The National Register. — London, England, 1817-09-29 00:00:00

THE UNFORTUNATE J. VARTIE. This poor youth, only 19 years of age, convicted of what ~ has • been called " England's unpardonable an," and now awaiting the execution of the law, by a premature and igno. missions death, powerfully excites the bell3e of pity. The strong emotions of the prosecutor, on hearing the verdict, will do hint lasting honour. The duty lie owed to his country obliged him to prosecute. That fulfilled, his plea for mercy • was urgent, and his heart was evidently in his petition. The ease is ao instructive one to youth, and however it may ter minate for tire oshappy object of this narrative, it is to be earnestly hoped that the lesson will not be thrown away on those who, like poor Vartie, might he otherwise exposed to fetal temptations. Vartie was born in Westmoreland, of very honest, though poor, aud now almost broken-hearted parents. He so far profited by the education they gave him, that hebecoine whise very young a tutor to the children of a lady of title in the neighbourhood where he first drew his breath. Hopes of site. ecediug better near the metropolis, hrought him to gravesend, the Curate of which place was a Westmoreland man, and knowing Vartie, induced his friend, the keeper of a respect. able boardiug.schoul there, principally on account of the youth's excellent character and good talents, to take him as an assistaat tillsomethiug better should of f er. Here, for con. siderably more than a year, Vartie behaved so as to enahle Mr. Giles to give evidence at the Illd Bailey, that " lie was Correct in every sense of the verrd." The Gravesend Bank took him as a clerk, without any other security than his good character ; and in their service also he conducted himself in the most satisfactory manour up to the moment of the act which has rendered his life a forfeit to justice. He was not expensive s he was of retired and very studious habits : he was to e ussession of every comfort ! What was, then, the cause ut such a faille; off t Two causes appear the must prominent. He had ceased to be regular in his attendances on Divine Worship—ond whilst his naiad was called off from attending to religions disties,a sudden temptation was thrown 4n his way. it is singular, that the object which principally occupied his time, and left him no leisure for theiniblic or private o ffi ces of religion was the study of filbrew ! Whilst intebt on improving himself thus in knowledge, he little suspected that be was weakening the defences of his *oral being. The nature of the temptation too was con. sected with his peculiar turn for improvement. He wrote a most excellent hand, egbal, as many people observed, to cop per-plate : lie could imitate closely the handwriting of other persons, and prided himself upon this faculty. The accidental abseuce of one of the clerks of the Gr ud Bank gave Vartie some very unexpected opportunities, and, at this time, the arch enemy of his peace aud the destroyer of his life suggested the temptation by which lie fell. Heescaped front England; changed his name, and entered, not into the vortex of dissipation at Paris, but into a college at Abbeville, en. gagiog for two years there at 951. per annum, for the purpose of imaroviug his mind, by study ! Unprsciisod in the world, and little suspecting the effects of ungmsarded couduct, he wrote awarnrtis e ut his Hight, his change of name, and where • Ist bid taken refuge, and sent a letter to a frioud by she com mon post. This, as those who know the world would expect, procured his capture, and aided his conviction. And m i ss a youth, whose premising talents gave hope that he would be a blessing to society, and an ornament to his country, is by one act cm off from hope, and downed to as early stud disgracClul death ! '1 he youth, the experience, the invariable good character of this poor 1441, up to the fatal .noiuma, will doubtless be weigh ed by tho.e whose province it is to temper justice with mercy. The Learned Judge humanely promised the agitated and anxious' presecutin , that his earnest intercessions should not pass otiretnentuereti. We will not anticipate the result; nor do we presume to offer an opinion whirls mightperbadis be indueneed ay one feelings for the poor crimivat, and for his once prowlsy affectionate parents. We are on% Mang too, that out • paragraphs bhonldaslunte