The National Register.
London, England, 1822-06-02 00:00:00

DREADFUL AFFRAY IV WESTMINSTER.

On Monday evening last an alarrling riot took place in Co :at
Peter-street, Westminster, and the places adjacent. It ori-
ginated in a quarrel among Rollie Irish people of the lowest
rises in a public house, the Duke's Head, in Peter-street.
from wile-see they turned into the street ; when in the course
of a few minutes, upwards of 200 persons assembled, armed
with every description of weapons, and a general affray com-
menced. The pollee attached to Queen-square office having
received information of the outrage. proceeded to the spot, re-
inforced by a strong party of the Bow-street patrol, and the
Thames police, under the direction of Sir R. Birnie. After a
very prolonged and determined resistance, after the riot act liad
been read, the rioters were driven into the houses, and were
lolls wed by the police officers armed with cutlasses and pistols
—several of the officers were very severely beaten. and much
injured by stones, &c. being thrown on them from the windows.
A pistol loaded with ball was fired from one of the windows, it
is said, and the contents lodged in the groin of a man Darnell
elsh, and lie was carried to the hospital in a tate of insensi-
bility. By the exertions of the police, and a number of the in-
habitants, who were sworn in special constables on the occa-
sion, 34 of the rioters were taken into custody in the course of
the evening. Many persons were cut and beat in the most
shocking manner, the rioters being armed with long sticks, and
supplied with stones by women from the neighbouring streets
Such was the consternation of the the inhabitants, the shut-
ters were almost universally closed ; several of the shops were
wantonly attacked, and the windows destroyed. Had not the
police promptly arrived, one house would have been completely
demolished.
Qursti-stattratt —EXAMINATION OF TILE RlOTERS.—Tues-
day morning this ()Mee was excessively crowded to hear the
examination of the prisoners.
Several witnesses having identified them, and sworn totho
it
participation in the riot, they were all comet ittid, tumid !tree-
nail, who was admonished and discharged.
The prisoners in the evening were all conducted, under a
proper escort, to Tothill-fields Prison. The examination
lasted until late in the evening, and the office was surrounded
by thousands of po rsons during the day.

Priests have the reputation or being the inventors of
many of the g►vatrst pla,tues and instruments 01 torture.
The hellish machinery of the Inquisinon was the work
of Jesuits. Cron-powder, so efleetite iu human exit r-
!nitration, wai invented by Berthold, de Schwan', a
German Monk. Bonds, by Galles, Bishop of Murder
—iron cage?, for roasting or "taming to death bum .n
victims, were invented by the Bishop of Ve trims, whir
was the first to sae, the death he invented for others.
He was shut up in the first carte that was made dimtig
lout teen years, under the adurinntratiust of Cardinal
Richelieu.

MIDDLUSISX S'- SONS.

SATURDAY. MAY 25.—Richard Dee•wow, a man advanced
in years, was indicted, conjointly with John Davis, who did not
appear upon being called, for keeping aHalal/a gadaiug-house
for lnore and gain, in the parish of it. James, Westminster.
Mr. Andrews stated the case for the prosecution, as it was
afterwards proved in evidence.
Peter Berrard stated, that lie hail been in the Cis 1111 l iiaariat
Depaitment in the army. He knew the house at No. 10, king
♦tied, St...l:inies's. Had been there frequently between the
2001 of December and Itlth January. It was a common gaming
hone - the gaming Was carried on in the first floor. All who
wile known were admitted freely—the street door was lett
ejat, and there was an inside door with a window in it, through
which a person looked when admission was tleintinded. Rouge
et .Voir was the game phis ell. There was some ping more Orin
29 persons present, and they were gentlemen and tradesmen.—
The company generally went away at twelve o'clock. The
game was played at all times of the day. Witness was generally
loser. From the 211th December to the 31st lie lust 1501.
The players generally lost. Davis appeared to hint to keep the
bowie. Heard the defendant any he was one of the proprietors,
and always said •• we" when speaking of tile proprietors.

. .
On his ermis-examination, he said, he was dismissed from the
army, and rendered incapable of serving his Majesty in any
capacity, civil, or military, by the sentence of a court-martial.
Was chatted with havin4 embezzled 20,0001. but was acquitted
of that charge, and found guilty of disolimiienee of orders.—
That was in the year 1813. De was then Deputy Assistant
Commissary General. Was a witness under live indictments,
and had brought two netions--one for a penalty under the act
of Anne—the stun claimed was 11001..—got a verdict in one
action for money lost—has a brother an assistant in a gaining-
honer, in who allows him two guineas a week.
. . .

Henry Compton, clerk in the Stamp-ollice, who had lost 2001.
or 3001 conlirnoll this statement.

Mr. Alley ninde a speech fur the defence, but the defendants
were found guilty.
MONDAY, MAY 77.—Joseph Guthrie was indicted for a
fraud.

Mary Browne, servant la Mr. Levy, Great Prescott•street,
stated, that on the sth of February, the defendant came with a
note to Mr. te•vy's house, and said he was sent by their washer-
woman, who lived at Clapham, for the clothes. Tba witness,
by the mistresses disire, gave him a considerable bundle of
clothes.

