The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-03 00:00:00

DRURY LANE.

A new Farce from the pen of Mr. Dibdin was on Thursday
night acted, for the first time, tinder the eccentric title of
What hest;—This piece derives its mum from a series of hi-
tlits-ous incidents. .% nephew assumes the character of his
uncle, and successfully exercises the authority of the old gen-
tleman with all unsparing hand. Ile involves all connected
with his relation in indescribable embarrassment and finally
gets the uncle taken into custody, to answer for the sins of the
nephew. 'these freaks are of course connected AS lilt a lose-
plot, which, involving other diverting mistakes, tail. not to pro.
duce a most potent impression on the risible museles of the
spectators. 't he Entertainment was upon the whole eminently
successful. Dowton and Bartley, as the Uncle and Nephew,
were particularly distinguished; and Knight, as an imperti-
nent mischievous bt-FS ant, contributed largtly to the success
of the piece.

SINGVILAR Discos kftv.—On the first instant Mr. Henry St
Laurence, and 4 party of the Sligo militia. discovered, by in.
formation, an unliceneed distillery at Nita gara, in the county
of Sligo. The manner in which it was situated has astonished
many people. The officers and their party having found way
to the concealments by digging up the parlour floor which led
to a small passage nut more than fourteen inches in eircumfer-
ence, and on getting into it, discovered the distillery, consist-
ing of a large copper stilldivad and worm, and a considerable
quantity of pot-ale, vessels, 4c. This distillery. has been for
Jo years distilling spirits, and never till that day dise•nv erect
nay, even O'Grady's next door neighbours did not know of it
till the seizure was passing their doors. ahe sneak of it
was very ingeniously convey ed into the parlour chimney, the
t►re of which was at all times kept down while the tire was
under the stilt, in order to cause uo remark to be made on the
*make from that part of the houso. This spot was also near
three years between contriving and building, and every utensil
was put together in it; in consequence of whit•h the utficer
had got down part of the wall to relative the utensil., ,fie.
THE Cettagw.—.% Parish Meeting was held at Holyrood
Church, Southampton, on Thursday, the nth last:mt upon a
subject which has e•xcite•d no small deems of local feeling.
The Mayor, from seine considerations of its inutility, a.c, in-
terdicted, since Christmas last, the ringing of the Curfew, or
right o'clock bell. Many of the most respectable inhabitants
could not approve this order, and they convened ilitanselv es
together to take the same Into consideration. It was sliewn
that the tolling of the Cortew became a law in the itatai of
William the Conqueror, to serve as a public notice to the ex-
tinguish all fires and lights at that hour ; and although it war
not now necessary fop such a purpose, yet it was goon it
tojottrlicymen and apprentices to leave their daily employ ; also
often to mariners in foggy weather, its by the sound they
either directed their course, or ley -to as the case required
Upon the question being put to the vote, the proposition for a
renewal of the Curfew was cite ried by al to a The bell, in
conseeluent..•, is directed to he rung, but only for the spate of
five minute-, instead ofa fowler of ati hour,
The following singular neenrrence has, it is reported, taken
place very recently at Woolwich:— A transpint laden frith
ordnanee stores, unfit for further service, arrived from the
Eretic•h coast, ('or the 'tortoise of returning them, and remained
Bonne days hernir the unloading heron it at length took lame,
whets, it is added, moot inquisitive Officers belonging to the
Customs reqtiesteil to examine the entittitits of the• at ticks. and
diseavered that what war, considered and marked on this
packages as 'hut, shells, rockets, and other combustibles, c.•n-
sisted of claret, champ:dyne, silks, laces, &c, The whole, if is
said, wen• iainteiliately seized, amounting to a considerable Mal.
Bacon has not teen fir minty years so cheap and plentiful
;is at this time. Irish button is al t become a drug ; the best
sides will not fetch wholesale uuure than ad. per lb. and the
inferior scarcely 4.1.
A ewe, the property of Mr. Baker, near Exeter. yenned last
wee-klieg lambs, dad i,„ur of them are now tivind, and like I; to
do sell.

LAIV I,II'ELI.IGENCE.
COURT OF KINC;'s 10.:\ CH, I,i nmi Anir 2R.
CASIIMORI: .s. Kt! %N.

This was an action on it-i;iiiOleiel;;;nq; t;;10,11. drawn by Pinch of
the 0. I'. 'rayern. itussel-court, accepted by Mr. Kean.of the Drury-
lane Thourc, and indorsed over to the by
The eelcnce i.et up
was, Oat the bill had been discounted by the plaintiff' fur a usurious
consideration.

