Star. — London, England, 1820-04-29 00:00:00

r 1 f I t I i 1.17 ER AT ÜBE, 4.r. • TO THE PRIMROSE. By murm'ring Ni:h, my r.atlve stream, I've haild thee with the morning beam, Woo'd thee among the Falls of Clyde— On Leven's hanks—on Kelvin-side: And r.ow, on ilanwell's flow'ry plain, I welcome thy return 2gaia— At Hanwell, where romantia viows, And sylvan scenes, invite the Muse ; And where, lest erring Mna 'holed stray, Treth's blameless Teacher leads the way Lorn tenant of the peaceful glide, . Emblem cf Virtue iu the shade, Rearing thy head to brave the storm 'fiat wou'd thine innocence deform ! Of all the ilaw'rs that g:::et the Spring -01 all the flow'rs the A.asons bk ing, To me, while dittu'd to linger her; The lowly Primrose shall be dear ! Sprung, like a Primrose, in the wild, • Short, like the Primrose, 111.amost mad ; The Spring that gave her blossoms birth, Tore them fur tver front the earth ; Nor left, alt me! one bud behind To tranquillize a Parent's mind, Save that sweet bud which strews the way, Blest Hope, to an eternal May ! Lawn tenant of the peaceful glade, Emblt-m of Virtue in the :shade ! Pure as the blossoms on you thorn, Spotless as her for whom we mourn ! Of all the flows that greet the Spring— Of all the fl4w'rs the seasons bring, To me, while doom'd to linger here, The lowly Primrose shall be dear! J. NlAnis. AN ACCOUNT OF A PEACH TREP, Produced from the Seed of the Almond Tree : with some Ob s:rvations on iluz Origin of the Peach Tree. By THOMAS A:4lRm Kstcur, F.L.S. &c. President.—Frocn the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. I beg leave to send to the Society a couple of reaches, of a new variety ; not, however, on account of any met its which I suppose the variety to possess, but solely on account of the singularity of its origin, • 4 being the offspring of a sweet almond and of the pollen only of a peach. The tree produced six peaches besides those I have seat you; three of which cleft open, like almonds, when nearly ripe, whilst the others retained the form and . character of peaches, and the flesh of ail was perfcczly soft and melting. One of these was considerably larger than the largest you receive, having measured eight inches in circum ference ; and as tlie tree grew in a pot, which did not contain a square foot of mould, and the first fruit of every seedling tree has proved, in alj my exp.:deuce, to be of much less size than its subsequent produce, I iinagine that the future fruit of this variety will a good deal exceed the bulk indicated by the present &fro plc. The general character and quality of the fruit I send, and the diminished size of its stone, compara tively with that of the almond, will, I fear, induce the Society to apprehend some error in the experi ment ; but I beg to assure them that none can pos sibly have occurred ; and that the result was as un expected by me as it would have been by them ; for I'did not entertain the slightest hope that a tree ca pable of producing a melting peach would have been, by any means, obtained immediately from an almond. I had, however, long before entertained an opinion, that the common almond and the peach tree constituted only a single species, and that the almond Might, by proper culture, through many successive generations, be ultimately converted into a peach or nectarine. Many circumstances in the ancient history of the peach conjoined to lead me to this conclusion. It does not appear to have been known in Europe till about the reign of the Emperor Claudius : and it is, I believe, first mentioned by Columella. Pliny has given the first accurate description of it ; and he states it to have come throitgli Egypt and Rhodes into I aly from Persia, which is universally understood to have been its native country. Yet it could not have existed in Persia a few centuries previous to the pe riod of its appearance in Europe, or the Greeks realist necessarily have known it, as much intercourse con stantly took place between the Asiatic Greeks and the Persians, and the kings of Persia usually enter t,:ined Greek physicians , mho were botanists, in their Cain. The tuberes:ofPlilly also appears to 'have been sornetlikg intermediate between the almond aid the peach; for he states the trees which produced this fruit to i:ave been propagated by being grafted upon plum stocks, and to have blossomed later than the