left it. The prisoner had, immediately before the fire, been in town to transfer insurance of 501. upon a cottage to a further security of his furniture; but that cottage, it was proved, he had before sold. He then stated to his friend, the secretary to the insurance-office, that he was afraid his house would be burnt, in consequence of the incendiary spirit of the neighbourhood, and always stated, to those to whom he told the story of the fire, a presentiment, which possessed him on the evening of the fire, that the casualty would happen. It was proved by the prisoner's brother, the Rev. Richard Bingham, incumbent of. Gosport chapel, and magistrate for the county of Hants, and Captain Joseph Bingham, R. N., that the prisoner's books and furniture were worth from 9001. to 10001.; and that he was in far from distressed circumstances, otherwise he would have applied to the former brother, as he had before done, and always been relieved; and that the latter brother had lately laid down a large sum to free the prisoner from his embarrassments, upon the positive assurance that the prisoner had told his brother the extent of his debts, and was made a free and happy man. Many of the prisoner's neighbours and servants also spoke of the value of his furniture, linen, &c.

The prisoner on this occasion also read a written defence, and the learned Chief Baron recapitulated and commented on the whole of the evidence, adopting the prisoner's expression, that he must have been mad to have com mitted the crime of which he was charged, if the testimony of his honourable brothers were to be at all credited. The jury found the prisoner Not Guilty.

The trial of these indictments lasted from 8 o'clock in the morning till nearly 9 at night.

29th.-WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.A withered prophetess, named Alice

VOL. IV. PART II.

Burke, above 70, appealed to the court through her counsel, Mr Peat, to quash a conviction against her, had on the 21st instant, before Mr Fielding, one of the magistrates at Queen's-square Office, for being a common cheat and impostor. The circumstances deposed against her were by a police-officer, who knew her occupation as a profound dealer in destinies. He saw her going towards her temple, in the attic regions of a house in Charles-court, in the Strand, on the 21st instant, followed by two damsels, in the occupation of children's maids, and he gently ascended after them, at a respectful distance, and saw them enter the sybil's apartment: he peeped through the key-hole, and observed a dozen other lasses, who were also votaries of the prophetess, waiting to consult her on the dispositions of the Fates towards them. The sybil herself was occupied in poring over the hand of one of the damsels, and alternately consulting the dregs at the bottom of a mystical coffee-cup, in order to discover her future fortunes; and in a little while, with grim aspect and solemn voice, she pronounced, that the girl must have to encounter many misfortunes, but would overcome them all: that a young man, with light-coloured hair, was in love with her, and would ultimately marry her; but that before marriage he would take a liberty with her, which she must not resist, and that he would af terwards become her most valuable friend. The constable, however, abruptly entered, told the prophetess she was mistaken in the colour of his hair, but that he must take a liberty with her, which she must not resist, and carry her before a magistrate.

The Chairman, however, was of opinion, from this evidence, that as no money was seen to pass, owing to the officer's precipitancy, the charge was not made out to warrant a conviction,

and it was therefore quashed.

Ꭼ .

On Wednesday last, a young girl, about sixteen years of age, in boy's attire, went on board the Valiant, in Cawsand Bay, to offer herself as a servant, and requested to see the commanding officer. On being introduced to the officers in the ward-room, she unfortunately dropped a curtsey instead of making a bow, which, causing a general laugh, so discomposed her that she was nearly fainting; but on being encouraged and assisted by the officers, she soon recovered herself; and informed them of her desire to be a sailor. On learning her abode, a messenger was sent to her brother, who immediately came with her clothes, thanked the officers for their polite treatment, and returned with her the same evening to her friends at Millbrook.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.--The few beans and peas already above ground look healthy. Spring sowing generally backward; but the lands now work well. The wheats recovered from the degree of damage received during the winter, and in a flourishing state upon all good lands; but on the cold and wet improvement must be waited for, and will depend on the mildness of the spring. Some have still a yellow and unhealthy appearance. Accounts from various parts speak well of the remaining turnips, and the cattle are said to be in a very thriving state. Winter tares, rye, young clovers, and grass, appear very promising; and the clover seed of last season has proved equal in quality to the finest of former years; indeed can scarcely be remembered so fine. Hay very scarce. Stock of cattle in the country abundant : cows rather dearer. Pigs becoming very plentiful, the price of barley, pease, and beans, having been for some time favourable to the breeder, and a stock of pigs being soon raised. The stock of wheat in the country is universally reckoned considerable; still

more so of barley, on which a further depression of price may be expected; a circumstance extremely favourable to the public, since not only is the breeding of pigs encouraged, which has been defective for so many years, but vast additional quantities of pork and ba con will in consequence be made, and the price of those necessary articles greatly reduced in no great length of time. Should another large crop of wheat succeed, a great revolution may be expected in the price of all the necessaries of life, an event which will be accelerated by our constant large imports of provisions from Ireland, where also breeding and stock-feeding is in a state of rapid increase and improvement. The fall of lambs has been very large and successful, and they are likely to be very early fit for market. The report from all quarters favourable.

