The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-16 00:00:00

A SINGULAR CHARACTER.

On Tuesday, the 18th of May, died at her house. No. it. Coldbath-
square, at the very advanced age 01' 116 years, Mrs. Jane Leweeen,
commonly called Lady Lewson, from the very eccentric manner of her
dress. In recording this instance of unusual longevity, some account
of her may not, perhaps, he uniteteresting to our Iteuders. Mr:. Jane
Lewson, was born in the year during, the reign of William and
Mary, in Essex-street, in the Strand, of ram respectable parent:, of
the name of Vaughan, and was married at an early age to a wealthy
gentleman of the name of Leer son, then living in the house in which
she died. She became a widow at the age of twenty-six. having only
one daughter living at the torte. Mrs. l.ewton, being left by her hus-
band in alarm areumstanees, preferred to continue single, and re-
mained so, although site had many suitors. When her daughter mar-
ried, being left alone, she became fond of retirement, and rarely went
out. or permitted the visits of any person. For the last 30 years she
had kept no servent, except one old temale, who died to years ago: she
was sueeStaled by the old woman's grand-daughter, who gut married
about three years since; and she was succeeded by an old man, who
attended the different houses in the equate to go of errands. clean shoes,
&c. Mrs. Lewson took this man into her house, and he acted as her
steward, butler, cook, and housemaid, and, with the exception of two
old lap-dogs and a eat, he was her only companion. The house she
occupied was large, and elegantly furnished, but very ancient ; the beds
were kept constantly made, although they had not been slept in for
about SO years. Her apartment being only oecasionally swept out,
but never washed, the windows were so crusted with dirt, that they
hardly admitted a ray of light. A large garden in the rear of her house
was the only thing she paid attention to; this was always kept in good
order, and here, when the weather permitted, she enjoyed the air, or
sometimes sat and read, of which she was particularly fond; or else
chatted on tunes past with any of the new remaining acquaintances
whose visits she permitted. She seldom visited herself, except at Mr.
Jones's, a grocer, in the s9uare, with whom she dealt. She bad for
many years survived every individual of her relatives within many de-
greet of kindred. She was so partial to the fashions that prevailed in
her youthful days, that the never changed the manner of her dress from
that worn in the reign of George the First. She always wore powder,
with a large tete. made of horse-hair, on her head, near half a foot
high, over which her hair was turned up; a cap over it which knotted
under her chin. and three or four curls hanging down her neck. Shege-
nerally wore silk gowns, and the train lung, with a deep flounce all
round, a very long waist, and very tightly laced up to her neck, round
which was a kind of ruff, or frill. The sleeves of her gown came below
the elbow, from each of which four or five large cuff. were attached; a
large straw bonnet quite flat. highheeled shoes, a large black silk elnak,
trimmed round with lace, and a gold-headed cane. completed her
every day costume for the last RI years, and in which she walked round
the square; on which account she was known by the name of Lady
Lewson. her manner of living was so methodical, that she would
not drink her tea out of any other Clan a fievourite cup. She was
equally particular with respect to her knives, forks, plates. &e. At
breakfast she arranged in a particular way the paraPhernalia of the
tea table; at dinner she also observed a general rule, and always sat
in her favourite chair. She always enjoyed an excellent state of health,
assisted in regulating her house, and never had, until a little previous
to her decease, an hour's illness. She entertained the greatest aversion
to medicine, and what is remarkable she cut two new teeth at the age
of 87, and never lost one in her life, nor was she ever troubled with
the tooth-ach. Her sight latterly tailed her. She lived in five reigns,
and was supposed the must faithful living historian of the age, the
events of the year i7iS being fresh in her recollection. A few days
previous to her death, an old lady, who was her neighbour, died sud-
denly, which lead such an effect on her, that she frequently said her
time was also conic, and she should soon follow. She enjoyed all her
faculties until that period, when she became weak, took to her bed.
and refined medical aid; her conduct to her few distant relations wits
exceedingly capricious, and she would never set any of them; tend it
was not until a few hours before her dissolution that .my alteration was
observed in her temper. Site was buried in Dunhill-fields Bury ing-
gronnel. The funeral procession consisted of a hearee and four, and
two mourning carriages, in which were Mr. A tithony, of lled Lion-
ocrertrCierkenwell, her executor, and mac relations.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS.

-.Or- •

.irNT if.

