The National Register.
London, England, 1822-10-13 00:00:00

AND ME TREAD MILL.

It is not perhaps generally known to many of OUT
that there are upon an average from 70e to 70) individuals con-
stantly prisoners in the House of Correction for the County of
Middlesex, and the greater part of this immense number Ude-
linquents are the very worst of the outcasts of the metropolis and
its neighbourhood, the most abandoned and Irreclaimable (*both
sexes.
It may not be uninteresting to describe this modem invention
of crimal labour. known by the name of the tread mill :—The
tread mill was set to work in this prison in the month of June
last. It was built under the auperintendance of Mr. Cubit. of
!punch, and Mr. Penn of Greenwich. and it has ever since been
in constant use—that so. (nut seven in the morning, till five in
the afternoon, Sundays ouroptod, and also exclusive of the short
periods permitted the dolloguents of both sexes for breakfast and
dinner.
There are hire no less than eight tread mills, built in u many
different yards, and the prisoners are classed with great judgment,
according to their sexes and degrees of guilt, by the governor
and his assistants. Each of the tread mills has thirty persons at
work upon it, attended by a task master. who sees that the pri-
soners exert themselves, and the greatest order and silence are
preserved at each of them. At first this was not easily atom-
;dished, especially among 'the females (and there is one of the
eight mills appropriated to their exertions;) but they were soon
subdued to reason.
The wheel of the tread mill runs horizontally nearly the while
length of the yard. About five feet from the top of the wheel is
an iron Isar, which the treader catch by both hands, and force
the board of the wheel, on which they first stood, downwards.
by their united strength and pressure, then raise a foot each un
the next board, still exerting themselves as at first. and so on ad
iridoitions. Its operation is like that of a squirrel's cage. with
the treaders outside. There are seldom more dill!' SO on any
one wheel at a time, the other six going off at different times in
rotation. The last whocasne down has-his place supplied by the
first whose turn it is to go up, and upon his doing so lie has no
sett from his labour until he and the other a have moved the
wheel so times the each person. Such is the labour of treading.
that the writer of this article saw a stout fellow, on coming of
the wheel, wet with perspiration, run to the pump to quench his
thirst with good spring water.
To speak in adequate terms of the cleanliness of every part of
the prison is impossible. The walls, passages. staircases, &c. are
as white and clean as those of any house in the kingdom. And
the health of the prisoners (and be it remembered mat many of
of both sexes are sent there loathsome with disease), does the
greatest credit to the attention of the magistrates of the noun,.
and the care of Mr. Adkins. the governor.

AN INTREPID ARRONAUT.—A your% aeronaut, of
the name of Fassy, lately made an ascension at Mar-
seilles, which was very near proving fatal to him. At
five o'clock in the evening the balloon arose in the pre-
sence of numerous spectators; the hasty disappearance
of the object of their attetitioti soon spre.d general alarm,
when they again perceived the balloon, and discovered
that it had lost its spherical form, and was falling with
terrific rapidity. Toe most dreadful conjectures were
now formed, and every one crowded to the spot where
M. Fassy intended to have descended. Sarni they had
learnt he came down in perfect safety near the hamlet of
Saint Charles. The cause of the rapid fall which had
as justly alarmed the spectitois was as follows:—M.
Fassy having arrived at a great height, encountered con-
trary winds, which forced his balloon in every direction.
He thought of descending, and to accomplish this lie
pulled the silken string of the valve—but the latter be-
ing placed on the lower side of the machine, was so
tightener{ within the folds, which were gummed, that
it could not leave open to the vs a free passage. The
aeronaut saw hinisclf reduced to pass the night in the
air or to burst his balloon ; this last course seemed to him
dangerous, and he adopted one which might have pre-
cipitated him six thousand feet. Standing up in his
vascilating bark, he drew towards him the valve by
grappling, with the balluoii. He then broke it with an
admirable pri.sence of mind; but the gas evaporatitif
too speedily, he came down with great rapidity. M. k.
however, as an able navigator, had reserved lb s ballast
for this decisive moment. On the point of being preci-
pitated to the earth. he threw out his bags and his an-
chor, and the machine suddenly lightened, slackened is
fall, and left the aeronaut the medusa descending in a
vivid state as he had started.
At the close of last week, excellent potatoes were sell-
ing at Greenock, at the unprecedented low price o 1 4d.
per peek, and we have heard of their being purchased
in hulls at .6.6.1. One dealer, we are told, irritated at
the depreciation of the commodity, actually upset a Cart
load of potatoes auto Ilse rivet.