FASHIONS.--For the promenade, scarlet mantles have been so general during the mourning, that for mere variety they must now be laid aside; we think they are more frequently succeeded by the short pelisse of purple velvet, trimmed with broad black lace, or small cottage mantles, lined with white sarsnet, ornamented with white chenille, or gold. Purple sarsnet pelisses, or black velvet, lined with colours, are equally approved. Cottage bonnets, cloth turbans, or small velvet caps, and one drooping ostrich feather, or two small ones, are most prevailing ; under the cottage bonnets, which are formed to set off from the face, small lace caps, rosettes of lace, or ribband, or small flowers, are much worn, with a deep black French veil thrown over. Purple, black, or scarlet boots, are universal for walking.-For morning dress, short pelisses of cambric-corded muslin, over a slip of the same, trimmed with edging, or made in poplin, bombazeen, or lustres, with ruffs and cuffs of fine clear muslin, with bands

of the same, and clasps of lope de perle. -Dinner dresses are mostly worn in lustres, sarsnets, opera nets, or cloth, made up to the throat, with lace cuffs, collars, and small French aprons of lace, or fine embroidered muslin; and lace or quilted satin tippets, trimmed with swansdown, or white chenille. The full dress, black or white lace, over coloured, or white satin slips, ornamented with gold, still continues the most admired, with pearl necklaces, combs, and other ornaments blended with emeralds. Small tippets in antique lace or satin, trimmed with swansdown, are considered indispensable, and small aprons of rich antique embroidered muslin, with full pockets, drawn and ornamented with white satin ribband, have an exceedingly elegant and novel effect, and are much to be preferred to the ridicule so long in vogue. Hair knots are just introduced, in em broidered lace, with gold or silver thread, forming a light rosette, to be disposed among the hair according to fancy. The prevailing colours are lavender, faded violet, silver grey, purple, plum, and crimson.

remained the whole night-the ship sinking; all the masts, yards, and boats, except two small ones gone. Before two o'clock on the following day, the ship was entirely gone to pieces; and of the 680 persons on board, at the time the ship struck, only 110 were enabled to reach the shore. Of this number were ten officers, five private marines, eighty-five English seamen, and ten foreigners. The whole of these, excepting the foreigners, were put on board Dutch schuyts, and conveyed to Amsterdam, and from thence marched to Valenciennes. The following are the names of the officers lost, and of those that were saved and left at Valenciennes.

Drowned.-Captain John Bartlett; Lieutenants Pike, Shine, L'Estrange, Sapsford, and Milson; Purser, Mr Nicholson; Surgeon, Mr Norman ; Carpenter, Mr Browning; Captain Boswell; Lieutenants Cooke and Jenkins, of the royal marines; and the ship's cook.--Saved, Lieutenant Snell; Mr Thompson, master; Mr Cox, boatswain; Mr Bonns, gunner; Midshipmen, Messrs Elvey, O'Brien, Hart, and Mitchell; Mr Jones, surgeon's

mate.

A spirited tar, who had just received his prize-money, lately engaged a small provincial theatre entirely to himself. He took his seat in the centre of the pit, furnished himself with an inordinate quantity of beer, punch, and tobacco, &c., and requested the performances to commence, as no one should enter the theatre but himself. At the close of every speech that pleased him he presented the actor with a glass, and when the curtain dropped, he transferred his stores to the stage, and invited the whole of the performers to partake.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE TURKISH AMBASSADOR-Monday morning, a bout nine o'clock, the remains of the late Turkish ambassador to this coun

try, were interred in the burial ground of St Pancras. The procession consisted of a hearse containing the body, covered with white satin, which was followed by his excellency's private carriage and two mourning coaches, in which was the priest and the late ambassador's attendants. Upon arriving at the ground, the body was taken out of a white deal shell, which contained it, and was wrapped in rich robes, and then laid into the grave. Immediately afterwards a large stone, with a Turkish inscription on it, was laid upon the body.

EXECUTION.-Laurence Julta, and Josef Franco Cardosa, were yesterday executed, in pursuance of their sentence, opposite the debtor's door, Newgate. These men, who were Portugueze sailors, were convicted, in the February sessions, of maliciously stabbing a sailor in Wapping. The unfortunate fellows met their fate with becoming resolution, and were attended in their last moments by a Roman catholic clergyman. Blair, convicted of forgery, who was ordered for execution with them, is respited till the further pleasure of the prince regent be known.

STAFFORD ASSIZES.- -Execution of John Gould, aged 23, for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Gould.-This unfortunate young man suffered the sentence of the law, on Wednesday last, on the new drop in the front of the county jail of Stafford.

