The National Register.
London, England, 1817-02-24 00:00:00

rLE

THE ARTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Sin.—Permit me, through the medium of your
,Tour .111, to direct the public attention to a subject of
grt at interest to the arts of this country, as it vitally
nfleets the artists themselves.

It had lon ~ been a subject of deep regret, that no
adequate Exhibition Rooms were fitted up for the pur-
pose of exposing to sale the works of our native artists,
many of whom are. I am sorry to say it, nearly in a
state of starvation for want of encouragement in their
profs ssi n. The Institution in Pall Mall, however, at
length appeared to stipple the desk/ern/11m ; and from
that valuable Exhibition many works of infinite merit
have been pure:rased, which otherwise, from the poverty
or the modesty of the artists, might never have met the
public eye. There still, however, required something
farther. The caprice of the manager, the want of
room, or the want of taste, might still keep out many
valuable pictures; and even did not these objections
exist, another more powerful than all the rest, is to be
found in the inability of many artists to pay the rent
required for the exposure, and at last the per centage
demanded on the sale of their works. I say nothing
against the regulations of the institution above alluded
a
to; but I cannot refrain from pointing out to artists,
having works for sale a " more excellent way," which
now presents itself to their acceptance. And that is
she great new rooms at the Bazaar in Soho-square.
Rooms so constructed as to the height of the walls, the
admission of light, and the numerous visitors of all
ranks of the nobility and gentry, as to promise to ar-
tists a fair and legitimate prospect of having their
works exhibited to advantage, and that without one
single farthing expence, either in the shape of rent, or
commission paid to the proprietor, who has most bene-
volently made these additions to his establishment with
the express view of promoting the arts, by holding
out a gratuitous opportunity to artists for the exhibition
of their works.
What I have stated in this letter though written
entirely without the knowledge or concurrence of the
proprietor of the rooms in question is a simple fact,
of which any one may convince himself by a personal
application at the Bazaar. And thus, that which I
conxive to be a most excellent establishment for the
nenuragement of Female and domestic Industry, is
rendered admirably subservient to the greats object, and
the pursuits of the Arts and Sciences.

J. N.

CITY BUSINESS.—Monday a Court of Aldermen
was held at Guildhall. The Lord Mayor informed the
Court that they had attended his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent at Carleton-house with the address of
congratulation on his escape from the traitorous assault
offered his Royal Highness, and laid before the Court
his answer thcr4o, which was read, and ordered to be
enterzd en the proceedings of the Court.
His Lordship then submitted to the Court a plan for
establishing a mounted and armed Police, to be resorted
to in cases of tumult or riot, calculated to strengthen
the civil power, and to prevent the necessity of intro-
ducing the military.
The Court directed that public notice should be
given for all persons desirous of becoming candidate;
for the situation of Keeper of New;.;ate, to make appli-
cation to the Sheriff's, and it was refered to tF.c Gaol
Committee to consider and report what would be an
adequate salary to be given to the person to be elected.
It was also referred to that Committee to consider
the propriety of raising a rate upon the inhabitants of
the City, in the niture of a caunty rate, towards de-
f aing the increased expellee of the City gaols.
The Sheriffs reported to the Court the present crowd-
ed state of Newgute.

THE YOUNGER WATSON ANT) TITISTLEWOOD
CHARGED WITH HIGH TREASON.

The Gazette of Tuesday contains a Proclamation,
()Tering a reward of 5001. for the apprehension of
Arthur ThiFtlewood, who is accused of high treat on.
Ho is described as having last resided in Southampton-
buildings, Chancery-lane, and to have been formerly a
Lieutenant in the army. The same proehunation also
oT•rrs a similar rewar,l for the apprehension of Watson
u.t. thr the same crime ; independent of that finmierly
431.12(1 on tm:ount of shllting Mr. P;att ; anti a like
. emard Far the apprehension ofany person who isknown
to harbour or conceal them.

De. WATSON, HOOPER, &C.—The fhur state prison-
ers in the Tower arc confined in different parts of that
to: tress. They may be occasionally seen at the windows
n'' their apartments, which are on the upper stories:
hen are closely confined, and no enunnuni:•ation what.
ver is a110,.,:cd with them. All access is denied even
to their !icarest relatives, male. and female.
Tuesday the Evans's, father and son, underwent an
C 7 amination before the Cabinet Ministers, at the Secre-
try of State's office, Ca- the Home Departmcnt umi
r. 30 a hair-dresser. The Evans's were ordered to be
d tainell in custody.
The trials of persons charged with High Treason,
_
v;11 take place at the Old

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

OLD 134!
_Wednesday, this day commences the Sessions of Oyer and
Terminer, when Same! Kirby and John Strew stood in-
dicted for stealing in the dvrelling.house of Alexander Came-
ron, some books, seven 11. bunk-notes, and 21. 16s. 6d. in
other monies.

The prosecutor kept a public-house in the Mlaories, called
the Three Lords. A benefit club of jonrneymen tailors was
held at his house, and the box containing the money of that
society was in his custody. The two prisoners at the bar,
and Thomas (Kira, not vet taken into custody, came to his
house on the lath January, and being members of the society,
asked for the box in question. Kirby was clerk to the so•
ciety, and the presecutor let them have the box; after hav-
ing examined it, and had something to drink, they all three
went nut at a private door, without paying for their liquor
or giving any notice. This roused suspicion, and upon going
into the room a here the prisoners had been, he found the
box had been broken open, and the property in question
stolen. Au (taker was sent fin•. and the two prisoners at the
bar apprehended the same evenincr.

