Star. — London, England, 1830-06-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Juitz 23. The House sat this mottling in a Committee of Privileges. THE BOYNE PEERAGE. _. . .. The examination of witnesses in this case was resumed this morn tag, at the conclusion of which their lordship. declared that the claimant had established his right to vote at the election for Repte ttntative Peers for Ireland. THE BLoomrIELD PEERAGE. Their lordships, after the examination of witnesses on behalf of the claimant, adjourned the further consideration of this claim until Wednesday next. THE CLITFOZD PEERAGE., S•everal witnesses ;Cr; examined in behalf of the claimant's right ti vote at the election for Representative Peers for Ireland ; but owing to the absence of a material witness, the further consideration , f the case was adjourned. THE NEVERVILLE PEEHAOE. Witnesses were examined, and Counsel heard, in behalf of the :Isimants in this Peerage. The further consideration was postponed atil Wednesday next. Counsel and witnesses were heard in support of Bayley's Di .'orce Bill. FORGERY. The Earl of Shaftesbury presented a petition from the household. of Woodstock, in the county of Oxford, for the abolition of the e ,,nlothment of death for forgery. Viscount Lorton presented a petition to the same effect from the Wesleyan methodists of the city of Canterbury. The bills on the table, on the motion of the Earl of Shaftesbury, eine forwarded in their respective stages. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMOXS. Sir A. Grant, Mr. Maxwell, and other Members, announced the consent of the Commons that a member of their house should at tend to give evidence before a Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords, pursuant to their Lordships' message if lie should so think fit ; and brought up one private bill, which, on the motion of the Earl of Shaftesbury, was read a first time. A gentleman from the East India House presented at the bar a return of the losses of the East India Company's ships at sea. LOYAL COMMISSION: - The Royal Assent was given by commission to the Consolidated Fund bill, the Militia Ballot Suspension bill, the Census bill, the Malt Duty (Ireland) bill, and five private hills. The Lords Commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Rosslyn, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. Their lordships then adjourned till to-morrow (this day.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE 23. The speaker announced to the house that the Fees Abolition bill on the demise of the crown had been returned to this house with several amendments, which being very numerous, he suggested should be printed before they were agreed to.—Agreed to. Mr. Kavanagh presented a petition from Castle-Connor, relative to the taxation of Ireland.—Laid on the table. NEW POLICE. Mr. flume moved for certain returns connected with the new po lice, with a view to show the expense which they cost the different parishes in the country as compared with the expenditure of the old Police. After a few words from Sir T. Fremantle, the returns were or. tiered. BRITISH SHIPS. Mr. HUME moved for a Return of the number of British ships entering into foreign ports where British Consuls resided.--Ordered. DERRY. Sir J. GRAHAM wished to know if the sum of 15,0001. which had been advanced to the Corporation of Derry had been refunded, according to the terms of the Aet by which they had obtained it ? Lord F. L. GOWER said he could not at present give any par. titular answer to the question, but he would now move for Returns connected with the bridge in question 1814, which would give the necessary information. After some conversation between Sir G. HILL and Mr. Mixt, the Returns were ordered. WEST INDIA CHURCH. Sir J. GRAHAAI gave notice that on Friday next he would lying iorwar the subject of the expenditure of the Church in the West Indies. FOREIGN LEAD. Mr. PENDARVES presented a Petition from certain inhabi tants of Cornwall, praying for a protecting duty against Foreign Le:ul.—Ordered to be printed. GRAND AIRING. I 'Mr. GRATTAN moved for certain Returns relative to Irish Grand Juries for the last lb yeats, which were ordered. POLICE IN SCOTLAND. The LORD ADVOCATE brought in a Bill for a New Polies in the Burghs of Scotland.