T.q,(oVe tbi4 nue Mr. Finch was called, who stated that curly in
OctoLec last, he. heMg very much pressed for money, applied to the dc.
fondant m accept a bill for him for list!. Mr. Kean complied with hit
reamest; and having obtained the acceptance, he, unknown to Mr.
Kean, npplied to the plaintiff, whom he had known for mime years. and
'Molts,/ frequently &conflux' bills for hint, to accommodate Min on
this oacasion also. lie accordidgly came to the wiftv.'ss's house, and
there. in the coffee-room, gave the witness gni., w ho, Upon that. uaiorsed
the bill over to him, at the same time telling the plaintiffthat he must
not present the bill when it should become due, either at the Theatre.
or at Mr. Kean's house ; but that, on its becoming due, he, the witness,
would provide for it. A few days before the bilt became due, the wit.
ness, tiding it was out of his power to take up the bill, informed the
plaintiff's brother of that circumstance ; at the sante time gin ing him
101. for the plaintiff, and telling him that he must renew the hill for
hint. A few days afterwards he saw the plaintiff, who said all was
right, but he must have another bill, which the witness promised ; but
soon after this the witness was armted, and disabled from performing
hisprontise of obtaining another bill front Mr. Kean. Upon fits, the
plainiff demanded the amount of the bill from the defenitatt, and um•
his r2fu.ing payment, instituted the present action against hint.
lln the part of the plaintiff, two witnesses were called, who, in con-
tradiction to the testimony of Mr. Finch, stated, that they were present
in the roWee-room at the time Cashmore discounted the bill; and that
he MC Finch 901. 4s. deducting only the fair legal interest of Ws. lof
the two months the hill had to run. They differed, however, inaWrially
in their testimony ; and Lord Ellenborough left it to the Jury to say, to
which side they would give credit. If they should be of opinion that
Mr. Kean was ignorant of the usurious transaction which had taken.
place, supposing there was usury. and that the use of his 11111110, which
given to the witness Finch, had been illegally and improperly
applied, he might honourably and honisitly resist payment, and the law
would sanction hint in that resistance.

The Jury, after a short deliberation, found a verdict for the da
fenthlat.

YORKSHIRE SCHOOLS, 'Mom!' 2.

u.t•rson N ATKINSON, I. 1)E•'I If.

'fills was au action brouelit by the plaintiffs who keep a cheap
school at a place called I:otherstone, iu Yorkshire, against the
defendant, a baker in London, to receiver from him I:l. 118 s.
being the amount of a bull for the education of his two suns,
and for their board, during one quarter and three weeks.
On the part of the plaintiff' it appeared, that in Jul, 1814,
the sun of NI r. 11. anion came to London to explain the nature
of his father's establishment, and to carry does a such pupils as
might offer. This young titan had an interview with the de-
fendant, explained the re rm. of the school, a hick were twenty
guineas per aim. ler each scholar, and in tine the defendant was
SO W. II ,attsficel, that he si tit his sons don ri. He paid feer the
first 'tweeter about three weeks after Christmas, a Ntr.
went down to fetch his own child away I the school, and
brought with hint at the same time, the two young Deail s,
and four others. For the. last 'mailer, and three w eels board
mac. the action was brought; the defendant on hieing applied to,
having refilsed to pay, oil the emend that the children had
been ill treated. '1 o prove the propriety a ith which the chil-
dren were treated, Mr. WatSOWS sun, all English teacher, and
two of the boys w lio had been educated at the school, Bete
exannieed. They spoke of the several excellencies of the e sta.
libel:malt, and the humanity with which the children were
taken care of. Young Watson on cross-examination, said, the
school formerly belonged to a NI r. Clealenuie, hi, rather was 3
butcher before be took the school. Ile denied that there was
a eohler, a tutor in flee school.
Upon the part of the defendant, Mr. Smith Was examiaeit,
he said that having hearth of the ill-treatment of' lite (+Hellen at
the raintiff's school, he went dmu to fetch his own and the
children of other persons, on sires ing at the school he foetid
the children in a most shocking state. Dirty, tilled with sir-
loin and sores. and their clothes all in rags. Their mike el
elbows aid km•es exposed to the, rain, and tin hats on. 'flue
young Deaths were in the most deplorable state. The young.
est had his fie tilled with uleei a and chilblains, so as to be un-
able to walk ; and the either was filled w ith vermin), and in the
must debilitated st tar. This evidence was further e orrohorated
by a Surgeon who attended the childiaa be fore they went down
to York, hire, and who saw them when they I amc Pr, He ele-
seribed them, when they arrived in town, as objects of the
greatest idly and commiseration, reduced in health, and ex-
tremely weak, owing, as he ails convimed, by neglect and
maid of stithcicit null iment. The elder child was them him-
self called, he describe el the treatment as very regular. He said
they had hearty meals cif oatmeal and milk for breakfast, meat
four flays in the week fur dinner. sometimes hashed, sometimes
bode 4, Th.. ha-h was male bullocks heads, for supper they
had broth or porridge. their bellies were not always ailed.
Anthony Becker, a he each teacher, described flee treatment t
of the children as worse than swine were treat. el on the elk n-
tinftlit. The children were covered with filth, and afierted
with the itch. The female versant was seventy years fit age
and serif dirty, as was old Mrs. Nt atsen, who keit all the
day, and called the children rascals. He, would not treat a 'log
Ile ICOt Sollte money to Mrs. er lie would lid% a
come assay immediately. He Mas at last oblixed to -
aleitt la calico and elifierent thing.. The soup was dirty, and
had hulls eves in it.
Loud Elfenburemeh, In ',nineteen:: up the evidence, said it a as
for the'Jins to s whether Ilse children haul been, as was iesi-
molted, starved, or a hether they lead nut been as well trea, eel,
and as well frsl, as the BUM for file same, which had been de-
manded, (mead have been espectell. His Lordship also ets-
serscul, that there seemed to be a good deal of preiudire on I *ie
past of the defendant, as well as a good deal of managemeat ta
the euteduct mf tuts case. - . .

