The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-26 00:00:00

INCENDIARIES.

The greatest alarm has prevailed in the town of Bishops-Stort-
ford for several weeks past, in consequence of the diabolical con-
duct of a set of villains. who, from motives of revenge, Mr the cap-
tion and punishment of some of their friends, who had been detected
in committing several robberies in the neighbourhood, have made
several attempts to set the toss non fire and in one or two of these
attempts they have been so far successful as to do great mischief to
several houses. It has seldom been our task to record an instance
of so determined a spirit of atrocity as has been displayed by these
incendiaries. The first effort of their malice was directed against
the property of Mrs. Mary Binns, who keeps the White Botse, at
Bishops Stortford. In the night of Thursday. the 24th March, her
house was discovered to be on fire in several places, and considerable
damage was done. The circumstances left no doubt at the time
that the house had been wilfully set on fire, and subsequently
the fact was put beyond all question, by the avowal of the perpe-
trators in en anonymous letter. On tyre night of Tuesday, the
sth or April, a barn used as a carpenter's shop, belonging to
Mr. Warner, was set on lire, and that and an adjoining barn, the
property of Mr. Francis Cole, were completely destroyed. One
or two other fires took place, and the inhabitants being placed
in a dreadful state of alarm and anxiety, • Committee of respect-
able persons was formed for the purposes of investigation, and if
possible, prevention of further eutrages. This Committee held
their meetings at the Vestry Room, and St their second or third
meeting an anonymous letter was received, addressed " To the
Committee of the Vestry," avowing that the fires which had taken
place were/ the result of a premeditated plan, and threatening that
the whole town of Bishops Stortford should be reduced to ashes
unless two persons, named in the letter, were released from prison,
and unless the Committee desisted from their endeavours at
detection, and withdrew the offers of reward which they had
issued.

The Committee still pursued their inquiries, and early in the
morning of the 17th instant, the house of Mr. William Francis,
in North-street, was broken Into, and set on fire in two place+. Mr.
Francis, it appears, had taken an active part in the exerdocs of the
Committee. Under these circumstances application was made to
Mr. I'eel, the Home Secretary, who immediately caused a rrocla-
niation to be issued, offering a reward of MO guineas for the detee-
bon of the offender•, and pardon to any accomplice who should
give' evidence again it hi. fellows. An order was also given for two
active officers of Bow-+treet to go down and use their utmost exer-
tions to bring the offenders to justice. Bishop and J. J. Smith were
sent dawn by Sir R. Birnie last week, and ) esterday information
was received at the Office from Bishop, that they had succeeded in
apprehending three men against whom there 1+ the strongest reason
for believing that complete evidence will be obtait.ed. One of
them, it is said, has already evinced a desire to make disclosures.
The three have been committed for further examination, and the
Officers are still actively engaged in the inquiry.

The Chief Justice of the --"Conmon--.l'leas has appointed
his son, Mr. Best, to succeed the late Mr. Batten, as
Filaaer of that Court.