The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-12 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER,

POLICE.
MANSION HOUSE.
A DISTRESSING ClittUSlST.stier.—A poor Irishwoman,
whose appearance indicated no ordinary degree of calamity,
W.ll. brought before the Lord :114) or, on Wednesday, to an-
,beer the complaint of a geistleman of iudepruilent fortune
iii the city.
A friend oldie complainant mentioned to his Lordship, that
CollinAloll had unthrtituately esistrd between the two
pct-
sous who thus aol.r:ued hetore the public about 14 years
ago, the fruit of as Inch was a dan;diter, who was nninediatldy
reinabed into the pi utection of her tallier, by %%hum she was
educated with the most attentive care; at the saute time
that she was taught to believe her minier to have been in no
respect his inferior, and that that parent was now dead. It
was apprehended by the complainant, that the very worst
conseiluciaces would arise from undecciviug the child upon
the subject of the very important distance between the con-
dition, of the parties, and more especially from a contradic-
tion of the mother's death. To prevent such a disaster, he
gave an annual allowance to the mother, in order to make her
attns same opinion, and to induce her to stay in her own
country, making it one oftlic conditions that she should never
come to this. For several years the understanding was kept
up with the necessary scrupulousness, and the young lady
was advancing in accomplishments, and had now attained
such improvement as to make the shock at beholding such a
mother impossible to be borne. The prisoner was however,
determined to break in upon the happiness of father and
child; and accordingly came to town, and created much
disturbance at the complainant's house, upon being told that
she should not see her child. The feelings of the father were,
the witness said, indescribable upon the occasion.
The Lord Nlayor.—" Who can tell me what the feelings of
the mother must have been : were they not of an afflicting
kind, too?"

The complainant's friend replied, that much allowance
would certainly be made if it were uut the fact that the
sole obj«.t of the prisoner was to oblige the complainant
to give her mione . She had, he said, frequently travelled
from Ireimid, and made her anxiety to see her daughter the
pretence for undertaking the journey, without having any
visible means ut accomplishing it. The complainant, influ-
enced by atfeeti 0000 for hi' daughter, was unrestricted in his
liberality, and procured short intervals of ease from every
present to the visitor.

. _
The Lord Nlayins—" Still there appears in this story some-
thing that operates more upon the heart of a poor It lush womaii
than the love of money generally does The obligation un-
posed by au agreement made many yeurs ago, although upon
terms so highly advantageous to the child, and honourable to
the father, falls to nothing in comparison with the force of na-
tural affection. There is too much in this to spring from a
sordid principle."
The complainant's friend begged that all the circum-
stances of the case should be considered, and represented
that the case would indeed have been very different if the
complainant had acted as 99 men out of lOU ilid,and left the
child to beggary and wretchedness.
The Lord Mayo;.—" has unquestionably done his duty,
but if he had done as the ninety-nine do, how would he be
described? The case is indeed one of deep distress. 1 feel
the force of what has been stated, and must declare that
the distress must be very great, not only to the father, but
to tile poor creature before ow."
The Irishwoman remained silent during this conversation,
sod when she did speak, it was in the manner or the south-
ern inhabitants of her country, which is peculiarly calculated
to express strong emotiou, limn being accompanied with the
raising up of the eyes in perfor • g the duties of mourning
use, the dead, or of bewailing those who are absent for ever
berm other causes. "God bless you, Sir," said she, " let me
have out one look at the child, and never trouble you or
her again."
The friend of the complainant, after some conversation
with hint, said it was impossible. tie told her she had no
feeling fur her child, or she would never desire to see her
more. It was enough fur her to know that the child was
well sad happy ; and that all that wealth and tenderness
cold do, should be dour fur her.
The prisoner.—" But still 1 wish to see her. She is nay
alibi, and the tether stands alongside of you ; and if he lets
me look CM her but once, I'll never ask it again, but go home
contented."

The complainant declared that she never should see her.
The Lord .Nlayur represented to her the propriety of ab-
staining front pressing the subject, especially as an interview
would inevitably cause the utmost distress to the child. Site
at length consented to go to Ireland.
The complainant immediately engaged one of the officers,
by the advice of the Lord Mayor, to attend tier on board the
Liverpool packet.
QUEEN-SQUARE.