V-

Y

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

On Wednesday evening last an inquisition was held
at the Marquess of Wellesley, Cromer street, Brunswick
Square, on the body of George Berry. aged 30, who tit
a period to his existence by cutting his throat.—The
Jury retooled a Verdict that the deceased cut his throat,l
he being at the time in a state of mental derangement.
The Same evening an inquisition was take', at the
Black Horse, High-street, Poplar, on view of the body
of Mr. Curwond, late clerk in the employ of Mears
Wigrans and Green, ship-bucklers at Blackwall. Verdict
.--Accidental death from drowning.
Another inquest was held, at Middlesex-hospital, on
the body of Joseph Hans, a carman to Mr. Bray, of
Compton-street, Brunswick-square, who was killed in
CollbillbeliCe of a stove falling upon him, which he was
assisting to remove out of a cart. Verdict—Accidentally
killed by a stove falling upon him.
An inquisition was taken on Thursday in Tuthill.
fields prison, before John Henry Gen, Esq. Coroner for
NVestiiiiiister, on the body of Catherine Swaine. Mr.
John Eavies, partner of. Alt.: Banbury. surgeon to the
prison, deposed that she died of water on the chest.—
Every thing was done for her that her case admitted of,
and there was not the smallest doubt that she died a Ina-
mural death. rite Coroner said that it was clearly esta-
blished by the evidence of the medical malt, that
the bruises on the deceased's body, however acquired,
were in no way connected with the cause of her death,
and therefore were not subject for their enquiry. The
Jury coincided with the Coroner, and returned a verdict
—.l hat the deceased died a natural death.
Ov Friday night au inquisition was held at the Coach
and Horses, Nlarlborouglnsireet„ before Thomas Higgs,
Esq. Coroner, on the body of Mr. George Bowen.-11
appeared from the evidence, that the deceased was Go
years of age, partner in the house of Solidi and Bowen,
pap, r stainers, in Poland-street, Oxford.street, and gene-
rally enjoyed a good state of health. On Wednesday,
about twelve o'clock, when in conversat'on with Mr.
Smith, in the warehouse, he was suddenly taken ill, and
Mr. Smith, seized him in his arms, and put him in a
chair. The family doctor was ins aptly sent for, sod he
arrived as quickly as possible; but, upon feeling his ;
pulse, he pronounced hint quite dead.—The Coroner
and Jwycoincided with the doctor, that the deceased's
death was occasioned by apoplexy, and returned a verdict
to that eil.ct.

An inquest was held on Wednesday night at seven
o'clock, at Guy's Hospital, before T. Shelton, El
Coroner, on view of the body of Frederick Reynolds, a
buy about 6 years of age. it appeared that the deceased
had on Sunday last gone win) his master, to whom Ire
Was groom. to Vauxhall bridge, to take hack a horse
that Mr. Young had rode thither, to his father-in-law's
and on the delivery of the horse to the boy to take back,
Mr. Young gave loin his spurs, and charted hint nut to
pin diem on. lie, lion•ver, did, and gored the bursts
s.des so severely. that they were covered with blood, and
the horse rllll away. &Verdi 11CFS0115 were standing on
Blackfria►s-bridge, and saw the horse coining toward
it in lull speed, and the boy milling the reins with all the
force lie etas master ol to stop the horse, but could not ;
315 d Ott its arrival at the bridge, the boy hallooed out,
" Stop the horse!" and some persons ttnmediately got
in the road and turned it on the flag stones; in conse-
quence of winch the horse fell, and threw the buy. He
Was insinethately taken top and conveyed to the nearest
surgeon. There appeared a compression of the brain,
and tire usual remedies were applied; be was then taken
to Guy's hospital am! died or. Monday. 'fire Jury re-
mitted a verdict—" Died by accident; deodand ss. on
the horse.
Another inquest was held at the sane time and place
before NIL Shelton, coroner, on the body of Thomas
'Veatch a boy about 1 I years of age. Mr. J. Poulton,
Hermeinconage, Peutonville, stared he was passing
Leatlesittall-street, about three o'clock on the Ist of
Gemini., and saw a coach passing along near tiro end of
(iracechurch-► reel, at a 1110dtrate lace He saw nothing
of the Ceceased until he was tinder the horses feet; not
did he observe the lore-wheel of the coach pass mar the
boy. The hind-wheel passed over his hat. He does not
think it touched his head ; it might, The deceased was
taken up and conveyed to Mr. Griffith's, surgeon, in
I.....ttletiliall-street, and front thence to Guy's•hospital.—
lie bled very profusely and vomited blood while at Mr.
Grillith's The coachman appeared truly sorry, arid he
verily thought it an accident.—Mr. D. Major, surgeon,
said.lie saw the deceased on the ist of October ; his head
was severely hurt; every remedy requisite was used, but
to uo avail. The deceased died on the Saturday WNW-
ing.—Verdict—" Accident," and a deOddlld of Ss. on the
coach.

