Star. — London, England, 1831-09-16 00:00:00

ORCADIAN SKETCHES. Ti:ere are few regions which exhibit such va riety of scenery within a small space as the Orkney 1 ,- .lands. Scattered over the ocean, they occupy upon its surface an extent of about seventy miles, and present a continual alternation of land and water—isle and islet—hill and valley—moor and aasture-ground—ilat shores and high healanda. There the mountains and the main—the gmndestob jects, and greatest contrasts in nature, are, from their immediate vicinity rendered doubly striking— there the rocks of ages, fixed as the foundations of the earth, and unmoved by the storms of a thou sand years—and the old, and endless sea agitated by every breeze, and fluctuating as the breath of Heaven, present the most powerful images of stead fastness and mutability. The ocean, elsewhere so monotonous, loses its character of sameness among these Islands. In some places stretching far into the land, winding up among the hills, and form ing lake-like bats—in others rushing through the narrow channels which separate the islands, and boiling like an everlasting cauldratt. During the dark days of winter, with a bowling wind and a roaring sea, and the unmitigated gloom of their heathy hills, the islands are %ribl and dreary enough. There is a sublime &light in musing upon the stupendous rocks of these remote islands as on the last shores of the world.— One of these wild precipices in the island of \Vestrav was once the scene of a most ap palling shipwreck, of which the following description was given by an eye- witness : t• During a heavy gale blowing on shore, and ac companied with fog, a Norwegian ship, laden with timber, suddenly hove in sight close off the cliff, towards which (having lost her rudder, and being quite unmanageable) she was rolling on be fore wind and sea• with fatal rapidity. A great crowd of peopla had assembled on the top of the cliff provided with ropes, in the vain hope c.f being able to assist the unfortunate mariners. From the summit of the rocks, at a fearful depth below, they beheld the vessel plunging among the wares which forced her onwards to her doom. Among the crew was seen a gigantic Norseman, who by signs and gestures expressed thanks to the people above, but intimated that all human aid was vain. The vessel meantime was reeling towards the rocks. On she came with accelerated rapidity—the fatal crisis had now arrived—it was a moment of speech less agony—the crew stood fixed in the icy spell of despair—and the crowd on high in breathless horror—when a mighty and remorseless wave reared her, keel uppermost, right out of the sea, and her mast striking upon the rocks, shot u n through her hull, when her whole fabric giving way, the tall Norwegian trees with which she was laden were seen spouting through her sides. A wild and heart rending shriek arose, at one moment, from the drowning wretches below and the multitude above; and the next, all was hushed in the roar of the raging waters, over which the ill-fated ship was strewed in a thousand fragments." In speaking of Orcadian scenes and the perils of insular life, I must not omit those of bird catching. The bird-catchers usually fastened a rope round o:ne rock at the top of the cliff, from which they intended to descend, by which they let themselves down along precipices of terrific height over the ocean. There, when the rocks reddened in the evening ray, they might be seen, from distant ships, like • motes in the sunbeam.' As soon as they obtained a footing among the jutting rocks of the precipice, they let ga their hold of the rope, aed commenced their search for eggs and young birds, with which having filled their baskets, they aoin ascended, working themselves up bystrength of arm, and escorted by swarms of sea fowl, screaming for their young, and by eagles hover ing rotted their heads, rendering their situation perilous. It may well be supposed that foal accidents were of frequent occurrence among the bird-catchers : of the many I have heard nar rated, I give the two following : •• sto old man and his son who practised the perilous calling yroceeded to a high cliff on the mainland or princi pal island, where the father, having seated himself on the ground, and placed his feet firmly against a rock at the top of the precipice, held the rope by which his son descerded over the sea. In a few minutes rite old man, by feeling himself relit.ved hum the weight, was aware that his yin 1 ad got among the rucks; upon which he also quitted his bold for a moment to take a pinch of snuff. His son, meanwhile. not finding any e4gs on his landing-place, again caught bold cf the rope, which being loose, instantly g:,ve way to his weight, and he was thus precipitated into lb,. sea." The other accident. of a still more distressing nature, occurred in the Shetland Island., and war narrated to me by afa ienci who resided there for revers] years. It was as fol. s : A bird-ex:cher and lair two sons descended altogether on a rope made fast at the tc;t of a cliff; and after having secured their bocry, began to ascend in the same manner, th:• father being lowest on the rope. The son who was high er, when near the top of the precipice, happening to look upwards, observed that the rope was almost cut through in consequence of its friction on the sharp edge of the cliff, and instantly called out to his brother, who was next to him, to cut off their father, otherwise they must all perish together, as the rope was about to break. His brother refused to