Star. — London, England, 1830-12-31 00:00:00

)--# J . • Me.la ~. . . t‘l • • 7 STATE OF THE IRISH POOR, 1111417 *port of the Committee of the House of Commons upon this interesting subject has just been printed, in three folio volumes. The following is an extract : STATE OF THE PEASANTRY GENERALLY. Your committee have felt it their duty to make the most minute and laborious inquiry into the actual state and con dition of the Irish poor, considered in all points of view, mo ral, political, physical, and economical. Although they are fully aware that for a close and accurate investigation of these several subjects, embracing as they do the entire state of Ireland, it will be necessary to examine accurately the details of the evidence, they still feel it their duty to lay the results before the House in a more condensed and accessible shape. They regret to be obliged to state, that a very considerable proportion of the population is considered to be out of employment. The number is estimated differently, and by Mr. Smith is supposed to be as much as one-fifth of the entire population. By Mr. Ensor it is carried still fur ther, and is calculated to amount to one-fourth. From this want of demand for labour necessarily ensues very severe distress among the labouring classes. This, combined with the consequences of an altered system of managing land, is stated to produce " misery and suffering which no language can possibly describe, and which it is necessary to witness in order fully to estimate." This distress is stated to exist in its greatest severity in the suburbs of cities and towns. Dr. DOYLII describes the condition of this suffering class in the strongest and most impressive manner. He states a cue of some of the ejected tenantry, who, seeking a refuge in the towns, " after their little capital is expended, become dependent upon charity. They next give up their house, and are obliged to take, not a room, but what they call a corner. Four of these wretched families are sometimes accommo dated in one small apartment of a cabin, and three in another. I have not myself seen so many as seven families in one of these cabins, but I have been assured by one of the officiating clergy. men, that there are many instances of it. Their beds are merely a little straw spread at night on the floor, and by day wrapped up or covered with a quilt, or with a bl a nket. In thaw abodes of misery disease is often produced by extreme want ; disease wastes the people, for they have no food or comforts to restore them ; they die in a little time." Such is the striking picture given of the deplorable suf fering existing among certain classes of the Irish poor ; but it is most gratifying to your Committee to consider, that though such cases do unhappily exist, it appears from the evidence that it would be contrary to the facts if they were to be considered as so much the rule as the exception. The wages of labour do not appear to have fallen very consider ably. By returns made from the County Treasurers through out Ireland, the rate of day labour appears to average 10d, as charged in the accounts of Presentment work. During the last five years, it does not appear that the wages of la bour paid by the Board of Works, the Government En gineers, or the Directors-General of Inland Navigation have fallen. A very extensive contractor, Mr. Mullins, considers, " that there is rather a tendency to increase the rate of wages than otherwise ;" and in comparing the present wages with what was received during the war, the same witness adds, " that the labourers can now purchase as much pitivisions for 6s. as they could formerly for 12s. " Clothing," he further states, "is less than one-half cheaper ; linen is to be had for one-half the price ; cottons, calicoes, and checks, those kinds of fabrics which the poorer class of females wear, are now to be had for one fourth." References are given in the margin to the testi mony of witnesses from all parts of Ireland, tending to prove that no very considerable fall in the wages of labour has taken place. " Mr. Mahony observes, " that the state of the peasantry has im. proved very rapidly of late years ;" " that the country has greatly altered for the better ; that the peasantry are better clothed, and in every way seem to be more comfortable, and their houses are im proving. He adds, " that agriculture has improved ; the mode of ploughing, the description of carts and other farming implements." A practical farmer states, that " the quality of agricultural produce has improved, and the quantity has increased ; that the description of stock hi husbandry has improved since the increased intercourse with England ; the Hereford, Ayrshire, and Leicester breeds being brought over.' More land is cultivated, and