"It is the wish and desire of me, the undersigned Philip Nicholson, now in custody of the Governor of the house of correction of the county of Middlesex, that the wearing apparel, and other my property and effects, may be disposed of and given to the persons after named, viz. my wearing apparel, of whatever kind it may be, to my father, Patrick Nicholson.

"To my said father Patrick Nicholson, the sum of four pounds, to defray his expences home to Ireland.

Soap,

5,277 48,747 15"

31,816 16 5

56,775" 14" 177,223 6. 15,342 ☐ 14",

Nett Produce, 1,742,962 - 3 Charges of

Manage

ment, Allowances

123,979, 8, 8

7རྨ

74

and Drawbacks,

7

Gross Produce,

£.2,083,732, 14

90,550 " 9 81,472 " 4 11 88,095 17 10

9

Almonds,

£.4 10 "

0

Opium,

Arnotto

9" 7" 11

Paper,

Ashes, Pearl,

Pepper,

and Pot

5" 10

Pictures,

0

6

10

Pimento, Pitch,

Rags,

4

Raisins,

Books,

3 "

1 " 5

Rosin,

Bottles, Glass

22 15 "

1,400 " 8"

12 19. "

91 " 12 u

4

10

1

0

3

Bristles,

1,160 " 12"

6

Carpets, Turkey

Ships Hulls & Materials,

Cinnamon,

Shumac,

Skins and Furs,

Coffee,

5,676 " 11" 11

0

wrought,

Cordage,

Rum,

Cork.

Sponge,

Corn, Grain, &

Steel,

Meal,

7

0

18 11

3 7

0

0

Currants,

Succus liquoritiæ,

127

1

Tallow,

Figs,

144" 15"

Flax, Rough

Galls,

122 13

Tortoise Shell,

3 11

Turpentine, Com

Horse Hair,

Wax, Bees

Wood, viz:

Hides, Raw

1,661

་་

5 M

6

-Balks and U

Indigo,

467" 7 "

5,249" 5" 10

Iron, Bar

Isinglass,

ends,

1,282 " 18" 11

Juice of Le

mons, &c.

Lemons and O

-Deals & ends,

7,667 " 9"

798 " 4. 946 | 14

-Logwood,

Mats of Russia,

957

19

4,739 " 462

803" 14" 8 u

-Oars,

9 u 7 204 2 U 6

7 "

Plank Oak,

Nuts, Small

2 14 "

0242 O-NO 20 30

9

5

Oil, Castor

288 "

Timber, Fir, &

Oak, Wainscot Logs,

ון

183 12 "

Other Wood,

11,943 5

4

Anecdotes of the Spanish Court and Ministry, under the Bourbons. From Coxe's Memoirs of the Kings of Spain.

(Continued from page 500.)

FROM different causes, Philip V. seems to have long meditated the abdication of his crown; and like a second Dioclesian, selected a splendid retreat, in which he might enjoy the power and advantages, without the trammels, of royalty. This retreat was his favourite village of Balsain, where he had expended no less than six millions in the construction of the palace of St Ildefonso, which in memory of the magnificent pile raised by Louis the fourteenth,

he called his little Versailles.

The abdication and retreat of Philip have been absurdly compared to those of his predecessor Charles the fifth; but without the least degree of resemblance except in the mere fact of abdication. Charles did not relinquish the reins of government till after a long, active, and glorious reign; and when he retired, he adopted the life of an anchorite, banishing public affairs even from his thoughts. But Philip descended from the throne in the prime of life, maintained the state of a monarch even in his retreat; took an active share in political affairs, and besides, looking forward to a more splendid crown than he had quitted, never abandoned the reins of government.

£.78,195 18 2

10,928 12 8
10,067 13 14
183 19 0

16,373 2 0
3,668 18 6

132 2 1

13,869 15 8
11,759 8 7

18 4 0

87 16 I

324,090 15 9 13,511 15 1

£.327,602 10 10%

It lies on the north of the ridge of mountains which crosses the centre of Spain, and on the opposite side of which stands the more proud but gloomy pile of the Escorial, built by Philip the Second, in the midst of barren heights, and exposed in sum

mer to all the ardour of the most sulTo this retry climate in Europe. sidence, St Ildefonso, the favourite retreat of Philip, forms a grateful and striking contast. Situated in the deepest recess of a narrow valley, accessible only to the north wind; it affords, in the midst of the autumnal heats, a cool and delicious retreat, surrounded by all the freshness and fragrance of spring: while the southern declivity of the mountains is scorched with intense heat, and presents nothing but a cheerless, brown, and arid surface.

The time was now arrived when Philip deemed it proper to carry this long-meditated design into execution.

His

purpose was however kept a profound, secret to all except the queen, the prince, Grimaldo, the marquis of Valoure, chief of his French household, and the confessor. As if even to baffle suspicion, an audience granted to the british envoy, in consequence of the death of the duke regent, was marked with an affectation of cheerful

ness.

ness.

"In this audience," says Mr Stanhope," which the princess of Rubec told me was one of the longest she ever remembered their catholic majesties to have given, the queen appeared with her usual gaiety. She, asked me several questions, and after repeating, that as women were naturally curious, I must not be surprised, in a matter which so much concerned her, at her being desirous to know what I thought would be the event of the investitures so long promised *; and whether the emperor would be brought without force to execute his engagements relating to her son; it being what she could hardly persuade herself to believe. During this conversation the king was silent, but upon her talking of the gardens of St Ildefonso, he asked if I had seen those at Versailles and Marli, comparing some of the water works there with those at St lidefonso. This I mention as being a thing unusual with the king to enter voluntarily into any kind of conversation, and I confess that I could not discover any thing cise new in him +."

After imparting the design to the prince in an audience, Philip announced it by a message to the council of Castile.

"Having," he observed, "these four years reflected with due and mature consideration on the miseries of this life; and on the infirmities, wars, and troubles with which God has visited me during the twenty-three years of my reign; secing also that my son the infant Don Louis is of competent age, married, and endowed with discretion, judgment, and talents, sufficient for governing this monarchy justly and wisely, I have determined to retire wholly from the govern

The investiture of the Italian duchies to her son Don Charlos.

ment, renouncing all my states, kingdoms, and lordships, in favour of the said Don Louis, in order to lead at St Ildefonso a private life with the queen, who has offered to accompany me with pleasure, that, freed from all other cares, I may serve God, meditate on a future life, and devote myself to the important work of my salvation. I impart this to the council, that it may take the requisite measures on the occasion, and that all may be apprised of my intentions.”

This communication was accompanied with a list of the new ministry, and the chiefs of the royal household; and the names of twelve persons who were to be honoured with the golden fleece.

On the same day the act of abdication was formally passed before the council in a long and laboured decree. As if desirous to give his parting wishes the force as well as the formality of law, Philip, after a preamble, announcing his abdication nearly in the terms of the message already quoted, apostrophises his son, and under the shape of advice, details the maxims of his government, and traces the arrangements which he was expected to sanction.

The following day Louis announced his acceptance of the crown, in an answer which is a mere echo of the decree of abdication, and evidently dictated by a dependent of the court of St Ildefonso. After expressing his veneration and astonishment, at the piety and self-denial which had prompted the retirement of his father, he pledges himself to sanction his arrangements, and to follow his advice, and does not omit a solemn promise to respect the queen as his mother, and regard her children as his brothers. He concludes with expressing a wish to imitate the example of his father in retirement. "God grant," he says, "that after treading a while

1724, NS.

world;