do so, whatever might be the consequence. Upon wide' he exclaimed, Then give your souls to God ! " and baring managed to get at his knife, cut them both off, and reached tile top of the cliff just as the rope was giving way." This is a distressing instance of the power of the instinct of self-preservation. Although it must be owned that of all the modes of destruction perhaps the most appalling is that of falling from an immense height into the void—of the horrors of which some idea may be formed from our feelings in dreams— yet I have seen persons of such nerve that they would stand with one foot upon the extreme verge of a precipice six or eight hundred feet high, and stretch the other over the abyss, while the looker on would shudder, and feel his flesh creep—and such are the different modifications of courage, that while the simple islander, who would probably tremble in a battle, swings over the most frightful rocks without fear—the soldier who has faced charges of cavalry and storm batteries of cannon, would shrink from the edge of doom, and feel his brain reel and his heart sicken in essaying the trade of the bird-catcher.—Alcreleen Chronicle. Yesterday, information was given at the various police-offices of the perpetration of no less than eight different burglaries in the Bow-road on Friday night last. It appears that a gang of thieves visited the above place at a late hour, and carried off property to a considerable amount. All the robberie, were, no doubt, committed by the same gang, and it is a matter of astonishment how so many depredations could have been committed in one night without the offenders being detected by the police. PANORAMA OP THE BRITISH EMPIRF. DUBLIN MORNING REGISTRR. We copy the following important view of Irish Poor Laws, and the state of parties in Loudon, by Mr. O'Connell, from the Dublin Morning Register received this day. London, 7th September, 1831. Mr DIA a Stu—l perceive that a report has been circula ted by some of the Dublin papers, that it was my intention to leave my parliamentary duties, and return to Ireland for some weeks. A Dublin morning paper taker me to task for not speak ing and voting on Mr. Sadler's motion on the Poor laws. It is quite right that the press should assail any ma. who undertakes public duty, as I have done, and neglects that duty—hor Go I plead 30 years of honest, and, above all, unremitting, exertions for Ireland, as entitling me to any exemption from the most rigid censure. I, therefore, do not hesitate to oCer my excuse for my absence- The fact is, that on the night in question, i was afflicted tith a violent head-ache. I remained in the house as long as I could, and took part in some important discussions in the early part of the evening • but my head-ache drove me from the house just as Mr. Sadkr rose. After a short delay at home. I returned again to the house, somewhat relieved, but the malaria of that assembly soon forced me to quit for the night. Before I went into parliament, I did not know what a head-ache was ; but those late sittings have made me ac quainted with that infirmity. The late hours are most un propitious to all persons of sober habits--accustomed, there fore, to early hours, I know that it was the late sittings, that, in my view, killed two of the best men I ever knew —the late even-venerated O'Connor Don, one of the best risen Ireland ever ; and alto my excellent friend, Alexander Dawson— Loth fell victims to the abominable practice of doing business at night instead of by day. Let me suggest a pledge at the next elections, front every Irish member, not to allow the house to sit after eleven at night. I promise to use my best exertions, should I sit in another parliament, to carry this plan into effect. From the 21st of June I had not missed one single night but I have said more than enough of myself. My principal reason for addressing this letter to the pub lie, through you, is, if possible, to rivet some of the atten don of the people of Ireland to the question of the pour laws. This is a question of the most vital consequence. It is one of the gravest, of the most deep interest. He who thinks he can despatch it with airy flippancy, has neither head nor heart. I would strongly recommend to every considerate man in IrelaAd to reflect deeply on this truth—that one false step taken in the establishment of Poor Laws can never he fe -1 traced. ' Let no man flatter himself that he can go back. Once begin with Poor Laws and you must go forward. No mat ter what evils you produce—forward you must go. Bad begun—still worse remains behind—that is—begin once badly, and every attempt to cure the evil will only make matters worse. It may be said that these are gratuitous assertions of mine. It is true they presonteoeinselves at first as only assertions— but am I not able to prove their truth, by the most owning of all tests—fatal experience ? Behold my proof—look at England—behold the state of her Poor Laws—near three hundred years have elapsed since the fatal blight of the Reformation drove England to Poor haws. Well—one hundred and fifty 'outlier, have been since passed to remedy the defects, to do away the evils, to alter, to correct, to amend the poor laws. lmmittee after committee have sat—committees of the Lords—committees of the Commons—conferences of both houses—active philanthropists out of parliament—rigid po litical economists, have enquired into, investigated, examined, compared, discussed, and new modelled, in one thousand forms, the English poor laws. For nearly two hundred years, one of the most ingenious and informed people upon earth—lovers of gain and savers of money, have endeavoured to improve, or, at all events, to render less frightful, the English system of poor laws.