the tone of sermons—uto yet we trust, we in.4y, without impropriety, draw one moral from the heart-rending talc helost ns. It is, " that he who thinkeihlte sisuuhd take heed lest he fall" —the most innocent and the most wary have all daily and hourly need to keep its mind the proer so suitable to our common nature— " Lead us not auto temp•asion." Execcrions.. —on Saturday lest, Thomas Arinstrong, for letting tire so his factory at 31ancliester ; Jenny Liseethain, for uttering forged notes at Aslitim-under.Line ; John Wild, fora similar offence at Oldham ; John Ashworth, for the s•ime at Manchester ; and Pat. M*lllanitti, for a like offence at Liver pool, were executed at Lancaster, yousuaut to their sentences; making eleven persons who hare suites ell the awful sentence of death at tins Idle Assure, and St Xof them for -der! A mit:die-aged men, geateely dressed, called at the house of Mr. Pounta'sn, in Oilbert.street, ilainpetead road, on Monday evening. with a genteel dressed female, about I S years of age. On being in. formed Mr. F. was not within, lie exclaimed, "GA bless me; I was 4113 re ke was to go to the Theatre, but hoped to have been in time." Re then desired the young female to go to her the carriage, and desired her to wait whilst he scratched a letter to Mr. P. lie was shewn up stairs to write the said letter, and soon pulled the bell; he met the servant at the bottom of the stairs, and said he must go to Mr. F. at the Theatre. It was afterwards discovered that he nad con• trimd to steal a watch, 151. and two gold seals. Thursday Jenkins, servant in husbandry to Mr. Parsons. of Pelynt. near Lux, laid his hand on the tip bar of a style he was passing on his way home, when a violent blow from a sharp instru ment severed hi; rcre from his right hand. Not a word was spoken, nor a person seen, nor can any reason be assigned toe the eruel act, tie being a very inoffensive young inan, and not having had the least altercation with any one. A few days since e huy came to Mr. Richards, a cheesmooger, in Oxford —street. with a letter. purporting to come from the Rev. Mr. Edwards, of Wigniore-stieet, requesung that a ham aunt two lunms of butter might he sent by the bearer, and that half a hundred of eggs might be s . ..•at in half an hour. The shopman let him have the ham mid butter, and at the time specified the eggs were sent; when, to their surprise, it was discovered that no order whatever was rent, and, of course, the whole was a cheat. A man and woman were apprehended 011 Niontlity at Little Wal tham, in ESKeI, where they had been very aziecessful in passing urged Hank of Englund notes. On being watched. a farmed ii. note was found on the man, and some counterfeit silver and four formed iI. in the wonian's month. which she intended to swallow, but was foiled by the Cunstabl., (to. I .lowever, received a severe bite of the thumb. They have been examined at Chelmsford, and are remanded. On Monday, the Bth inst. the lust et:nie was laid of the Margiiis of Auglesea's Column ; its elevation is 100 feet from the Lase, standing. upon a rock, :360 feet above the level of the Menai ; forming a most beautiful and picturesque object, as viewed in the surrounding scenery to a van expanse. POLICE. MANSION-HOUSE. R. Noise Geld, owner of the ship George Canning, bound from Cadiz to London, was summoned for refusing to pay S. Hubbard, of Gravesend. the pilotage of his vessel from thence to the London Docks. The sum demanded, according to the provisionv of 52 Geo. HI. was £5.—A solicitor for Rouse. field contended, that the pilotage was only•the legal demand of the Cinque Ports, and that after payment was made to them, the ‘" remainder" only was due to complainant, " at the time of coming on board." This position was regulated by the 12111 section of the Act in question.—Mr. Price, Solicitor for Mr. Hubbard, contended, that as the words of the Act were " fur remainder of pilotage to be performed," The Le gislature meant the distance the vessel was to be conveyed. —The Lord Mayor coincided in the opinion of Mr. Price, and Mr. Rousetield was ordered to pay the fall sum of £5 and costs. M. Neville, an inhabitant of Aidgate Ward, serving as a constable in his Own right, was summoned for deserting his ditty. The defendant was the night constable, and on se veral occasions had left the Watch-house before the proper time in the morning. For a similar offence he had before been brought up, and under a promise not to repeat it, be was discharged twos paying the costs. He was now, how. ever, again brought up on two distinct charges of having abandoned the Watch-house for some . hours before the pro per time. The defendant denied the general charge, which he considered to be the result of conspiracy, but acknow ledged one of the offences. His Lordship wished to know if the flue would be urged by the Deputy. The Deputy said he bad no desire to press the line, if. Mr. Neville would promise not to offend again.