year of his age. Immediately after the committee had
begun to act, the whig party lost one of their warmest champions, by the
death of the marquis of Wharton, a nobleman possessed of happy talents
for the cabinet, the senate, and the common scenes of life; talents
which a life of pleasure and libertinism did not prevent him from
employing with surprising vigour and application. The committee of the
lower house taking the civil list into consideration, examined several
papers relating to that revenue. The tories observed, that from the
seven hundred thousand pounds granted annually to king William, fifty
thousand pounds were allotted to the late queen, when princess of
Denmark; twenty thousand pounds to the duke of Gloucester; and twice
that sum, as a dowry, to James' queen; that nearly two hundred thousand
pounds had been yearly deducted from the revenues of the late queen's
civil list, and applied to other uses; notwithstanding which deduction,
she had honourably maintained her family, and supported the dignity of
the crown. In the course of the debate, some warm altercation passed
between lord Guernsey and one of the members, who affirmed that the
late ministry had used the whigs, and indeed the whole nation, in such
a manner, that nothing they should suffer could be deemed a hardship.
At length the house agreed that the sum of seven hundred thousand pounds
clear should be granted for the civil list during his majesty's life. A
motion being made for an address against pensions, it was opposed by Mr.
Walpole, and over-ruled by the majority. The lords passed the bill for
regulating the land forces, with some amendments.

SIR JOHN NORRIS SENT WITH A FLEET TO THE BALTIC.

On the eighteenth day of May, sir John Norris sailed with a strong
squadron to the Baltic, in order to protect the commerce of the nation,
which had suffered from the king of Sweden, who caused all ships trading
to those parts to be seized and confiscated. That prince had rejected
the treaty of neutrality concerted by the allies for the security of
the empire; and considered the English and Dutch as his enemies. The
ministers of England and the states-general had presented memorials to
the regency of Sweden; but finding no redress, they resolved to protect
their trade by force of arms. After the Swedish general, Steenbock, and
his army were made prisoners, count Wellen concluded a treaty with the
administrator of Holstein-Gottorp, by which the tow