plaintiff's mistress would notgive her address (but it was proved that the plaintiff had mentioned it); and that the defendant had sent 2s. 6d. to the prison for the plaintiff's accommodation till Monday morning.

Lord Ellenborough reprobated very severely the tyrannic conduct of the defendant, and his unjustifiable commitment of the plaintiff for a civil injury, of which the basket in the defendant's possession was at all times a reparation; much more the commitment of an innocent person for the assault of a guilty one; and the assault by the plaintiff's mistress, in the present case, was not proved; for, from the partiality to the defendant of the constable's evidence, his lordship did not think his swearing to the assault worthy of credit. From this circumstance, and his unwarranted commitment of the plaintiff, when it was the plaintiff's mistress whom he swore to have broken the peace, his lordship recommended to Mr. Common-Serjeant that he should be discharged from his of fice. Verdict for the plaintiff, damages 1501

2. This evening, between seven and eight o'clock, a fire broke out in the dwelling-house of Mr. Chalmers, near the church at Walthamstow. The flames raged with great violence; and in a short time the house was burnt down. Fortunately the children were all below stairs, and were safely taken to a neighbouring house. Whether this accident was owing to a spark flying from the fire on some linen which was airing, or whether the windowcurtain caught fire from a candle carried near it, is uncertain.-It has been suggested to us, that it might be of use in nurseries, and other rooms where little children sleep, to

be provided with strong sacks, about three feet and a half in depth, and one and a half in diameter, kept open at the top with a wooden hoop, having a long rope tied to it. These are to be used for letting the children down from the window, in cases where the passage down the stairs is obstructed by the flames, as it would be a much safer method, than attempting to bring them down. a rope-ladder.

A few evenings since Kensington Palace was discovered to be on fire, occasioned by the flue communicating to some timber, that led to the Princess of Wales's apartments; but it being timely discovered, and a number of carpenters being at work in the palace, by cutting away some wood-work it was happily prevented from spreading.

FIRE AT CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD.

3. A fire was discovered, about a quarter before 12 this night, in the apartments of Mr. Brown (a stu dent of Christ Church, son of Edward Brown, esq. of Stamford), supposed to have been occasioned by some sparks communicating to a beam which ran across the chimney. The conflagration was most alarming; and the rapidity with which it spread may be easily conceived, when the amazing quantity of woodwork which this immense pile contains is remembered. Although the alarm was immediately given, the flames for a long time resisted the united efforts of the engines of Christ Church, of the different colleges, and of the city; consuming the greater part of the south-west angle, and threatening with destruction that magnificent structure the Hall. Fortunately, however, the night was calm, and there was a plentiful supply of water, or this splendid

room

room must inevitably have fallen. The apartments destroyed are those of Dr. White, regius professor of Hebrew, of Messrs. Brown, James senior, Kiough, and Meyler. Those of lord Apsley, Messrs. Cleaver, Smelt, James junior, Glasse, Roe, Buxton, and Finch, are partially injured. The loss is estimated at 12,000. The exertions of the gentlemen of the university, as well as the inhabitants, were very great; owing to which the fire was got under before seven o'clock in the morning. Only one accident occurred; which was to Mr. Smyth of Oriel, who dislocated his knee in an attempt to force open a door, and whose activity and exertions, previous to this circumstance, were conspicuous in the highest degree. Part only of Dr. White's very valuable books and MSS. have been saved.

Another fire broke out at Lee farm (Mr. Hodgkins), 16 miles from Oxford. It began in a henroost, in a spacious farm-yard, and communicated to the stables, over which a man and a boy were sleeping, and who were burnt. Above 20 head of cattle were destroyed, together with several ricks of corn and hay; but the dwelling-house was preserved.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

4. A coroner's inquest was held before G. Hodgson, esq. one of the coroners for the county of Middlesex, at the house of Mr. Powell, in Devonshire-place, on the body of lord viscount Falkland.-There was no testimony adduced before the jury, relative to the quarrel which terminated so fatally, nor were any persons forthcoming who were present at the melancholy scene. Consequently, after mature deliberation on the scanty evidence before them, the jury returned a 1809.

verdict of Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown.