the people are considered to possess more comforts than formerly, and on Sundays and holydays to be better clothed. Among the better class of farmers, Mr. Musgrave considers " that very great improvement has taken place, and that the number of slated houses is increasing very considerably ; that the repeal of the Union Duties has produced a great cheapness of calico, and dress of that kind ; and thitt in country villages there Is a much greater number of bakers than there were a few years ago." The House will at once perceive the importance of this last observation. The peasantry, who by means of . the facilities of steam navigation, carry their produce to t he En g lish market, are said to " acquire information and good habits by their in tercourse with England ; the fruits of which are becoming more and more manifested in Ireland." In the county of Wexford, Captain Owen states, that agriculture is in a state of very rapid improvement, evinced in " a superior ;node of ploughing, better agricultural imple ments, improvement of stock, and a better management of farms." Roads of all descriptions Lave improved, and the facilities of transport and of conveyance have been aug mented ; a striking example of which is given in the esta blishment of day cars by Mr. Bianconi, in the south-east of Ireland. These vehicles, chiefly used as conveyances by the middle classes, were only introduced in 1815 ; and at the present moment have so widely extended as to travel over 1,600 miles daily, This establishment yields support to more than 100 families; employs 200 horses, and creates a demand for 8,000 to 10,000 barrels of oats, and 600 to 700 tons of hay. In like manner, in the county of Mayo, Mr. Livingstone, a merchant of Ballina, observes, that " the habits of the peasantry, their clothing, and their houses, are all improving." Mr. Weale, an officer of the Department of the Land Revenue, considers, " that in every quarter, in every corner of Ireland, there are perceivable evidences of growing and rapidly growing prosperity." There is an ex tension of the growth of clover and vetches. Iron ploughs of an excellent description, are purchased ; and the common log, or block wheel, formerly used, is now superseded by the spoke wheel, introduced almost every where. Mr. Barry, an Inspector-General of Fisheries, states, " that the clothing, furniture, and comforts of the fishermen have improved de cidedly within his observation ; and that the progress of improvement in Ireland, moral, and practical, has been, during the last ten years, exceedingly rapid." It is observed by the same witness, that wherever the coastguard establishment, which is almost exclusively English ar Welch, has been fixed, the most obvious improvement has taken place in the n.ighbourhood ; the example which those men have shown being productive of most beneficial consequences." The intercot:rse by steam between the two countries has given such a value to many of the lesser articles of farm ing produce, formerly almost e ithout a market, such as eggs, poultry, honey, &c. These matters are now brought into the British market, and produce almost a " new cre ation of property, which is laid out in manufactured goods, dress, and articles of furniture." The inhabitants of Liverpool are stated by a resident in that town to be quite aware of the altered appearance even of the Irish reapers, who "no longer come in the tattered clothes they formerly appeared in ; they are ashamed of their r ga, and are apparently a different class of persons." " I speak from a great deal of examination into the state of Ireland," observes Mr. Blake, the Chief Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer, " Ireland is becoming from day to day more prosperous : capital is spreadiug through out Ireland, and in proportion as it spreads, so will the general state of all classes be improved." In the county of Armagh, Mr—Greer observes that the consumption of wheaten bread has considerably augmented ; and that at Lurgen, so far from there being a considerable mass of the people out of employment, the witness did not know ^.4n * . zlir. any man able to work that cannot get work then. The statement made by Mr. Wiggins, an English land-agent, in describing the south-west of Ireland, is equally satis factory : “ A very great improvement has taken place in all respects during the last twenty-two years • with regard to food there is not much change; but in the habits of clea nliness, and order and regularity, in their clothing, and sense of propriety in all respects, I conceive in their moral character and conduct altogether, the improvement has been very striking." In a subsequent part of his nomination he adds, " I think the improvement:of Ireland has bees moms rapid than any improvement