The National Register. — London, England, 1816-03-31 00:00:00

MARCH Si. BUONAPARTE. Pt ANTATTON-ITOUSE, ST. Hi:LENA, JAN. 6.--Those who have seal) , seen the burning valley and shabby town of St. flelena, ran form no idea of the romantic beauties of this enchanting spot. 'The Governor, at whose house we are, wishes us to remain till the new Governor arrives. but will not allow ns to he absent from camp many days.—Buena parte maker the duty very hard upon the offurees; they are on daty every third day. Since we arrived with the great Napo leon, sue have had nothing but a round of bails, entertainments, and galas ; and Lir G. B—•—, our colonel. gave a morning fete in tents, which cost WI. I did the honours to the French *Countesses, Governor, Ladies, &c. danced in every dance, and and then walked home two miles in the rain, so you will say lam tolerably strong. E—y danced with young Count Las. cases. She sling to Buonaparte, and accompanied herself in two Italian -songs on the piano. He was so delighted with her that he seized her by the ear and gave her two severe pinches, which is the climax of his approbation and delight. He pitched Sir G. It-- -, and every officer on board the Nor thumberland, except the Admiral, when they said any thing to please him. I was introduced to Bony when he lived at the Briars. He met me in the garden where lie was walking with his generals, all very obsequious, with their hats in their hands. He asked %cheater I was the lady who sung Italian, and spoke to me in Italian and French. He ikkeil me to go into Mr. Balcomb's and sing him an Italian song. I felt a little alarmed when I found the Emperor of the whole world behind my chair, al though be is now an ex-Emperor. I sang him a great many songs and an Italian duet with E--y, which appeared to please him greatly, and I understood he talked of us for three days. I had the felicty of dining with him on the 211 of January, at the first party he gave. Sir G. B. was the only one invited. The greatest state and etiquette is observed at the Court o f Longwood, nut a single word was uttered during dinner ex cepting by Buonaparte himself. All the Marshals and Coun tesses sat mumchance, but I chattered away to his Majesty without any fear, which appeared to amaze them all. You cannot form an idea of the awe they all stand in of him, and he treats them, ladies and all, in the most cavalier manner. The plate and china is superb beyond belief. The coffee-cups are 25 guineas each cup. After dinner he asked me to play at tric trac. I sat down. but did not know the game. He then asked me to teach bins English backgammon. The-idea of nay instructing the Great Napoleon put me into a fine fright. He is very cheerful and gay, and sang all the time he was playing at cards. All the 53d were introduced to him in a body. He sent a plate of sweetmeats to E----y from table with his own band, and offered some to me, which I did nut remark at the time, but I was told by his Secretary, Count Lascases, that it was a favour Queens had never received from him ; and as for Kings, said he, I have seen seven at once waiting in his anti-room without gaining an audience. Countess Bertrand is au elegant woman. I see her very of ten, and Lascases is ane of the most learned men of the age, and exceedingly agreeable. Our Camp is a quarter of a mile from Longwood. We are building a house w hick will be !ca tty in a month. 'f lue climate is very cool in the mountains, but too cold I think. RECENT SHOCK of an EARTHQUAKE. The following account+ of an earthquake, felt last week in ditiereut parts of Englund, are extracted from the. country pa yers received on Saturday last : The Nottingham kevive, orthe 29d of March, speaking of the late earthquake, says—" Nottingham, and, we understand, the neighbourhood within a circuit of many miles, were cal into great (-waste] nation, aloud half-past 12 o'clock on Sunday la,t, by a serious shock ()fan earthquake. Divine service not being over, the congregations at St. Peter's and St. Nicholas's churches, particularly the latter, were thrown into great can• fusion, and one lady was borne out in a state of insensibility. Had the consternation been equally great at St. Mary's church, the consequences must Luce been tidal; as it was very much crowded, on account of its being the Assize