The National Register.
London, England, 1815-10-01 00:00:00

THIRTEENTH DAY.

Saturday presented a sort of new era in the labours of Wilson.
from the change which has taken place in the weather. By twelve
o'clock he had finished ten miles, and proceeded to refresh. He
washeil his feet, put on a pair of yarn socks, and clean shoes.
During this operation, he declared that Providence had been f
tremely indulgent to him, that instead of diminishing., his strength
had increased, and that both in health and spirits he felt the fullest
confidence in the performance of his task.
At twenty minutes after three he had done his twenty miles, and
by within twenty minutes to five had completed his twenty-fifth
mile. lie then had his dinner, of which he cat most heartily. He
did not stop more than fifteen minutes, and the next five miles he
performed in as good time as any of his former heats.

It appears that Wilson is a native of Newcastle, where in tte
early part of his life, he was employed as a sort of messenger to the
Attornies of that town and its %kinky, in serving subpoenas, copies
of writs, &e. These labours he generally perfo►med at the rate of
two pence a mile from each person, from %1 hom he received a com-
mission, and has often gone ten times in a day to a distance of six
twles trom the town. It further appears, that throughout life he has
been extremely imbistrions, butt unhappily was unfortunate in his
connections. In one instance, a partner in trade expended upwards
of 20001. for him. He was pawnbroker at Newcastle, in the first
instance, and :afterwards a linen•draper. His hard fate, at Ir ngth.
drove to London, and lie has for the last four years been well
known in Kent. as a hawker of pamphlets; a species of employment,
which, considering the h►rgeness of his family, but barely tiu•nished
him an existence, indeed placed hint under the necessity of incur.
ring many small debts, w Rich he intends to discharge the moment he
has the means. His family consists of Live children, two sons and
till cc auagl►tcr,t all of wlitnu are celebrated wakts. Ilia daughter,

GAG

although only 18 years cl age, he s.tys he would match to go (Orioles
• with any men. The reporiA teat she had undertaken any such match,
are, however, mere idle lahrieetions. She is at piesent at New-
c4atle.

Wilson's wcieht at starting was 8,41. fah.; he has wasted about a
ro►►nd. 'rbere is not the least swelling in his legs or Cret► which are
to cool a►. purbihk•.

FOLTRTLENTIi DAY.

OH Sunday morning. at six o'clock. in 'sorsa:Hier of a resolution
ad. pre-; ou the preceding night, Ali.. Dyer awoke Wilson, and
eCall'll him ill a coach which had been prepared for his removal fi urn
Elauktte ttli. The route taken WAS the ont:11 Lewkilam In Peckham
to Storey. Atter leaving Peckham, it vyas lli. nilit adviseable to
io unlit WiJsou to walk Ott the road WI a !„:444,11 piste Of glollad could
le; chosen, and lee performed two Mill's in this way by regular lora-
p.retiterit. The ground first fixed on, which is situated near Wick-
ham-wood, was found so untavotirable, it became meessaly to
remove him, and a mile was nicasined on the higher part of the
ioad whirls runs into Wickham. This, however, WWI also found too
Leavy, and be was again moved to a spot in the road, in flout of
Lord Gs ydir's park, where half a mile was measured off for him.
A swell marquee, with refrealiments, was pitched at one end of the
enter. e
'the rain greatly incommoded the pedestrian, and lie had no con-
veineot place to change his clothes. Fortunately, he was at last ail•
siti•ted he the Isolge at Lord Crwytlir's park, whore lie bail the be-
nefit of a fire, and which was made his regular restiou place. At
t • elve o'clock Wilson, from the impediments which ler had eireono-
t eel, wit, the time which had been taken tip in measuring the
g outid, had gone but seven miles. The last ground chosen; how.
ever, he considered extremely good, and proceed, d with new vi-
gour, finishing four other miles amidst a chilling :liovier within 68
Minutes.
After dining on boiled /Owls, which had been prepared for him at
the lodge, mid drinking a glass of Madeira, he again went forth. but
with feelings more buoyant than lie hall enjoyed half an hour before.
By halt-past five lie had completed his liith mile. lie spoke with
perfect r.oilitlroce of finishing his 50 wiles in good time, and only
lamented that the Magistracy of the comity of Kent had taken such
pains to mar the prospects which the fulfilment of his task would
*lord him.
Soon after five the rain abated, and afforded an additional source
of conitoetin one respect, although it was attendt d with inconve.
niche(' in another, for the revolt of his e.o.m.c having spread
• abroad, several hutielreds from the neighboming village's assembled
to witness his prowess. and gazed with wonder as he passed before
them. They were, however, kept at a distance I.'' the peili—trian's
friends, and certainly evinced no disposition to treat hint with un-
kiadoess.
While things were thus situated, the roads leatliog from Black-
h 'alit presented the most atilusilig scenes: in every ditection gigs
a id post (liaises were olr.ervet I di iviti in search of Wilson—the in-
mates inquiring most ar.xionsly of each other. whither lie had gone ?
Some (hove to Chiseilliust. others to Easthatn, more' to Bromley
comma', and alias p.gahi to Croydon—and but trey, in coo.paii3oll
to the great ina“, were enabled to fired the real fit-14 of actioil.
Sir Chivies I: toaby, a Magistrate die (-awry or stim•v,
wit-
tressrel a par' of Wilsoit's exertioits, hot steelit.ed iota filing
with lion--as their was, in fact, no appearance of confusion what-
eye r oft the gi HUM!.
By twelve o'clock Wilsoo, limier all Ilia disadvantages, had com-
p:eh(' 32 miles, hayiog still 13 to pertain, anti these he finished
aisout five tit lock in the mottling.
nets geese three to unit' against the match, in consecu ence of the
nofavoitrahle i•st.e of Sunday's hostiles-•,:m) the additional fatigue to
which the in so was put. A tiiti.ng swe!ling in Isis left instep also
gave ri c to an altcaation of 'piano]) as to his ultimate success, lent
t'iis seems to be tug:llllrd by hints. It as nothing of any importanceu
few washings w gulled waster, MO a little friction, he says, will
h:ing it down.
FIFTEENTH ANI) SIX•I'EENTH DAYS.
ac mint of VarlOn•L impediments which
NW droll the peel, strian expericoced ill the course of Monday, he
did not rii;ko I,i,i la.k moil nearly six o'clock on Tuesday morning:
Alter retrofit five hairs rest, he renewed his labours of the day in high
spirits, but had not proceeded mote than a mile or Iwo befoi e he
• was taken into custody muter a warrant flouts several Ala2isttates,
as creating N public nuisance. Wilson's blends being prepared fin
this interruption, were also ready with bail, to enable the ',cries-
tiian to proceed elsewhere to complete Isis task ; but the Magis-
trate, it seems) had taken the precaution not to be at home, and