WOriTIP4(III, a very nionerolic ami r.spertitile N!eeting %rata
held at the Ntantion house, for the purpme of teperieding
necessity of elioithing 'toys, its encouraging a method of %Iv ',ep-
ilog (+Mune% hy maehinery, and for improving the condition
of children, and others, at present eim:loyett by ehininey.
sweepers. The Lewd Mayor tomk the choir at lair o'clock, and
has jog tto tell the 00 et of the mewing, be wan followed by
Mr. Tooke. Treasurer to the itedittit 1111 l already established for
the purr Dee in itilestimi, who detailed the progrevi they had
mode; and f orcibly pointed oat the harm ins that Alin existed
to i•opede the great object of humanity they had is view ;
llama ly, to re.etie yomig and unprotected children from a life
of stately and wreti•lwolites., • it.a% a domestic evil. wan canal,
it not more bott;4lo, than ihn slant -trade. - Sir F. Borden, the
lion. Nlr. Bennett, the lion. Mr. I) Burrell. Mr. hail, Mr.
Fry, Dr. Liethington, Major Cartwright. Mr. Roweroft, 31r.
and several other ilittingtoi.hed ettararteis, took 'oat
in the debate. -Ti,. retort...tunas ion% to' the Speakers, as well as
the Report of the ',onion tee, a catalogue of s
soil or dire rowiegileuiet. attendant ',pia' the wretched situa-
tion of shove who at an infant age hecitme Ilse .la* CA Of master
rhilllllll sweepetx; and stated to the wont:: Ike luanv and
sitrees.tnl (.mm0;111111% that had been made of l'oe mode nit
only of edeetnally sweeping hot of extinguishing tires in chime
ides. It wan further stated, that upon the Continent, with the.
exception or 1:rooee. the prat•tice wits seareelv known; and
that each, in Scotland, in 99 eaten out Of Mu, the pear :ire of
the climbing-boy %%at wholly unknown.— A master chimney-
sweeper enothiatiul, with no %matt ability. the othji•eti 111 l s of
several of the speaker., though he deprecate', the cruelty ex I
ereited by some member% of the fraternity ; &lola ing. that in
that at well as every other trade there weir good and load
members. lie was heard with attention, and conelinted
• ha I/0111M teat • .a sir approbation. —veinal It esulm
flout were afterwards put and carried, I ceinumentling the use
' of the machine. and for the pompose tof applying to Parliament
tit the subject in question. - Mr. Willierforee, Sir F. Bur-
dett, Mr. Bennett. and several other Members of Parliament.
promised to give the tiiiiieet their most cordial .ii:ot•owt.. -
'l'h inks being voted to tin I,or‘l Mayor and the C
the meeting dinailved.--The meeting wits graced by ;.ii im-
niente number of elegao.t letmlles, and a liberal mitoses lltirq
was made at the door.

1.. 111" INTELLIGENCE.

SIIERILFI'S' COURT, it n E I I.

CAM. CON.

COMMODORE SIR I!. W. C. R. OWEII. A.B. r. MCI IBS

A PIOTIIEr %IRV.