Sunday, and the Judge and Lis album being there. This, however, was for tunately not the ease, though the church was perceived to shake vety much. The undulations were distinctly felt and seen, in the motion given to the buildings, during about three or four seconds; and We know a gentleman that saw the hasp of a window easement ihrate so much as to strike the glass on each side repeatedly; but uu particular damage was done. On Sunday is smart shock of an earthquake was perceitibly felt in Lincoln. at about ten minutes before one o'clock in the day. The undulation appeared to be front West to East, and lasted from about a minote and a half to two minutes. The wind was at the time South-East; cold, and with every appear ance of rain. Pictures, and other articles hanging on the walls were set in a swinging motion. Messy persons were so affected by it as to think they were taken with a sudden E:uess. A person who was dressing at the Spread Eagle Inn, at the tipper Dart of the house, was so much alarmed as to run down stairs. At Newark, also, anti the iseighhottling villages, the shock was distinctly felt, as well as at Leicester and Lough borough. At liainshorough it occasioned great consternation. (Stamford Parer.) On Sunday, 17th, about half-past twelve o'clock. a violent emicassion of the earth WaS .:Jeasibly felt at this place, and at llawtry, Blyth, Carlton, Worksop, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Mans field, Nottingham, Lincoln, Gainshorough, Zse. In sonic of those places it caused great consternation and alarm among the inhabitants, by the shaking of buildings, pictures, and other ar ticles hanging on the walls, but we do not hear of any damage bciug done.—(Doscavtcr haper.) Messrs. Itamsbottom and Co. who a short time since suspended their payments, have given notice to their ere.- rlitors, that they shrll be enabled to pay the full amount of the claims against them on the 22d of April next. Du EA r. Arms:sr.— On Friday evening a young gentle man named Read, having been amusing himself in playing a game at billiards at Smith's room in Chalicery.tanc, having become exasper; ted at sonic bad stroke which he had made during the play, he struck his cue with such violence against vhe table, that the .:zmall end broke otl, and flying suddenly up pierced his eye, of the sight of which lie was instantly deprived. Ile was conducted to his lodgings in Cursitur-street in excru bating agony. Rural null° Thursday last, as the driver of a Hack ney coach was cruelly beating his horse while on the stand, in the Strand, a gentleman passing, humanely remonstrated ws ith lain on his conduct, n eon which the ruffian, after a volley of oaths, declared his intention to administer a similar chasti.e. latent to his censor. In his hurry to effect his purpose, how. over, he slipped oil the wheel and broke bps leg, .to the iatiaite 'Antisluctinn of. large isittembled crowd, THE NATIONAL REGISTER._ EAST INDIA HOUSE. —sew— On Wednesday a General Court was held at the East India Hesse, agreeably re adjeurnment, for the purpose of taking into future consideration the motion for the relict of the Ship ping Owners as to Peace Frei ht. The last Minutes having hi co read also— At the desire of Mr. R. Jackson, the Report from the Com mittee of Shipping, on which the motion was funneled. Mr. Hume, in a speech of considerable length, in the course of which he paid sonic high personal compliments to the Owner,, animadverted with great severity on the ill effects to be ap• ire!iended, should the motion be entertained in the affirmative by the Court. He should divide the Court on the question, by an amendment, and hoped the Directors would be inclined, from motives of delicacy, to withdraw during such division. lie then moved that all the words of the original motion, ex cept that, be omitted, in order to introduce wordsromprehend ing the principal objections, which amendment having been seconded by the Hun. I). Kinnaird, The Chairman, in a very able manner, entered minutely into all the topics treated on by the preceding speaker. It had not been possible in the formation of the present system to foresee a war of 20 years, and consequently to estimate what should be the proper scale of a permanent peace freight-261 might at present be deemed an equitable peace freight—then