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every exertion that active attention could furnish was rendered. The remains of the Northumberland Fencibles were particularly active, commanded by their Adjutant. About one the flames burst forth with tremendous fury, and continued raging and threatening destruction to all around till six o'clock in the morning, when they were got somewhat under. The fury with which the conflagration raged its effects will best demonstrate, for all those beautiful and extensive buildings reaching from Water-lane to Brunswick-street, with the corresponding store-houses, called Francis, were, at six o'clock in the morning, one prodigious heap of ruins! I am just returned (twelve o'clock) from visiting the ruins, and cannot describe to you how awfully grand they appear--the walls which bounded these prodigious buildings being from ten to 14 stories high, stand perfect but unsupported; the front has given way, except some large stone arches which formed its basis-these, as the buildings have fallen, are mutilated, and appear above the heaps of the rubbish a perfect picture. George's Dock is one scene of confusion-bales of cotton, puncheons of rum, casks of sugar, bags of corn, &c. lying in promiscuous heaps; every face bears evident marks of sorrow or of sympathy. The actual damage cannot be less than a million of money. The shipping, for the dock was full close to the spot, were, from its fortunately being flood, tide, removed and preserved, but every attention was necessary, such as wet sails placed before the rigging, &c. It may be considered a fortunate circumstance that the streets of this populous town were laid with waterpipes, and the attention paid by the proprietors of the bootle-springs towards furnishing a sufficient quantity of water, in a great measure checked the progress of the flames. It is to be regretted the iminense reservoir completing by this company was not finished, as it is calculated to contain near 4000 tons of water, at an height commanding the utmost acclivities and buildings of the town.

The solemn grandeur! the majestic horror of the scene no tongue, no pencil can describe-Through a great part of the crowd that was assembled, scarcely a whisper disturbed the awful stillness that prevailed; and without an effort to resist the devouring evil, it was left for a while, to act its dreadful part alone, every eye being fixed on the tremendous spectacle, and every countenance marked with emotions of profound astonishment or of silent despair. Of the immense property which has perished, no adequate estimate can yet be given,-but under the disasters of a night, which will long be remembered and deplored, one consolation remains, that we have not to lament the loss of a single life.

Between four and five o'clock on Tuesday morning, Sept. 28th, the inhabitants of Mortlake, discovered that Stephen Stillwell, the landlord of the Three Jolly Gardeners, had murdered his wife. The unhappy victim of love and jealousy was formerly gardener to a gentleman at East Sheen, in whose service he lived a number of years. In that employ he became acquainted with, and afterwards married, the wretched woman he has since destroyed. His master was exceedingly attached to him, continued him in his service after his marriage, and permitted him and his wife to live together in a lodge erected within his grounds. They were for a long time remarked as an happy couple, and having no family, by the effects of their joint labours, got together a sufficient sum to set them up in a public-house: the Three Jolly Gardeners, at Mortlake, was to be let, and being both of opinion it would suit, about 18 months since they entered on the business

his room.

of the house, and, as the neighbours say, were doing very well.-Mrs. Stillwell was rather a handsome woman, and being placed in the bar of a public-house, soon found admirers. Here began her misery; her husband grew daily more and more jealous of her, and this jealousy in a short time evinced itself in the most brutal violence towards her; she several times sought protection among her friends, but was induced to return again to her home. The last time of her leaving him, she took with her £80 in cash, and only three weeks before her death had returned again, bringing back with her the money, untouched. From that time till the night before her destruction they had slept apart, when he appearing to be perfectly reconciled, she consented to resume her place in his bed. They retired apparently in perfect good humour with each other, and it was considered as a happy event by the servant maid and the pot-boy, the only two be sides in the family. The following morning, so early as four o'clock, Stillwell was up, singing of psalms, and was heard to go down stairs, and return again to About five he asked his wife how old she was, and then said to her, "Mary Ann, your time is come; I have for a long time bore your injuries like but I can no longer, and am now determined to put an end to your shame and my own disgrace." He drew a pistol, and she screamed out murder. The noise instantly ceased, and before the neighbourhood could be alarmed, and the house door opened, he had dragged her naked from the bed to the floor, where he most inhumanly beat her about the head with the butt end of the pistol, till he literally crushed her skull to atoms. The scene, on entering the room, was horrid beyond description; the poor wretch lay weltering in blood, while the dreadful perpetrator of the act was besmeared from head to foot with human gore. He attempted to make his escape towards the Thames, but was secured, after he had run about 200 yards. He said he did not wish to escape from death, as he should have sought it in the river. He had well considered of what he had done, and knew he must die; all that he should entreat was, that he might have a clergyman to pray by him, and that after death he might be buried in the same grave with his wife.