—Read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Friday next. BEER BILL. Mr. MABERLEY gave notice that on the third reading of the sale of Beer Bill he would move a clause to prevent the consump. t•on of beer on the premises under this Bill until October 1832. CORN LAWS. Lord MILTON gave notice that he would bring on the subject of the Corn Laws on Tuesday next. SUGAR DUTY. Mr. P. THOMPSON wished to know when the Resolution on 11:e Sugar Duties would be brought forward. The CHA NCELIAM of the EXCHEQUER answered that be felt very anxious on the subject, and would bring it forward to. morrow or Friday. Sir R. PEEL expressed a hope that the adjourned debate Cl the Court of Chancery would come on at an early hour to morrow, as it was very inconvenient to prolong it to a more dia. tans period. USURY LAWS. Mr. CALCRAFT wished to know when the Usury Laws Consl. der.ition Bill was to be brought on Mr. P. THOMPSON answered, if possible on Tuesday next. . . LABOURERS' W AGES BILL. , Mr. LITTLETON moved that this Bill be now recommitted. Mr. HUME said he was opposed to the principle of the bill, and was surprised to hear it was to have the sanction of his Majesty's government. The hon. member was proceeding, when the house was summoned to the House of Peers to hear the Royal Assent given by Commission to several bills. Mr. SPEAKER shortly after returned, and stated that he had heard the royal assent given by commission to several bills. Mr. HU3IE resumed, and contended, at some length, that if this bill were carried into a law, it would act in the most injurious man ner upon every class of workmen in the country. The hon. member read a great number of documents in support of his view of the subject. To pass this bill would be to increase the discontents, for in nine instances out of ten the truck system was advantageous. He moved as an amendment that the report be taken into consideration that day six months. Mr. ROBINSON opposed the principle of the bill, and said the badneu of that principle was proved ky the extraordinary penalties to be inflicted in order to enforce it. The truck system was not the cause of the discontents. Mr. LITTLETON contended that if the bill before the house, or some other measure, were not adopted by the legislature, serious discontents and even disaffection would soon show themselves. Pe titions praying for some measure of the kind had been presented from almost all parts of the country, and not one adverse petition was before the house. He was convinced that the bill would effect its sole object, which was to induce the payment of wages in money. The truck system was producing the most serious effects, and in some populous parishes even it had been found impossible to Sod' persons tit to act as collectors of taxes ; in fact, if something was not done, there would soon be but two classes in the manufacturing world, the great manufacturer and his dependents. The time was most favourable for such a measure. Mr. H. GURNEY rose amidst loud cries of .question. He op. posed the bill. Mr. N. CALVERT would support the bill um experiment. Mr. E. DAVENPORT was supposed to support the bill. Sir R. PEEL thought there was no system more likely to destroy the independence of the labourer than the truck system. It prac tically gave a monopoly to the great manufacturer, and was not at all necessary to the carrying on of business; for in many places, as in Manchester, it was unused He admitted there were some objet. Lions to the bill ; but still he felt it to be his duty to give his support to it u an experiment to remedy a most dangerous and growing evil. Lord STANLEY supported the bill. Mr. W. SMITH also supported the bill. Mr. WAKBUIsTON was decidedly opposed to the bill. Mr. SLANEY supported the bill, after much difficulty on the uhjxt. Mr. MABERLEY objected to all interference in the purchase of labour, and therefore opposed the bill. The house then divided, when there appeared— . . For the Amendment .... 4 Against it Majority against the Amendment ... --44 On re-entering the gallery we found the house in cpnvetsation, in which Mr. HUME contended, we believe, and insisted that the bill ought not to be recommitted when the house was so thinly attended, and on a Wednesday. The gallery was then•ofeared, but we un derstood that no division took place, and that the question was adjourl.ed to Friday next. SCOTCH JUDICATURE BILL. After some remarks in opposition to the Scotch Judicature Bill from Sir OLOROE WARREWDER, the bill was read a third time and passed, and the LORD ADVOCATE directed to carry it to the Lotus, and dtsire their concurrence thereto. The other Orden of :the Day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned. LAW REPORTS. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, Jux2 23. BOUVZILIE V. MILES. This was an action by a gentleman residing in the Haymarket against the surveyor of pavements, for throwing down some iron rails which the plaintiff had erected on the pavement, in front of his house. The question, which arose under the act of the 67th Geo. 3, c. 29, was, whether the Commissioners and Surveyor of pave iments had a right to remove any_ rails or other projections which did not extend over the footway. The rails in question stood on a line with the other homes, and formed no obstruction to the footway ; but at the trial, Lordi Tenterden was of opinion that the power given to the Commissioners by the Act of Parliament was absolute, and that under that power they had a right to remove any projec tions which they might consider to be obstructions; and his Lord ship, therefore, directed a nonsuit. The case having been argued last week on a rule nisi to set aside the nonsuit, and enter a verdict for the plaintiff, Lord TENTERDEN now delivered the judgment of the Court, stating that their Lordships were of opinion that the power given by the act was limited, and that the case did not come within the scope of the act. They, therefore, ordered the rule to be made absolute, and a verdict to be ente red for the plaintiff for a shilling damages. COTTON V. JAMES. The AvroawzY.Gartzasn, Mr. BROUGHAM, and Mr. KILLS, showed cause against a rule obtained by Mr. F. POLLOCK in Michelmus Term last, to set aside the verdict found fur the plaintiff, and enter 'a nonsuit.