The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-19 00:00:00

ACCIDENT' AT OSTERLEY.PARL

The following are further particulars of the accident at Osterley-
park :
(Yu Tuesday, the 10th inst. Henry Williamson, of Hare-
field. who had been on a visit at the house of J. Legrew, Esq., at
Isieworth, was returning home, accompanied by Air. Wm. Le-
grew, airs. Legrevr., her daughter, and Mr. John 'regrew, the
yoUnger ; a lady and her three daughters proposed accompanying
them part of their way in their walk. They all started together on
the road towards Harefield, and had proceeded as far as Osterley.
park. Mr. Win. 1,-grew went on b,:fore the party, and put
on his waters : when his friends came up with him he was jost
stepping on the ice on •a large pond at the side of the road,
extending into the park. The pond was completely frosust over,
but was situate in a low place, full of springs. His mother re-
quested him not to go upon the ice, but the unfortunate young
man proceeded, and had gone about seventy yards, when the ice
suddenly broke, and he was instantly prectpitated ins a depth of
nearly eighteen feet of water. Then he ruse to the surface he
swam a little, anti clung to the ire. His brother John stripped
off part of his clothes- and endeavoured to save hint ; and Mr.
Williamson taunted all the assistance in his power towards extri-
eating.hian from his perilous situation ; but their join: entleavuurs
were rendered unavailable, in consequence of the great depth of
the water. The young man sunk twice when he came up the
second time he called out, "For God's sake help me !" and stink
to use no more.
During the whole of this time, his mother, sister, brother, and
friends, stood at the side of the pond in a state or dreadful and
agonizing suspense, and taw him pariah. without being able to
afford hint any assistance. It was then about two o'clock-in the
afternoon. In about a quarter of an bola some ropes, a boat,
and a drag, were procured ; and from that time until it was dark
every exertion was nude, by his brother and several other per-
sona, to find the body, but without success. The search was re-
sumed in the morning by John Platt, of Isleworth, and seven
other persons, anti about ten o'clock they succeeded in bringing
up the hotly by mews of a bow-hook. During the time the roan
were engaged in finding the body, Mr. John Legrew, jun., and
Mr. iVilltarnson, proceeded to Osterley Hotta:, to request that the
water might be drawn off from the pond, add on their return found
the deceased laid on the bank of the pond. The body was hams-
diately put into a carriage, and conveyed to the house of Mr.
Legrew, at Isieworth.
The deceased was a very fine anti promising young man, 17
'years of age, and the youngest son of Mr. Legrew.
On Friday, the 19th inst., an Inquest was held on the body,
when the above particulars were detailed in evidence, and u verdict
returned—" Accidentally drowned while seating."

EXECUTION IN FRANCE.—A young man, named Fuu-
raignan, was executed at Auch, on the 31st ult., for the
murder of a servant girl. Ile was attended at his list mo-
ments by an Ecclesiastic, who, just before the fatal stroke,
thus addressed the assembled multitude :—" 'Fathers, and
mothers, behold a great lesson for yourselves and a ter-
rible example fbr your children! Young people of Auch,
approach and look ! What a spectacle is this before your
eyes ! here is a young man, '27 years of age, who terminates
the year by a tra tsleath. If his sufferings strike you
len
with terror, fly f m debauchery, fly from evil company,
listen to your spit ual Pastors, attend the Sacraments, and-
you will then live like blameless citizens; practice your
religious duties, and you will die like happy Christfans.
Yes, practice the religion of St. Charles, and you will
never perish on a scaffold. My brethren, the unhappy
sufferer charges me to conjure you to repeat with me a-,
Paternoster, to the end. that Jesus Christ may re-
ceive
his soul." These words were followed. by i ge-
neral and spontaneous movement of the crowd. Alt
the people at once knelt down, and the culprit received
the fatal stroke ansittst the prayers and tears of the num-
, hers present.