I ever saw in England in any largo tract of country." " For merly," observes Mr. J. D. ?dullen. " ths labourers of the county of Dublin wore a coarse kind of cloth called Mess, now they uni. formly wear a cloth which is dearer, and is evidence of an improved notion of comfort." However consolatory is this accumulation of testimony, it would lead to a false inference were it to induce a disbelief in the existence of very great distress and misery in Ire land. The population and the wealth of a country may both increase, and increase rapidly ; but, if the former proceeds in . a greater ratio than the latter, an increase of distress, among the poor, may be concurrent with an augmentation of national wealth. The state of the labouring classes must depend on the proportion existing between the number of the people and the capital which can be profitably em ployed in labour ; and your Committee agree in the obser ♦ations made by a witness of great acuteness and observa tion, that " the operation of natural causes, and the im proved spirit of social life are the true and efficient sources from which the prosperity of Ireland may be anticipated. The foundations of her prosperity are laid," concludes Mr. Roe, " and time will complete the structure," ' SEAL BEFORE HILARY 14 I tI V , AND TERM PAPER, 1831, Before the LORD CEANCRLLOR, AT LINCOLN'S INN. Monday, January 10th—Seal before Hilary Term. AT WESTNINSTIER. Tuesday, 11th—Motion.. Wednesday 12th, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—Re-hearings and Appeals. Thursday, 20th—Motions. Friday 21st, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—Re. hearings and Appeals. Thursday, 27th Motions. Friday 28th, and Saturday—Re-hearings and Appeals. Monday, 31st—Motions. SEAL BEFORE HILARY TERM, AND TERM PAPER, 1831, Before the Vices CHANCELLOR, AT LINCOLN'S INN. Monday, January 10th—Seal before Hilary Tam. AT IVESTIIINSTIR. Tuesday, 11th—Motions. Wednesday 12th, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednaday—Pleas, Demurrers, Exceptions, Causes, and Further Directions. Thursday, 20th—Motions. Friday 21st, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—Pleas Demurrers, Causes, Exceptions, and Further Directions. Thursday, 27th—Motions. Friday, 28th—Plus, Demurrers, Exceptions, Causes, and Further Directions. Saturday, With—Short Causes, Pleas,Demurrers, Exceptions, Causes, and Further Directions. Monday, 31st—Motions. N.B. A day will be named by the Vice Chancellor for hearing Cause Petitions in next Term. In the interval between the end of next Term and the First Seal, the Vice Chancellor will hear Bankrupt Petitions and Motions. ASIA CE. WINCfiESI, Drc. 29. John Cobb, William Hoare, Tho Mas Hoare, Henry Bone, John Newland, William Bicknell, John Trimming, Beamin Smith, and Robert Bennet, wit put to the bar, charg ed with having, with divers others, riotously assembled at Selbourne, on the 22d of November, and there, by threats and violence, compelled the Rev. Win. Cobbold, the rector of that parish, to sign a paper agreeing to reduce his tithes to 300 L This was a case arising out of the pro ceeding of the mob which met at Sclboume and attacked the workhouse at that place, the particulars of which have already appeared in our re. port of this commission. The Rev. Mr. Cobbold was asked the value of his tithes, and he re. plied lit wu more than double 9001. Mr. Edward Fitt, a farmer wu called to speak to the character of Bennett. He was a servant to witness, and was a quiet, honest man. Mr. Baron ViiIOIIIANI hope you are not one of tlleatr a lltrtners who were present inciting the mob to make the demand on the cler ? gyman Witness—My Lord, I was present at Mr, Cobbold's, when the mob was there. Mr. Baron VAUG nAx—Sir, you ought to be ashamed of your con duct. You who, from your station, should know better, first incite these poor men to commits very serious offence, and then you appear here to give one of them a character. In answer to a question from the Attorney. General, witness said that he was one of the farmers who signed the agreement as a wit. ness. Mr. BARON Vouonest.