The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-28 00:00:00

PROVINCIAIS.

By a
.gentleman who arrived last week fr.,m Stnckpott we learn,
that in consequnce of the great success of the Luddites it; procuring
arms by nocturnal visits, Mr. Hayes and other uno,i,trates, in the
vicinity of Manchester, have been authorized by Government to grant
warrants to the High Constable, Mr. Cartwright, t,) (liable him, Kith
proper assistance, to seize arms of every description belonging to the
inhabitants, wherever they might be found, as the only means of
preventing them front falling into the hands of tEe disaffected. The
Constalde commenced his rounds cni Thursday, escorted b% the
Stockport horse-patrole, who have shewn themselves so wwthy to be
trusted on all occasions.
On Tuesday night last, the Luddites obtained a considerable
quantity of- arm.. • From the widow of. an officer they prorfired eight
swords. The gang consisted of about too, and they were headed by
a persen who, from all appearance, was much superior in rank to a
mechanic. They continue to practise their military exercise under
cover of night. Last Sunday, at day break, a body of upwards of
1000 were observed breaking up in different directions, on a moor
about six miles from Stockport, where they bad assemb:eci during the

night.
!south End, in Essex, and the neighbourhood for several miles
round were on Sunday morning visited by a severe storm of thunder
and lightning, accompanied by a slower of hailstones of uncommon size.
1 la- thunder am tremend,us, and the lightning extremely:vivid and
avere. It came on so sudden!y, that several ladies, who were bathing
a:the time, could not retreat quick enough to escape the pelting of
he pitiless storm." The spire of Rayleigh Church was struck by the
lectnc fluid, and the rafters were left bare. This happened just as
the congregation were assembling, and, asinay be imagined, caused a
co, siderable degree of alarm ; the lightning also found its way down
the chimney of a cottage near the spot, melted an iron pot, which was
sespended over the fire nearly full of water, struck down an elderly
woman who was in the cottage, burnt her clothes in several placOS,
End scorched her arm severely. Considerable damage was done to the
gardem and fields upon which the hail descended the heaviest. The
effects of the storm were also felt at Mnidstone, in Kent, in which
neighbourhood two elm trees were shivered by the lightning.
On Tuesday the 16th in-taut, a man was killed at Longridge, by
lightning ; and a woman was so much hurt, that her life is de-
spaired of.
During a thunder-storm on Wednesday last, several kouses in
Utverston were struck and damaged, in one of whir:44,k woman
with a child in her arms was knocked down, but received vtly little
injury. ' -
On Tuesday, the 16th instant, a melancholy accident happened at
Clifford, near Burton in I.raisdalet—As Mr. Thomas Pemberton N 4 as
turning a cheese in the press, the stone fell and killed thin on the
spot. Ile was a worthy mail, and 56 years of age.
On Wedresday last, on Foulshaw Moss, Robert and Aggy Wil-
kinson, of Peethani, Westmorland, two very god and industrious old
people were killed by lightning. Tliey had taken shelter under a
peat stack, flora the violence of the hail and rain, when a ball of
fire appeared to envelope the stack, and they were both seen to lA,
by people who were getting peals at a short distance front them,
who, on the ceasing of the storm, went to them, and fou;.d them
both dead.
On Wednesday last as a person was getting turf upon Underfield
Moss, near Leakbuly. Pennybridke, he discovered a huindia skeleton,
about two feet from the surface. How it came there or whose it. was
has not been ascertained.
A nestof villains has been discovered in the isle of Wight, deserters
from the several detachments there, who were proceeding, in a svcte
matic Plan, to rob and p ui der; they had dig a cavern to contain
their booty. in which were found remains of lambs, sheep, and calves.
Three of theaalareeli g a countryman, stopped him, and asked him to
buy a watch ; the mai prudently told them he had no money, but
..would go and get same; instead of which he applied to it company of
oheep-sit,arers, who, with the man, took them before a magistrate of
the island,
.who recognised ou the hack of one of the robbers,. u ,coot
gr*e to poor man whose house they had lately broke open, 'they
*Or Otbiatuitted to prism.