The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-01 00:00:00

GRNEK PIRE.—COXCIREIrIs' ROCKETS.

The inventing o. Congreve rockets, or file art of' throw-
ing exploding projeetilm Ly means of fusers, pasty for a
r•iivelty t but this is a complete error. The soldiers of the
'tower Empire. carried within their shields light tube*, nr
hand-siphons, filled with *racial fiie, which mallet
through the air with extreme velocity. The Binperor Lee,
the philosopher, himself gave directions for the preparation
of these siphons ; an operation which the Greeks con-
stantly labcurtil .to keep secrit. • It is obvious on trio
dm-slink! of the inquiry, that a firework tioitsuay
trair-
mitred through the air must naturally, by force of re-
action, have carried its vehicle with it whenever chant
caused its escape from the soldier's band. Hence thet4
must have been a species of Congreve rockets from the entl
of the ninth century.
Leo, the philosopher, mounter] the throne in 886. It
is not certain that lie invented bend-Siphons ; but there IA
no trace of them feund in the Byzantine history, previons
to his reign. The great siphon first described by Thuci
dides and Apollodorus, the use of which was revived in
672, was a kind of stranner pump, which launched naphtlic,
pitch, and other liquid and in substances:
Thence the name of Median fire and liquid f re. Tie
fireworks which burnt in the water, and to which the name
of Roman or Greek fire was given, were . in the first in •
stance employed by the Assyrians, the Chinese, the Chal-
deans, the Persians, the Hebrews, the Medes, &c. They
were subsequently transmitted to the Phatitians, the
Greeks, the Romans, the Alexsndrians, the Byeantines,
the Vandals, the Arabs, the Franks, &c. The artificial
fire in question has not only been employed in very distant
epochs, but it has never been entirely out cf use. The
mode of composing anal using it is to be found in a great
number of ancient and modern work:,. Certain distinc-
tions, however, in the ingredients, the preparations, and
especially the name, have caused the various mistakes into
which great numbers of distinguished writers have fallen ;
such as Theophanes, Cedrenus, *Melancthop, La Porte,
&c. &Ducange, Moreri, Montesquieu, Grose., Watson, Gibbon,
c. , •

In the celebrated-MS. of Mircus Greens is to be found,
at the same- time, the mode bf 'snaking gunpowder, Greek
tire, and destrisetive rockets. The same information was
revived in a work of the thirteenth century, attributed to
Albert the Great. Roger Bacon appears to have been ac-
quainted with something of the same kind, but like Marcu
G'riecus and Albert, he is silent on the subject of cannon.
and all other hinds of fire-armi ;-"so that the rockets called
Congreve, which are now-a-days regarded as the most re•
cent invention of artillery, constitute, on the contrary, one
of the most ancient. The proofs of this proposition are
Front tithe inttrietnorial the Chinese have possessed fire-
arms,, artil more especially fireworks ; but they never made
any remarkable use of them' in war till towards the com-
mencement-of the thirteenth century. At shut epoch, that
is ro say, about the yettr,-123i, they defended themselves
against the Tartars by the use of bombs, fire-projectiles,
anti eying fusees or rockets,

The hitter, as we shall end, were already known
Europe; but after the most vigorous search, there are no
proofs of :heir use till 1379 or 1380. The Paduans em •
played them to burn the city of Mestre, and the Venetians
to burn the tower De!le &be, which appertained to it‘•
outworks of Chiogia. 'These facts occurred almost uncle.
the eye of the historians who relate them.

1n'1449, Dunois threw rockets into the square of Port
Audemor, and while the besieged exerted themselves to
extinguish the fire they caused, the Perch scaled the walls.
In a MS. which passed for very ancient in 1561, de-
structive fire-rockets are described with minute particu-
larity. It is recommended that the wrappers should be
made of iron-plates, and varnished to prevent their rusting.
Louis Collado, the chief engineer to Charles the FiftL,
informs us, that at the period when he cotnposed his Artil-
lery Maitre (in 1586) fusses were employed in order to
throw light on the environs of besieged places, and for the
' purpose of routing ctvalry He recommends that petards
should be added to them, in order
.to render them more
dangerous, and that they should' be thrown by means of t.
long tube, in order to augment their projectile force.
Furttembach describes a kind of buckler, surmounted by
a tube, for the purpose of throwing hand-grenades and
fusers. This author informs us that the Moors, and other
Mnssulmans, made great use of them in their sea-fights.
He adds, Ist, that the head of the rocket ought to be
shod with barbed iron : 42:1, that sometimes the wrapper.
was coated with inflammable matter, in order to prevent
the enemy front seizing and throwing it back: and 21_
that iron and leaden halls were introduced into the petard.
which, on its bursting, composed a destructive initraille.
Towards the end of the seventeenth century, and during:
the eighteenth, fusee' were disused in Europe, except fur
naval signals andieuz doie. But in Asia they Were still
continued to be employed in war. In different districts of
this part of the world feu: de joie have been long employed
as well as in China.

The Jew, Benjamin de Tudela, who visited Persia about
1173, saw a great number of fireworks, called " suns."
which ere nothing but rotatory fusee:. When the Portu—
guese, for the first time, landed at Melinda,. in 1498,
the Indiana never ceased, during the night,.iiring of
rockets and cannon, as a sign of rejoicing.
The soldiers of Tippoo Saib threw a great number o'
rockets among the British besieging force at Seringapatan.
Julienne de Bellair, who had previously witnessed their
efficacy, uselessly attempted to cause their adoption it
France towards 1791. General. Liriboissiere, Marescot,
Eble, and several other individuals of loss note; were not
more successful.

At length Sir William Congreve was more fortunate ;
having succeeded, in 1803, in prevailing upon the Britial.
Government to employ them.—Ariatic Journal.

CLOCK AND WATCH-MAKERS' PENSION

SOCIETY.

