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HERCULANEAN MANUSCRIPTS.-Among || happened at the age of seventy-four. It was

the particulars in the Rev. Mr. Hayter's report to the Prince Regent on the Herculanean MaBuscripts, there are some curious etymological observations. the name of the city is suppos. ed not to be derived from the deity, Hercules, but from the words of some oriental language, expressive of its vicinity to Mount Vesuvius. This conjecture is supported by the resem. blance which the two Hebrew words Har, "mountains," and Kuli, "burning," bear to the radical part of Herculaneum. The Samnites, the ancient inhabitants of Herculaneum, were always supposed to be of oriental origin; and a piece of marble, dug up from the ruins, and preserved in the Museum of Portici, has a Samuite inscription, the characters of which proceed from right to left, after the eastern manner of writing. This opinion is farther corroborated by the etymology which antiquarians have assigned to the word Vesuvius, which has been derived from the Hebrew Hesh, or the Chaldaic Hesha, "fire;" for it was common for the Romans to articulate a foreign aspirate, by a V, aud the Greeks by a B. Hence with the latter, Bebios, the name of the Goddess of fire. Vesta is supposed to have the same origin. Those who object to this etymology of Herculaneum remark; that the name could not be given on account of the burning mountain, as there was no burning until the town was destroyed.; but Strabo has stated, that the soil and appearance of Vesuvius exhibited marks of previous eruptions. In fact, in excavating the two cities of Hercu laneum and Pompeia, volcanic strata were found under the houses and streets, and the streets themselves are paved and the houses built with volcanic stones and lava.

the custom in those days for ladies and gentle-
men to wear their purses hung to a girdle,
and Moll was famous for attending places of
public resort to cut them off, for which she
obtained the name of Cutpurse; and to her
dexterity in this art we owe the invention of
ladies pockets, and those used by gentlemen
in their small-clothes. She likewise practised
on the highway with much repute, till having
robbed General Fairfax on Hounslow Heath,
for which she was condemned to die, but pur-
chased her life and liberty by paying the Ge-
neral two hundred guineas; she resolved to
quit the occupation, and commence broker to
the Loudon thieves, which business she fol-
lowed to the day of her death; and thus set a
pattern for Jonathan Wyld. She was the
first English woman that ever smoked tobacco;
and when she found that death had ordered
her to lay aside her pipe and pot, she be
queathed the greater part of her property to
her nephew, with an order that he should not
lay it out foolishly, but get dronk with it while
it lasted. She likewise desired to be buried
with her breech upwards, which was complied
with; and a small monument was raised to
her memory in St. Bridget's church-yard, and
the great Milton wrote the following epitaph,
which was engraven thereon, but the whole
was destroyed by the great fire in 1666:-
"Here lies under the same marble,
"Dust, for Time's last sieve to garble;
"Dust to perplex a Sadducee,
"Whether it rise a he or she;
"Or two in one, a single pair,
"Nature's sport, and now her care.
"For how she'll clothe it at last day,
"Unless she sighs it all away;
"Or where she'll place it, none can tell,
"Some middle place 'twixt Heaven and Hells
"And well 'tis purgatory's found,

ECCENTRIC CHARACTER.-Mary Frith, alias Moll Cutpurse, was born in London, 1589. Her early propeusities formed a striking index of her future babits; for female attire, and the needle and thimble, were as irksome to her as running, jumping, cudgel-playing, and fighting were consonant to her desires. When she arrived at a state of womanhood, she took to wearing man's apparel, which she contianed to do till the day of her death, which No. XXIII. Vol. IV.-N. S.

Else she must hide her under ground, "These reliques to deserve the doom, "Of that cheat Mahomet's fine tomb; "For no communion she had, "Nor sorted with the good or bad; "That when the world shall be calcined, "And the mixed mass of human kind "Shall sep'rate by that melting fire, "She'll stand alone and none come nigh her. "Reader, here she lies till then, "When truly you'll see her again."

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INCIDENTS

OCCURRING IN AND NEAR LONDON, INTERESTING MARRIAGES, &e

STATE OF HIS MAJESTY'S HEALTH.

POFULATION OF LONDON.-The census for

The following Bulletins have been issued since the City being now arranged, we have subjoined a

Our last Number:

Windsor Castle, Aug. 30.-His Majesty is today nearly as he has been for some days past.