a man,

The new improvements in the city, of which notice has been given in the London Gazette, will make a great alteration in the property of individuals. Lord Hawkesbury's plan is to have a new London Bridge, higher up the river than the present one, with a wide grand street to face the Royal Exchange. To effect this, several of the houses in the front of Cornhill, opposite the Exchange, and the principal part of Exchange Alley, must come down, as also many houses in Lombard-street, Cannon-street, &c. Behind the Royal Exchange, the houses in Bartholomew-lane will be set back at least fifty feet. The Church will remain, and the arch under the present steeple will lead to the new footpath. The houses at the end of Bartholomew-lane, in Throgmorton-street, will come down, to make the opening to the grand street, which will go through Tokenhouse-yard, Bell-alley, to London-wall, and to face the grand square, which will be built where Bedlam now stands. The ground is all measured, and the plans drawn; even the new streets are already named; as soon, therefore, as the acts of parliament are obtained, the tenants will have six months notice to quit, and this great work will be proceeded on with all possible expedition

Another new square was marked out, last week, at the top of Cumberland place, the situation of which will be very eligible, as it will communicate in a direct line with Cumberland-gate, Hyde Park, on the South, with Portman.. square on the east, and a continuation of Upper Cumberland-street into the New Road, on the north. It will be called Cumberland-square.

The New York paper of the 12th of August contains a notice from the poorhouse of Newcastle, Delaware, signed by the governor, which states, that a maniac, who had been admitted there, had not taken any kind of nourishment between the 27th July and the 6th August, a term of ten days, notwithstanding which he continued alive, and in apparent health.

1

DAVID'S SOW.-Origin of the phrase.-A few years ago, one David Lloyd, a Welchman, who kept an inn at Hereford, had a living sow with six legs; and the circumstance being publicly known, great numbers of all descriptions resorted to the house. It happened that David had a wife, who was much addicted to drunkenness, and for which he used frequently to bestow on her a very severe drubbing. One day in particular, having taken a second extra cup, which operated in a very powerful manner, and dreading the usual consequences, she went into the yard, opened the stye-door, let out the sow, and lay down in its place, hoping that a short unmolested nap would sufficiently, dispel the fumes of the liquor. In the mean time, however, a company arrived to see the so much talked of animal; and Davy, proud of his office, ushered them to the stye, exclaiming, "Did any of you ever see so uncommon a creature before?"—" Indeed, Davy," said one of the farmers, "I never before observed a sow so very drunk in all my life!"-Hence the term drunk as David's sow.

BIRTHS.

At Lord Bolton's, Lower Grosvenor-street, the Hon. Mrs. Irby, and at Blenheim, the Lady of the Right Hon. Lord Francis Spencer, of sons and heirs. At Kew, the Lady of L. Vassall, Esq. and at Battersea Rise the Lady of H. Thornton, Esq. M. P. of sons. At Twickenham, the Hon. Mrs. Espinasse, Lady of Lieutenant-Colonel Espinasse, of a daughter.

MARRIED,

At Stonehouse Chapel, near Plymouth, Captain Whitby, of his Majesty's ship Belleisle, to Miss Symond. At Skeldon Castle, near Ayr, the seat of Major-General John Fullarton, John Taylor, of Blackhouse, Esq. to Miss Arabella Fullarton, the eldest daughter of General Fullarton-a young Lady of great beauty and most amiable disposition, with a fortune of £20,000. At Saunby, near Gainsborough, the Rev. Mr. Shaw, aged 75, to his housekeeper, aged 21. Sir R. Williams Vaughan, Bart. M. P. to Miss Anna Maria Mostyn. At Lymington, the Hon. Charles Murray, to Miss Law. At Effing. ham, Surry, Lieutenant-Colonel William Johnston, of the 28th regiment, to Miss Susan Delaney, daughter of Stephen Delaney, Esq. At Shoreham, in Sussex, Colonel Porter, M. P. for Stockbridge, to the Dowager Conntess of Grosvenor. Peter Tahourdin, Esq. of Argyll-ssreet, to Miss Somers, of the same place.