—Then, Sir, I must tell you, that you may atwitter yourself very lucky that you are not standing In that dock, charged with this offence. I think you merit it as much, or more, than any of those poor men, who now stand before me. It Is really disgraceful to see such a transacdon as this by men in your condition. It was here stated, that this witness bad afterwards distinguished himself by his activity in preventing the mob from doing mischief. Mr. Baron VAUGHAN said, that that was some redeeming of his conduct on this occasion, but it was well for him, and the other farmers who were present at that meeting, and who signed the agreement, that they had not been indicted for their conduct. Those farmers who, to their disgrace, had entered into this son of under standing with the labourers—" We will undertake to raise your wages, but you must undertake to obtain a reduction of the tithes " bad as little right to take that course as they had to urge the same mob to go and take the money from the clergyman's pocket. The learned Judge then proceeded to point out the evidence as it affected ' each of the prisoners ; and the jury, after consulting together for a short time, returned a verdict, finding John Cobb, Wm. Hoare, Thomas Hoary, Henry Bone, J. Newland, John Trimming, and Benjamin Smith, Guilty; and W. Bicknell and Robert Bennett, Not Guilty. Robert Mason (who has been tried several times on other charges and acquitted was put to the bar, charged with having, on the 18th of November, with several others, assembled around the house of the Rev. ames °Hire, at Barton Stacey, and by threats and violence obtained from him the sum of be. his property. The prisoner in his defence said that the mob had passed his door, and he was forced to go. The Jury, after consulting together for a abort time, returned a ver dict of guilty, but strongly recommended him to mercy in consequence of his previous good character. W. Adams,aged 36, W. Barnes, 42, J. Hoare, 19, J. Fussell, 20, W. Bores, 24, J, Boyer, N. From/link, 30, were indicted for having on the 23d November last, at the parish of Owslebury, felo niously made an assault on one Moses Stanbrool, and put him in bodily fear, and feloniously stole from his person one note of the firm o f Knapp and Co. of the value of M. and monies of the said M. Stanbrook. The Jury found Adams and Fremantle Guilty, and acquitted the other prisoners. WINTER HOME CIitCUIT.--Kurat 9 erou Dzc. 30. The Judges came into the town about eleven o'clock, aad hnmodiately proceeded to open the commission. The calendar, though not very numerous, contains many *MOW OfftliCell r three for murder, three anon, five riotously assembling, one threatening letter, seven horse stealing, and a majority of the remainder for burglaries. After the Grand Jury were impannelled, Mr. Justice ISOPANQUET proceeded to deliver the following address : " Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—Upon viewing the catalogue of the offences for trial, I have observed, with unfeigned concern, that your county has not been exempt from those disgraceful trans actions which have occurred more frequently and extensively in other counties. I have great reason to believe that many of the out rages have been suppressed by the laudable and vigorous conduct of the Magistracy. We all know that promptitude and early vigour are efficacious in the suppression of disorder, and we have learned, even from our childhood, that one man of character and decision can often sway a multitude nom their mischievous purpose.—. It must, however, essentially depend (under the providence of Gore) on the vigilance of the Magistrates, aided by the personal ex. ertions of the gentry, whether the tumults be effectually repressed. That distress does exist, I readily admit ; but I must also assert that it has been much exaggerated. Discontent also is prevalent, but t;t ec rat and wicked pains have been taken to foment it, by the evii.dh ls unquestionable. The result of the trials on the present Citeult, and of the Special Commissions, have clearly shown that the leaders of the tu. mul tuous and unlaw fulassanWages have been totally uncontected with the cause of complaint, their occupations not being agricultural, and in must i l instances in the receipt of ample wages. Attempts have also been made, both by language and writings, addressed to the passions of the multi. tude by artful emissaries, for the purpose of promoting divider. To such all admonition will be useless t but to another class, net criminal, though perhaps mischievous, 1 will offer a ward of advice. There am many persons who sincerely wish the welfare of their country, and the .~ •, "!E restoration of tranquillity, yet, in the ardour') enforcing - their opinions, indulge in language which in other times would be of no consequence, but In these times of excitement, rouse the passions of the ignorant and misinformed. I would urge such persons to weigh well the awful responsibility, and also the consequences, which may arise from intemperate speeches or writings. Let them reflect on the upbraiding. of their consciences, when they tee offenders exiled from their country, who have been led into crime by their incautious conduct. I trust when order prevails, that these gentlemen present will feel it their duty to lend a kind ear to the wants and complaints of those below them, and when distress manifests itself, the best of your ability will be exerted