—The circumstances out of which the case arose have been frequently reported. The action was brought by Mr. Cotton, a surveyor and architect, of Great St. Helen's, against Mr. John James, an attorney, of Bucklersbury, foe mali ciously, and without reasonable or probable cause, suing out a com mission of bankruptcy against the plaintiff. At the trial It was proved that the question of the validity of the commission was mooted in an action of trespass against the defendant for seising the plaintiff's goods under the commissioners' warrant, and upon that issue a verdict was found for the plaintiff. It was also proved that the defendant afterwards, at his own expense, obtained a supersedes* of the commission. These were the principal facts relied upon, to show that the commission had been taken out without probable cause, and the Jury found for the plaintiff. The rule to set aside the verdict and enter a nonsnit had been obtained, on the ground that as the commissioners, who had adjudicated under the commis sion, had found that there was a petitioning creditor's debt, a tn. ding, and an act of bankruptcy, it was incumbent on the plain. tiff to have given evidence, from which the Jury could have in. ferred a want of reasonable or probable cause, and in the absence of such evidence the action was not maintainable. The plain tiffs Counsel, in showing cause against the rule, now contended, that there was sufficient evidence at the trial for th e Jury to infer an absence of reasonable or probable cause, and that therefore the ver dict ought not to be disturbed. Mr. F. PoLtocz, Mr. DENMAN, and filr. COMYN , addressed the Court in support of the rule, an d contended, that although the Commissioners in adjudicating under the commission had acted mistakenly, there was no evidence of malice on the part of the de. fendant or want of probable cause for suing out the commission.— The verdict which had been obtained in this action had been used against the defendant for the purpose of preventing him from filling an important judicial situation to which he had been appoint ed in the city of London. After the Learned Counsel had argued at great length, Lord TENTERDEN said the Court would take time to look into the authorities. Alr. F. POLLCCK said, that the defendant would pay the sum awarded by the Jury (1501.) if the plaintiff would be content to re. mire it without costs. The ATTORNEY.GENERAL did not assent. TNIELZWAY V. SPOTTIBWODE ESQ. AND OTHERS. _ _ In this case the verdict obtained by the plaintiff was sou g ht to be impeached on the ground of excessive damages. The action had been brought against the late sheriff of Middlesex and one of his bailiffs (William Levy,) for taking the pods of the plaintiff, John :Thirleway, under an execution, at the suit of a person of the name of Neck, against Elisabeth Wyatt, other wise Thirleway. It appeared at the trial that Elizabeth Thirleway was the wife of the plaintiff, and had carried on the business of a milliner, in Holles•street, Cavendish-square,but with. out the interference of her husband, who had been in service as a butler; and she had sometimes used the name of Wyatt, and sometimes that of Thirleway. The execution had been conti. need in the house from the 31st of July to the 11th of November, when it was set aside by:a rule of the Court of Common Pleas. It was alleged as special damage that the plaintiff had, in consequence of the execution, been prevented from letting apartments in his house ; and it was proved that the bailiff's man had been paid Si. ed. a day for continuing in possession, besides his board, &c. On the part of the defendants, it was contended, that as the wife had carried on business as a femme sole, with the knowledge of the husband, be was not entitled to more than nominal damages for the trespass complained of. The Jury, however, found for 1001. Mr. CAMPBELL and MLWIGHTMAN now showed cause against the rule, and contended that the 1001. was not more than sufficient to compensate the plaintiff for the loss and inconvenience he had sustained. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that William Levy, the bailiff, who was the real defendant in the action, was a little unpopular with Juries in Westminster-hall, and he had no doubt, that to that circumstance was to be ascribed the fact of the finding for such large and extravagant damages. After the case had been argued on both sides, the parties con. tented, at the suggestion of Lord Tenterden, to leave it to the Court to say for what sum the verdict should stand—and their Lordships then fixed the sum at 501. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, JUNE 23. ALLCOCK V. COCK. This was an action which has been tried once or twice before, re. ladve to wreck. On a former day, Mr. Scrjeant ADAMS obtained a rule to remove the venue, which had been laid in Middlesex, to Lancashire. The grounds of the application were on a number of affidavits, which stated that all the defendant's witnesses resided in Lincolnshire ; that they were all aged persons, and, without any single exception, in the humbler classes of life. With respect to one of thew per. sons, named John Johnson, the affidavits stated he was a moat ma terial witness; that he had attained the advanced age of 85 years, and that the journey to London, from the place where he lived, not less than 103 miles distant, could not fail of proving exceedingly if not fatal to him. da3 ; 1 47 0u Se s rleant WILD this morning showed cause against the rule. Mr. Serjeant ADAMS supported the rule. Rule discharged. BLISSZTT V. WILSON ♦ND ANOTHER. Mr. Sergeant Russura. moved for a rule to set aside an inquisi tion held in this case:on Saturday last The trespass complained of consisted in the defendant's having stopped up kgate, and cut a quantity of underwood, the property of the plaintiff: The plaintiff had recovered a verdict with 501. damages. The grounds of the present application were, that the Jury who had returned this ver dict had been got together illegally ; that the verdict was contrary to evidence, and that the amount of damages was altogether disproportionate with the trespass. The defendant in his affi. davit stated that the notice to execute the inquiry was at a public-house in Worcestershire, and was appointed to be held on Saturday last. That on the morning of that day the de fendant's attorney had sent to the Sheriff, who had not received the brief up to 11 o'clock, (the hour appointed for inquiry was one o'clock,) and that the Under-Sheriff did not in effect receive It until half-past 11 o'clock on the day in question. The defendant then went on to state that the jury could not have bees impannelled, and that be understood the Sheriff had only named one or two of the jurors, the rest of the number being made up by the landlord, waiters, &c. of the public-house, who actually acted on such ma. dons either in consideration of money or drink. Mr. Justice Parlez—Why, brother Russell, you have certainly attended a Sheriff's jury before now, and know of what materials it is usually composed. (A laugh.) Mr. Sergeant Russzia. admitted that he had ; but added, that the publican, who was a maltster, had himself acted as foreman on the occasi on in question. Mr. Justice Paazz—Well, and a very good man too ; a maltater is as good a man as any other. (A laugh.) Mr. Sergeant Russem.—But yet, my Lord, I submit the jury ought to have been "indifferent." Mr. Justice PARSE-Why, brother Russell, I thought you were complaining all along that they were " too indifferent." (Laughter.) The defendant's affidavit, in conclusion, stated that the verdict had much surprised the Sheriff, who had told the jury that the tres pass did not call for heavy damages, and that he had subsequently intimated his astonishment to the defendant, at the undue amount of the damages. The Court eventually granted a rule, on the ground of excess of damages and improper evidence. Whiston computed that the world would last only 20 years from his own time (1712), and yet asked thirty years' pin chase for an estate which he had to dispose of ! PORTER BREIVINO.—Not a century has elapsed since porter (known by that name), was first introduced ; though leading as it has to the establishment of immense breweries, and the realising of princely fortunes. kir. Whitbread, the father of the late Member foe Bedford, first commenced brewing, in a cellar; and a publican of the name of Poe, who kept the Pewter Platter, In Leather-lane, Holborn, was his &st customer. The latter, becoming subsequently distressed, Mr. Whitbread allowed him an annual pension, in con sklerstion:of his having been his first customer. POLICE REPORTS. Mawsrow•Hottai.