— All in vain. Lc. us. then, beware. Let not a false, or even a genuine humanity, hurry us too fast. Let there be no fastidious levity—uo incartious flippancy—no careless haste—no idle sparing of thought or labour. It is a subject that should be approached with awful solicitude, and, may I .tot add, with religious anxiety. After this preface, if I am to be asked how I should have acted if 1 had been able to take a part on Mr. Sadler's motion, I am ready to answer—that I should certainly have voted as my son, the member for Clue did, for the motion ; and I should have spoken for the necessity of introducing poor laws into Ireland, but against the principle recognised by mo dem British law. Instead of giving alms to the poor people of Ireland, I would restore to them their native country. Her green fields should no longer teem with agricultural wealth fey the stranger or the toe. Her produce should no lunge enrich the foreigner, whilst the native was left to starve amidst plenty. But I anticipate—my object is, first, to rouse the atten tion of the few landed proprietors who still reside iu Ireland, and of all the commercial and industrious classes, to the ap proaching—for it is fast approaching—system of poor laws; secondly, to show that there is one, and only one, radial remedy for the evils which Ireland endures, and which re medy can be administered only by a domestic legislature; and, thirdly, to point out, with a sad and disconsolate heart, the mod: of mitigating the horrors of these poor laws which can be obviated only by the speedy repeal of the all deso. toting Union. Such are my objects. lam a convert to the necessity of the poor laws in Ireland, only because Ireland is a pitiful colony, treated with the proverbial disregard bestowed on all colonies by the master state, save when the colonists due to rank themselves men, and rouse resentment as the medium through which attention at least, if not some redress, is insured. In the present state of Ireland, there are titre e classes oho desire to introduce poor laws amongst us. I deem it right to describe them separately. First—There is a class of persons, for whom I entertain , no great respect, though I admit they are of some utility : the English traders, who have settled in Ireland as ma nufacturers, and who are particularly desirous that the wages of their workmen should be in part paid out of poor rates. Second—The next class, and a numerous class it is, are those who are disgusted with the enormous revenues, ..nd haughty ard oppressive demeanour of the clergy of the es. tablished church. This class also includes all those who detest, or at least dislike, the grindi:lg and worthless ab sentee, mid the often more grinding and more worthless resi dent gentry, who exhibit an hereditary hatred to the pea. pie of Ireland, whose distresses they create or aggravate, but do not contribute to relieve. Third—The third class is formed of persons of talent, in formation and patriotism—men actuated by motives of the purest benv.olenee, and stimulated by high impulses of Christian charity towards the poor, and who cannot endure to see the widow and the orphan, the aged man and the ro bust youth, crying with one voice for bread, and there is none to break it to them. The leader of this class is a prelate, whose genius, of the most marring oader, and whose mat. fected piety rank his name amongst the loremoet glories of Ireland. It is surperfluous to write the name of Dr. Doyle under this portrait. Thus, natural selfishness, just indignation, and Chris- Jan charity, combine in their call fur poor laws in Ireland. That call is responded to by English avarice, and English jealousy. The parishes complain of the expense of sending home Irish vagrants—the counties complain of the expense of supporting Irish casual poor—the artisans complain of the rivalry of cheaper Irish labourers—and the labourers in husbandry are jealous of the aunty earnings of the Irish peasant from Connemara or Mayo, who comes to earn the rent for a heartless landlord at home. Driving thus, as we are, towards poor laws, it is the duty of every man who has duly reflected on the frightful work. ings of that system, to prepare in time the machinery which may prevent its evils, and insure some of the promised hies. logs of such a system. The Eeriness BILL for England has, as you may perceive passed the committee. I think it has been improved in Its progress. It contained originally the division of counties, of which I disapproved. But Lord Chandos's motion has, in my opinion, by adding to the constituency, increased the value of the bill, and insured the voting by ballot t h e very first ses sion of a reformed parliament. The machinery of the bill has also been improved in the committee, so that I am deci dedly of opinion that it comes out a better bill than it went in. We shall now see what the Lords will do with ir. If the , spirit of liberty lives in England, the people will render it impossible for the Lords to reject or injure the bill. Indeed, ' the House of Commons having decided that the present system is so corrupt, that there are ibl members in the house who have no just title to be, amongst the represents. dyes of the people, I should expect that there would be an almost universal determination in England to dispute