On Tuesday the COmmittee and Friends of this eteellett In •
stitution held its Seventh Anniversary, at flighbury Barn Tavern,
where upwards of 200 persons sat down to dinner.
J. WALKER. -Esq. the Treasurer of the Society, petalled.
After the cloth was removed, and Non Nebis Dania, sung I
fine style by Mr. T. Smith and other vocal performers, who wets
engaged for the occasion, the customary loyal toasts were 'lrani.
with enthusiasm, cash being succeeded by appropriate songs.
The CHAIRMAN then rose to address the Assembly, and
served, that he felt it incumbent on him to adopt that mode of pet.-
ceeding which these who had tilled the Chair on past occasion. ha.;
uurstal, namely, to state the nature of the institution, and the on.
sects which it embraced. Übe did this's/Ith less perspicuity thi:
his predecessors had done, the lack would be supplied by the pr;..
sonal knowledge of those he had the honour to address. (Applause.)
The Clock and Watchmakers Pension society was established
the year 1817, at a time when at least one-third of the workme.
were out of employ,.apd it was gratifying to observe that ha pro.
aperity and improvement had increased with every succeeding year,
I(Loud applause.) The object which this Society had in view et“..
well knowm.and it only required to be known in order to be appts •
i elated ; yet it beearne him as Chairman to advett fo it. It was te
administer aid to aged and decayed members of the several branches
of the trade and their WitISWS. The worthy Chairman Men de.
scanted upon the benefits which the Society hid already admi.
nistered to those sho, by the • ....isitititcs fire, hatl fallen Noe
the station they once held in the trade with which they were eat,.
fleeted, and not only to them, but their aid had 'been extended •t
'the bereaved owners of ott.ers, and ibe " widow's- heart wuv
caused to sing for joy." (Applause.) The Chairmakthen
an appeal to his auditors, and exhorted them to ruttier benevolent c
in language which did honour to his head arid his heart. He in, .
pada* largely upon the blesssings whirls the conaibutor
periented as well as the recipient, and the consolation it wool.:
yield at the clove of life, to reflect that they had nut withheld tii
hand of Charity from him that had need. (Applause.) Th.-
worthy Chairman would, in conelution, propose a toast, which I
was sure would be in unison with every heart ProsPeritY t
the Clock and Watch Makers' Persian fiociety." (Appleuse.li
The report of the proceedings during the past year was reatiky
Mr. Wit. LOVOILAY, one of the Secretaries, which, together wit:,
the Treasurer's eroounts, were of a most gratifying canoe. It ap-
pears that the annual receipts average about 880/., which arc de•
rived principally from subscriptions and do-tenons, to which are
added, an annual benefit at sadler's Wells Theatre, and the protire
derived from an excursion to the:Wove and a ball.
The health of the Lerd Mayor and Corporation °I-Lculda° was
drank with loud applause. • • •
Mr. Ilt.g.anow said that on
preceding occasions they had bes!!
one oe the corporate body to preside tim
chair, which Ca, not the ease in this instance, notwithstanding up.
lineation had been made in the properquarter. Be (Mr. B.) eon.sideretVatiat it was the duty of that great body to sanction and foss
honoured by having
ter thilfirbterfant branch or commerce. (Loud applause.)
The -neektie of the Trustees, Treasurer, Honorary Seetetatiess
and rtig Caemittee (whose isbours are gratuitous) were severally
pretoihrl and drank with loud applause, which mark of distinct:us
WAS gratefully acknowledged try 'it officers of the hweiety.
The health. of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman (Mr. C.
Leta) were aloo drank amidst rapturous plaudits. Thee; gentle-
men repreesed their patitudit IX honour doe, them, and,
pledgiai them/elves to 'redouble *Worts to remote the ben..
I yeleht obioete eeetroced by the i
As als holy hour the rettet loiter the hompotty adlarhod.

.. -~

r

CHESTER CIRCUIT.
eItEiHIRE A8817.E8, CaErma. Aug. 29.

Was. Johnson stood charged with killing and slaying Nathaa
Joission.

NOIR the statement of the A.troaxer-GENtriat, it appeared
that dips:lmer and the deceased had bad a quarrel, and that, in
the course of the tight. (which had been encouraged by the
priso-
nee'asiother) they were wrestling, and the deceased falling, the
riecisser jowl him, when the deceased said, •' thou hart hurt
me. bo• if' thc%li wilt stop till I am better, I will tight thee." The
tight atterwards took place, when the deceased received some kicks
on hiestiunach,, of which he died.
A surgeon proved 'that he was called In to attend the deceased on
the Bth of June, and that he had died on the Iltlt of the urns
mooth2 In conscquenee of the bruises which lie had received:
fbe Cnitr Jusa tet said, in passing sentence, " Prisoner,
you henebeen found' guilty of the crime of manslaughter. The
death of the deceased, it is clear, wits caused by a wadiea
which must be put a stop to. It appears, however, that ;Pie deceased
bit and kicked you, and gave the challenge to light first. Taking
into ronsideninoe the length of imprisonment that you have sot:
feted, the judgment of the Court is, that you be further
tonal foe the period of three months, and kept to hard labour in
the Noun of Correction."
Muscly Brave stood indicted with having stolen two beadles of
wool, the property of Messes. Oakey and Co. of London.
From the statement of the AT TOUNEY-OENERAL, for the
Crown,.it appeared, on the examination cola paean named Win.
Tait (a clerk in the anploy of the above tirm), that on the 16th of
April he packed up 36 parcels of wool, and directed them to Messrs.
Plekford and Co.. Manchester. The parcels were put on board a
boat called the Charles (No. 71), on board of which the prisoner
"t. employed. It farther appeared, by a witness, that the prisoner
was observed to take the parcels from the boat, and secrete them us
a. held sear a book, arid on being detected be said he was nut the
most guilty person.
The Jury having found the prisoner Guilty, he was called on for
his defence, when the primmer said, he did not see what Use it
was to make any."
TheCnisr Jtt art CIE. in parsing sentence, said—" Prisoner, you
hare been found guilty of grand larceny and a breach of trust, in
rot protecting property committed to your custody. You have ob.
reeved that you were not the most guilty, which Is very probable,
u the receivers are worse than the thieves. The judgmem of the
Court in your case is, that you be transported beyond the seas lot
the period of seven years, to such place as his Majesty, by the ad-
Mao( his Privy Council, shall think proper."
CUTTING ANI) MAIMING.
Wu. Brooks stood capitally indicted, under Lord Ellenborough's
Act, with having, on the 21d of April, at Stockport, in this county,
indicted with a certain sharp instrument, on the body of .3largaret
Rhodes, divers wounds.
From the statement of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, on the part
of the Crown, it appeared that the wounds (four in number) had':
been indicted by a ocn..knife, at the door of her house, when the'
prisoner made use of the following words:—" Peggy Rhode-4, come
out, a-n thee, turn out, thou w—e and thief; my name is Brooks,
and I aim come to seek revenge ;" and then inflicted the wounds as
described by the witnesses for the prosecution.
M. D. G. Jowts. on the part of the prisoner, endeavoured to
show that the proucuirix lint gave the provocation, by striking the
pr sorer over the side of his head with a patten ; that she used se-
veral words of a provoking nature, and that she called him a rogue
and a thief.