^A fellowship porter, named Bellamy, wu summoned before the LORD Navon, under the following circum. stances:— William Gibson, a lad who is in the habit of purchasing fish in Billingsgate-market, deposed that he went to the market a few mornings ago, and paid to the defendant the sum of five shillings for a quarter of a hundred of mackareL His basket was, according to the usual practice, sent into the hold for the quantum of fish, but it never appeared again, and he applied in vain to the seller for the fish, or the basket, or the money. He could receive no satisfaction whatever, and upon nuking his complaint to the Clerk of the Mar. ket, he was advised to represent the matter to the Lord Mayor. The defendant declared that every person who paid him was sure to receive the fish purchased with the money. He begged to be al. lowed to assure the Lord ➢layor, that the fellowship porters were subject to great losses and annoyance from the boys of this descrip tion who infested the market. The Loan Mayon asked the boy whether he could have made a mistake as to the person to whom he paid the money ? Gibson replied that it was impossible. He had positively handed to him the money and basket at the same time; the basket went below, but he never set eyes on it since. The defendant again insinuated that the complainant was not a good character. The Loan MAYOI.—Do you know any thing against the cha. ratter of this boy ? Ile does not appear to me to be an improper person. The defendant said he could not himself say that he knew any thing bad in the boy's conduct, but a comrade seemed to know him pretty well. Hers another fellowship porter declared that the boy had in the first instance accused him oft he conduct just complained of. Gibson asserted most vehemently that he never had. The witness said he, moreover, knew the complainant to be con. netted with a gang that infested the market, and that the boy and his " collegians" were constantly about the place watching for op. portunities to commit plunder. The Loan BIATOR—If that be the case, it is impossible that I can believe a word of the charge against the defendant. Gibson—l never was dishonest, my Lord. Can he say what I ever did to make me deserve such a character. This is all done to I deprive me of my property. My basket, that cost me Ss. 4d. is guns, as well as my money. The Loan MAYOR (to the witness.). —You say you know this boy to be a bad character ? Witness... Flame your Worship, he was publicly whipped at the cart's tail the whole length of the New.ro4 at Deptford. He was nip me GI-- d. Gibson—Oh, Lord ! oh, Lord ! Whipped ! For what was I whipped ? The LORD BE/molt—Aye, aye ; so you have been whipped, have you ? Gibson (much affected h, never, never, my Lord, except once, when I was a little child at school, and I was never whipped after, and that was lower than my back, please your Lordship. Witness.—l can prove it, my Lord, that he was well whipped ' • for I can bring you a note from the Magistrate at Deptford the firs t day lan go there conveniently. " Stay," said the LORD MAYOR, " I don't like to give you so much trouble. We shall decide the matter here. If he has been whipped at the cart's tail, he must have some marks of the cat upon hint. His Lordship then desired Foster, the Alarshalman, to take the boy aside and examine his back. Gibson threw off his coat in an instant, and would have thrown off his shirt too before the whole room, if he had been permitted. The witness's face dropped the moment he saw that :his veracity was likely to be called in question. In a minute Foster returned, and said there was not the slightest mark upon the complainant's and the Lord Mayor ordered that the defendant should not person from custody until the boy _received the sum he had paid, and the price of his basket. Maannottouon.svnzET.—Yesterday Mr. Dawes, a licensed victualler, keeping the Earl of Albemarle public house, in South Audky-street, May-fair, was summoned to show cause why lie re. fused to pay the usual reward to some firenmen who attended on an alarm of fire given at his house. To account for this refusal Mr. Dawes produced an abstract of the Building Act, under which this reward Is given, and pointed out to the attention of the Magistrates a clause in it, which exempts from all the provisions of the Act every royal palace, or other building occupied by the King, t,r for his Majesty's use ; and under this clause Mr. Dawes said he claimed exemption for his house. The Magistrate, who seemed not a little surprised at the line of defence, begged to know from Mr. Dawes, how a clause which ex pressly related to royal residences only, could have application to his house ? Mr. Dawes said, that the clause referred to all houses that were occupied for the use of his Majesty ; and as he, Mr. I)awes, hap pened, just at this time, to have one of the soldiers of the Foot Guards quartered in his house, he considered that the house was thus occupied on behalf of his Alajesty, and therefore within the meaning of this clause. The Magistrate, who appeared still more astonished at this con. struction of the Act of Patliament, said that Mr. l)swes, in his view of the interpretation of the act, gave it an extension which be was sure no one else living would have given it, and which it was unne cessary to say, the Legislature never intended; and, indeed, he was quite surprised to hear a sensible man like Mr. Dawes set up such a defence._ Mr. Dawes said, that he really thought it a fair, and by no means an extravagant, interpretation