The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-25 00:00:00

hIARYLEBONE OFFICE.

On Tuesday evening, an elegantly-dressed female, of mide,le
age, was brought from St. Pancras watch-house, charged with not
having liquidated the demand of a hackney coachman, named
Jordan, for a day's excursion through the metropolis and suburbs.
The circumstances of the charge are extremely curious. The
lady, at about ten o'elock on Tuesday morning, hired the
coach in Cornhill, and desired to be driven to Marlborough
House, Pall ma. On her arrival she alighted, went to the door,
and having made some inquiry of the servants, returned into the
coach, and desired him to proceed to St. Michatl's.place, Bramp-
ton ; but on arriving there, she, from the front window, said she
had changed het mind, and would not make the call she had in-
tended, but requested to be driven to the French Ambassador's,
Portland-plaee. The coachman, from her appearance, and the
distinguished residences she named, hesitated not, and accordingly
made his way to Portland-place, where, upon the lady alighting,
he demanded his fare. She raised up her head, and in a very digs
nified way demanded whom he thought she was?
Coachee answered, " Why, ma'am, I can't say ; but I say as
how I won't be done."

" Done ! you brute," she exclaimed, " why fellow I am a lady
of rank, and if you insult me, you will find yourself in the wrong
box ; so wait until I have seen his Highness of Polignac."
She then flounced into the hall, and the coachman waited for a
few moments, when the lady again appeared and ordered him back
to Brompton; but on arriving, the same unsettled wayward inclina-
tion seemed to prevail. and she ordered him to make his way to
Putney Bridge. He did so, but the lady having expressed a wish
to be driven somewhere else, the driver swore he would not budge
unless she paid him.
She then in a very haughty tone exclaimed, " Fellow, do you
doubt the ?"
Coachman—" Yes ; most d—ly."
The lady—" Then know that I have no money and will not have
any until I see my friend in Albemarle.street."
The coachman stormed and swore, and very unwillingly
set out for Albemarle-street ; but, as before, found that his fare had
no friend there, and after one or two excursions, he at length de-
posited her in St. Pancras watchhouse, where the more intelligent
eyes of the watchhouse.keeper discovered that the lady was actu-
ally (as her conduct had evinced) deranged, and he humanely set
about inquiring who and what she was, at the same time ordering
such refreshments as her exhausted state required. The coachman
however insisted upon his charge being taken.
The watchhouse-keeper, from her answers to his questions,
ascertained that the particulars of her history are rather affecting.
She had some years since been under the protection of a gentleman,
but from some circumstance her mind became troubled, and she
was placed in an asylum for lunatics at Clapham, called the Re-
treat, where she had remained for about two years ; the conductors
of the establishment could not obtain the necessary payment
for her board, and she, although not convalescent, was on Monday
last conveyed in a coach to the gentleman's house, who refused to
give her an asylum ; she was utterly destitute, and in a mental
paroxysm took the coach without having any settled object.
The lady, while in the office, appeared to be agitated in a very
violent manner; her answers were extremely incoherent, and Mr.
Griffith finding it impossible to get any connected account from
her, directed her to be placed in the St. Pancras Infirmary, until it
could be ascertained where her friends resided.
James Griffith, the driver of one of Bull's Paddington coaches,
was lined 61. and costs, for furiously driving in the New-road on
Sunday, the 14th inst., upon the complaint of Mr. Finch, a respect.
able attorney.

SPONTANEOUS COMOUSTION.—Extract of a letter from
Charles IV. Dabney, Esq., Vice-Consul of the United
States for the Azores, to S. W. Pomeroy, Esq., Brighton,
Mass., dated Fayal, March 19, 1826:
" A remarkable case of spontaneous combustion lately occurred
on board of the schooner Hiram, loaded with wool, bound from
Bilboa to New York, in consequence of some linseed oil being
accidentally spilt on the cabin floor. On smoke being discovered
the crew rao on deck, and secured every avenue to the hold, and
remained on deck with scarcely provisions sufficient to support na-
ture for six days, when they were so fortunate as to reach this port.
It was not expected that the vessel would be saved, but we resolved
to hazard her for the chance of saving part of her cargo, which wu
very valuable. The vessel was brought to anchor, four lighters
and as many men as could work were sent off, an axe was placed
by the cable, and a sail was ready to be hoisted to run the vessel on
shore, in case they should not be able 4o subdue the flames ; every
precaution that prudence could dictate was taken, and the hatches
were opened ; 110 bales of wool passed into the lighters, no smoke
appeared ; the cabin was opened and the fire found to be extinct,
having consumed part of several bales of wool, the cabin hulk.
head, one pump, and part of the starboard-locker! It was the
most miraculous escape I ever heard of. The vessel was repaired,
took in her cargo, and will sail in abcut an hour."
Pidding and Co., at the Lucky Corner, No. 1, Cornhill,
were so fortunate as to sell No. 1,7113, a Prize of 20,000 guineas ;
also 10.217, a Prize of 400/. at the last Drawing on the 9d of 91a5.
and invite the Public to make their Purchases without delay for
the Scheme wash Six Capitals of 30,000/., to be drawn 18th July,
being positively the Last and Only Lottery eyes to bedrawn in
this Country. Be assured it is a Fact, the ensuing Drawing will
be absolutely and irrevocably the Conclusion and Finish of Lotte-
ries. The Contractors have announced that the price of Tickets
will be advanced Twenty-four shillings each on the 27th of this
Muth, tbenfote the saving by an immediate purchase is self-
evident, u Tickets and Shares may be obtained at the present mo-
derate price, al Eddiorro Lucky Corner, No. 1, *ERNI