of Elizabeth kept on good terms with Spain. Charles I. attacked Cadiz, but the powers vested in the commanders of this expedition, unlike those of the wise Elizabeth, were equal, and perhaps, to this circumstance, may be ascribed its failure. The secrecy and promptitude of Cromwell were extremely laudable; and his sagacity in foreseeing, that if his fleet failed in its design on Hispaniola, Jamaica might console him for the disappointment, was truly characteristic. We could have been glad to have seen what his instructions were, but they have not been found. Spain had overstrained itself in attempting to subdue England, and to recover the United Provinces: the weakness of this predominating grandee of Europe, permitted France to rise, till, by land, she became a leading military power; as it permitted the augmentation of the British naval power, which with that of Holland, became supreme on the ocean. Nevertheless, France contested this supremacy; and it was the lot of Spain thenceforth to hold much of her possessions at the will of her rivals, and between friends and foes to tremble no less at the proffered protection of the one, than at the open enmity of the other. This appears clearly from instructions given to Sir George Rooke, in 1701, which we insert; as the reader will recollect a late event of precisely the same kind, to which they apply with perfect correspondence, as to their principle; though the issue, in point of fact, was different; as the Galleons did not sail for Spain this year. Instructions for Sir George Rooke, Knight, Godolphin. Devonshire, Somerset, Percey, His Majesty, upon a serious consideration of the late proceedings of the French King, in seizing all the strong places in the Spanish Netherlands, and sending his army into Italy, and his fleets to Cadiz, and the West Indies, and from several concurrent advices, having just cause to apprehend that the French King intends to seize likewise upon all the effects of the Spanish flota, expected home in a short time, the better to enable him to carry on a war. For preventing so great a mischief to His Majesty's subjects, and to all Christendom, we have thought fit, in pursuance of the directions we have received from His Majesty, to give you the following orders and instructions. 1st. You are hereby required, and directed, upon opening these instructions, to sail with the fleet under your command, to the westward of Ushant, and to endeavour to get intelligence whether Mons. Chateaurenaud be sailed from Brest, with a squadron under his command, and if they be gone from thence, on what service they are designed. 2. You are to make a detachment of so many English and Dutch ships, as will make up Vice Admiral Benbow's squadron, bound to the West Indies, to the number of thirty five ships of the line of battle, with which you are to send Rear Admiral Munden, and to put them under the command of Vice Admiral Benbow, and you are to give him the following instructions, which you are to enjoin him to keep secret, and not to impart to any person whatever, till he comes to his station, viz. That he make the best of his way, with the joint squadrons under his command, to the latitude of Cape St. Vincent, taking care not to fall nearer to the land than a hundred leagues distance, and so to proceed to the Western Islands, one of which he is to make with one ship only, to avoid being discovered; and from thence he is to ply away to the westward, in the fair way and course of the Spanish flota, expected home from the West Indies, and upon his meeting with them, he is to use his best endeavours, either by fair means, or by force, to scize, and bring the said flota, and such other ships as shall appear for their protection, or be in company with them, to some port in England; in order to which he is to return with the whole squadron. And forasmuch as it is lis Majesty's intention, that the effects of the said flota de entirely and safely preserved, for the use of those that have a just title to the same; he is to take particular care, that there be no kind of embezzlement, and to endeavour to possess himself of the invoices of the cargo of every particular ship; which said invoices he is to have immediately scaled up, and the hatches of the ships spiked; and he is to keep the said invoices, saicly in his custody, till further orders. And in case he shall meet with the flota, he is to send on board, the Commander in Chief, and acquaint him that he has orders to carry them to a port of safety, and that it is His Majesty's resolution, to restore to every body, what belongs to them; but the management hereof is to be left to his discretion so as that it may not hinder the execution of the service. He is not to impart his orders, concerning the flota to any of the Commanders of his squadron, or any other person, until such time as it is absolutely necessary for the execution of the service, seeing it may be convenient, in case he does not meet with the flota, that it should not be known he had any such orders. In case he shall meet with any vessel beyond, or near the Western Islands, he shall detain the samne till the expedition be over, to prevent discovery. The said Vice Admiral Benbow is to continue to cruize in the station before mentioned, in the usual tract of the said flota,till the tenth day of October next, unless he shall have certain information, that