The National Register.
London, England, 1822-01-06 00:00:00

HOAX.—Three apothecaries, l.st physician, and an un-
dertaker, all residing in Ripon, received notes in the
name of Col. Dalton, of Sleningford-hall, polite'y tee
questing the favour of a call at his house (distant five or
six miles) about twelve o'clock on Monday the 24th
inst. As the former professional attendant of the family
had lately paid the debt of nature, each of the medical'
gentlemen felt elated at the supposed preference shown
hint, and the idea of gaining" such respectable practice"
w lon ily indulged, as the parties made the best of their
way to the mansion. The first who arrived was Mr. B.
and as the morning was very tempestous, he had pru-
dently taken a chaise; on this gentleman being e-
duced, he was received with that urbanity of manners
which distinguishes the Dakotas. After very much
chit-chat, their visitor felt surprised that no allusion was
made to the cause of his being summoned ; he therefore
dropped some hints to afford an opportunity for something
to be said—but the apparent want of comprehension iu
all an ttttt tl him,only increased his inward einharrassinent.
By this time the undertaker had arrived, and as he had a
call es-officio to attend that afternoon, he was under the
, necessity of desiring to see the Colonel immediately—the
latter, on perceiving the well-known personage,demanded
his business; the warrant for his appearance was therefore
produced, which, on being read, was quickly pronounced
to he a forgery I—At this moment in caine the physician,
accompanied by Mr. E-- the apothecary, and the
astonishment of the worthy host dud his family
may be more easily conceived than described, whets
these last arrivals were introduced to their notice by the
servant in attendance. The Colonel now saw that it
was " all a hoax," and declared that somebody hail a
mind to bleed to death, or poison his whole household :
expressing his sorrow to his guests for the unnecessary
trouble which hail been so wantonly caused, he politely
dismissed them, happy in being relieved from the appear-
ance of so much danger. Anticivatiug further arrivals,
the gallant Colonel desired the individual who might be
in advance of the retreating party, to warn any other
persons who might appear to be marching in the same
direction, to halt, and order them to face about ; and the
underoaker had nut gone far below be met Mr. B--
riding post haste, anti with great concern depicted in his
countenance—" How now, Doctor ; what road r—
" To Col. Dalton's; can't stop," was die reply of this
diligent practitioner; but after much parleying, explain-
ing, and comparing notes, this worthy disciple of Escu-
lapiits was induced to return ; and ere the parties
reached home, all the equestrians were miserably
drenched with rain and sleet, which fell all time morning
without intermission. As some clue to the discovery of
oldie authors of this wanton mischief has been obtained,.
it is hoped that they will eventually meet that punish-
ment which they richly deserve.
Monthly Agricultural Report for Dcceoster.—The floods
and water-sodilen stale of die soil, in many parts, have
prevented wheat sowing or fallowilig the land at the re.
gill tr season. In the mean time the mild temperaure
of the whole autumn has pushed forward all the early
sown Wheats to a height and luxuriance scarcely ever
before witnessed. The present list been altogether a
wet half-year; in the lien half of the year the depth of
the rain was below the average, but the last three
months have swelled the 3111111.11 fail in Middlesex to
an excess of nearly double the animal average. lo the
last two months tile fall has been 13 inches (six and a
half per month,) flooding all low lands, and destroying
the agricultural 41111 gardening crops. On Citristinas-
day the barometer presented a phenomenon which liar
not occurred these 35 years—it tell to 28-05, and on the
V.sth, at 7 A. M. was at 28-17, while the day was clear,
the wind S.W. and the thermometer 47.5, between
which and 56, :he latter has ranged through the month,
the prevailing winds being S.W., with very slight morn-
tog frosts, and no snow.
Rol,l.ery of the Skiplon nod Burnley:Hail Post.—• Alum
half past four o'clock on Saturday morimig, the horse
post, which conveys the letters from Burnley to Skipton,
was stopped at a place called Suaygili, about three
quarters of a mile from Skipton, on the Burnley road,.by
two men. one seised the horse's bridle, the other struck
the rider some tremendous blows with a bludgeon over
the arms, which disabled him front holding the horse,
or making any resistance. They also struck him over
the head, which stormed and :inured him, bit did not
succeed in dismounting him. They tore the left side of
his coat quite down, and took from his left pocket a
parcel, from the Craven Bank, arldn'sseil to C. Tattersall
and Sons, of Burnley, contaiiiing 180!. in one guinea
notes, and 220 one pound ditto, all of the Crave') Bonk,
and about 51. sal tie in bank stamps, tipiiii Barnard,
Dins:late, and Co. They attempted to seize the mail bags
and had cut three straps, but did not succeed in obtain-
ing them, as the horse, by some means, escaped from
them, and, with his rider, escaped Irons them, and, won
his rider, escaped back to Skipton past-ollice. The alarm
was soon given, and the same day a man was taken sip
on suspicion of being concerned, but 110 property was
foond upon
Slexkiag accident at the Argyle Rooriu.-011 Tuesday
morning shout eleven of ckxk, Willie 51011 e nu • were
employed repairing the from of the Argyle Rooms, in
Swallow-street, one of them, named Sleety, a young
man who tv,s plastering th,- under part of a portico, was
by a sudden gust of wind blown from oft the scaffolding
and pitching Iteadforeunist on the pa% einem, his skull
was dieadfully fractured. lle was immediately taken to
Nliddlesex Hospital for medical assistance, without hope
of recovery.
On Tuesday morning early, as the Dover mail coach
was going down Bridge-hill, between Canterbury girl
Dover, the reins broke, and the horses bein,, then at li-
berty, ran on a bank at the side of the road, by which
means the coach was upset, and the ciiachtnan anal two

guards thrown some diatance. The coachman Al one
of the guards (the latter Iselunging to the foreign mad)
were .cit at Bridae so moon hurt, that they could nut he
flowed. The guard belommig to the mail received but
little injory—he, with two passem.ters that were inside,
and woo escaped unhurt, proceed to Dot yr in another
out eyance.

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