and offices which he held before the 15th of November, at which time his resignation was accepted.

A Dutch mail states, that Count Goltz, late Commissary-General of the War Department, is to be indemnified for the loss of his office by an embassy to some German Court.

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

The Madrid Gazette of the 11th December, contains accounts from Algiers of the 16th Nov. presenting some frightful details of the calamities which afflict that wretched city. Pestilence and famine are daily diminishing the population.

The

Dey, warned by the fate of his predecessors, removed his family on the night of the 31st October, with all the treasures and arms, to the fortress of Alcazava, a regular work which commanded every street of the capital. This change of residence was a death-blow to the tyranny of the Turkish soldiers, who nevertheless attempted a seditious movement; but six of the ringleaders were seized and beheaded.

Ferdinand last month issued a decree, prohibiting Spanish subjects from trading

in slaves on the coast of Africa north of

the line, under a penalty of transportation for ten years to the Philippines (the prohibition to take effect immediately); and restricting the duration of the trade south of the line, on the same coasts, to two years and five months from the date of the decree.

The Portuguese Government have a most summary and decisive mode of collecting taxes. Within a few weeks, the Regency issued a proclamation for a "voluntary contribution" of four millions of crowns. Some merchants at Lisbon, who understood the true meaning of the proclamation, immediately contributed; but the amount of the contribution was trivial compared to the sum required. The Regency, therefore, forthwith appointed a commission of twelve from among the contributing merchants, with directions to make out a list of all the capitalists in Portugal. At the head of this commission is Senor Payo, who was the principal Portuguese agent of Lord Wellington while at Lisbon; and the Judge Pedro Duerte is attached to the commission, with authority to order the confiscation of the property of any capitalist who does not promptly subscribe to the "voluntary contribution" required by the Government, in such a proportion as the commissioners may think proper to adjudge. This extraordinary contribution is specifically required for the use of the King of Portugal, who, it seems, cannot find money enough in the Brazils to support the splendour of his Court.

SWITZERLAND.

Gustavus Adolphus, late King of Sweden, has requested the right of citizenship from the council of Basle, in Switzerland.

ITALY.

Lieutenant-Colonel Herries and Capt. Gordon, R. N. were attacked in their way to Naples, between Terracina and Fondi, by banditti, on the evening of the 12th of December. The first act of the villains was, to fire upon the postilion without previous warning. He fell, mortally wounded. They then proceeded to rifle the travellers, and took from them their watches, money, &c. The banditti were divided into two parties; one of which robbery, while the other remained in rewas immediately active in the attack and serve at a short distance; and their number was so considerable, that Lieut-col. Herries and his companion must be considered as owing their lives to their being unprepared to offer any resistance. They suffered little personal violence, and were allowed, when the plunder was finished, to proceed on their journey; their servant taking the place of the postilion, who was conveyed to Fondi in the carriage.

A violent earthquake, accompanied by taken place near Athens; in which 5,000 an inundation of the sea, is said to have of the inhabitants of Vostissa, near that city, perished.

A Milan paper of Dec. 6, announces, that the villa of Este, belonging to the Princess of Wales, upon the lake of Como, is to be sold, with all its dependencies.

GERMANY.

We learn from German papers, that the Opposition Journal of Weimar has been suppressed by authority. This little State has for a considerable time engrossed no small share of the attention of the Courts of Germany. The Austrian Government has recalled all its youth studying at the Weimar University of Jena; and the arrangements entered into between that Government and Prussia to adopt measures for the purpose of opposing a powerful barrier to the licence of the press, as it is called, may be considered as more particularly levelled against this little State. It is presumed, that by the Constitution of Weimar the Grand Duke has the power of suspending journals without trial, and that this act thereforé is not a stretch of authority. It had been confidently predicted in some of the Continental papers, that the Ruler of Weimar, however desirous of affording protection to independent journalists, would be obliged at last to give way to the incessant demands of his more arbitrary neighbours. The cause of the suppression of the journal in question is not stated; but an article lately appeared in

it, concerning the revenues of the kingdom of Hanover, broadly insinuating that they were misapplied by the Government, which is suspected to have been chiefly instrumental to it. The following is one of the passages of the noxious article referred to:

"We pay now more duties and taxes than in the Westphalian time; and yet the purse both of individuals and of the State is more empty. Tribute is no longer paid. We have a Court only by name. The army is equipped and clothed by England, without our paying any thing. The officers who were in the English service, and are now on half-pay, draw large sums from England, which come into circulation here. We may

We

reckon too, that prize-money to the amount of more than a million of dollars, has this year come to Hanover. have received considerable sums of French contribution-money. Instead of paying any part of the national debt, even the interest of the debt has not been duly paid. Query-What becomes of the money?"