Mr. Gurney opened the pleadings. The declaration staled,
that the defendant had seduced. and criminally known, Eta
wife of the plaint di. For thi, injury lie had laid his damages
at 10,41001. 'I he defendant had Antlered judgment to go Its de-
Cleft ; and the Jury wme now to inquire into, and assess the
damages.
Mr. seejeant Best stated the ease. Fe lad the honour of
atteeding the Court this day, on 1111.11ilici,f Si,' Edward Owen,
better known to the Jfirs and to the public by the title el Com-
nn dote Owsn, one of tin' 1110111 I nterprising, gallant, and jun:i-
dols °Teets that I.e:witted to th.q most valnable service, 11:e
Navy. This escellent Oliver came before the Court to c -
plain of one of the most giievolis injuries that could be eon.
ceived—he meant the slain( ton of Isis wile's at? ..lions. They
ninscrecollect him commanding a squadron on Boultigne--•and,
when leis services were no longer required there, he WO called
to an equally how-stable and arduous duty, on the Lakes
Canada. ti Mist the plaintiff was on this last station, the de-
fendant, who acted as apothecary to the family, as ail. 41 him-
self of the opportunity which Sir Edward On en's absence al-
Carded. to seduce the affections of his hitherto virtuous and ho-
nourable wife. Sir Edward Owen commanded a squadron off
Boulogne in the year Itsot. He was in the habit of coming to
I /over mid Dial. The' lady was the daughter of a respectable
member of the legal profession, who had, in lso2, retired, anti
was liviug privately at Deal. In the course of Sir Edward
Owen's skit., to that town, he became acquainted w ith the lady
and her father. She was extremely beautiful, and was pos.
messed of every accomplishment. Sir E. ()wen intid his ad-
dresses to her, 3111,1 a marriage was the ceuwgnruce. Sir Ed-
ward was then 31 years of age, and his bride was just turned
31 —so that no disparity of age could be alledged as a cause for
unhappiness. Th. y list d together, dean to the moment when
the seduction took place, in the inost affectionate manner.—
The attentions of the plaintiff to flit lady were marked by the
almost kindness, and she retina.. d them istectionati ly. The
Jury would find that while Sir Edward ()Well was absent, in
the sery ire of his country, Lady Owen manifested the most
auxions desire for his return—that species ef feeling which a
beloved wife might be expected to whew, when the object of
her affections was abroad, es.pomal to every description of peril.
When the Boultame flotilla was put an end to, sir Edward was
sent to serve his country on the Lakes of Canada; bilk? Owes
seas inconsolable on that occasion.—During the period of Si•
Edward's akence, Lady Owen's slate of health was t'Mst'l it-
!ugly bad. Site was attended. in till' first place, by the father
of the defendant, who was an apothecary in the neighbour.
hood of Oval, and afterwards by the defendant hilescif. The
visits of the defendant were extremely it tyre:: ; so flinch so,
as to excite a suspicion, that he was not alt. the lady fur
the purpose of re.estrild.shing het health. but was engaged is
warping her mitad and seducing her atieetions front her hus-
band. ": a donbt could rest on the minds of .lie Jury, and the
under Sheriff would state to them, from the eireurrodance of
judgment having gone by default, that the act of allithery was
committed. But in order to slim the atrocity of the a us( , he
would clearly prove that the crime ....as of white Sir Ed-
ward was absent on the Lakes cf Canada. On his return, he
was informed by some friends that his Lady bad conducted her.
self improperly with the defendant during his absence. Sir
Edward helms 4.d like a man of firmness on this trying occasion.
He selected two friends, who were the relatives of his Lady,
and directed them tot titer into an investir aof the circum-
stances. After they had looked into all the information which
they had heen able to collect, they reportcd, that the running
of Lady Owen's imprencr courbiet was without Confutation.
There WAS not a liar !tier tau in the world titan Sir Edward
when the innocence of his Lady was communicated to him.
He returned with redoubled pi, .I.llle to his wife. He fettnd
her in an ill state of health—and, imagining that her indisposi-
tion arose from the catumnittus manta- aliich had occasioned
the inquiry having made u del p impression on her mind, he
felt est:entely anxious for her sdnation, furl immediately took
the best means for the restoration of her health. Ile proceed-
ed with her to London, and placed I.er under the care of 1)r.
Pemberton, agt ntlensan eminent fur his skill. That respecta-
ble eeuth tan he would this day•call on its a witness, and the
Jury would learn fruto hint the manner to which Sir Ealnusit

JUNE 1(.

00 en conduct:el himself towards his %tie while lie was at-
tvailitig her for the illness. While the pl distal was :hits exert-
ing himself for th o re cot ery of his wife, this Heal Apothecary
hail left. his business, and .vas Mutating Gee lodging !tithe holy,
is Loudon. Her health being restored. end. Oven ret rased
to Heal; and theft, tot the first time, Sii. Edward oas iolormed
lay his servant of the critithod emitivetiou. The momelit this
viiiimitilivation was smote. nit Edward determined to ia vesti-
gate the business closely —but the Lady. lieuriog thi,t au in-
quiry was Joao to tale place, eloped from her husband's hems.
with the defendant. Sir Edward Owen, them :.h as a man of
'amour he could terser live with this Lilly again, 51 14 ansions
to rescue her from that ruin which this tblicildill4t was pi elide-
big for her. H • sent an old servant *tier her, for the portrise
of directing her steps to a place where she might be &ascii
front the misery which her counection with the el.:foldout WAS
likely to produce. The servaut found her—mad be exerted
all his zeal to induce her to return. Aumons to get her away
from her seducer, he said to bliss, "Sir, you had better lease
this Lady; fur Sir Edward Owen will soon be, 'MCC.' He
begged the Jut y to pay ',articular attention to the answer of
the deft :Maul —" I don't ca. e," said he, " for Sir Edward--1
bave pietals itootit me; ail, ;I. he 'vines, I wilt sli.ot him." Su
that, after he hail sedtteed this tinker s wife—miter he had as-
leaStilleited his peace—he NW ready, if the injured hushotid
Caine to rescue this lady front his adulterous snag:tee, to be-
come the assassin of his pei sou. The parties, from Mat period
to the present, hail not separated. The detimelunt contifiard
to live with this unfort nitrite st Oman, i.ushoesds did vsitl. their
ives. After auunadtertiag with much severity on the con-
duet of the defendant, wha had taken the opportunity WtlPll.
as a Illediedl man, he wus employed in attendance on this lady,
to debauch her i, and seduce her affections front her hus-
band, lie proceeded 141 cad his witnesses.
Admiral Sir Geo. Campbell, A thoiral Lord Keith, Rear-Adini-
/SI SCOU, Admiral Sir W. Young, and Admiral Sir Filch. Lee,
spoke in the must decided terms, of the affectionate attachment
wnich scented to subsist between Sir Edward and Lady Owen.
A seree• of witnesses proved the mode adapted by 411.• defen-
dant and Lady Owen, hi carrying ou their correspondence
through tlie.• medium of a female servant.. . . -

