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pose; this, together with the insolent attacks made by De Luc against Mr Manning's character, and the most malignant processes against Masner, caused a peremptory order on the part of the Austrians to prevent, by every possible means, the passage of grain into the country of the Grisons. Far, however, from being intimidated, the diet of the Swiss cantons informed the French and Imperial residents that they would take effectual measures to preserve their neutrality, by preventing, for the future, the troops of either nation from passing through their territories: they also wrote to the Prince Palatine and Prince Eugene, requesting them to coincide with them in this determination: they made a resolution, at the same sitting, expressive of resentment at the attempt against Mr. Manning, which, it was generally believed, was merely superficial. De Luc did not remain an idle spectator of these transactions, but endeavoured to ruin the character of Masner, by publishing the depositions of Charles Grison and John and Ulrick Zellwegher, who accused that gentleman (to whom they had been servants) of embezzle. ments and cheating, as commissary, poisonings and intended assassinations. As these depositions were taken in presence of Merveilleux, they were generally disbelieved, though one of them offered a letter in proof from Masner to him, advising the destruction of papers which might criminate them. The friends of Masner were much alarmed for his safety; but, courageous and undismayed, he despised the villany of his waggoner, factor, and book-keeper, and went to Feldkirken, near Coire, a place belong-' ing to the house of Austria, where he issued a vindication of his con

duct against the following charges exhibited to the tribunal at Ilanz, and to which they solemnly cited him to appear and answer:

"I. For having, of his own private authority, shut up the passages, and violently seized the gates of the town in 1690.

"II. For having neglected the duties of the office he was honoured with in 1706, and relinquished his commission to seize one Somery, a French courier, thereby violating the neutrality, &c.

"III. For having bales, boxes, &c. belonging to foreign merchants, and taking thence goods, letters, &c. put into the same, counterfeitedmoney, &c.

"IV. For sending corn out of the country, contrary to the prohibition in time of dearth.

"V. For seizing, in a scandalous manner, and by his own authority, the Sieur Merveilleux in 1702.

"VI. For detaining in prison likewise, by his own authority, one Carlo Grison in 1706.

"VII. For involving the state in great difficulties, by having recourse to the protection of foreign powers, to the prejudice of his own sovereigns.

"VIII. For attempting to seize several persons to hinder their giving evidence of his crimes.

"IX. For insulting, in January 1711, the diet of the state with a numerous company of followers, amongst whom there were several suspicious persons.

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"X. For publishing scandalous libels against his superiors.

"XI. For endeavouring with money, letters, and solicitations, to excite commotions amongst the people.

XII. For endeavouring to create disorders in the state, by G 2 false

false suggestions or imputations spread amongst the commons. "XIII. For coining false money, and by means of it committing several frauds.

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"XIV. For stealing chests of foreign money, and putting counterfeit coin amongst it.

"XV. For counterfeiting seals, to seal up again several chests, bays, &c.

XVI. For breaking open several chests, and taking thence silver ingots, and gold and silver thread, and filling them up again with earth, stones, &c. and,

"Lastly,, For threatening to have his business decided by violence, and invading in several points the supreme authority of right belonging to the sovereign only.'

"Aware of the consequences, he treated the summons with contempt;, upon which his base and unworthy judges decreed as follows:

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Having heard and read the accusations, and several letters written by the accused, with all that has been alleged against him by the fiscal, after having implored the Divine direction and assistance, we have pronounced the following sentence against him; viz. That the accused, M. Masner, who is fied from justice, is deprived of his honour and employments, banished the three leagues of the Grisons, and all their dependencies, for ever; that three hundred ducats shall be given as a reward to any one (though a banditti) that shall kill him; and one thousand ducats to any person that shall deliver him alive into the hands of justice. We further sentence the accused as a malefactor, a breaker of the laws of God and this state, a rebel, a robber, false coiner; and, as guilty of other notorious

