THE SCOTS MAGAZINE. CONTAINING, AGENERAL VIEW OF THE Religion, Politicks, Entertainment, &c. IN GREAT BRITA 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. C EDINBURGH: 1 rinted by SANDS, BRYMER, MURRAY and COCHRAN. 1 : A NOTHER Volume of the SCOTS 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 shall be our study, as well as our am bition, to merit the continuance of their favour. SOME events have happened since the commencement of this work, which will furnish ample matter to those who shall write the history of these times. The mortality among princes, especially the death of the late Emperor, and the intrigues thence sprung, at present so affectingly engage the principal potentates of Europe, that the publick liberties seem threatened in a most extraordinary manner, unless by some unexpected, speedy and vigorous refolutions, the scale is brought back to its former equipoise; or if another CAMILLUS rise not to rescue his groning country from Gaulish oppreffion, by more effectual means than ransoming it with gold. OUR war with Spain was declared on such strong 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 most readers, as they will there find what may contri-.. bute towards giving them a just View of the Interefts of our country, or those of mankind; and from whence may be drawn pretty diftinct notions of the policy of neighbouring powers, with its influence on the commerce and profperity of our own little continent. BUT besides, the Proceedings of a learned Political Club, imitating the debates in PARLIAMENT; those important disputes, where our happiness is so nearly concerned, and which frequently produce sentiments that breathe the true fpirit of old Roman liberty, must, of themselves, highly raise the character of any collection in which they are contained. A A proper choice from the Political Writings also helps us to con ceive more clearly the state of the nation, detects the false steps ta ken at the head of affairs, and unvails the projects and miscarriage of weak or corrupted ministers; with these they point out the various growth of faction, and the different attempts made by designing men, to delude, or fow sedition among the people. Moral and Entertaining Essays, Poetry, &c. always afford much pleafure, when writ with that good sense, decency, and regard to virtue, absolutely requifite in such pieces; and it is our particular care, to omit whatever may offend the most delicate ear. By a list of Marriages, Births, Deaths and Preferments, our readers have an opportunity of observing 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 shall only add one other valuable use our Magazine is of; in that it furnishes Gentlemen a means of communicating to the publick any discoveries they make in arts or sciences, or whatever may contribute either to the utility or entertainment of mankind. The affistances of this kind we have been favoured with, claim the most grateful returns; which, as heretofore, fo for hereafter we shall endeavour to make, by paying all due regard to the Effays they shall be pleased to send. EDINBURGH, Dec. 31. 17 4 1. Letters or Effays (Poft paid) or Commissions may be addressed to W. SANDS or A. BRYMER, Booksellers, or to A. MURRAY or J. COCHRAN, Printers, Edinburgh. By whom Gentlemen in Town may have the Magazines sent to their Lodgings, or those in the Country to their Carriers Quarters, duly as they are published. The Magazines are likewife furnished by the other Bookfellers of Edinburgh, and by those of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth, Stirling, Dumfries, Berwick, Kelso, &c. Alfo by the Clerks in the General Poft-office, Edinburgh, 1 The Scots Magazine. JANUARY, 1741. A Summary of PUBLICK AFFAIRS at ther threaten'd even the Sultan himself. the beginning of the year 1741. R to 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 resign 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 conquest may serve as an example to future times of the dreadful effects of indolence and effeminacy in a prince, and avarice and carelesness in a ministry; for such are agreed to have been the causes of the eafy victory gained over the Emperor of the vast country of Indoftan. This seditious spirit is heighten'd by the great scarcity of provifions, and the plague which rages rages there; these having reduced that city to the most inexpref sible misery. A conspiracy to depose the Grand Seignior has been discover'd, which occafion'd numbers of people to be put to death; and the new Grand Gra Vizier seems not likely to hold that dignity long, being extremely proud in his behaviour, ill versed in politicks, and cruel to his enemies. Upon the receipt of the news of the Emperor's death at Constantinople, the populace formed several cabals, pretending to direct the Porte how to act in that new turn of affairs: but the ringleaders being imprisoned, the rest soon dispersed. The court of PETERSBURG was for some time taken up with the discovery of Wolinski's conspiracy, and the trial and punishment of the conspirators: 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 Majesty's indisposition. The Duke began his administration to the fatisfaction of the people: but his conduct soon discover'd, that his ambition would not be bounded by the regency; removing, by degrees, whoever he suspected his enemies, out of the Princess Anne, besides ufing the Duke of Brunswick in an imperious manner, and arresting six Russian Lords, who, he thought, were confpiring, in con The SCHACH NADIR, after his return to Ifpahan, formed a design of attacking the Turks on the fide of Babylon, on pretence of resenting their refusal to grant him liberty to pass thro' their dominions, in a visit 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 necessary dispositions were made in Turkey for giving him a warm reception: but the government; and even threatning the Sophi having fince turn'd his eyes chief- The populace at CONSTANTINOPLE junction with the faid Duke, against giving several instances of an inclina- him. The father of the Emperor imtion to rebel, on the flightest pretence mediately threw up all his employfor dissatisfaction, the divan has been ments; and Count Munich, though he troubled with divers inteftine commo. took the oath to the Czar, refused to tions. One infurrection ended in the subject himself to the Regent. Several thange of the Grand Vizier, and ano- fecret conferences were held on that ocVOL. III. cafion, A |