IfEIfORABLE BEQUEST.
A citizen of BERNE, in Switzerland, who bad grown
rich by habits of persevering.industry, .bring advaulaed in
years, made a' will of the following tenor, via.
" Being anxious ter my fellow-tin:tens of Berne (who have often
suffered by dearth of corn rind wine), my will is, that, by the. pet-
iniaMon ofProvidence, they guilt never, for the future, suffer under
the like calamity to which end and purpose, I give my eince,
real and personal, to the Senate of Berne. In trust for the
people, that is to say, that they receive the produce of my
estate until it shall come to the sum of (suppose two thousand
pounds), that then they shall lay out this two thousand pounds in
building a town-house, according to the plan by me left; the
loafer story whereof to consist of large va •Its or repridtorles foe
wines: the story :there I direct to be formed into a Matra ter
such persons as shall come to market at Berne for disposing of
their goods, free from the Injitries of the weather above that, I
direct a council-chamber to be erected for the Committee of the
Senate to meet in, from lime to time, to adjust toy accounts,
and to direct such things as may be necessary for the chafit) :
and, above the council-chamber, as many floors and granaries its
can be conveniently run d, to deposit a quantity RI corn fee the
use of the people, whenever they shall have occasion fur it. And
when this budding shall be erected, and the expense of If dis-
charged, I direct the Senate of Berne to receive the produce of
my estate until the sane shall amount to the sum (suppose two
thousand pounds): and when the price of corn shall he one-fsurin
part under the mean rate If the last ten years, they shall then
lay out one thousand pounth in corn, and stow it in my granaries ;
and the same in wine -when under onc-fourth of the mean rate of
the last ten, years. And my will is., that none of the said gotta
and wine shall be sold until the twice of corn and wine than
exceed, at the common market, one-fonnh of the mean ride of
the last tea years, and thou every citizen of Beene stud
daily for proportionably weekly), as many pounds weight of 12v.
and as many p;nts of wine. as. he has mouths in his family to
consume, and no more; and that, for the saute, he lity made
money site; the mean rate that it had been for the last, tot
years—a due proportion being allowed for waste, and that to be
Settled by the :Senate ; amd that each hourelicider ahafl be so *lts-
plied as long as the price of corn ard wine shall eurdinue'abote
the rate of one-fourth more than the mean rate; and whatioet-e

increase shall io made of the capital, it shall he laid out, under
the same restrictions, io adding to the stock of corn and wine,
which. under the blessing of God, will, 1 hope, is a certain time.
nAlucc thcme two neeossary articles of I:fe to very near a fixed price
_to the glory of Ood, and benefit of the poor."
For nearly two hundred years this patriotic provision
hail subsisted, when an English merchant, returning front
Aleppo by Berne, was so struck with the good effects it
hail produced, that, on his return home, he settled a sum
of money for the use of the-poor at Ki on-71ffline,,
for the purchase of coals in the same manner. The Right
lion. ARTHUR ONsLow, Speaker of the hononrahle house
of Commons, and Nt HOLAS Hamm xnE, Esq., were two
of the trusters, under Those auspices the poor were
abundantly supplied, and theluod greatly augmented.

rnslt CaPPER COIA:

(From the kith and Clither,innt Gazette, Jan. 17 I •
Considerable doubt and agitation having prevailed.in
vat iuu.s places respecting the obligation of the public to take
Irish Copper Coin, Mr. News,of Trowbridge, wrote to the
Mint-office on the subject, and received the follow ingletter,
which puts the question completely et rest :
" Mint-office, Jan. 14, 1826..
" STR.—I am directed by the Muter of the Allot to acknow-
ledge your letter to him of the 13th inst., respecting the stoppage in
your district of the lialfpenny, Pieces, havaig, the harp upon the
reverse ; and I am to acquaint you. in ansaer, that no Procla-
mation has been issued by his Majesty which directs Mut IrPh
' copper coin shall pass and be received as current and lawful looney
in this country. It rests. therefore, entirely at the option Of.totti-
dividuals to receive it. and it cannot be tendered as a legal paymect.
I am, 'Sir, your obedient servant.
".1. W. 310111IISON."
• Penny pieces, likewise,• must be incluthal, which are so
marked.