DIED,

In the 838 year of his age, W. Tooke, Esq. of Thompson, near Watton, in Norfolk. A gentleman of considerable property, to whom the celebrated John Horne Tooke is indebted for his latter name and a valuable estate, given to him by the deceased many years since. At Port Royal Jamaica, on board his Majesty's ship Santa Margaretta, the Hon. Augustus Leveson Gower, late Commander of that vessel. At Windsor, Mrs. Chesshyre, mother to Countess Fauconberg. In Upper Brooke-street, Colonel Gilbert Ironside, late of the East India Company's Service. Mrs. Saunders, Pawn-broker, of Birmingham. She sat down to dinner on that day in good health, and without shewing any symptoms of indisposition, suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my head!" at the same time raising her hand to it, she dropped down, and never spoke afterwards. At Bermondsey, William Barrington Richardson, Esq. one of the Magistrates, and a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Surrey, and for many years Deputy Comptroller of the Customs for the Port of London. At Bath, Edward Van bugh, Esq. He was an immediate descendant of the justly celebrated Sir John Vanbrugh. In the prime of life, Mrs. Thurston, wife of Mr. Thurston, Auctioneer, of Bath. She went to bed the preceding evening in perfect health and spirits, and was found by her servant the next morning a corpse, with one child crying over its mother, as if attempting to awaken her, and an infant vainly tugging at her breast. John Heathcote, Esq. in consequence of being overturned in his curricle. In Ireland, the Earl of Ross. Mr. Jean the artist. At Beccles, in the 60th year of his age, the Rev. J. Heptinstall, Dissenting Minister of that place. He was taken ill whilst doing duty at meeting, and expired a few hours after. On his passage from Bengal to St. Helena, Nathaniel Penry Rees, Esq. son of the Rev. Dr. Rees. At his seat at Dalquin, in the County of Galway, Ireland, at a very advanced age, the Right Hon. John Birmingham, Lord Baron Athenry, premier Baron of Ireland. He is succeeded in title and estate by his nephew John Birmingham, Esq. now in Gibraltar. At Sopworth, in Gloucestershire, Daniel Ludlow, M. D. a gentleman of considerable eminence in his profession. His death was occasioned by a slight puncture of a thorn in one of his fingers, which inflaming, brought on a locked jaw, that his own acknowledged skill, and the attention of his medical friends were incapable of relieving. At Riga, the only son of Prince Alexander of Wurtemberg, (brother to the reigning Duke), an infant two years old. Mrs. Ann Clarke, aged 71, sister to J. C. Jervoise, Esq. M. P. at his house in Hanover-square. At Kentish Town, Mrs. Greville, formerly of Drury-lane theatre. Mrs. Gaudry, relict of the late Mr. Gaudry, of the Theatre Royal Drury-Lane. Mr. Robert Ashborough, of Peterborough. He was found dead in the road towards Orton, on which he was observed a few minutes before to be walking in apparent health. Aged 14, Miss Hubbard, of Langham, near Oakham. The hand of death suddenly convulsed her fair form whilst seated in ordinary health at dinner. Aged 48, Mr. Joseph Hargrave, architect and surveyor, of Hull. He had been following the usual duties of his profession the whole of the preceding day, and retired to bed in the evening in perfect health.

MONTHLY MIRROR,

FOR

NOVEMBER, 1802.

Embellished with

A PORTRAIT OF MRS. LITCHFIELD, OF COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE, ENGRAVED BY RIDLEY, FROM A FINE PAINTING BY MR. C. ALLINGHAM.

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PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS,

By J. Wright, No. 20, Denmark-Court, Strand,

And published by VERNOR and HOOD in the Poultry;

Sold, also, by all the Booksellers in

the United Kingdom.

Preston
Bedford

352

ib.

Plymouth

ib.

Bath

353

ib.

Glasgow

....... 354

ib.

355

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