The National Register.
London, England, 1816-10-28 00:00:00

UNEMPLOYED POOR.

Tuesday there was a select meeting of the Nobility, (}entry.
Merchants, etc. held at the Mansion•house, to consider of
some plan ter the employment of the almost innumerable
persons, of both sexes, destitute of employment at the present
crisis. The object of the meeting being niore for the purpose
of consultation and snggestioo, no regnia:, system of pro.
ceedine could lie entered upon.
Mr. Pettigrew was first called upon to read a paper. This
document gave a full and clear account of various Indigenous
plants of the growth of this country, which an enlightened
and experienced gentleman, Mr. Salisbury, had discovered
might be substituted for similar articles imported, at consi-
derable expence, and subject to a duty, and which were con-
verted into articles of general use.
The Duke or Stissex, previoos to any observation, express-
ed a hope that no impediment would arise to the objects or
the meeting, and that it would be most liberally, indepen-
dently, and universally countenanced by all parties.
Mr. Salisbury being called upon to exhibit samples of his
experiments, dint gentleman brat entered into u statement
respecting English and Dutch rushes. The latter were ha-
ported•into this country, tool when manufactured Into baskets
of a certain make, the material amounted to about five pence.
The gathering of English rushes to the unemployed indivi-
dual would cost nothing! The same argument would apply.
to the rushes converted into candlewick. Mats made of
English rushes would also he found tegnal to those composed
of the article imported. The article of grass-seed, cocksfoot,
and other grass, found plentifully on common, would also
present a source of employmetit and profit. That article
was generally purchased at the rate of 235. per bushel. and
yet he (31r. Salisbury) bad scut a man into Hyde Park, on
the 10th of September last, who gathered, in less than three
hours, as much seed as produced him 3s. 6d. Mr. Sansone,
next produced a basket MA* from willow, which had been
manufactured by a man at Wimbledon Common. This he
at first thought of no valve, but buying soon after met Lord
Winchelsta, he learned that 2000 gross of baskets had jest
been Imported from France.—The articles 'produced as same
pies, being minutely examined by the meeting, they were de-
clared to be at least equal, if not in some respects superior.
to those manufactured from foreign countries.— After some
desultory conversation, a Committee were appointed uader
the following Resolotion
" That the Meeting having taking into consideration the
propriety of establishing an Institution for the employment of
the industrious poor in all parts of the Kingdom, do fonts
themselves into a Committee, and adopt such means as appear
best calculated to carry the same into etlect."

BOXING.

DE•att op PeolLlST.—Another sort of North country
fight took place on Wednesday at 3lousley Hurst, between
ner, who made his tided on this occasion, and Curtis,
very properly designated the Dutch Sans of his weight, from
his public fighting. Betting was sto :3 and 3 to 1 on the
event.—We never observed fewer persons present on any
fighting occasion, and it is not to be wondered at, from the
wetness of the morning and the length from London, on a
fight which was at least on a secondary nature.—Turner was
seconded by Owen, Curtis by Oliver.
To pursue a fight of 68 rounds in detail, which did not
afford a single advantage on the part of Curtis, would bas
tiresome to theamateur, and dull indeed to the reader not
interested in such exhibitions.—With all the goodness of
Curtis, he was unable to get in to do execution until his
efforts were parodied by severe bitting.—ln the 22d round
be made a brave stand, but be had length and strength against
him, and he was thrown in nearly every round. • In the last
round the umpire and Isis friends advised him to give in, but
he persisted that he could win, although his adversary had
soisreety• scratched face. At length, after struggling
against every disadvantage I hour and 20 minutes, he was as
dead as a knacktr's lacquey.
We find that soon after the termination of the contest
Curtis fell, apparently lifeless, and being conveyed over the
water to an inn, at Hampton he betrayed the wont alarming
symptoms. Snrgeons were promptly sent for, and a vein be-
ing opened, he bled freely; but the great champion Death
hud grasped him too firmly for mortal aid to prove efficaci-
ous. It is now said, that he was repeatedly advised, both
by the umpire and his seconds, to give in, but he obstinately
persisted that he should win the battle. Be that as it may,
we hope legal enquiry will be made, and all concerned in the
affair be brought to a strict account.—We base long thong .t
it a gross dereliction of duty for the Conservators of the pub-
lic peace to suffer a horde of ruffians to meet for pugilistic
purposes, and have been amased at their remissness in suf-
fering them to Continue. It is certainly a breach of the
public peace, of the most glaring nature; sad having now
risen to a climax, will, we hope, no longer be suffered to
exist. A human life lass been lost ; this most Inevitably call
for inquiry; and we cannot bat think it a business worthy
the attention of the Grand Council of the Nation, if the
power already inexistence is deemed insufficient for the pur-
pose. it has been said, the practice is necessary to keep up
the national courage. To brutalise the human feelings it
may be ; but true bravery is as different from ferocity, as the
gallant soldier is from the desperate and fierce bandit; nor
do we believe, that the most experienced Pugilist would
acquit himself a jot better In the defence of his country,
either in a naval or military capacity, than a person who
never visited one of these disgraceful scenes. Englishmen
possess a fund of innate courage, which never fails them
when called forth on proper occasions ; they need not these
inhuman stimulants to animate it.