A few days ago the body of an itinerant musician,
who earned Isis subsistence by playing to cite shows, was
taken out of the Clyde near Runterglenbridge, Scot.
land. It is said that having become uncomfortable by
his imprudence, he went to the place metitio:ted, where
he met two girls, of whom he inquired for the de. pest
part of the river. He went coolly to the •pot pointed
out by the unsuspecting females, and took off his hat,
slid taking a nogiit-cap out of it, witted he nail purchased
for the purpose the night before, drew it user its face.
sprung into the %valet, laul was drowned.

AN !KPUOBNT TAIBF.--ON Wednesday Rlarfllllg a
young teLow twenty years of age, Well; to toe shop of
Mrs. Green, a rag-merchant, in WM-street. Clerken.
well, and s•tid that his master, a paper-manufacturer,
residing in Hattott.garden, wanted about 401 b. of fine
tags, for the purpose of saving to make some suvertor
bank note paper. He looked out the rags, and Mrs.
Green sent a. girl with hint to receive the value, 183. 4(1,
He brought the girl to the door of Mr. Young, a rag-
mei-cheat. in Cross-street, Hatton-garden, where he went
in anti sold the rags 101 13S. j he then Caine out and de-
wed the girl to follow him, that he might get change
and piy her. Tit y went into Leather Line, and. toe
thief then threw use cloth which contained the rags iu
the girl's fact and escaped.

