The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-30 00:00:00

INTERESTING ANECDOTE.

Tuesday morning, the day on which the execution took place,
an the Rev. Mr. Cotton, the Ordinary of Newgate, was penceeding
to the prison, between six and seven o'clock in the morning, he
was accosted by a countryman of very decent appearance and be.
Ardour, who stated that he had just arrived from the neighbour.
hood of Marlow, and had travelled all night on foot for the pur.
pose of imploring a great favour of the Rey. Gentleman. On
being asked the nature of his request, lie awed, that his name was
George Roberts, that he was formerly a private in the 2 d Light
Dragoons, and had been pensioned off; that for several years past
he had lived near Marlow, and worked as a labourer, and bore an
unimpeached character; but about eight years back he and another
inan bad been charged, on oath, by Edmunds, with having slopped
him on the highway, and stolen 4s. W. from him. Mr. Vansittart,
the magistrate, having a very favourable opinion of Robens'a cha-
racter, interfered, and there appearing to be sonic discrepancy in
Edmunds's testimony, the prisoners were discharged. Roberta,
conscious of his entire innocence, and tender of his reputation, was
anxious to wipe away the reproach that had been unjustly cast upou
his fair fame, and with which he was occasionally upbraided by
evil-minded persona ; he therefore resolved to make a journey to
London, and before his accuser quitted this hter, einem from him.
by means of the chaplain of the prison, a confession of his (Roberts's)
innocence.

Mr. Cotton considered it his duty to comply with the wish of the
countryman, and desired hint to call in the course of a fhw Muni.
The Reverend Gentleman accordingly, on going into the coo.
demned.room, mentioned the subject to Edmunds, and Inquired
what was the real truth of the cane? When he, without any he'i.
tattoo, frankly avowed that the charge he had brought against
Roberts was altogether without linindation—that. In fact, he had
never been robbed at all, but had fabricated the story for the par.
pose of accounting for a deficiency of Is. 6d. which he had spent,
and which amount was the produce of some articles he bad sold on
hip master's account.

On Mr. Cotton's making the communication of Edmunds's les
knowledgment to the poor countryman, he expressed muct gran.
rude to the Reverend Gentleman for his humane interposition. Pe
then said that he would venture to entreat one further favour,
which was, that he might be furnished with a written statement of
what had transpired, as he was apprehensive that, on his return to
the country, it might be doubted whether Edmunds had actually
made the important confession.
Mr. Wontner, the governor of Newpate, then kindly gave him
a few lines, certifying that he had been present when Mr. Cotton
related the declaration of the dying man.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S, Tut:RSDAY, Dsc. 29.

The betting was sharp, though few alterations are to be noticed.
Very little was done in the St. Leger; but an the nominations will
be concluded in a few days, the betting on that stake will, in an.
other week, become very Interesting.

DERRY.

6 to 1 agat Monarch
14 to 1 apt The General
14 to 1 agst Tredrille
20 to 1 agst Bolivar
20 to 1 arst (hamar'.

22 to I agst Zulaika
23 to I agst Twatty
23 to 1 agst Rowena
30 to I agst Cedric
30 to I agst Pranks
30 to 1 apt The Baron
,as.

15 to 1 agst Parasol
115 to 1 apt Do-peep
18 to 1 agst Loutra (Quadrille)
16 to 1 apt lillagree
18 to 1 apt any other
Aut.
20 to 1 vigil Alonarch
20 to 1 agst Barataria
26 to 1 apt any other
:SWORTII.
at Tredille.