The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

The affairs of Spain, and the line of conduct her
Government will adopt, on the receipt of the im-
pudent demands of the Cabinet of Saint-Cloud, are
the topics that may be fairly said, at the present
moment, entirely to engross the political anxiety of
Europe--fears, that disgrace past experience of the
Spaniards, are enterta'ned by many of those who
wish well to the cause of Liberty—what 1 can it be
feared that a people, who, when their country was
invaded, behaved so heroically in defence of a sys-
tem they had every reason to abhor and detest,
will tamely submit to a subversion of a Govern-
ment) which has been sealed by the blood of so

_
many Patriots—will those who (ought so valiantly
for their native land, in hopes of " Something
better which was promised," basely desert their
country when that " something better" is fully en.
joyed.—Certainly not—the Spaniards have now a
country worth defending, because it has • Coast it'.
ties, and they will prefer death to that indelible
disgrace that must attend even hesitation in such a
case—the French Government will find its leg;ti-
mate army, with its legitimate commander, are not
the same as the Hennes who fought under the
greatest Genius that history records--and they will
find that what was bravery, on the part of the
Spaniards, in the last war between that country and
Trance, will partake of a sort of desperation, when
an annihilation of their recently acquired freedom
is attempted—it appears doubtful whether Ferdi-
nand or his Generals can be relied upon as firmly
attached to the Constitution—we hope such doubts
will not be permitted to interfere with the question
of Spanish Freedom—fur we hold the sacrifice of •
dozen such Kings, and a hundred such Generals
but pigmy considerations, when placed in the oppo-
site scale to the happiness of a nation—" a /a
lauterne" (we would exclaim, in case of an invasion
of Spain,) with every one whose verity shall be
even doubtful.

A letter from Marseilles, dated the ,22th ult.
mentions a fact remarkably indicative of the dispo.
sition of the French troops with regard to the con-
test on the Spanish frontier. In one of the recent
. actions between the Constitutional troops and those
of the Army of the Faith, a party of the latter
who had been defeated presented themselves before
the French lines, to claim protection as friends.—
As they did not immediately lay down their arms,
the offieer commanding the French troops, eithre
did not or would not recognise to which party they
belonged, but gave orders to his men to fire, and
was so effectually obeyed that near 200 of the fugi-
tives were killed or wounded. The remainder,
when the supposed mistake was discovered, were
admitted. The conduct of the French troops, how-
ever, was deemed so reprehensible, that the officer
and the regiment he commanded received immediate
orders from head-quarters to march into the interior.
The Prince Regent, of 120 guns, building at
Chatham, is ordered to be launched and got ready
with all possible despatch, in order to her being
fitted for the flag of the Port Admiral there, Sir B.
Hallowell. In the space of about eight or ten
weeks, the hull of the ship will be completed, when
she will immediately be put off the stocks.
A Hereford Paper of Wednesday says—" Our
worthy High Sheriff has refused to comply with the
requisition fur the purpose of calling a County Meet-
ing on the state of Agricultural Distress."

FatmouTm PACKETS —We are at length able to
state as far as the decision of his Majesty's ministers
may be so considered, the ques'ion so long agitated
respecting the direction of the Fa:mouth Packets,
is at length finally settled. The following commu-
nication has has been received at Falmouth from the
highest official authority ;—" The Lords Commis-
sioners of his Majesty' Treasury have determined
on the expediency of transferring the superintend-
ence of the Fahnouth Post-office packets to the
Board of Admiralty," but "that no alteration will
be made in regard to the station from which those
packets now sail ; that the ordinary refitting of the
packets of Falmouth will continue as heretofore ;
and that the Navy Board will adopt all the present
contracts, and will continue the persons now em-
ployed. It is nnderstuod that the first building of
the packets has not heretofore been wholly confined
to Falmouth, and in future it will probably take
place (at least in time of peace) in the King s
Dock Yards."

LORD GROSV "SNOWS EITATE.—After many years
passed in consultations, his Lordship's arcithect has
hit upon a plan for embellishing all that tract of land
opposite to Belgrave-terrace, Chelsea. The original
plan was to remove the water-works, and erect a
uniform pile of houses next the King's-road : this
idea has been abandoned for a series of double cot-
tages, completely in the Italian style. They will
have gardens in the front and rear. By this ar-
rangement, the piece of water will disappear, and
the vacuum be filled up. The admirable new sys-
tem of draining lands will be put into operation in
the Spring; and thus will be removed one of the
most offensive objects in existence—namely, the
ditch which extends from the wooden bridge neorly
to Pimlico.