Windsor Castle Aug. 31.-There is no material alteration in his Majesty's symptoms to-day. Windsor Castle, Sept. 1.-The symptoms of his Majesty's disorder remain nearly the same today as yesterday.

general view of the returns for Westminster, and the respective districts. The returns of the same districts in the year 1801 are added, and the increase to the population more minutely stated, while the relative numbers of males and females are also given. The disproportion of females to males is equally general throughout the kingdom; notwithstanding, from the registry of births with

Windsor Castle, Sept. 2.-There is little alter- in the bills of mortality, it is calculated that to ation in his Majesty's symptoms to-day.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 3.-His Majesty has passed a sleepless night, and is not quite so well this morning.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 4.-The King had some sleep last night. His Majesty is this morning hearly as he was yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 5.-His Majesty's symptoms are nearly the same as they were yesterday. Windsor Castle, Sept. 6-His Majesty's symptoms have not varied since yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 7.-His Majesty continues in the same state as yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 8.-The King continues in the same state.

105 males, there are less than 100 females born. The parishes conspicuous for an accession of inhabitants are also noticed. Sir William Petty, in 1682, expected London would go on increasing till the year 1800, at which time he thought the population would amount to five millions! Dr. Brakenbridge, in 1754, calculated the population of London at 751,812, which was probably an over estimate at that time.

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Windsor Castle, Sept. 9.-His Majesty's symp- The Borough, 1811 toms have not varied since yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 10.-His Majesty's symptoms remain the same as yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 11.There is no alteration in his Majesty to-day.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 12.-His Majesty's symptoms remain the same as yesterday.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 13.-There is no change

in his Majesty's state.

1801

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Increase 1,818 2,000 4,484

Holborn District, 1811 96,264 127,815 224,079 1801 79,035 191,787 189,822 Increase 17,229 20,028 44,257

Finsbury District, 1811 44,202 52,383 96,645

1801 33,585 39,683 73,208 Increase 10,677 12,700 23,377

Windsor Castle, Sept. 14.-The king continues Tower Division, 1811 ... 80,748 125,121 211,809

in the same state.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 15.-His Majesty's state

continues the same.

1801 77,366 94,619 171,985

Increase 9,382 30,502 39,584

Windsor Castle, Sept. 16.-There is uo altera- Surrey ditto, 1811 tion in his Majesty to-day.

Windsor Castle, Sept. 19.-No change has taken place in his Majesty's symptoms.

Windsor Castle Sept. 23.-There is no altera tion in his Majesty's state for some time past. (Signed)

H. HALFORD,
W. HEBERDEN,
M. BAILLIE,
R. WILLIS.

64,219 81,346 145,563 1801 ....... 47,499 59,831 107,330 Increase 16,720 21,315 38,233 34,277 46,770 80,947 1801.... 27,364 35,191 62,555 Increase 0,813 11,579 18,392

Middlesex ditto, 1811 ....

The population of London, Westminster, and the above districts, by the present census, appears, Males 483,781-Females 615,323-Total 1,099,104.-Increase in two years 133, 139.-The

statement for the city of London includes the whole of the 105 parishes within the boundaries. The population of the city has not increased within the last ten years, because its limits are fixed, and a great number of houses are yearly converted into warehouses, &c.-In the estimate for the Surrey district, twelve parishes are included, viz. Christchurch, Lambeth, Newington, Camberwell, Putney, Clapham, Wandsworth, Rotherhithe, Streatham, Battersea, Bermondsey, and Richmond. The Middlesex parishes are Kensington, Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Ealing, Edmonton, Tottenham, Enfield, Harrow, Twickenham, Stains, and Uxbridge. The influx of inhabitants since 1801 appears very conspicuous in the under-named parishes :—

St. Giles and St. Andrew's Holborn

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Increase.

13,948 11,656 90,680

85,340 11,994

22,711

8,986

AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.-A hackney coachman, of the name of Cockerill, was charged at Marlborough-street Police Office, with having stopped a female who resides in the neighbourhood of Fitzroy-square, and robbed her of a ridicule, containing eighteen shillings in silver, and two diamond rings, on Tuesday night, Sept. 10. The prosecutrix stated the case as follows:-She was returning home from a public place, about twelve o'clock, with a female friend, when the prisoner came up to her, snatched the ridicule out of her hand, and attempted to get away. She, however, held him fast by the coat, and was thrown down, when the prisoner kicked her on the breast. Fortunately for the ends of justice, a respectable tradesman in Newman-street, was passing at the time, who saw the prisoner throw the ridicule from him, and assisted in securing him, A person afterwards brought the purse to the prose. eatrix, but it contained half the silver only, without the diamond rings. Whilst in the office, and the prisoner's friends were tampering with the prosecutrix to settle, the rings were offered to be procured, if the proposal was agreed to; but the man who made the offer, had retreated when asked for. The prisoner was fully committed for trial, and the prosecutrix bound over to prose

cute.

