hristopher's and Nevis
in the West Indies, which had been ravaged by the enemy. They likewise
resolved, that an humble address should be presented to her majesty,
praying she would concert measures for suppressing a body of pirates
who had made a settlement on the island of Madagascar, as also for
recovering and preserving the ancient possessions, trade, and fishery in
Newfoundland. The French refugees likewise delivered a remonstrance to
the queen, recapitulating the benefits which the persecuted protestants
in France had reaped from the assistance of her royal progenitors,
acknowledging their own happiness in living under her gentle government,
among a people by whom they had been so kindly entertained when driven
from their native country; and imploring her majesty's interposition
and good offices in favour of their distressed and persecuted brethren
abroad. She graciously received this address, declaring she had always
great compassion for the unhappy circumstances of the protestants in
France; that she would communicate her thoughts on this subject to her
allies; and she expressed her hope that such measures might be taken as
should effectually answer the intent of their petition. In the month of
May she granted an audience to an ambassador-extraordinary from the
czar of Muscovy, who delivered a letter from his master, containing
complaints of king Augusts, who had maltreated the Russian troops sent
to his assistance, concluded a dishonourable peace with Charles king
of Sweden, without the knowledge of his allies, and surrendered count
Patkul, the Muscovite minister, as a deserter, to the Swedish monarch,
contrary to the law of nations, and even to the practice of barbarians.
He therefore desired her Britannic majesty would use her good offices
for the enlargement of the count, and the other Russian prisoners
detained at Stockholm; and that she would take into her protection
the remains of the Russian auxiliaries upon the Rhine, that they might
either enter into the service of the allies, or be at liberty to return
in safety to their own country. The queen actually interposed in behalf
of Patkul; but her intercession proved ineffectual, and that unhappy
minister was put to death with all the circumstances of wanton
barbarity. As many severe and sarcastic writings had lately appeared in
which the whigs and ministry were reviled, and reflections hinted to
the prejudice of the queen's person, the government resolved to