I )l1 Jur', %about hesitatiou, loam! a verdict fur the p:aiur
tiff; damages 111. le.. etNts.49s.

TOE SI,TTERNIII IN TVE HEATON COAT.-TTT..— Vint It
months agitimieeel 70 and au fll.ll and boys lox their lives in ti's
!Icarus eo.d.pit, near Newcastle-npote.Tyne, by what is called a blast
of thepit, aria its tilling in ettosequenev with wr.ter. It was rot tinvl
Monday last 19111 indant, that the lashes of the grrseer part o: the
stattirvis weir conic at, when as of them were found in what 's called
the tar working, of the pit. It htte peen elorrly aw• rtdint dtl ,st (kW
unfortunate men *lid boys all perished by starvation. They had got
into a 'vat of tlw pit where the carter did tun teach them, and Ltd t.e...n
litany weeks employed in tidleavettrin.- to work their way intoite old
pit, by which they might have tie:aped. They are supposod have
failed in their attempt Ity the want of find to mteport them, as every
horse it. the it was rater to the belie. The ut.fortunt.te men had a
watet-mark feed up. that they might observe if it fell. One nisi, who
is supposed to have set to watch it, was found dead at his Foss.
Sunday night a the btote out in thc house of Mr. Waldoek.
N lllh'u-drititet in Neu Bond a. reel. It hegati in the draw .nr
MOM, uioich N util.iner, and lard till lb*
whole heaths% was dt:t.troyetl.

FURTHER PARTICU LARS OF THE mint UP .1111.
THoMPsO.V.

