Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

s were holding it by the netting, when I went to pour into the cistern the rest of the oil of vitriol deftmed for the purpose ; this having caused a strong effervefcence gene rated inflammable air with such rapidity, that fomeof itefcap «d from two different parts at the lower end of the appara tus, and spread among the feet of several gentlemen who were holding the balloon, and who were so alarmed that, leaving it at liberty, they ran from the spot. The balloon now rose with great velocity, and carrying up with it a gentleman of this town, 11 years of age. «« This unhappy viftim held a strong rope, (which was faftened to the crown of the balloon, and was to have been the cable of my big anchor) and could not disengage him felf when the other gentlemen fled ; he was of course ele vated the height of St. Paul’s cupola, when the balloon turned downward, the crown divided from it, and the unfortunate gentleman fell to the ground. “ He did not expire immediately, having fallen upon very loft ground; he spoke for some time to his unhappy parents, and to the surgeons who came to aflift him ; but his internal vefl'els being broken he died about an hour and a half after the fall. “ Before this unhappy accident I had taken notice of the young gentleman, and tyvice untwisted the fatal rope from his hand, brought him to leave it loose, and give free expan lion to the balloon, which was now filling apace : But, I think, it was his destiny, and his appointed hour was come.— « I can write no more, I am so affeded by the loss of this unfortunate young man that my frame is entirely discomposed, I never fuffered so much since I was born. VINCENT LUNARDI." By a variety of private letters from Newcastle, refpeding the above unhappy accident, we find that the unfortunate young gentleman was a Mr. Heron, son of a very refpedable Attorney of that name, and who is Under Sheriff for the county of Northumberland ; that he was clerk to his father, the period of his servitude was nearly expired, and he was upon the point of being married to a mod amiable v young ladv, between whom and himfelf the tenderest affection had subsisted from their earliest years. It appears that the inflammable air, being generated with great violence, burst from the apparatus with such rapidit y as to cacth fire ; the alarm dispersed all the fpedators but the ill-fated Mr. Heron, who either continued to hold the cord or was entangled by it. Lunardi called for water, but none could be procured ; the balloon being forcibly disengaged from the cords afeended above 3000 feet, when it burst, and Mr. Heron fell into a garden near the place of afeenfion. The force of the fall was somewhat broke, by Mr. Heron’s coming down almost erect upon a tree, and from thence in the fame position upon a flower bed of foft mould, into which be funk nearly knee deep, and then stuck faft t It is impoflible to conceive the aftonilhmeqt that inrtantly seized several thousand fpeCtators to behold a person suspended only by his arm carried to such a prodigious height, and immediately descended with greater velocity, while the balloon was seen rent to pieces in the air, and exhibiting only a cloud of black smoke. Mr. Heron’s father, mother, Afters, and several other relations, were on a fcaffold adjoining the balloon when this dreadful catastrophe took place ; no person at firft knew who it was, but the alarm was soon given of its being poor Mr. Heron. The ground was deferred, and the outcry of the fpeftators was diftreffmg. Every medical afliftance was ad ministered in vain, and a few hours terminated his exirtence in a manner so truly melancholy to his family, friends, the town, and whole neighbourhood, Lunardi made a preci pitate retreat from the fury of the enraged populace. * Government are now about fettling a "colony in New-Hol land, in the Indian seas j and the Commiflioiiers of the navy are now advertising for 1500 tons of transports. The settle ment is to be formed at Botany Bay, on the weft fide of the island, where Captain Cook refreihed and flayed feme time *n his voyage in 1770. As he firft failed round that fide of the island, he called it New South Wales, and the two canes at the mouth of the river were called by the names of Banks .tnd Solander. There are 680 men felons and 70 womah felons to go, and they are to be guarded by 12 marines and a corporal m every transport, containing 150 felons. There are several men of war and some frigates to go, but thev are all to come back, but one or two of each, which are to re main there some time to aflift in eftablilhing a gartifon of 300 men intended to be left there. The whole equipment, army navy, and felons, are to be landed with two years provisions and all fort* of implements for the culture of the earth and hunting and filhing, and some flight buildings are to be run up immediately, till a proper fort and town-house are ereft, ed. This place is nearly situated in the fame latitude with the Cape of Good Hope, and about eight months voyage front England. On the of August w?s arrested at Vienna, a man about 73 years old, who had been married seven times. He used to bury his wife every second year, and at the burying of his last, being fufpeded of having poisoned them all, the body was taken out of the grave, and examined by gentle men of the faculty. There were visible marks of poison, the wietch will undergo coqdign puniihraent for his horrid crimes. The French now eat beef and drink porter; they wear broad cloth and bucklkin breeches; they play at fk ttles and cricket. Alas, England ! where is now thy boasted pre eminence ? CHARLESTON, December Tp. In conference of the late agreement between Great-Bri tain and Spain, all Englilli troops will be withdrawn from the Mufquito Shore, and that place left entirely in pofleffio.n of the Spaniards. Letters from Amsterdam, dated September 3, mention, that Mr. Adams, who lately left London to sign a treaty of commerce with the Pruflian Ambaflador at the Hague, is now preparing to return to Great-Britain. SAVANNAH, December 21, Last Saturday, agreeable to notification, the (htferent lodges of this Bate, either by Deputation or Representatives, met the Right Worfliipful the GRAND LODGE, at their Lodge- Room at the Coffee-houfe, when the permanent appointments under the provincial regulations of England were by the Grand Officers voluntarily abolished, and annual adopted. It is with regret to be communicated to the Craft, that the Right Worfliipful GRAND MASTER of Georgia, the Ho norable Major-General Elbert, rehgned his chair, when the following Grand-Officers were elected for the Year of Ma sonry 5787 : The Right Worfliipful William Stephens, Esquire, Grand Master. The Right Worfliipful Brigadier General James Jackson, Deputy Grand Master. The Worfliipful Sir George Houftoyn, Baronet, Grand Senior Warden. The Worfliipful Thomas Else, Esquire, Grand Junior Warden. The Worfliipful James Haberlham, Esq. Grand Treasurer. . The Worfliipful Samuel Stirk, Esq. Grand Secretary. The GRAND LODGE taking into consideration the gene rous and masonic behaviour of the late Grand Master, Brother Elbert, unanimously hailed him Father of Independent Ma sonry, and appointed a Committee to present him the thanks of the Masonic State, with a Past Grand Mailer’s emblema tical jewel, in teflimony of their refpeft and brotherly af fection. The different Lodges in the state being thus cemented un der one common head, the day was concluded w : h harmony and good fellowlhip. December 28. Yesterday being the Anniversary Feast of St. John, the different Lodges of this town met the Grand Lodge at their room, and proceeded under their banner to Christ Church, where an excellent masonic sermon was preached by the Rev. Brother Nixon. After service the whole of the Fraternity present dined with the Grand Lodge, and spent the day with that harmony and feftlvity, which might be expefted frpra a jundion of the Brotherhood under one common head. The Captains Dalher, Igle, and Tattnall, of this state, have routed the Negroes from their camp in Carolina, and destroyed, with their huts, quantity of provisions, AUGUSTA, Jan. 13, The following is a Copy of the letter from the Speaker qf the House of AlTerably to the Governor Eleft; SIR , IT is with pleasure I acquaint you, by the diredions of the Legislature, of your appointment to the Supreme Magi stracy of the Government of this State. When they conlider the arduous struggles you have made on behalf of the United States as a Soldier, they hope and flatter themselves the fame exertions will not be wanting in the important duties of your civil appointment as a citizen. They are happy to fee the former inhabitants of other Hates