From Prague it is said, that for the current year all the following newspapers are prohibited from being circulated throughout Bohemia; and, we thence infer, throughout the whole of the Austrian States, viz.-The New Rhenish Mercury, the Opposition Papers, The Neuwied Gazette; all papers printed in the Netherlands in the French language; all the Polish newspapers, and Nuremberg Correspondent. It is impossible to offer stronger evidence of the blind policy of certain states, than their determination to withhold from the people all means of free discussion.

The accounts from different quarters of Germany speak of a great number of robbers and incendiaries; who are organized in banditti, and commit the greatest excesses. Several chateaux and other dwellings have been destroyed by incendiaries in Franconia.

According to an article from Frankfort, some new league is on the tapis between all the Christian Powers, founded on the principles of the Holy Alliance.

The Prussian Colonel Massenbach, who has been so long confined in the fortress of Custrin, has been sentenced, by the Court-martial that tried him, to four years imprisonment.

The German Gazettes have revived the report, that a kingdom of Armenia will be created, with the consent of Russia, Turkey, and Persia.

The Austrian Government appears to be making arrangements for the purpose of opening and extending a commerce with the United States of America.

SWEDEN.

By a document signed by the King of

Sweden, on the events which have taken place since the last Diet, and on the general state and prospects of the Kingdom, it appears that a Treaty of Commerce bas been concluded between Sweden and the United States; and a Treaty with Russia respecting the commercial relations between Sweden and Finland, her former province. Prussia has made considerable progress in paying up the sums agreed upon as an indeminity to Sweden for the loss of Pomerania. The Swedish revenue of customs has improved, and her foreign debt has every where been discharged or diminished.

RUSSIA.

From Russia we are informed, that coal has been found in the environs of Toula, the great centre of Muscovite manufacturing industry; and that, through the agency of the Count De Lieven, a party of Scotchmen have been engaged to carry on the necessary works.

The Emperor of Russia has invited two learned Frenchmen into his dominions, to promote the study of the Oriental languages among his subjects.

The Emperor is also stated to have ordered the Treaty, called the Holy Alli, ance, to be read annually in all the Churches of the Empire, on the anniversary of the day of its signature.

An article from Petersburgh speaks of a proposal afloat among the Members of the Holy Alliance to put down all smuggling; such practices being directly opposite to the spirit of Christianity.

The following article appears in the Russian Court Calendar: "Three hundred and fifty-five years have elapsed since all the Russian provinces were united under one Government, during which period the Russian frontiers have been from time to time extended, without a single instance in Russian history of a cession of terri tory."-The acquisitions of territory made by Russia took place as follows: Siberia, in 1573; Little Russia, in 1644; Livonia and Esthonia, in 1710; White Russia, in 1772; the Crimea, in 1783; Lithuania and Courland, in 1793; the remainder of Poland, in 1795; Georgia, in 1801; Bialystock, in 1807; Finland, in 1809; and the Duchy of Warsaw, in 1815.

According to a list officially published in Russia, of the number of deaths in 1815, there were 613 persons above 100 years of age, viz. 209 above 105 years old, 123 above 110, 72 above 115, 31 above 120, 13 above 125, 6 above 130, and 1 of 155 years of age.

In the evening of the 21st of Dec. a splendid ball was given by the nobility of Moscow, in honour of the birth-day of the Grand Duke Michael, who arrived there the preceding day from his tour to the Southern Provinces. The ball was opened

with a Polonaise by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager; after which, the Em, peror continued to dance with various ladies for three hours. The number of persons present upon this occasion, including Prince William of Prussia, was 3550. The ball was followed by a grand supper, and the company did not break up until three in the morning.