Conoxen's INQUR'T•—Aft inquest was taken on Friday
morning at the Red Lion Inn, Hampton, before Mr. Stirling,
Cormier for Middlesex, upon the view of the body of John
Curtis, (a groom), who died on Tuesday evening, Ow :22t1
inst. at the Red Lion, In consequence of receiv some
violent blows on the same day in a pitched battle with
Edward Turner, a leather-cleaner by trade. The Coroner
addressed the Jury at considerable length, and pointed out
to them that it was their duty by their et cilia to result as
much as possible, a recttr►ettce of such an unlawful and ilk-
graceful practice. Verdict— Manslauglthr against Edward
Turner. . .

1 urner, the opponent of Curtis, has hero so much afflicted
in his mind ever shico the Unhappy termination of the con-
test, that he could not be brought up to Queen square on
Saturday to undergo an I.N4llllwition, as was espeeterl. Iu
consequence of such indisposition, he Is not confineJ in :s
liaison, but under the special care of an officer. The lit al
r:1 come on at the ensuing Sessions at the Old Bailey,
commences out M cdnesiky nest. • Curtis and Turner ',.(1
long known each other, aryl a ri' alry only hail exiiial be-
tweeu than as to the pus3ession of pugilistic science.

•OC TODER .8.

,POLI

71tANSION-HOUSE.
•
Mona Casannactgs,—The Lord Mayor is at present ens-
pluyed in an investigation into the cases of no less than IS'
persons now in Newgate, having been convicted of uttering
Lad Bank tokens and shillings, into which they were tre-
pnned with a view to obtain a reward, which the Bank and
a MMint give on conviction. They are mostly sailoris, discharged
at the conclusion of the war, anal who could not get employ
ment in the merchants' sertlee, and com•equentiv were lying
About Tower-hill, Wapping, &c. in situations of 'distress. A
Jew, whose name for the present we forbear to mention, has
.been in the habit of picking up these poor wretches, and of
giving them bad tokens to get refreshment, while an Officer
of Justice is at hand to apprehend them. It appears
that the Bank gives a reward of 101. on the convic-
tion of each person charged. The Lord Mayor was four
hours in Newgate on Sunday, taking the depositions of the
following persons convicted at the October and April Ses-
sions, viz. T. Smith, J. Hawkins, T. Hickson, J. James, P.
Yusef, CAli. Connor, J. Thomas, E. Blakeney, W. Carson,
C. Green, T. Priest, T. Wilson, W. Williamson, J. Covey,
and J. Brown.

Friday the Lord Mayor held a first public examination
relative to the above conspiracies. Seven of these were
broaght up and separately examined. 'Their names are
Blakeney, Elizabeth Ctinuor, Priest, Caurson, Green, Wil-
liamson, and Wilson.
After an examination of some length, in which their inno-
cence appeared clear, they were discharged, and the Lord
Mayor ordered them to be taken to the Conspire until some
egnlation was made for their comfort.
The health of these poor creaaures are much injured by
confinement. One of them (W. Cannon), hithei to a stout
able boded man, exhibits in has countenance all the appear-
ance of a settled consumption.
The principal delinquent in the conspiracies in question,
is not yet in custody ; the Officers are, however, in strict
search for him, and as the Officers charged by the boy So-
batons with being (concerned, deelares his innocence, we
forbear mentioning his name. He only desires to be COG-
fronted with the individual not yet found, and is therefore at
liberty upon his own word to appear when called upon.