apricot; and that the fruit itself vas covered thickly with down, like the quince. The tuberes must, therefore, I conceive, have been swollen almonds, or imper?ect peaches (for their me rit, as fruit, appears to have been very inconsiderable) ; and Du Hamel has given an account of a fruit, which accurately corresponds with this description, being sometimes produced by a variety of almond tree ; and which, he says, is bitter, and not eatable in its crude state. The bitterness in this case, I conclude, can only arise from the presence of the prussic acid ; and as this acid, without being extracted by distillation, ope rates very injuriously upon ma.ny constitutions, some t—.plauation appeals to be given of the cause why the peach was reported to possess deleterious qualities, when it first came from Persia into the Roman em pire. The fact, if ever so decisively established, of the specific identity of the peach and almond, is pro bably of little importance to the gardener, further, *than that it points out to hint the extensive changes that culture is capable of producing, in the forms and qualities of fruits: and I made the experiments, which are the subject of this communication, with scarcely any other view, than that of simply ascer taining the specific identity, or diversity, of the piich and almond, and with a good deal of indiffer ence relative to the result. Nevertheless, as the wood of the almond tree ripens muolt earlier, and mote perfectly, than that of the peach :ree, in our climate, and as its blossoms are more hardy, I am not with oitt hopes, front observations which I have made upon the habits of ray seedling plants, that some va luable varietitto of the peach will be obtained, in a second or third generation, from the almond. I have, at present, seen the fruit of one setdliat plant only, and that not one of promising 'hareem ; but I have' others which will produce blossoms in the nett sea son, one of which, a descendant from the early violet nectarine, as its male parent, presents very large and beautiful foliage, with a purple bark, and all the cha racter of a peach nee of the most improved kind ;- 1 and I look forward to the pleasure of sending next season a fruit of much superior quality. Nora ar TIM Srcartaay.—The two peachts alluded to in this paper were of a perfectly globular form, the largest exceed ing seven inches in circumference. The skin, whkh was to weed with a rather thick down, vas of a delicate yellow, tint ~c 1 on the sunny side with pale red, and beautifully marbled with a deeper shade of the same colour. The flesh was of a pleasant pale citron tint, and round the stone of a very brilliant carmine red ; it was perfectly melting, sweet, and very juicy, though not very high flavoured, but it had suffered in this quality by the in jury sustained In carriage. The stuns was large in proportie-T to the fruit, nearly round, with a small point at the top, very rug ged, and had mush of the same kind of farina on its surface as is usually seen on that of the almond in its fresh state; it also separated very clearly from the flesh, some short filamonts only adhering to it. WALPOLE'S LETTERS. . The publication of an octavo Edition of The Complete Correspondence of Horace Walpole, has proved a source of the highest gratification to the' Public. It certainly gives a most lively and very amusing view of the times in which he lived. He was indeed, as the Edinburgh - IL:viewers observe, a garrulous old man, ucarly all his days, and, luckily for his gossiping propensities, he was on familiar terms with tie gay world, and set down as a man of genius by the Princess Amelia, George Selwyn, Mr. Chute, and all persons of the like talents and importance. Ills descriptions of Court dres tea, Court revels, and Court beautici, are in the highest style of perfection, sprightly, fantastic, and elegant : and the zeal with which he hunts after an old portrait or a piece of broken glass, is ten times more entertaining than if it were lavished on a worthier object. He is indeed the very Prince of Gossips, and it is impossible to question his supremacy, when he floats us along in a stream of bright talk, or shoots with us the rapids of polite conversation. lie delights in the small squabbles of great politicians, and the puns of George Selwyn— enjoys to madness the strife of 100, with half a dozen bitter