crimes he is accused of, to have his body quartered by the common hangman: but since he absconds, the execution is to be performed in effigy, and his rebellious papers against the state, or its representatives, to be burnt here by the hangman, his house to be pulled down to the ground, and his possessions here, or in foreign parts, to be forfeited to the fiscal. And such persons as have at any time insisted on his having his liberty, or corresponded with him by letters or by word of mouth, or shall hereafter harbour or conceal him, shall incur the displeasure of this state, and pay one thousand crowns. For this reason all the magistrates and every subject of this state are obliged by oath to execute this sentence against him the said Thomas Masner, without any form or process, whenever they shall apprehend him: but, because several natives, who have effects abroad, suffer already by having the same burthened with impositions, and confiscated at the instigation of the said Masner, we think it necessary to do them justice, and empower them to sue his children and offspring for a compensation of their losses and charges. This is our sentence pronounced for the sake of justice, and in the name of the supreme judges. Done at Ilantz, August 17, 1711.'

The French party having succeeded thus far, publicly threatened Swartz, a burgomaster at Coire, and other friends of Masner's, and actually caused reprisals to be made for the already mentioned prohibitions of the Austrians. This insolence did not meet with the reception hoped for by the three leagues, which it was supposed received a check through the ensuing memorial from the British envoy:

MAGNIFICENT

MAGNIFICENT LORDS,

"I received the letter which you had the goodness to write to me the 19th instant, besides a copy of the informations, taken by the bailiff at Sargants, about the projected murder of Mr. Manning: having perused them, my sentiments are the same with yours, that the said bailiff be ordered once more, to make a stricter inquiry into it, that the assassins themselves may be discovered. I must observe to you, though with extreme regret, the little inclination hitherto shewn by the bailiff to search into the bottom of this villany, in order to find out the contrivers of it: his indifference and remissness in his duty appear plainly, 1. Because he did not make the least inquiry in seven weeks after this execrable fact was committed, notwithstanding he was obliged, by virtue of his office, to have done it upon the first notice given him, without expecting an order from his superiors, that the murderers might have had no opportunity to make their escape. 2. He neglected to oblige the two persons suspected to be privy to this affair to corroborate their evidences by oath, whereas they ought to have been tortured, as has been practised on occasions of less importance than this. 3. The said bailiff, in all the interrogations he has put these two months past, did not ask the abovementioned persons the names and characters of the assassins, who, in bis partial informations, are concealed, under the name of servants or soldiers belonging to M. Merveilleux; though the principal end of this examination was, to discover the authors and actors of that horrible crime. Instead of proceeding in this affair as is usual on such oc

casions, the bailiff delayed making inquiry into it, till there was no hope left of apprehending the criminals: it is true, that at last he took some examinations; but omitting the most natural and material points, he endeavours, as much as in him lies, to extenuate the barbarity of the fact, and to give you a false notion of Mr. Manning's conduct. If I thought it worth while, I could make a great many other remarks about the pretended in formations; but since you, who are as much dissatisfied with them as I myself, have commanded him to make a stricter search, I will wait the issue of your new orders about it.

"How imperfect soever the information taken by your bailiff is, it is, however, evident, that this villanous attempt was made by the servants of M. Merveilleux; and that the next day all three made their escape. What remains further necessary to convince you that M. Merveilleux was the chief contriver of this infamous fact? I dare assure you myself, that you have not the least doubt of it; and in this confidence, I demand of you, once more, justice against him. Summon him then to appear before you, in order to answer, if he can, the charge laid against him; even by the information of your bailiff. I have already acquainted you, that the ambassador of France cannot grant protection to the murderers, and that he has no right to do it. If M. Merveilleux can clear himself of the crime he is suspected of, it will be well; but if he finds himself guilty, and continues to abscond, to avoid the effects of your' justice, I hope you will proceed against him, as is usual in such cases. This it is which the queen

demands

demands of your justice, and of your zeal, which you are obliged to express, in repairing her honour, violated in the person of her minister. I pray God to heap on you his choicest blessings, and remain with great truth,

Magnificent Lords,

Your most humble servant,
STANIAN.

