The National Register.
London, England, 1812-11-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

NoY. O.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.—On Tuesday morning last, Solibi?
Edwards and Mary Nest, two female servants of the Rev. oh!
Gibbons, of Brasted, Kent, (one aged '22, and the other 19 years,) were
found drowne4l in a pond in the garden belonging to the Parsonaec-
Huse at that place ; and the same day an inquest was taken on their
iyylies, when the t-llowing circumstances were disclosed :—M r. and
MN. Gibbons had been from home several Necks, leaving their
house to the care of these temalets, who, during the absence of their
master and mistress, had the misfortune to break sonic articles of
furniture, and to spoil tour dozen of knives and forks, by incautiously
lighting a fire in an oven where they had been placed to keep then+
ton rust. The unfortunate girls had, however, bought other knits
grd forks. Upon the return of Mr. an I Mrs. Gibbons, on Saturday
the I th, the servants were severely repriinanded for what had hap-
read, and one of them received notice to leave her place. The%
both appeared to he very uncomfortable during Sunday and Monday ;
and on the latter day the footman heard them in conversation respect-
ing Martha Viner, a late servant in the same family, who had drowned
herself in the pond in the garden ; and observing one to th other, that
had done so through trouble. The elder then said to the r.unger
We will have a swim to-night, Mary 1" The other replied, "
bu
we kill, girl." The footman thought they were jesting, ani said,
" Aye, and I will swim with you." Soplsia Edwards replied, 66 No,
you silent : but I will have a swim, and afterwards I will haunt
you " After this conversation, they continued about their work as
u2nll, and at six o'clock asked to got tea for them ; while he was in
the pantry tor that purpose, he heard the kitchen door shut, and on
his return into the kitchen they were both vile. The footman atter-
w3rdsthutight he heard them up stairs, and therefore took no notice
theirrf
absenee, until eight o'clock, when he told his master and
votress. Search was made for them about the house, garden,
and neighbourhood, during the whole night ; and early on Tuesday
manoog the same pond was dragged which had so recently been the
watery gave of Martha Viner, when both their bodies were found
sv
it, lying close to each other. The jury teturned a verdict of—
;Quad drowned.

A few days ago, about six o'Clock in the morning, a Gentleman
arrived at the hotel at Falmouth, in a cost chaise. Immediately on
arrival he went to bed ; he rose again at ten o'clock, and break
faired; after which he went to the house of the Captain of the Lisbon
Decker, which was next in the order of sailing, and paid for his
pesage to Lisbon ; he then returned to the hotel and dined with a
I?arty of gentlemen, who had engaged for their passage to Lisbon in
tno same packet ; at dinner he drank nothing but ale. After dinner
he went with the party to see a new packet launched, he returnAl at
eta, and ordered a glass of Hollands and water, and two sheets of
writing-paper to be brought in his parlour. He went to bed about
ten o'clock, and next morning about half-past ten, one of the chamber
maids went to his room, in order to make the bed, &C. and on open-
ing thedoor, which had not been locked, she was struck with horror
on perceiving the unfortunate man with willing on but his shirt, lying
on the floor, which was covered with blood, and the wash-hand
bason by his side almost filled with blood. Au alarm was given, and
a Surgeon immediately procured, but the body was quite dead : a
rator lay by its side, with which the artery of the left arm, at the
bend of theelbow, had been cut across in a dreadful mariner, which
caused the deceased to bleed to death. On the table was found a letter
and a no!, of which the following are copies. The letter Was folded
but not sealed ; the note was open...,—
"Oh Almigty Lord God of infiuits goodness and mercy, pray for-
tis'c my nianifiald sins and wickedness ; it has pleased thee to afflict
me most grieviously, and mush heavier than 1 can possibly bear :
being persecuted by a set of vile persons, whose only aim has been
to ruin me and bring me to destruction. I fcreive' and I hope they
will be forgiven at the day of j itdg:nent. Oh Lord, have mercy upon
me—have mercy upon me ! My sufferings are so great, that at times
lam delirious,. my ideas wander 1 know not where ; those perjured
villains weredetermined to seek my death, that their infamy may not
come to light, " and that they perjured themselves is as true as thou
art in heaven." I here ever forgive them ; Oh blessed Redeemer,
look down with mercy upon me ; Oh Lord be pleased to pour down
thy blessings en my late worthy partners, who are so sore afflicted,
by improper conduct brought on by others, who have sought my
ruin, and who 1 did all io my power to serve. 0 God, be pleased
to forgive them as I do—and I hope they will profit by my untimely
!ate ! Oh God, the thought of being made a bankrupt and an outlaw,
!Infixed my fate—these words have cut me to the very soul—omlaw
-7for every tllow to scoff at ; Oh the thought is too much for me,
although I ought to rejoice at being an outlaw, rather than exist in
the same country with such men ; may the authors of that infamous
combination meet their just fate, they are my persecutors. +God of
mercy receive ate into thy holy sanctuary ; my mind is so agitated, I
cannot go forward or backward."
" Srat—My name is Robert Mitchell, of Bristol. 1 will thank you
to send the trunks and money, about 1601. to Messes. Powells of the

• The words between the inverted commas arc interlined.
What folliaws was written 3 pencil.

15 2

saint place, and let me have a Christian buital, for I have bolt un-
justly persecuted by a set of vile swindlers ated perjurers. You
will
Tk e 201, for your trrtuble. You think it sir inKe I th,.uld address
having never seen you, but you :.re I believe, Agent tsar the
Commercial Rotun, Bristol—" Mr. Hootun of this piece, Falmouth.
N in- o'Lluck .—I vtish I wi' no in-re, and that the A Imigrity
would take me to his holy luleplag."
A Coroner's Inquest set on the body, and brought in a verdict erf--
Insanity.

MAhRIED.
At Sculthorpe, near F3kenhatr, Ncrfolk, Mr B. Rainer. aged 77,
to Mrs. A. Babhain, aged SO. 'I he novelty of the sitne was greatly
heightened to se.. with what glee thiv liohb.6:d away to the Hymeneal
altar, as both of them were, by iutirmity, obliged to nuke use of
crutches.

_...._____.
DIED.
On the sth instant, at Athy, in Ireland, respected and lamented lby
ill wlr) knew her, Mrs. Keenan, the mother of the cele...ive t artist
Athat 114111 C. Her aged partner, to whom she had been united nearly
aU year,, is inconsolable tor her loss.
At Camberwell, in Id; 68!h year, N. Wan,,stro,.ht, LL. I).
celebrated for his scholastic produLtions in the Fre.ich and Latin
larguagcs.
At Halesworat, Maria Smith, and on the foilowirg day her sister,
Matilda Smith, the two la-t (*Wren tit the late untottui JnOhn
and Elizabeth Smith, of Cooklet , who w..;le executed at tp,wien,
on the `23.1 of last March, tor ill t:eating, and starving their eldest
datiglrer.
Id the 51st year of his are, Mr. E. Morkm, farmer, tlf Papworth
Everard, Cambridgeshire. He was appareidlv in good healtl• ardi
in the act of taking a cup of coffee, when he 1.:11 ell* his dhair, ai;tl
ia-
atantly expired.
•

FINE Of4D JAMAICA RUM. and Carious 010 NGE MIMIC at M. EAL
odr Gallon. for Rea.lu Money.— Gemlike C 04.0 I lc Israt:d .11(.11anki. and Britiob
Compounds) at AVELING and HILL':. maaut ,ourerg NV iaeo, at tilt&
Vaults and Countina-house, ILI. New Band-street, ono dour from Conduit-stmt.
Battled Ales, Brawn Stout, (')der, &e.