the validity of taxes imposed by such an an assembly, and, therefore, not to pay them, should the bill be rejected by ti.e Lords. I cannot conclude without coigratulating you on the con duct of Lord Anglcsq's government, in carrying into ef fect the " Thiny rye tit bill." Ile never deceived )ott 01 me since his first voclamation, the day after his arrival in Ireland. Waei. ! to make Orange Cagnitaries—.Lord and Lord Enniskillen-- actocrats of murales attd Lord Lotion, too, bless the mark ! ! ! and last and not least, Lord Wicklow ! ! ! But it is miserable .rifling to complain. I do not arr. Plain. I only brood over these additional materials for .bat instory of " Nin Months of the Reign of Lord Anglesey over Ireland," which you roar announce fur tit- pras, as soon as I return to Irelan October next. It will, at all events, serve to show, that a ruler, by choosing to debulc himself, cannot alw a y s su cceed in dAuding others. I am, your faithful .ervant, DANIEL O'CONNELL. LOUTH COUNTY MEETINIL—Owing to the lamented death of the late excellent representative of Louth, Almon. der Dawson, Bag. a public meeting of the freeholders. cictgy, and gentry, of the county was called, to decide upon a nro per candidate to fill the vacancy in the representatio , . The meeting took piece on Monday, in the town of Dundalk, and was numerously attended. Among thc persons present, we noticed Sir Patrick Bellew, Sir Thomas Eamon:o, Hugh O'Callaghan, Thomas O'Callaghan, William Heists, Thomas Fitzgerald, and Henry Chester, Bags. Berkley B. Stafford, Esq was called to the chair. Henry Cites er, Req. of Carton, briefly moved a resolution proposing Sir Patrick Bellew as a lit and proper person in represent their independent county in parliament. James O'Callaghan, Esq. seconded the resolution, but said 'he did so conditionally. He would not eopport Sir Petrick Bellew, or any other candidate, but on being fully satisfied respecting his intention in going into Purliament. The conditions of his support proposed to Sir Patrick Bellew by him were—that he should vote for a repeal of the odious subletting act, and the oppressive vestry bill—that he would vote for the immediate and total dis arming and disbanding of the yeomanry corps, whose patty zeal and insubordination to the laws, had driwm them so often into the commission of bloodshed. and rendered them reckless of the sacrifice of human life ; and lastly, thy he woul.: etruJgle " to the ?eats," art , pall to the last man in the county against the Tory candidate, Sir Harry Goderick, sulecia, by et base Tory aristocracy, who opposed reform, to thwart die popular interest in Louth. These pledges were rreeivAl r:i.ll warm approba tion by the entire meeting.—. Sir Patrick 13.11ve immediately came forward, and pled4ed hinl•=ell to 41.111:)011 encli .nd every measure allotted to by Mr. O'C'allaghr.n, in the mast ener getic anti unequivocal wrins, plaid loud cheers. He decla red he would tight the :izt le of i'dr ind pcndence manfully, Ja Ion?. as a single freeholder would come lorward to the poll under his banners, and would render the free comti tueocy of Louth again triumphant, if they remained true to the .selves. THE YEOMANRY FOSCE.—On Sunday last A Very no• moons meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Stradbally was held I. the public school-house, fur .he purpose of pe titioning Parliament to tliarm and thsb:•nd the yeomanly force; Mr. Dunne, of Ballymanus, was called to .he chair. Mr. Grace Kelly stated lb object of the meeting. He read the requisition by which the meeting was convened, and in which the yeomanry force was described as useless and mis chievous, and said that he concurred altogether in the application of those appellations. They cer tainly could not be characterised 89 serviceable, or even Irmo:ions ; but if the traits of brutality, ferocity, hitt. helms and Motel were atided, he consid.ree they would be more powerfully at.tl not le‘s tn.ly depicted. If they inn designated as listing peace and loving strife, foes to tranquillity and friends io vialence,void of public services hut prolific in frightful slaagitter—or, es Sir Jobe Moue has described them, ;lie "corruptors of the army," or In .he weeds of General Abercrombie, "the most crud and dastardly rabble, whether savage or riviliscd," the liraniag would be more bold, but would not less faithfully rcpre. sent the glaring enormity of the life. (Cheers.) He took a rapid review of their history, inon the time of ;lei: institution through tall the varieties of evil they had p.o duced. He remarked +Ton their gradual declension ftoer. .he period of 1798, proceeding from their acknowledged inefficiency and manifested cruelty, till Mr. Peel substi tuted the police as the responsible executors of the law. From that time, in some parts of the country they were merely contemptible, but in other less fortunate districts, they still continued to be the agents of spoliuion and des. potism, and herding together in the Orange lodges, combined the characters of armed brigands and bigots. However, when the Catholic relief bill was passed, the pretence for governing by the ancient perverse machi nery was removed, the government of the day not merely suffered them to sink by .heir own proneness, but imparted a momentum to their declination. Earl Grey, however, to preserve the connection between these countries, as we are informed, in a moment of hazard, as be says, resuscitated them, though stigmatised by the repeated censures of his putty, and branded by