The National Register.
London, England, 1821-10-21 00:00:00

331

As the Hon. Norman Hilton was lately returning from
his seat in Devonshire, the horse upon which he rode
(formerly a charger belonging to an officer in the Guards)
suddenly dropped down and expired. Mr. Hilton's leg
received x severe contusion ; but notwithstanding the
pain which he felt, he succeeded in procuring assistance;
and upon opening the body of his horse there was found
the half of a bayonet in the viscera. The poor horse is
supposed to have met with this extraoruivary wound at
the battle of Waterloo.
A few days ago, Mr. Hughes, of the Horseshoes Inn,
near Wroxeter, Salop, having given permission to a
chimney-sweep and another travelling person to sleep in
his out-budding, went to fasten the door of the place
where they went to repose ; this they resisted, and a
scuffle ensiled, when the chimney-sweep fired a loaded
gun or pistol (which he had concealed about him) at
Mr. Hughes, a piece of lead from which penetrated the
eye-ball of Mr. 11., and, wel regret to say, has not yet
been extracted. Mr. H. has entirely lost the sight of
one eye, and lies in a very dangerous state. The villain
escaped, and has not yet be: n apprehended.
On Wednesday last a melancholy accident hap-
pened at Bourn. The Lincoln old coach, from London,
was on the point of setting off atter changing horses at
the Bull inn, when the spirited animals took sodden
alarm, and drew the coach out of the usual road, over a
heap of building materials lying near the new Town-
hall ; the consequence was, that the vehicle was over-
turned, and the driver, Joseph Brielitmore, had the FL lit-
fortune to have both his arnts and both his thighs broken.
No other person was hurt. The unfortunate man lies in
a very dangerous state. He load deservedly the character
of a steady coachman, and was highly respected.
An awfal instance of sudden death occurred a few
days since at Worthing. A gentleman of the name of
Home having occasion to paint his house, incautiously
remained in it, contiary to the advice of his friends,
during the time the men were employed. On the fourth
day he was seized with vomitings, and complained of a
giddiness in the head. A physician was immediately
tent for, but belure he could arrive, the unfortunate man
was senseless. Every means which medical skill, could
devise were true I for his recovery, but without effect.—
He left a wife and two children to lament his un-
timely death.
Carious facts in Natural Ilistory.—A gentleman resid-
ing at Keswick, has published a letter in the Sporting
Magazine, in which he says, that one evening in the
lacer end of July last, he observed a rustling in the
strawberry bpi in his garden, and found that a toad had
just seized a field-mouse, which got on the toad's back,
scratching and hiring to get released, but its vain. The
toad kept his hold, and, as the strength of the mouse
faded, he gradually drew the unfortunate little animal
into his mouth, and gorged him. Another correspon-
dent its the same magazine, relates a wonderful instance
of the voracity of stoats :—Some workmen on removing
a pile of faggots, near a coppice, where it had lain about
five months, found 63 rabbit skins, and 25 hare skins,
all perfectly whole, besides fragments of skins; on re-
moving a few tome bundles, they found six stoats, four
of which they killed, the other two escaped. It is ge-
nerally thought that stoats merely seek the blood of these
animals, but this fact proves that the opinion is errs.
nexus.

On Thursday afternoon an inquiition was held before
Thomas Higgs, Esq. dcputr.coroner, at the Norihum.
berland Arms, :iirand, on the body of Mr. S. Weyburn,
one of the proprietors of the van, who was killed by its
overturning on Wednesday. Mr. John Parker, of the
Strand, deposed, that about three o'clock on i'Vednes.
day afternoon, he was passing ihrough the Strand, and
observed the caravan, with an enormous load of lug.
gage. Oil looking round witness saw the near 4-wheel
I reak away, and the carriage overturn. The stowage on
the top fell against a house. At first it was doubtful
whether any iterson was tinder:lead), but on cutting
away the straps which fastened the luggage, they dis u.
v. red the deceased lying on his face under the side of the
van, the edge of which was across his back ; his head
and arms were free, but the lower extremities were quite
under. The caravan was instantly raised, and the de-
ceased extricated; he was black in the face. He was
immediately conveyed to an apothecary's, where he
breathed aMw minutes, and there expired. An attemp
was mode to bleed hint, but the blood would not flow.—
The van presented a trighttOl spectacle (rout the bulk of
stowage. It was not struck by any other carriage, nor
did it run against the post; it was a dead break of the
axletree, occasioned by the weight ; ih fact, the load of
a heavy waggon was placed um the carriage and wheels
of a coach. The packages were very high. J. Hillyer,
the driver of the van, stated that it set out from the
King's (lead, Leadenhalkstreet, and belonged to Messrs.
Blake and Ca. of Salisbury. There was about 3uOulb.
weight iii or out—that on the roof was about 500114.
weight. The deceased was soling on his left side when
it overturned. The witness did not see him fall; he
was precipitated to the ground, and received suite in.
jury. The van was a. ways examined before it left the
yard. Mm. Stickle, medical assistant, Mr. Jacobs, and
o drller witness, described the accident nearly in the
:site terms as the forgoing witnesses. The Jury with-
sut hesitation, returned a verdict of accidental death,
ond levied a deodand of ss. on the curt ge.
St. Pours IVcathercock.—At the cementation of Quern
Mary, in I 5.53, amongst other pageants and shows which
were exhibited in the city of London, as the Queen
passed from the Tower to Westminster, was the follow.
ing singular fact, which is thus described by Holinshed.
"Then there was one Peter, a Dutchman, that stood
on the weathercocke of St. P-ule's steeple., holding a
streamer in his hand of five yards long, and waving
thereof, and sometimes on one foot, awl shooke the
othei, and then kneeled on his knees, to the gre it mar.
sell of all people. lie had made two scaffolds tinder
him, one above the crosse, having torches and streamers
on it, and another over the ball of the erosse, likewise
set with streamers and torches, which could not borne,
the wind was so great. The said Peter had sixteen
pounds thirteen shillings given him by the Citie for his
coats and pauses, and for all his annh."