Mr. Lacey, the surgeon, described the nature of the wounds, but
wwl none of them were or a dangerous kind.
Atter several witnesses had been examined nn the part of the pro-
mo. ..:;;en, and on the part of the prisoner. his Lonlvinp •untmed up,
acd 'he Jury found the prisoner " Guilty of doing wine grievous
and betide harm."—Deeth.
(Ann, JrSTICE—Put the prisoner back. I shall not pass sen-
tence now. I captive him very little hopes.

SURREY SESSIONS, W coNEsDny, AUG. 31.

HORS/MONGER. JAYE,

Ja—c.: Fern NI was indicted fee stealing a pair of shoes, a gown.
sad other article'. from the Rising Sun public-house, in Kent-street,
Borough, the property of James lAoyd.
It appeared by the .tatement of the witnesses, that the prisoner
eatery the house of the prosecutor for the apparent purpose of lark.
tr.o some refreshment, but that he took advantage of the short ab-
serce of the wife of the prosecutor to go into a small back room,
ttorn whehee he took the articles named in the indictment, and then
left the house unperceived. The robbery war stalest immediately
discovered, the prisoner was pursued, and token in the street he-
lore he had time to dispose of the articles in question.
The evidence was, of course, an clear as to the guilt of the pt
'saner. that a verdict to this effect was returned without &littera-
on
Li, by the Jury.
The prisoner, who appeared to be a man very far superior to
those wbu are gencraliy found in his situation, then gave in a writ-
ten statement to the Magistrates, which declared that he had been
soldier in the army, in the East Indies, where he had rewired
many wooed', that he had also fought the battles of his country, at
several placoson the continent during the late war, but he had been
obliged, in consequence of Ul health, to return to England, where.
on his arrival, he found his mother in a state of great distress, and
so supporting her and himself he scan got rid of the little monev he
Lad saved. Being unable to obtain any employment, he was soon
reduced to the most abject poverty. While suffering under those
privations, and bohc:ding his mother in the greatest want, he was
induced to commit the offence for which he now stood at the bar or
3.ot:ice. But, during his confinement, he was informed that he had
barn left s proporry. which would enable him to pass his life in corn-
fort, and to maintain his aged mother. Under these circumstances
he besought the merciful consideration of the Court.
The Fleecier was this morning brought up for judgment, and
the Ch. n non inferred him that the Court having made inquiry
into, u d considered his case, was inclined to give credence to it,
and Lodes] leniently with him. A society had been formed for
giving relief to persons circumstanced as he was, after the expira-
tion of the term of their punishment, and if their funds permitted
them, they would no doubt do their endeavours to enable him to
regain the situation be had !oat. His sentence was, that he be con.
Laed 14 days is the House of Correction at Brixton.
Jahr Dona', the elder, John floridly. the younger, and Pat.
DO,VRAtif three Emeralders, stood indicted for creating riot and
disturbance at New Cross, on Sunday last.
John Eddie, a watchman of New Cross. deposed that on Sunday
last, at eleven o'clock, he heard a great noise near New Cross-mad ;
Le proceeded to the spot, saw a number of Irish, men and women,
assembled, who were fighting with poke's. sticks, and large stones.
and apprehensive that murder would be the result, he sent for
ossietanee. The cries of " Murder I" &c. were uttered loudly and
re pasted ly.
Sarah Chapman saw Donaghue with a poker in his hand. The
prisoners were in company with two men, Ready and Fry, who
sse:e taken into custody, but the mob rushed upon the officers, and
they were rescued.
John Wilson. a brickmaker, stated that on Sunday night he was
gaudy walking along, when he was suddenly and brutally attacked
by the mob, and the prisoner Donoghue strue. him in the face with
the poker he carried in his hand.
The Chairman summed up the evidence, mid the Jury returned
a liana of Guilty against all the prisoners.
The CHotamow addressed the prisoners—lt was much to be
lanaeoltd (he aa.cl) that riots so frequently occurred in the vicinity
of London; of late ton they had arrived to such a pitch it was 0-
solace,' necessary the Logislature should interfere to prevent such
infamous and demoralizing occurrences. The Court therefore sea.
teaced Donagime to three months' imprisonment in the House of
Correction at Brixton, and to be kept to hard labour for die whole
potiod ; the elde: Donelly to two months and hard labour; and
the younger to one month and hard labour.
Marks Cape!, the person who described himself as a Russian
merchant was placed at the Bar to take his trial, for defrauding
Mr: Gilbert, of the Borough.
When the prosecutor was called he did not appear, and his re-
cognizance was ordered to be entreated.
Shortie after the proserotor came into Court. and Mr. PIATT
applied to the 13:nrfi on his behalf, in order that the recognirance
trijht net be immediately entreated, on the ground that an 'Aneroid.'
aoie appointment prevented his attendance.
The CuaiaNsx, in refusing the application, said he had also
that morning particular appointments to attend to, but he felt.
Woad not to suffer them to interfere with the duties he owed to the
public.
The Jury were discharged, and the Sessions ended.