to relieve it. Wherever there appears mismanagement in the poor laws let it have early attention and redress—but also ever bear in mind that no eoncesaion is to be made to intimidation and vio lence. That man must be ill read in the hia:ory of hie or any other country, who does not know that tranquillity purchased by violence can never last • but that fresh demands ins short time will :re turn in an aggravated shape. All attempts at intimidation are to be repressed, all acts of violence resisted, and the laws under all circum stances to be strictly enforced. The learned Judge here reviewed the calendar, pointing out the law applicable to the various offences, and concluding by expressing a hope that the gentlemen present would see the necessity of impressing on the poorer classes the opinion, that their wants were not ditzd, and that Government having se arched out the cause of the dis, would promptly provide measures of al leviation." CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice BOSAIfeITZT.) Phabe Cox, a erently attired female, was Indicted for stealing 8S yards of silk from the shop of Mesas. White and Greenwell, Black. friars-road. Mr. Smith Oreenwell stated that the prisoner came into his shop on the Bth of November, and u she was preparing to leave it he went up to her in osier to enquire if she had been properly suited. He remark ed she had a bundle under her cloak, and be requested her to walk into a beck warehouse, when -he found that she had a piece of gros de Naples, value 81. under her arm. She fell upon her knees and begged to be allowed to depart, pleading poverty. in defence she handed in a written statement, stating that miserable necessity bad driven her to this her first o ff ence. She stated she had buried four children within a fortnight, and had a sick husband starving at home. The Jury found her Guilty, but added a recommendation to mercy from her tale of destitution. The Judge, in passing sentence, said, from a document which had just been placed in his hands, he was convinced she was unworthy of belief, and ought not to remain in the country. It was a record of a former conviction for stealing silk from Mr. Harvey, wherein sentence had been commuted to imprisonment. He should take time to consider the punishment. NISI PRIUS COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Taawrow,) James Rickards and William Bryant, two boys under the age of 14, yet known as most incorrigible thieves, were charged with having stolen a gold watch from the shop of Mr. Hobbs, watch maker, in Great Surrey-street. The prisoner, Bryant, pleaded guilty, and the Jury found Richards also guilty. The Judge, in passing sentence, said their youth prevented the sen tence of death from being indicted, but they should have the punish. menenext in severity. This is the fourth time the prosecutor has been robbed by these boys. POLICE REPORTS. HATTON-GEIDEN.—CHEIM OP BrEANT.-AN UNEXPECTED Tuax-ur.—Yesterday an elderly man of the name of Jobs Cows, who keeps a retail beer house In Gray's Inn-lane, was brought up before Mr. Lama and Mr. Sergeant SELLow, to answer the complaint of his wife, who gave her name Elizabeth Croker, for an assault. The complainant stated, that on the previous night her husband quarrelled with her at home, and having first slapped her on the (axe, was proceeding to use her with greater violence, when her screams brought In the police, and she gave him In charge for the assault. Mr. Latwo.—lf the defendant be your husband, why do you al yourself by a different name? Complainant.-1 have certainly been married to him, your Worship, but he was previously mauled without my knowledge, and his first wife is still living, which is the reason why I assume my maiden name. Mr. Larwo.—.What was the cause of your having quarrelled ? Complainant —Why, your Worship, he's always quarrelling with and abusing me about his first wife. Mr. Luxe.—And you say his first wife is still living ? How do you know that he was previously married to another woman ? Complainant. —I have seen her, Sir, and she has shewn me the cer tificate of her marriage. Mr. LAIMG.—Do you wish to charge the defendant with bigamy? Complainant—l do, your Worship. The Magistrate immediately ordered the defendant to be placed at the bar to answer se grave and serious a charge, and merging all consi derations of the assault, desired the prosecutrix to proceed in giving her evidence. The prosecutrix accordingly stated. that in last July twelve months abs was married to the prisoner in Bermondsey Church, and she pro. * rimed the certificate of heunarrialP• Mr. Lame inquired if there was any evidence present of the prison. er's first marriage, when a friend of the proseeutriz came forward, and said that if the Magistrate would have the kindness to remand the pri soner far a week, he could bring forward all the evidence that was neon. airy in proof of the first marriage. Mr. Lame asked where the first marriage was solemnized ? The presseutriz banded the certificate to the Magistrate, and her friend replied that the marriage was solemnized at Bennington, in Suf. folk, and It would be necessary for him to go Into Suffolk to procure witnesses and documentary evidence of the marriage, all which he would be enabled to do in the course of a week. The prisoner was then remanded fora week and the Magistrate gave directions u to the evidence necessary to be produced. QUELIF SQUAIIIT.