—Mr. Neville bowed assent, and having received a suitable warning, was ordered to pay the coats. A Smithfield drover wu charged with inhumanity. He was employed on Friday to put some calves into a cart, when one of them proving refractory, he first beat it with a halter, then with a stick, and afterwards thrust his fingers into its eyes. He was also charged with being withaet hit badge. He expressed to his Lordship the deepest contrition, and begged for mercy. His Lordship said, he had scarcely ever known of such a wanton species of cruelty, but trust. ing that his contrition was sincere, he would only fine him tOs. and coats. A horse dealer, named Everitt, was summoned to answer the complaint of a Mr. Dixon, who stated, that a few days since an advertisement appeared in the Newspapers anuonc ing for sale a pair of beautiful geldings, free from every vice, to be seen at No. 17, Oiltspur-street. Here Mr. Dixon went, and saw the name of B. Clark, Veterinary Surgeon, painted upon the entrance. Conceiving the stables and horses to be his property, he enquired fir Mr. Clark. He was answered that he was not at home,. hat one of the attendants said he might view the horses. He did so, and retired with a promise to return ; and (you so doing, he found Everitt whom he con sidered Mr. Clarke, In the yard. By that name he addressed him, and they went together to view the geldings ; but Mr. D. unwilling to trust to his own judgment, brought his sirrvent ; who having held a negociation with Everitt, a bargain was finally agreed on u note of warranty delivered, and 901. paid .for them. In lilting up the check upon the hankers for this sum, Mr. Dixon had the name of Clark inserted ; but upon examining the receipt given by the defendant, he was sur. prized to find it signed by Everitt. In two days afterwards Mr. D. eiscovered that one of the horses was broken-winded and the other lame of a leg. He then called at the stables lint Everitt was not to be found. He renewed the call ere. quently ; but was informed Everitt had gone to a horse-fair.— At length he mei with like, and acquainted hint with the trick, and demanded the return of his money; when after some al tercation, Everitt proposed repayiug it ray bills, and referred him to a Mr. Rerun& ; who, however, said he would not credit him 11. ;And Mr. Dixon being unable to regain Ids inc oil., brought the matter before the Lord Mayor. It is but justice to add, that Ali. Clarke had no concern in the trans action ; and that upon the circumstance being told him, he issued immediate orders that Everitt should leave the pre mise.. Mr. Adolphus contended, that there was no ground lion a charge of fraud, tl gh these appeared matter of actiusi at civil law The Lord Mayor enquired, whether Everitt was liceliced ; and being ahswered in the ueguve, his Lordship said, that this elrennistance, coupled with the name of Mi. Clarke having been used, excited strong suspicion ; and he would recommend Mr. Dixon to go before the Grano Jury and wider a iii of indictment for fraud. If this fi.iled he had still the remedy as a civil action. Mr, Dixon thanked his Lordship, and left the Court to go before the Grand Jury. GUILDHALL. W. Iletteridge was filially examined, charged with obtain inc a silver tankard and a number of gold seals, from differ oat shops in the name of his employers, Messrs. Jackson and DOmie, engravers. The particulars have already appeared I the depositions were signed by the witnesses, and the psi sums was fully eon 111 l itted. J. Clarke was charged by Mr. Kersliner, silversmith, ol Cterkenwell-green, with ill-treating a horsy in Smithfield, ou Friday. The horse was tied to the rail, and upon some per. sun abruptly attempting to examine its mouth, the anima. drew back, upon winch the prisoner flogged it so unniere, folly !hat it