The Sun.
London, England, 1836-11-02 00:00:00

GREENWICH PETTY SESSIONS

Yesterday Matilda Mary Harris was charged with
setting fire to the dwelling-house of her mistress, Elizabeth
Vesie, in Queen Elizabeth's-row, Greenwich.
Elizabeth Vesie is a widow, and has lived in the above
place between twenty and thirty years. On the 17th of
last month the prisoner came into her service ; she repre-
sented herself as a young person respectably brought up,
and had never been in any place before, and that her re-
commendation was from a person living in the Queen Eli-
zabeth's alms-houses. After making fome inquiry, she took
her into her service, and she conducted herself as well as a
young woman so early in life could be expected to do. On
Thursday last, in consequence of expecting some friends
from the country, she desired her to light a fire in the spare
bedroom, to air it. She did so, but said that it would not
burn, but it did burn up very clear ; and she (prosecutrix)
put a blanket to air at a sufficient distance from the fire be-
tween it and the bed. This was between one two in the
afternoon. About an hour after, as she was sitting in the
parlour, she smelt something very offensive burning, and her
daughter who was with her, ran out of the room and up
stairs. She followed her up to the room where the fire
had been lighted. It was full of smoke, and she
opened the windows. On examining the room, she
found that the side of the bed next the fire-place was
burnt from the foot to the head. The mattress and feather
bed were burnt all along one side. The blanket, counter-
pane, and three bolsters were also burnt. The blanket
which she had put to air she found where she had left it ;
it was only scorched in one place about the size of the palm
of her hand. There were no flames, there being no dra-
pery on the bed. Saw the prisoner in the room, and be-
lieves she ran up after them. Was so much alarmed that
she could not recollect whether she said anything to her
about the fire. Prisoner brought some water, but did not
appear very active, and she could not make her out. The
room was set to rights, and the next morning, in consequence
of something which took place, Mr. Lloyd was sent for.
Eliza Vesie, the daughter of last witness, further said
that the floor of the room was burnt as though something
had been dropped on it. The prisoner pointed out to her a
mark on the ceiling, which appeared to have been made by
the flame of a candle. Suspected the prisoner, but unwil-
lingly, at the time. Did so as she appeared so unwilling to
assist in extinguishing the fire.
A solicitor, who attended on behalf of the prisoner,
cross-examined the witness.—She crushed the blanket and
counterpane on the floor, to put the fire out. Thinks it
not possible that the floor could have been burnt by so
doing. It was not. burnt where they were put. The mark
on the ceiling, which was pointed out by the prisoner, caused
her to suspect her.
The prisoner said she was seventeen years of age. After
being warned, she went into a long statement about lighting
the fire, similar to that given by Mr. Lloyd ; and also said
that she knew that she held the candle close to the bed, but
did not mean it, and that shd saw sparks come out of the
bed, but took no notice of them.

Matilda Burrows Rogers, the mother, being sworn, said
she lives at Shepherd's-place, Lewisham. Her daughter's
conduct has been very singular for the last twelve months
past. On one occasion she made her some beef tea, and
observed that it was very black. It was afterwards found
that black lead had been put therein. She believes her
daughter not to be right in her mind.
During the examination, the prisoner's appearance was
that of a person of imbecile mind, she having paid attention
to almost every trivial circumstance which took place in the
Court, rather than to the immediate charge in which she is
involved. She was fully committed on the charge.

Colonel and Lady Elizabeth Steele, with their fa-
mily, have arrived at Kimbolton for the winter, much to
the satisfaction of the inhabitants, to whom the amiable dis-
position and condescending manners of Lady Elizabeth have
justly endeared her. Her Ladyship is the eldest surviving
(laughter of the Duke of Manchester.
NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF " VIVIAN
GREy."—The announcement of a new novel, entitled " Hen-
rietta Temple, a Love Story," by the distinguished author
of " Vivian Grey," is an event of interest in the literary and
fashionable world. This writer was justly hailed, on his first
appearance, as a master in his art. In the second series of
" Vivian Grey," where he carried his hero into Germany, he
was acknowledged to have been inspired with all the spirit
of its romance. Combined with all the gaiety, the rapidity,
and the variety of the first series, the continuation displayed
a power of a much loftier order—his pathos was deeper—
his pictures of society more finished—and his views of man-
kind and their affairs far more philosophical. The present
story, we are informed, is a bold attempt to revive the sustained
interest of the old plots, which, of late, have been mostly
superseded by mere strings of characters, connected with
incidents. As specimens of the power and passion which
are so much more maturely developed in the present work,
the reader might be referred to the episodes of Violet Fane,
and the adventures of the young Archduchess in the wood
series of " Vivian grey."