"They now thought proper to send deputies to Mr. Manning, and messages to the other foreign ministers, declaring their wish to preserve the friendship of their different courts; and even De St. Luc informed the leagues he desired the punishment of Masner, and not the ruin of his family that gentleman soon after appealed to the university of Tubingen, in Suabia, against the process at Lantz, and sent his wife to the emperor at Milan, to solicit his further interference, which she

readily obtained. Although St.Lue affected some degree of moderation, not a word escaped him respecting the release of young Masner; this exasperated the inhabitants of Coire, and they began to shew strong symptoms of displeasure towards the persecutors of this unhappy family, which was increased in a very considerable degree by the despicable conduct of Vendosme, who broke his parole, and, instead of returning to Germany, went to Paris, for the ostensible purpose of procuring the enlargement of their countrymen, and the representation of the elder Masner, who produced several letters from the agents of France, containing large offers to divert him from the cause of the allies.

"The peace which took place immediately after terminated this affair to the satisfaction of all parties."

ON

DESCRIPTION OF SHIRAZ.

[FROM MR. MORIER'S JOURNEY THROUGH PERSIA, &c.]

N the morning of the 30th Dec. the day fixed for our public entry into Shiraz, all the suite appeared in full uniforms, and the envoy in a Persian cloak or catabee made of shawl, and lined with Samoor fur; a dress permitted to the princes alone, and on that account assumed by Sir Harford, as the best means of conveying to the senses of the multitude, the high consider ation of the office which he bore. We proceeded from our encampment at ten o'clock. The troop was dressed in their richest uniform, and

made a very pleasant escort. Our Mehmander marshalled the whole of the Persian horsemen so admirably, that none crowded upon us in our march, and they only played about as usual and animated the plain by their noise and games.

"About two miles from the city we were met by some of the chief men of the place. It was a long contested negociation, whether they also were to pay the envoy the compliment of dismounting, nor would they have submitted to this part of the ceremony, if Kerim Khan, the

bearer

bearer of the king's letter, had not rode forwards and represented to them, that as he was sent from his majesty to see that every respect was properly shewn to the representative of the British king, he must report their present conduct at Teheran. This hint had the desired effect; and, as their party approached, the chiefs dismounted, and I, with some other gentlemen of the mission, dismounted also, and went forward to meet them: the envoy formally expressed his determination to alight to nobody but the minister. Those who had yielded the honour thus reluctantly, were Bairam Ali Khan Cadjar, the Ish Agassi, or master of the ceremonies of the prince's household, and Hassan Khan Cadjar, both of the king's own family; Ashmed Beg, one of the sons of Nasr Oallah Khan, the prince's prime minister; and Mirza Zain Labadeen, the chief secretary. We proceeded slowly across the plain; the crowd and confusion increased almost impenetrably, as we approached the city, and nothing but the strength of our Mehmandar could have forced the passage. Mounted on his powerful large horse he was in all parts, dispersing one crowd, pushing forwards another, and dealing out the most unsparing blows to those who were disinclined to obey his call. At the gate, however, notwithstanding all his exertions, the closing numbers detained our progress for above a quarter of an hour; and vollies of blows were necessary to clear the entrance.

"At length it was effected: the envoy led the column, surrounded by the Persian grandees, and followed by the gentlemen of the mission in their rank, and the troop of the body guard. We passed through

many streets to the Bazar a-Vakeel, a long and spacious building, the shops of which were all laid out with their choicest merchandize to display on the occasion the plenty and prosperity of the country. The bazar itself is the most splendid monument of the taste and magnificence of Kerim Khan, who administered tho affairs of Persia with sovereign authority, under the name of vakeel or regent, and died in 1779. The centre is marked above by a rotunda, and beneath by an enclosed platform; in the middle of which was seated the cutwal, or minister of police. The trumpet of the troop, which was sounded, all through the streets, continued with finer effect under the covered roofs of the bazar. As the envoy passed, every one stood up; all knew at least the blows which followed any dilatoriness.

"After a long procession we arrived at the house appropriated for our reception. It was neatly built of a pale yellow brick, and was very spacious, though considerably out of repair, and indeed in some parts falling into absolute ruin. We were ushered into an apartment, where a large service of sweetmeats and fruits was prepared for us. Here we sat, until we had dispatched the usual forms of a visit with the grandees who had met us, and had accompanied us thus far. The remaining part of the day was occupied in receiving other less noble visitants, and in accepting the countless presents which were sent from various parts, and which consisted for the most part of live lambs, fruits and sweetmeats. The store of sweetmeats at last became so great, that they were distributed amongst our numerous servants, troopers, and feroshes. Among those,

who

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