Haunah Penson, a poor ili-dressed old woman, apparently
about GO years of age, was ou Monday brought to the office
in custody of Hetsou, oue of the Hammersmith constables,
under the following circumstances:—
Witness stated, that prisoner had been delivered to him by
one of the watchmen belonging to Hammersmith, and a pa-
trol of fife Same' parish, who had found her traversing the
road between two and three o'clock that morning, and finding
her answers to to the questions they asked her very iheohe-
rein and wild. they thought it their duty to confine her in his
watch-boa till he quitted his beat, and he had then brought
her to witness's house, and given her into his custody. Wit-
ness sent for another constable. who lived hard by, and they
searched pi isoner, and found tied round her waist, the large
cauvass bag now produced, which to their great surprise they
found on opening contained a very large sum iu shillings and
sixpences. Witness asked her if she had any more property
shout her, and she said no! but on smelting further, he found
seven sits er tea spoons, also produced, sewed inside (me of
her petticoats, and to her other pocket the bunch of keys,
produced ; all which he had put into the bag with the silver
and !nought to the office fur the Magistrate's disposal.
Smith, the other constable, confirmed the foregoing testi-
mony,
The silver being counted amounted to 531. 14s. 6d.
Prisoner being asked by the Magistrate (I'. Colipilionn,Esq.)
how she came by so much money, answered, that it was her
own, and sue had got it at different groom's shops where she
boultht ;ti, and where she had given guineas and Bank notes
to have silver hi their stead, by winch, in the course of two
year., she had got the auove sum. The spoons, she said,
were also her tan; she said she lived in Crown-street, .even
Dials, with her two sous and her dauzfliier, who with married.
She was remanded to give time fur inquiry.
Prisoner was on Wednesday brought up for further ex:mania.
tion when it appeared from the evidence ofe.Drew, the office.
keeper, %vile was ordered to wake the inviu, that be had

fount/ every thing had Wait es to rcli'reni..•s quite alt.
tect.

W. Penson, prisoner's sliest son, stated, that his mother
(the prisoner) had left their lodging, No. 7, Crown-street.
Seven Dials. OH Saturday morning, in a flighty lit, and h•
produced a Morning. Chronicle or Monday, with all advertise.
mein ()ire I log a reward to any one who would brunt; her to
that house. Ile also deposed, that the hag, silver, and ten
simons, where her property. He said she had dre. .41 on
the !Friday night that thiet es had broke into the lion .t. ; aml
made MI Mien noise as to awake and Marin she whole family.
111 the morning, Miler begging every ime's radon for the
noise sht• had made, site went ott unknown to him ur his bra
titer and sister.

The worthy Magistrate ordered all the money, tea spoons,
Etc. to he restored to her, and humanely advised her never to
carry so much money about her again. She promised she
would Hot, and was dismissed.