distinguished commanders of the British armies, with the opprobrium of cowardice and Ow elty. Mr. Kelly here entered into a warm expatiation upon the natural consequences of these atroeitiea, and continued— It is to avert these probable catastrophes we are met here, by invoking the delegated authority, to whose protection the lives of the people are consigned, to preserve the peace of this hapless country, by doing justice to all aeon, and exhibit the beginning of an equitable spirit towards Ireland. He confessed he was sanguine in hopes. He thought, from the uncertainty which seemed to go. ma ministers, and their pruriency to take offence, they felt uneasy under the action of those impulses of dlisatia. faction that prevail in Ireland. He thought they could not but see the distrust they generated, and the uncertain tenure by which they held the support of the popular (now, thank Goo, the strongest) representation of Ireland, and what a powerful machinery they supplied the Tories to shake' the key stones of their power, and undermine their strength. jCheers.) But if jealousy should deafen and blind them to ustice, he knew a voice of potency that would arise, the voice of public opinion, before which commanders and statesmen had succumbed. When the universal acclama tion should arise (tom counties, cities, towns and villages, It would smite, as it had before smitten the ministers of Eng land within the halls of their power, and by a voice more powerful than their own, compel them to do justice to the people of Ireland. Our new Lard Lieutenant, Robert S. Carew. Esq. is to be raised to the peerage by the title of Lord Bantry of Roglaud. We have learr.ed that our indepeudent County Member, Henry Lambert, and our uncompromising and staunch advocate, Charles A. Walker, have been created baronets.—Wesferd Independent. REMONBTR•NT SYNOD OF tiLSTIRAt the meeting of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster, held at lame, on Thursday last, the following resolution was proposed by the Rev. Mr. Montgomery, and carried unanimously " That a respectful letter be wtitten, in the name of this Synod to that .11ustrious stranger, the RAJAH flammonux ROY, of Begat, congratulating him on hi arrival i • Britain, expres sing our admi anion of his splendid talents set. attainments, our high esti eaetion In his accession to the cause of Chris. tianity, our deep sense of vets inv.litable exertions for the dif. fusion of the Gospel, a d the vimiicati.sn o. the rights of humanity, in his native laud • and assuring hint that we shoitici rejoice to see him in t his country. anti to receive him with all the respect and cordiality so Justly t tie to his dis dogui.ked name, his philaethropis labours, and his unsullied re;.utation. DIED.—At Carysford-Avenue, Denis Blake Foster, Eaq.—ln Herdwicke-street, Mary, relict of the late Bar tholomew Maziere, Esq. of this city.—ln Belfast, Thomas Robert, aged 21 years, youngest son of Major Stuart, of that town. PLYMOUTH JOURNAL, Sept. 15. A few days since, says Mr. Colin Mackenzie, on my el siting Portsmouth, my attention was called to the view of an instrument constructing by Messrs. Corbitt and Hingston, of Portsmouth, which I conceive deserves the highest seat is the maritime world. Its use is to determine the weight or force of the wind in all its variations, from one pound to any force produced by the wind on a square foot ; calculated solely for the use of ships. Its simplicity, correct ness, and portable construction, cannot fail to call the attention of all scientific commanders : a desi deratum of this description has long puzzled the mind of scientific man, but I believe was never accom. plished to any state of perfection before. Its utility in all branches of maritime service requires no comment of mine. A short practice will instruct the scientific commander to do. termine the real quantity if pressure on the sails, so as to enable the body to divide the fluid in the most easy way, and thereby obtain the highest point of propellation. fee utility will be accompanied with a never-failing source of amusement and valuable information. Having a table, showing the number of square yards in each sail, either in its full spread or reduced quantity by reef. The necessary ak weight or quantity of atmesph air is determined in one minute, and enables the commander to add or diminish the quantity of canvass. The copper buoys now used in the Navy are liable to sink from the effect of any blow given them, which will produce a fracture and admit the water. It is suggested, that if they are filled with cork shavings they will preserve their buoy. ancy at all times, and that they will rise nearly as high out of the water as they do at present. This would also answer for buoys of corks. Dawrworrn.—The bells of the various churches rang early in the morning merry peals, and all the shops were shut ,• the inhabitants assembled on the Newgrouod to wit ness the starting of the procession, which was formed in commemoration of the day, and to manifest the attachment to the illustrious persons who were the occasion of it. The procession started about ten o'clock, heaCed by a nume roes band of respectable tradesmen, followed by the society of Freemasons in masonic attire, with banners and insi g nia of the craft ; the various trades, with approprire flags, emblems, models ' & c. which were joined by the gentlemen of the army and navy, the clergy and magistrate. The Castle and the Revenue cutters fired royal salutes. Six buttered poor people of both sexes dined in the market place. for which purpose about 801. had been subscribed. EXETER.