A private letter from Newettatle-upon-Tyne says,
—" The keelmeto who have so long been out of em-
ployment have at length returned to work."

THE BEACON NEWSPAPER,
Elms/ammo, DEC. 9.—The long-expected trial
for libel by the Beacon newspaper on Mr. James
Gib<on, Writer to the Signet came on this day.
:atm GIBSON PURSVER,—DUNCAN WrILTENSON, DEFENIII2.
In the fuses in Cause it was admitted that the•
pursuer, ant Attorney for the Bank of England,
was employed as agent on the trial of Prances
Mackay, which took place before the High Count
of Justiciary at Edinburgh, on the Ist day of Fe..-1
bruary, 1119 ;. and that in the months ofJun3 and
July, 18kt, the defender was printer, publisher,
and proprietor of the Beacon newspaper. • The first
issue wits—whether, on the 23d of July IW2I, the
defender, in said newspaper, did print and publish
a letter addressed to the Editor, signed "
[The letter, which was set forth at length, corr
tained, amongst other observations on the trial of
F. Mackay, the following passage :—]
In Ibis case, the agent of the Bank of 'England induced
a yowls woman, by • promise that she would be taken as a
witness against others, to make a declaration admitting her
guilt, and gating full information as to the way in which-the
trims was committed; be afterwards thought proper to have
her tried, and by concealing from the Lord Advocate the way
in which her confession had been obtained, induced him- to.
give hie instance to an indictment against her. She was ac-
cordingly brought to trial, and, after the eoefessioo and infor-
mation which had beep elicited from her, is her declaration,
she bad but one course left,--to plead guilty. She wan found
guilty, in term* of her own confession. The Lord Advocate
had snowed for sentence, which the Court were pronouncing,
whew the Sheriff' (the present Lord Advocate) in whose pre-
sence tie declarations had been emitted, laappeniag to come
into Court, exp d to his predecessor Lis surprise that he
should have brought to trial any person whose 000feasinn •as
obtained in the way the powers had been. It was by this
time too lade to prevent sentence from being passed ; but the
Court, on being informed of the circumstances of the cane,
expressed their high.disapprobation of what had taken place,
and the Lord Advocate immediately procured a free pardon for
the prisoner. After this, I ask, whether the Whig or the 'Glary
mode of administering justice d the pr.(
It appeased that Mr. Gibson having remonstrated,
the correspondence was continued by the following
hitter
" Edinburgh. Judy 2, 1821.
"St R,—l am favoured with your letter of this date, and is
consequence of its unsatisfactory terms, beg leave to decline
your proposal of examining the author of soy reticle in the
Beacon. 1 have, as yet, no reason to think that any passage in
the Beacon concerning you is false, calasonitms, and mali-
cious.' lam not aware of having asserted soy right to dictate
to you valet whom you should peoceed.
" sin, km
(Signed) JOHN NIMMO."
" To James Gibson, Esq. W. S.-
Frances Malay was examined at sotse length as
to the supposed promise of pardon if she confessed,
but which she positively denied.
Among other witnesses for the prisoner, Lord
Pitmilly was sworn, and examined on the Bench.
For the defender, Lord Meadowbank was sworn,
and examined on the Bench. Sir William Rae,
Lord Advocate, was also examined fiir the defender.
The Lord Chief Commissioner, in summing up
for the Jury, said, that in every case, bearing the
aspect of the present, there were certain leading
prineiples which aught to be strongly imprinted on
the mind of every Juryman. These he would give
in the words of two of the ablest Judges that ever
sat in Westminster Hall (alluding to Lord Mans-
field and Lord Chief Justice 1)e Grey); who in the
memorable prosecution of Horne Tooke, delivered
this opinion—" It is the duty of the Jury to con-
strue plain words and clear allusions to matters of
universal notoriety, according to their obvious mean-
ing ; and as every body else who reads must under.
stand them."—l-lult on libels, page 290. His lord-
ship then commented at some length on the evidence
and applied it with a skilful hand to the libellous
matter contained in the issues—and, after a lumin-
ous survey of the features of the case, gave it as the
eLeitled opinion of the Court, that the paragraphs in
►he newspaper libelled the conduct and character of
Mr. Gibson.

The Jury, after retiring about ten minutes, de-
livered their verdict by the mouth of Sir James G.
Baird, their Chancellor, unanimously finding fur the
pursuer on all the issues.—Damages 5001.
The trial lasted from ten o'clock in the morning
till ten at night.