The prisoner cross-exninined the witnesses, and addressed
the Court snit Jury with great eltroutery.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and the Court def,Tred
passing sentence.
John Jones (a lad) was prosecuted by the parish of St.
Giles, for s riot and assault.

The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Court sentenced
him to be imprisoned cis months in the house of correction.
Samuel Bdusco, brother to the pugilist, was indicted fur as-
saulting Thomas Elliott.
Mr. Ir:Ilion stated, that the landlord of the Cress-keys public
Whiteclmpel, being ill, he (the witness) attended to his
business for him. The defendant, with some others, came to
the house and commenced gambling. The witness, knowing
how contrary such conduct was to the wish of the landlord,
civilly requested that they would either discontinue their play,
or leave the house. The prisoner took great offence at the
request, and immediately assaulted the witness; he both struck
him with his tint and kicked him.

The Jury instantly found the defendant guilty. H• was sen-
tenced to two month. imprisonment in the house of correction.

MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

The appearance of the crops through out the country is ge-
nerally promising ; and, although the wheats, from the nature
of the season, have guttered universally in colour, and in many
parts by loss of plant, a favourable summer anti harvest may
yet produce an abundant crop. The wheats upon cold, un-
sound land, which had in course suffered must, are visibly re-
covering both strength and colour. The fallow% and lands for
the spring mops have been worked with mach labour and diffi-
culty ; but the crops are sufficiently forward; and wear •
healthy and thriving appearance ; not however so luxuriant as
they are seen at the same period in more genial seasons. Po-
tatoes have planted well. All the green crops are of good
promise, and it has proved a most abundant season for tares.—
The hay harvest will probably be early. The vast quantity of
grass this spring bps produced a memorable abundance of milk
in the metropolis, anti a •, eneral reduction in the price of milk
and butter. In Kent and Sussex great complaints are made of
the weak mid blighted state of the hops. The appearance of
the fly is general, and the hedges and fruit trees are covered
with the webs and nidus of insects. In the inland counties
hop plantations appear more healthy. Fruit in general has
sultired much in blossom ; pears more than any other species.
The bark harvest is nearly and successfully finished, but the
fall of oaks has not been so considerable as in former years.—
Vast and uncommon swarms of mice are said to be making a
most destructive havoc's in the Mons and stacks of the farmers
in many counties ; and in one of the reports an easy method of
destroying these vermin is requested. At some of the great
fairs cattle and sheep have been sold at prices the most de-
l.. :maul ; whilst, from Noma peculiar ciroumatances, at some
few others, satisfactory sales have been made. The sales
under execution of farming property have rather increased of
Lae ; and there exists the strongest symptoms of a farther de-
pression of farming produce. The deplorable systems of tenants
'hitting their farms, and driving oft the stock, has taken place
to a considerable extent in the prineim.lity.

THE Fun CIRCASSIAN. —ThiS celebrated beauty,
who was purchaoed by the Pendell Ambassador, on him way to
this country, at Constantinople, and who wan Pt much an object
of attraction during her sin) in England, wasevnt back to Persia
by her lord and master, under the care oht favourite eunuch.—
On her journey it appears she was met by Sir Robert Kerr
Porter, the British traveller, and recognising him as an Rag-
lialiman, sho immediately rode np to bins with an intention of
addressin.: him. This was, however, according to the notion
of her attendant, CO4lllO honor lances; and in order to remind
her of her duty, lie struck her a violent blow across the shoul-
ders with his stick. She instantly dropped her veil, closed
her lips, and proceeded in lad silence, and nu doubt was thus
deprived of the opportunity of repressing those feelings of gra-
titude which her heart dictated on seeing the native of a king-
dom where she had beeu so hospitably received.

A melancholy accident happened at a colliery near
Dalkeith, on the evening of the 24th uli. The miners
jp
havin idently, in working, come upon an old shaft,
*the t rushed sirldi.nly in upon them, by which
means l iye. men and two women, the whole who Mgr
ti the pit at the time, were drowned.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

Patty.
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MANSION-HOUSE.