old women of quality—revels in a world of chests, cabinets, com modes, tables ' boxes, turrets, stands, old printing, and old china —and indeed las us loose at once amongst ail the frippery and folly of the last two centuries, with an ease and courtesy equally amazing and delightful. ADAM OLEN. Adam Glen, author of the Air to which the fol lowing. Verses were composed, was long a favou rite in every farmer's ha', village, and fair, in the west of Angus-shire. He was an excellent performcr on the bag-pipe, a faithful reciter of our ancient bal-1 lads, and every way an eccentric character. In the memorable year of Mares rebellion, he joined the battalion of his county on its march to Sheriff Muir; ,' When Angus and Fifemen, • " Ran for their life man!" he remained behind winding his warlike instrument, in the front and fire of the enemy, and tell on the field of battle, 13th November, 1715, in the 90th year of his age. A few months prior to his death he espoused his seventh ♦rife, a maiden lady of 45, on which cir cumstance the song is founded. When rallied on the number of his wives, he replied, in his own peculiar way, Ae kist comin in is wirth twa gaun' out !" TUNE" Alan am," an old Air, naer set. Pawkie Adam Glen, Piper o' the claehan; When he noitet ben. Said) , was he pechan ; Spak a wee, but tint his win'; Hurklet down, an' heath sync ; Blew his beck, and dightit's e'en ; An' whaisled forfoughen ! But his consign dune, Cheerie kytb'd the bodie—•• Crackit like a gun, And lough to Auntie Madie ; • Cried, el My calms, name a spring. Jinglan hhn,' or ony thing— For wed I'd like to see the fling ilka lass f p. 'addle." Blythe the dancers flew; • Usquabae was plentit ; Blythe the piper grew, Tho shakhe wi' ninety ! Seven times his bridal vow Ruthless Lae bad broken thro' ; Wha wad 'hock his comio' now Was for our maiden auntie She had ne'er been sought— Cheerie hope was Wen ; • Dowie is the thocht To live and die a maiden ! How it comes wi (lima ken, Wanters ay mann wait their ain; Madge is hecht to Adam Glen, An' sune we'll hae a weddin' ! Strathmore, Feb. 26, 1820. 'MLA G 2 80841111211.. • A particular account bf the 'Ace, catchments, &c. of " town pipers," will he found in the " introduction 0 Coo playnt of Saand."—Ediu. 1801, p. 142. ROYAL HUMANE 80OTETT.—The Anniversary Din ner of this excellent Institution was held on Wednes day last at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate street, JorsN BLACKBURN, Esq. in the Chair, in the absence of the Duke of NORTHUMISERLANZ who was prevented from attending in consequence of the in disposition of a near relative. After the cloth was removed, the Chairman gave " The health of the King," which was drank with three times three. The next toast was, " To the Memory of the late King." which was drank in silence. The Chairman then gave the other usual loyal and patriotic toasts. A very interesting spectacle was now presented to the company, in the procession round the room of a large number of men, women, and children, rescued from death by the means recommended by the So ciety. This was a practical proof of the utility of this Society; and it was gratifying to observe, that these were several individuals in the procession wh. had attempted to commit suicide, but had been re stored, by the mode of resuscitation directed by the Society, to their afflicted families. After a very elo quent address from Mr. BARBER, in favour of the Institution, the Chairman gave " The health of the Duke of Northumberland, which was received with much applause. Several persons were now intro duced to receive medals for having preserved .the lives of individuals at the risk of their own. Among these rias WILLIAM RC:MARTS, who, although only fifteen years of age, has saved four of •his tenon.