The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-11-07 00:00:00

THE RATTLE-SNAKY.

An inquest was held, last aftariinon, at The SWAMI
public-house, Piccadilly, by ANTINOMY Glut., Esq.
on the body of Thomas Soapef, who died on Satur-
day lut, at St. Georges Hoslital, by the bite of •
rattle-snake.

Mr. Thomas Mayoard, One of the assistant-sur-
geons belonging to the above Hospital, stated. the
deceased was brought to the Hospital ow Tuesday.
Oct. 17,about 3 o'clock in the afternoon—he exam-
ined the wound, which, he was told, proceeded from
the bite or sting of a rattle-snake; it appea-ed like
the prick of a pin between the fingers of the right
hand. The wrist and hand were very notch swollen.
rind in less than two hours the swelling had extend-
ed shove the elbow. The man compleiued of the
most excruciating pain. and his strength failed
him. He continued, in that state without hopes of
recovery. until the following Saterday. when there
appeared a favourable change, and strong hopes
were entertained that he would recover, until last
Thursday, when a mortification took place, and
he died at a quarter before four o'clock. on '*atur-
day afternoon, with his arm greatly swollen op to
the /urine. The arm, body and hard, were opened
en Sunday, in the presence of witness, who said
that it was his opinion, nod that of the Surgeons,
that his death was occasioned by the bite of the
snake.

-------
Mrs. Mary Womberwell seldom the 17th of Oc-
tober last, the deceased Came to her house about
12 o'clock, be was rather intoxicated ; he went awe),
saying, he would go home to dinner, and bring his
wife to tea. Witness came down stairs,shortly after-
wards, to answer some customers; during which time
the deceased returned, saying, he had forgotten his
umbrella; and accordingly went tip stairs for it.
Some time after he came down, shaking his hand
carelessly, and saying, that the snake had darted
at him, nod his hand was bleeding. Witness or-
dered a coach, •nd took him to St. George's Hos-
pital. Hr told the witness, that he broke part of
his rule iii teasing the snake, and had opened the
doer of the cage. to take it out. At that time, his
wrist was swollen very much, aka he was in great
agony. The deceased was well acquainted with the
nature of the snake, and knew the danger; and,
had IN not been intoxicated, he could have gdt his
rule nut by the weans of the double door.
The Jury consulted fur ten minutes, and, by the
description of the cage, given by Mr. Maynard, and
corroborated by the lest witness, were of opinion,
that no Maine could I.r• attached to the Proprietor
of the snake, it being well secured, and returned a
special verdict, that the man died by toe bite of a
rattle-snake, and a sleudiusd of one shilling on thit
snake.

, :1311r. .-7• • ." . • •
INlFEknOsfailliN THEATRE,Nov.t •
sa M•
From this lasi% ihi Gagitirer-tbreetened night
or tilt hicendiarieeat tliiisTlie<itre, we Went, et ...I
early hour, big with etpectations of the /eerie:
reault. We wire, therefore, agreeably disapptiiiite.l
in flailing them Irea (fevered, inplined than the),
have been for sore nights ;ett ; and, as if terrifte4
wills their own great ac.Cirrexcan of Salurday,
shrinking from peril; dispute, and danger. Frog,
the drawing up of the curtain, however, the?c was
/acid. viirof noise to mar the peifoi•mance ; tliss;
from Brit to last, we Were indulg..ci with casual re-
spites, during which, parts of the play %%ere au-
dible.. Tlir hoase was peHyleit, except ru
the pit; (which, the rioters, iatittiody,...eKnoise to
make their theatre) ; add even the hall-price i,A.a
vet), few to the numbers of the 0: P.'s.
Several contests took piece in this arena; and at
one time a whole 'troupe were precipitated hack-
wards into the passages, to the great .Linger
their heads; but, fortunately, their tikes weie
impenetrable ; am!. if any were soft, certainly re
hraans issued from the crack,. The 0. inor
count armed withelidgels and staves, of whickinany
potent samples were brandished. They were careful;
however, not to use them rashly, and we saw seve-
ral N. P.'. very safely exhibited, both iu the pit
and boxes.

Towards the end of .the !avt act, some plat:Ards
were exhibited, though moue so new and excellent
as to countermove the threat of the new pub/ka1i...4
promi.ot fur this The principal tror,.?"
one ratlfitcit like a coat of arms, wi.h 0. I'. rattle.,
trumpets. horns, kc. quartered. In the centre,
" Hill of the Kg," and the ere.t, P. B. The infirm)*
(as we suppose) of private holes. The Rthai.4.
which boasted novelty, w. re—
" Where is lam Kra.tils gyre?
" Ts the euantry.
" What road
" The Ruud to
" Lord lownousth wilt make Juba 1i..-mtdc sleet."

