The Sun.
London, England, 1830-01-13 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

A paragraph appeared in the Age of Sunday last,
in which the Magistrates of this office were required
to put down a gang of persons who had nested
themselves in Charles-street, Drury-lane, and who,
under pretence of telling fortunes, committed the
most atrocious crimes, and were more instrumental
to the demoralizing young females than almost all
other means.

On reading this statement, Sir RICHARD BIRNIE
despatched Taunton, the senior officer, to ascertain
the truth of this statement, and that active indivi-
dual soon discovered that a fortune-teller named
Bale resided at No. 15, in Charles-street. Taun-
ton accordingly devised a plan for entrapping the
sybil, which finally succeeded, and he brought her
up in custody yesterday.
Sir RICHARD BIRNIE immediately recognised her
as an old acquaintance, and a member of a tribe of
gypsies named Love!, Many of whom have made
their exit from life in front of the Old Bailey.
Susan Jeffery, a middle-aged woman, stated that
by the desire of Taunton she went to the prisoner
to have her fortune told, and paid her for the exer-
cise of her sybilistic powers a half-crown, which
Taunton had marked. The prisoner asked her
whether she would know her future destiny by
means of the planets, cards, or palmistry ; but,
without waiting for a reply, looked her steadfastly in
the face, and with an abstracted air said, " Oh,
your husband is dead, but you are not happy with
the man with whom you are living."
Sir RICHARD BIRNIE asked if this were true ?
Witness—True ! No, your Worship ; a bigger fal-
sity could'nt be invented. My husband is alive and
well.

Mr. MiNstiuLL—But, did she promise you
nothing? Witness—Oh dear yes, Sir; she told
me I was to have a young sweetheart before the
year was out, and plenty of money.—(A laugh.)
Sir RICHARD BIRNIE asked Taunton whether he
had seen bull-dogs or bullies, as described in the
Age?—Taunton replied not. He, however, pro-
duced a book, entitled " Satan's Invisible World,
or a Proof for Atheists that Spirits exist," which he
had found in the prisoner's lodgings. This book
contained a collection of anecdotes on the subject
of witchcraft, and other things connected with the
" black art."

The prisoner said, that she was a fortune-teller.
She said that the witness called upon her to know
if she was to have a young sweetheart, and she told
her it was a shame for a woman of her years think-
ing even of such a thing.
Mr. MiNsuuLL observed, that women of her de-
scription did more mischief among young females
than almost could well be believed. She deserved,
therefore, to be punished.
Sir RICHARD BIRNIE accordingly committed her
for three months to the House of Correction, where
she is to be kept to hard labour.
It is wonderful that she did not know her own fate.

DREADFUL FIRE.-•FIFTY HOUSES BURNT
AT SIIEERNESS.—We lament the obligation of publishing
an account of a most destructive catastrophe, which oc-
curred at Sheerness on Friday night, by which fifty
houses were burnt and destroyed. The calamity was dis-
covered at a quarter-past eleven o'clock on Friday night,
at which time a watchman, on going his rounds, disco-
vered smoke issuing from the top of the shop door of Mr.
MuNK, grocer, in Union-street, Blue Town. On look-
ing through the key-hole, he perceived the shop in flames,
and instantly took the necessary measures for alarming the
inmates and the neighbourhood. The authorities of the
Garrison and the Dock-yard speedily lent their assistance ;
but the violence of the flames was such, that they could
not be arrested until 50 houses, as stated above, were de-
stroyed. The greatest thanks are due to the Commis-
sioners and Officers of the Navy and Army for their exer-
tions in causing the men to render every available assist-
ance. The property is principally insured in the Sun,
Guardian, County, and Norwich Fire-offices, and a small
part in the Kent. The Independent Chapel, as well as
the house of the Minister, the Rev. J. PRANKARD, was
slightly injured. The fire was stopped here by the appli-
cation of wet blankets ; and it is a remarkable circum-
stance that at the last fire, when many houses were de-
stroyed, and which approached the chapel in another di-
rection, the flames were subdued on reaching the building,
which was then only slightly damaged. We are happy to
learn that no lives were lost on this melancholy occasion;
but, in addition to the 50 houses, two coal-sheds, contain-
ing a large quantity of coals, were destroyed, and the fire
was not entirely subdued till Sunday night. A subscrip-
tion for the sufferers was opened last night, at the Foun-
tain Inn, and we understand the loss will be little short of
20,000/.-I{luidstone Journal.

The Duke and Duchess of CUMBERLAND
came to town yesterday morning from their residence at
Kew. Their Royal Highnesses left town in the afternoon,
on their return to Kew.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday after-
noon at the Foreign-office, Downing-street, which was at-
tended by the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Duke of WELLING-
TON, Earls RossLyx and ABERDEEN, Viscount MELVILLE,
Lord ELLENBOROUGH, Mr. Secretary PEEL, Sir GEORGE
MURRAY, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, and Mr.
iIERRIEs. The Ministers assembled at half-past two o'clock,
and continued in deliberation till a quarter past four o'clock.
The American Minister had a long conference
with the Duke of WELLINGTON yesterday, at the Treasury.