11. A singular instance of the instability of human grandeur, was stated in a speech by Mr. Whitbread. The identical service of plate which Mrs. Clarke purchased from Birket, the pawn-broker, originally belonged to a prince of the unfortunate family of Bourbon. What a memento must it have been to the duke of York, to trace the household plate, with the arms of the royal family of Bourbon, to the shop of a pawnbroker, and afterwards to Ms. Clarke's! Trace the history of France, (says Mr. Whitbread,) from the luxurious days of the La Vallieres and Montespans, down to those of the Pompadours and De Barres, and you would see the destruction and overthrow of the monarchy, which drove the illustrious branches of the Bourbon family into foreign exile, originating in private vice, and finally completed by the deceitful and unbounded extravagance of those intrusted with public confidence and official situation. One cannot help thinking, said the honourable gentleman, that the circumstance of the duke de Berri's plate having been disposed of this way, and then coming into the possession of the duke of York, must have occasioned some sensations in the bosom of his royal highness which could not fail to rouse his feelings for the fate of that unfortunate family, and which would cause him inwardly to ejaculate-“ I thank God for the warning which this magnificent monument of the instability of greatness holds up to my view, and I will use it as a beacon to guard against the danger of those rocks on which others, once as great and powerful as I am now, have been so unexpectedly wrecked

We copy the following curious article from the Morning Chronicle:

A BOOK! A BOOK!

The following advertisement appeared lately in a ministerial paper :

"A book.-Any person having in their possession a copy of a certain book, printed by Mr. Edwards, in 1807, but never published, with W. Lindsell's name as the seller of the same on the title-page, and will bring it to W. Lindsell, bookseller, Wimpole-street, will receive a handsome gratuity."

This is a very singular affair. We have reason to believe that it has reference to a certain examination before three lords of his majesty's cabinet council, which, at the time, excited the highest degree of public interest. A right honourable gentleman, for purposes which we do not presume to analyse, procured this evidence to be printed with great secrecy and a number of copies were struck off, but not published. This matter was not conducted with all the concealment that was affected; for certainly many persons at the time either saw the curious performance, or pretended to have seen it and several curious anecdotes were freely quoted from the work. The object which the editor of the examinations had in view, however, was served: he became one of his majesty's ministers, and it was declared that the publication was not only suppressed, but the whole edition burnt.

On occasions like these, the instruments of a clandestine proceeding are likely to imbibe the spirit of their employers. Some time ago a copy of this book was found to be still in existence. The right honourable gentleman forgot that the printer, by the act, is bound to preserve a copy; and a negotiation was entered into for the purchase of this so

litary remnant of scandal. It was bought up, at an enormous price. No sooner was this done, however, than another copy appeared. It was offered to a bookseller for 3 or 4007.; and then it struck the original editor that several copies had been retained, and that they must be all bought up, or no benefit was to be obtained by his first purchase. The above advertisement is a search after the stray copies! What must be the reflections of this minister of the king. on the subject at this day!

REMARKABLE FUNERAL.

19. The remains of Hugh Hewson, who died at the advanced age of eighty-five, was interred in the burial-ground of St. Martin's-inthe-fields. The deceased was a man of much celebrity, though no funeral escutcheons adorned his hearse, or heir expectant graced his obsequies. He was no less a personage than the identical Hagh Strap, whom Dr. Smollet has rendered so conspicuously interesting in his Life and Adventures of Roderick Random, and for upwards of forty years had kept a hair-dresser's shop in the above parish. The deceased was a very intelligent man, and took delight in recounting the adventures of his early life, He spoke with pleasure of the time he passed in the service of the doctor; and it was his pride, as well as boast, to say that he had been educated in the same seminary with so learned and distinguished a character. His shop was hung round with Latin quotations, and he would frequently point out to his customers and acquaintances the several scenes by Roderick Random pertaining to himself, which had their foundation not in the doctor's inventive fancy, but in truth and reality. The meeting in a barber's shop at Newcastleupon Tyne, the subsequent mistake at the inn, their arrival together in

London,

London, and the assistance they experienced from Strap's friend, were all of that description. We understand the deceased has left behind him an interlined copy, of Roderick Random, pointing out these facts, showing how far they were indebted to the genius of the doctor, and to what extent they were bottomed in reality. The deceased could never succeed in gaining more than a respectable subsistence by his trade; but he possessed an independence of mind superior to his humble condition. Of late years he was employed as keeper of the promenade in Villiers Walk, Adelphi, and was much noticed and respected by the inhabitants who frequented that place.

HORSHAM, SUSSEX.

Indicent Bathing.

21. John Crundon was indicted for indecently exposing himself on the beach at Brighton, on the 25th of June and 2d of July last.