of the act; for as soldiers were clearly the King's troops. and in his Majesty's service, every house or other building occupied by them was in his Majesty's use for the time. The Magistrate said, that he so entirely differed from Mr. Dawes about the matter, he must direct the reward to be paid, which Mr. Dawes accordingly did immediately. INQUEST ON SIIELTON, THE PUGILIST. Yesterday afternoon an Inquest wu held at the Ship public. house, in Ilishopsgate-street, before William Payne, Esq. the Coro. ner for the City of London, to inquire into the cause of the death of Thomas Shelton, the landlord of that house, and for many years a well-known prise-fighter, who died suddenly on last lionaay night. Mary Ann Edwards. a servant to the deceased, swore that on Monday night last, a little after twelve, the deceased desired the witIICSR to get him a glass of gin and watts ; he was then in his bed-room • she gave him an orange, and went to get the gin and water. Cin her returh she heard a noise in the room, and upon her entry she saw the deceased lie on his left side in bed, with a half. pint bottle beside him. She alarmed the lodgers, and went for Mr. Hartley, the burgeon, who, along with his assistant, came immediately, but they could not render him any assistance. The witness supped with the deceased that evening, and no. thing particular took place on that occasion, After supper, and while he was in the up-room, smoking his pipe, he talked about some person having traduced his character. He said several times lately, that in consequence of his losses at Ascot Kates, he would go into 11'hitecross-street prison. The witness had known the deceased 14 years—but his manner had lately very much changed, and front his conversation latterly, she thought he was of unsound mind. The deceased had not been sober for nearly a fortnight. Mr. Hartley a surgeon in Ilishopagate.street was rent for. and saw the deceased about half past 12 o'clock on Monday night, lying on his bed in a dying state; the witness raised hint up and admi nistered a little brandy, his pulse was gone, and he tried the sto. mach pump, but nothing came off the stomach but the brandy. The mom smelt strong of prussic acid, and from the 'rime... 6,1 ing a bottle labelled " prussic acid--poison," he thinks the deceased died by taking that poison. Mr. Alexander Crawford, of John.street, Spitaltields, swore that he knew the deceased for four yearn. On last rhursday he told the witness he had lost 8001. then 6001. and latterly 2601. at Ascot Races; and on a subsequent occasion he cried like a child, and said be bad lost only 761. The deceased was not sober at the time of this conversation, and the witness believes he was then of unsound mind. John Whitcomb, a lodger in the ship, wu called up by the fir*: witness. He found the deceased lying on the bed, and saw the bottle produced in the hands of the servant. The witness had lived in the 's house for upwards of four years, and in a conversatior. with him on Monday he said he lost money on the tight between Dobell and Brown. [Here Dobell (who was in the room) put a question or two to the witness with the permission of the Coroner, which did not tend to throw any light on the cause of the deceased's death.] Mr. Baker, a neighbour of the deceased, proved the unso u nd state of Ms mind or some time before his death. The Coroner summed up the evidence— and the Jury, after some consideration, returned a verdict. " That the deceased came by his death by taking pnsuic acid, and that he was of unsound mind at the time." THE DERIVATION OP WORDS.—A history of words that have been brought into general use in modern times, might be rendered an amusing work. The terni " Quiz," for instance, was first introduced about 40 years ago, by being, in consequence of a wager, chalked in the course of one night, on the shop.Autters, In moat of the principal streets of the metropolis. The word " Con valescence" was first brought into general u s e on t h e recovery o f the late King, in 1789, and for a short lime puzzled a great number of people. It is only little more than 30 yearn since the term " Ul. timatuni," in diplomacy, came into use ; and the word " Protocol," Is of still more modern introduction. Other words ha ve , i n t h e course of a similar period, sunk in estimation ; and the f as hi a n o f p romin . elation has, in many instances, marvellously changed, • NCINTILLA. PAMPHLIT—U derived from being a book not bound, but fixed per ww filet, which, in Caxton, we find first corrupted into •' pasusilet." Marktootrr—appears to have been the name of sect of Christians In England long before the time of Joux Wts. LET and his followers; for in a collection of old sermons, printed in the year 1640, is the following passage : " Where are now the Ana, baptists, and plaine packstaffe Methodists, who esteem all Howel l of rhetoricke in sermons no better than stinking weedes, and all the elegancies of speech