STAGY. Coscars.—A change has been recently intro-
diced in the plan and management of stage coaches here,
which promises to be a considerable improvement. A coach
sins started to run between Edinburgh and Glasgow about
a month ago, which, though drawn only by two horses,
performs the journey sometimes in four hours, and rarely
excw,ls four bouts and a half. The secret of this extra-
ordinary expedition is-Ist, That the coach is of a very
light make, EIS weighs rather leas than 12 cwt., while the
common stage coaches weigh a ton-2d, That she carries
stuly four inside and seven outside passengers, and a coach-
man ; in all 12 persons, while the others carry six inside,
12 outsidelaassengers, a guard, and a driver; in all 20
persona3d, That the horses, instead of being changed
iipor times, as in the ordinary coaches, are changed six
times, which reduces the stages to seven miles each. The
horses hare thus little more than half the weight to draw,
. while the distance they run is shortened in the proportion
of two to three, and the work done is still nearly in the
proportion of the animal strength employed, for the quicker
eosch requires but 12 horses, while the slower one re-
vises 16. One consequenze of this new system will ne-
ces.sarily be, that the coaches which adopt it must en.ploy,
horses which have a large proportion of blood in them.—
CaleAmies Mercury.
11.!:. 'Montgomery, of Fulton, undertook yesterday, for
• 200 sovereigns, to drive his mare Phenomenon, in harness,
u.. the sot, seven miles and a half in half-an-hour, on the
Ey)ism road. II: did tile first mile in 3 minutes 58 se-
conds ; the second in 3 mih. 69 sec. ;' the third in
3 min. 67 scc.; the fourth in 3 min. 59 sec. ; the fifth in
4 min. ; the sixth in 4 min. G sec. ; the seventh in 4 mie.
and the half-mile in 2 min. 50 sec. ; losing the
mad. by several seconds, the mare having tired culler
thaw was expected.

Sr: GEORGE'S Nosprva.
TREATMENT OF THE PATIENTS.
A Board of Governors met yesterday at the Hospital, pro.
tosioaly foe the transaction of ordinary businen relating to the
Institution, but ostensibly for the purpose of ascertaining the
justice or injustice of • charge Trade upon one of the servants of
the establishment, and another person now on the books as a
I patient.
Thq Rev. Mr. II uunks, Chaplain to the hospital, was called
to the Chair.

lice. enflames said, that the first object to which he
sheatd beg to direct the attention or the Board, was a charge made
on one of the nurses (Armstrong) of cruelty and inattention to a
poor man named Daniel Taylor, who had been brought to the
Hospital with a wound in Ins band, and who had since died, as
was erroneously alleged before the Coroner's Jury, fitom some im-
proper treauneut he had received whilst in the Hospital. A charge
of another nature had likewise been made against a patient named
Allen, for gratuitously interfering with the economy of the esta-
blishment, in such a way as was likely to be prejudicial to the re-
covery and comfort of the deceased, Daniel Taylor. Charges of
this nature, though levelled at individuals, fellintlirectly an the ,1
Bard of Management, who were bound to correct such abuses,
and he behaved he might venture to say, that so fir from shunning.
investigation, it watt st all times their most anxious wish to promote
any. investigation which had fur its objeit the.great cause of Ipi-
rnanlty and public justice.
(The following are the leading features of the case which brought
about this inquiry :—A poor man (Taylor) was brought to the
hospital some time back with a severe wound in the hand, which
was treated in the usual way by the House Surgeon : dressings were
applied, but as the parts about the wound displayed symptoms of
strong inflammation and swelling, a poultice was put on by order
of the medical attendant. After the poultice hadremained on for
some time, the patient complained of pain to a female who visited
him, and she thereupon remonstrated in rather angry terms with
the nurse on the impropriety of not changing, it oftener. It was al-
leged that the nurse refused to doemeted that she (the nurse.) be.
ing hurt by this interference of. a visiter what all-. she deemed
her-prerogative of judging in such case, got Into a violent passion,
and said, •• that to enniisli him (the patient) it should be kept on six
hours lunger," end finally turned the patient's female friend out of
the ward. The charge against Allen, the other individual
Complained of, was, that he had asked the deceased, to assist in
carrying coals, his hand being at that time in a dangerous state,
which deceased refused, and that Allen thereupon made use
of some severe and irritating language to him. In conse-
quence, it was said, of this ill-treatment the patient was
induced to elope from the hospital before his cure was ef.
retied ; but as his wound began to aniline a more alarming
character after he left the house. he again applied for ad-
missiun, and was received, but in spite of every effortaubsequnitly
made on his behalf, he died in the hospital shortly After. When
the Coroner's Inquest sat on the body, these circumstances came
out, partly in evidence, and partly in desultory conversation. The
Jury commented in termS of strong reprobation 011 the internal eco.
non y of the hospital, and these remarks coming before the Board
of Management, through the medium of the public press in the
first instance, and being further confirmed by an official communi.
cation to the Secretary, from Mr. fliggs, the Coroner, this investi.
gation was ordered. The Weekly Board, at their ordinary meet.
ing on l'edriesday the 24th ult., had the Coroner's letter laid be.
fore them, but as they could not properly go into the investigation
of the charge in a satisfactory manner, without the Coroner a mi.
nuns of evidence, and other necessary information, it was ad-
journed to the next Board Meeting, which was yestirday I.
Two patients, who had been In the sante ward with Taylor. were
examined very closely as to the nature of what passed relative to
the removal of the poultice. From the evidence of one, a man
named Cree, who slept in the opposite bed, it did not appear that
the nurse had used any expression of marked severity ; in reply' to
the patient's remonstrance, she merely replied, that she could not
make any alteration but on the express authority of the! medical
officers, to whom she referred him ; the Woman, his friend, then
manifested a great deal of ill.temper, which was highly calculated
to irritate the patient, and in conformity with a standing order of
the hospital she was turned out of the ward,
Three Gentlemen, Messrs. llollar.d, Hawkins, and Sleigh,
were then appointed to go through the wattle, for the purpose of
ot• lining any further evidence from the other patients that might
have known any thing relative to the matter, but these gentlemen
could not elicit any thing beyond that was already stated by the
other witnesses.
. . . . . . .