-..YeStaday, Musa Badly was charged with stealing from the person of Mr. Thomas Hutt, one of the King's mes sengers, a ten pound Beak of England note and eight sovereigns. It appeared, from the evidence of the prosecutor, who lives In Stafford. place South, Pimlico, that as he was returning home on the previous evening, he met the p risoner, and got into conversation with her in Lit tle Charlotte -street, Pimlico. In a very short time he found that his pulse was misting, containing about 181. and instantly accused the prisoner of the robbery, who denied it. He then called in the aid of the new police, who took her into custody. A policeman of the B. division stated that he found one sovereign on the person of the pri-1 goner, and two sovereigns on the ground, and in the nearest area he found a purse containing a ten pound note. The note was identified by the prosecutor. The prisoner in defence said that the gentleman must have given her the sovereign by mistake for a shilling, and as to the _purse, she knew nothing about it. She was committed for tri a l. Taman Pouca.—A. Anderson, a Norwegian 'tailor, was com- 1 matted for trial, charged with robbing several of his shipmates, of wear ing apparel, and other property. Five lads, between the ages of 14 and 18 years, all very respectably attired, named J. Warner J. Waller, S. Hinton, B. Lazarus, and J. Tosanshend, were ch arged with stealing swo sets of fire-inns from the shop of Mr. Hendry, a broker, in St. George's. The prisoners were committed for trial Toww-HALL.—A Kworrir Potarv.—A gentlemanly.looking man, stating himself to be a Lieutenant in the Navy, whose name was not given, complained of being refused the redemption of a watch pledged by him at Mr. Smith's, pawnbroker, High-street, after having paid all legal dues upon it. Alderman A wur.v sent an officer to acquaint Mr. Smith of the cir cumstance, who presently returned with one of Mr. Smith's young men, and he explained that the watch, being out of time, had been sold by public auction, and the surplus offered to the complainant, who refused to accept it. The Lieutenant, in no very measured terms, finding the wind in his teeth, tack'd, and talked about a watch being • aalAeaw tteat instru ment, and, as such, came under a special clause of the Pawnbroker's Act. Alderman ANSLEY—The Ant time I ever heard of it—a chrono meter, indeed ! The Lieutenant (burly u an east wind)-1)o you mean to doubt my knowledge, Sir? 1 that have fought the King's enemies, not know what a mathematical instrument is! Alderman Axsmer.—Pray, Sir, don't fire a broadside here. This is a peace office. l differ entirely in opinion with you, and think, if you go quietly to the pawnbroker, you will have every justice done you. The Lieutenant.—liir, I do maintain— Alderman AsteLsw.L.Don't maintain any thing here, for Heaven's sake. Sir ; no doubt you're a man of courage, but this is not a proper place to show so much of it in. The Lieutenant gave a whistle, turned upon his larboard heel, and vanished. Sunday last, about half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, Joseph Hurst, • prisoner confined in the King's Bench prison, after partaking of a hearty dinner, fell back in his chair, and instantly expired. He had been remanded by the Insolvent Court for a twelvemonth from the time of filing his petition, and would have been entitled to his dis charge on the 26th of January next, to which period he was looking forward with the most anxious solicitude, and had but an hour before his death said, " that his next Christ-, mu would be a more jolly one than the present."