Tle• elopement Was proved by a post boy—aml the fact of
their having slept together at the inn at Sandwich was deposed
to by a female servant.
Here the plaintiff's case was closed.
Mr. Brougham !hell addressed the Jury on the part of the
vlefernlatil, in nu eloquent speech; is which he comniented,
with gi rat force sand upon the disparity of years be-
tween the parties (the Lady being between 30 and 40 years of
' age, the defendant only 22) ; and thence inferred, that the se-
duction 11111,t hose been, in point of fact, committed by the
elder. lie then impressed upon the Jury, that no breach of
medical confidence had been committed; as the father of the
youth was, in reality, the professional attendant, and not his
son, who was the udurtutiate victim of this attachment ; be
now a beggar, the partnership with his father dissolved, and
his own prospects in lite ruined and undone.
'Else Deputy Sheriff then mounted tip the evidence to the
Jury, wliii retired for 29 thiantes, and brought iu a verdict of
Tifton //railcar Pounds damages for the plaintiff.

OLD BAILEY.
•...Qii.m...

Monday, the Recorder passed sentence of death on the fol-
lowing. capital con% iets Phillips, I'. Jonas, S. Solotioins,
J. Ditunage, W. Fellows, J. Brown, G. Mickel.% ille, W. 'tuber.
W. Colv ;lir, W. Ci1.1;1111.111, I'. Fox, It. Johnson, awl J. Davis,
fur higliwAy robberies ; W. Gregory and J. Boyce fur forgeries ;
J. Williams, G. Atkins. J. Pritliruse, W. Grv, J. Harvey, and
P. Herbert, for burglaries; Esther Sampson, Sarah Gilbert. C.
Butler, W. with, C. Rogers, W. Bei ves, A. Nlacilonalil, J.
t %trey ,J. 11.111,1111.1 J. Slay man, fur stealing in d eiling-houses;
J. .t inter, tar sheep-stealing; and May cock, fur putting
siv. ay a forged gl. baak•noti .
'Tuesday. J. Brooks and T. Williams, two boys, and J. Brad-
, is re coavieted ofpicliug pockets at Brook-green Fair.
When the verdict of tne Jury was returned, the Cum iiiii tt-
ttl rjeant observed, that there could be no doubt that Itr.ailley
was the Callae of diluting the Younger prisoners into their pre-
sent situation. lie telt it his (hay, therefore, to leave him re-
proved loon this country !VI life.
SAUDI. day the Srssirois ended ; when sentence was passed on
W. Smith, F. Riley, h. Neal, J. King, J. Williams, G. Wil-
son. J. Mulder, M. Merret, W. Truelove, S. Davis, Mary Ann
Hoot, J. M*Carthy, Jane Cross, and J. Br stl.ey—to be trans-
ported fur life; It. H. Dye, H. Dye, A. alias T. Small, B.
Hail, and S. Nash alias kluilter—tiir It years; W. Graves,
Elizabeth Fordice, T. Myers, Mary Coventry, 3. Martin, G.
Gray, Jane Carter, Mary Davis, Elizabeth Sorel, T. Wilson,
11'. Glyn, 11. Avery, C. Gregory, M. Kelly, W. Barker, J. Hol-
loway, J. Foy, H. Jenkins,. IL Christian, L. L. Clifford, Mid-
get Conway, Margaret Hill, Sarah Bennett, T. Compton, Sarah
Hardy alias Sullivan,. Irwin, Mallet Collins alias Hill, 11'.
Harris, W. Griffin, IL Jones, W. Thompsoa, F. Gasket% J.
Waisterbourne—for seven years; is to be imprisoned an the
House of Correction fur Use City of London, and tit) in the
I louse of Curs tenon fur the Comity of bliddlesex, for various
periods; 4 to be iniprisoneil in Newgate; YO to he privately
whipped; ti fined Is. each and discharged ; I 3 judgments were
respitt : :and 17 were discharzeil by prociainatiou. --Sessions
adjoin bed to the Intl& ofJitly nett