how was it possible that ships formerly taken up at lot. could possibly pursue their contracts without inevitable ruin. The system in 1803 was entirely founded upon an expectation of peace—the Rye Laws would not be in the least infringed, nor was it in- tended to extend the relief proposed to inure than one season. Mr. Kinnaird proceeded to support that amendment which he himself had recorded, he defended the luminous statement of Mr. Hume, who had convicted the report of the Directors , from its own words. Mr. Stuart Hall spoke in favour of the original motion. The motion and amendment haviag been read, the Chairman moved, that the original words stand part of the question, when the numbers haling been declared in the affirmative, Mr. hin naird demanded a division, when the numbers appeared, fur the original questiou 55—against it 6. The draft of a proposed Bill to be presented to Parliament, in conxequence of the above motion, IA as then read and approved; and at half-past six the Court adjourned, sine die. INSOLVENT DEBTORS'.COURT. CAPTAIN DAVISON'S CASE. This gentleman, it may be recollected, was remanded on the 16th of the present month, for not inserting in his schedule va rious property, such as the salary of his wife, his wife's dresses, &c. &c.—At half-past four o'clock on Monday evening he came forward with an amended s( hedule, to claim his discharge pur suant to the order of the last Court. Mr. P.Smith stated, that in consequence of what had ap peared in the newspapers, he had received intelligence from Yorkshire from two persons, and he wished to offer their ob jections accordingly. One was an application from a Mr. Raine, 8001. the other stint was a debt of 19. This gentleman had not received notice, as bioi (Mr. Smith's) instructions did not arrive until Saturday night. Mr. Heath objected to any proceeding whatever, which was not in execution. All his client's creditors had received 20 days notice, as provided by the Act. Mr. Serjeant Romnington said, he would take the case as it steod. The amended schedule toeing handed to I ,he looked over it, and observed, that by it, it appeared that die insolvent was indAted in the large amount ly 5,0001. without the visible means of satisfymg his creditors that he was worth one abiding. The amount of Mr. Gardner's was 2.591. which saga was on the last day accepted ; now Hader soldi a circumstance, what must be the impr, -.ion on the mind of eve - y man, when sikli a debt is agreed to he accepted, and the insolvent repre sented not to be worth one shilling? But, observed the learned Scojeant, it does nut become the Conti, to ask what arrange ments have been trade w its regard to that debt. Mr. I lerth—" Theie is no at 7 ratigenivid—it is accepted." Mr. Serreant Runningtou observed, that its having hero ...- rented must create suspicion in the minds of many. And he further observed, it was the bounden duty of Mr. DailbUll Iu have put his wife's salary into his schedule. An actor or actress at one of our national Theatres must have considerable pre peily in dress, and a female holding so high a situation in the Theatre as Mrs. Davison, most have considerable property in dress. It was upon this that the Court thought proper to re mind the prisoner. He has now presented an amendeciache dale, more aggravated than the lust. The learned herjuant then read—" my wife's salary at Drury-lane Theatre (deduct ing the property-tax), over widen I have no control, nor c o uld I have received the saute had I applied for it, 3411."—This (continued the Serieant) is a very unsatisfa.!tory statement—it does not even state when or how this sum was paid. Clothes are real property , and upon looking at the schedule for a ino ment, eau it be regarded as a fair disclosure of the dresses and property of a lady so high in the theatrical world, "my wife has so nmeh. and no mote." Mr. Beath—" It is her own account; Mr. DaNison was obliged to apply to her for it, and she is ready to comelorward on a future occasion and make an affidavit ut The learned Surieant %s.e, ninon to read the items of dress returned in the schedule, when Mr. hi% ki) requested thie medium of lus COll/1;e1), that they might not be made public. Mr. Serjeant Tionnington then resid—" a pink dress, eight rings, four pocket handkerchiefs."