Page 34 - Reading Mercury

No sir, said the cornuted?? Blade I will keep it in honour of my victory, and wear it
every Sunday of my life.

An old lady died at Newbery, in this county, leaving her fortune and a large house to
her nephew, who went a short time since to take possession. Among other things
which his aunt had left behind, was a large trunk containing a, vast quantity of various
quack medicines, which are offered to the public for the cure of every different order.
The gentleman left the trunk open and locked up the house. Returning about a
fortnight since, he found a prodigious number of dead rats, some in the trunk, and
others in the room, and almost all his aunt’s favourite medicines devoured.

th
Fri 8 July
At a time when the spirit of emigration so universally prevails, we hope the
following letter froma young man who foolishly sold himself to one of those dealers
in the human species commonly called Crimps, may deter others from following his
example, and prevent their experiencing those misfortunes, which, as soon as felt, are
past remedy.
Elk Ridge, Ann’s, Arundel County, Feb. 2, 1774.
---“I now come to the description of our miserable treatment during our voyage. As
soon as we had left Land’s End the Captain began to treat us in the most cruel
manner; our subsistence for three months (so long was our voyage) was generally but
a biscuit and a half a day, and sometimes (but extremely seldom) two, about two
ounces of salt beef, and three small potatoes; except on Tuesdays and Fridays, when
we had, instead of the beef and potatoes, about six spoonfuls of pease-soup each. If
any were hardy enough to complain, they were immediately put in irons, lashed to the
shrouds and flogged. He would not allow us to boil our biscuit and water, which was
our only drink, and very bad, though we had a most malignant fever, which only five
out of ninety escaped. We had only straw to lie in, and that continually wet; and when
we arrived at Baltimore, we were immediately advertised to be sold to the highest
bidder like so many cattle.

BERKSHIRE NEWS
WOKINGHAM, July 8
Monday the Morocca Ambassador went down to Portsmouth from London. On his
entering the town he was saluted by a discharge of the cannon on the salute battery,
and the invalids drawn up under arms as he passed the main guard. He will embark as
soon as the wind permits on board the Thames frigate which is now in waiting, in
order to return home.

A correspondent hints that as a new coinage of silver is to take place next year, a
method might be adopted of promoting a spirit of enquiry into the English history, by
striking on the reverie of the shillings the most remarkable occurrences in the history
of this country, which would furnish hints for useful conversation on those subjects,,
such a scheme was patronized by some great men about the time of the union; why it
failed we are not able to account; the ancient Romans struck medals on all occasions,
which passed as current money through the remotest part of the Empire.

Saturday se’nnight a barn belonging to Farmer Collins of Didcot, in this county, in
which was a large quantity of corn, was maliciously set on fire at both ends and burnt
to the ground, together with the stables, out houses. &c. &c., two horses that were in a

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