the said flota is passed by to the eastward; in which case he is to proceed on his voyage to the West Indies; and Rear Admiral Munden with the detached ships, is to return home. And in case he has reason to believe, by any advice he rectives, that they are not yet passed to the eastward, he is to continue on the said service for so long a time as he shall judge his beer will carry him on his intended voyage to the West Indies, and will serve the said detached squadron, in their return to England, whither he is to order Rear Admiral Munden to return, with the said squadron, and himself to proceed to the West Indies according to his orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. In case Vice Admiral Benbow attempts the flota, whether he succeeds or not, he is to send one of the ships of Rear Admiral Munden's squadron to Newfoundland, to give the men of war and merchant ships there, notice that there are great apprehensions of a speedy breach with France and Spain, and to send orders to the men of war, to convoy the merchant ships home. 3. When you have seen the said squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Benbow clear of the land, in case you have any intelligence that Mons. Chateaurenaud is still with his squadron at Brest, you are to dispose yourself with the remaining part of the fleet, in such manner as may seem most probable to hinder his coming out; but you are not to make use of force without further order. But if you are informed that Chateaurenaud is sailed with, the said squadron from Brest, you are then to repair to such stations, in the soundings, as you shall judge most proper for the security and protection of the several trades expected home from foreign parts; and you are to continue on this or the former service, for so long tine, as you shall judge adviseable, with respect to the season of the year, after which you are to repair to Torbay or Spithead, and there expect further orders, taking care to leave a squadron in a proper station, for the services before- mentioned of securing the commerce. These instructions with a change of names, merely, might almost have served on a late occasion: they shew that when war is unavoidable, and is only postponed by policy on one side, it is no new principle for the other side to meet the subterfuge with answerable policy. Our readers will accept with favour the information we have thus laid before them, on a subject of national history: we know too well what is due to our country to enter minutely into every thing this volume contains: we therefore conclude this article with a general remark, which is perfectly in unison not only with the dictates of experience, but with the directions of the supreme authority, as well military as civil, of our United Kingdom. The want of a general system has herrtofore been found extremely prejudicial to our operations; the want of scientific knowledge still more so: these are gradually diminishing among us. The sciences of geography, navigation, natural philosophy, medicine, and others, are now well, and generally understood; so that an officer of any standing cannot be suddenly ordered to a country of which he is totally ignorant. At least, this we may say, that if any officer on whom a command can devolve is thus ignorant, he has nobody to blame for it but himself. On the day appointed by a pious and retered Sovereign, the nation, by a solemn act of homage, devoutly offered up their thanksgivings to that Almighty Power," whose arm alone giveth the victory:" and the eloquent zeal of the ministers of religion added a new impulse to patriotism, which has been felt by every class of the community, and manifested in contributions of unexampled liberality to this institution. In proportion as the gratuities from this fund have been more extensively diffused, observation and experience have more strongly confirmed their beneficial effects. The distressed widow, the destitute orphan, the afflicted relative, have found relief, support, or consolation. The soldier and sailor, unfit for active service, have been enabled to retire in comfort to their former habits and connections; whilst honorary marks of distinction, the just reward of living valour, or tribute to departed worth, stimulate the gallant mind to new exertions, and excite the rising generation to emulate the heroism of their fathers. Imitations of this plan have been attempted by the enemy, rather desirous of its effects than actuated by its principles. A subscrip tion was opened at Madrid, for the relief of the widows and orphans of those who had fallen in the battle of Trafalgar; but an exhortation soon appeared in the official gazette of the Spanish government, engrafting upon it a plan for repairing the damages sustained by their navy on that memorable day. After the battle of Austerlitz, contributions were levied on the inhabitants of Austria and Moravia, to provide gratuities for those who had been wounded, and a maintenance for the widows and orphans of those who had fallen, on their plains, under the banners of their invader. These specimens of Spanish policy, and French exaction, present a striking contrast to the offerings of British benevolence, fund. which have spontaneously flowed into this By the statement of the receipt and expenditure, annexed to the present report, it will be seen that the subscriptsons and dividends amount to 338,6931. 