It is reported that Lord Chief Justice Dallas
(who has signified his wish to retire) is about to be
succeeded by the Attorney-General, who again will
be succeeded by Sir John Copley. Mr. Shadwell is
named for the Solicitor-Generalship.
On Thursday evening, at half-past six, twenty-
five convicts, sentenced to transportation for lite,
were removed froat Newgate, in a caravan, strongly
guarded, in order to be conveyed to their repetitive
destinations. On their quitting the Sessions-house-
yard, they gave three distinct huzzas.
Earrrwsumas.--About three weeks since, a se-
vere shock of an earthquake was telt at Ilillesden,
Bucks. It was prectxled by a loud rumbling noise,
and commotion of the earth, which shook several of
the houses so violently, that the inmates, who had
retired to rest, were awoke, and the children
screamed from terror. The church on y suffered :
art of its battlements having been shaken down, as
p well as sustaining other damage.

. ~.

?Mt WITTANAT V

I, -I!

EXTRAORDINARY APPALL
COIIOII.II.IIIIIQUIST.—A Most strange and afflicting
circumstance wee the subject ofineestigation on Monday,
and again by adjournment on Tuesday last.
The circumstances that gave rise to the inquiry was an
anottymorw letter„ which asswell, the 1.11 ttttttttttttt
officer of Morylrisone, received on Sadder,- who ill
mediately commenced an inquiry into the mat er.
An inquest was-accordingly summoned at the Sawyer's
Arms, Marylebone, upon two bodies, one an old lady,
and the other ir young woman named Mary Pole:
Several witnesses were examined on site sitting of the
inquest on Monday, Imes whose evidence it appeared
the old lady dird a natural death, and that the young
women (Mary itole).was delivered of a still-born child
on Sunday week, and she died from-the edicts of the
premature delivery on 'intaday. It also appeared she
had made mute brig tin of a very citguler nature with a
youtsj medical practitioner, .who amended her during
her secouchensent, on condition were the child born
dead, he was to hare it for his attendance, and if alive,•
one vine' and a week's medicine. Oh the child being
found to be dead, it was sent away in a basket by the
surgeon ; the young woman neceasedr wis taken in by
the other, and aided deceased eons 11101IVCS of hu-
manity-.
The inquest was then adjourned tmtil Tuesday:night,
after some strung observation on the condoct of the
seducerof the untortunate deceased and the surgeon.
Mr. James Haney, physician, proved having 'acanthi-
ed the chili ; it was lull grown, and had no marks of
violence. ur any blemishes on the head or body.
Mr. Cusack, the celebrated surgeon, to whose school
of anatomy the child's body was brought by the surgeon,
that he might sandy from is, proved to the same effect.
The body of the child. its a mutilated state, it hating
been dissected, was here shewn to the Jury, and given
up by their command to the deceased's mother for ins.
leritletst.

A medical gentleman gave the gentleman who at.
tended the deceased the highest character, and said he
well understood his profession.
The brother of the deceased proved her wish to con-
ceal her state, and the sefosal of the surseon•io.infweu
hint where the child's body wat
After wine other converution the Jury then retired
for about !o minutes. and on their return, the foreman
said it was the decided opinion of the Jury, that Mrs.
Plumber (the old woman) died a natural death, by the
visitation of God, and the infant being still born, they
did ton impute blame• to the suedic-4 goodetuatt, but
extremely censured him fur baring made a contr..ct to
!me the the child fur dissection if still burn, indeed of
his fee.