endeavoured to leap the rail, in flout, but um halter prevented its dealing it, and the animal hung upon the rail by one or its hinder legs, in which situation the pri soner Hogged it, till, by its violent struggles, the halter broker. and it plunged upon the pavement, to the imminent Mange. of foot passengers. M. Kersliner and several others lemon striated with the prisoner on his brutality, but the only reply was," U - n him, I wish lie'fi break his neck, i.e's worth as much dead as alive." The prisoner said, that h e could nut have hurt the horse," as he did not use the hint • lid ut his whip." lie was fined in the mitigated petiulty of 10s. and eostA. MARLI3OIIOUGH-STREET. An Irish Colonel of dragoons was charged with a violent l i assault upon T. Collins, an artist. I tic complainant stated, that between twelve and one o'clock on Monday night, he was standing at the corner of iatiss tile sheet with a girl, when the iiiisol.er anti three other gentlemen were passing. `the Ostrom . said, " Alt! Sally, is . rhat you how do, son do my deal ?" complainant askt ti him what he meant, upon which the prisoner knocked hint down ses vial times. l'airielt Dailey, a watchman, heard the row. Oct coining near t h e spirt, lie heard a voice exclaim, " What do you call her Sally tor?" another answered, " I call all *omen so, its a pretty name." W Owns went up, and saw a rolitetwori be t %Veen them; the prisoner with one blow sent the complain ant neatly from the comer of Saelville street, to tilts middle of Piccadilly, and went to the girl himself. The other got up, and pat himself in a acieitific posture; butthe prisoner again struck him, and sent Idiot* his old place in the middle of the road. Witness thei interfered to take him into custody, aid met the fate of the poor Mist, and prisoneryai away. As sow as witness got upon his legs, he sprang his rattle and followed. Several watchmen attempted to arm , the prisoner's progress, but he, with great desterhydlowed them all in turn, and they lost him. Witness and another still kept up the pursuit, hut could nog apprehend the prls inner, till he, by mistake, ran into the Albany, which not being a public thoroughfare, he was stopped. As they were proceeding wills him to the 'watch house, he suddenly garit each of them a toss, and pitched them into the street, like two children, but did not attempt to get away. Prisonere.—" I wish to make an observation upon that tub. jcet. When the watchmen took me into custody, one of them tauntingly said, ' I'll report you as a coward for being taken.' I instantly threw them both over my head, an d left them to judge of the possibility there was of making my , escape." Several others corroborated the statement, of Dailey. The prisoner called four gentlemen of fortune, whose mi. Bence went to prove, that the prisoner only snide the simple observation. " How do you do, Salty;" when Collins caller.'caller.' him a blackguard, s coun d re l, and many other low epithet S— . primmer then asked him, if he meant to repeat his scan dalous assertions ? His answer was, that he would repeat them any where; and at the same Time pdt the girl aside, aid began to show fi ght ; upon w hi c h th e pr i soner knocke d kint down, as described. Prisoner.—" I did so, certainly: and I am only sorry I could not give him a little more of it." The Magistrate said, that although the 'ensilage held by Collins might be hurtful to the feelings of a gentleman, yet in point of law, It would not be any justification of such a via. lent outrage, and, therefore, he should require bail. The parties withdrew, and an adjustment took place. • OLD II AILEY.—THURSDAY. Elisabeth Cobb, aged 17 years, was indicted Wadding child three months old, with intent to deprive its parents of, the possession thereof. Sophia Canning deposed, that on the 16th of Suggest she had been abroad with the child, her brother, in Kensington I she -- was speaking to a little girl in the street, who called her ' as her school-fellows commonly did; when the little girl left her, the prix; nee came tip and said, "Let's see, w your name r witoesssaid,it was Canning. The prisoner said she knew her mother, who she said wanted to see tlfit witness • and the prisoner told her that ifehe would go to het mother would take care of the child, and that her name was Miss Howm. The witness then went to her lekr ins the prisoner with the child, and when she returned its about a quarter of an boar, the prisoner and child were gone. Witness had taken particular notice of the prisoner, who wee much marked with the small pox, had had something them*. with one of her eyes. Joseph Cannieg, the hnsband of the last witness and father of the child, deposed, that as Rohn as he heard the child ilftla . gone he went with the officer Rnthven le pursuant of the pd.' loner to Alresford, where they found her with the child, whit* he knew at once to be his. It was Saturday when the eldla was taken away, and on Tuesday afternoon he saw it at Aire.