— He waa 66 years of age, and a man of sober and industrious habits. Mr. Colwell, the principal turnkey, summoned several medical gentlemen, who were almost instantly in attend ance on the unfortunate deceased. Efforts were made to *sod him, but without effect, and the surgeons pronounced him to be quite dead. LAST DAYS OF LORD BYRON. erflly on his m i n d , already a u (Plok MEMOIRS IT JULIUS MILLIWOEN, JUST PURE/SHED.) Mr. Millingen was professionally attendant on Lord Byron as sta plsy n s t ic an ia x n i . ety " an T d he su cu trer p ionfghoe;eralthiedhadpodwropPed from his lip s , an d con. prey to melancholy apprehensions, and disappointment. increased by disgust. Continually haunted by a dread of epilepsy or palsy — cam plaints most humiliating to human pride—he fell into the lowest st ate of hypochondriasis, and vented his sorrows in language which, thou g h sometimes sublime, was at others u peevish and capricious, as that of an unruly and quarrelsome child. When he returned to himself, how. ever, he would request us ' not to take the indisposed and sickly fit fo, the sound man.' Riding was the only occupation which procured hint any relief, and even this Tru but momentary." Mr. Finlay and Mr. Millingen called on Lord Byron in the evening: —" We found him lying on a sofa, complaining of a slight fever, an d of pains in the articulation. He was at first more gay than usual ; b ut on a sudden he became pensive, and after remaining some few minutti in silence, he said that during the whole day he bad reflected a gm e deal on a prediction which had been made W him when a boy, by „ famed fortune-teller in Scotland. His mother, who firmly believed in necromancy and astrology, had sent for this person, and desired him to inform her what would be the future destiny of her son. Having era. mined attentively the palm of his hand, the man looked at him for a while steadfastly, and then with a solemn voice exclaltned—' Bewareot your thirty-seventh year, my young Lord ; beware.' " To say the truth, answered his Lordship, I find • it equally dit cult to know what to believe in this world, and what not to believe. There are as many plausible reasons for inducing me to die a bigot, a, there have been to make me hitherto live a free thinker. You will, I know ridicule my belief in lucky and unlucky days ; but no eo n . aideration can now induce me to undertake anything either on a Friday or a Sunday. It would terminate unfortunately. Every one of my misfortunes, and, God knows, I have had my share, have happened to me on one of those days. You will ridicule also a belief in beer. poreal beings. Without instancing to you the men of profound gen t, ; , who have acknowledged their existence, I could give you the details of my friend Shelley's conversations with his familiar, did be not appri se me, that he had been informed by that familiar that he would end hi, life by drowning ; and did I not, a short time after, perform on t!.e sea-beach his funeral rites ? " The next morning (17th) the bleeding was repeated, fur, although the rheumatic symptoms had completely disappeared, the cerebral ours were hourly increasing, and this continuing all day, we opened the vein, for the third time, in the afternoon. Cold applications were ho e the beginning constantly kept on the head ; blisters were also proposed. When on the point of applying them, Lord Byron asked me whither it would mower the same purpose to apply both on tit: same leg? Guessing the motive that led him to ask this question, I told him I would place them above the knees, on the inside of the thighs. Do so,' said he ; 6 for as long as I live, I will not allow any one to sec ra lame foot.' " Here I may be permitted to observe, that it must have ben the lot of every medical man to observe how frequently the fear of de.th produces it; and how seldom a patient, who persuades himself that he must die, is mistaken. The prediction of the Scotch fortune-teller was ever present to Lord Byron ; and like an insidious poison, destroy. ad that moral energy, which is so useful to keep up the patient in don. getout complaints. ' Did I not tell you (said he repeatedly to me) tha t I should die at thirty-seven ?' " I was not a little surprised to bear him ask me on the 15th, ale thee I could not do him the favour of inquiring in the town for ;Illy very old and ugly witch ? As I turned his question in derision, h e re. pasted to me with a serious air, ' 6 Never mind whether I am supersti dous or tat; but I again entreat of you to bring me the most Mc. bested one there is, in order that she may examine whether this tuddtr. loss of my health does not depend on the evil eye. She may devise some means to dissolve the spell.' Knowing the neceuity of indulgir i r a patient in his harmless caprices, I soon procured one, who antwerec exactly to his dtsaiption. But the following day, seeing that he du' not mention the subject, I avoided recalling it to his memory. " Two thoughts constantly occupied his mind. Ada and Greece were the names he hourly repeated. The broken complaints he ut tered, lamenting to die a stranger to the sole daughter of his affec tion not only far from her embrace, but , perhaps, the obj ets o f t h e hatred which he thought had been carefully instilled into her from her tenderest infancy, showed