1 Ise ►•erdict being registered by the Counsel, The bu-
siness terminated.

Less OF -rue- LtvearooL•• AND ELtanktElle't
STEAM PACKET.—The following melancholy particulars of the
loss of a steam packet are from the Chester Guardian This
packet left Liverpool abut three o'clock on Thursday afternoon,
having 23 persons on board, including her crew. The wind
at this period blew fresh, and was a-bead of the packet, and
there was-no appearance in the weather to justify a suspicion
of danger. About tire o'clock the wind had greallyiincressed, -
and at sin the packet had reached within a quarter of a mile df
Ellesmere pu. t. Li wes now blowing a complete burikeee, the
captain found it impossible to make the port. He then con-
templated a return to Liverpool, and steered the vessel round
for that purpose, but was soon convinced that it was impossibte
the tide haviog so far receded.' The vessel then beat about for
several hours, it being impossible to steer for any particular
point. At nine they cast anchor, but she continued to drill ;
and about twelve ran foul of flat, whose cable was also cut,
dragging her anchor. Ibe concussion was tremendous every
person on board expecting she was going down. S lof the
passengers were at this time iu (be cabin, and were violently
thrown down by the heaving of the packet, one ride of which
was under water. The confusion and alarm were now at their
height. As the flat remained sonic short time alongside the
packet, four of the crew and two of the passengers caught
hold of the side of the fist, ant got onboard her. There was
pow oueloot water in the cabin ; it was determined to cut Else
cable, and let the vessel drift with the wind and tide, the sea
dashiiig over her in- all directions. About one o'clock the tide
began to f.w ; and the packet was driven about two miles
a ore Fillesmore port, where she ran against a sand-bank, con-
tinuing for several times. to recede from and ajproach to it. At
length she stuck fast in the sand, nearly opposite Stanlow-boas. ,
and the feeble glimmeriag of the moon discovered the shore at
about seventy-yyrds distance. most of the intervening space
sand, or rather mod. It was now near four in the morning.—
Captain Dimond here pressed u many of passengers as lie
could prevail on to make the shore, when Mr. H. Whittle, sus
of Dr. Whittle, Mr. William Leatherbarrow, of the Eschange,
and Mr. Nixon, • farmer, near Stanney, leaped into the water,
arid succeeded iu gaining the land. There were now fourteen
individuals on board, only five of whom reached the shore is
safety. The c :plain with his son in his arms was washed over-
board, while in the act of disengaging himself of his great
coat ; Mrs. Deakin, • stonemason's wife, of Flookerabrook,
with her ffinfant in her arms, 'and her wiece,.about sixteen years
old ; the blind fiddler who accompanied the boat ; the son of
Mr. Dart, a promising yonth about nine years of age ; Mr. W.
Davies, millwright, of this city ; and an elderly person—all
perished in attempting to gain the land. The packet has been
gut up, is found to have sustained comparatively little injury,
and has been taken to Runcorn.

Letters received from the port of Maracaibo, in
the province of Venezuela, give a most terrific ac-
count of the pestilential fever now raging in that
place. A man belonging to the crew of a Liverpool
vessel, then lying in the port, happened untimtu-
eately to be seized with this horrible contagion,
which instantly spread through the ship with such
devastation, that only one individual escaped.--
Other vessels had also suffered most severely, though
not in an equal degree.
A plan is said to be in preparation to light all the
public clocks in London with gas by night.
Tw.) clerks at the Bank have been suspended in
consequence of their jobbing in the funds, which is
against the regulations of that estublishureat.

30'