There were some circumstances attending this trial which are worthy of notice. This youth married at an early age, without any ostensible means of supporting a wife and family beyond his own daily labour. He worked, it appeared, for his father, in the character of a servant, on a small farm. Finding a family coming on, his wife being pregnant of the second child, it appeared that he had used violent and cruel means of producing abortion,

namely crushing or elbowing his wife in bed, rolling over her, &c. By these means abortion was produced, and the unfortunate mother died in a short time after, the wife and offspring sharing the same fate.-Before she expired, she declared, according to the evidence, that ill usage of the above kind had been the cause of her death; and on this strong and circumstantial evidence Gould was found Guilty. On sentence being passed upon him, he exclaimed that he was murdered! We have traced the principal evidence and its effects so far, with a view to glance at the operation of a defence that was set up on the part of this unhappy young man. The sisters of Gould were brought forward with a story meant to counteract some corroborating evidence on the part of the deceased, stating various appearances of the body of the deceased, namely, bruises of the abdomen, uterus, &c., which story stated the deceased to have tumbled over a wall, the stones of which fell with her. These witnesses, however, contradicted themselves, as well as each other; and the effect of their evidence went to prejudice the court against some appealing consideration that might have arisen out of the case. Some professional men were called to state the probable causes of the bruises, extravasation of blood, &c. ; but differing with each other, they left the case as it was before.

Gould, after being conveyed back to his cell, wept aloud, and his cries were heard by the whole of the prisoners in the gaol. He appeared incapable of receiving consolation. His sentence came like a thunder-bolt upon him, and deprived him of every manly exertion. He was attended with unexampled assiduity and kindness by a reverend and respectable clergyman, who volunteered his truly Christian services to prepare him for the last awful moment. All, however, appear

ed to be without any particular effect. He was susceptible of nothing but grief; and when his time approached, it was with difficulty that he was induced to leave his cell. He could scarce contain himself as he was led through the different courts to the lodge. He was in a manner heaved up to the platform, from which his cries were heard by a numerous and sympathising populace, to a considerable distance. He was launched off about 10 minutes after twelve, and appeared to die harder than is usual.

Gould was a fresh-coloured young man, middle-sized; with a countenance not at all indicating hardness of mind, and expressive only of youthful rusticity.

MAYO ASSIZES.-Peter M'Cue, Patrick McCue, James M'Cue, Denis McCue, and Patrick Hopkins, were indicted for being of a party, who, on the night of the 11th of March, disguised as threshers, fired into the house of Peter Canna, several shots, by some of which said Canna's wife was killed, and his daughter dangerously wounded.

Peter Canna examined. Remembers the night named in the indictment; eight or nine persons came to his house, armed with guns, bayonets, pistols, and bright arms; they spoke in coun terfeited voices; they demanded arms, and asked were there'arms in Mr Fair's house; they dragged up witness's son, and beat and battered him, upon which witness said, "I believe, boys, it was with intent of murder you came here." Two thrusts of a bayonet were made at him and son; one said to another, "Shoot him, Murty." Heard Murty called a great many times; they tendered witness an oath whether he knew any of them; they then went to the next house, and witness had only time to put on his shoes and stockings when they returned; all his family remained in the house; the door was now wide

open,

he had no doubt that Dennis M'Cue was one of the party; when they came back they asked for the arms that fired the shots a little while ago; witness said it was at Fair's ; witness thrust with a pitchfork at the first man that approached the door, who instantly fired at him; he thrust at each of them as they came near; fourteen shots were fired, but neither of them touched him: Peter M'Cue fired the shot that killed his wife; his daughter was wounded, and cried out murder; wife was in bed, and daughter with her, as the party wanted to get out the latter to ill-use her; witness was satisfied to be killed, as he was sure he would kill some of the party; his wife died instantly on being shot; there were two balls in her ; the party knew very well that witness. had not gold or silver, and only came as threshers to kill him; does not know that prisoner Hopkins was among them, nor did he see Patrick M'Cue nor James M Cue. Dennis attempted to break a pot in the house.

Anthony Canna, son of the last witness, examined. A man was beating him as fast as he could; Pat M'Cue had him by the head, and dragged him to the door; his brother, James McCue, had his gun presented, and the man inside cried out to him, " Murty, shoot him." Pat Hopkins pulled him back and saved him; they all retired and returned immediately; witness went to hide, and did not see any of the party that came back and fired the shots; James pointed the gun, always enquiring where was the little girl. Knew those boys for two or three years; knows Hopkins from infancy Hopkins had a gun; Pat McCue had a good stick; witness would have lost his life but for Hopkins.

An alibi was attempted to be proved for two of the prisoners, but failed.

The jury, after consulting for about half an hour, returned a verdict of