488 
to the commencement of the inftitution (in 
May laft) were only a burden to the town, are 
now enabled to earn more than their charge of 
mi untenance. 
Married.|—R, C. Cole, efg. of Whitchurch, 
to Mifs J. Biggs, of Blandford. W. Claveil, 
efq. to Miis Bingham, of Melcombe Bbing- 
ham. 
Died.]|—At Dorchefter, Mrs. Yeatman. Mr. 
Strange, of Lydlinch, in confequence of a fall 
from his horfe, by which he was fo much hurt, 
that he died in a few hours after. Ina phrenzy 
fever, Mr. Channing, lieut. in the Dorfet mi- 
litia. bes 
Mr. Budden, of Blandford. At Sherborn, 
Mrs. Spratt, At Everfhot, aged 88, Mr. R. 
Oliver. At Weymouth, aged 106, Mrs. Croiff- 
man. 
At Shaftefbury, the rev. James Merchant, 
many years the minifter of a congregation of 
protetant diffenters in this town. He wasa 
man of learning, piety, and candour. 
At Wareham, Mrs. Hefter Reader, aged 85, 
the widow of the late rev. Simon Reader, a 
diffenting minifter in this town for more than 
go years. Mis. R. enjoyed much confolation 
and comfort during her fi knefs, and appeared 
to anticipate her entrance into the heavenly 
world. She was much diitinguifhed for her 
piety and benevolence. 2 
; DEVONSHIRE. 
At the late meeting of the freeholders, &c. 
of this county, he'd in the Caftle Yard, Exe- 
ter, J. SEALE, efq. high fheriff, in the chair, 
Sir J. Norcrirre INNES moved a petition to 
the King, afferting the neceffity of a change of 
minifters, &c. which was feconded by Mr. 
NorTHMoRE. This gentleman, ina nervous 
fpeech, of fome length, animadverted on the 
notorious inconfiftency of the prefent mi- 
nifters, and particularly of Mr. Pitt, “ who 
had come into office againft the fenfe uf a ma- 
jority in parliament, and now retained ‘his 
place againft the defire of the people.” He 
added that ‘* minifters did not feem inclined 
to enter on negotiation with fincerity,’ Mr. 
Patx, member for the county, oppofed the 
petition, and faid, ‘* he was fure that in fo 
doing he expreffed the defire of his conftimu- 
ents (loud and reiterated cries of No! No!) 
The queftion being called fur, in order that 
the real fenfe of the county might be accu- 
rately afcertained, the fheriff defired all who 
voted for the petition to withdraw to the right 
fide of the huftings, and all who oppofed it 
to the left; when he declared the addrefs for 
the difmiflal of minifters to be carried By A 
LARGE Majority. On a-moderate com- 
putation, a majority of at leaft three to two 
divided on the petition, which by fome was 
faid to be two to one. The moft ftrenuous 
exertions had been made throughout the 
county to defeat the objeé&t of the petition, 
and the meeting was allowed to be by far the 
moft numerous and refpeétable that had ever 
been aflembled in the Weft of England. A 
counter petition was afterwards in circulation, 
which, after every effort had been exericd, 
i 2 
Dorfetfoire.. Devonfpire. 
[June, 
under the influence of EArt ForTESCUF, 
Lord Lieutenant, &c. to obtain fignatures, 
was not figned by more than 400 perfons on 
the day of the meeting. 
A ‘requifition of twenty-five refpe@able 
citizens of Exeter, having been lately addieffed 
to the mayor, requefting him to convene a 
general meeting of the inhabitants, to “ confider 
the propriety of petitioning the king to difmifs 
his minifters, and to accelerate peace,” this 
magiltrate imagining himfelf fufficiently com- 
petent to decide on conftitutional points for the 
reft-of his fellow-citizens, refufed to comp’y, 
afiening, as a reafon for his conduét, *€ that a 
majority.in parliament having fupported the 
preient minifiers,” the nation, at large, *¢ could 
not decent/y petition the king to diimifs them !” 
It is curious that, when Mr. Fox was one of 
king’s minifters, and when his India Bill was 
fupported by a majority in parliament,. the cor- 
poration of Exeter then thought it decent and 
frof.+ to petition the king, not merely to dif- 
mifs the then minifiers, but even to diffo!ve the 
parliament itfelf, as having fupported a meafure 
which was apparently difapproved of by the 
great body of the people! 
The Eaft Devon Agricultural Society offered, 
in their la meeting, eighteen premiums for the 
encouragement of AGRICULTURE and INDUS- 
TRY: one of ten guineas to the perfon whe 
fhall difcover, by the moft accurate experi- 
ments, whether the Leicefterfhire or Devonshire 
breed of fheep, or what other fort are beft and 
moft profitable for propagation within the Devon 
diftri&t ; one of five guineas to the perfon who 
fhall difcover a cure for the flux or fteet in 
bullocks; another of five guineas to the perfon 
who fhall difcover a method of deftroying thofe 
large grey grubs in pafture and arable land, 
from which proceed the cockchafer and beetle, 
or other grubs injurious to crops, fuch method 
to be the Jeaft prejudical to grafs, or other pro- 
duce of the land; another of five guineas to the 
perfon who tha!l difcover an effeétual methed to 
deftroy rats and mice, without poifon; another 
of five guineas to the perfon who fhall bring 
into a proper ftate of cultivation, the greateit 
quantity of wafte land, not lefs than five acres, 
by drainage or otherwife ; alfo four more pre- 
miums of five guineas each, one of three, and 
the remainder of two. Thefe are offered for 
the exhibition of the beft ftallion, bull, ram, 
and boar, for long and faithful fervice, and jor 
the greateft number of legitimate children, &c. 
The Grand Jury of the late Eaiter Quarter 
Sefions (held at the caftle in Exeter) have 
¢¢ declared,” by public advertifement, ‘* their 
firm opinion, that the fteps taken by the Tythe 
Society'in Devonfhire, have for their objedt, the 
moft laudable views, by encouraging a ricul- 
tural improvements, cementing friendihip and 
harmony, preventing animofities and litigations, 
and fecuring the internal defence of the king 
dom,”? &c. They alfo voted their thanks tq 
the fociety, and requefted their attive perfe- 
verance in the purfuit of their great obje&t, *¢ in 
full confidence that the Grand Juries, and Agrie — 
cultural 
