CHRONICLE. 



261 



theinhabitantsoftheCaraccashad 

 proclaimed themselves indepen- 

 dent iu consequence of having re- 

 ceived intelligence of the sudden 

 departure of the Spanish junta, 

 and of the approach of the French 

 to Seville. In their proclamation 

 of independence, the inhabitants 

 of the Caraccas have expressed, in 

 the strongest language, their de- 

 termined hatred to the French, 

 their attachment to Great Britain, 

 and their desire to form an alliance 

 with us. Several private letters 

 respecting this transaction have 

 reached town, by which we learn 

 that the revolution took place on 

 the 19th of April. 



15, 16. Escape of a number of 

 French prisoners from one of the 

 hulks at Cadiz. 



16. A meeting of the freehold- 

 ers of Middlesex at the Free 

 Masons' Tavern, for the purpose 

 of voting resolutions counter to 

 the proceedings of the meeting of 

 the freeholders convened at Hack- 

 ney, on the 26tli of April. 



21. Duke of Albuquerque, am- 

 bassador from Spain, landed at 

 Portsmouth. 



Meeting of the livery of Lon- 

 don, to consider of the rejection 

 of their petition bj* the House of 

 Commons, on the 8th inst. 



22. Dinner of the liverymen, 

 who signed a declaration counter 

 to the proceedings at the common 

 hall on the subject of sir Francis 

 Burdett's committal to the Tower. 



27. French papers received, de- 

 veloping a pretended plot of the 

 English government for liberating 

 Ferdinand VII. from his prison at 

 Valancey. 



28. Dinner of the electors of 

 Westminster, at the Crown and 

 Anchor Tavern, to commemorate 



the return of sir Francis Burdett 

 to parliament. 



29. Sudden death of the Crown 

 Prince of Sweden. 



The Dey of Algiers declared 

 war against France. 



31. A most extraordinary and 

 atrocious attempt was made early 

 this morning to assassinate the 

 duke of Cumberland. His royal 

 highness dined on Wednesday at 

 Greenwich, returned to town in 

 the evening, and went to the con- 

 cert for the benefit of the royal so- 

 ciety of musicians. He returned 

 home about half past twelve, and 

 went to bed about one. About half 

 past two he received two violent 

 blows and cuts on his head. The 

 first impression upon his mind was, 

 that a bat had got into the room, 

 and was beating about his head ; 

 he was soon convinced to tiie con- 

 trary, by receiving a third blow: 

 he jumped out of bed, when he re- 

 ceived a number of other blows : 

 from the glimmering light, and 

 the motion of the instrument that 

 inflicted the wounds, reflected 

 from a dull lamp in the fire-place, 

 they appeared like flashes of light- 

 ning before his eyes. He made 

 for a door near the head of his 

 bed, leading to a small room to 

 which the assassin followed him, 

 and cut him across his thighs. His 

 royal highness not being able to 

 find his alarm-bells, which there is 

 no doubt the villain had concealed, 

 called with a loud voice for Neale, 

 his valet in waiting, several times, 

 who came to his assistance, and, 

 together with his royal highness, 

 alarmed the house. The dukede- 

 sired Neale not to leave him, as 

 he feared there were others in the 

 room. His royal highness, how- 

 ever, shortly afterv/ards proceeded 