SWINDLING.-The celebrated Richard Andrews, of the first fame amongst the swindling fraternity, is again levying contributions on the

unwary, after four years durance, and whose expertness in disposing of seats in Parliament must be fresh iu the public mind. His pall is a man of the name of Hall, about six feet high, of dark, bat handsome manly visage, with a stern brow, and fluent in address. Warrants for frauds, &c. have been issued from Bow-street and Marlborough-street for offences at the west end of the town, and yet they were figuring away at the Artichoke Tavern, Blackwall, a short time since, where they found some useful acquaintances in a few hours. Hall was introduced to Captain Cooper, who belongs to a West Indiaman, as wanting a passage to the Caraccas, and he agreed for his passage, &c. The swindlers gave expensive dinners to a number of their friends, and Hall offered to lend the Captain sums of money. The swindlers having got extremely well acquainted with those necessary for the purpose, ordered a turtle dinner for the next day, and then was the time for them to make use of their new acquaintance. A third person made his appearance as a livery servant, who wanted £50 of Mr. Andrews for his master.Andrews asked Hall, in a tone of indifference, if he had £50; when the latter, with seeming indifference, pulled out of his pocket £10; when Andrews expressed he had no small notes, and Hall proffered a checque, but Andrews observed the money was for an immediate purpose. The Captain was present, and the landlord was called, who advanced £30 for the servant, and Hall gave him a cheque on Biddulph and Co. for £50; observing he might keep the £20 till the turtle dinner. On Mr. Brindle the landlord, going to the banking-house, he was told the party were noted swindlers, who had got hold of a checque-book. On Mr. Brindle's return the swindlers had fled, after borrowing some money of Capt. Cooper. There are a multiplicity of other charges against

them.

ROBBERY AT BUCKINGHAM-HOUSE. - On Wednesday, the 11th ult. it was discovered by a female servant to her Majesty, that the several presses in Buckingham-house, which contained her Majesty's Court and other most valuable dresses, had been opened, and the contents, amouting in value to £2,000, had been stolen therefrom. Her Majesty's wardrobe had been kept in St. James's Palace previously to the late fire, at which time it was removed to Buckingham-house. It was usual for the female domestic who had the care of the contents of the presses to inspect them once a year; but from the King's

illuess they had not been wanted, and consequently they were not opened until that day, when it was found the dresses were gone; but the papers which contained them were left, and a baize which covers the whole was carefully placed over the papers, &c. Suspicion had not attached itself to any person until the next day, in the afternoon, when the husband of the female who was entrusted with the care of the presses, was in the room, and heard a gentle tap at the door; and on opening it, a man, who had formerly been employed to keep the locks, &c. about Buckingham-house in repair, presented himself, with a key half hidden by the palm of his hand, and said he was looking for a bell-hanger. The man was challenged with having a key in his hand, which he denied; but afterwards pulled one out of his pocket, which the witness believed to be much larger in size than the one he had in his hand. It appeared that there had been no injury done to the locks on the several presses; and that no one could have committed the robbery without being well acquainted with the premises. According to

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the statement of Mr. Hanson, locksmith to the Royal Family, the locks could have been opened only by a duplicate or a skeleton key, and a duplicate key could not have been made without taking off the lock. In either case none but a skilful locksman could have opened the locks, as they were of the best kind. Mr. Hanson alse stated, that the prisoner had been about eight months in his employ, and he discharged him as an indolent drunken man some time since. When in Mr. Hanson's service, the prisoner was constantly employed in Buckingham-house; but since he had been discharged, he had no pretence for going there. According to the statement of Sir W. Parsons, half a dozen men could not have carried away the stolen property. The prisoner was remanded, and a warrant was issued to search his premises. A warrant was also issued against another man suspected, who had been discharged from Mr. Hanson's service about the same time as the prisoner, and who had been seen about the house.

PROVINCIALS,

INCLUDING REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, &c. IN THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF GREAT BRITAIN.

MIDDLESEX.

ANOTHER MONSTER.-A wretch of most diabolical propensities, a short time since created considerable alarm in the neighbourhood of Knightsbridge and Chelsea, by most atrocious conduct towards two or three females, whom chance had exposed to his brutal attacks. Miss L. of Chelsea, whilst returning from a friend's house, in Monut-strect, in her way across the - Park, was accosted by this villain, who was then dressed as a clergyman; he addressed her in the most insinuating manner, and from his general demeanour, not the slightest suspicion could be entertained of his intention. When about half way across the Park, and at a distance from any passenger, he suddenly stopped, seizing her round the waist, drew from his pocket a sharp instrument with which he stabbed her in the thigh, and immediately ran off. Her screams drew several persons to her assistance, but it being nearly dark, the villain was soon out of sight, and effected his escape. Miss L. was taken to the house of a gentleman in Park-lane, where the most humane attentions were paid to her; a

surgeon was sent for, her wound, which was not dangerous, was dressed, and in the course of the evening she was removed to her own house in a coach.