hi r. SLrlax said, that he thought the charge against the nurse
was entirely without fiundation.
Mr. KEATE, the Hospital Surgeon, said, he had mere than
once been obliged to speak to the time-tacit on the impropriety of
his leaving his bed at a time when he was really in a dangerous
state, and he also reprimanded him for taking off the poultice fre-
quently, to show his hand to his friends.
Sir. BRODIE observed, that unless the standing orders of the
hospital were attended to, the medical oaken could not be held
responsible for the lives of their patients.
A Gorernor here remarked, in proof of the necessity of a strict
observance to internal economy in such an establishment, that a
short time back a visiter was detected bringing in laudanum to a
patient who complained of broken rest.
Mr. HOLLAND said, that if the charge made against the nurse,
relative to the poultice, had been well grounded, she would have
merited expulsion ; but in Isis opinion it had not been sustained.
There was always great exaggeration in matt; s of this kind.
Sir. Rose moved, that the correspondence which had passed
between the Coroner and the Secretary, on this subject, should be
read ; which was agreed to, and entered on the minutes.
Sir. BRODIE then adverted to another subject of complaint
made by Juane, as to the want of proper attention on the part of
the hospital porters in showing the bodies.
Sir. Ilor.LANnsaid that it was the wish of the Board that every
facility should be afforded by their servants, and trusted that this
complaint would not be repeated.
The final opinion of the Board was, that the nurse had escaped
the imputation or blame merely because she acted only in con.
fortuity with her instructions, but that the conduct of Allen was
highly reprehensible.
(in the motion of Mr. ROSE, it was agreed that the Secretary
should communicate officially to the Coroner, in reply to that gea-
tleman's last letter, the result of thin investigation.
The following correspondence, above alluded to, forms a perfect
lepitome of this interesting case :
•• Cloisters, Westminster Abbey, Aug. 22, 1825.
" Sir—At an Inquisition taken before me, on Saturday evening
last, on view of the body of Daniel Taylor, then lying dead in
St. George's Hospital, the Jury, on delivering their verdict, re.
quested ine to acqueint you, for the information of the Managers
of the Hospital, that the misconduct of two individuals there was
the occasion of the deceased's elopement from the house, which it
seems led to his death, as it appeared that either from want of pro.
per medical assistance, or due are, symptoms ensued which ended
to his death, notwithstanding in five days time he was again ad.
itnitied into the hospital, where he received every attention and
kindness.

•• The perions complained of, were a man (Allen) said to be an
inpatient, but who assumed an active part in directing the other
patients, and a feinale nurse (Armstrong.) Mr. -, the Hoe-
pital.Apotheeary heard the evidence of the deceased's widow, and
can give you every information, and to whom I beg to refer you ;
or if you wish me to explain as far as I can, on a subject in which
I do not like to presume to interfere, I would wait on you some
evening, about eight o'clock, on receiving two days' notice; as I
am, in the main part of the day, engaged in important, and a
kind of public buainesa, which I cannot neglect.
•, I am, Sir, yours,
'• THOS. /Dons. Deputy Coroner
•• fur Westminster.

" To J. Gunning, Esq.
" Secretary, St. George's Hospital."
• St. George's Hospital, Aug. 23.
" Sir—l have laid your letter of the 22d inseam, Vlore the
Weekly Board of Governors of St. George's Hospital, and nm di-
rected to convey to you their thanks for the communication respect.
ing the Intinest held before you on the late Daniel Taylor.
The IVeckly Board have carefully inquired into tb'c alleged
misconduct of the patient Allen, and the nurse Armstrong, and
have collected the best evidence which they could obtain on the
subject.
" They learn from your letter, and from other sources, that the
,wife, or female friend of the patient. Taylor, expressed herself to
the Jury and others as perfectly satisfied with the surgical atten,,
lion showh to the latter, while in this hospital—hut that she coen-1
plained of some ill-treatment from the nurse and patient above.
mentioned.