THE NATIONAL

A CANINR Poitce-Orescen.—The following extra-
ordinary instance of sagacity was the object of much
conversation at Paris during last summer. A gentleman,
followed by his dog went to Tivoli ; the gendarmes
al the door refused to allow his dog to follow his master.
Some dispute ensued, and the officer came up. He found
the visitor pleading with all his eloquence for permission
to be attended by his old and faithful friend. All I can
do, said the officer, is to take care of your dog till you
leave the place; you will find him safe on your return.
The gentleman reluctantly left his dog, and entered
among the gay compaily. Pickpockets were as dexte-
rous in Paris as in Loudon, and he was robbed of his
watch. He wrist out and complained to the officer. I
have been robbed, said he, and the misfortune was oc-
casioned by your refusal to let my dog follow me. Ilad
the dog beets with me my properly would have been
safe. rhe officer ordered the police to make search fur
the depredator, but the person whit had been robbed,
said he had not the least doubt his Jog would be able to
detect the thief. The officer was incredulous spout that
point, but permitted the dog to go in with his master.—
The • al dashed among the company, and soon fol-
lowed a dandy, whose air and appearance honied him
at least to the respect due to a duke. The gentleman,
who had lost his watch, pointed out the person to the
police. It is impossible that elegant man could com-
mit the crime said the gendarme. lam certain my slog
is not mistaken replied the owner of the watch, he has
traced the properly. The police arrested she party; he
was searched, and eight watches found in his poeaession.
They were laid upon the floor of a room, mod the due
sag iciously selected his master's watch from the rest;
the initials of the owner were on the ease. The pick-
pocket proved to be a notorious offender, and was sen-
tenced to five years imprisonment by the Paris tribunal.
Itosintai.—On 'rood .y evening, as Mr. Hopkins, of
Bedford row, was walking with his lady through Broad-
wee, St. Gilts's. when near George-street, he was at-
tacked by a young fellow, who, by an uncoinnicits vx-
ertion of strength, knocked bins against the wall, and
snatched his watch frosts his fob, with which he made
off into the interior of the back imminent'. Inform a.
lion of the robbery was given to the parachial officers,
and they made some inquiries, and apprehended two
welt-known characters, and were Dfollgilt to MarlDOW%
street office on Wednesday, but no prosecutor attending
1117 were discharged.
Sunday afternoon, about three o'clock, an accident
of a very dreadful nature, which had nearly proved lataf
to three persons, occurred on Blackfriars-hridge.—A
youth named Thomas Reynolds, gloom to G. Young.
Esq. of Laticaster.street, flurtomcrescent, was riihog
a spirited horse along Blackfriars-road, whets the animal
became restive, and started off at considerable speed.—
The youth kept his seat, fearless of any danger; and on
tile horse reachi ug the bridge, some persons joiweil arm
its ann, so step the career of the infuriated animal. At
the moment he came tip to thetn4he fill, and two of the
individuals were knocked down and slightly injured..
The boy by was nut so fortunate;, he fell over the horse's
head, and pitching on his skull, was so severely injured
that he was conveyed to Guy's hospital iii a Stale of in-
sensibility, and his death was momentarily expected.
FRAUD IN TUB BUTTER TRADE.—Ott Saturday last
the Lord Mayor sat at the Mansion-house, to inquire into
a charge of fraud, alleged to have been lately committed
by wine of the shippers of butter, to the great injury of
the character of the Port of Dublin. The investig moo
was instituted by the C..aners of Dublin, who state, that
the fraud of which they chiefly complain is, that the
brand of the Inspectors (whose duties it is to mark the
qualities of Isis, Yds, 3ds, 4ths, fire) has been forged.—
What led to the present insestigation was, that some
brands were found in she possession of a .111111 named
Dennis Mocney, a brand-cutter, and who had the In-
spector's brand bringing home to the person_ who had em-
ployed him. Mooney had been summoned before theLurd
Mayc.r on Friday, and attended tin that d ay, accompanied
by Council: it appeared, however, that the su 11111 l oils
then granted was informal. A fresh SOlll4llOlll was that
issued, under the 30th section of the Butter Act, requir-
ing Mooney's attendance as a witness, at tour o'clock on
Saturday, at the Alansion-house. Counsellor Green at-
, tended at the hour appoirited, on the part of the prose-
cution, but there was no appearance on the part of
, Mooney. The service of the summons on Jloouey was
then proved, and a record of his non appearance taken
by order of the Lord Mayor, and a criminal proceeding
will, we understand, be instituted against Mooney.—
Dutlire Morning Pod.
SHOCKING NUICIDE.-011 Tuesday last, the inmates
of the Cross Keys public • house, Belton-street, were
dreadfully alarmed by discovering that our of the lodgers
had cut his throat. rhe unfortuate tudividit.ol who had
committed the rash act, was named FfalleiS J. Cranston,
and had been an officer in the army, and was on halt-
pay. lie !wised at the Cross Keys, and hating some
gamily disputes. he became low-spirited and restless; and
on toe above-mentioned teeming retired to his room—
the landlady going up stairs shortly after, was al Al
at hearing groans, and, on going into his room, was
horror struck on seeing Mr. Cranston stretched on the
bed with his throat dreadfully cut. She instantly gave
an alarm, and surgical assistance was almost uirectly
procured, and the wound, which was nearly set em
inches, was sewed up. The tlllloflUalate 111/11 was Olen
placed OD a shutter and carried to the Middlesex hos-
pital, witere his wounds were dressed—but sit a minute
or two alter the &carpi% was terminated, he expired.
SO deft/Milled was lie, that it ne had used two
razors ; and vim alter his throat was sewn up, be tore
tile wound open again.
A boat with tour men, in attempting to board a vessel
in coming round Black-rock, ofi LI% tfpUill, was IlliSet
lions the violence of the waves, and the whole
uulur-
iunately perished.

Late on Suuday night, or early on Monday morning.
211 211C1110 was 1113110 10 Mil the .11011 WlllliOW ul Mr.
Harden, goldsitinit, Fleet-s,reet, by cutting through the
pillar of the door with a centre-Litt; but they dill 1101
succeed in taking any thing.