The same wretch, it is suspected, stopped a female servant to a gardener, at Bromp ton, as she was passing along Gore-lane, soon after dark, a little time since, and whilst conversing with her, took an opportunity to wound her severely in the arm. The most vigilant exertions were made to discover the villian.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE-Our readers will recollect a statement respecting a soldier of the First Somersetshire Militia, who had lain in a very surprising state of insensibility from the 26th of April, in the present year, down to the 18th July. Various means had been resorted to for the purpose of ascertaining whether the illness was real, or only assumed, such as thursting snuff up his nostrils, administering nitrous oxyd gas, electrical shocks, powerful medicines, &c. all of which proved utterly unavailing in the attempt to arouse him from the unaccountable torpor in which he had lain so long; nor, indeed, did

any of these expedients produce in him the slightest symptoms of animation. We have now to add to this account a few facts, which, for their singularity may challenge competition with the most marvellous occurrence that ever reached the public notice. A little time after our first account appeared, Phineas Adams, the subject of this curious narrative, and whose age was no more than eighteen, on the 6th of June last, was removed from the gaol in which he then was, to the parish of Bickenhall, a small village seven miles from Taunton. His parents residing at that place, but being unable to receive him in their own habitation, Adams was lodged in the Poorhouse, a small cottage adjoining the church-yard. ||

In this situation he continued to lie without exhibiting the least evidence of an improving condition. When any of his limbs were raised, they fell with the leaden weight of total inanimation; his eyes were closed, and his countenance evinced the paleness of death, though divested of any of the concomitant symptoms of approaching dissolution. His respiration continued free, and his pulse maintained its character of a healthful tone. The sustenance he received was entirely that of eggs diluted with wine, and occasionally with tea, which he sucked in through his teeth; all at

tempts, forcible as some of them were, to compel him to open his mouth having been repeatedly tried in vain, and various experiments were again made to excite sensation without effect, particularly that of thrusting pins under his finger nails. In this hopeless situation he was visited by Mr. Welch, surgeon of Taunton; who suggested the propriety of performing the operation of scalping the patient, with a view to ascertain whether the fall, to which the illness was attributed, might not have produced a depression of the brain. The proposal was communicated to the parents of Adams, who expressed their willingness that the experiment should be made. Accordingly, at the time appointed, the surgeon accompanied bis father to the bed-side of his son, and there, in the presence of several respectable persons, described to both the young man's parents the nature and precise course of operation about to be performed. Old Adams then shaved his son's head. The incisions were made, the scalp drawn up, and the head examined, during all which time the young man manifested no audible symptom of pain, or sensibility of suffering whatever, until the application of an instrument, with which the head was scraped in a particular part, and then, and once only, he uttered

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agroan. No beneficial result appearing from this experiment, and as his case seemed absolutely remediless, application was made to his regiment for his discharge. On Tuesday the 20th, the discharge arrived, and was taken over to Bickenhall by the sergeant. On the Tuesday following (the 27th), old Adams brought his son down stairs in his arms, the son still remaining insensible. Next night (the 29th) he was seen sitting in the Poor-house, with a gun in his hand, conversing with his father; and on Friday the 30th (our readers will participate with us in the complete astonishment excited by the fact), he was at Mr. Palmer's, a farmer, at Thurlbear, two miles from Bickenhall, cutting spars, carrying reeds up a ladder, and assisting his father in thatching a rick! On the next day, the 31st, he was in the barton of Mr. Cozens, of Bickenhall, with a dick in his hand, killing mice; and on Sunday, the 1st of August, Mr. Cozens himself met him in a neighbouring copse, gathering nuts! On the morning of Friday, the 30th, young Adams walked into the cottage of Martha Cozens, who lives next door and adjoining to the Poor-house. She expressed great surprise at the suddenness of his recovery, and asked him how he was able to undergo so much suffering? To which he answered, that he had no recollection of having experienced any. She then asked him, if he did not recollect feeling any pain when the surgeon was scraping his head? To which he replied, "that he perfectly recollected that." The extraordinary rapidity of this young man's recovery after obtaining bis discharge from his regiment, have excited, in combination with other circumstances which we formerly stated, an opinion that imposition had been practised, some of coming for him. This, it is supposed, having the neighbours reported that a press-gang was reached his ears, he absconded, and not a syllable has been heard of him since. Old Adams was himself formerly in the military service, and eftected his discharge by counterfeiting illness, though not of that description which has been assumed by his son. The opinion is very general, that he has assisted his son in his artifice, and that food has been secretly conveyed to him. Under this impression, however, it is necessary to state, that the father was denied all access to him for several days while he was in gaol. When the degree of suffering to which this young man has submitted in various forms, and the term of misery to which he has devoted himself (a period of between four and five months) are considered, it is hardly possible not to pronounce the present

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