THE

SCOTS MAGAZINE.

CONTAINING,

A GENERAL VIEW

OF THE

Religion, Politicks, Entertainment, &c.

I N

GREAT BRITAIN:

And a fuccinct AccouNT. of

PUBLICK AFFAIRS

FOREIGN and DOMESTICK.

For the Year MDCCXLI.

VOLUME III.

Ne quid falfi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.

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DINBURGH:

rinted by SANDS, BRYMER, MURRAY and COCHRAN.

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PREFACE.

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NOTHER Volume of the S COTS MAGAZINE now makes its appearance, and calls upon us a third time to pay our countrymen that tribute of thanks due for the countenance they have given us: At the fame time we beg leave to renew our affurances, that it fhall be our study, as well as our am bition, to merit the continuance of their favour.

SOME events have happened fince the commencement of this work, which will furnifh ample matter to those who shall write the history of these times. The mortality among princes, efpecially the death of the late Emperor, and the intrigues thence fprung, at prefent fo affectingly engage the principal potentates of Europe, that the publick liberties feem threatened in a moft extraordinary manner, unless by fome unexpected, fpeedy and vigorous refolutions, the scale is brought back to its former equipoife; or if another CAMILLUS rife not to rescue his groning country from Gaulish oppreffion, by more effectual means than ranfoming it with gold.

OUR war with Spain was declared on fuch ftrong motives, and after our fuffering fuch a feries of flagrant and repeated injuries, that every true Briton cannot help being anxious to know in what manner it is carried on, and how far the cruelty and injustice of the enemy have been duly punished.

ON these accounts, a faithfully collected MAGAZINE must be grateful to moft readers, as they will there find what may contri-.. bute towards giving them a juft View of the Interefts of our country, or those of mankind; and from whence be drawn pretty diftinct notions of the policy of neighbouring powers, with its influence on the commerce and profperity of our own little continent.

may

BUT befides, the Proceedings of a learned Political Club, imitating the debates in PARLIAMENT; thofe important difputes, where our happiness is fo nearly concerned, and which frequently produce fentiments that breathe the true spirit of old Roman liberty, muft, of themselves, highly raise the character of any collection in which they are contained.

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A proper choice from the Political Writings alfo helps us to con ceive more clearly the ftate of the nation, detects the falfe fteps ta ken at the head of affairs, and unvails the projects and mifcarriage of weak or corrupted minifters; with these they point out the va rious growth of faction, and the different attempts made by de figning men, to delude, or fow fedition among the people.

Moral and Entertaining Effays, Poetry, &c. always afford much pleafure, when writ with that good fenfe, decency, and regard to virtue, abfolutely requifite in fuch pieces; and it is our particular care, to omit whatever may offend the most delicate ear.

By a lift of Marriages, Births, Deaths and Preferments, our readers have an opportunity of obferving what alterations happen in families, of a middle, as well as of a high station; and by the help of our Indexes, one may discover the relations of different families, what offices they have enjoyed, and the times when any changes happened.

WE fhall only add one other valuable use our Magazine is of; in that it furnishes Gentlemen a means of communicating to the pu blick any difcoveries they make in arts or fciences, or whatever may contribute either to the utility or entertainment of mankind. The affiftances of this kind we have been favoured with, claim the most grateful returns; which, as heretofore, fo for hereafter we fhall endeavour to make, by paying all due regard to the Essays they fhall be pleased to fend.

EDINBURGH, Dec. 31. 1 7 4 1.

Letters or Effays (Poft paid) or Commiffions may be addreffed to W. SANDS or A. BRYMER, Bookfellers, or to A. MURRAY or J. COCHRAN, Printers, Edinburgh. By whom Gentlemen in Town may have the Magazines fent to their Lodgings, or thofe in the Country to their Carriers Quarters, duly as they are publifhed. The Magazines are likewife furnished by the other Bookfellers of Edinburgh, and by thofe of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth, Stirling, Dumfries, Berwick, Kelfo, &c. Alfo by the Clerks in the General Poft-office, Edinburgh,

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JANUARY,

A Summary of PUBLICK AFFAIRS at the beginning of the year 1741. EPEATED advices give further confirmation of the entire defeat of the GREAT MOGUL, and the reduction of all his dominions, by Thamas Kouli Kan; to whom he is become a tributary, after being obliged to refign into his hands the whole country lying between Candahar and the river Indus. The battle Feb. 22. 1739, in which about 100,000 men, and part of the Emperor's family loft their lives, decided the fate of that unhappy prince, and fubjected his empire to the mercy of the Perfian victor. This compleat conqueft may ferve as an example to future times of the dreadful effects of indolence and effeminacy in a prince, and avarice and carelesnefs in a miniftry; for fuch are agreed to have been the causes of the eafy victory gained over the Emperor of the vaft country of Indoftan.

The SCHACH NADIR, after his return to Ifpahan, formed a defign of attacking the Turks on the fide of Babylon, on pretence of refenting their refufal to grant him liberty to pafs thro' their dominions, in a vifit he was to make to the tomb of Mahomet. Advices from Conftantinople have confirm'd the march of his army against the Ottoman dominions; and the neceffary difpofitions were made in Turkey for giving him a warm reception: but the Sophi having fince turn'd his eyes chiefly on commerce, the apprehenfions of the Turks in that quarter feem entirely diffipated.

The populace at CONSTANTINOPLE giving feveral inftances of an inclination to rebel, on the flighteft pretence for diffatisfaction, the divan has been troubled with divers inteftine commotions. One infurrection ended in the change of the Grand Vizier, and anoVOL. III.

1741.

ther threaten'd even the Sultan himself. This feditious fpirit is heighten'd by the great scarcity of provifions, and the plague which rages there; these having reduced that city to the most inexpreffible mifery. A confpiracy to depofe the Grand Seignior has been difcover'd, which occafion'd numbers of people to be put to death; and the new Grand Vizier seems not likely to hold that dignity long, being extremely proud in his behaviour, ill verfed in politicks, and cruel to his enemies.

Upon the receipt of the news of the Emperor's death at Conftantinople, the populace formed feveral cabals, pretending to direct the Porte how to act in that new turn of affairs: but the ringleaders being imprisoned, the reft foon difperfed.

The court of PETERSBURG was for fome time taken up with the discovery of Wolinski's confpiracy, and the trial and punishment of the confpirators: Soon after which the Czarina died, leaving the Duke of Courland Regent in the infancy of the young Czar, agreeable to the act of fettlement made during her Imperial Majefty's indifpofition. The Duke began his administration to the fatisfaction of the people: but his conduct foon discover'd, that his ambition would not be bounded by the regency; removing, by degrees, whoever he fufpected his enemies, out of the government; and even threatning the Princess Anne, befides ufing the Buke of Brunswick in an imperious manner, and arrefting fix Ruffian Lords, who, he thought, were confpiring, in conjunction with the faid Duke, against him. The father of the Emperor immediately threw up all his employments; and Count Munich, though he took the oath to the Czar, refufed to fubject himself to the Regent. Several fecret conferences were held on that oc

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cafion,