tion; and to continue his troops at discretion in that headstrong prince's country, till such time as his serene highness of Saxe Gotha should be thoroughly satisfied, and amply repaid the whole expenses and trouble of his expedition. The duke of Gotha had long borne great enmity to the prince of Meinungen for several affronts and injuries that he had received from him, and he had long wished for an opportunity to be revenged. This added to the great respect and deference that all German princes now have for imperial decrees, made him not hesitate a moment to show himself a dutiful son of the Germanic body, and to give the ordinances of the Imperial Chamber of Wetzlaer their proper weight. Therefore, after having summoned his council and declared to them his intentions of putting the imperial decree into execution, he gave orders to his generals to march his army the very next day towards Meinungen. Accordingly with the first dawn, the army moved, consisting of five hun

dred foot and one hundred horse with two halfpound field pieces.

I leave you to guess at the terrors that invaded the breast of the prince of Meinungen. He soon proved that tyrants can make no foundation upon oppressed subjects, and reflected, but too late, that a prince's best security is the affection of his people. However he lost no time but gathering together about three hundred militia, he resolved to repel force by force, and meet the invader of his country in the field; but upon the approach of the troops of Gotha the infinite superiority of their numbers struck such terror into the Meinungenian army, that the whole fled with the utmost precipitation each to his respective home, except the tyrant; who finding himself thus abandoned thought Meinungen, no longer a place of safety for him, and retired with great confusion to Frankfort, preceded by no postillion at all. During this time, the army of Gotha pursued its march, and as it met with no enemy was

everywhere victorious. The injured parties soon enjoyed the benefit of these conquests; the baron and baroness of Kheichlin were released out of prison and taken under the immediate protection of his highness of Gotha, while the House of Holsendorf were highly elated with the good success of their endeavours. In the mean while the houses were lighted up, bonfires were made, and all the bells rung at Gotha, and at last that duke sent in his bill. to the prince of Meinungen for the trouble and charges that he had been at in destroying, burning, ravaging, and plundering his country.

The prince of Meinungen was so much out of humour when this demand was made upon him, that he used very hard words to the person that brought it to him, and absolutely refused to pay one farthing, and has since lodged an appeal at the Diet of Ratisbon against the unjust sentence (as he terms it) of the chamber of Wetzlaer; but notwithstanding this, the troops of Gotha still continue to live at discretion in

the territories of Meinungen, to the entire ruin of those estates, the small profit of the duke their master, and to the great satisfaction of the baron and baroness of Kheichlin, and the House of Holsendorf. I have now finished my relation of this important piece of History, and you may depend upon my being very watchful about the progress of it at Ratisbon. I have established a correspondence there for that purpose only, and as I shall be thoroughly informed of every step that is taken there, I shall not fail to communicate them to you, as fast as they come to my knowledge, not doubting but you will expect them with the utmost impatience. I am, dear Sir, with the truest esteem and affection, your most obliged and faithful humble Servant,

C. HANBURY WILLIAMS.

TO THE REV. MR. BIRT.

Dresden, 5th July, 1748.

DEAR SIR;

I received your letter by the last post, and you may depend upon my never neglecting any opportunity where I have power to serve you. I have wrote, according to your desire, to the bishop, and have inclosed my letter to him in this. You may also depend upon my recommending you to Mr. Fox, whenever he has power to serve you. That good day we must, I am afraid, both wait for; but, if he lives, it must come. I have no reason to doubt his willingness to serve me and my friends; for he has just done for me what I had most at heart, which was, getting a ship for my brother Tom. I do faithfully assure you, that there is nobody has my esteem and friendship stronger than yourself; and no man is more concerned than I am at your missing Lanwenarth. I al