—You must be remanded, this affords me no amisfaction; on the contrary, it is tin iiggr.i vi,..rd statement. I shall not do it itt present, lint my mind was to remand yell upon the amended zchedule, as a person not entitled to relief. Mr. Datibeto was then delivered into the hands of the tipstati. ABUSE OF TIIE AGENCY PRACTICE oF Tills COURT. In the case of an insolvent debtor. of the name of Richard Port. whose case w.ts %Ruined before the ,justices at Wia (+ester, in a special brs%ions for the comity of Haute;, a short time since, and after which examitiatian the said insolvent was remanded, it appearing that fraudulent means were ado;ded, by putting a signature to his rtit ion, and .inother to his setae. dole, purporting to be the signatures of the said insolvent. and vouched as such by a main of the name of HuAes, who acted as his agent, in order to facilatute his discimyge under the act. The Court (on reading a transcript of the proceedings in the cause before the Magi:draws. xt Winc4cster, vir'f; , ll officiaily by the clerk of the peace of the county, ail Fkko aaihe n ti elcc d by Mr. White the gaoler of Winclicoe. 4 w.awe name was also forged to the proeeedimy there), aade an order, the principal part of which was that the said Fin4hes shornd slam cause, on a day spceitit , d, why ho should nor ,ue struck utf from the list of those meal. %110.yr*CliCe mu such is the illaUhielit Debtors' C4.ast. Oci ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. M A IDSTON 1.% M nor 22. Thomas Thomas was indicted fur the wilful murder of The • mas Moore, 011 the 9th of August lust. This case was one of considerable importance, it being that which our readers may recollect was, during the last Michaelina Term, removed by ertiurari, from within the liberties of the city of Rochester, where the offence was committed, to the Court of King's Bench. John Bridge, the first witnefts on the part of the prosecution. deposed that he was a custom-house officer. The 9th of Aug. last he was stationed on the larboard-side of the quarter deck of the Achille, then off Chatham. The prisoner was in the main chains aft. He saw him present his piece, and fire it off, when he inquired if the man was dead? Some person replied, yes. Witness went up to the prisoner, and said, "you villain, are you not ashamed to have shot the man, perhaps he has left a wife and family?" To which the prisoner replied," what's his f 'lv to me—if he had been my own father, I should have shot him '"f he boat of the deceased was about twenty yards from the ship—witness had walked on deck for near!y twenty mi nims before the prisoner fired. Did not hear him receive orders to tire—did not hear the prisoner speak to the deceased, nor was there any noise or bustle in the ship at the time. During the cross-examination of this witness by NI r. Serjeant Rest, he received the severest rebukes from the court 1111 d counsel, for the obstinacy, levity, and ineonsisti trey he frequently betrayed. William Naylor deposed, that he was a waterman at Chatham. On the 9th of August last, he was, in his boat, near the man of war, when he saw the prisoner stationed in the main chains of the ship. Witness also saw the deceased, Thomas Moore, in his boat. Saw the prisoner level his musket, and fire it off. He had previously heard the prisoner say be would tire. John Cooke corroborated the above. Several witnesses were examined, whose testimonies went to prove that no orders wore given to fire by the proper officer ; and that it was contrary to the established custom to fire with ball, except for the purpose of bringing vessels to. The evidence 14 the prosecution being closed, the prisoner was called upon for his defence, when he stated, that lie had been eleven years on board the Achille, in the service of his king and country ; that he had fought in the memorable battle ofTrafalgar, and ever studied to obey his officers, and to per fi,rin his duty. He was a total stranger at Chatham, and could not be supposed to entertain malice towards the deceased, whom, with offirrs, he had frequently warned to keep off front the ship, but to no purpose. Having balls, he conceived that in case of emergency he was to have used them, and in the pre sent instance bad been thus influenced. Under all the circum stances of the case, he threw himself upon the mercy of the Court, and the well-known justice of his country. Mr. Justice Bayley left all to the considi ration of the Jury, conscious that their verdict would be founded in justice and humanity. Should they determine upon the guilt of the irri • saner, he wished their reason tbr so doing to accompany lam verdict, as he felt it would be his duty to submit the case to the con , ideratidn of those who were better able to decide upon its merits, not collectively merely, but perhaps indisiduall), than himself. The Jury haring retired for a few minutes, returned, finding the prisoner " Guilty, under a mistaken sense of duty." Mr. Justice Bayley.