DUKE OF YORK. Speech of Sir Richard Stott, Recorder of the ancient Town of Berwick upon Tweed, spoken to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, upon his Entrance into Berwick. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS, WE humbly and heartily congratulate your coming to this poor but ancient town, a place more considerable for its situation than its fortune; yet, happier now than in former times, when it was made a butt for the two kingdoms to shoot at. Without our walls, great Sir, you may see those hills, where that royal blood which runs (happily united) in your princely veins, whilst it was divided betwixt your English and Scottish ancestors, did contend for empire and for glory; and it is our happiness that this place, which was once the utmost limits of two great kingdoms, is now the middle of our sovereign's dominions. We of this corporation were the most ungrateful of subjects, and the unworthiest of men, if we did not pay all duty and obeisance to your princely person. Your royal grandfather (whose sacred name you bear) was our our founder; he gave us, not only our privileges, which are great, but our subsistence, which supports us; and he tells us plainly, in his most munificent charter, that he did to oblige us to pay the greater duty and loyalty to him and his posterity for ever. Your royal father, the mirror of kings, was our benefactor, and our gracious sovereign hath largely extended his bounty to us, and we know that we cannot better express our duty and loyalty to him, than in giving testimony of it to you, great Sir, his only brother. We have yet powerful motives from yourself: your noble and heroic actions have been the wonder of all Europe, nor can any loyal heart forget how boldly and prodigally you ventured your life for the honour and prosperity of his Majesty in these kingdoms, when in the year 1663, by the blessing of God upon your incomparable valour and conduct, you overthrew and vanquished the greatest fleet that ever the sea bore then it was that you made Nep tune's trident bow, and pay homage to the English sceptre. Let the ancient Romans tell us of their great sea-fight at Actium between Augustus and Mark Anthony; let our own histories relate the famous victory of your glorious progenitor, King Edward III. at Scluse; let the modern histories of Europe declare that celebrated victory of Don John of Austria, at the battle of Lepanto: those High Chancellor of France, in 1710, engaged some of the ablest pens in the academy, to conduct a new Journal. M. Fontenelle wrote the philosophical part, M. Du Pin laboured in divinity with general approbation, and M. Vaillant acquitted himself, with great reputation, in antiquities, &c. M. De la Croze, at the instance of Bishop Stillingfleet, published a Journal in English, which he dedicated to that learned prelate. The Rev. Mr. Droz began a literary journal in Dublin, in 1744. As he was a man of letters and unwearied industry, he kept it alive, if the expression may be used, for some years, which is the more surprising, as the Irish in those days, in the words of Mr. Pinkerton, were not much addicted to reading. PHILIP DUKE OF ORLEANS, IN the year 1708, Captain Stanhope, cruising off Genoa, or some part of that coast, gave chase to a felucca, and took her. In rifling, they found a man on board who appeared like a gentleman: he was carried to the captain, who asked him who he was; but the man appeared extremely extremely rejoiced, and asked Captain Stanhope if what he had heard from the boatmen, that he was General Stanhope's brother, was true? The Captain replied, that he was; upon which the gentleman told him, he was charged with an important commission for his brother, and he was sure the General would be well pleased if the Captain would convey him to the place where he was. To this the Captain told him, he was going the wrong way for Spain.. "Yes, Sir," answered he," but I was ordered to address myself to the first English minister that will convey me to Spain to your brother; I therefore, hope you will forbid my cloak-bag and little trunk to be rifled, as there are things in them of the utmost consequence." To convince him, he shewed a bill of exchange for above an hundred thousand livres upon Genoa, or any place where there was trade. Captain Stanhope, though before a little suspicious, not believing the bill to be forged, fancied there might be some little truth in the story, but told the gentleman what the consequence would be of his leaving his station: but the gentleman assuring the Captain that he would be indemnified for it, and that he would pledge his life for the consequences, he consented to carry him to Barcelona, which he did immediately. Upon landing, he opened his powers; and went to General Stanhope to treat with him from the Duke of Orleans (afterwards regent), who then commanded the French army in Spain, about bringing over that whole army to the English, as all the commanding officers of corps were devoted to him, upon condition they would make him King of Spain: he promised, on his part, to grant the English free trade-to give them Alicant, Cadiz, and several other sea ports; that all the treasures from the Indies, and all other merchandises, should be brought to Spain in English bottoms, and convoyed by English men of war. He further desired General Stanhope would meet somebody he would send, in the mountains of Catalonia, at the time he would appoint. -The General was a good deal surprised at the strangeness of these propositions; but being convinced it was not a forgery, sent a trumpet to the Spanish camp, under pretence of getting back one Desborough (now Lieut. General), who was at that time prisoner, and by that means appointed the time and place of meeting. The Duke of Orleans wrote with his own hand to General Stanhope, by Mr. Desborough, telling him, that he hoped the present of snuff which he had sent him by such a one (naming the gentleman taken at sea) was agreeable to him; desired, if he liked it, he would let him know, that he might procure more of the same; and the rest of |