On further inquiry they are informed-
1. That Taylor was admitted under the careof Mr. Keate, with
a wound of the land; and that Mr. Keate, although there were nu!
urgent symptoms at the time, being apprehensive that such might
occur, directed him torenniin constantly in bed.
"2. That, in oppositidi to these directions, Taylor left his bet'. on
the day preceding that pe which he quitted the hospital, but the
I nurse (Armstrong) having remonstrated with him he returned to
I his bed previous to the hour of Mr.' K eate's visit.
"3. That on the following morning, having persisted in disobey.
ing the orders as to keeping his bed, the patient (Allen) who meet
him in the hall of the hospital, called upon him to assist in carry-
ing sonic coals into the ward, which .Taylor properly refused
to do.
4. That Taylor immediately after this occurrence returned to his
ward, and went to tied ; and that Allen, on observing this, used
some harsh expressions towards him.
" 11. That upon this the wife of Taylor persuaded him imme-
diately to leave the hospital!.
" 8. That the nurse Armstrong strongly opposed Taylor (in the
situation in which he was doing diis until he had been seen by his
surgical attendant*.
•• 7. That these circumstances led to an altercation between the
nurse as the other woman, when the nurse ordered the latter to
leave the ward, after which Taylor quitted the hospital.
" 8. That titer the lapse of five days; Mr. Keate, on the
earnest application of Taylor and his female friend, and on hearing
that dangerous symptoms had shown themselves, directed that
Taylor should be se-admitted, although the rules and images of
the hospital roll:bit the re.admiatton of a patient who has
quitted the hospital in &I irregular manner.
" 9.• That Taylor, when re.admituad, was in a state of eetremr
danger, which terminated in his death.
" From the tonsicterati.in of these eireemstarees(of which they are
informed that many were stated to 'the Jury, on oath, by the,
beadle of the parish, who happened to be accidentally present at
the dispute between the nurse and Taylor'e (fiend, as well us
by the nurse and others), the Weekly Board do not find reason
to impute blame to Vie nurse, Armstrong. Neither can they itp-'
pate any serious • blame to the patienY Allen. the latter not having '
been aware of Taylor's real situation, and having no reason to ap- '
pretend that his disease was dangerous, from seeing him out of Ms
bod, and even out of Iris ward.
It appears to the Board, that if blame is to be imputed to any
one, it should be to the uniettunate patient hinrseV, and his wile

%or &milli friend, either of whom waist hare been atrlte.;,that if
there had been any real ground oft complaint, such complaint
would have been attended to if statetTsto the residedt Chaplain, or
any one of the medical officers os Governors of the Charity.
•• Moreoeer, it appears to the Weekly Board, from the anxiety
manifested by Taylor and Isis friend ter the re-admission of the
former into St. George's Hospital (instead of hie Bing sant, as he
Might have been under his peculiar circumstances, into some other
hoepital), that the patient must have been conscious he had not
nattered from ill-trilatment.
" From the observations of the Jury, however, conveyd by your
letter, the Weekly Board must suppose that you and the Jury have
obtained some intOrnlitiOn to which they have rot had access ; as
they cannot believe, that otherwise any body of men would have
considered the observations as warranted.
I aiti directed, therefore, by the Weekly Board. to nosiest that
yoti will layout them with a eopy of. the minutes of evidence taken
by you on tine occasion, as well as any observations which you
may have to make upon them ; the Board being anxious thoroughly
to investigate all the circumstance. of this transaction.
" I am, Sir, etc.
••Jos. GUNNING, Secretary.
"Thomas Higgs, Esq.
Deputy Coroner for NVestminster."
" Cloisters, Westminster Abbey, August 2(1.
" Sit—l feel much obliged by the favour of your letter of the
2ith'insrant, detailing such information as had been obtained by
the Governors of St. George's Hospital, as to the alleged 'Macon.
duct of the persons there, towards Daniel Taylor, deceased, on
which I wrote to you at the request of the Jury.
" You inform me that the Weekly Board du not impute blame
to the nurse, nor serious blame to Allen ; but they seem to reflect
on the• Jury. •
" I am not aware that the Jurors were acquainted with the die-
of St. George's Hospital. They heard on oath, that the
deceased had been scolded and sworn at. because he could not carry
coals ; that his wile humanely iaterfcred, and blamed the man fOr
speaking its that *ay to a sick person ; that the nurse then forced
her out by the shoulders, end told the ',after not to admit her
again. If such conduct wad not sufficient to tempt' the deceased to
elope, I do not know what could ; unless the cause was increased
by the tame nurse having before told the deceased, when he re-
quested her to put a fresh poultice to his hand, (which had been
ordered two-hours belbre) that she, to punish him, would keep Mtn
six. hours without it ; that circumstance was also sworn to before
the Jury.
" I presume on the above being stated to the. Board they will re-
tract their observations on • fury both respectable and impartial.
" I send a copy of all the evidence I took as liar as it. regards the
hospital. " I ant, Sir. &c.
TU031.411 HIGGS,
• Deputy Coroner fur Westminster.
" Joseph Gunning, Esq. Secretary
to St. George's Hospital."
(Notes of evidence follow here, as already published.)
" St. George's hospital, August 31.
" Sir—l am directed by the Weekly Board of Governors of
St. George's Hospital to thank you for your letter of the 26th of
August, and for the copy of some notes taken by you at the inquest
held on the late Daniel Taylor, with which you have been so
obliging as to furnish them, and which you state to contain • all
the evidence which you took, as far as it regards the hospital.'
" In these notes they find no other evidence than that of Mr.
Cowell, the house surgeon, and of Mary Taylor ; and the Weekly
Boardobserve, that the statement of the latter Is at variance in
sonic essential po'nts with that of the persons who were examined
before them in the very carotid investigation, which I have already
informed vou that they had instituted. The Board have this day
proceeded to consider to which of these accounts they ought to
attach the most credit upon this point ; it appeared to them, first,
that, other things being the same, the testimony of many is to be
preferred to that of a single individual; secondly, that the testimony
of Mary Taylor is to be received with some suspicion, because it
was at her persuasion that Taylor left-the hcspital, to which cir-
cumstance the poor man's death is attributed, and it is not unlikely
that she would be disposed to represent what:occurred in such a
manner as to cause the blame of this very imp.uilent action to be
transferred from herself to other persona. The Board moreover
cannot help observing that the decimation of Mary Taylor, that
Taylor was delirious when he left the hospital, besides being op.
I posed to the evidence of Mr. Cowell a:AI others, is in manifest con-
tradiction with her own story; and they consider that the anxiety
of Mary Taylor for the re-admission of the deceased into St.
Georges Hospital, instead of taking him, as she might have done,:
to another hospital, affords a strong presumptiun that she bad no
Just grounds to complain of his having been there ill-treated. The
Weekly Board have been made acquainted with a complaint,
which some of the Jurors made at a late inquest, of a want of
proper attention to them, on the part of the servants of the hospi.
tal. They are fully aware how much inconvenience a large hos-
pital necessarily entails on all persons in the neighbourhood, who
are liable to serve as Jurors on a Coroner's Inquest, and they would
be sorry nut to contribute all in their power towards rendering that
inconvenience as trifling as possible. They have given such direc-
tions to the porters, as will, they hope, prevent there being any
grounds for such complaints in future.
•• I have the honour to be, &e.
" Jos. GUNNING, Secretary.
" T. Higgs, Esq., Coroner for Westminster."

