The National Register.
London, England, 1821-01-21 00:00:00

SU.

Mtritootsr SCHISM.—We regret to state that a
schism of considerable extent appears to have takeir•
place among the Methodists in the Northern Counties-
as well as the South, owing to the folly of some of their
preachers, in interfering with the political opinions of
the people. This began Arita the latter end of last,
year, when their Coutuitter of privileges in London, in
concert with his Majesty's Government, issued circulars
to the different preachers in the connexion, in all parts
of the country, to discountenance ;amongst heir people,
all those who might be at,ic,ied to political reform.—
Immediately the methodist pulpits every where iefounded
with the murderous doctrines of passive oberiienee and
non-resisiance, those doctrines, which in England,
brought one tyrant to the block, and obliged enother to
abdicate the throne. In consequence of which, added
to the tyranny of their preachers, and their exorbitant
exactions from the people, few of whom are opulent,
great iitimbers have separated f he body, and formed
a iiew community, under the denomination of " bade.
pendem Methodists," maintain:rig the same discipline,
but differing in church gore 11111 l ent, as their preachers,
like the primitive teachers of Christianity, claim no pe—
cuniary reward fur their lairours. I n Shields, Newcastle,.
and other 1/lACes, they are raindly increasing, and have-
already fourteen chapels and places of worship, which
..re supplied by twenty-one preachers. The itobte
of independence rising among these people cantiot be too-
much admired by every friend to civil and religious,
liberty ; and we hail this event as the forerunner of still
greater exertions in the cause of freedom, which is
intimately connected with the present and eternal hap-,
piness of the human-race.
Al ORLI:IC—AWOL 12 o'clock ms Wednesday night,.
the 8111, a set of vitlains armed with pistols, attacked
boat laden with a cargo of different merchandise, on the
Grand Canal at Colgait's Bridge, near the town of Eden-
burn, in the King's County, Ireland, proceeding on her
passage front Dublin to Snannon Harbour, and after
shutting tite hatchways on the crew, oue of whom they
unmercifully beat about the head with the but end of a,
pistol, until part of the skull was completely discarnate,
they sunk tile boat by breaking a plank in her stern with.
an axe, having plundered the most valuable property,.
Several gentlemen residing near to the spot have sub-
scribed a very liberal reward to any person who shall
cause tile delinquents to be apprehended, and brought
to condign punishment ; aunt the directors of the Grand'
Canal Company have in a manner highly commendable,.
offered 10M. to the same purpose.
A severe conflict took place on Wednesday night lase.
between a gang of live poachers and the keepers of
Windsor Great Park. The keepers were apprised of the
presence of the poachers by repeated reports of guns dis-
charged in the several plantations at the pheasants on
the trees, as early as eleven o'clock, but it was not till
twelve o'clock that the action commenced, when the
poachers had taken a position on a bridge, lour abreast,
with presented arms, threatening to fire if the keepers
advanced a step leather. The keepers answered, "We
have antis, and are determined to take you," advancing at
the same time. The poachers immediately fired, a close
action then commenced with the butt-ends of their
pieta, which terminated in the surrender of three of -
the poachers, who are lodged in Windsor gaol. The
four keepers and three of their melt received litany severe
blows; one of them, Page, lies so ill of three wounds its
his head, as not to be able to attend publicly to give evi-
dence. Ilis deposition was privately taken. Upon
examining the spot where the contest took place, four
guns were found ; one of then broken in three pieces,
two of them loaded with powder and small shot, and
one that appeared to have been not long discharged.--
N hie pheasants were found in a sack.
EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.-• 011 Tuesday mornins
some men belonging to Sheriff Hill colliery, Northum-
betland, were waiting of the gin horse to go auto the
pit. Owing to the cleaning of the boiler, :he regular
engine rope was not in a workable state at the moment,.
but about 20 fathoms of it, with the chain, were nang-
ing into the shaft. One of the Well, John Winn ,
having in the dark gone incautiously ton near the cige,
fell in. Repeated cries within the shaft at last roused
the attention of the other men, who on repairing to the
spot with a light, were told by him that he had fallen
into the pit, and was theti hanging by the rope. As
soon as the alarm would allow them to take measures
for his preservation, they proceeded to adjust the gin
rope, a wort( that occupied not less than timer) :Moines,
front their having to discharge it trona one pulley and
place it upon another. After fixing on a coif oue of
them %visited to descend in it to his assistauce, but this
Wilson forbade them to do. The coif was now let
clown g,:ntly till it carte under his feet—he their frieJ
himself front the engine tope, and being seated in tins
curl, was drawn ;lowly to bank, in a state of indesenb.
able trepidation. lie was, however able, with toe as.
sistance of anoth.:r man, to walk upwardsof a mile to his
own house, which on entering he threw himself 001 10111
knees, and stoma out his fervent thanks to God for 111.
deliverance. No sootier was this done, than, overpow-
ered by the dreadful conflict of his feelings he fainted.
Some time elapsed before he recovered tolerable com-
posure; one even still when the subject is recurred to,
his agitation is extreme. Being qu.stioned tuinately,
he said--" he had gone to the brink of the shaft to
ascertain whether his comrades were calling upon hits)
fr below; and being deceived by a glimmeriog of light
lit the brattice paint ion his loot ,lipped. He was COIF
,cious at tile moment he dropped in, but has no recol-
lection whatever of how or when he caught ho:41 of the
engine rope. The first thing he was actinide of nee-
dle rope sliding on his breast, and next its stripping bee
left hand, with which he held mainly (mould also wink
its lees and feet. lie had in his right hand. .1 stick, or'
whiten tie kept firm pDSseabioll Al the time, and broug;,t
it up wan him."
A transit of Mercury will take place et 6 o'clock
in the (naming of the Yd February, when that;
plater will appear llle a round black spot on the
face of the sun.

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