OCT.

were resolved to afford no opportunity of accommodation. Lond
anti deep were the murmurs of old Wilson's friends against the au-
thors of their disappointment; and the general feeling on the
groomd was, that the veteran pedestrian had been harshly treated,
inasmuch as, it was said, he had given notice to the Magistrates in
general of his intention to walk on Blackheath, and no objection
had beta made to it, until now, shell his task was nearly completed
and the old man had been almost wool' down by fatigue. thong!'
with the prospect of reaping the fruit of his labours. Of comae
the match terminated on Tuesday. The following 4,a copy of the
warrant upon which W 11‘0/1 was apprehended :
" Kent (to wit). T.. the High Constable of the tipper hallhoo-
dred of Blackheath, in the comity of Kent, Mid to all other officers
of pie peace for the said county.
For as much as it appears to the Justices (to wit). The Rev. Dr.
Watson • the Rev. Dr. Burney; the Rev. J. Messner; the Ray.
Arthur Unslnw ; Col. Jones; J. Williams; G. Trenchnid
euough ; J. Mason and R. Smith, Esqrs. this day in petty sessions
assembled, at the Mitre Tavern in Greenwich, in the county of
Kent, upon tile view of the said Magistrates, that George yilson
who has been for several days, pursuant to public advertisement,
walking upon Blackheath and in the vicinity, for a reewnieration
money, bath thereby drawn together, by day and night, a very tu-
nodttions assemblage of people from the sm ronntling and other pa-
rishes, and occasioninga considerable interruption to the peace of he
inhabitants,—we have therefore to require you, and every of }on. in
his Majesty's name, to apprehend the said George Wilson, and bring
him before us, whose names are hereunto sithseribed, being Justices
of lit' Peace for the said county, in order to his beim; called upon for
his security for his appearance at the 'feat General Quarter Sessions
of the Peace, to he holden for the said county, then and there to
answer the allegations, and also the being of good behaviour in the
mean time, towards his Majesty and all his liege people.
Given under our hatels and seals, the 21st day tit September, 1815.
JOHN MASON, JOHN RICE WILLIAMS.
RICHARD SMI Ulf, CHARLES BURNEY.

Wilson was Waited OpOn on Thursday by Smith, the constable of
the upper hundred of Blackheath, to know ts when it wool,' be eon•
venient for him to wait upon the Magist 'ales at the livoch," as they
were not willing to put him to any unnecessary trouble. AVilson
appointed next Wednesday for this interview. He will, we under-
stand, be provided kith Counsel, who will dispute the legality of
the warrant. and in the event of not convincing the Bench that they
have exceeded their authority hy arresting Wilson, will appeal to the
General Quarter Sessions. and tiltiniattly, if necessary, to the Court
of King's Bench, for a solemn decision on this most extraordioary
proceeding.—ln addition to 1(;01. subscribed for Wilson at the Stork
Exchange, a similar stall was subscribed at the bai:king-bonse of Per-
ring and Co. and a good c,,llection is likely to be made for him.
Wilson continues in good health, but still remains under the yoke
of the Magistrates' warrant. When released, he is to make his ap-
pearance at one or the public Theatres. He continues to receive
contributions wider the hospitable roof of Mr. l)er, of Mackin ath.