The National Register.
London, England, 1823-01-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

The circumstances respecting the attempt to break
into the house of the Rev. fal r. Beckwith, of Tillincham,
Fsarx, as hitherto published, are very incorrect: the fol.
lowing relation may be depended on :—Mr. Beckwith,
who is curate of 1 illinghatii, being from home two or
three days, leaving Mrs. Beckwith, had desired the
church clerk to sleep its the house, as a protection, in
addition to the female aerator. One morning, about
three o'clock, a youth of the name of Fletcher, about 10
years of age, upped, by assignation, as it has since tran-
spired, at the maid servant's window; and forgetting
that the sees Se well as the eyes of love are always open,
he made so touch noise as to convince the girl that her
mistress was alarmed. To screen herself from the fact
of hating been the principal actor in the intrigue, she
ran to her mistress's bed room. and basely betrayed the
youth unto a snare of another description. in which his
life natrowlv escaped being sacrificed. Mrs. Beckwith.
with more courage than females usually possess, flew to
the pistols, which were loaded, but not printed, which
she however perfected, and then went to the whitlow,
where the unsuspecting youth was still wailing, expect-
ing a very different kind of reception. Mrs. Beckwith
fortunately tempered her courage with mercy, aid did
not fire, notwithstanding the author of the mischief fre-
quently urged her so to dot The young man, on ob-
serving his situation, became so much alarmed, as to be
incapable of making a retreat, but stood fixed to the spot,
and without the least resistance surrendered himself.—
Being taken before the Rev. Thomas Schrieker, rector of
Bradwell, the most satisfactory proofs of the simplicity
of the youth, and the base character of the woman, were
exhibited in so glaring a light, as to induce the worthy
Nlattal rate to dismiss the case, al er expressing a 'lron!,
disposition to cause the vile tempter to be prosecuted for
perjury, she havinc sworn not to have ben accessory to
the young :nat.'s visit, notwithstanding the clearest evi-
dence was produced to the contrary.
PEDESTRIANIsIII.—M r. Abeniethy's match to the 6o
mile stone on the North Road, and back to St. Gles's
church.—This amateur pedestrian started nit Thursday
last, from St. Giles's church, to go to Huntingdon and
back, tea miles from the place of starting, in 30 hours,
for a trifling sum, but heavy bets were pending on the
issue of the event. He did six miles the firs: hour, five
the second, and five mil a half the third, when he halted
to breakfast on a toasted fowl and wine and water. He
started again, and travelled for three hours, at the rate of
something less than five miles an hour. He arrived at
the 60 utile stone in 14 hours (8 o'clock in the evening),
and returned to Biggleswade. 15 miles, where he halted
again, a d went to tied liet•tired, from the partial thaw,
god consequently heavy roads, an the low grounds. He
started again at eleven o'clock on Thursday night to do
the remaining 47 miles, and , he Glasgow ma Ito Loudon
passed him about the 30th mile stone before 3 o'clt,clc,
whim at a slow rate. His friends were waiting his arri-
val at Barnet, and also in London ; but at hall past Moe
o'clock news arrived at Barnet that he could not pro.
coed but a short distance throtighsHatfield, and being
more than three hours behind his time, he relinquished
the task. It is sultrier( that the peilestriati could have
accomplished this 'thatch in a faroarahle season of the
year. lie travelled as private as possible, soul wore a
great coat over his flannels through the towns.—Tite
Aar.—Afier a successful attack on the royal party,
in 1745, a highlander hid gained a watch, as his share
of the spoils of the vatiqiiished. Unacquainted with its
use, he listened with equal surprise and pleasure to the
ticking sound with w`tich his new acquisition amused
him ; after a few hours, however, the watch was down,
the noise ceased, and the dispirited owner, looking on
the toy no longer with any satisfaction, determined to
conceal the misfortune winch had befallen it, and to
dispose of it to the first person who offeted him a trifle
in exchange. lie soon met with a customer; but, at
paring, he could not conceal hat tr ph, and exult-
ingly exclaimed, "Hoe, lion, sh'.:rlee'd last night 1"
The cora de ran, a large species of cocoa tint,
which is found only in In pia, is converted to a variety
of purposes. The wood, which is sufficiently firm,
except in the centre, may be usi d in many ways ; at the
summit of the tree is the cabbage, which, though more
biter than that of the common palm, forma an excellent
pickle. A hundred leaves make a good house, iticlud-
Mg not only the roof, but the sides, partitions between
apartments, doors, and window shutters. The down o•
the leaves is put into mattresses and pillows ; their
stalks formed into baskets and brooms ; and the hearts
of the younger leaves cut nit° narrow lengths, Irons
which hats 10f Loth sexes are made. The fibrous cover-
ing of lilt nut is manufactured into rope, and the shell
universally used as a pitcher, litany containing six or
eight pints ; divided longitudinally, it malt..a phi Les and
dishes ; and when s nal!, forms drinking cups.
The following anecdote of the late George Cooke
ntay possibly be new to, many of our readers —When
George was playing at Liverpool, the managers found
great diflictilty in keeping him sober; but after repeated
transgressions, he solemnly promised not to offend again
during his stay. In the evening te clay on which
the promise was made, George ot to be found
wMwhen wanted fur Sir Patinas a ephatsl—the at-
if
dience grew impatient; the manager storuied,and all Was
in " most admired disorder." Ater a long search, mug
of the managers found lion at pot-house near the theatre,
where he was drinking with ere..l composure and per-
severance out of a errs small glass. "Oh ! Mr. C."
exclai in ed the irritated 111111. gi r, " you have again
broken your solemn promise ; did yolk nut tel me you
wound give over drinking? "—George surveyed the 11/3•
nicer with the most provok mg coolness, and said, " I
certainly did make such a p se, but you cannot ex-
pect a man to reform all at mice. I have vett over
drieking " In a great measure," holding up the glass
clues to the nimager's nose. .
Anew road through Chichester and Petworth is
about to be formed from Portsmouth to London.--
It will comprise a distance of sixty-nine miles, and
will be ten miles shorter than the present Cltiches.
tcr road.