Mr. Gurney having opened the indictment, Mr. serjeant Shepherd stated the circumstances of the case. He observed, that it had long been the practice of various persons to undress and bathe so near the houses, and within view of the inhabitants of the town of Brighton, that at length many respectable persons had associated themselves into a committee, to prevent such an indecent nuisance. They had accordingly met and pointed out the limits within which persons, not using machines, might bathe in the sea; and, in general, most persons acquiesced in their resolution. In order, however, that no person might complain of any hardship, they resolved that all persons who were invalids, and to whom it might be inconvenient to walk to the distance prescribed, should have tickets given them, on application to the committee, which

would entitle them to the use of a machine gratis. And still further, to preserve public decency, they had built a hut on the beach, wherein any person might undress himself under cover. Notwithstanding these different accommodations, the defendant, who was a tailor, at Brighton, refused to conform to these reasonable regulations, but obstinately persisted in the indecent practice of bathing within a few yards of the houses. He had been frequently remonstrated with; but his uniform answer was, The sea was free, and he would bathe when and where he pleased. Nor was he merely content in doing this in his own person, but he had induced many others to follow his example, and he constantly came at the head of his companions, by whom he was denominated the captain, and in defiance of all decency and remon strance daily exposed himself naked on the beach. The learned serjeant observed, it imported the character of the town to prevent such practices, inasmuch as no decent man could suffer the female part of his family to walk abroad, if their eyes were to be offended with such gross spectacles. The object of the present prosecution was not a vindictive one, it was only to teach the defendant and others, that they would not be permitted to follow such prac. tices with impunity.

Mr. Ellis, a gentleman who resided in Bedford-place, Brighton, proved that the defendant bathed on the days stated in the indictment, and persisted that he would continue to do it, as the sea was free. He also stated the precautions taken by the committee to prevent such indecencies.

This testimony was confirmed by F. Gunn, one of the bathers employed by the inhabitants of Brighton

to warn persons against bathing in exposed situations. He stated, that he had given the dendant one of the hand-bills, in which persons bathing without machines were desired to go eastward of the Crescent, and westward as far as Hove. Upon which occasion the defendant said he would bathe where he pleased. Mr. Marryatt addressed the jury for the defendant, stating that it had been the custom at all times for persons to bathe where the defendant now bathed; and contending that they ought not to be disturbed because Mr. Ellis, the witness, had thought proper to run up his houses within view.

The chief baron thought this a serious question, and stated his opinion, that it was an offence against decency and morality. If a town grew up, the inhabitants must not be annoyed with indecent spectacles, and therefore it became the duty of the bather to retire to remoter situ. ations.

The jury found the defendant Guilty.

YORK ASSIZES.

J. Long was indicted for stabbing or cutting John Crosby over his left eye with a pitchfork, whereby his left eye was despaired of. It appeared that the prisoner rented a stable in York, about which a number of people were collected on the 15th of October. It was said that the prisoner had some women with him in the stable; and the prosecutor being induced to look, received a stab from a pitchfork over the left eye. The wound was proved to have been inflicted by the prisoner. It was also proved, that he wished he had pushed the fork in his guts, and that he expressed violent threats against some persons who interfered. The judge observed to the jury, that if the prosecutor had died, he

he should have felt it his duty to direct them to find the prisoner Guilty of murder. If they thought the case clear, they would of course find him guilty of the crime for which he was indicted.

The jury returned a verdict of→→→ Manslaughter. His lordship observed, that they had mispent their time; as the man was still living, the pri soner could not be guilty of manslaughter-Reconsider your verdict. On a question from a juryman, his lordship said, they were bound to return a verdict-Guilty, or Not guilty. They waited some time in the box, and then his lordship requested them again to retire, which they did, and at length returned verdict of-Not guilty; on which his lordship said, It is your verdict, not mine; how you can acquit your consciences I am at a loss to know.

The trial of Mary Bateman, for the murder of Rebecca Perigo, of Bramley, near Leeds, by adminis tering poison, (the particulars of which we have before detailed; see New Ann. Reg. Oct. 25. 1808,) commenced on the morning of the 17th inst. and continued until near nine o'clock at night. The jury, without retiring, found her Guilty. The judge, in a most impressive manner, passed sentence of death upon her, and ordered her body to be given to the surgeons. The prisoner, to delay execution, pleaded pregnancy; on which a jury of matrons was impanneled, who retired, and found that she was not wit's quick child. The execution took place on Monday.

KINGSTON, SURRY.