—Agreeably to previous arrangement, the it'. Worshipful the Mayor red Chamber, the Dignitaries of the Church, Parochial Clergy, Gentlemen of the Array and Navy, &e. together with the boys belonging to the Blue School, and a great number of the citizens proceeded In procession, with banners and music, to the Cathedral. STONEHOUSE.—The preparations for the celebration of the Coronation-day in this small but 'plated town were on the most liberal scale, and the spirit of unanimity that per vaded all classes in furtherance of this object, afforded a striking proof of the loyalty and generosity of the inhabi tants. The triumphal arches erected completely bore away the palm front any in the neighbouring towns, and with the exception of two, the expenses of which were defrayed by the committee, the whole were constructed by different Individuals and paid for by them. Among these we may enumerate the names of Messrs. Williams, Symons, flare, &c. _ . _ Fitrstaura.—ln this pace upwards of 2501. was sub. 'ann.'. to meet the expencea incidental to the public re. joicl. js on this great national occasion, and the day was t' in by the merry peals of toe bells of both St. An. ear's and Charles' Church. About ball past eight the public @who:hies, the gertlernen, trades, &c. ,hat formed the procession proceeded to the ferret place of worship, ether. prayers were read by the Rev. J. C. H. Borwell, the Corporation Lecturer. Handers Grand Corocation them, with some other select pieces of sacred mo.ic, were then performed by a most efficient choir, and precisely at half-past ten o'clock the Town Prows. sion proceeded to join the children of the respective Charity and Sunday Schools in the open space immediately adjoining dr: Royal Hotel. Here they disposed themselves in the order we enumerated last week, and having past over the route then given, the whole advanced to the estreme boun. dary of the borough, and there awaited the arrival of the Dock Yard and Stonehouse Processions. Shortly after 12 they were seen approaching, and when within speaking dis tanc:. a grand flourish of trumpets took place, and the Herald advancing a few paces, pronounced their " Welcome to the ancient Borough of Plymooth.'' Three loud and general shouts succecdo, and ambl the most enthusiastic cheering the Dock-yard p.ocessio.. moved on to its place in the Ms ; and the Stone!, use procession havin3 payed, that of Plymouth countermarched, so vs to follow In the rear it the same order in which it had a.vanced. A little before dine upwards of four thousand indi. viduals sat down to the public dii.ner provided for them the Market Place. A melarcholy occurrence happened at Marlborough, near Eingsbridge, a few days ago. A poor woman, of the name of Elliott, had occasion to leave her house for a short time, and, by the way of precaution, lucked the door ; one of her children was ill in bed, and auoth:r, an infant, in the cradle. Soon after .be mother left, the neighbours were alarmed by th:lr cries, and on looking into the house, discovered that it was in flames. Prompt assistance was immediately afforded, but notwithstanding ev.ry exertion to suppress the fire, the :souse and the adjoining unc were burnt to the ground, and he two children burnt to ashes. The accident happened through one of the children igniting furze, which comnsuni coed with the thatch. PLYMOUTH CORN PRTURN, SEPT. 13.—Average, Wheat, 621 Id. Barley, 33s 4d. Oats, 26. Bd. Currency, Wheat, 60a to 68s. Barley, 30s to 36a. Oats, 25s to 301. HELSTOX.—Wham, average, 221 e Gd. Barley, 151 s 6d. Oats, 8. 6d. Donee.—What, average, 24a. Barley, Ils. Oats. Bs. 91A1t1tIED.—On Thursday, at Gittisham, near Honk. ton, J. Bailey, Esq. to Mi 4 Turner, a young lady pos sessed of large property in Midlothian—R. Hoddze, Esq. Deputy Assistant Commissary Cenral , to Ctmlinc, youngest daughter of the late Capt. Pryce, of the Hon. East India Company's Service—At Totness Church, W. Dental, Esq. eldest son of W. Bentall, Esq. Banker, of Totness, to Miss Cornish, of the same place—At Northwood, Isle of Wight, Lieut. L. C. Michelson, of the Imperial Russian Engineer Corps, to Emily Parker, second daughter of Mr. Sturdee, St. Georgs's.square, Portsea—At St. Andrew's Church, on Tuesday, Mr. E. Soper, of this town, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the said Rev. John Hawker. DIED.—A few days since ' at an advanced age, Mr. Raynes, formerly a foreman in Portsmouth Dock-yard.— At Wellington Place, Stirling, Lieut. Geddes, Royal Vete ran Battalion, aged 76.—At his residence. Westmont, Ryde, in the 81st year of his age, John Lind, M.D. formerly senior Physician of Hasler Hospital—Suddenly, on Thursday last, Mrs. Hood, of Farebam Place, aged 73, mother of Captain Hood, R.N.—On Saturday morning last, at his house in Magdalene-street, Exeter, the Rev. James Manning, in the 78th year of his age.