POLICE.

DESPERATE YOUNG THIEF.

GUILDHALL, Ago. 11.—It is seldom we hate to record a
more lamentable case than the following:—
Mr. Madden, a last-maker in Long-lane, Smithfield, had taken
the prisoner, a lad only fifteen years of age, whose name Is Wm.
Dobson,' into his employ. from motives of charity, about five
weeks ago, and on I. tacky last took him to sleep in the house.
On rising early on the Sunday morning the boy had disappeared.
His absence, however, occasioned no surprise, his master conjec-
turing he might have got up early to take a walk. Shortly after-
ward the key of the stable in Red Lion.yard was missed. Mr.
Madden went to the stable, and finding the horse, the cart, and
every thing else safe, changed the padlock, and thought no
further of the matter. The absence of the prisoner at night ex.
'ci:ed some suspicion. and Mr. Madden sent again to the stable,
and all was found safe: but on tile Monday moving it was dis.
covered that the new lock had been wrenched off, and that the
horse, cart, and harness, together with the whip and an umbrella,
stolen. Mr. Madden's suspicion im:nediately fell on the prisoner;
and having, by inquiry at the Boswell-street turnpike, learnt that
a person of his description had passed through in a cart, be-
tween one and two o'clock in the morning, hired &horse and chaise,
and taking Harrison, a constable of Aluersgate, set off in pursuit.
At the Woolpack, at Barnet, they learnt that the prisoner had
arrived there about six o'clock in the morning; and after giving
the horse a feed, during which time he loaded a pistol in the pee.
settee of theshostler, observing, he would fire at any one interrupting
him, resumed his journey. Mr. Madden and the officer again pet
forward, and on reaching the Peahen, at St. Alban's, saw the cart
in the yard, and on calling the hostler found the horse in the
stable, and learnt that the lad had gone for a walk through the
town. Harrison shortly met him, and aware of his having a
loaded pistol about him, seised hint suddenly, and instantly draw
the pistol front within his jacket, and he was brought to town.
To show the deliberation with which the prisoner had planned the
robbery, Mr. Madden produced before the Magistrate a letter
which had been delivered through the twopenny post at his house,
on the Monday morning, which purported to give him a friendly
hint that his own father was plotting, with three or four other
men, to rob the house, and to steal the horse and cart, and go off
with their homy to the smugglers at Dover. This letter, which
was evidently intended for the purpose of sending Mr. Madden on
a wrong route, the prisoner now admitted was his hand-writing.
The pistol, too, turned out to be Mr. Madden's. Among his lug-
gage also was found several pair of clogs, Mr. Illadden'e property.
l'he prisoner, a fine-looking lad, during the examination evinced
some emotion. When called on for his defence lie made no reply
whatever, and was fully committed for trial.
BOR•STRYET, Ago. 3l.—An auctioneer named Peek, de.
scribing himself as of Paddington, has underdone several examina.
tions at this Office, before Mr. 31zwanget, charged with unlaw-
fully pawning divers article. of plate, of the value of 2131. lls. the
property of Mr. James 'Warner, the latter being the bona-fide
owner of the plate, and he having given the defendant no sumo-
city to pawn or otherwise dispose o. it. The final examination
was postponed to Tuesday evening, on account of the absence of
Mr. Barker, the person with whom the articles had been pawned.
The facts, as they appeared from a long train of evidence, were
these :—Mr. Warner, who described himself as a merchant travel-
ling with valuable goods to and from France and this country,
being a short time ago in want of an immediate supply of cash,
applies, to Poole, whom he knew, for his advice how to raise it.
Mr. Warner had at that time the plate now in question in pledge
at Mr. Purse's, a pairnbrokerat Locdon-wail. Poole recommended
him to Mr. Moses, a respectable bill-broker, at Harrow, to whom
Mr. Warner applied to advance a sum of money upon the dupli-
testes. Mr. Moses declined lending money, but offered to pnrchase
the duplicates, and to coasent to a stipulation, that Mr. Warner
should be at liberty to re-purchase them within a month, on the
payment of a fair amuunt of interest. This was agreed to, and Mr.
Moses gave 1101. for the duplicates. Mr. Moses removed the plate
to Mr. Barker's, a pawnbroker in Holborn. Mr. Warner's &di.
mines increasing, he was arrested and obliged to go to a lock-up
house. Poole called upon him , and said, " Why, Warner, the
month is very nearly out, and you will lose your plate altogether,
unless you raise the 60/. you received from Moses. What the
devil will yon do i" Mr. Warner wrote a letter to a friend,
a Mr. Budd, of the Custom.house, requesting the loan of
100/., and sent it by Poole, with an authority to receive any
answer that Mr. liudd might give,• and he further authorised
him, if that gentleman advanced the money, to go to Mt.
Moses, pay toe 1101. with intetest. and get the duplicates
of the plate, and bring them to him. Alt. Budd advanced the 1001.
without hesitation, and Poole, as he was leaving that gentleman,
said he Knew Ina friend Warner would have occasion for about