—" Let the prisoner be recommitted, and, the setence postponed." POLICE. GUILD HALL. WHliam Jones, a man of respectable appearance, was brought up on a charge of attempting to obtain money by false pre tences in:der the fullowine circumstances :—it appeared that,. on Friday evening the prisoner went to the house of Mr. Sea brook, a butcher, in Duke-street, West' mithfield, and asked if Mr. Seabrook was at home. Mrs. Sealsrook being in die shop answered in the negative, but said her husband would soon be in, and begged the prisoner to walk into the parlour. On his arrival there, he said he had come to borrow a little money of Mr. Seabrook, and that his name was Williams. Mrs. Seabrook knowing that they hada customerof that name across Smithfield, she asked him if he was that person. He said " yes," and added, Mr. Seabrook knew him very well. Upon this Mrs. S. asked him how much lie wanted, and he answered go or s 0 shillings if she had so much. he said she had, and was proceeding to the iron sale to get it, when her husband rapped * the door. The prisoner opeued it to him, and asked hint very kindly how lie did; being answered as politely, Mr. ?-eabrook said he had not the pleasure of knowing his guest : the prisoner then said " 0 yes you do, my name is Williams, live across Smithfield." Mr. Seabrook then discovered that he 4vas an impostor, for he knew Mr. Williams very well. Mrs. Seabrook having then explained the object of the prisoner's visit, the prisoner said it was a mere jokr, and that he often indulged in these whims. An officer wits then sent fr, and he •yaq ref. (( ( ikrel as havinfy been engaged in similar freaks before. As, however, he had got no money, the f intl wad not complete, and he was discharged. It appears that be wag. tormerl) 4 man of sonic levect,tuility. BOW-STREFV. On Monday, Mr. J. T. Itlagnett, a Proprietor o f Th e c ork Morning' Ireeiiigenrer, or a penmn interested in the said paper, was charger' with forging stamps for newspapers. Mr. Bartlett, the keeper of Covent-garden watch-house, applied to the Ma gistrate to he relieved from the custody of the pi isoner; having received him as a matter of accommodation, be slid not con ceive lie hail any power to detain him any longer. It appeared. that on the tirst ipprehensiou of the prisoner. in Ireland, the grounds of siispieion were so slight, that the Magistrate there admitted hint to bail, and a Mr. Downs entered into recogii lance of anal. for his appearance. Some cireuntstances, how ever, afterwards transpired, wide,' rem - lived the suspicion much stronger, and he absconded. Mr. Downs, kerning that he was is England, obtained a warrant, and sent it over, made special, to his son here, who caused Idol to be apprehen led, and afterwards applied to the Seek•tary of the St:out...Dolc e to send him to Ireland; but he declincd, , ayiaz, that admitting Mr. M. to bail was against the will of the othev, and h e eon . demaed Mr. Downs ter bailing him. He therefore left his sou to act as he though.. right. Mr. Don ns,.iiin. stated to !sir Nathaniel Conant that be seas ail officer in the army, and want e d to go to America, where his professional ditty hint; his want of time, as %sell as the espence, prevented hint from setidin4 the prisoner to Ireland, he therefore wanted lens detained Ire me till an other came for hiso. Sir Nathani e l, after examining several Acts, found there was pons or for tu tu to scud prizamers to Scotland, but not to Ireland; Mr. DdidsL.s mast, therefore, as he has taken the prison, r COMey him to the count) y where he was charged, in ..c. ticss m :nner he could. Mr..Ddm 113 at length hgreed to c 0.... I• %IC) all Teed .. _~lr. ;1~., ii