The art of lithography (engraving on stone) has lately been introduced into the offices for the Department of Foreign Af fairs in Russia. It is employed for circulars addressed to diplomatic agents; and the number of copying-clerks has in consequence been considerably diminished.

From Warsaw we are informed, that the Polish troops, hitherto maintained by the Russian treasury, are henceforth, to be paid by Poland herself: it is conjectured, that an expence of about forty millions of florins will thus be incurred by the latter kingdom.

ASIA.

The ship Wabash, Capt. Grant, of Bal-、 timore, arrived in Macoa Roads (Canton river) from Smyrna, on the 18th of May last. The Captain proceeded to Canton to inquire the markets, leaving the two mates and 13 others to take care of the vessel. On the 24th, she was boarded by the crew of a Ladroon boat, to the number of from 25 to 30, under pretence of putting a pilot on board. After amusing the offi cers until dark, they commenced an attack on them and the people with long kuives; killed Mr. Hall, the first mate, and three seamen, outright; mortally or badly wounded the other mate, and two of the seamen; and compelled two others, boys, to jump overboard —one of which, after having been seven hours in the water, was saved. The surviving crew retreated to the forecastle; but were compelled, by threats to burn the vessel, to come on deck, and disclose where the money was stowed away. The Ladroons then secured about 10,000 dollars in specie, 35 chests of opium, and other property, the whole amounting to nearly 50,000 dollars. Mr. Cushing, and other American residents in Canton, were taking measures to obtain restitution from the Chinese Government for this robbery in their waters, but their success was doubted..

One of the American Papers contains the following extract from the Calcutta Gazette on the 28th of August: "The Pindarees are still ranging the country, and committing the most horrid excesses among the peasants, by the indiscriminate butchery of men, women, and children, and bearing the latter in triumph on their spikes."

The American ship Two Brothers, recently arrived at Portsmouth from Batavia, with a cargo of coffee, in bu'k, bound GENT. MAG. January, 1818.

to Holland, left on the 9th of September; and reports, that the whole Island of Amboyna, excepting a very small part, was in the hands of the Insurgents (natives). A detachment of troops had been sent from Batavia, to endeavour to suppress the revolt.

A Courier, lately dispatched by the British resident at Bagdad overland to Constantinople, is stated to have been murdered near Mossul, and robbed of his dispatches.

AFRICA.

Extract of a letter from the Agent to Lloyd's at the Cape of Good Hope, dated Nov, 15, 1817: The following most daring instance of piracy was committed in our harbour, on the 11th inst, viz.: The Elizabeth, White, lying at anchor off Robin Island, with about 120 tons of oil on board, was boarded at about one A. M. by a party of armed deserters from his Majes ty's 10th regiment, and convicts, about twelve in number, 2. e, five soldiers and seven convicts, who, after securing the hatches, &c. obtained possession of the ship, and in the same instant cut the cables, loosed the sails, and, favoured by a strong S. E. wind, succeeded in carrying her off, at six A. M. The Captain and .crew having refused to listen to their invitation to join them in their pirațical under、 taking, with the exception of the mate, were permitted to leave the ship in the boat, which reached Robin Island in safety about four o'clock the same day."

Letters and Papers, to the 18th of November, from the Cape of Good Hope, state, that Government had ordered surveys to be made of the coast lying to the East, where there is a very extensive district producing the finest wheat. So flattering are the future prospects, that about 300 emigrants had lately arrived at the Cape from the Northern parts of England, to take the management and direction of the extensive agricultural districts. His Majesty's ship Dispatch, commanded by Sir Jahleel Brenton, had been sent by the Governor to open the navigation of the river, to complete the surveys, to fix upon is a harbour, and found the new Colony.Sir J. Brenton had ascertained, that there a good harbour in the Knysua, on the Eastern coast of Cape Town. - We are sorry to find, that both the Papers from the Cape, and the private letters, confirm the accounts already received, that the Dutch had committed great excesses in their restored Colonies. The immediate cause of the revolt at Saporana was, that the Dutch resident had ordered a woman to be flogged naked in the bazaar. The murder of the native (prisoners) at Java is also mentioned.