The following further particulars have been since published neglecting
the above unfortunate anair. Mr. Thomism is a festive of Manchester,
and was sprint ipal clerk in the house of Was. Swain and Co. solivitore,
in tr.leriek's place, Ohl Jewry. Ile was very much attached to the
young woman who was the cause of his misfortune, and she apparently
entertained for him a riaiprocal affection. When he inquired tor her
at Oct brother's in Ball-alley. he desigmated her by the title of wife, as he
proposed to marry her immletirttely. When Thompson wits taken to the
tattooed, the wound on the left side of his head was probed. to aseet Lin
whether the ball remained there, but nothing was discovered which could
lead the surgeons to the fieniation of a conclusive opinion. It was ma
cesaary front the blow of time poker shine, to trepan the head. The laird
Mavor, the l etter to secure the ends of justice, was desirous, whilst the
wounded sufferer appeared in full atesesnaa of his frailties.. to take
&wit his examination : he therefore ',tool...keno the hospital on Ft iday
afternoon, atter the hearing of Wool:tout the Mansion !louse. Ile foetid
Thompson in se ollected sttue of mind, and elicited front hint that Brookes
fired the pistol which bad inflicted the wound, but at the same time it was
underatood that the deadly weapon was originally in the leasession of
Tltompson. When shown a dug. he signified that that was nut its cun-
t •nts, for the pistol was loaded with hall ; this eiretuustance gave the im-
pression that the pistol had not been furnished by Brookes. His landslip
was prevented, by the advice of the surgeons, front tendering an oath,
and proceeding in the examination according to the forms of law, a s at
that ',erica! hislife was not totally despaired of; and the probability was, d tat
a regular examination night be attended with dangerous oinsequenceo
As thebeesiness treminatl, no cognizance can be taken of Thompson's
declaration in any future judicial proceedings. On Saturday morning.
the Nader evidence of the unfortunate caterer being deemed highly
requieite to clear up the transaction, Sir W. Curtis attended the hos-
pital foe the lord Mayor to take the examination. Brookes also was
present in custody. But it was now too late, the patient was 10:11111
Dot only delirious, but his extremities were already cold. He spoke a
a little, but it was in such an incoherent and contradictory manner, that
his statement could not be considered good evidence; and the surgeons
were of opinion that he mild not linger out the day. The answer
given to inquirers at a late hour in the evening was, that he would nut
survive the night. The young woman, the cause of the catastrophe,
whose friends deemed it expedient to confine her to her room, contrived
to defeat their vigilence. and found her way to the hospital; but was
soon conveyed back to her friends in a state of the wildcat delirium.
Since the above was written, we have ascertained that Mr. Thompson
is deed; he expired at three o'clock eesierday morning at St. Thomas's
1-10,pital; an impuist is summoned to sit on the lardy.
'Noe EST.—Monday an inquest was held at St Thomas's Hospital
upon the body of E. Thompson, who died on Sunday morning. in
consequence of the contents of a pistol having been lodged in his head,
in a conflict between him and a Mr. J. Brookes. at No. 3, Ball-alley,
latinbard-street- T. gains deposed, that he is servant to Mr. Tookey,
hair-dreaser, in Ball-alley. ,Mr. Thompson came to his master's
ship on Friday last. Mr. Brookes was previously there with Sarah
Tiokey. The *decease inquired for Mrs. Brookes (the name by which
F uah Tookey went). While lie was making this enquiry. Mr. Brookes
came down stain, and deceawd said. " is Mrs. Bmokes here?" Brookes
replied, no; but the deceased said he knew better, and insisted on
seemg her. teortle aferwards she made her appearance; but Brooke:
penned her hack. She then said, " Ecr God's; sake let me speak to
lien!" Derea td also Let her speak to met" and she again
said, " 1 have but one wool to say to hire. Witness then saw the
dent:Led pull a pistol out of his pocket, bueelid not point it at atm per-
son. Sarah .fookey told him fur God's sake to pot it up; and he in•
atantly did so. Sarah Tooke), then again said, '• Ike let mt: speak to
him !" but Brooke; put her back, and went up stairs to the kttchen,
from whence he returned with a poker, anti struck the deceased. No
words iv ssed; and Btookes has in,{ come off the stairs, stonk the de-
ceased a second time with the poker ; a struggle ensuul, and Brookes
grasped him sou' d, having at the stone time full power of his head.
Wines-a Mrs. Tookey, and Sarah, then called met " Murder !" and
dust as some gentlemen were coming in at the door, witness heard the
report of a pistol. but did not AV the position in which the parties were.
The struggle lasted about Una minutes.—Ann, wire of J. Tookey, gave
her evidence at considerable length; but it did not differ in any ntaterid
point from that given be former witness.---Sarah Tookey was then in-
troduced; but it was necessary for two Gentlemen to support her. After
being some tune seated, she depueol, in a bothering tone, that on Fri-
day last she azoompanied J. Brsokes to the Ileum of Tookey, when Mrs.
Tookey tad her that the deceased lord been there. Bnokes then ask. d
the witness to accompany lila to his brother's in Blenheim-street ;
she accensitagly sent up two pair of staits for heagloves, and on coming
down Mrs. l'rfrikey teal her Thompsen was in the shop ; she stood
on the stairs, and saw Thompson andllrookes in the shop ; she heard no
words, but :ow a pistol in 'Chomp son's hand, at widen she rareamol.
—Mr. Brookes advised her to go up stairs; which she did. and they
fallowet her up about half-way. Brookes then got a poker, and a
scuffle enemed. Witness was too much deemed to see what blows
pawed. Soon eta siteloanl a r.ltort of a piaci. and Thompson fell
upon the ground. Mr. A arbreae, a elsrk in the post-othee, was passing,
ant he.w-ti the cry of murder he entered the shop, and saw two persons
fighting, "1" IC only new point which the witness elicited Wak that it
could not he Thompson who find the pistol, as he was holding his
keeits, trying to separate them, at the time t'ee pistol was tired. Timm)).
sat fell, ami afterwards said. " they or he did it—he took the pistol
fern me." Brookes stood then as iinothng had happened, and said he
ha.ll.cight w.) dcf:rwi himself. 'ne rsronor recapitulated part of the
r7ifi law, and e xpl tined ffe Lew thereon ; :fen which the Jury retired,
&PA in a shore thew taunted, with a verdict of—Wilful Murder again it
Juba Btooktex