11s. 8d., exclusive of 21,2001. three per cent. consols, subscribed in stock. The sums received have been regu larly invested in government securities, bearing interest, excepting only so much as has been necessarily reserved to answer the daily demands. The sums paid and voted amount to 105,2761. 2s. 48.; by which relief has been afforded to 2140 officers and privates wounded or disabled, and to 570 widows, orphans, parents, or other relatives of those killed in his Majesty's service: honorary gratuities have also been conferred in 153 instances of successful exertions of valor or merit. A considerable number of claims, arising from various actions, are still expected; particularly from the relatives of more than 400 of the brave men who fell in the late glorious engagements off Cape Trafalgar and Ferrol: the cases laid before the Committee continue to become more numerous, in proportion as the mode of application, and the certainty of relief, are more generally known and understood. This voluminous report will shew how much additional labour has lately devolved on the committee. They have, however, cheerfully devoted a considerable portion of their time to the various duties of the great trust they have undertaken; satisfied that they are employed honourably to themselves, and usefully to their country, whilst promot ing the objects of this institution. The proceedings of the committee on the various cases which solicited relief, are giveu in their order, from March 12, 1805, to February 28, 1806. In conformity to the resolution of the 11th inst. the committee of treasury presented the following account of the funds of this institution, to this time: Amount subscribed in three per cent. consols £ 21,200 0 0 211,522 3.7 Amount of Subscriptions in Money, viz. For the general purposes of this institution Amount contributed after divine service, on the day of thanksgiving for the victory off Trafalgar, and other donations, to be exclusively appropriated to the wounded, and to the relatives of those killed in his Majesty's service Interest from investments in the public funds 22,340 0 0 £338,693 11 8 increased in bulk, by the addition of a noble number of subscriptions, donations, collections, &c. from all parts of Britain, and from almost all kinds of societies, religious and civil. We confess, that it raises in our minds very powerful emotions of a pleasing and grateful nature. Long may British sailors have such sympathising patrons throughout the land, to reward their exploits, and to compensate their privations; and long may such liberal patrons have British sailors of equal courage and gallantry, to manifest their sense of public sympathy, by persevering and resolute protection! 104,831 81 The History of the Town of Malmesbury, and of its ancient Abbey, the remains of which magnificent edifice are still used as a Parish Church; together with memoirs of eminent natives, and other distinguished characters who were connected with the Abbey or Town; to which is added an Appendix. By the late Rev. J. M. Moffatt, of Malmesbury. Tetbury, Goodwyn; Rivingtons, London. 8vo. pp. 250. Price 7s. 6d. boards. 1805. Vested in Public Securities: 21,200 in the three per cent. consols, as before stated 178,800, in ditto, cost 150,000, in the three per cent. reduced, cost 2,500, long annuities, cost 30,000,exchequer bills, cost Paid, in part of £105,276 25. 4d. voted in gratuities, annuities, and honorary rewards, and for the expences of the institution Cash in the hands of Mess. Boldero and Co. 98,853 15 0 83,125 0 0 40,000 0 0 30,127 18 9 £252,106 13 9 59,416 11 11 11,417 0 0 £338,693 11 8 Lloyd's, 28th February, 1806. A list of subscribers to the general purposes of this charity, forms a considerable, and truly honourable portion of this volume: which we are happy to see greatly The difference between the amount voted, and the amount actually paid, arises from the circumstance of many of the ships to whose officers and crews gratuities are due, being on foreign stations; and from the whole of the annuities granted (estimated in the amount voted at their actual value) remaining chargeable on the long annuities, instead of being purchased and transferred into the names of the parties, : GENERAL History comprising the fate of kingdoms, empires, and extensive regions of the globe is, confessedly, a study supremely interesting; nor is it less instructive. It opens the mind to knowledge, discovers the causes of things, and when properly improved in passing through the mind of the writer, it impresses the mind of the reader with great advantage and effect. History is a relation of worldly vicissitudes and the history of a city, a town, or even a sequestered village, demonstrates the same truth, as that which we learn froin events connected with more extensive communities. The work before us, furnishes an additional instance of greatness in decay, and we read of what the abbey was, with sentiments strongly contrasted by those we feel on inspecting its present remains, which are barely a quarter of what it once included. The name of the town is derived by conjecture from a variety of original appellations, and antiquaries have shewn their skill in compounding this name from two, when one would not serve their turn. We are surprized, however, that the most simple has been hitherto overlooked, and that the following para |