The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-10-15 00:00:00

MUUDER.

A most cruel murder was committed, on Sun.
day night last, at Lansamlit, near Swansea, upon
Susan Nicholas, a very aged Homan, who resided
there. A young girl going out to milk, early rn
Monday morning, observed the door of the de-
ceased's cottage open, which appearing to her ra-
ther extraordinary, she called to the deceased by
name, but receiving nn answer, the girl became
alarmed, and having obtained the assistance of her
brother, they both entered the cottage. Here a
arcking scene was presented to their view: the un-
fortunate woman was discovered stretched upon the
lower part of her bed, with her head inclining over
the side, and a pair of bellows placed on her face;
several of her fingers were much cu:, and she had
received a violent blow upon the upper lip, which
had forced out some of the teeth, and broke the jaw;
but from the marks upon her throat and neck, she
appeared to have been s:rangied, or throttled, as it is
more commonly termed. A rusty scythe-blade was
found outside the door, and blood was discovered
in several places. An inquest was held upon the
body on Monday, byJ. C. COLLINS, Esq. Coroner ;
and, after a most laborious investigation of several
hours, the Jury returned their vercha— WOW Mur-
der, by sons person or perms unknown. We sincerely
hope the perpetrator of this inhuman deed will not
long elude the strong arm of justice. The deceased
had formerly possessed several hundred pounds, but
had latterly become much reduced in circumstances.
if the little money she had in the house was the
temptation to deprive her of life, the murderer was
disappointed; eighteen guineas and a shilling were
found on her person, concealed in a pocket sus•
pended so low as to reach her knee, and having
another pocket hanging over it.

EARL STANHOPE'S NE IV-INVENTED
VESSEL.

The first experiment with this vessel was made en
Monday, in the pond in Kensington Gardens, op-
posite the Palaces. The vessel is 30 feet long, by
seven feet wide, it has a round bottom, both ends
being sharp, someth;ng like a weaver's shuttle. The
sides were painted yellow, with the port-hole. en
the sides, and windows at each end painted to imi-
tate real. On each side, towards each end (as it
was im:de to sail either way without putting about),
were three gills, which opened out or closed,
by means of pulling an iron rod on the deck,
which was cased with copper, in such a manner
as to render it water-proof; instead of the bot-
tom being pitched outside. it was covered with
a composition, an invention of the Noble Earl,
which. as soon as spread on quite hot, became so
hard that a chissel tould not cut it, and bad the
quality of resisting any force, by its being elastic,
so as to answer die purpose of a copper covering.
Abuot a quarter past three it was launched into the
water. by means of rollers placed en deal planks.•
Previous to this there was a temporary rudder fixed
to one end, in order to ascertain which answered
best, that or the gills. As soon as it was launched,
one ton and a half of ballast was taken on board i
his Lordship, a Lieutenant of the Navy, and some
sailors. went on board; having no sails, they rowed
up and down the pond, then twice round ; the men
at the oars kept pulling regularly ; when it was
found that the gills beat the rudder in velocity. and
turned coastways .vith greater ease, having the ad-
vantage of returning back without putting about
ship. After the first trial there was another ton of
ballast taken en board. After being an hour on the
water the second time, about live o'clock the masts
were put on board, and the canvas spread, with the
Union Jack at the mainmast head ; when she sailed
most majestically with a light wind. She returned
with the other Lead foremost, ssithout ever putting
akin.

It is supposed that from this mode of building,
one-third of the expense will be saved ia the coo-
strudicn of a 74 ; that on account of being rather
fist-tiottoroed, it will carry mote tonnage, and will
navigate in very shallow water, and over breakers
or sunken rocks, without the tisk that a ship with
a keel runs, as on approaching any rock or coast.
it can immediately retire, without loss of time
in putting about ; it does nut require half the
slits now used, all of which can be worked by the
risen mi deck, without going aloft ; the compo-
sition which covers it is stifinitely cheaper than
copper, and answers the same purpose ; it can
also sail nearly azainst the wind, by working the
gills. The next trial is to be made in the presence
of the Lurds of the Admiralty.