how exquisitely his parental feelings were excited by these sad considerations. The glory of dying in Greece, and for Greece, was the only theme he could fly to fo7 relief, and which would dry up the tears he abundantly shed, when pro. nutting Ada's name. In the agony of death—that dreadful hour when, leaving the confines of life, the soul is launched into eternity_ his parting look, his last adieu, was to Greece and Ada. I was prcaen: when, after taking the first antispasmodic mixture, he spoke to Fletcher for the last tittle, recommending him to call on his sister, on Lady By ron and his daughter, and deliver to each the messages which he Pad repeated to him before. His feelings, and the clouds of death, which were fast obscuring his intellect, did not allow him to continue: "You know what you must say to Ada—l have already told it you—you know it, do you not ?' On hearing Fletcher's affirmative, he replka, ' that's right !' "On the 18th he addressed me, saying, Your efforts to preservemy life will be vain . Die I must : I feel it. Its lo ss Ido not l amtnr , f or to terminate my wearisome existence I came to Greece. My wealth, my abilities, I devoted to here:muse. Well, there is my life to her. On, request let me make to you. Let not my body be hacked, or be sent t, England. Here let my bones moulder. Lay tue in the first cor:a• without pomp or nonsense." ECLIPSES IN 1831.—During the next year there will be four eclipses, viz. two of the sun and two of the moon. Those of the former occur on February 12, and August 7, and will be invisible 4: Greenwich ; and of the latter on Feb. 26 (partly visible), and on Aeg. 23, which will be invisible. A letter from a member of a deputation on the truck sys t em, states that in the iron districts of Merthyr Tydvil. whvre that sya tem is in operation, fifteen thousand people are intrusted to the ~.os of one medical man. There must be some error in the report of the Attornev- General's speech at the Winchester Commission, where he mato that " he did not consider that the parish cart had been used in an improper manner ; " since it was given in evidence that old men, and boys, a'd women,—nay, even a poor idiot, Jane Stephens,—bad superseded beasts of burden in drawing this vehicle ! Duke Bernard, of Saxe Weimar, in his North Anieridia Travels, mentions a circumstance with regard to Yankee kgishvort which it may be well to quote, for the benefit of our English reformer. who are so food of referring to Trensatlaintie examples. At Cahasha• the chief town of Alabama, he says, he found the Legislature in Nt• don, and the Senators, in consequence of the poverty of the place. in entirely on salt pork, and sleeping three in a bed ! A CHRISTMAS PIE.—On the 25th inst. Mr. Roberts, 01 the Sportsman's Group, in Fargate, cut the large Christmas pie, which' according to annual custom, had been prepared to treat his friend. and customers. Its contents were thirty rabbits, three stones of pork. two legs of veal, and four stones of flour. Its measurement in length upwards of three feet, and its weight about sixteen stoner.-- Steejleld AJOTHLR PlE.—During the last two or three days, the frequenters of Alr. Kirk's house, the Cosa Daggers, Rotherh ou. partaken df a Christmas pie, containing four geese, twelve rabbits, sl% brace of partridges, three stones of veal, two stones of pod , e i g ht fosb. three turkeys seven pounds of sausages, four hares, four pounds e t lour. &c.—lbid. The Marshal do Duras, displeased by one of his ions, ex claimed, in a rage, " You rascal, if you go on In this manner, 111 make you sup' with the King." The young mau had twice supped at Mark, where he was wearied to death. BIRTH. The 18th Inst. the lady of Lieutenant James Clayton, R.\• d 6 daughter. ____ MARRIED. At Cheahnnt, :Hem on the 27th, E. J. Lloyd, Esq. of Lircaln'r: Inn, to Mary Anne Coffin, 'mind daughter of E. Clarke, Eml• Cheshunt. DIED. The 24th inst. W. Collett, Esq. of the Accountant's Office , Fo 4 India House—Suddenly, in Slosne.street, the 28th inst. Mrs. Sa widow of J. Street, Eaq. late surgeon to the East India sertiee.—The 28th lust. Richard, youngest son of Mr. Flezney,ot Sew Boswell -court, Lincoln's.lnn in his 28th year.—At No rt ha m pton. 88d inst. in the 70th year of gis age, & Hult, Esq. of that tows. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORRO W. N. • IL st. il Morning 5 441 Afternoon .. 4 4 ... LooDox : hinted and rubliabed by Joao Dlayxs, at the STA I Orricz, N. 1, Pickett-plats, Temple'Bar• i ~- ' t• • OM • Si bold dey be d liara a d puit fowl thou peril ti Age JI. adm ii S cent. sum Pr= e l l A F ef She and . 11 J NI of E/ theb Tb has b Netti anti J de i 1)- 2' I'S.i • 2 spa Ike N. a ab - La may I neat, G t i. also . t of a 1 1% ! map in La _ zl4 4Zf l ot• ..,„ 1