A letter from Sierra Leone mentions the return to that place of the British scientific

millions of dollars will remain in the Treasury on the 1st day of January, applicable to the current service of the ensuingyear. "The payment into the Treasury during the year 1818, on account of imposts and tonnage, resulting principally, from duties which have accrued in the present year, may be fairly estimated at twenty millions of dollars; internal revenues at 2,500,000; public lands at 1,500,000; bank dividends and incidental receipts at 500,000; making, in the whole, 24,500,000 dollars.

"The annual permanent expenditure for the support of the civil government, and of the army and navy, as now established by law, amounts to 11,800,000; and for the sinking fund, to 10,000,000%; making in the whole 21,800,000; leaving an annual excess of revenue beyond the expenditure of 2,700,000 dollars, exclusive of the balance estimated to be in the Treasury on the 1st day of January, 1818."

The President speaks highly of the success of the negociations with the Indians, by which a great extent of Indian land has become the possession of the United States. Whether, as he thinks, this is equally advantageous to both parties, is another question. In consequence of these roundings of territory, no fortifications of magnitude will be necessary, except on the coast.-The President then points out, as matters worthy of particu lar attention, the sales of public lands, the state of maunfactories, and the formation of roads and canals. On this last subject he advises the Congress to apply to their constituents for fuller power than they possess under the present law; and, after recommending some provision for the few survivors of the army which aided in establishing American Independence, he concludes by stating, that the imposts and tonnage, with the sale of public lands, are sufficient for all the expences of the State; and by proposing the repeal of all internal taxes. He at the same time avows his readiness to urge the imposition of taxes whenever the public exigencies may require them; but he considers it no less the duty of a free people, than it is the duty of their representatives, to withdraw them when the necessity has ceased.

A Boston paper of the 12th December notices a rumour, that the Spanish Minister, Don Onis, had received instructions from his Court to tender the Floridas to the United States for six millions of dollars; and that Spain had agreed, out of this sum, to deduct the amount of spoliations made by her on the property of American citizens. Such was the confidence placed in this report, that the stock of the different insurance offices, that had suffered by the depredations of Spain, rose in one day 25 per cent, in value.

By the last accounts from New York it appears, that two-thirds of the American Navy are in commission and afloat; and that every exertion was making, in all the naval-yards within the Union, to complete the ships now building there. For some time past a rendezvous for seamen had been opened in New York; and placards were posted in different parts of the city, offering three months pay down, to sailors on their entering into the service of the United States. It is said, that several English seamen, from the want of employment, had not been able to withstand so great a temptation, and were serving on board American ships of war.

The American Government, it is said, has resolved to maintain in the poorhouse, at the expence of the Captain in whose ship they have sailed, all such European emigrants as shall not be able to find employment on their arrival in the United States.

At a meeting held at New York on the 25th of November, it was resolved, that a Society should be formed of Irishmen, or descendants of Irishmen, for the purpose of endeavouring to procure from Cougress a tract of land in the Illinois territory, to be settled by emigrants from Ireland, and that a subscription should be entered into for carrying the purpose of the Society into effect.

We regret to state, that a confirmation has been received of the melancholy accounts of the ravages of the late dreadful hurricanes in the West Indies, At Martinique, so terribly extensive were the effects, that the island presented nothing but one scene of desolation. All the vessels in that harbour were driven out to sea, and not one of them had been heard of on the 26th ult. At Port Royal, all the ships (among them a man of war), and property afloat, were driven on shore, and involved in ruin; and many lives were lost. Barbadoes some damage was done on shore, and twelve vessels were thrown on the beach; but we are happy to find, that his Majesty's ship Antelope, Rear-admiral Harvey (which was supposed to have been lost), arrived in safety at Barbadoes some days after the storm, and reached St. Kitt's on the 12th ult. The Island of St. Lucia suffered most tremendously. All the barracks were destroyed, and Gen. Seymour, the Governor, his wife and children, together with Major Burdett, his wife, child, and servant, were buried in the ruins, and all, except Mrs. Seymour and her children, perished: the Governor survived only a short time after he was taken out of the ruins. At Dominica, every vessel was driven to sea. The interior of the country had likewise suffered so materially, that unless supplied from other settlemeuts, the dread of famine appears to be entertained.

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