- ford. His daughter knew the prisoner, and tried out as Son as she saw her, "That is the woman:* The child was mewl faniislied fur want of proper nourishment, and mimed as if could not long survive. George Mabee° examined.—He was an officer of Bow. street, was sent down to Alresford in pursuit of the ptisotler o and about six or seven miles front the place found her; ha said to her, " Well, Eliza, how is the child?" She enswared, " Very well." He asked, bow old it was? She said, " a month" He asked, did she suckle it t She said," No that her milk Wei gone," He then asked, how she could take the child sway,' from the girl at Kensington ? She slid, she did not ,. t h at the child VIM - her own. Going a little farther on she smith/ tie witness,'' If the chill is not mine, whose should it be'?" Wit. neat sai d she had taken it from its parents at' Kcoehtgloit; iNitielt the prisoner then admitted, adding that as she had hurt else child, she hoped the parents would not hurt her. '- The prisoner being called on for her defence could only say she asked the girl to let her have the child, and the girl gave it toper.—Guilty. tRIDAY. William Chamberlain was indicted for the wilful munlerof haw William Thompson. on the 16th of September, by inner/ a caroms a nd two bones asidastitint, *hereby he evens knocked down andlplltel. Themes hide air Jallente•deposed, dug he was in the Green Park • new pkieggo wises the in Regimental' Guards were with their li ciii enyt e lhent was 1111Zt two headrest raeniN T, • lowing the se the amile, - by them and the Masai was eingolleelip Meshed ap;-.it was Yost Wi lmot a k. 412 t h e . ant the doomed wisdom bride side. The ourener i n m ods. inbred at the Pkoleidilk VS% Olives by Naves coming inward the anal with each velocity. sone was • anether meson as the bet with the primmer. sad sobs got wittn u about t • enty yards el tbe crowd, deem was a general cry of ..Pan t ". The hones were Mopped by the ermrd. but the prisoner immodialely b egan t o gag them t thepeople dab tomes to make way for lan; und the shoulder of the neer horse struck the deceased and &dig him on his back, and the near front wheel immediately paned over his body t the witness then seised the bridle of the ACM' !torte, exclaimin g to d ie prisoner—* You have run over a man—stop.” The prisoner called out vh l e t go." and flogged the horse, and the witness was obliged to let go to save himself. The caravan went ou, the hind wheel also pas. sing over the body of the deceased ; the deceased raised placed his hand on his stomach and fell back. He was taken to George's Hospital. As he lay on the table in one of die Ranh, the witness asked him whether he did r.ot live in the strand 1. and he re. plied "do not tell my nhoth::r lam much hart." Tine witness wer e { for his father, and on his return remained with him until he died. The Jure, after a short consultation, brought in their verdict Guilty (not ( , f reorder. hut) of Mairdsugiiter. Richard Baker was found guilty of grand larceny. in stealing in the dwelling house of George Alexander Robinson, a pocket-book, cot-. raining Bank of England notes to tile amount of 4uol. and upwards, the property of the said Robinson. John lisle and Charles Smith. alias Henley. were capitally con victed of burglariously breaking into and entering the dwelling he h•-e of Francisco Romano, and st..sling therein, on the 13th of &rens. bee, various articles of silver plate, and other thiligs, his propetty. A true bill was on Saturday found by the Grand .lury of the Old Bailey, against William Bryant, for. inerly of Garden Court, in the Temple, tbr perjate, upon his examination before the Commissioners of &mil rupt. We learn, from private lettcra of the 13th of *twist, that a (heedful mortality revaiis at Charleptou u. 1