322

. .
Tam ISZLT4gl.—the keelmen employed on the ri-
cer Tyne have, within the last few days, refused to work
as US4/41, until certain alleged yrievences are removed.
Their object is to restrict the loading of ships at the
smiths to eight keels, its order that their labour may bet
in greater requisition. They claim an allowance of 11.
per annum us lieu of house rent—to be freed from res-
ponsibility for any damage they may do in lacking their
keels up the river—to have the steamboats disused for
towing vessels down the river—and to have all the keel-
men employed, which has not been the case recently.—
Warrants have been ie-ued for the apprehension of some
of the principals, on the ground of a breach of their en-
gagements, as the, are bound to their ;mien( employers
till Ch r i ttt 1136. They have, probably from this cause,
suddenly taken their departure from their homes, and are
not to be seen in the neighbourhood. Apprehensions
have been entertained that the keelmen would endeavour
to destroy the stain's by which coals are coiweyed into •
the vessels, and in consequence small panies of the min
litary have been stationed at the different parts of the
river where such attempu were most likely to be made..
We are happy to state, however, that these precautions
appear to have been unnecessary.—On Friday last a
number of keekeen visited North Shields, apparently
with no object but mischief, each having a stick with &
fiat end, winch they freely bestowed on the shoulders of '
those who passe.! mein. They repaired on board several/
vessels where ballast was casting, and made the meta de.
sist (P.m their labour. Amongst other ships they boarded
the dirorge, and wounded a trimmer, named Rochester,
on the lace with a stone, and aimed a deadly blow at
another with a ballast hovel, who had a very narrow
escape. On shore, plunder was the watch-word. They
met a baker's can carrying bread to the country, which
they took possession of, and threatened. the boy for com-
plaining; as to apples, turnips, ice. on the stalls, they
made not the least hesitation in seizing them as they
paned.
A L ORR leAn BOYDRL L. —A young engraver, just en-
tering into life, and who afterwards rose to meat emi-
nence in his prof-srion, applied to Aldertnati Hoyden for
employment. Having never executed any considerahle
work, he had only some trifling specimens of his ability
to sleety. 'lnc Alderman, however, was satisfied from
them that the young artist possessed abilities worthy of
encouragement, and offered him a picture, if he thought
himself equal to it. Theyoung Mall undenook it, and
agreed on 25 guineas as the remuneration. When the
plate was quite finished. lie waited oti the Alderman..
finally toeleliver it with a proof. Mr. Buydrll examined
it. so long, and. as it scented, so minutely, that the
artist was apprehensive that he was not quite 'dessert
with it,. and resolved to ask him; addiug, " that he
should be happy to maks any itnprovement or correction
that Mr. Boynehl might suggest.' "Oh no,. replieehtho
Alderman, " I ant extremely pleased with, it, said desire
ne alteration. It is chanting; and. instead oh 25 guineas
I shall give you 35 ;—very charming indeed! the more
1 look at it the more 1 like it shall give you 60
guineas." He went to his desk and wrote a check on
Itisbankee, which he gare to the artist, telling him to •
call on him its a few days, as he had further employ.-
mein for him. The young man endeavoured to express
his gratitude fur this unexpected and- munificent libe-
-1 rainy of his new patron; but his speech utterly failed
him, when, casting his eyes our the check which he
beheld in his hands, lie found it to. be for one hundred'
&war This happy event was the foundation both of
tau lortune and hiss tame..
11 On Thursday forenoon, as one of the Paddington.
stage coaches was driving to town down the City.road,
*gentleman oat the box with the coachanaresuildetily
checked his hand, made him pull up, jumped down
and pursued a fellow up one of the small streets at the
back of St. Luke's, having previously called out to a
person passing to stop a gen•lentin, whops he pointed*
out as having been robbed. When the gentleman had
been apprised of the circumstance and stopped, lie dis-
covered to his no small consternation, that he had been.
robbed of his pocket book, conning property of various
kinds to no less an. autumn than 20001. He did not..
however, remain long in stispeese, for the gentleman
who had witnessed the theft, soon returned with the
' robber, and a person who had seen the latter throw the
pocket book away, picked it tip and restored it to the
delighted owtnr. The pocket book had been carelessly
placid in an outside coat pocket, from which it was pen-
jecting, and the gentleman on the coach saw tbe thief
ake it out and run off with is, when lie itimbly'porsited
and took him, after a smart run of about a quarter of a
mile.

An extraordinary picture. painted Ey Rembrandt, has
been recently discovered, and the progress of the Jisco
very is curious. The President of the Royal Academy
saw this picture by chance,.with a great mass of other
rubbish and inferior productions, which were preparing
for sale by auction. Sir T. Lawrence's taste was mune.
diately struck with the merles of this picture, even in its.
dirty and mutilated condition : he attended the sale, and
a hammer was on the point of ratifying Sir Thomas as
the purchaser fur four guineas, when a lynx.eysd dealer
suddenly contended fur the prise, anti was the eventual
purchaser for two hundred guineas. lk took home the
picture, had it cleaned and newly motioned, and, in the
first instance, offered it fur sale to his tasteful competitor
(whose property it now is) for seven hundred violet's.
The picture is said to be the Guest ever painted by Rein.
bran it, and worth seven thousan I polinds. The *object
relates to " Joseph and Pcniphar's wife."

• •
A forger of notes of the bank of France was arrested
in Paris, which ied to a complete disenvent of all the
papers and instruments used in forgery. A considerable
into of money, which had been received at tile hank in
exchange for the forged notes, but which had been con-
verted into gold, was also seised. The sum, though
considerable was by nu means so great as one would have
expected; as the forger, being completely isolated, and
having nu assistant, could only forge a small quantity,
—lt is certain lie hail no accouiplice; and this Attempt
aay therefore be looked upou ass eousp:ett failure.