The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-26 00:00:00

RIES IN ESSEX.

BRENTWOOD, THURSDAY EVENING.—For several
weeks past the spirit of incendiarism has prevailed to a
considerable extent in Essex, more especially within the
circle of a few miles of this (Brentwood), and on the
borders of Suffolk. Scarcely a night passes but a fire
of some description is discovered.
The pepetrators have been ascertained to be mere lads
in three or four cases which have been brought before
the magistrates. In this journal about a fortnight since,
appeared the particulars of an extensive fire on the pre-
mises of a farmer named Hill, residing at Wennington,
near Rainham, at which property amounting to between
1,400/. and 1,5001. was destroyed. This was the work
of an incendiary, but at the time no one was suspected.
Since then circumstances have transpired which fix con-
siderable suspicion on a lad in the employ of Mr. Hill,
who was seen going towards the stack of corn imme-
diately before the fire. Last week a fire took place near
Bocking, which was proved to be the work of an incen-
diary, and two lads are now in custody on the charge.
Another happened at Badfield, a third at Ockendon, and
a fourth, on Friday last, at Great Warley.
With respect to the latter fire, the incendiaries, who
are quite lads, were apprehended, it may be said, almost
in the act, the fire having taken place at three o'clock in
the afternoon. Yesterday they were taken before the
Rev. John Healy Lewis, chairman of the bench of ma..
gistrates for the Brentwood division, when the following
evidence was given :
When placed at the bar the prisoners, who were mi-
serable-looking half starved lads, gave their names as
William Mason, John Clegg, and William Smith, turd
pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Mr. Arthur Shuttleworth, of Great Warley, said that
he is a farmer residing in the parish of Upminster., On
the 19th of September last he had five stacks in a field
leading from Warley to Upminster, two of them were
stacks of oats and one of beans, and saw them safe at one
o'clock in the afternoon. About two hours after he was
at work in one of his fields, with a boy named Wakeling,
about twenty-five roods from where the stacks stood,
when he saw three lads, whom he believed to be the prii-
soners, sitting on a gate about three roods' from the
stacks. Shortly after three o'clock, having left off work,
they were passing the stacks, when they heard a crack-
ling noise, and the boy called ont that the stacks were on
fire. He ran directly towards them, but in less then five
minutes they were all on fire. and were destrored, with
the exception of half of one of the stacks of whee.t.
William Wakeling corroborated his master's testimony,
and, in addition, said he saw the boys get oz the gate
and go towards the fields where the stacks weal standing.
Ephraim Hancock, of Brook-street, and }ienry
of Brentwood, also deposed to seeing lads whom they be-
ledblyr.
lieved to be the prisoners sitting on the gate near the
stacks, and afterwards seeing the latter in flames.
William Eldrid, constable of Warley, deposed to
.amed e
ap-
prehendingrestshinegphrani
iso,nferrosm, wthheo
gate
ee followed e
to 3s,
aS
hmanut-
tleworth's field. He searched them, and in the right-
hand pocket of Smith's trousers he; found a lucifer-box,
but no matches were in it. Upon one of the other pri-
soners lie found a knife.
Other evidence having been given, the prisoners were
committed to take their trials for arson at the next
Chelmsford Assizes.

It was ascertained from subsequent inquiries, that the
prisoners were not known in the neighbourhood, and
had slept the previous night to the commission Of the
crime in the West Ham Union.

SALE OF THE FREEHOLD ESTATE OF ADDINGTON,
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.—Yesterday the Messm. Smith sold
by auction, at the Auction Mart, the valuable freehold
estate of Addington, Buckinghamshire, which was free
of tithes and land-tax, and included the whole parish,
with the mansion, the advowson, several grazing and
dairy farms, and the manor for game, the property being
formerly the family seat of the late General the Hon.
Vere Poulett. It is situated about five miles from Buck-
ingham, and comprises about 1,143 acres, realising from
the rents an income of about 2,6001. per annum. The
estate was offered, in one lot, when, on being bought in
at 75,5601., it was put up in three lots. The first lot
comprised the advowson, the mansion, with the ground',
the park, and several farms, containing about 884 acres,
and producing 2,1361. per annum, which went, for
60,500/. The second lot was a farm, &c., the nuraber of
acres being about 216, at an annual rent of 4051, which
fetched 12,300/. The third lot consisted of about 42
acres, yielding 82/. per annum, which was disposed of
for 2,200/. The timber was to bo taken at a valuation,
MILDNESS OF THE WEATHER.—There is a s,ecovja
course of blossom on many wall-fruit trees, strardberries,
Some of the winter flowering shrubs are, 0,11
of which the lauristinus is particularly4ch.—.Perthshire
and other small fruit bushes in this neirrinbolarhood.o .n flower,
Courier