The National Register.
London, England, 1817-11-23 00:00:00

'TILE NATIONAL REGISTER.

tug day left Some wearin z apparel, and remained there
about a quarter of an honr, during which time she ap-
peared in good health and perfect composure of mind,
and at the expiration of that period lea the house.
The said William Ashford Nether said), that the said Mary
Ashford, about a quarter of an hour afterwards, was seen in
the pariah of Ashton, walking alone in a direction towards
Langley, which was then the piaci of her residence; that
there was a certain public foot path leading from Beii-14DIt
to certain closes—and that one of those , a short time before
the 27th May, had been harrowed, which last inewioni
close was near the pit were the burly of the said Mary Ash_
ford was f 1. On the 'miming of die 27th may, there ap_
peared and were mainfestedly in the said borrowed field,
the footsteps of the sail Mary Ashford and Abraham Thorn.
ton, the same having been c ~,,, pared with the shoes worn by
the parties respectively. nom these it appeared, that the
said Mary Asliturd had rnn and endeavoured to escape from
the said Abraham Thornton, and that he pursued and had
overtaken her in the said harrowed field, and it was then
and there evident,trum the marks of the said footsteps, that
from the harrowed field, they had walked together in a three-
tion leading towards the pit where the body was found, and
also towards the spot where the marks and impression of a •
human figure appeared aforesaid, within about 40 yards ofthe
said pit, where the footsteps were lost and eonlil nut longer
Ire traced by reason of the hardness of the ground there.—
There also appeared in the said harrowed field the marks of
other footsteps of the said Abraham Thornton, from which it
was evident that be had recently run by himself from the har-
rowed field in a direction leading from the pit, and no other
marks or impressions of fititsteps were found or were visible.
On the said 27th May there were visible and manifest on
certain grass growing on the side of the said pit, where the
body was found, the mark and impression ol• a shoe for the
left foot. and the said A. Thornton on that morning wore
shoes made to fit the right and left foot,as appeared oa exa-
mination. On the 27th May, the sail A. Thornton was
searched and sirippeil in the presence of several witnesses,
and the shirt and inside ol• the clothes of the said Abraham
Thornton were then and there marked and stained with
blood, and on the said marks and stains being discovered. the
said Abraham Thornton declared that he had carnal know.
ledge of the body at thg, said .Nary Asliturd, but that it was
with her own consent.—And this the Appellant is willing to
verify, when and where the Court shall appoint; and he prays
that the said Abraham 'Thornton may aut be permitted to
wage battle against him.
The Mark
of William Ashford.
The counterplea having been gone through,
Lord Ellenborough desired that the affidavit in veri-
fication should be re-ad.

This was accordingly done, nearly in the following
words:—

" The Apppellant hereby maketh oath and saith, that the
counteipiea hereunto annexed is true in substance and fact,
as he verily believes."

Lord Ellenborough now called on Mr Reader, the
leading Counsel fur the Appellee.
Mr. Reader—" I am quite sure the Court will not
expect from me, on the part of the Defendant, an im-
mediate replication in answer to this counterplea. My
motion, therefore, shall be for time to consider the
answer."

Lord Ellenborosgh—" What time do you desire ?"
Mr. Reader—" 1 think, my Lord, there would be
no prospect whatever of this cause coming to an issue
in the course of the present Term—and as that is the
case, I am certain, in a matter so very rare, of great im-
portance to the public, and of infinite importance to the
individual, time will be allowed. I am anxious to
have as long a period as possible, and, thcrethre, I ask
for time until the second day of next Term. I ought,
perhaps, to state, that it will be necessary for me to
have the plea recorded of the acquittal of this person
on the indictment, because a great part of what your
Lordships have heard on this day (my Learned Friend
behind me, Mr. Reynolds, says all you have heard')
I am not prepared to state that, but a great part of it,
infinitely the important part, did certainly appear at
the time of the _ . .

Mr. Clarke—" We can hear nothing about that."
Mr. Iteader—" From what I have stated, it will be
necessary for me to have the plea recorded; and consi-
dering that by asking for this time I don't put the par-
ties, in a ditktent situation from that in which they
now stand, fin. I believe it would be next to impossible
to come to the final result of the question. this Term,
therefore in a case of so much novelty, 1 am most anx-
ious to be allowed as much time as possible. "
. .

Lord Ellenborough—" It appears from your state-
ment that it may be very necessary for you to resort to
the record, and as the 'ferns is so far advanced as to
render it extremely ditlicult for you to come to issue
this Terns, it may be proper to allow an extention of
time, If it goes over this Terns, the pleading ore icums
in this Court must be proceeded in next Tenn. I should
however, like to know whether any objection exists at
the other side ?"
Mr. Clarke—" If your Lordships think the time is
reasonable, we cannot object to it."
Lord Ellcnborough—" One would certainly allow a
shorter time if the Terns was not so far advanced; but
I believe it expires on Friday next ?.'
Mr. Ileader—" Yes, my Lord."
Lord Ellenborough—" They must have an order
from a Judge to have is copy or the record and acquit-
tal--they must send down for it—and souse convenient
time bust be given them to consider of a replication to
put in to this ple►; therefore it is impossible, in point
of justice to them, to force them to a replication this
Term."
Mr. Clarke—" We are perfectly warts to do what
the Court way direct.'!

Mr. Reader—" If the Term were not so near its doses
I should be extremely anxious to bring this question Io
a conclusion—but, under existing circumstances, it is
impossible to effect that object in the present Term."
Lord Ellenborough—" Then take time to reply till
the second day of next Term "

The Defendant was then taken from the bar in the
custody of the Tipstuff, and the Appellant withdrew
wit!& Mr. Bedford, his Solicitor.