:lotto (Cr the private buses " Love aott oppotteulty.*
The otters were iniseiable, old, and poor.
Mr. C. Keinhle obtained a umilele.porthni of tie;
iited abuse. and was joisti hissed. hooted, and eig,
misheil fur his hrother's (no, tun his wile's) peeter.lrei
offeutzs *gaited those who call themselves the pub.
lie !I !
The play was rapidly gone through, and Otbetto
died a quarter before uia, o'clock, much lainent.o;
if we may joke hum the groans which accoli-
panied his fall.
After the minclusion of the play, the ple^aels
were mosiu (11.1ilayeri, .and much incrrarerl to num-
ber: the most r, hi.aka!ile were the folio eeer
Terra ”f• Pe..l • —OIJ Prites-s-No Private bo.tes
it,.awo Outhunted."
" Fie aa't, 0 ! Fie,
rib' an noweeded garden."—ll i,ecat.
"'"ld Prices"
" Clifford for ever "
" The vutury is ours—Be modersh.—Merry
Juvtie.-."
'• Shall John Bull fear and tremble,
At tts, voire of John kerolee."
" (location —ls Jot.. K enable a greater busts t Fan foal
" Never saisuid, fur your triumph Is Dept at baud."
Others represented men hanglim ; and one con-
tained the figure of a key, with this inscription
" For what bus purposes were we ""
There were many beside these, but they were lens
stationery, and drawn in smaller characters ; we
were consequently unable to collect them.
During the interval between toe play end firer.
the reinforcements continued poitring
rainy persons who thought it eithivahle to keep the
0. P. insignia in their pockets, it the commence-
ment, depended now su ter opou the sir-ngth of
their party, as to mount them m their hats, -onts
9i which were cocked in the most fantastic maoutr,
and pasted all mood with the two lavolirite letters.
When time afterpieee commenced, a about of 11,-
•mph was set up. and one solitary rattle was bandy
ed about the pit; after some time, mt use aided by
the sounding of a horn, while a penurtrumper J,-
dared occasionally the sentiment of the two smelted
gallery.

I

I

774 Blind Boy was accompauied throughout
with the loudest uproar; and if hi cnnld ant see the
audience, they took very good care that he should
hear thew. "f he pit was again else principal s.:eue
of riot, some of the Placards being tont, which new
and then gave birth to amen gentiles. In addition
to the dancing, howling. &c. which satisfied the
rowing gentry on former nights, they baron to
knock sticks together, on this occasion, which ens
a great improvement to the concert. It was sit
until about the middle of tile Afterpiece. that the
boars began to take any active part. when some
Placards were displayed in the titan of the second
tier. A lady was sufficiently zealous on the oppo.
site side, to tear the Placard in pieces, which
brought upon her the indignation of the patties. It
vented itself in groans and hisses, pointing of sticks
and umbrellas. by those who had them, and of
fingers by those who had not. After the de..? rue-
tion of this Placard. another was reared, to the in-
finite satiafaction of the half=prier men, :mil they
continued ::„eir testimonies if approlia to the
end of the ~,..rtaintuent. The liaise aas progress
lire to the las.. and God sane she ifing was bel-
lowed forth 3, different times, with far from dimi-
nish-LI viitif•.ra.tori. We most Own, with rear. t,
that the increase of tu.i,illt, towards the I ater cod of
the night. presented 4 moat -.4l•::raceftil scene; hia•
we are still impressed with a hope II:et it, ditral.oo
cannot be long ; the eutrogeons must
their lungs, and the rational (if there he any ...•
annin4 them) will not always abuse their under-
stendinp.

OXFORD, OCT. J.

On 'if hunsday last, the Rev: Crorce Will am
Hall, B.D. Fellow of Pembroke College, in tins
University, was elected Master of that So;iirty, in
the room of the late Rev. John Smith. 0.0.
Monday last the Reverend Frodsleam Horlsoo,
Bachelor of Divinity and Priiimpal of Brmeisosua
ColleFe, was admitted to the degree of Doeter iu
Divinity.
Toe Rev. Hugh Chambers JOllB4, Student of
Christ Church, and Chaplain to his Grime the
Duke of Portland, is presented to the Living of
West Ham, in Essex, void by the cession or die
Rev. Gerald Valerian Wel:elle).
Yesterday. Messrs. Annesiey and Sacral, of
Christ Church, were elected Fellows of All Soule
Cul:sies