--On the 28th ult. the Rev. Richard Here, aged 70, for very many years the active and much. loved Minister of the parish of Macbeth, in this county. — At Belmont, the residence of Lydatone Newman, Esq. Mrs. Sarah Bartlett, in the 91st year of her age. At Bolham, near Tiverton, Mrs. Cosway, aged 88. DESTRUCTIV E Fl RE. —About one o'clock this morning, the neighbourhood of St. John-street was thrown into alarm by the cry of fire. In a few minutes it was discovered that the house of Mr. Birch, grocer, the corner of Albemarle-street, was in flames, and the lives of the inmates placed in imminent peril. The flames had originated in the shop, causing them to spread up the staircase with resistless rapidity. About . three o'clock the firemen were placed in great danger by the falling of both the fronts of• the house in St. John-street and Albemarle-street. The engines had been drawn np, and were at full play at the time, but fortunately the timbers, which were not burnt through, carried the walls rather inwardly, and thus the lives of the men were preserved. Not a vestige of property was saved ; and the two nieces of Mr. Birch, with a gentleman who lodged in the house, escaped by the roof. Queen Elizal , eth's notions of machinery were not exactly those of the present day. When Lee, the inventor of the stocking-frame, came to Lon don with the view of obtaining her Majesty's pa tronage, though supported by many persons of influence about the Court, the Queen refused to aid him either by a grant of money or of a patent ; adding, as ber reason, " I have too much love for my poor, people, who obtain their bread by the em ployment of knitting, to give my money to forward an invention which will tend to their ruin, and thus make them beggars." TAW N As public-Louses and beer shops form so prominent a part of legislatorial discus sion, it may serve to show the altered state of society at the present day from what it was in the year 1552, to notice that, in that year, an Act was sanctioned by Edward IV. restraining the number of taverns to 40 in London, 8 in York, 4 in Nor wich, 3 in Westminster, 6 in Bristol, 3 in Lincoln, 4 in Hull, 3 in Shrewsbury, 3 in Exeter, 3 in Salisbury, 4 in Gloucester, 4 in Chester, 3 in Hereford, 3 in Worcester, 3 in Oxford, 4 in Cam bridge, 3 in Southampton, 4 in Canterbury, 3 in Ipswich, 3 in Winchester, 3 in Colchester, and 4 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. _ low POLICE REPORTS. BOW.STREET. Yesterday s man who is employed m i porter in Coven. garden Market was brought before Mr. HALLS, charged 1 y the pariah acers of St. Clement Danes under the follow:, curious circumstances: John Jenks, doorkeeper of St. Clement Danes' wed:. house, stated that the defendant came to the house tha. morning with a fine child, about two years old. in his arms ; and having been admitted into t►.e passage, he put tb, child down on the floor. and without saying a word rar. away. He was 'ensued, and after a sharp chase through several streets was stopped by a policeman—The defendant, in answer to the charge, said the child was not his own, or OOD forbid he should have left it in the workhouse in the way he did. The fact was, that a y oung woman, w h o had formerly lodged in his house, came to his door that morning, and in the presence of his daughter, who was stand. ing et the door, threw the child into the passage, and imme. aiately ran away. He could not afford to keep the child, having five of his own, and he therefore took it to St. Clement's workhouse. The name of the mother is Mary Griffith, and the child is illegitimate. Mr. HALLS said :he defendant had done wrong in taking the child to St Clement's workhouse, as his house, where the child was de serted by its mother, was in St. Giles's parish. The defendant said he thought he was bound to take it .0 this nearest workhouse, without regard to parish. Mr. HALLS said it was a pity but that the unnatural mother could be apprehended and prosecuted; but at all events the child must be taken care of, and directed the defendant to take it to St. Giles's workhouse, with an order for its recep tion until the mother could be found. James Sullivan, a child nine yeses of age, was charged with picking the pocket of Mr. J. 0. Atkins, the well known bass-singer, of his handkerchief. Mr. Atkins was passing near the crowd assembled to witness the laying of the first stone of the Charing-cross Hospital 'yesterday morning, when he felt a tug at his coat-pocket, and turning round saw the prisoner with the handkerchief in his band, and secured him.—The prisoner was fully conunitted for trial. OLD BAILEY, Aug. 15. i f n o t r eres ste t a in li g n - g i le k v ing erai gi ar ri' tic on lea l , y ;a lin ed the Li yu E n fisabeth of age. w r as mger ind property of John Towler, her father. The prisoner had frequently quitted her home, taking various articles with her. On this occasion she went away, taking with her two can. diesticks, three brushes, a pair of shoes, and a table cloth, the whole of which site pawned ; after the money was ex. bausted she vow found in a state of great destitution by e police officer. The Jury found the prisoner Ouilty. The prosecutor (her father) stated that he was willing to incur anv expense to reclaim her, and in consequence of which the judgment was respited, and she was sent to the Refuge foe ch.* Destitute. Hannah Jones, aged 40 years, was indicted for stealing 401. from the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Grace. The pro. *nutria stated that sbe had permitted the prisoner to sleep with her, on one of which occasions she was supposed to have stolen fifteen sovereigns and 251 in silver, all of which was deposi'ed in a box. The property was not missed until the 10th of August. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. Mr. Justice ALDIMION, before whom the case was tried, desired the inspector of the police to see the prosecutrix safe out of the Court-yard with the money, 241 2s. which had been recovered ; and advised her to place it in a savings' bank, as a place of greater security than her own box. James Gee, a very respectable-looking elderly man, was indicted ror stealing a check on Curtis and Co. for the pay ment of 211. the property of James fel , Donald. The pro. setu:or said that he was in holy orders, but did not at pre. sent follow his calling. In the year 1829, in consequence of an advertisement in the papers, he purchased the busi. ness of the Steam Washing Company, and engaged the pri. soner and a man named Julius Smidt u his clerks. The prisoner advised witness to purchase as a bargain the whole of the old harness belonging to the former establishment, which he agreed to do for the sum of 211; and for the pay ment of that sitm, he gave the prisoner the cheek producedfor 211, but for which he never received the harness in question. Cross-examined.—The prisoner was never taken before a ma gistrate, although there were 3 distinct charges of felony and embezzlement against him. The prisoner had brought an action against him, and he offered to settle all accounts for 130 L but the prisoner refused. From the other evidence it appeared that the cheek in question bad been cashed at the banker's, but it further appeared that the prisoner actually made an offer of the 211. for the harness, but that the gee. tieman who had to negotiate the sale of the harness, refused to receive it from the prisoner. It also appeared thathe bad paid different sums of money on account tconcern. and that the 211. might have been accounted for among them. The prisoner, on being called upon for his defence, went into a long explanation of all the tremendous which had taken place between himself and dli a r n rosecutor, and said that the prosecution was instituted st him on account of his refusing to receive a sum of 30L in lieu of 2001. which the prosecutor owed him. He declared that he had accounted for the 211. to the concern. The prisoner ' who received a most excellent character from a number of re spect. able witnesses, was found Not Guilty. INCENDIAttism.—We reget to state, that in the night of Monday last three fires took place near Wblteburcb, within a short distance of each other; one upon a small farm belonging to Mr. Nunnerly, at Press-heath, where one stack of barley was consumed, but providentially, by aid of an en. glue belonging to Joseph Rennerly, Req. of the Heath.cot. tage, the remaining property was saved ; another fire broke out in the outbuildings of an extensive farm In the holding of Mr. Darlington, et the Twemlowes, which were con. tamed, with several stacks of hay and grain ; the third fire took place at the adjoining farm of' the Twemlowes, held by Mr. Booth, and here the whole of the outbuild ings, with seventeen stacks of hay and grain, were de stroyed. The last-mentioned farms are held under our respected County Representative, Sir Rowland Bill, Ba. meet. Several men have been apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the perpetration of these atrocious out. Mr. Booth's stock is, we understand, insured. Tb: rages.value of the property destroyed on Monday night last is es dictated at from 2,5001. to 30001. It is impossible to var. tam the motives by which the villainous incendiaries have been actuated. Mr. Booth, who is an extensive grazier and farmer, is one of the most generous men living, and tiniest sally respected. Messrs. Darlington and Nunnetley are equally respected by their poor neighbours. This is the fourth time Mr. Nunnerley's property has been set on fire. —Solopiens Journal. FATAL OCCURRENCC.—On 'Thursday night, the 23d ult. a lamp-lighter, named Johnson, was passing with some friends through Grosvenor-square, when seven or eight soldiers, three of whom were caporals, met them. One of the corporals struck the deceased and one of his companions over the heads with his walking cane, and laughed at them. The deceased felt indignant at what he conceived to be bravado on the part of the soldiers, ad he invited his friends to return and remonstrate with them. The deceased said it was unmanly conduct ; 'en which the corporal struck the deceased a violent blow on the face, which kneeled him down, and he wv beat and kicked in a most brutal manner by the major part of the soldiers, until be lay insensible on tae ground. As soon as possible afterwards, John Kinman art another friend of the deceased carried him to a Dr. John• son's, in the neighbourhood; and that gentleman. Wag administered medicine and assistance, recommended his ic• mediate removal to his residence in White LMn.psosle lambeth ; to which place he was carried, and put to bed: when his friends, on the same night, went to the hansetse where they identified the whole of the soldiers, and Lac planed to the proper authorities of their conduct. The ceased was dreadfully Injured about the head and body. sr 4 after lingering in great agony until Monday night last. h expired, leaving a wife and two children. The &canc.!. appears, was a quiet industrious man. BIRTH. . On the 14th inst. Mrs. James Torbutt Hall, of a • .4— A e . The 13th inst. at Nlaunsell House, Somerse:Ox.re. lady of Lient..oeneul Slade, of a son. DIED. The 14th inst. at East Sheen. Charles Augustus• t' infant son of Edward Pcnrhyn, Esq. aged 10 Wednesday, in Wellesley.street, Caroline Elizabeth• tvl: daughter of Mr. Sr. Shobcrl, aged 11 months.—AtC hov t. Mendip, Mrs. Elizabeth Church, aged 93; mothe r to „!: children, grandmother to 93, and great grandmother w of whom 130 are in perfect health. LONDON : Printed and Publild:ed by Joint Mat-gr,soil STAR OTTICIt, No. 1, Piekett.place, Teirple nit'