than of profane spells ?" "As cunning as Crowder"—is a saying current in the north and north-west parts of England ; and is said to have derived its origin in the following story, related of one SAMUEL CROWDER --probably an ancestor of our present excellent Lord Mayor—but one apparently not so wise in his generation. This SAMUEL CROW. DER WAS a carrier, and was desired to bring a pound of tobacco fot a neighbour—he accordingly buys the tobacco, and packs it up In the mouth of a sack of salt. As the weather was wet, the salt, being moist, broke through the paper which contained the tobacco. —Next day, therefore, when CROWDER and his wife were unpack. ing, they found, to their great surprise, some of the tobacco and salt mixed together. His wife Mary made great lamentations to have so much tobacco and salt spoiled ; but SAMUEL, wondering at his wife's simplicity, told her he had thought of a method of sepa rating them immediately, and ordered her to fetch a pail of water, which was done ; he then emptied the tobacco and salt into the wate: 0.. 4 Now," said he to his wife, "then is a quick thought of min e , you fool : you see all the tobacco swims at the top." " But where is the salt, SAMUEL ?" cried MART. "Oh ! that, of course, will be found at the bottom, you know." Hence, when any one acts deficient in smartness, they are said to be "as cunning 4/ CROWDER." A man went to BERKELEY CRAVEN seeking a situa tion as Valet, and answered the usual questions very satisfactorily ; but, said the sporting character to hint, " can you tell a good lie r The Valet staggered at the question, and candidly owned his Ma. bility as to that qualification, and retired. Finding, however, that be au likely to lose a goal place, he returned, and told CRAVEN that he would endeavour to learn to he, and doubted not that under the tutelage of so apt a master, he soon would become a proficient in the art. His master put him to the test at a very earl opportu. nity:—“ What news to day?'' said a friend of GRAVER! " Nothing particular, except the fire at the Customhouse ; and Jaws saw it, and will give you all the Information did'nt you John ?"—" 0 ! Yes, Sir, there never was such a blue: the whole of Thames.street is burnt down—the Thames itself Is actually boiling—all the Indy ships too are on fire— there's thousands of poor people drinking tea by wholesale—and the fish at Billingsgate are ready cooked—all the firemen and engines are burnt, and I alone am left to tell the tale !" During a spirited debate in the House of Commons, Lord NORTH, who yielded his political celebrity to classical pre tensions, quoted something, as he uid, from Homer, of which that author happened never to have heard. Homer was not in the house, but Mr. PULTEWEY was; and the honourable gentleman called the noble Lord to order. An appeal was made to the Chair by Lord NORTH, who was not a little disturbed at the rustic innovation of his literary fame. He was at the time attired, as was his usual cus tom, in a full dress Court suit. He rose and spoke thus Mt. Speaker,—For once I will condescend to adopt a line of conduct pur. sued by country gentlemen: rn bet the honourable member a yui. *ea that my quotation is correet."—" Done," said Mr. Puxix. Way, "for any sum you like, provided the bet be settled by an immediate reference to the Speaker's Library."—" Agreed," said Lord Noarn, and Lord NORTH lost his wager ! He was. gtre. rally speaking, a man of polished manners ; but on that occasion he lost his temper with his money, and indignantly flung the guinea across the table at his successful antagonist. Mr. PRLYLKEV took it up coolly, and replied :—" This, Sir," turning to the Spealtr. "is the first public money which has ever soiled my pocket. I say nothing of the mode in which I obtained it, for I pocket the r.o. ble Lord's affront—(hear, hear, from all parts of the House, :n which Lord NORTH did not distinctly join),--and I am sorry to find, in the course of his Lordship's attempted explanation, that what at first I attributed to a want cf recollection, is the sheer el. feet of consummate ignorance."—(Hear, hear.)—Lord NORI here remarked, that he had received just as much civility as his pe- tulence deserved. BAROMETER.