The officer stated on his examination, that he apprehended
the prisoners at a public-house in the Borough. l'hey said,
they knew what witness was conic for; Strew said. "Can it
be made up any way? I will sell my bed and all I have to
make it up."
The Jury having withdrawn for a considerable time, found
a verdict, Guilty a_•ainst both prisoners. but recommended
them to mercy. on the ground " that the theft was committed
under a wrong impression."
Mr. Baron Graham observed, tit:A if the jury entertained
that opinion, the prisoners must be acquitted; because, un-
less the minds of the jury were satisfied that the crime was
committed with a klunious intent, it could not be considered
as a theft.

The jury having consulted for a few minutes, returned
another verdict of Guilty agninq both the pi boaters, hut
recommended them to mercy.— Being. a•hed 0:1 vv hat ground
by the learned judge, the r; email said, •' llecattve it appear.
to us that Strew had been led on by Kirby to commit the
theft.'
The Grand Duke Nicholas at about one o'clock entered the
court, and remained fur a cotividcrable time, apparently
very attentively listentag to the trial,.

Thursday, Joseph Follett was put to the bar, charged with
Irn ink feloniously forged and uttered as true, knowing to be
forged, dikers fatec and counterfeit notes, with intent to de-
fraud the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

The prisoner pleaded guilty to the minor offence of has ing
mitered the mates knobs ing them to be forged. The sentence
of the court in such casts is transportation.

Thomas William Penton, was also charged with a similar
offence, and having pleaded guilty to the lesser crime, he also
will receive the mitigated sentence of the court.
Friday, S. Perry was convicted of the murder of her child.
This case was most shocking, and too disgusting to detail
at length. The prisoner was a married woman and of the
age of forty. She lived servals in a respectable near Alan.
chester-street. On the 26th of Jannary she got up and went
down stairs. The fo•uuan heard the cry of a elan!, and
upon search, the body of a female infant child was funnel
tinder the coals. It appeared to have been suffocated by a
piece of linen twisted like a rope, and thrust down its throat.
fhere were other circumstances of barbarity, and also of
appearances on the prisoner, fully continuing her guilt. In
her defence, she said she had leen delivered before he. thin.,
and hat the child was still born. linnicatiately on her con-
viction, she received sentence of death.
GUILD IiALL.

Borrtsin.—On Wednesday last a curious case of betting
was decided before the Commissi ,ners of the Court of Re-
quests at Guildhall. The facts of this case were as follow:
Richard Everard, a tailor, residing in Giltspnr-street, hating
done some work for a gentleman of the name of Richards, a
dispute arose at a tas ern, on an evening subsequent to
delivery of the goods in question. lii the course of the ills-
pito the tailor chose to insinuate, that Mr. Richards, who is
an unmarried man, had either a wile, or that he had some
lady in keeping, and stated that when his (alr. Everartfs)
man "took home the parcel, the lady of the house represented
herself to be Mrs. Richards." This insinuation greatly irritated
Mr. Richards, who positively denied Everard's statement.
Upiai this, the latter offered a bet of one pound, or any higher
snot. that the lady had so represented herself. As a far better
made of seining this dispute, than that of an action for de-
fainttion, Mr. Richards accepted this bet, and the money
was immediately deposited in the hands of a gentleman pre-
sent; a time was then fixed upon for the decision of this
wager, and proper kbersons were apimieted on both sides
to examim• into the facts of the ease. To the de:elisions of
these persons both parties consented to abide. On the iu
vestigation, it turned out, that the lady, who is the wife of a
Weld; resin etable gentleman in the city, anti residing with
her husband, did not represent herself to be Mrs. Itirliard,,
but Mrs. Reynolds, which is her real name. This being in-
controvertibly the fact of the ease, the gentleman who held
the wager gave up the same to Mr. Richards: the winner,
who, it appears is a lodger of :sllr. Reynolds'. The tailor,
however, determined not to be" done over" as he expressed
it, summoned the stake-holder before the Commissioners for

the recovery of his money, hut the case having been stated
to the Court as ;above, immediately dismissed the complaint,
ohfcrving to the defendant, " You have decided the business
very pleasantly, we will pot disturb your verdict." 'Phis
affair is no otherwise important than as it establishes the fact,
that a wager fairly laid, can be recognized by a Court of
Requests, and that this decision should :each persons, when
they are not disposed to abide by those laws of honour
which they have themselves consented to the tOrmation of,
that they will have little chance of success by an application
tee a Court oiConscience. Averse as we are to the principle
of be tting gent raliv, it is certainly much better to decide
little disputes in that way than by flue tedious, e'peanive,
and litigious application of an action at law.

EXTRAORDINARY BUR:wt.—An inquest war lately held in the
of St. Itutolph, Aldgate, nn the body of J. Midge, aged it,,
who was found sltspeniled train a bean in a hay loft. lie eat ap.
pea el about two hours la:ll.Jc th di<covcry in excellent health and
spirits : but Lis mind had been for Eollle says previou.s nn dly en.
grossed by the subject, and his conversation turmit upun uo other
topic. lie wax a lad of excellent morals, ,eud no cau.se could be as-
signed for this .tmage propersity. The jury, after mature delibera.
tea, unaniii.o my re.n.ladcd that the hid, ptif..etly infataated with
the subject of hanging. had, by way of experiment, phiced the fatal
neck, 'limit any intention of committing suicide.
tc him elf, and had diet from awl
own nil rue. nee.

I.ox no Nt :—l'rinted and publiOted by H. NV L I[B. at ?o. I is,
S t„AND, oppoitite Ex to 'Change ; and folwArded into the
('inintry by ull Newanuis, Lkirka of the !toads, and Booktellent
frac of i'estisgti.

gr. U take place at the Old B.idlcV next u.2.tk, he tip vial .urd round liis neck, wi hi
C onnaiseion. I ut was unable to exvicate
t!ii: 'c itn of hi
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