POLICE.

GUILDHALL.

C. Hawkins, alias fir rhert,l t years of n ge, was charged with
being concerned lu robbing 111 c 11.111,e of Mr. Wilson, a .itaster
of Nlei chant Tailors' School, tit a ipsantity of jeachery, the
yroperty of Miss Moore. A lad 04114.41 Singleton, anti a Clll
slagged lladdne ks, sersant to Mr. Wilson, were ids, charged
as being concerned in this rotibery. It oppearril, that a few
weeks since, the tidiet drawer at Miss Moore, sister to Mr.
Wil•on, was broken firm.% tiad rubbed of the property. No
trace could be iili• of the depredatuis g but it desesiption of
the stolen articles was circulated, and in u new days
went to the house of Mr. )hater, t. pawisierokr, and tendered
a &amend Ong for pawn f.r lilt ; this w 44 refased, and the
prisoner departed. 11:ing know n, linweves, as a constant Yisi-
t.ir in pkdanag goods (riepresenting that he did so on 1101 part
of his parents t, it was deemed inn essaey to give notice to
Mr. Wilton, and be was taken into , whim the brooch
belonging to miss 3loore was fount iu hi. possession. it was
discovered, that lie was d illy enip:oyed in the eminlin2-1 •
re,peetatile films in St. Mary-at-11i11, where Mathews, the
clbeer, cauutn..l his de ,k, and Maud in it it fluidic tie for a
diamond ring; and that winch haul been refused to hr. take') by
Mr. C:1414.r. Resides this were found in his possession nearly
2. 4 other duplicate 4 for Frooerty of all descriptions, principally
Jeweller v. Se•n•ritl hooks ketaimed by his mother), a ease
of pistols, a telet•cupe, silver tea•ipoow, au I numerous other

THE NAi'IONAL REGISTER.

tirades, whim li.he been alvertiseel in the hope of bringing
the ON firr, likeo hi: a phosphorus box, and instil o-
n:root caked:stud to open the lo.•:.s of drawers, Sr. All the
things, except the Milks, lie said he had from Singleton. The
latter admitted that he 1141 given him, to uiy inontii 4 since, one
Or 1.4. P trifling articles, but denied mast solemnly having scut
01 kI2DWIS of the mucks beltmeiog to ltl.ss Moore utdbre;
neither had he coil cised with the prisoner since Fen/miry.
Nut the slightest proof, ho ...ever, could be aldneed to crimi-
nate the female, and she was dibrilargell; 411.1 upon the Solici-
tor fur :i•iglettin undertaking to produce !Ma upon the trial,
Ac ss is also discharged, and Hawkins fully committed.
Mary Williams, awed was brought to the oilier, upon a
charge of picking tile pocket of Mrs. Beech, in Fleet-market,
of a poriset-book. containiug two 11. notes and a number of
iumniaandiaius. The coiuplaivaoit Wilt purchasing lists at one
of the stalls, and upon puttin_ her hand to her pocket missed
the property. At that moment her servant-maid told her,
that the prison•r, win) was sneaking away, had been very
.busy about her person. Mary Williams was instantly secured,
and the pocket-hook foam: 11;1011 her person.
Bond, the orLter who secured her, knew her for a long time
as a veteran in the art, and a s cry dexterous band. She was
fully curituittyd for trial. _

Robt. Townsend was charged with forging or
uttering apr 'ssory note far 7(11. purporting to be drawn in
has favour uy Mr. F. Crisp. The tittering of the note •.,tving
taken place in Middlesex, the prtioner was remanded to the
county Magistrates.