The crowd pressed round the parties in the Hall air
they retired, anxious to get a sight of the principals in
this extraordinary proceeding.

TILE DRAMA.

DRURY-LANE.

A Crand Selection of Sacred Music was performed on Friday flw
the benefit of the minor performers. Upon this occasion the theatre
was hung with funeral emblems, as was the Box formerly occupied
by the Princess Charlotte. After tile Dred March in Sant, a Monody,
said to be written by Mr. Campbell. ass spoken by Mrs. Bartley.

COVENT-GARDEN.
This Theatre re-opened on Thursday evening with O'Reefe's
comic opera of The Castle of Andalusia and The Father and his
Children. During the interregnum occasioned by the late melan-
choly event which must long universaly press upon the heart, and
check the pulse of joy, some alterations partly judicious and partly
unsuccessful have been effected. Of the former, the embellishment of
the grand chandelier merits recording ; a considerable relief to the
sombre and heavy appearance of the tunnel which conveys the heist
from the house through an apperture in the ceiling is now afforded
the admission of light through lattice orifices above the ornamental
part of the verge enveloping the lustre. Deep vandyked strings of
cut glass tastefully intersected by rich tassels of the same material
have been added to the circles of gas burners and contribute much
to adorn and beautify the whole. The auxiliary lights which hung
over the dress circle have been removed, and a number of Grecian
lamps ranged at the back of the boxes on this scite have been substi-
tuted. The effect is that of a mild and chastened medium of light,
and us regards the purposes of the stage it is decidedly an improve.
ment, but when the general appearance of the house is thrown in*
the scale, and a display of the auditory is considered, the alteration,
subversive of both, will we fear, encounter that deprecation and regret
which etutoni and fashion will not be able to subdue.
Of the Theatre having opened so immediately subsequent to the
interment of our lamented and beloved Princess,—but a few hours
beyond those devoted to tears and religious supplicarion, we fee!
called upon to express an opinion. When the precarious and al-
most unproductive nature of theatrical property, conjoined withithe
circumstances of the suspension of perfomiances, depriving numer-
ous families of their daily subsistence by the salaries of the inferior
assistants of the concern (ir, common with the rest) being withdrawn
is duly weighed, we cannot think u single voice will he raised in op.
position, inure particularly as that species of entertainment according
with the feelings of the occasion, and assisting to exhalt and motif"
OW grief was attainable. The rival home appeared to have enter-
tained just and cornet notions upon the subject. It was not in the
resumption of the purposes of the institution, but in the selection of
entertaniment that the error existed. Such was in every degree ill.
judged, and as far as observation teaches us, failed (from the thuiness
of the house) of the object which we know to have been protected
from humane considerations rather than hopes of emolument on the
part of the proprietors.

It is stated, that the Commissioners of Lands intend
to make application to Parliament, in the ensuing Scs.
sion, for leave to enclose 5278 acres of Epping Forest,
(not the whole, as reported) and to remunerate all per-
sons who can shew a just claim to any part of them.—
The object is to encourage the growth of timber, which
is very much retarded by the encroachments of the deer.
Independent of the above 3278 acres, there arc about,
it is reported, 9 or 10,000 acres belonging to his Ma+

jesty.
Gold has advanced 611. per ounce, this week, being
now at 41. 0 6d. standard silver is at ss. 34d.
It is gratifying to observe the rapid increase of Say.,
ing Banks iu different parts of tke kingdom ; indeed
the nature of these excellent institutions requires only -
te be understood to be duly appreciated, and the follow-
ing circumstances which have been communicated to
us, prove the utility of them were they are now esta-
blished. On the first day of opening the Saving Bank, .
at Wetherby, in Yorkshire, 2801. were received, and
on the second day more then 6501. ; most of the money
belonged to servants, and hail laid t 4 years in old
boxes where, litterally " moth and rust" had corrupted
it. This proves the utility of them. But at Halifax,
in the same county, where there is no Saving Bank,
a benefit siciety kept their club box in a school room -
adjoining a meeting house; last week this house was
broken into, and the box stolen, from which, however,
by mere accident, 1501. had been removed a few days
before. This proves the necessity of other security
for such deposits than houses, " where thieves break
through and steal."
It has been very properly stated, to prevent any un.
due alarm at this time, that only one woman inAf ty
thousand die in child-birth.
Dr. Croft attended the funeral of the Princess Char.- •
lotto, and he afterwards dined with the Equerries, &c.
of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
Prince Leopold ha.s apprized the Duke of York of
his intention to visit his birth-place, and return to
Claremont in the Spring, never more to quit,it.

In the ruins of lierettlanetini there lt oie lately been found
104%4'9 which were INikl,/ under the Irian a Titus, sort
shish sail nears the bake is mai k, indicating the quality of
the floor, whieh was probably preset died be regulation of the
police. "[lucre have ae'o been fousilii tonsils of 'trona*.
instead of tieing tinned like oars, ate well silvered. 'rho
ancients doubtless preferred this method as more 41 itt OA • some .
land more tlitrable.—heeniug Paper.
The festival of Faster, which sonn:/tiines falls so, late as the 43th
of April, will, in the ensuing ye-v., ti.it h. fall on the earliest possible
day, viz : the etki of March. 'flits. circumstance will not occur
I again till the year f.:283, a period of 444 years, The ditreren,ruovm,
able feasts and terms, and the Summer Circuits of the Judges, aa,
which depeitcl 011 the fallhls of limier, will be early in proportion..