—The information contained in the fol lowing paragraph is of importance in the history of the barometer : —" It is a remarkable fact, communicated by a gentleman who has been for upwards of thiraecn years in the service of the Hudson Buy Company, that at York Fort Factory, during a considerable pan elf the year, the barometer ceases altogether to indicate the state of the atmosphere. From the middle of October to die end of March the instrument does not range at all. In a temperature varying from 60 to 65, it stands immovably 45 high u3O or 30} inch s ; be the weather calm or stormy, clear or cloudy, the mercury does not appear either to rise or fall to thy least sensible extent." ROOK J LTSTICE—" COLLECTIVE WISDOM. "—Ai Amisfield Tower, in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, multitudes of Rooks have roosted foe centuries, and meet with so little molests. tion, that they seem to claim a " vested right" to the trees. And there sans are enacted which are at once instructive and highly amusing. Rooks, like men, hare not all the same nice sense of jib. , tice: some of them are honest, obliging, and industrious; other• knavish, idle, and mischievous. In the Spring months in particular, when they are all busy building new nests or repairing old ones, ea. tam evil doers invade their neighbours' stores of sticks, to US'. themselves the trouble of collecting materials in a more laborious and lawful way. This to some may appear a very venial crime. but what a plank is to a carpenter, a twig is to a crow, and to pitter the one is just as bad as to purloin the other. But as often a offences of this kind are detected, a complaint is made to the prop quarter, and the delinquent tried and punished by his peers. Sonu veteran bird acts as chief-justice, and, from the bustle that goes for ward, the cawing of tome rooks and the silence of others, it is platn that the Court proceeds upon system, though I cannot subscribe the startling opinion that they examine witnesses and impanel,: jar. The presiding rook, who site on a bough above all the others, is heard croaking last of all; and when sentence is pronounced, punish. mesa follows very promptly. Either the culprit is seized and p..L . sed most severely, or the nest containing the ill-gotten twigs is p t i;:r,i..! oa and demolished, until not one stick is left upon another.—.l!le ihurmiers :;ketches from Nature. ANECDore 01 D.t it N LE Y.—Darnley had an uncle i!, Clydesdale—George Douglas of Todsholes, otherwise called et Part:hear...a person noted in Scottish history for having intlieted the lint wound upon Rizzio, and who was generally known by the ep.:Set of the Postulate of Aberbrothwick, from his having a pros pect of tett:wally enjoying the temporalities of that rich abbey. Though th.:s man was only a natural son of the Earl of Angus. ri• ther to Darnley's mother, Darnley always styled him Uncle and the royal pair occasionally visited him at Todsholes. One day. about :he time when the quarrels of glary and her husband first pl.bEcly observed, Darnley was fishing on a lake near T 0 : ,.. halts, there being no other person in the boat but Rizzio. Pettg.ss hat perceived, on being infomied, that the Italian was the so.e e..tise of his nephew's troubles ; and with that fatal dispesmen common to all Scotsmen at the time. by which the interests If kinsman were held superior to all other considerationa, road: 3 sign to Darnley for permission to throw the Secretary into the war,r, where, in all probability, he would have instantly perished. llrr kr, however, would not allow the Postulate to make this . saer . .a of life for his sake, however little the risk of detectio n No doabt, he was afterwards provoked, not only to e‘rasent nulnkl cf but also to take a part in is. tie it is certainly so IMIC- In his favour, that, at a period a little earlier, he shrunk from "sec tioning such a crime, although it might then have been easuantud more conveniently, and without the least share of that risk . of disagreeable consequences which eventually attended it.—Consts lie's ilitrellany, Vol. LI . . Life of King James Ike Free. BIRTHS. The 13th instant, at Hamburgh, the wife of Dr. J. Oldermarn. of a yon—The Lady of T. Cave, Esq. of a daughter.—Thurttlay , the Lady of F. Trotman, Esq. of Sisson Court, GiolleCtlttrAitt. at daughter.—Wednesday, in Clare-street, Limerick. the Lady of li ' . F. Hartney, Esq. of a son.—ln Dublin, the Lady of the Hon. J. Plunkett. of a son. MARRIED. At St. George's, Hanover-square, R. Burford, Esq. of Leieestcr square. :o Alias Shepley, of the same place.—At Paddington Church, E. Duffin, Esq. to Agnes, eldest daughter of J. White, of IVestbourne-green, and of the New-road, Alaryhbore. — On the 22d inst. Capt. 0. Gunning, R. N. fourth son of the late Sir G. (Sunning, Bart. of Norton, near Northampton, to MAU Dora. ior.rth daughter of Commissioner Sir 31 . Seyn . ou r, Inc 2 . 3 d inst. Sir H. Durant, Bart. of Scotto', Hall, Nurfolic, to Mins Agnes Marsham, youngest daughter, of R. Marbliam, EA. Of btrartor. Strawless, county of Norfolk—On the 22d inst. E. R. G. Robertson, Esq. of the Inner Temple, to Sarah Ann, youngest daughter of the late R. Edmonds, Esq. of New-Bross, Surrey. DIED. On tile 20th inst. suddenly, at Chariton Kings. Cheitcrham, in the 71,: year of his age, General C. Wards of Woedlard Castle. Ulartiorganshire, third son of the late J. Warde, Esq. of Squerick in the county of Kent.—On the 26th of January last, at sea, on his paasage home from Bombay, Major E. Lutyens, of His Majoty's 20th Regiment, respected and lamented by his brother officers• Lo►uou Printed and Published by JONM Mgrs, at the SI" . Orrice No. 1, Pickett-place,Ternple Sm.