- creatures from drowning. Honorary medaflons of the Society were also presented to Messrs. BARRET, GILHAM, Arnie, and THOMAS: Very considerable subscriptions *ere announced, and the festi'tity of the company was continued till a late hoar. • L4W 4 IN7ELIGENCE. COURT OP KENO'S BANCH, APRIL 27. Mr. Justice BAYLEIC having taken his seat, the Grand Inquest for the county of Nliddlesex, and the Out-Hundreds thereof, was called over by the Clerk of the-Court: The brand Juries, being then sa•orfl in, received a short charge from the Learned Judge, and retired to their rooms to consiier of the matters laid before them. THE KING V. \VILLIAMS. • Mr. SCARLET r chewed cause..against a Rule for a criminal information, obtained last Term, by Sir S 4 it Rani Owen. The prosecutor in this case, Mr. Scatlett said, was a Gentleman named Novel, a resident in Wales, who united in his proper person the several characters of Magistrate, Doctor of Physic, and Cap tain of the Carmarthenshire Yeomanry Cavalry ; and it would appear that Mr. Bowel was not a little proud of these multifarious dignities, as he had stated them most amply and distinctly to the Court in three , different affidavits. _ • Mr. Justice BAY-LEY—He did not set out his pedi gree in either of the affidavits, did he, Mr. Scarlett ? Mr. Soa l utarr—No affidavit, my Lord, could have contained it. He would refer, the Learned Counsel continued, to the affidavits upon which Sir William Owen's motion had been grounded. The affidavit of Mr. Howel stated, that, calling by acci dent at the house of Mrs. Bowen, cf Narbeth; a Lady who had formerly been his patient, he had there met Mr. Pawlett Williams, who, without any provoca tion, accosted him in very gross and insulting lan guage, brandished his stick in his face, and quitted the house, calling upon him, by the vitiiperative epi thets of " blackguard, scoundrel, and villain !" to follow him. He (the plaintiff), however, declined that invitation ; upon which the defendant planted himself opposite to the house, and employed, at his leisure, a variety of menacing expressions. The affi davit went on to say, that the plaintiff having imme diately after occasion to go to the Post-ofhce, was again accosted by the defendant, who, in the open street, and in the presence of witnesses, repeated that he (Mr. Howel) was a " blackguard ;" and added— " You are no Magistrate, and no Physician !" This latter assertion, Mr. SCARLETT was ready to allow, did amount to a heinous crime ; but as the defendant had not also declared that-the plaintiff was " no Captain," he trusted that the offence had not been altogether mortal. Now, in answer to Mr. Howers case, he should first contend that the words, not being imputed as designed to provoke the plain tiff to a duel, afforded no ground fora criminal in formation. He should next submit, that his client had already been bound over, at the Quarter Ses sions, to keep the peace: and he should further slew, that the provocation had been given by the Physician, Magistrate, and Captain, himself. Mr. Scarlet then read an affidavit from the defendant, which set forth that Mr. Howel had„ in his medical capacity, for merly attended the family of the deiendant ; . but that Mr. Howel having . parted with his wile, and.taken another Lady to live with him, he (the defendant) had declined to continue his visits. This eonduct had unfortunately offended the plaintiff, who forthwith declared, that although Mr. Williams had suddenly become so delicate, be had' himself been a pimp and a go-between in the affair, and had carried letters and messages to and fro between_him (Mr. Howel) and the Lady in question. This assertion, the de fendant vowed, was quite untrue; but the report had circulated through the town, and he was universally called " Mr. Howers pimp !" A second affidavit was then produced front a Gen tleman named Plumptree, which stated, that upon the 15th of December (the day before the assault), ho, the deponent, had carrieu the following message from the defendant to the plaintiff:—".Tell little Clyster-pipe that I shall be in Narbeth to-morrow ; *ld that I shall walk up and down the street, and see if little Clyster-pipe will venture to meet me!" The fact was, Mr. SCARLETT said, that little Clys ter-pipe had not ventured ; but had taken refuge in the house of Mrs. Bowen, to which retreat he had been followed by defendant. The words spoken were admitted, but the brandishing of the stick was denied. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE thought that a Tribunal somewhat short of the Court of king's Bench might be competent to arrange the dispute between the contending parties. Mr. TA tricrox said, that nothing new had appeared since the Court bad thought fit to grant the Rule ; except that Mr. Williams had denied the. brandishing of the stick. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—The circumstance of the insulting message, on the preceding day, is new. Mr. TAUNTON—Certainly,my Lord, the defendant has the advantage of having made the last affidavit. . Rule dismissed, without costi. APRIL ES. BARNETT° U. VISCOUNT TORRINGTON. Articles of the peace were exhibited by Joseph Barnetto, Esq. of Portland-place, against the defend ant in this case. By a letter which was set forth in the deed of exhibition, alleged to have been sent to the plaintiff by Lord Torrington, it appeared .that' his Lordship bad borrowed a sum of money of the plaintiff, which led to a serious misunderstanding.— In the course of the letter his Lordship. reminds the plaintiff of the introductions which lie had given him to the society of persons of rank, although the plain tiff is a man of colour, in England and Calcutta.— There were no expressions. of direct menace set forth in the articles, the plaintiff merely alleging that the defendant had written and spoke threatening expres sions concerning the plaintiff to otter persons. Mr. DENMAN, by the advice of the Court, with drew the articles to amend them, by adding more minute particulars. Shortly after Mr. DENMAN read an extract from a letter which the defendant had written to a third person, in which he threatened " to notice him wherever he met him." Mr. Justice BAYLEY did not see enough import in these words to warrant the ;mei ference of the Court, as they did not absolutely imply a breach of the peace. Usuon-list.t.--Irillians Court, driver of a Greenwich coach, was charged by Mr. Lewis, of Oseadon-street, with wilfully driving his coach against his gig. Mr. Lewis was returning to ,town on Sunday evening, in company with his wife, end had just passed the Marsh Gate, when the defendant, who was behind, drove furiously against them, and curnpletely turned the horse and gig round, by which means Mrs. Lewis was-thrown out with consideraLle violenci, and being far advanced in pregirincy, the most fearful apprehensions arc entertained for law safety.— The dcfcagiut wa, cotanutttd for want of bail. OLD DAILEY SESSIONS. Yesterda?, after the Spectal Commissioners finished the proceedings connected with the State Trials, the Court went on with % the ordinary husi• nest' the trials for felonies, &c. when 39 prisoners were tried, two -of whom were capitally convicted, viz. Eliza Williamson, for stealing a carpet and other articles, the property cf C.- Loot!, in his dwebing house ; and J. lillchual, for stealing three pair of boots, the property of J. Andrews, in his house. Thirty-one were convic:ed of Many, viz. T. Graves, W. Woodbury, W. Wcricilie.id, T. Mari-, G. Fang, W. Brown, S. Hasler, W. Herbert, Ff. Connolly, J. Ambrock, D. Cos, T: Dykes*, lt. F:llard, J. Hindi, S. Longman, U. Scarborough, T. Salmon, if. I.2stone, Saphia Virooti . .Arry, Mary Ito:Anson, zabeth Solidi, Mary Sniha, and another, t,r having forged lank rots i:i their possesion (sentenced to be transported for fourteen yeiirs); J. Robinson, for stewing a handkerchief arcit• other articles; Cornelia Knizht, for st-NAittg tcnVartis of printer; star; Daniel Briscoe., fur staling two pair of shoes.;Halo Bryan, for stealing a piece of marble; Iknry Huta, for steid.-- ing 141bs. of nails; D. Hol! , .nd, for stealAg five silk hanclke:: chiefs; J. Barnett, for stealing a watch (transported fur lift) and h. !Baton, for stealing stven g Aug! six were acquitted, viz. C. Warkinore, Wm. Thomp. son, C. Thompson, D. Gilbert, W. Crisp, and W. Sampson. CONDUCT OF sIIEnIFF PARKINS. I 4 1 COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Mr. S. DixoN brought up the Report of the Com mittee appointed to inquire into the validity of the charges made against Mr. Sheriff Pat kins by the late Lord Mayor. The Report stated that the Commit, tee, aware of the importance of the occasion to wYch their attention was drawn, had directed the City So licitor to obtain the opinion of the Law Officers cf the. Corpora:ion upon the subject cf the power of the Court of Common Council to remove from the She lit:thy any individual to whose conduct they took objecti(d. lite opinions of the Law OtTc Ts was, that the sole power of removing . the Sheriff existed in the Court of Common Council, who could accorn- - i plish it by vote. It was, however, at the same time the impression, that, consider ing the increase of im portant duties which had taker, place in the Sheriff aity since that law had pas-cd the Court, it