Died at Dundee, on the 22nd silt. 'Thomas Clark. a labour-
ing mans, aged 66 yea's, will', by dint of pars!diony and saving
had accumulated property to the amount sir hens 3t to 10001.
He lived by himself, in a 6115411 garret, situate ;it a filthy
lane, called Tynilars Wind. His diet consisted of a little
oatmeal mixed with water, which he begged trona Isis isei.sles
hours every morning; fur many years be had labour( il under
a severe disorder ; but could nut find it in his heat t to lint
himself under the care of a surgeon, fearful °filar cost. Driven
at last to desperation by the intenseness of his suderings,
he, about 12 months ago, sent for Mr. Crichton, who found
him lying' in the most iuchnuent season of the year, barely
covered by an old tattered blanket. The furniture of the
apartment consisted of about a dozen pairs of old shoes, some
old tattered clothes, a ploughshare, a wooden dish and a
horn spoon, a pair of scales .and weights, a tub for holding
meal, and an old crazy chair.—His disorder having been as.
certained, he was informed that a surgical operation would
be necessary for his relief; to this lie expressed Ics inmost
willingness to undergo ; but when he was 1111.01 flied it would
be necessary to have bins removed to a coinfertable room,
his eyes died within him ; and be said be must just then coo.
finite as he was, until death relieved him. In vain was he
told that every thing needful would be provided. He still
heroes ered in his determination. Leaving a trifle with hint
to procure necessaries, Mr. Crichton descended from the
garret and mad.' inquiries of the neighbours concersiing this
miserable object ; from whom he received the account abuse
narrated. Possessed of this information, lie returned and
rated the wretch for his miserable t:.apusitlon ; but all that
could be obtained, was a promise to procure seine bed
clothes, and to allow the operation to be performed us a room
belonging to one of the neighbours, and immediately atter to
be conveyed back to his miserable abode. The first iiiii rising
:they the operation lie was found quarrelling and abusing the
old woman left in charge of him, for her extra, agance in
making use of soap to wash the clothes that were occasi-
onally taken from tinder him ; and he expressed great exulta•
!ion when he was given to understand that soap was not ale
solutely necessary for the purpose. A dose of castor oil that
had been prescribed for him, lie would slot allow to be seat
fer, but in its place swallowed a piece olsoap, which he said,
would auswer the pm pose equally well, and at much less cost.
The cure going on well, he was ordered some beef tea. The
parting with ad. every morning to puichase half a pound of
meat, was perfect torture. But recollecting a prece of old
rusty baron, which lie had formerly picked up. here in
his travels, lie thought of the expedient of conversing a piece
of it into heel tea, and drank it with seeming artists. Next
morniug, however, the old woman, alarmed tos lute conse-
quences, insisted peremptorily for mewl to pinch:lse fresh
meat, at the sante time acquainting hum that a supply or coals
was necessary. " The coals censioned already! loyossi.
Isle! 'rimy should have served buss tut this whom-! She
must have carried oil some of them ! Threepence lOr meat
and Itid. for coals ! It's ruination ! She st pack off simne-
diately ! But before she goes, she must account tut the 2s.
received on the day of the opeaatiess!" 'file poor woman
being somewhat confused could slut Ming to her recollection
the disposal of more than is. lud. It was then pet reedy
plain She was robbing his room, and ruining I toy tier ex-
travagance, and she must go to prison! By this time the
garret was lilted with the neighbours, alarmed at his noisy
vociferation; and nothing they could say, having pacified
him, they sent for Mr. Crichton, who thought it might sue the
wisest plan to leave him alone, and let him manage and feed
himself in Isis ov n way. By the help of a good constitution
he soon recovered his health, but never afterwards could
forget the expences lie hail been put to during ins confine-
ment. The lodine also sit some peoele holding limns.) 01 his
in their hands, tended much to mustier the sem:nudes of Isis
life; and he was often observed lamenting Ins misfortunes ;
fr.( pseud) saying aloud, • All bankrupts shafts Ise isaliged!"
'there would be sio end to the detail a this poor meatuses
miserable eccentricities. tie malt into a siesglitomo's coons
three days previous ri his dealii, to warm I 1111 l selt, ,is acing
a hitter cold slay) before ascending to his garret, on ill next
slay he was found lying almost still vs Silt culd, and unable
to move Mussed—me bedclothes, which lie had made to
provide himself with last year, lyiug folded up Its a turner,
as he had not the Swart to use them. lie lay tu slits stater
till he lest the use of his faculties, and expired s .I 1 a suust de-
plorable condition. Ilis only surviving sister, a pour obi
woman, living somewhere in Strathmore, inherits all Ins ; ru_
petty.
..;

A Tew evenings since, as Mr. Bray, shoemaker, of Mince's
street, Drury.laue, was coming down George-street, Boni n.
friend's house in 'fottcodiam-cottit-road, lie was ac4-44.4(•41 at
the Black Horse public-house by •ii elderly man, w Uu earb
of a sailor, who asked him what it was o'clock. Mi. Bray
pat his band to his fob to get Ins watch, and at Bic s,.mllr mo-
ment was knocked down from behind. Two Icltows then,,
alter taking his watch and rifling his pockets of Wine silver,
ran away.
MEHDI:II AND PIRACY IN THE INDIAN SEAS.—The ship.
IVabash, Capt. Grant, of Baltimore, arrived in Macao roads (Can-
ton liver,) from Smyrna, on the 18th of May last. 'the captain pro-
ceeded to Canton, to inquire the markets, leaving the two mates.
and 13 others, to take cave of the vessel. (In the 24th she was
boarded by the crew of a I.:Milton boat, to the number ot from 25 to
30, under pretence of putting it pilot on hoard. After amusing the
officers until dark, they commenced an attack on thesis tom toe peo-
ple with long knives; killed Mr. Hall, the tint mate, :11.11 three
seamen, out right; and mortally or badly ‘vountlial the °tiler mate,
and two 411 the seamen ; and cotopelled two inners tooys) to Jump
overboard—one of which, idler having been seven hour. in the water,
was savetL The surviving crew reticatetl to the forecastle ; but were
compdled. by threats to burn the vessel. to Collie Ull deck. and di,.
C 101.4.! where the money was slowed away. The Lathoon, then secur-
ed about 10,000 dollars in specie, 33 cilesus of opium, :aid other
property, the whole amounting to n...s.rty 50,esso dotlais. At.. Cush.
mg, and other American residents in Canton, were taking measures
to obtain restitution, front the Chinese government, for this tobbuy
their waters btu chic success was doubted.