The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-13 00:00:00

.ATTEMPTED FRAUD.

A circumstance has recently occurred in this town which serves,
better than a whole volume of ratiocination, to prove the utility of
police reports, and the way in which it tends to prevent crime.--A
few months ago a young man of genteel appearance and good ad.
dress called upon a watchmaker in London, and stated that he had
served his time to the business in Worcestershire, but was desirous
of spending a short time in the service of some respectable watch.
maker in town, in order that he might perfect himself in his busi-
ness, fur which he was ready to give a premium of one hundred
pounds. When asked for a reference, lie gave the name of the
Rev. Mr. Philips, of Dudley, who, he said, was his relation.
The watchmaker accordingly wrote to Mr. Philips to make in-
quiries on the subject, and, in a few days, received a parcel which
appeared to have come by coach, containing a letter. purporting to be
signed by Mr. Philips, the contents of which were perfectly saris.
factory. The watchmaker accordingly consented to the arrange-
ment proposed. The very next, day, however, the young man,
taking advantage of the absence of the other workmen, possessed
himself of three gold watches, worth sixty guineas each, with
which he absconded, and got clear off. An account of this trans-
action was at the time inserted in the London newspapers; but no
tidings were heard of the fugitive. A few days ago, however, a
young man called at a respectable watchmaker's shop in this
town, and proposed an arrangement similar to the one we have
mentioned ; but the parties to whom he applied, having fortunately
read the account is the London papers, declined acceding to it, and
gave information to Mr. Lavender of what had happened. Mr.
Lavender turned to the account in the newspapers, and found that
the description of the•young man applied exactly to the person who
had come to this town. Having then learnt that the young man
had made an agreement with another watchmaker, he determined to
apprehend him ; but, for some reason or other, he never returned
to the shop after the first day, and was consequently lost sight of.
Mr. Lavender, however, desired the watchmaker, in case he should
see the young man again, to have hint watched. Yesterday after-
noon the watchmaker saw him in the street, and watched hint to the
Ordnance Arms, in Hangingditch, where one of the beadles appre-
hended him very soon afterwards, and conducted him to the police
office. On searching him something was found which strongly
corroborates the Idea of his being the person who committed the
robbery on the London watchmaker. lie had given to the watch-
maker in this town, a reference to a clergyman at NVolverhampton ;
in his pocket there was a letter, sealed and addressed to the post.
master of that town, desiring him, in case any letter were left at
the post-office with that address, to re-direct it to be left at the
post-office, Manchester. Be was sent to the New Bailey, and
will he detained until the London watchmaker has been written to.
•—.Mainlierter Guardian.
On Ifednesday morning, about one o'clock, two crafts
the Albion and Jane, belonging to Mr. Shearman, of
Reading, sunk at their moorings off Millbank. The cries
of four men on board were heard by Mr. Green, Thames
Police Surveyor, by whose active assistance they were
rescued from a watery grave.

THE COTTON TiPtPX, 17-
The calamitous effkta of the re-action In the clifresley.
manifest themselves, move and more. In consequence of
two extensive weaving fattoriei being_ iehldly off worts;
nearly 40 individuals are thrown out of ensplofnte.g!;
, Several other spinning anti power-loom factories Cops-
menced half-time on Monday. A weaving ffctory, that.
was nn half-time, has resumed full time, in tonsequente of
the weavers having submitted to a reduction of Vt. a cut:
If trade lies not Speedily revive. a rannbor of factories Will •
be obliged to stop, as they are only at present accVmulatz
ing goods. Such is the effect of the limitation of discounte
on the building trade, that a number of the master-build]
ers of Ellinbingh hate been sbliged to atop payment: It
number of masons and labourers have consequently bred
thrown out of employment. In Glasgow, building is alsd
very flat at present, and the masters have been gradually
reducing their hands fdr some weeks back, as their eon:-
tracts were completed. The cross presents on the Monday
mornings a melancholy body of unemployed men in search
of work. A number of girls that were employed as tam--
benrers, Winders, and sewers in warehouses, have beers
thrown out of employment in consequence cf the stagna.:
tion in business. Many of the warping mills are also at t
stand. the scarcity of money if of course affecting this.
exchanges. The exchange with Jamaica is at t3.—Glargow
Ch f.un ic