41. le.. mote. as there were some expenses which must be paid,
and Mr. Budd gave him that additional sum. Poole then went to
Mr. Mmes. and having paid aim the BUI. together with 41. 10.. for
interest and expenses, the latter went with him to Mr. Barker's,
and lTAnsferre:l his right to the property to him (Poole) on behalf
of Varner. When the matter had Len settled thus far, Poole
said, " It will be inconvenient to me to take this plate away now—
what shall Ido about is ?" Mr. Moses said, "0, leave it here
foe bl. and you can then fetch it away whenever it suits you."
Poole accordingly received 111. upon it, and left it, promising soon
to redeem it, but the uert day he called again at Barker's, and ob.
I twined a farther loan upon it of 2bl. This, and the 5/. lie obtained.
the day before, he kept, and .he did not evett go to Mr. Warner,
with the balance of 201,1ele)n It» heads out of the lOU 101. which

be received from !dr. Budd. Mr. Warner, who was still io con-
finement, got very uneasy, and be employed a man named
Kearney, *tailor. in liseen.coart. Tanapha to wait upon Poole
on the sobj-ct. Kearney Arend Pool*, tad asked him what Ito had

I done With the Mato irelongtrg lo Mr. Warner she replied he bad
'pawned it again. liesniertoldtim he had done very wfong, andi
that Wanerr could punish him ; to which he replied, " 0 d—n
hint, he is locked up safe enough, and I know he can't get out, so
he may do his best ar.d his worst." Mr. Warner, however, did
" get out." and liming found where the goods were in pawn, he
instituted the present proceeding.
Mr. Axnntws took several objections, the first of which was
that the Magistrate had no authority to proceed hi cases where the
value of the property pledged exceeded 101. This was over-ruled.
The next was that there was uo proof that the plate was the bons
tide property of %Varner.
Mr. NVarner swore that he purchased the plate of Mr. Lee, of
Ilucklersbury, for 2131.; that he had paid 1301. of it, and that Mr.
Lee had ample security for the rest.
The second objection was therefore set aside.
Mr. Moses sail lie considered that he was yielding the property
to Poole on behalf of Warner. .

Mr. Warner swore that the goods were pledged without his. au-
thority, consent, or knowledge.
The defence set up was, that Warner owed Poole a sum of
money. which the latter had advanced to him while he was in eon-
linementat the lock-up hcuse, and that Poole had recommended
Warner to a tradesman, from whom he obtained goods which he
never paid for. These transactions it was contended gave Poole
a lien upon the plate.
In answer to the first allegation a person employed at the lock-up
house proved that he saw Mr. Warner pay Poole the money the
latter had advanced before they left the ;house; and the second
charge was positively denied by NI/artier.
Mr. ADOLPUr s having replied,
Mr. MINSIIIILL said, he considered the charge fully made out,
and a more dishonourable transaction had certainly seldom come
under his cognizance. He should, under the Act of Parliament,
order the defendant to pay the full value of the goods, 2131. a fine
of 20s. and all the costs ; and in default of payment. to stand cont.
'Meted to the House of Correction for three caleut.-.r months' the
full term allowed by the statute.
Mr. ANDREWS immediately said he should appeal to the
Sessions,
. . .

Mr. MtXSUULL said the Act certainly gave the privilege of an
appeal, but he should demand two sureties in double the amount of
the sum awarded, and should require proper notice, that inquiry
might he made.
The names of five persons were then given in, and the defendant
was allowed the indulgence of going to the watchhouse until the
necessary inquiries could be tnade. This day was appointed to
examine the bail, but when the hour arrived it was reported by the
proper officer that three of the persons named by the defendant had
positively refused to come, and that the other two, although they
did not give a decided negative, had neglected to attend.
Mr. M xsuut.t. consented to give the defendant a little more
time, and he remains in the watchhouse.

Samuel Wilson, a journeyman plasterer, was placed at the
bar, at the instance of Mr. Kitson, plumber, of Little Tor-
rington.street, Russell-square, charged with stealing a saw, his
property.
It appeared that the prisoner worked for the complainant, and
had pawned the saw in question.
Mr. Kitson stated that he had been plundered to such an ex-
tent by his workmen, that he felt himself compelled to make an ex-
ample of some one.
The pawnbroker's man, with whom the saw had been pledged,
appeared with the article in his hand. He said he could not
determine whether it was a Man or a woman who brought the
saw to his master's shop. He could not say it was the prisoner.
A woman, who declared herself to be the prisoner's wife, here
step:ed forward, and avowed herself as the person who pledged the
saw. Upon being further questioned as to how it came into her
possession, she declared that one Miles, who was present, had given
it to her for the purpose to which it had been applied.
Miles now produced himself to the Magistrate. He was sworn,
and stated that be was a carpenter, and had been employed as such
by Mr. Kitson. Wilson bving distressed for money, he had give.,
the saw to his wife, telling her to pawn it ; •and as soon as he to er
his employer after that, he (witness) told him of what he had done,
saying that the people could not starve. Mr. Kitson himself then
borrowed nee shillthgs, and gave four of them to the prisoner for
Iris red ef.

Mr. Kitson denied that he had ever been informed of his teas
having been pledged.
Alr. 311s:sat:Lt. t)ld the witness, Miles, that by his false ge.
nerosity in thus disposing of his master's property, he had sub
jeered himself to the chnrge of petty larceny. At *nevem, hi
must hold them all as implicated in the offence of unlawfully
I pawning, and the lowest fine he could impose upon him was 20s.
and the value of tue article wrongfully pledged, which it appeared
was 3s.' - - . . . -

Aliles thought it a very hard thing that he should become
the person charged, merely because he had come forward when
called upon to speak the plain truth ; and the truth he would al-
wave speak, although it should be the means of hanging him.
Mr. Kitson said, that if Miles would come back and work for
him, he would withdraw his charge.
Mile+ consented to do this, if Mr. Kitson wou.d promise, in the
presence of the Magistrates, to pay his wages on Saturday night.
The master and man thereupon entered into a solemn league and
covenant to this effect, and departed apparently well pleased with
this mode of settling their business.

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