BONISIRT OF TVS BIRMINGHAM COACH.-04
Thursday last, at about five minutes after four o'clock,
the Birmingham Balloon Coach was robbed of two
parcels, containing. between 7.0001. and B,oool.—At
four oclock the tourd of the coach, which was shout to
set off for Birmingham, appeared it. the yard of the Swats •
with TwO Necks Bin. Lad.lane, in preparation for tile •
journey. The horsekeeper, who had just put to the
cattle, observed a man walk up to the 'lour of the coach,
with a great coat, and threw the coat mum the seat, .15
if he intended to follow it soon after. The guard, who
also saw the stranger throw its the coats asked the horse-
keeper who the person was, to which the other replied.
" Why, he's a passenger of your's. to be sure " The
guard taking it 'ingrained there was nothicg to be ap-
prehended nom the mass who-had been the of jest of his
employ, proceeded to load the coach. He had in his
possess ttttt three-parcels of the notes of country, bankers
which had been paid iii kondois by their agents, and
were enclosed to them. One of %hest parcels wastlirechti
to Messrs. Gibbing, Smith, and Co. Bi • glsain, an/
and another to Melina. Taylor and Lloyds, Birmingham,
and cesistamed mrsvoisory 'Recta their retpective banks. •
These two were laid by the ;wan' "on the seat of the
coach, opposite to• the seat oat which the coat lay. the
guard 1111eilditift to deposro them in a-place of more secu-
rity in a few moments. He had not owned his back foe
many seconds when the two parcels and the great cost •
disappeared. lit the hurry of the business of the yard, •
ttobooy who could be supposed to be interested in the
safety of the property saw the person who committed
the robbery,etati who must have beta watctiiitg the
cautions of the guard HOW wane part of the yard. The
plaid had put the third parcel in his coat pocket. He
imasitediately ran off to Sir Janie* Esdaile's and Means.
Hatibury tool 'Faylor's banking-houses, front which lie
had received the percielr. and informed:them-of the rot,- •
bery. but could give no•deacription of the person who
threw the gnat coat Mao the-coach. Piatarels were mi.
mediately posted about the city, offering 2,0001- reward •
fur the recovery of the parcels, and convaction' of the
offender. or offenders. Judging f the manner ill
which the thing was done, the police are of opinion that •
the notes are in the rieg-i-amougst the usail-coac,k
thieves.
On Friday last James Davis, a man who was cOnvictell
of stealing carpenters! tools; was brought from the
House of Correction to Dorset-square, New-road, aid
being tied to a cart, was flogged, amid an immense rm.
t ourse of persons, a distance of 100 yards The fellow.
on the punishment beingcompleted. challenged any 0110
in the crowd to fight; but he was put ititu a ha, hussy •
coach and taken Lack to gaol, to undergo his senteitem
of imprisonment.
MATCH 1014 200 SOVIRRIONIA.=-MI. Hotidetswo& -
thy's snare started on Thursday, upon a • nonderful
un—
dertaking, to perform 21 miles, upon the trov.in an hour
and a half. The match took • place in. Ashbert Park,
over a three mile envie: Time 'was backed at six to
lour, and the match was- lost by the itileitipershce of the
mare breaking into &gallop five tallies, Willett occupied
consi trebly more than one minute and (oilmen
by which the match was lost.
On- Sunday evening last, between seven and
eight o'clock, as a resident member of the University of Chi-•
ford, was returning from his ministerial vocations at Alin.- •
don, the post chaise in which, accompanied by an academical
friend, the gentleman was travelling, was stopped on the crest
of the hill, between the third rode stone aim the Lodge of'
Hadley Howse, by three desperate salmis*. Prom the mods •
of proceeding, their plan appeared to be well sad delibrrately'
organised, for one stopped the home on the Mt or right-sidec
whilst the other desperadoes appros hod the carriage at either, •
door. The post.boy, to whom great praise is due for his coot.
yet energetic amine; perceiving the design of the riliaio„ • -
resolutely whipped his h , which most fortunately being.- • .
more/oarless: than pest horses usually are, instantly pluo
and pranoing,•overthrew the wretch who had seised-the reins,'
and as it is supposed the wheels of the vehicle rolled over his -
body. The infuriated animals rushed outward, sad continnotfr•-
their course witb-snabst-el speed, until they arrived at the saw- ••
wit of Hiuksey Hill. To the courage of the driver mid dor
mettle of the h,,rses must be attributed the fortunate escape a,
the travellers from pillage, if not from assinisination. Two Of-
the rillsina it appears were seen lurking abort the same spot;" -
by the driver of a returning posnohaise belonging to the Lbw.
Arms lon. They were dressed in dials 'frock coats, were
armed with tremendous hludgeess, and the stamped' linens.
Wills impri mad ma their countenances. It is remattabinibst
the chaise just alluded to, was iininediatelp loilcsived. by a:
cabriolet, containing another clergyman sad..-tde servant. whet
however passed the spot unmolested. The Police of Oxfscsl
and Abingdon, more particularly the University Marshal, who •
is ever indeatigable in the performance of his duties, have,
since time occurreuce, used the most active, incessant, mci •
unwearied esertious fur the discovery edam persons who wide
ed. daring attempt on time lives or property of gentlemen,
whose profession should render them respected and secred,
particularly when returning froiu the performance of their to-
clesiasti. al duties.
EarLE CHASE.—Mr. Morrison, of Tooting, and
Capt. Jaques, a bold rider of the Farley Hunt, started on Tues-
day from Moulsey, to cross the country to Beggar's Bush,
Surrey, about 14 milts. Mr. Morrison rude the Eagle mart,'
bought- of Mr. Forrester, and Capt. Jaques rode a horse belong-
ing to Mr. Brown, the fastest of time Parley hunts At going off
the gentleman. kept together, and in the first -seven onion they •
had to encounter many bold leaps, which the wetness Si' me day •
did not much favour. They were le sigi.t of sash other when
near Nekton. Mr. Morrison taking the open country verging
on Epsom Doctor, and Capt. Jaques taking the straight line
across the fields.. They were seen together gallopping up the.
hills towards Bamstead Downs, when they separated again,
Mr. Morrison •erging, os Wallington Park, and the Captain
pursuing time regular track. Mr.. Morrison reached home 11141
minutes before his opponent, in 4 minutes.
EXPERT SHOOTING Maili.:oo, of Royston
Abbey, undertook ou &Hartley to kill 23 birds. partridges and
pheasants, in 26 shots, over two manors in Buck*. ft was alt•..
gether a novel match, as it was to be per:in-nod in one dai , •
and the ground for operation being so rouineil, that the biros
got oft the manors, and were obliged to be sprang by dogs
to got them in. This left Mr: Midlison no alterastire bat to
,boot at uncertain birds, and wso doing he was beet. H.
killed nine brace of partridges and a leash aphelia/as, making..
twenty -one only Mille tweuty -sin shots.