should not be recommended to adopt the extreme cturse, except in cases of great emergency. The Committee were of opinion, that the charges brought against Sheriff Parkins by the late Lord Mayor were esta blished ; and that as to the question of precedency between the two Sheriffs, the seniority was vested, in the event of an Alderman being appointed to the office, in that Alderman. The Report concluded with stating, that sheriff Pat kius had not acted with the dignity becoming his situation, and recommending the Court to suspend all allowances to him, in con sequence of his neglect of the respect due to the high office, and to require a proper discharge of thorough duties in future. The several communicat:cns made by Sheriff Par kins to the Public, through the medium of the Press, upon this subject, \\ ere then read. A long discus sion ensued. Mr. DIKoN moved, that the Court should agree with the Committee in the Report. Mr. TAvt.ott moved an amendment, that the Re port should lie on the table. Mr. Alderman ROTHweLL mid, it was painful for him to speak upon the subject. He felt it, however,. a duty to himself to say, that no circumstance unde r HEAVEN could have induced him to accept the office of Sheriff, if he had not been assured that there was an Act upon which he could be proved entitled to the precedency. He bad done all lie could to sup port the dignity of the office ; he should continue to do so, but he should never oren-his lips upon the subject of his colleague's conduct. Mr. N. WlLt.tAr4rs then moved, that in considera tion of the importance of the subject, the Court should adjourn. This question was put and can ied, and the Court adjourned. A few days since, no less than twenty thousand dozen of Eggs, imported from France, w er e sc Ad by auction in Plymouth, the greater part of which were sold at the rate of 4.d. per dozen.- SELLING A WlFE!—Yesterday, oßpltrsite the Ram Inn, Smithfield, a vast concourse of persons. assem bled for the purpose of witnessing the sale of the spouse of a respe :table man, in the neighbourhood of Lincoln's Inn-fields. Bills were stuck up in different parts of the town, announcing that she would be sold at three o'clock, according to law. At that hour the happy husband made his appearance, leading his. rib by a halter round her neck, but a party of Officer, making their appearance, they retreated with great speed, and made their eseape. •It appears, however, that the fair one was afterwards knocked dawn,' at a. very moderate price, to a butcher. BIRTH. At St. Hiller's, Jersey, on the Bth Instaat, the Lady of G. 11. Bailie, Esq. Deputy Inspector of klusgitala, of a son. • DIED. Friday se'nnight, at Workington h ail , Cumberland, In :ter 5.5 th year, 'Mrs. Curwen, daughter of Henry Curwen, Esq. and wife of John Christian Curwen, Esq. one of the Members for that Coenty. Throughout life, no oue has beell snore gendrally respected than this Lade, or in death will be more sincerely re gretted. To dwell upon her various excellencies, might appear the act of a Catterer ; but it is no small praise, that every creature was her-friend. On the 11th instant, aged let, George Kelson, the oldest rariailuner of liyivaer;:b aad Widcontb. During the last year he wo:kcd in a (.;entleniiin's garden; and his facuhies were t , o rerfect, that he 7 ire eviittize !efore the Conutthsioaers for lai (pith:2, into tae :Rate of Charities, at their recent visi to Bath, and tkposed t 3 facts which occurred 90 years ago 1— Kelsun was the individual who furnished the portrait of Tie Wo,linsti it, iri in-as!ratirn of Cowper's Poem. SZ:LDES 3itrAzn.—Ye, , te rda, - afternoon, as Mr. Clementson,. of Ilasinchall-street, lila:kwell-hall-Factor, was en his stay home from 'Change, he was seized with apoplexy, in Lothbury, feii down, attd instantly.expitesiL COAL m7Caluit — , APRIL 28. Ships at Market. Ships Sold. Price. 48 Newczstle 31 .Os 081 to 404 04 5 Stiiiiiveaial 4 3..4 OA to 41s 9,1 2 (Antlers V. I:ss Od 31 A itS Dar.--ARR. DV E. A KS. nun. 1:1;!)lin 0 1 Lisbon • 1 Waterford 2 - 0 . r France 1 0 ChierreAry iad Jamey 0 0 iffamhurgh 0 0. 1101Lidd • 0 0 - Gottenburgh 0 1 handers 0 0 Malta . 0 0 Janytica • .0 0 New-York 0 0 111 G kl. W ATnix u LON DON BIU G :TO-.401 ?. )W.. Mt ruin:: rninuzel after 3 Al a rnuesn - - 33 ---. 3 LONDONT Printed and published by 1-re.c. luai, - raison-- ~ - Plact I , 1' ~ •