On 'Wednesday last a man. noted Bache. was brought before
the Lord Mayor, on a charge of embezzle:mein, MA under sus-
picion of having c iiiiiiii itted a robbery. A respectable sugar-
baker, named Miller, in whose employment tile prisuiler lived,
is the prosecutor.
The son of Mr. Miller stated, that the prisoner had been taken
into service merely because he was poor, the symptoms of
which were very strong upon him when he presented himself...—
He appeared to ho grateful for some tune, but his dress soon
begat' to outstrip his salary, and certain deficiencies were dis-
covered in the 2011118 placed in the desk of the counting house,
get at which auras a false key was indispensably necessary.--
The poisoner was not suspected of the rubbery until the necounts
were Mend to he irregular, and that irregularity was traced to
acts of embezzlement by the prisoner. Upon beiug accused of
the lesser olfence, the prisoner confessed it in tears, implored
paielim, and 114 lie had a wife, who had no other source of pro-
tectioo, not only suceeeded in obtaining that, but was actually
replaced in the situation which he had abused. His promisee
of amendment were, however, forgotten; ca►h again disap
peared. On Friday last the sum of 51. 2s. 3d., in marked
money, was left in the desk, and on the Monday following a
deficiency of I/. Bs. was discovered. The day after this dis.
Got ery, seven of the shillings which had hems stolen, were, to
the surprise of Mr. Miller, found iu their proper piece. Of
course the prisoner was accused. lie denied the offence to
the holm, but admitted it to the beadle, whom he also informed,
that he bad thrown away a false key, which he had procured
or the lock, and which enabled him to exercise: a euieroul over
the property.
The prisoner fainted while the iovestigation was going for-
' ward. He begged to be forgiven for the sake of a pregnant
wife, declared that lie was truly penitent, assured the borel
Mayor that lie returned the seven shillings from • principle of
integrity which operated von hint while lie was taking the
money, hating merely used it as a loan in the midst of distress
of the most intolerable kind, and promised to reform and refund
to the utmost farthing.
The Lord Mayor commended the humanity that pardoned
once, but thought the principle of forgiveness carried to a
degree of weakuess, by the complete restoration of the prisoner
to his former employment.
The prisoner was sent back to prison in the midst of his tears
and entreaties.

ROWING MATCH —Thursday a hard contest took
place between Mr. Hodson and Nlr.lNrebher, gentlemen
who were fornierly members of the Funny Club, for a
bet of 501. to row in two pleasure-boats from B sitersea-
bridge to Fulham-Midge and hack again. Tue match
was kept a profound secret, except to the friends of the
parties. From the celebrity of the opponents, who arc
at least 40 years old, it however created a considerable
degree of interest, and a great number of boats filled
with their friends graced the river, and attracted a vast
concourse of persons ignorant of the affair, who were
open the banks. Mr. Hodson kept the lead mostly all
the way, but in p,issing round Fulham-bridge, and shoot-
ing backwards through the arch, Mr. Webber got first,
and in a few minutes shot a-head at considerable '
tatter, which he maintained apparently with great ease
till he came to Battersea-bridge, where it was announced
by the umpires that he won the bet most fairly.
NIIRACU LO US ESC/LPL—Last week, as a min was at
work in a well ninety feet deep, at the new Parsonage-
at Priston, near Bath, Y 7 feet of the upper stone
work, weighing, it is calculated, full ten tuns, fell in
upon him:—there was also 30 feet of water below him
Eight men were immediately employed to remove the
s one and rnhhish, and after the greatest exerdons for
six hours, to their great astonishment, they found the
man unhurt, with the exception of a slight bruise on
the head, trout the fortunate circumstance of the large •
stones locking one in th, other across a piece of timber,
that was a few inches above his head.

MURDER or Mrs. DosArrr.—Late on Wednesday
night, a person arrived from Birmingham by the coach,
in the custody of Mr. Goodall, the high constable of
that town; and on the following day Mr. Taylor and
several gentlemen attended at Bow-street Mike, and ih!
accused was brought into the presence of the different
witnesse', and a private investigation took place in the
magistrate's rOl/111s lie fully established his innocence;
and, theretOre, we refrain trout stivAitt his name. No-
thing, whatever appearing against huh, he was of course
discuarged, but appeared very indignant at the proceed-
ing, and said he would seek redress. There area variety
of reports in circulation respecting the murder, but they
are not worth noticing until something authentic tran-
spires on the sus ject.
On Thursday last, John Gerard, Esq. brother to Sir
W. Grr,ud, B in. of Garswood, near Preston ; the Rev.
mantis Crailionie, Catholic Caplain to Sir William,
and Mr. Adamson, of Ashton-in-the-Willows, and Isis
eldest son, went out iii a pleasure boat, belonging to Mr.
Gerard, with a fisherman, named John JAckson, to
enjoy the diversion of fishing. About eight o'clock in
the evening the boat was seen a considerable distance
out at sea, and was shortly afterwards missed by the per-
sons looking, from the shore; but as no one saw it actu-
ally upset, a hope was entertained that the patty had
passed over to Lytham. Next morning a messenger was
sent to the latter place, who brought back intelligence,
that they bad not been seen there; but the dreadful ttd-
ings of their fate were announced in the course of the
day, by two of the lifeless bodies, those of Mr. Adamson,
jun. and the fisherman, being washed on shore. The
other bodies had not been picked up when the last ac-
0001111$ left Southport.
ProgstratAN ism —On Monday last, at three o'clock,
a man of the name of Simpson, a gardener, commencs-d
walking 96 miles in 24 hours, on N.. wcastle race-ground,
on nearly the same line as Wilson walked go miles in
the same time, on Easter Monday and Tuesday. Simp-
son appears to be upwards of six feet high, is a good-
looking man, thin, but bony and strong. The rate of
walking to accomplish his task is four miles ait hour,
but he walked for the first two hours, on all average one
mile in 13 minutes, which will be tone miles in two
hours, leaving a minute to spare. The general opinion
is in his favour. lie walks steadily and (hotly, with a
little leaning to one side. Ilis gait is military, aLld it is
raid he has becit a soldier.